I MET THE MAN WHO BROKE THE HEART BREAKER'S HEART

Heartbreaker 17: Warning

I failed to save myself. But I can save other girls. -Richelle Constantino

--

Isang linggo nang pabalik balik si Drew sa inuupahan kong boarding house. Ang buong akala nito ay nag aaral din ako sa UL. Tumawag ang girlfriend nito sa akin (na kliyente ko) at nagpapasalamat. Nakipagbreak na raw ito sa kanya at natuwa naman ito dahil kaligtasan niya ang ibig sabihin nun.

Alam kong nakipagbreak si Drew dahil na rin sa hiling ko. How could he date me if he got a girlfriend?

We're dating and sa ngayon, wala pa akong nakikitang signs ng kanyang sadist side. Napagkasunduan naming susunduin niya ako ngayon. Sabi niya, may pupuntahan kami. I prepared myself for today's date.

We don't know. Something might happen.

Well, my guess is right.

-

"What are we doing here Drew?" He held my hand and looked as me after parking his car.

"I want you to meet my family baby." I'm not dumb to not realize that we're on the Constantino's residence.

"Okay." Yun lang ang sinagot ko at napangiti naman ito. Maya't maya pa eh hinila nito ang kamay ko at pumasok na nga kami sa loob.

Maganda ang buong bahay. Makabago ang disenyo nito. Ano pa nga bang aasahan ko sa ama niyang isang sikat na Engineer?

Sinalubong ako ng isang may edad na babae at lalaki. Ito ang mga magulang ni Drew. Humalik si Drew sa pisngi ng kanyang ina at nagmano naman ito sa kanyang ama.

"Who's the chick Drew?" I mentally winced. Hindi kasi bumagay sa edad ng ama nito ang way of speaking nito.

"Mom, Dad. Meet Fria Ronares, my girl." I saw his mom's left eyebrow raised a bit.

"Mabuti pa ay dalhin mo na siya sa sala anak. Hon, magpahanda ka na ng pagkain para sa bisita natin." Sabi ng ama nito at hindi nakaalis sa paningin ko nang ihead to toe ako ng ina ni Drew.

The three of us walked towards their sala. Moderno rin ang disenyo at may isang napakalaking chandelier sa ibaba, amber and white colored.

"Anyway, I'm Ced Constantino Fria. Drew's father." Nginitian ko ito at inabot ang kamay nito. Umupo na kami at maya't maya pa ay pumasok ang dalawang maid. Dala ng mga ito ang mga pastries na sa hula ko eh, pinagawa pa nila sa residence chef nila.

"How did you knew each other?" His father asked at umupo naman sa tabi nito ang ina ni Drew, Richelle Constantino .

"Uhm. Sa pathway po infront of CSI Square. Pauwi pa lang po ako from buying my things when I accidentally bumped with Drew." Napa oh na lang ang ama nito. His mother looked with me with suspicion.

"Accidentally or sinadya mo?" Sinadya. I mentally answered. Totoo naman eh

"Mom!" Drew said as if warning his Mom. Hindi lang siya pinansin ng kanyang ina.

"What's your family business? Saan ka nag aaral? What's the name of your Dad? Your Mom? Do they have a name on the society? Do you even have your own car? Condo? How much is you-"

"Richelle." May pagbabanta sa boses ng ama ni Ced. Napairap na lang si Tita Richelle at umupo sa gilid.

"We're sorry about that Fria. Sadyang over protective lang si Rich when it comes to her son. Alam mo na, only child eh." I smiled sheepishly. Hanggang kailan ba ako magiging sheep?

"It's okay Sir." I said at bumaling sa ina ni Drew.

"We're running a telecommunications family Ma'am. I'm a transferee of UL, nanggaling po ako sa England. My parents are Lauren Ronares and Christian Ronares. We do not just own a telecommunications company but my Mom is also known as the head chef of Ronares' Pastries. And yes Ma'am I do have my own condo and car." I said. Ced looked so amazed.

"Oh yes. We know Ronares Pastries. But how come na hindi namin alam na may anak pala sila?"

"I stayed in England for years and lately lang po ako umuwi dito. Napagisip ko rin po kasi na mas magandang kasama ko ang mga magulang ko. And besides, Philippines is still my motherland." What I've said is true. Malayong kamag anak namin ang mga Ronares and Tito Chris owns Ronares' Pastries. And yes, Fria Ronares do exists.

Ang kaibahan lang, she's still in England. Never siyang umuwi dito sa Pilipinas kaya't walang nakakakilala sa kanya.

"That's good." Ced answered. The talk lasted for a couple of minutes until tumayo si Richelle at nagdesisyong kumuha ng pagkain. What differed is she took me with her.

Hindi pa nagtatagal nang dumating kami sa kusina ay hinawakan na ako ni Richelle sa braso.

"Look Fria. I'm sorry for being rude a while ago. You're a smart and kind girl but.." Tumingin muna ito sa paligid.

"You should stay away from Drew." I showed some confusion in my face. This woman knows what Drew does.

"P-po?" I said. Pinaupo ako nito sa isang stool at siya naman ay naglakad sa harap ko.

"You see. Anak ko si Drew but he's not as good as you think. Masasaktan ka lang niya and I can't afford someone like you to fall on his hands." Nagpatuloy lamang ito sa paglalakad. As if she's nervous.

"Bakit naman po ako sasaktan ni Drew? Tita, your son is a good guy." Napailing na lang ito sa sinabi ko.

"Hindi mo pa kilala si Drew, Fria. He can do a lot of thing that is unhumane. As early as now, please stay away from him. I'm not trying to ruin your relationship. I'm trying to save you from him." Mahinang sabi nito sa akin.

"Save? Why do I needed to be save Tita? I don't undertsand." Tumingin muna ito sa sala only to see his husband and son talking.

"Please Fria. Listen to me. This is for your own sake. Hindi mo pa kilala si Drew. You deserve someone better for yourself. And that someone isn't Drew." May sasabihin pa sana ito pero narinig naming nagsalita si Ced.

"Hon? Bakit ang tagal niyo?" Panic was all over her face.

"We're already setting the cups Hon! Just a minute." Sigaw nito pabalik. Bumaling naman ito sa akin agad.

"Fria, you're a good girl. But I can't let another life be ruined just because of my son. You see. Bago ka pa man makauwi dito, Drew faced many issues regarding his exes. He is the reason bakit namamatay ang mga exes nito. He hurts them physically. Ayokong magaya ka sa kanila. Please listen to me." I see. She's against this.

"Tita, kung totoo po man ang lahat niyan. Bakit niyo hinahayaan si Drew gawin ang mga iyon? You could've done something. She's your son." Napayuko ito.

"I can't. Ced has my family. You see. Ced raised Drew the way he is now. Gusto niyang sundan ni Drew ang mga yapak nito. And if he loses Drew, ako ang mananagot. I wish to save people. Ayokong mapunta ka sa fate na sinapit ko. I failed to save myself. But I can save other girls. So please, listen to me." I see. Battered wife.

Don't worry Tita. I will save you. She deserves my respect.

"Tita, I don't get it why you're saying this things. Mahal ko po ang anak niyo and whatever may happen, kakayanin ko po." Kinuha ko ang tray na naglalaman ng sweets at dinala iyon sa living room pero bago pa ako makaalis, I heard her mumble.

"Fria, kung ano man ang mangyari, binalaan na kita." I saw her looking defeated.

"Don't worry Tita. I can manage myself. Siya dapat ang binalaan niyo sa pagdating ko." With that, umalis na ako sa kusina.

Drew, prepare youself. Your evilness needs to be ended.

IMTMWBTHH

2015.