Cairo McLaury (completed)

Chapter 21

Yes, everything he planned turned out well, he thought to himself after his conversation with Harlow.

He turned his head to his right and saw that Cairo was still fast asleep. He retreated his eyes from her and he looked straight at the windshield in front of him. And again his mind drifted and went back to that day whren he talked to Harlow about Cairo.

"Harlow? Puwede ba kitang makausap?" ang kaniyang pakiusap dito.

Tumango naman si Harlow at humakbang ito palabas para tumayo silang dalawa sa front porch ng bahay nito.

"I have to apologise, nakatanggap kasi ako ng tawag kagabi sa aking abuelo at...kailangan ko nang bumalik, it was about the crisis that my country is facing right now, and...I am sorry kung hindi ko na masasaksihan ang kasal ninyo ni Canaan at ang binyag ni Caner," ang kaniyang paliwanag.

Tumango naman si Harlow at ngumiti ito. And you could read the understanding emotion in her eyes.

"Wala iyun, naintindihan kita at maiintindihan din ito ni Canaan, malaking abala na nga sa iyo ang pagpunta rito at alam ko naman na kung hindi lang emergency ay igugugol mo ang iyong araw at oras dito sa amin sa Villacenco," ang sagot ni Harlow sa kaniya.

"Nga pala, is Cairo going with you?" ang tanong nito sa kaniya.

Isang buntong-hininga ang kaniyang pinakawalan at tikom ang kaniyang mga labi nang umiling ang kaniyang ulo.

He saw Harlow grimaced and closed her eyes before she blew a sigh.

"Cairo is stubborn, but...I think we can still talk to her about this... I am so sorry Ishmael,"-

"No don't be, uhm, I don't have much time and I don't know if I can wait for her but, I understand atleast I have an idea of where is Cairo coming from," ang kaniyang saad.

Nakita niyang kumunot ang noo ni Harlow nang hindi nito nintindihan ang kaniyang sinabi.

"Cairo...she...I think she's scared of being away to her family," ang kaniyang saad at kunot ang noo ni Harlow na tumangu-tango kahit pa katulad niya ay hindi rin nito alam kung anuman ang dahilan ni Cairo.

It was just his guess that Cairo was scared of being away from her family when she open up to her about how she values familiarity.

"She just needs a little push, and this is why I am here talking to you," ang kaniyang saad, "if I may request for you na...iwasan mo siya? I know this may sound dreadful but, this will help me and this will help Cairo," ang kaniyang pakiusap kay Harlow na agad namang naintindihan ang kaniyang plano.

"I understand," ang sagot ni Harlow sa kaniya.

"And Harlow?"

"Yes."

"Uhm, please don't tell Cairo about me being a prince?" ang kaniyang pakiusap.

Kumunot ang noo ni Harlow, "sure but...kapag sumama sa iyo si Cairo sa Monte de Oro, malalaman din niya ang totoo."

Tumango siya at ngumiti, "but atleast she's already with me," ang kaniyang sambit.

"You're playing dirty," ang nakangiting sagot sa kaniya ni Harlow.

Umiling ang kaniyang ulo, "no, that's a...a stateman's strategy."

And everything fell into place, ang sabi ng kaniyang isipan at muli niyang sinulyapan si Cairo na bahagyang gumalaw mula sa pagkakarecline nito sa upuan habang nanatili pa ring nakapikit ang mga mata nito.