Into Your Embrace (SSG series #1)

Chapter 12

"NAGPAKASAL SINA mom and papa noon dahil iyon ang napagkasunduan ng mga magulang nila. It was a fixed marriage. But later on, they fell with each other. A year after the marriage they had my ate Leonna." Pagkukuwento ni Prez habang nilalaro laro ang mga daliri ko.

"Ate Leonna was 5 when mom and papa broke up and filed an annulment. Why? Na fall out of love daw si papa. Pero kahit na hiwalay na sila nun, pareho parin silang naging mabuting magulang kay ate Leonna. A year after mom and papa broke up, nagpakasal si papa kay tita Vanessa, ang mama nina Jade. They look so happy that time while mom is still inlove with papa."

"Laging nagkikita sina mom and papa nun pag may mga family gatherings, magkasundo parin kase ang mga pamilya nila dahil sa business, and they had ate Leonna also. Later on, papa announced that tita Vanessa is pregnant. And my mom was so so sad. She got drunk, and she went to papa's office, may nangyari sa kanila. Nabuo ako." Aniya.

"In short, i was a drunken mistake. Nung nalaman, ni mom na pinagbubuntis niya ako, she hesitateed to tell papa, because it might conflict papa and tita Vanessa's relationship. But in the end, she told papa about me and papa said he will take responsibility for it. Jade was only 6 months older than me, and i was a year older than Vandrick, my other brother."

"Dad is so eager to take responsibility of me that he let me use his surname kahit anak lang ako sa labas. I was six when i finally met Jade, Vandrick, and tita Vanessa personality. Sa pictures ko lang kasi sila nakikita 'e. Dad asked me kung gusto ko bang mag stay sa mansion nila. I was so excited that time, kase makakalaro ko na ang mga kapatid ko. Pero hindi pala nila ako tanggap."

"At yun na nga... nangyari yung kinuwento ko sayo. Mom was so mad at papa that time that she cutted all our connections with him. Kahit si ate Leonna ay hindi na siya pwedeng makita. And it's been eleven years since i saw Vandrick and Jade. Eleven years, and i haven't met my papa. " He smiled. "I... i really don't want to tell you about who i really am. I don't want you to meet Jade and Vandrick. But before i was able to prevent it, you appeared before me earlier. Facing them."

"Takot na takot ako kanina, alam mo yun. Kasi baka kung anong gawin at sabihin nila sayo. Buti naman at sa akin lang sila galit at wala silang ginawa sayo."

Doon ko lang napagtanto. Hindi ko pa pala lubusang kilala si Prez. Sa ilang araw o linggo naming magkasama, halos ako lang ang nakafocus sa conversation. Ako lang ang nagrereklamo. At siya... nandiyan lang siya nakaalalay at nakikinig sakin.

Ni hindi ko nga kilala ang mga Bestfriends niya 'e. Saang school ba siya galing? Anong nag udyok sa kaniyang tumakbo as SSG president?

"E yung lolo mo? Yung sabi ni Jade kanina?" Maingat kong tanong.

"I haven't met him, actually... ang alam ko lang sa mga fraternal grandparents ko ay business partner nila ang maternal grandparents ko. That's all. Hindi ko kailan man narinig na hinanap nila ako." He squeezed my hand.

"At paano nila nalaman na girlfriend mo ako?" Tanong ko. Agad siyang nag-angat ng tingin sakin habang nakataas ng kilay, may mapaglarong ngiti rin ang gumuhit sa labi niya at konti nalang pa-nganga na siya. Ampt! Maling tanong. "I- i mean ano... paano nila n-nasabi na... na ano... na—"

"Na girlfriend kita?" He chuckled. "May mga mata sila sa loob ng campus. And i don't know who. Nung nalaman kong may inutusan pala sila na pabantayan ako at ikaw, pinakiusapan ko si Jay na bantayan ka. Pero hinatid ka niya sakin." He chuckled again.

"Sorry. Nag-alala kase ako 'e. Ayaw kong may mangyaring masama sayo' lam mo yun?"

"Hahahah. Thanks for worrying about me. I feel special."

"Iwan ko sayo prez." Umirap ako.

"Hindi ka yata naniniwala 'e."

"Hindi talaga." Umirap na naman ako. "Sige, pahinga ka muna. Hintayin natin si Jay tapos alis na tayo dito." Sabi ko nalang.