Chasing the Wild Waves (Student Series #1)

Kabanata 46

Warning: Beware of some vulgar words.

"Are you sure, h-hijo? N-Ngayon din? G-Gabi na, ah?"

Parehong gulat sina mommy at daddy nang ibinalita ni Ryder sa kanila pagkauwi namin na ngayon kami ikakasal. Mommy was silent and couldn't say anything. She looks like she's still processing everything she just heard. Namulsa si Ryder at sumulyap sa akin bago siya tumango kay daddy.

"I am sure of my decision, Tito Frances," he said in the final.

"Kahit gabi na? Hindi na ba maipagpabukas iyan, hijo? Ngayon talaga?"

Ryder nodded again. "Yes po, tito. I wanted us to get married now ngayong pumayag si Scarlet na pakasalan ako. Baka po bukas.. biglang magbago ang isip niya."

"What? I am not like that!" angil ko, pero hindi nila ako pinansin.

"Are you really sure of our daughter, hijo? Alam kong dati.. tinutulak kita sa anak ko pero ngayon.. marami na ang nagbago, Ryder. Huwag ka namang magpadalos-dalos ng desisyon mo, hijo, at baka sa huli ay magsisi ka. And you know Carolina, she's spoiled—"

"Hindi po biro ang pagpapakasal, tito," he said, cutting my dad off. "Ilang taon ko na po itong pinag-isipan nang maigi at ang anak lang po ninyo ang gusto kong pakasalan. Hindi rin po ako nagpapadalos ng desisyon ko, sadyang naisip ko lang po iyong mga nasayang na taon namin ni Scarlet. Dati pa lang, tito, alam n'yo na ang kaya kong gawin para sa anak ninyo. If spoiling her is the only way to make her stay, I'll do it."

Nalaglag ang panga nina mommy at daddy. Nangatog naman ang mga tuhod ko sa narinig. Talagang sinabi niya iyan? How come he wants to marry me despite what I did to him? He has the power now, he has found his family, he has the wealth, and everything. Kayang-kaya niya akong patumbahin, kayang-kaya niyang maghiganti sa akin pero.. bakit ganito? I never thought that he wanted to continue our marriage. Hindi talaga sumagi sa isipan ko ang ganoong bagay sa nagdaang taon.

"Kahit sa huwes lang po muna, tito. Saka na sa Simbahan kapag.. gusto na ni Scarlet," ani Ryder at humingang malalim. "I promise to take care of your daughter, tito, like you took care of her. I will treasure her the way you treasured her."

The butterflies in my stomach tickled me. My heart raced so fast and so loud. I could even hear it. Naririnig din kaya iyon ni Ryder? I looked up to him and caught him staring at me. There's something written in his eyes. I couldn't take my gaze off of him. I am happy and hurt at the same time by everything he said. Masaya ako sa mga binitiwan niyang salita dahil pinapagaan niyon ang pakiramdam ko at binibigyan ako ng assurance. Subalit.. nasasaktan din ako, nasasaktan ako para sa kanya kasi alam kong.. hindi ako ang babaeng deserving para sa kanya.

Dad smiled at him and tapped his shoulder. "You always have my approval, hijo. I really like you for my daughter. You have the consistency and sincerity. Ayaw ko rin na maging hadlang sa inyong dalawa ngayong pumayag din naman ang anak kong pakasalanan ka.. but please.. take care of her."

Tumango si Ryder. "I will, tito."

"Ryder.." si mommy. "I have trust in you. I know that you cannot hurt my daughter. Please, always understand her. Mahirap intindihin si Carolina, pero alam kong kaya mo pa rin siyang intindihin."

Ngumiti si Ryder kay mommy at niyakap ito.

"I will always do that, tita," aniya matapos kumalas sa mabilis na yakap kay mommy.

"My daughter is very stubborn. She's hard headed sometimes, she's hard to get along with sometimes, she's spoiled and brat.. pero, hijo.. sabihin mo lang kung mapagod ka sa anak namin dahil hindi ako magdalawang-isip na kuhanin ang anak ko sa 'yo..."