Mr. Wrong (Mr. Series #1)

Chapter 41

Nakatingin lang ako sa kaniya habang nakaupo siya sa bench. Kinakain ko 'yong mga pagkaing binili niyang muli para sa akin.

"Hindi ka ba kakain?" tanong ko, pero bumuntong hininga lang siya. Nakatitig siya sa mga halaman sa tapat niya habang seryoso ang mukha at parang may ibinubulong.

"Akala ko ako na 'yong taong pinaka-worst sa buong mundo. May mga klase pa pala ng tao na kagaya ni Jhon Rey. Kumukulo ang dugo ko."

"Nagulpi mo na nga 'yung tao, so stop complaining," komento ko.

"At kakampihan mo pa talaga siya pagkatapos ng mga sinabi niya sa 'yo? Those words he told you earlier are still lingering in me, and you're still going to stand up for him?"

"Naiintindihan ko naman siya. Nasabi niya lang 'yon kasi nasa bingit din siya ng kamatayan dahil kay dad. Kasalanan ko rin naman kaya niya nasabi 'yon."

Napapikit siya at napabuntong-hininga. "It's not your fault, Sheen May. Can you please open your eyes? Pinagtatanggol mo 'yung lalaking ang turing sa 'yo—" Umiling siya at hindi na tinapos ang sasabihin.

"I told you, kung hindi niya kayang panagutan 'yang dinadala mo, willing akong panagutan ka. I am willing to marry you. For all the mess I've done to you before, I really want to make it up to you, and if marrying me is the only way for you to overcome this problem, I am willing to give in."

I looked at him and smiled. "I know, I can see that Jhunel, and I am thankful that you're here beside me. Even if I already pushed you away so many times, you chose to stay. I see it all. If only I could dictate my heart, I would have agreed to what Dad wanted a long time ago, but choosing you is like taking advantage of you. I've said awful things to you before, even hated you so much more, but I can now see your right side. You're starting to change Jhunel, and I know I am not deserving of that. I'm a mess, you know."

"Hindi naman nagbago ang tingin ko sa 'yo. I always see you the way I saw you for the first time. Ako rin naman, I became a jerk toward you, which is why I understand that you hated me and couldn't afford to trust me again, but just to assure you, I will never turn my back on you again, Sheen May. I will always be here." Hinawakan niya ang kamay ko. "Kung kaya ko lang ibalik ang oras. Hindi na sana ako pumunta sa party na 'yon. Pakiramdam ko, ako ang may kasalanan kung bakit nangyayari sa 'yo 'yang lahat."

Natahimik ako bago ko muling naalala ang nangyari. That made me tear up.

Noong araw na 'yon, nagpapaalam siya sa akin na pupunta sa kaklase niya. Inimbitahan siya sa birthday party. Hindi ako pumayag dahil may exam pa siya kinabukasan pero sinuway niya ako. Nalaman ko na lang na tumuloy siya dahil may tumawag sa akin na sunduin ko nga raw ang boyfriend ko dahil lasing na lasing na. May exam din ako kinabukasan no'n, pero dahil mahal ko siya pinuntahan ko siya para sunduin, pero hindi ko inaasahan ang madadatnan ko.

May kasama siyang babae sa kwarto. Hinahalikan niya habang nasa ibabaw siya nito. Halos gumuho ang mundo ko nang masaksihan ko ang pangloloko niya sa akin. Nakita niya ako no'n at para bang nagulat siya nangyari pero umalis ako at simula no'n ay hindi ko na siya kinausap.

Noong nagdesisyon siyang pagtaksilan ako, para niya na ring sinabing wala na akong halaga sa buhay niya. Kaya hindi ko na siya pinagbigyan pang ipaliwanag ang lahat.

I wiped my tears. That's what I hate most of all: ang lokohin o pagsinungalingan dahil buo ang tiwala ko sa kaniya. Mahira ang long-distance relationship, pero dahil mahal ko siya, sumugal ako dahil akala ko ay hindi siya kagaya ng mga manlolokong lalaki na naghahanap ng kalinga sa iba. I thought he was different, but he broke my trust.

And after years of getting over that bad experience, I get to meet someone who makes me trust again, but I guess I'm not lucky with men because it looks like I made a mistake twice.

