My Greatest What If - Moira Gokongwei (Published)

Chapter 27

"Baby..."

"Hm...?"

"Mahal na mahal na mahal na mahal kita."

I glanced sideways to smile at her. "I know..."

We were inside the car and on our way home. Although I tried to be as cheerful as I could, I knew that she noticed that I was just faking it.

She had told me she'd talk to her Dad after I repeatedly refused to tell her what her father and I talked about. "May sinabi s'ya or else you wouldn't be acting like this. No more lies, 'di ba? Ano bang sinabi n'ya?"

"Wala nga..."

"Moira—"

"Gio, he loves you and he is just looking out for you. He witnessed how you suffered when Leslie left and you cannot blame him if he'd rather not see his only child go through that pain again."

"What did he say...?"

"Nothing that a father would not say to protect their child. And nothing that would change the fact that I am madly in love with you..."

She had stopped the car then before pulling me into her embrace. "I'm sorry. I am sorry for whatever Dad told you."

"Okay lang ako. Naiintindihan ko s'ya. Nagkaroon din naman ako ng tatay and Dad was protective of me, too."

"I'll talk to Dad—"

"No. H'wag na. Ayokong magkaroon pa kayo ng hindi pagkakaintindihan nang dahil sa akin. He is your father, Gio, h'wag mong tanggalin sa kanya ang karapatang mag-alala."

"Kung alam lang ni Daddy kung gaano ako kasuwerte sa'yo."

"Malalaman n'ya rin," I had replied.

That conversation with Gio's father was yesterday and as much as I wanted to forget what Engr. Ortega had told me, my thoughts would wander back to our exchange repeatedly.

I know your story. I know that you are an orphan and financially dependent on your father's wife. Tell me how much you want and I will give the money to you—

"Baby...?" her voice pulled me back to the present.

"Yes?"

"Are you really okay?"

"Oo," I said smiling. "Medyo pagod lang..."

"Gusto mo bang manuod ng sine?" she asked as we stopped at a red light. "Maraming bagong palabas ngayon."

"Umuwi na lang tayo."

"Okay..."

She let out a deep sigh. "Ano ba kasi ang sinabi ni Daddy? Kanina ka pa lutang d'yan. Actually, kahapon pa..."

"Hindi naman 'yun ang iniisip ko. Maraming bagay."

"Tulad ng ano?" she prodded.

"Tulad ng...mga...kung anu-ano."

"Shit. Let me call my Dad—"

"H'wag na. Wala s'yang sinabing hindi maganda. Hindi ka ba naniniwala sa akin? Napaisip lang ako dahil sa mga sinabi n'ya."

"Tulad ng ano?" she pressed. "Ano nga kasi ang sinabi n'ya?"

"Na mahirap itong pinasok natin. Na merong manghuhusga, mangungutya, at mananakit. At totoo lahat 'yun. Handa ako para d'un. Kaya lang, ikaw ba handa ka?"

"Talagang tatanungin mo ako n'yan? Sanay ako sa gany'an."

"Sanay kang mag-isa, pero, nandito na ako. Dalawa na tayong makakaranas n'un. And I want you to promise me this Gio, you are never going to let me go just because you feel that you have to protect me from those things."