Mr. Right (Mr. Series #3)

Chapter 22

Alas nueve na nang makauwi kami sa bahay. Jhon Rey was in the bathroom taking a shower when I sneaked out to see Derrick and the thing that I asked for.

"Here, Miss Velasco. I have it saved because your father asked me this before," sambit ni Derrick habang iniaabot niya sa akin ang file ni Jhon Rey. Medyo magabok na nga, as if it had been too long since he was ordered to obtain these documents.

"Thank you, Derrick!" Akmang aalis na ako nang may tanong na kumawala sa isip ko. "Sandali, Derrick. Pwede bang magtanong?"

"Of course, Miss Velasco."

"Uhm... this is too personal, pero na-curious lang ako. Wala ka bang girlfriend? I mean, hindi kasi kita nakikitang naglalakwatsa. Wala si dad ngayon kaya pwede kang lumabas-labas o gumala-gala habang wala siya," suhestiyon ko. How come he is still wearing something like the men in black? Hindi ba siya napapagod?

"I'm fine here, Miss Velasco. I am delighted to be able to meet you here and cater to your needs," he responded, maintaining his soft smile.

"Alright, sabi mo, eh, but don't restrain yourself, ha? Narinig kong kasing edaran lang pala kita kaya dapat magsaya ka rin katulad ng ginagawa ko."

"Thank you for your concern, Miss Velasco, but I am having fun doing this. If you need anything else, don't hesitate to call me."

Pagkatapos niyang magpaalam ay dumeretso na siya sa lugar na tinutuluyan niya. May mga sari-sarili kasing bahay ang maids namin dito sa ground at ganoon din ang mga katulad ni Derrick para na rin sa pribado nilang pamumuhay. Who knows? Maybe some of our housekeepers and maids already have a thing for each other. Well, it's a different story to tell.

Mabusisi kong tiningnan ang bawat pahina ng file na hawak ko bago nagdesisyong bumalik sa bahay. Halos mapatalon naman ako nang makita ko ang isang lalaking nakatayo roon sa garden, nakasandal sa isang malaking puno. 

"Halos atakihin ako sa puso sa 'yo, Jhon Rey! Akala ko multo ka!"

"I knew it. That one likes you," he said while walking towards me.

"Huh? Sino? Si Derrick? Tigilan mo nga 'yan!"

Nakaramdam ako ng kaunting inis dahil lahat na lang ay sinususpetyahan niyang may gusto sa akin. Hindi niya ba alam na sinasaktan niya lang ang sarili niya gayong siya na nga ang pinili kong pakasalan. Wala na akong pakialam sa iba kung may gusto man sila sa akin. Meron na akong siya. 

"Tsk. Why did you two talk? Ano 'yang hawak mo?" He glanced at the folder I was holding.

"Wala," sagot ko habang umiiling at naglakad palayo sa kaniya. Nasa likod ko ang folder na naglalaman ng mga impormasyon tungkol sa kaniya. 

"Tsk, why do you always do things that make me jealous? You're being suspicious."

"What?" I fixed my gaze on him.

"Listen, it's not that I lack trust in you or anything; it's just that you're always keeping a secret. Is this how naive you are? If you're going to keep a secret, make sure I won't notice it so I won't conclude things."

Napalingon naman ako sa kaniya, but as soon as I noticed the disappointment in his eyes, I surrendered. This night was so romantic for us to fight. I can still see the stars and the moonlight, and I don't want to ruin this lovely night.

Ipinakita ko sa kaniya ang folder na hawak ko na siyang dapat kong ililihim sa kaniya. "Here. I asked Derrick to give me your information so I could know your background. I want to know more about you because I feel so disappointed in myself that I haven't gotten to know you that well," mahabang paliwanag ko.

Nawala ang kunot sa noo niya, na para bang hinintay niya lang talagang malinawan sa lahat ng bagay na ikinaseselos niya. Tsk. How soft can he be when it comes to me?

