SINALUBONG ako ni Aris at akmang kukunin ang hawak kong box, yung binigay ni Jeff. Umiwas ako. Dumiretso ako sa passenger side ng kotse nya at naupo sa shotgun. Narinig ko ang marahas nyang paghugot ng hininga. Pumasok na rin sya sa kotse at naupo, pero di kaagad nya in-start yungkotse.
"So, ano? Dito ba tayo mag-uusap?" tanong ko sa kanya. Ikinandong ko na lang sa akin yung box at backpack ko.
"Ilagay mo sa likod yan," nguso nya sa kandungan ko.
"I'm good. Ano na, Aris?" diretso akong tumingin sa mga mata nya.
Umiwas syang tingin sa akin at dumiretso ng tingin sa harap ng sasakyan. Sandali syang napahawak ng mahigpit sa manibela at napatiim-bagang.
"Let's have dinner first," sabi nya sabay start ng kotse.
"Do you think makakakain ako ng lagay na 'to, Aris? You've been prolonging this agony for months now. I'm not stupid, you know that, so stop the crap!" I sternly said.
"Fine! Let's talk somewhere," mahigpit ang hawak nya sa manibela at pinaharuruot ang kotse nya.
Hindi kami nag-imikan hanggang huminto sya sa malaking parking space malapit sa Manila Yatch Club. Ilang minute kaming nakatingin lang sa harapan. Walang tumitinag sa pagkakaupo naming sa loob ng kotse nya.
Wala ba talaga syang balak magsalita? Ano pang silbing pagpunta naming dito?
"Spill it out," simple kong sabi.
"I don't know what to say, " mahina nyang sabi.
"So, pinaparamdam mo na lang sa akin, ganun?"
Itinukod ni Aris ang ulo nya sa manibela habang hawak ito. "My parents tried to talk me out about ... arranged marriage." Mahina nitong sabi pero parang sigaw ang dating sa akin. Napabuka ang bibig ko.
Akala ko, they just did not like me. I mean, that alone is bad news.... pero arrange marriage. It was worse.
Then it hit me! They're Chinese. I remember his elder sister got married early because of that.
"Kailan ... kailan pa ito?" garalgal kong tanong.
"A day before I bought my condo."
I knew it! There was something off that day. That first day he did not call me or replied to my text message.
He continued, "I thought, they had let it go. My mom never mentioned it to me after I moved out the next day. Either si Dad, but he kept on giving me a lot of tasks and other things to do, even sometimes other people can do it for him."
"Matagal ko nang alam yan," I injected.
"Until last night..." he whispered.
"Yeah, si Maddie, right?" I said. No wonder her aura was really different yesterday.
Napaangat ang ulo nya mula sa manibela. He does not need to answer me. His reaction and facial expression confirmed it.
"We chanced upon her yesterday. She and her family arrived last Sunday afternoon, right? That's why you suddenly ditched our movie date after weeks of planning it," mapakla akong ngumiti. Ayokong umiyak sa harapan nya, pero di ko na napigilan.
"Princess," inalis nya ang seatbelt nya para yakapin ako, "Please, don't cry. I've been fighting for us. I love you, believe me, please." Naramdaman kong nabasa na rin ang balikat ko. Umiiyak si Aris!
"What I was expecting from you was your honesty, Aris. Hindi ako manhid. Ilang beses kong sinubukang i-open up sa 'yo pero lagi kang umiiwas. Nagsinungaling ka pa rin sa akin kagabi. You had dinner with her family in some restaurant. I gave you the hint na alam kong wala kayo sa bahay nyo but then again you dodged. I waited for your call as you promised,pero kahit text wala. Ano'ng ginawa mo? Nagpakalasing ka. Is that what you call fighting for us?" Humagulgol na ako.
BINABASA MO ANG
Claiming Andromeda #B1
Ficción General***LOSE THE TRUST... LOSE THE HEART!*** Kung ikaw si Andromeda, will you still wait for your 'prince' who seems to take his time, or stay beside your 'knight' who never left you?
