The Love That Isn't Mine

VIII. Little Things

I realize that I'm right all these years.

Marcus is one waving green flag.

Marcus is nice and pleasant enough to be with. Except for morning mood swings and his 18th Century old fashioned perspective about women. Magalang ito sa mga matatanda. Magiliw ito sa mga bata. Gentleman ito sa mga babae.

So, mapagbiro talaga si Lord.

Why did he have to make him perfect this way?

These past few days that he was his Dad's right hand man on the social events and functions, I had to be there as well. Almost all of the people in town knew my parents.

My parents were the real celebrities of San Isidro. Either naging teacher ng anak, pamangkin o mga apo nila ang Mommy or naging Professor nila ang Daddy.

At ngayon ko na na-realize why it was me. Mayor Carlos introduced me as his future daughter-in-law and the daughter of the two known educators in San Isidro.

Hindi alam ni Mayor Carlos, walang future daughter-in-law. Or better yet, it would not be me.

Naalimpungatan ako at naramdaman kong may naglagay ng balabal sa katawan ko. And I saw Marcus's tired face. "Anong oras na?" Tanong ko habang pilit tumitingin sa paligid.

It was dark.

Bumagsak ang balabal na inilagay niya sa katawan ko. Pero parang wala sa loob na binalik niya din iyon sa pagkakabalabal sa akin. "Malamig." Sabi nito.

I looked at him while he unconsciously did just that. It was so natural.

"Nakatulog ka na ba?" Tanong ko dito habang nakatingin sa mga papel na nasa kandungan nito.

He shrugged his shoulders.

"I'm sorry." Sabi nito.

"For what?"

"May pasok na sa eskwela araw-araw napipilitan ka pang sumama samin sa weekend para mag-abot ng tulong sa mga ilang na lugar o kaya ay umattend sa kung ano anong activities para lang sa activities ni Daddy."

Tinitigan ko lang ito and our eyes met for a few seconds. And then he looked away. Napatingin ako sa labas ng bintana— sa kawalan. But my heart was skipping beats. I still get those silly butterflies when I looked into Marcus's eyes.

Stop, Nic. Kalmahan mo lang.

"We all thought it was you." Sabi ko sa katahimikan.

Binaba nito ang binabasang papel.

"Ang alin?"

"Tatakbong Mayor."

"Ah."

"Anong ibig sabihin ng Ah?" Sabi ko ng hindi na ito nagsalita.

"I was never interested in politics."

Napabuka yung bibig ko. "But—"

"Sabi nila legacy daw nila ang bayan ng San Isidro. But I don't really care about that. Huling laban na ito ni Dad. They didn't know that I was relieved that mine was delayed this time. They wanted me to be next in line."

"Nasabi mo ba yan?" Mahinang tanong ko sa mahinang boses nito. Nakatingin kami sa natutulog na campaign manager sa harapan. Tita Imy was very loyal to the family. Lalo na sa Daddy ni Marcus. So, I heard.

Umiling si Marcus.

Napabuntunghininga ako at tinitigan ito. Poor Marcus. "You are not so perfect, kind sir."

"Anong ibig mong sabihin?" Natatawa at nawiwirduhan na tanong nito sa akin.

Umiling lang ako. Pareho sila ni Alice. Pareho silang hindi makawala sa hawla na henerasyon na ang nagtatag. At least my parents and Lola Agnes are my biggest allies and supporters.