"Then you should've asked me. I can tell you more about me compared to those papers, Sheen May. Am I that hard to ask?"

Umiling ako. "Eh, nahihiya kasi ako. Wala akong alam tungkol sa 'yo, samantalang ikaw, ang dami mong alam tungkol sa akin. You even remember that I am the kind of person who easily catches a cold while I don't even know when is your birthday."

Narinig ko siyang bumuntong-hininga. "Then, ako ang magsasabi sa 'yo. April 6. April 6 ang birthday ko. Ano pang gusto mong malaman, mahal ko? I am free tonight to answer all of your questions, para hindi na sumama ang loob mo sa sarili mo dahil wala kang alam sa akin. Lahat ipapaalam ko sa 'yo, magtanong ka lang."

Naglakad siya papalapit sa akin at hinawi ang buhok ko. Nagtagpo ang mga mata namin. KItang-kita ko ang dalawang iyon na kumikislap na parang bituin. "What is it, Sheen May, that you want to know about me?"

"Lahat, Jhon Rey. Lahat ng tungkol sa 'yo gusto kong malaman. From your favorites to your least favorites, your dislikes, your ambitions, your dreams, your plans, and your perspective. I don't know! Anything you can share with me, Jhon Rey," pagsusumamo ko.

Ngumiti naman siya na para bang tintanggal niya lahat ng bagabag sa loob ko. "Alright. I'll tell you everything."

Magkasama naming pinagsaluhan ang gabi habang nakahiga sa hardin at nakatingala sa langit at pinagmamsdan ang mga bituin. Maraming bagay kaming pinag-usapan, katulad ng mga masasaya niyang alaala at ang mga bagay na hindi niya makakalimutan. Those kinds of questions and some quirky ones were all stored in my mind, and I know they won't be forgotten.

"Do you remember, Sheen May? Sinabi ko sa 'yong wala akong pangarap noon. I was real when I said that, but suddenly my perspective has shifted, and these past few days I've been thinking about how many kids I would like to have with you, their names, and the places I would like to go with all of you. I've become ahead of myself when it comes to you and our family."

Hindi ko mapigilang mapangiti. A man who has goals and aspirations for the future is really attractive. I feel so overwhelmed that in those dreams of him, I am in them.

"How many children do you hope to have someday?" tanong ko.

"Seven."

"Are you kidding me?" Napahalakhak ako at napapalo sa dibdib niya.

"Bakit? Tinanong mo ako, sinagot kita. Pito ang gusto kong maging anak natin. But then again, it depends on you to decide if you can handle it. I'm being considerate in seven, you know? If I can go up to twelve, why not?"

Hindi ko na mapigilan pa ang malakas na pagtawa dahil sa mga ipinagtatapat niya sa akin. He's naturally funny just by expressing himself.

"Alright, alright. We'll try to get you what you want, but we need to work hard so we can provide for our big family."

"Yeah, I know, so I'll work hard to give you all the good life you deserve. Don't worry about it too much, and just focus on doing things you like. I'll provide for all of your needs," he assured. How he mouthed those words sent spectacular feelings inside my heart. Hinding-hindi ko malilimutan ang pag-uusap naming ito. Hindi kailanman sa buhay ko. 

"Can we go back to Disneyland with our children?" muli kong tanong sa kaniya.

"Of course, that's a promise," he said with a smile. Hinalikan niya ang tungkil ng ilong ko tsaka ang noo ko na para bang isang selyo na lahat ng mga pangako niya ay matutupad. Na lahat ay gagawin niya para lang hindi mapako ang mga iyon.  

Makalipas ang ilang oras, napagdesisyunan na naming bumalik sa kwarto namin. The file I got from Derrick became useless because Jhon Rey chatted to me all night about some of his funny moments when he was younger—how bully he was but regretting it now because he was worried that our future children would be bullied too, like karma.

Katulad ng mga dumaang gabi, natulog kaming magkasama sa piling ng isa't isa.