Rain and I decided to keep our relationship private. But once asked, we wouldn't deny it.
We were so proud of each other, but we didn't want to be braggy about it, especially that we were both public figures.
Mahirap na dahil baka may mga kumalat na rumors or baka bigla nalang may manabunot sa akin dahil maraming nagkakacrush sa kanya.
Noong una ngang lumabas 'yong picture namin together on our first date ay marami nang nagkagulo kahit hindi pa confirm kung totoong nagdedate nga talaga kami.
It was actually fun to watch his fans lose their minds and rant about it on social media because I wasn't threatened.
Ilang beses kasi akong sinisigurado ni Rain na ako lang, at alam ko 'yon kahit hindi niya sabihin dahil nararamdaman ko sa mga galaw niya at naririnig sa bawat salitang sinasabi niya sa akin.
"You know, I really like you for my son."
Napangiti ako sa sinabi ni Tita Raina—Rain's mother.
She insisted na ganun ang itawag ko sa kanya. Nahihiya nga ako dahil parang ang taas niya masyado kompara sa akin para tawagin lang na ganoon, pero since boyfriend ko naman na si Rain ay wag daw akong mahihiya sa kanya.
Nasa grocery market kami ngayon dahil sinasamahan niya akong magpamili ng mga gamit sa condo ni Rain dahil pumayag na akong lumipat doon.
15 minutes away lang naman 'yon sa kompanya kaya okay lang at gusto ko ring makasama si Rain araw-araw.
"We were offered by different tycoons around the world to sign him up for an arranged marriage to their daughters when he turned 18. You do the math, darling." She chuckled.
Her statement sent a pang in my chest, but I forced myself to laugh it off even though jealousy was slowly consuming me.
Those girls were surely from really wealthy families or even royalties because Rain only deserved those kinds.
"We accepted an offer once even though Rain refused." Tita Raina's voice suddenly turned gloomy, and then her eyes glistened with impending tears. "He refused a lot of times, but we didn't listen. We never listened to him kahit pa noong nag aaral pa siya at ilang beses sinabi sa aming napapagod na siya sa pag abot ng standard na ibinigay namin sa kanya, until I was called to an hospital because he tried to commit suicide."
Napahinto ako sa narinig at unti-unting sumikip ang dibdib ko.
Hindi sinabi sa akin ni Rain kung bakit siya tumalon doon sa rooftop, pero nabanggit niya sa akin noong nag movie marathon kami sa condo niya na pakiramdam niya ay walang nakikinig sa kanya.
Ito 'yong rason...
"He thought the business was more important for us than him." Tita Raina started sobbing quietly.
I could feel my eyes burning, so I closed them and took a deep breath.
I knew how it felt like to be unwanted, so becoming aware that someone I love felt that way too was pure torture.
Taking a deep breath, Tita Raina wiped her tears and smiled faintly at me.
"We didn't pressure him again after that, so when he introduced you to us, we were so happy because finally, there's someone who made him feel wanted."
I watched her hand take mine, and then we gazed at each other's eyes—hers filled with motherly love, while mine was with understanding and care.
"Please, promise me to choose my son all the time," she begged.
The sound of her hopeful voice made me tighten my hold to her hand and nod my head multiple times.
"Thank you so much." She closed the distance between us to embrace me.
