My Greatest What If - Moira Gokongwei (Published)

Chapter 35

"Ayaw kong ikaw ang mang-aaway d'un, Baby. Remember, you have the upper hand because you own me.".

"'Yung you own me talaga ang nagdala, eh..."

It was not even three in the morning when we woke up to travel to Quezon. Gio had said that she wanted to avoid the traffic and we had arranged for Duchess to be housed at Phoebe's clinic the night prior.

"Totoo naman, 'di ba? Kahit anong gawin ni Leslie, it wouldn't change the fact that we belong to each other – we're official. I already proposed and we're getting married. We are even planning about raising our own family kaya h'wag kang magpapaapekto masyado sa babaeng 'yun."

"Hindi naman ako mang-aaway, ano. But do not expect me to just sit and smile when she flirts with you."

"I don't expect you to just sit and smile. Tayo ang mag-aaway kapag wala kang gagawin. Ang sa akin lang, there are more subtle ways to annoy Leslie. Alam mo naman siguro na sinadya n'ya itong sitwasyong ito and maybe she is expecting a more violent reaction from you. H'wag. Matatalo ka. My grandparents are extremely traditional even though they have learned to accept my choices. Ang totoo, n'ung nakaraang taon lang naman nila natanggap na ganito ako. Ilang taon din nilang ipinag-novena at ipinamisa 'yung pagiging lesbian ko. Ipinatawas pa ako ng Lola ko n'un, eh, alam mo ba?" she said.

"Seryoso ka? Ipinatawas kang talaga?" I asked horrified. "That's extreme. Ano ka, nasapian ng masamang espiritu?"

"Oo. Diyos ko, hindi ko na mabilang kung ilang ka-sister at ka-brother nila sa simbahan ang nag-pray over sa akin. Hindi ko na rin mabilang kung ilang pari, pastor, madre and kumausap sa akin. Hanggang sa hindi ko na lang kinaya at nilayuan ko na sila."

"And that's when they realized that you're not sick?" I asked with a sad smile.

Gio shook her head. "That's when they realized that I was fine without them if they won't accept my choices. Nag-iisang babae kasi ang Mommy ko at kamukhang-kamukha ko s'ya. Siguro kahit sino ma-di-disappoint na iba 'yung gustong tahaking landas ng nag-iisang anak ng unica hija nila."

"You are not a disappointment, G."

"Sa'yo, oo, and I hope the time won't come when you'll be disappointed with me."

"Hindi 'yan darating."

"Hindi tayo maghihiwalay, 'di ba?"

"Unless, ikaw mismo ang aalis."

"What the hell, Baby?" She sounded angry. "Don't say bad words. Stop saying things like what you just said. You're inviting bad luck into our relationship. Kahit sa utak mo lang, ayokong isipin mo 'yang mga gan'yang bagay."

"Grabe ka, mapamahiin ka pala?" I commented laughing.

"Lahat ng relihiyon ay papasukan ko maipagdasal lang itong relasyon natin. H'wag naman gan'un."

"Okay. Sorry," I said before I leaned sideways to kiss her cheek. "Galit ka?"

"Kailan naman ako nagalit sa'yo?"

"Sigurado 'yan?"

"Oo...basta ba lambingin mo ako mamaya..."

"Lambing lang pala, eh," I replied trying to stifle my yawn.

"Baby, matulog ka lang, iinaantok ka pa, o."

"Gusto kitang samahan. Okay lang kaya talaga na iniwan natin kay Phoebe si Duchess?"

"Oo. Kaysa dalhin natin, ma-stress pa 'yung tuta sa haba ng biyahe."

"Wait lang, ang sabi mo traditional ang Lolo at Lola mo. Ibig sabihin, we would be sleeping in different rooms—"