Hello, Ms. Stalker

Chapter 41

- Arranged Marriage -

"Mommy? You didn't said you'll be here..." 

Kakapasok ko lang sa unit, katatapos kong magpalit ng inside slippers ko when I spotted Mommy. She's in the kitchen making something. 

"Oh... its been awhile kasi anak since we last visited you! And your Dada and I knows na you're too busy to come and visit us in the mansion kaya we are here." Pagpapaliwanag ni Mommy. 

Nilingon ko ang paligid, looking for Dada and there I saw him on Yuwen's favorite tambayan in the house. The living room. Kandong ni Dada si Mayo.

Nilapitan ko si Mommy to make beso on her nang mapansin niya ang bitbit ko, the bouquet of tulips and iyong box.

"Galing kay Yuwen?" Tanong ni Mommy. 

"Siguro po." 

"Akala ko ba wala na kayo? Its been 10 months, Ali."

Awkward akong nangiti kay Mommy, I don't know what to say to her. Tinalikuran ko siya after para pumunta kay Dada naman to greet him. Iniwan ko muna mag-isa si Dada sa may living area to help Mommy upon cooking lunch for us. 

"Let me get straight to the point, Ali." Dada speak kaya napunta sa kaniya ang pansin ko imbes na sa pag-kain ko. 

"What Dada?" Naguguluhang tanong ko saka natingin din kay Mommy. 

"You're getting engage." 

I choke on my food dahil sa sinabi ni Dada. Inabutan ako ni Mommy ng glass of water. Nang makarecover ako, hindi makapaniwalang tinignan ko si Dad.

"I won't marry if hindi si Yuwen ang husband ko." Mariin kong sabi. 

"But Ali, he's long gone." Pangangatwiran ni Dada. "I know I entrusted you to him pero nasaan siya ngayon? He left you for his career. That's absurd. You're turning 30 na niyan and wala ka pang asawa? Maabutan ko pa ba grandkids ko niyan if pinili mong hintayin siya? I'm doing this for your sake, Ali."

"No, Dad. Ayoko. I will never exchange vows with someone I don't love." 

Padabog na binagsak ni Dad ang utensils niya. 

"You are the heiress of my company pero you refused na manahin ito, pumayag ako. Ayos lang because there's Howard naman but this Ali, I'm afraid hindi kita mapagbibigyan." 

"AYOKO." Mangiyak-ngiyak kong sabi. Napahawak nalang ako sa pendant ng kwintas na ibinigay sa akin ni Yuwen years ago. 

"We can't force her, love..." Mahinahon na sabi ni Mommy, taking my side. 

"Yes we can. Sa ayaw at sa gusto mo, you'll be engaged to Ms. Del Mundo's son. In this way, you'll get to marry a good man plus you'll be able to help me with our company pa." 

I only know one good man and its Yuwen.

Bastos na kung bastos sa magulang but I don't want to hear kung ano pa man ang sasabihin na ni Dad niyan. Sinuot ko ang airpods ko and turned on the noise cancellation feature then play a random music on my spotify playlist. 

Tahimik lang ako the whole time na nandito sila sa unit because what's the point of protesting against that engagement? They're not even listening on my side even Mommy. I thought she's on my side pero wala. She did nothing but to keep silent as well. 

I trust Yuwen... I know he will be back before the worst. My man will always comeback to me. I know that. But still, there's this part of me doubting my trust on him. 

Few hours later, umalis na din sila Mommy. Nalaman ko nalang na wala na pala sila nang lumabas ako ng kwarto ko, around dinner time na, 6:00 pm, to find out that I'm all alone again. 

I went in the kitchen to get myself a water. Nakita ko sa may counter iyong invitation for the engagement party. I read the details and its a masquerade ball. I ripped the invitation into pieces and tossed everything in the trashcan.

After no'n, nagtungo ako sa kwarto ni Yuwen para dito matulog. In this way, I can pretend that he's here. Amoy na amoy ko pa naman siya dito. Bago matulog, I decided to type a message for my man.

alisalvador: please come back to me now yuwen.... im begging you, mahal.

After sending Yuwen a message, I cry myself again to sleep... again.

I woke up in the middle of the night, feeling someone is hugging me from behind. Arms were wrapped on my waist firmly. 

"Yuwen..." I whispered his name. 

"I'm here." I heard a familiar voice I've been missing for months. 

He planted kisses on my neck. 

Hinarap ko siya matapos. The room was too dim for me para makita ang mukha nito so I burried my face on his chest and I knew it! This is him. 

My tears started rolling down on my cheeks. Mahigpit ko siyang niyakap pabalik. This is too real to be a dream.

"I hate you--" 

My words were cut off when he pressed his lips against mine. I was to hit him with my fist pero nanlambot ako sa ginawa niya. He gently kissed me with his soft lips. I felt his hand caressing my cheek at the same time wiping my tears away. 

"I love you." He whispered after the kiss. 

"Ay, PUTANGINA?!" Napamura ako. 

Nagising ako dahil sa pagkakatama ng buong katawan ko sa sahig, nalaglag ako sa kama yakap pa din ang unan. 

Bumangon ako sabay himas sa may balakang ko kung saan ako sobra napasaktan sa pagkakalaglag ko mula sa kama. Hawak ko sa kanang kamay ang unan na kanina ay yakap yakap ko nang malaglag ako.

I looked around the room and nothing changed. I'm still all alone. 

Guess it was a dream then?

"But that felt so real..." Napahawak ako sa labi ko.

I shook my head and clear my thoughts. Tutal gising na gising na din naman na ang diwa ko dahil sa pagkakahulog ko sa kama, napagdesisyunan kong magligpit nalang ng pinagtulugan ko. 

I think I'm having a bad memory na, sign of aging? Pagkakaalala ko kasi nang matulog ako, nakaayos ang apat na unan sa kama na nakasandal sa may headboard but now iyong is ay nasa isang gilid at isa ay bitbit ko. Samantala iyon dalawa ay perfectly nakaayos sa may headboard which is iyong ginamit kong unan. 

Napakamot nalang ako sa batok ko. Maybe it was Mayo. Kinalat niya siguro.

Naghilamos lang ako saglit sa may washroom dito sa kwarto ni Yuwen saka ako lumabas ng kwarto niya para sana pumunta sa kwarto ko to do my morning routine but as soon as I went out of his room, I find the TV on here in the living room. 

"The hell is happening in this unit?" Pabulong kong komento saka pinatay iyong TV.