Love Next Door

7 - Finding Comfort

JERON

I'm headed to Dr. Espinosa's office since siya yung assigned physician ni Angkong.

Ilang pambabatok din inabot ko sa lolo ko bago sila nakatulog pareho ni Ama.

--- Flashback ---

"What do you mean Mika's your fiancee?", my grandmother asked.

Huminga ako ng malalim bago magpaliwanag.

"Remember that night when we're supposed to meet their family?", I said facing them.

"Are you trying to remind me of my age?! Oh eh tanda ko ngang hindi naman sila dumating noon. Paano mo siya nakilala?", grabe talaga 'tong lolo ko.

"You're right, Angkong. They didn't come. Because that was the night na naglayas si Mika sa kanila."

"And how did you know that, apo?", Ama asked in a soft tone.

"Dad told me. Kinwento niya how Tito Manuel, his best friend was really devastated. Pangalawang anak na pala si Mika na umalis sa kanila because of the business. In Mika's case though, she left because of the fixed marriage agreement."

"Teka nga. That was what? Three years ago? Bakit ngayon ka lang nagkkwento sa amin?", binatukan ulit ako.

"Angkong naman. Hindi po yata matatapos yung kwento nang hindi nababali leeg ko eh."

"Aba't!"

"O Pa. Puso mo. Saka patapusin mo nga kasi muna 'tong apo natin.", awat ni Ama.

Syempre sumunod naman lolo ko. Under eh. Something he's proud of at gustong ipasa sa akin.

"Go on, Ron. You know you can tell us anything.", Ama urged.

I reached for the glass of water on the table and drank it while remembering Dad's phone conversation.

"Dad called recently. It seems na updated naman parents ni Mika about her life. They sort of believe that she's coming back home after a year. And so our parents decided to push through with the engagement."

"Kaya ikaw naman ang nagrebelde, ganoon ba? Paano mo siya naging kapitbahay?", Angkong asked calmly this time.

Sa totoo lang, nahirapan din akong mahanap si Mika. Though their family is known in the business world, only a few people know about her. Hindi kasi siya sumasama sa mga events and rumor has it that she won't be the successor of their real estate business.

Wala akong pakialam sa kanya noon dahil akala ko, hindi na matutuloy ang kasal. But after Dad's phone call, I decided na kailangan kong gumawa ng paraan para si Mika mismo ang mag-back out, whether or not she chooses to go back to her family.

"Aaminin ko po. Hinanap ko po talaga siya. Since no one was occupying the unit beside hers, I took the chance.", I answered briefly.

"And?", Angkong prodded. Of course my grandfather would know that there's more to it.

"And... I did everything to piss her off. So that she would hate me. So that when the time comes na malaman niyang ako ang nakatakda niyang pakasalan, she would be the one to object."

Pareho silang nagpakawala ng buntong-hininga.

"And now... you regret what you did?", Ama asked.