Pagkatapos ng tugtog ay uupo na sana ako subalit bigla akong inaya sumayaw ni Tito Akihiko.
“ May I have this dance, beautiful young lady?”
Tumingin naman ako kay Haruto.
He nodded and smiled. “ Dance with your mother, Haruto.”
“ I'll surely do, Dad.”
Nang mag- umpisa na ang tugtog ay marahan niya akong isinayaw.
Parang bumabalik ako sa panahong isinayaw ako ni Papa no'ng 18th birthday ko.
Preskong- presko pa 'yon sa isipan ko.
“ What did you like about my son?” tanong ni Tito.
“ He's a strong and independent man. You see, it's rare to find a man who never gives up for his dreams...alone...”
Dahil do'n ay muli kong naalala no'ng unang beses ko siyang nakitang umiyak.
“ He is. But since I got the chance to meet the girl he wants to spend his whole life with, I'll take the opportunity to ask for your favor.”
“ What is it po, Tito?”
“ I know...ikaw lang ang makakatulong sa'kin, sa'min ng Tita Elizabeth mo. At alam ko ring sa'yo lang siya makikinig. Tell him to stop his career as an idol, and start his career as a future Engineer and a CEO.”
My whole world just stopped, and my eyes hold my tears.
“ I know you can do it, right? You are his weakness, I know—”
Sakto naman ay huminto na ang tugtog. Kaya't kumalas na ako sa pagkakahawak kay Tito.
“ I can't, Tito, I know, ginagawa mo po 'yon for his future. But I am not in the position to stop him from doing the things that will make him happy. Like a stair, he slowly builds each tread to step up, and I can say that I am one of those who witness his struggles and how he overcame it alone. Yes, he listens to me, but I'll never use it to make him stop his life. If I do what you want, parang tinanggalan ko na rin ho siya ng karapatan upang mabuhay ng masaya. I love your son, Tito. His happiness is mine, his fight is mine, I'll never leave him alone.”
At alam ko rin namang hinding- hindi niya iiwan ang bagay na mas nauna pa niyang kinagisnan kesa sa'kin?
Huminga ako ng malalim. “ Excuse me po.”
Umupo muna ako sa table namin at pinagmasdan lang sina Haruto at Lola na nagsasayaw.
When he smiles I smile, when he cries I cry.
So why would I take that most precious smile away from the man I love?
Pagkatapos nilang sumayaw ay agad naman siyang umupo sa tabi ko.
“ How's your dance with Dad, Moonbeam?”
“ O-okay naman. May mga bagay lang kaming pinag- usapan. But it's not that serious naman.”
“ Oh, I see. Let's go somewhere after this party.”
“ Saan naman tayo pupunta?”
“ It's a surprise.”
“ Dami mong paandar ah.”
So after party ay nagpaalam muna kami sa family niya, especially to his Dad.
“ Happy birthday again, Tito.”
“ Thank you, hija.”
“ Aww, you're leaving na ate Ganda?” malungkot na saad ni Ichiro.
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TANGLED STARS
Romance"Stars may collide, stars may die, but stars will never get tangled." Meet Hope Dorothea Dawn Villanueva, a 22-year-old Entrepreneur student and the Unica hija of her family. Her family spoils her with love, care, and support. She also has true frie...
