TRACE DIMAGIBA (Wild Men Series 1)

S4: 07

CHLOE

El Tierra City, Salvacion

Wedding of Gov. Patrick Dimagiba and Carmela Guevarra...

"Why are they here, Patrick?" Mama's worriedness was shown in her eyes and can be heard in her trembling voice. Mahina lang ang tanong pero narinig ko kasi malapit na ako sa kanila.

"Hindi sila papayag na hindi samahan si Chloe. Iyon ang sabi ni Trace." Nang malingunan ako ni Gov ay nginitian ako. "Tama ba 'yon, hija?" tanong pa nito sa akin nang nasa harap na nila ako.

Tumango naman ako. "I really wanted to see you... especially you, Mama."

"Oh, hija... Masaya rin ako na narito ka." Mama pulled me to hug. Ilang saglit akong yakap bago pinakawalan. "Ang sabi ni Ate Cathy ay darating ka kasi kasama nila ang mga bata pero nagduda pa rin ako dahil nga..." sinulyapan ni Mama sina Papa at Louisianna, "dahil sa kanila." Mama sighed. "But when Trace confirmed you are coming dahil nagkausap daw kayo ay talagang nag-expect na ako. But I wasn't informed na kasama mo pala sila."

"Ako na ang nagsabi kay Trace na huwag ipaalam sa 'yo," Gov held Mama's hand. "Naisip ko na baka matakot ka at sabihin na huwag nang ituloy ang kasal." Nag-aalalang sabi pa nito sa mapapangasawa.

"Chloe, bunso ko..." Muli akong niyakap ni mama. "I'm sorry for have no chance seeing you in the hospital..." Naiyak na si mama. "I'm sorry for not being there when—"

"You will ruin your makeup..." malambing kong sabi at putol na rin sa mga sasabihin pa niya.  Dahan-dahang pinunasan ko ang mga luha niya na hindi napigilan. This is her wedding. She must stay happy rather than thinking of her regrets because of what happened that I don't want to think of either.

"Masaya lang ako na narito ka, CJ. At salamat na tanggap mo ako bilang mama mo."

"I grew up so close with you, Mama. Since I was a young girl, you always make a way to be with me. I know you love me. I understood whatever your reason. I'm just happy that you and Gov are together now. And that was enough reason for me to persist in coming here."

"Call me papa, Chloe. Mas gusto kong tawagin mo na akong papa ngayon."

Ngumiti ako at biglang nailang. Technically ay father-in-law ko siya kaya normal na papa ang itawag ko pero mas magiging dahilan ng pagtawag ko ng papa ay dahil stepfather ko na siya.

I just nodded at what the Gov suggested. He held Mama's hand and whispered something to my mother that made her smile. I beamed with happiness for them. In fact, I was touched by the love I am seeing from both of them to one another. They started it wrong, tried to do what was right, and are now back in each other's arms. Funny to think, but their relationship, which caused chaos and even the reason why I was conceived out of greed and anger by Trace's mother, would happily end in a garden wedding.

Siguro kaya sa huli ay masaya pa rin ang lahat for them because they did what was right before. Unlike Papa na kaya malungkot ang buhay ay napuno na lang ng sama ng loob sa dating kaibigan na pakiramdam niya ay umagaw sa nag-iisang babae na minahal niya. I glanced at Louisianna and think how sad her life is too.

Pareho lang sila ni Papa na nagpadala sa galit at sama ng loob kaya naging mga masamang tao. And Mamita... well, she's a different case that until now I still can't figure out why she became so tough. Kung titingnan naman ang mga old pictures niya ay makikita na maliban sa kamukhang-kamukha niya ako ay ang masayahin niyang aura. She looked bubbly and full of positive thoughts. What happened to her made me think that she might not be merry too.

"Mabuti naman at tinupad mo ang usapan," Trace spoke behind me.

Nakita ko naman ang nanunuksong ngiti sa labi ni Mama para sa amin ng stepson niya na pinabayaan ko na lang. She even tactically pulled Gov para iwan kami ni Trace. Ngumiti na lang ako. Kung ang panunukso niya sa amin ni Trace ang paraan para hindi masira ang wedding niya ay bakit hindi. I want her to be joyful marrying the man she truly loves and not thinking of the fear that papa brought to her.