"Hindi ko hahayaang makalapit muli sa 'yo si Jhon Rey," sambit niya. Bakas sa mga mata niya ang galit sa mga nakita at narinig niya kanina. "Hindi ko hahayaang may manakit sa 'yo."

Lumipas ang oras at bumalik na kami sa classroom. Magkasama kaming dalawa pero hindi na kami 'yung tipong pinag-uusapan pa. Siguro kanina noong wala kami. Mukhang natatakot na silang makabangga ang isa sa amin ni Jhunel dahil balita nga nilang ikakasal kami gayong hindi na naman. That making fun of us will put them in a bad position in life. I did not know that it is an advantage to have 'Velasco' as my surname for things like this.

Mabilis lang naman ang naging klase namin at sinabing sa makalawa raw ay magkakaroon naman ng basketball game na kung saan mga lalaki naman ang maglalaro. Naku, mabuti naman dahil kung mga babae ulit, baka bumagsak na talaga ako sa p.e. class dahil hindi na ako makakatakbo ngayon.

Nakalimutan ko. Hindi pa nga pala ako nakakapagpa-check up sa doctor tungkol sa kalagayan ko. Hindi ko rin alam kung ilang weeks na ba akong buntis.

Napagpasyahan kong pagkauwi ay magpapasama ako kay Derrick na pumunta sa OB-GYN. I feel like I'm getting sick.

Nagpresinta si Jhunel na ihatid ako pero dahil nga may balak akong puntahan, kaya hindi ako pumayag sa gusto niya. Palabas na ako ng pinto ng classroom nang may humawak sa kamay ko.

"Sheen May, pwede ba tayong mag-usap?"

Hindi ko inaasahang makikita ko si Anne Marie sa harap ko.

"I can't stand you ignoring me," she added. "I want to still give you time because of what happened before I explained everything. I was just scared that you might not believe me. Do you have time to talk to me?"

I removed her hand. "I don't think we can talk now. I have something important to go to," malamig kong sagot. Tumango naman siya.

"No worries, I understand. I'll approach you again next time." She tried to smile at me, but I have no energy to smile back. I said goodbye to her.

Somehow I felt relieved. I thought she would never have the courage to talk to me. Handa naman akong patawarin siya kung sakaling may nangyari nga sa kanilang dalawa ni Jhon Rey. Kung sinasadya ba niya o hindi.  I just can't believe that she, too, would fall for that man.

A few moments later, I saw Derrick waiting beside his car. He greeted me and opened the door for me. I got into the car and was followed by him.

"We'll go to the doctor's house so that if someone follows us, they won't know where you're really going," he commented.

I'm in awe. He acts like I am a celebrity in how he protects me from the media. On the one hand, maybe they are just cautious, so I won't make trouble again. It feels like every time I move, the whole company is in danger. My bad. Sorry, Dad.

Just a moment had passed, and we arrived at a simple, elegant white house that has a touch of gray on the exterior. I am not well-versed in architectural designs, but I can agree that it looks elegant and pretty. Hindi siya mukhang hospital o clinic man, pero bakit dito ako sa bahay ng doctor dadalhin? May mga machine din ba dito para sa katulad kong nagdadalang-tao?

Pero bakit niya naman dadalhin ang working place niya sa bahay niya? Hindi ba siya mapapagod pagka-gano'n? Anyway, it's not my problem. Hindi ko alam kung bakit pati ito'y pinoproblema ko pa. Hindi naman dapat. I've got my own problems to solve.

Or maybe because I'm the daughter of one of the richest businessmen, that I get this kind of special treatment? I don't know, and I'm also not aware of luxury because I never get to live like I was the daughter of a rich man.

Derrick rang the doorbell, and soon, the door opened automatically. I was surprised. Derrick looks like he's used to that effect samantalang ako ay namangha. Hmmm... May dinala na ba siya rito?

Anyway, why is my brain so talkative today? Or maybe I'm just nervous and trying to distract my thoughts?

Derrick let me in first. He was following me. Napalingon pa akong muli sa gate dahil kusa itong sumara. The technology here is amazing.

Derrick opened the door for me while telling me the direction I needed to go. He also said that he would just wait for me here outside. That's common sense. Bakit? Gusto niya rin bang pumasok sa loob at makiusyoso? 

I laughed at my thoughts.

I was about to get inside when I bumped into someone.

My eyebrows met as I saw a familiar face.

I slowly mentioned his name and pointed at him. "Paolo Rod? What are you doing here?"