Chasing Hearts (DH 6 || Completed)

Kabanata 6

"Papa, do you really want me to marry the son of your friend?" I suddenly asked over our dinner. Gusto ko kasing ipaalam sa kanila iyong sa amin ni Clyde kahit na alam kong mabibigla sila. Pero syempre, hindi ko sasabihin na for a month lang iyon.

Kuya Kahel and Sunny lifted their head and give me a knowing look. Hindi ko nalang pinansin. I waited for our father to answer my question.

"You should meet him. He's a great man, Amber." maikling sagot ni Papa that confirms the answer I didn't want to hear.

"This marriage..." I trailed of. I don't want to talk about it over dinner. Ayokong marinig kahit man lang ni Sunny kung ano nalang talaga kami ngayon lalo na at gusto niyang kumuha ng law.

Wala akong masyadong alam sa business but I can understand a little. Noong isang araw, nakialam ako sa gamit ni Papa and saw that the Amorsolo Holdings, Inc. is not in a good state at the moment. It's on the bridge of bankruptcy and I know how significant that company is for my father. Pamana pa iyon sa kanya ni Lolo.

"It's just a marriage for convenience, right?" Because I'm still hoping that they don't really want me to get married because of our company status. Pakiramdam ko kasi, ako yung ginagawa nilang panakip-butas.

I wanted to save our company too and if marrying that guy would save it, I'll do it. Sa panahon ngayon, alam ko na mas kailangang maging practical. Wala naman akong mapapala kay Dwight. Tanggap ko na iyon. Tinanggap ko kahit mahirap. At least, I have someone to look at everyday.

Iyong tungkol naman kay Clyde, medyo naguguluhan pa ako pero wala naman akong maramdamang pagsisisi. Siguro dahil nasanay na rin ako na palaging nakadikit sa akinsi Clyde kaya ganoon. Iyon nga lang, one of these days, we have to part. Sana lang ay hindi maapektuhan ang kung anong mayroon kami bago ang isang buwang hinihingi niya.

Nung hindi sumagot si Papa, nilingon ko si Mama. She's so silent like she doesn't want to talk even a single word. Perokapag magpa-fan girl, sobrang ingay niya. Si Kuya Kahel ay nakatiim bagang lamang while Sunny's playing with his food.

"If it's for the company, hindi ba maaaring humingi na lamang tayo ng tulong sa kanila?" Walang sumagot kaya hinawakan ko si Papa sa kamay. "Papa, I'm sure your friend will understand. Besides, what if his son has already someone he wanted to marry?"

My father deeply sighs. "It's not just because of that, baby." tinignan ako ni Papa na parang nakikiusap na sumang-ayon na lang ako sa plano. "It's a promise we made before he dies."

I was taken aback. Hindi ko alam ang tungkol sa bagay na iyon.

I compose myself. Ang daming tanong na gustong lumabas sa bibig ko tulad na lamang ng kung paano napanatili ng mga ito ang family business gayong patay na pala ang kaibigan ni Papa? Sa pagkakaalam ko ay isa lamang ang naging anak ng kaibigan ni Papa and that the wife was living abroad habang narito sa Pilipinas ang negosyo.

"How old is he, Papa?" was all I manage to asked and I was hoping na sana ay hindi pa ganoon katanda ang anak ng kaibigan ni Papa. I don't want to marry someone who's a decade older than me.