Dahil Mahal Kita

Kabanata 2

I have some things for you. Daanan mo nalang mamaya dito sa firm—basa ko sa isang text message ni Dad kaninang umaga. Maybe it's some pasalubong from his out of town trip.

My father, Nicholas Santiago, is a known lawyer. He's good at handling cases. And I'm proud that I'm his daughter. Every time I'm asked about my connection with him, sinasabi kong anak niya ako. Ganoon naman akong ipinapakilala ni Dad sa mga tao.

But of course, people will still see me as my father's bastarda.

"Miss Natalia, pasensya na talaga-"

Pinutol ko na ito. "No, no. It's okay, Yvette. You need to attend to your daughter."

Tinawagan ako ni Yvette telling me that she can't make it to work today dahil nilalagnat ang kaniyang anak. Wala naman iyon sa 'kin. Her daughter needs her more than I, her job do.

"Salamat, Miss Natalia." aniya.

Ibinaba ko ang tawag and started my car's engine.

Si Yvette ay isang single mom. Her husband died habang ipinapanganak niya ang kanilang anak. While on his way to the hospital, he got himself to an accident. That was tragic. I'm proud of Yvette, though. She working hard for her daughter.

Nakarating ako sa bahay mismo ng aking client. I was welcomed by a young couple. Tingin ko ay masyado pa silang bata para magpakasal? But who am I to judge anyway.

I hope everyone realizes this. Ang mga tao ay masyadong mapanghusga. Madalas kung ano ang kanilang narinig o nakita ay iyon na 'yon. Not even minding to know the whole story first. And that's unfair. I believe that you should try to hear both sides first. But of course, the world itself is unfair.

"So you want a beach wedding."

I'm interviewing them at the same time taking down notes for their wedding's detail.

"Our only concern is the venue..." sabi noong bride-to-be.

Tinanguan ko ito."Hmm, Palawan maybe... or boracay?" I suggested.

Umiling ito. "Gusto ko sanang somewhere in Cebu."

"Oh," napatango ako. "Then, we can check Moalboal?"

"'Yan din ang suggestion ng older sister ko." the girl nodded.

"Yeah, maganda doon... And the attendees?" I asked.

"We want it intimate." sagot naman ng lalaki.

I nodded as I typed it down. "Okay."

Nang matapos iyon ay dumiretso ako sa kaibigan kong photographer. I'll ask him if he could handle my client's prenuptial photoshoot next week. Minabuti ko nang personal siyang puntahan sa kanyang workplace since he's as busy as hell na hindi niya magawang sagutin ang mga tawag ko.

"Natalia!"

He opened his arms wide, waiting for a hug. Pabiro ko siyang inirapan but still went to him.

"You're busy?" nagtaas ako ng kilay as we parted.

"You think so?" he smirked.

Nailing na lamang ako. Inilibot ko ang tingin sa kabuuan ng kanyang studio-na nahinto sa nakitang isang brassiere na nagkalat sa sahig. Oh my god! Pati ba naman photo studio?

"Ang halay mo!" hinampas ko siya ng aking bag.

Humalakhak lamang ang unggoy.

Si Achi ay maituturin kong bestfriend. It's funny how we met. That day, I was so down at halos takasan na ng bait at naisip kong tumalon nalang sa tulay. He came along and stopped me. It's him who made me see reasons why I should cherish life.

What I did was stupid. But can you blame me? Sa isang lalaki lang umikot ang mundo ko. At nang mawala siya... halos hindi ko kinaya. I lost myself. There are love which will make us feel whole. Pero ang totoo, hindi naman talaga tayo nabubuo nito. In fact, we're slowly losing ourselves in the process.

"What do you want-"

"Pizza!" putol ko sa kanya.

He smirked. "Right."

Pizza's always been my favorite. At alam na alam iyon ni... Achi.

I sighed. Ito ang mahirap sa pagmo-move on. These little and simple things that will always remind you of him. Saklap.

Nang dumating ang pina-deliver niyang Pizza ay nilantakan ko agad iyon. Kayang kaya kong ubusin ang isang box ng ako lang at wala akong pakialam kung hindi magpantay ang hatian namin dito.

Habang kumakain ay pinag-usapan namin ang tungkol sa kliyente ko. Ang sabi niya ay kaya naman since hindi siya gaanong magiging busy next week. So it's settled.

Natapos ang araw na iyon ng normal. Everything's fine. No complications and all. My life's like this for years. It feels normal. But then, why is it I can't make myself completely happy?

Yes. There's plenty of reasons to cherish life, to be happy. Pero bakit parang ang hirap parin. Ang hirap sumaya ng lubusan.

Sa sumunod na mga araw ay nakatanggap ako ng isang mensahe. It says that she's already in the country at nagpakilalang pamangkin ni ninang Meridel. I replied, telling her the location kung saan kami maaring magkita. She probably got my contact number kay ninang.

Kaya naman sa araw na iyon, wearing a simple white dress ay naghintay ako sa restaurant na pagkikitaan namin. I was excited to finally meet her. Gusto ko siyang maging kaibigan since she's ninang's niece-si Ninang na itinuturin kong pamilya.

I stood up nang namataan ko siya coming my direction. Hindi ko pa siya nakikita in person but I knew it was her. Nakita ko na siya sa mga pictures nila Ninang that was uploaded on her facebook account. She doesn't look far from her image sa mga pictures at sa personal. She looks so natural.

Sinalubong ko siya ng isang ngiti-but when my vision caught the man who's walking behind her... my smile slowly vanished.

After all those years of not seeing him. Hindi ko akalaing ang muli naming pagkikita ay magiging ganito... siya ba iyong tinutukoy ni ninang na mapapangasawa nitong pamangkin niya?

I saw how he stopped mid-step when our eyes met ngunit agad din nakabawi at nagpatuloy sa paglapit, nawawalan ng emosyon. Samantalang ramdam ko ang pagkakatulala at mabilis na pintig sa dibdib ko.

"You must be Miss Natalia Santiago? Ako nga pala si Celine." ngumiti ito at naglahad ng kamay.

Startled, I took her hand. "Y-Yes," pilit kong inalis ang tingin kay Iñigo at bumaling sa kay Celine. "ikaw iyong pamangkin ni Ninang."

Tumikhim ako. Pilit kong inaayos ang sarili. Sa halip ay nilahad ko na lamang sa kanila ang aming lamesa. Agad din naman may lumapit na waiter.

Lumunok ako't unti unting nag-angat ng tingin sa lalaking kaharap, mula sa hawak kong menu. Napuno ng pangungulila ang puso at damdamin ko habang nakatingin sa kanya ngayong nasa kanyang menu lang ang mga mata.

Nag-angat siya ng tingin at nagtagpong muli ang mga mata namin.