I THINK I LOVE YOU

CHAPTER TWELVE

LUCAS

"I'M SO SORRY for being late, hijo. Medyo busy kasi kami ngayon sa kamara dahil kabi-kabilaang dinidinig na mga kaso."

"It's okay, congressman, naiintindihan ko naman po."

"Please call me tito. Wala tayo sa kongreso ngayon so you can drop the formalities."

Hindi ko alam kung ano ba dapat ang magiging reaksiyon ko sa sinabi nito. I don't want him to have this wrong impression and have a grudge against me. Kaya talaga ako pumayag na makipagkita rito ay upang linawin ang anumang ugnayan ko kuno sa anak nito.

"Humihingi na rin ako ng pasensiya kung makailang beses na naire-sched ang pagkikita natin dahil na rin sa trabaho ko na hindi ko maiwan-iwan."

"I feel you congressman. I'm a businessman, plus there's my law firm I have to run so I do know how it feels."

"For a young man as you are, you have achieved quite a lot at your age. I guess maganda ang upbringing sayo ng mga magulang mo."

Hindi ako bobo upang hindi magawang sundan ang tinatahak ng usapang ito. And it seems to me that he wouldn't let me get off the hook that easily. But I have to end this whole wretched thing bago pa lumala ang lahat.

"My parents died when I was young, congressman so it was my grandparents who raised me and help me become what I am today."

"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that, hijo. Again it's tito, so you better start getting used to it."

There was this glint in his eyes that I couldn't figure out kung para saan. And I also have this doubt that he's not really sorry as what he said he was. Pero hindi ko na lamang pinansin iyon dahil kabastusan na iyon.

"I'm sorry, sir. Hindi ko kasi alam ang dahilan kung bakit dapat ko kayong tawaging tito."

Instead na mainsulto or mapahiya ay ngumiti lang ito. Iyong klase ng ngiti na  kung saan may kalakip na sarkasmo at pang-uuyam, o baka nagkakamali lang ako.

"Hijo, before we get down to the agenda of this meeting, will you give me the liberty to order food for us?" Still, unable to put all my trust, tumango na rin ako. Malakas ang kutob ko na hindi lang ang tungkol sa amin ng anak nito ang sadya nito. There's something more to it. I can sense it. Pagkatapos nitong sabihin sa waitress ang order ay tiniklop nito ang menu saka ako hinarap.

"I can see it that you are not easily fooled, and I like that. It only shows how levelheaded you are."

"Sir, hindi po sa pagiging bastos, pero  will you go straight to the point?"

"Sige, kung iyan ang gusto mo. I won't be beating around the bush. When I heard about the rumors between you and my daughter ay natuwa talaga ako. I mean, who wouldn't? Every girl would want to be in my daughter's shoe dahil siya ang napili mo para maging girlfriend."

"Iyon lang po ba ang sasabihin ninyo?"

Hindi na muna ito nagsalita dahil isini-serve na sa amin ang mga pagkaing inorder nito. Saka lang ito sumagot ng makalayo na ang waitress.

"I'll go straight to the point, hijo. You have my blessing. Botong-boto ako sayo para sa anak ko at ang pamilya namin sa relasyon na meron kayo. And for that, since you are now part of the family, I want you to support me sa susunod na eleksiyon para sa pagka-senador."

Just as I thought.

"Hindi maikakaila na malaki ang maitutulong mo sa kampanya ko, hijo lalo na sa business sector. It would be  great to win the favor of the business sector to secure my candidacy."