" To get this all clear, are you confirming the fact that both of you really are dating? And when?" Tanong ng isang reporter. I held Rance's hands tightly na nasa tabi ko lang dahil sa kaba. He immediately handed me a glass of water at nilagok ko agad yun.
" I'm sorry, my girlfriend's very shy. Hindi siya sanay sa ganitong atensyon." He simply said then chuckled. I caught a glimpse of several people who smiled at his remark.
Rance cleared his throat at sinagot ang tanong, " Yes, we're dating." He said casually na parang sanay na siyang interview-hin. Wala man lang sa mukha niya na kinakabahan habang ako naman dito eh nagdadasal na sana kainin ako ng lupa para matapos na agad to.
" When?" Another person from the crowd pried.
" And how?"
Kumunot naman ang noo ni Rance at halatang nainis agad siya, " What kind of question is that? I don't need to give you the specific details basta ang importante nilinaw na namin na may relasyon kami." He snapped at lahat sa paligid ay natahimik. Bago ko pa lang siya nakilala personally pero alam ko na agad na maikli lang ang pasensya niya.
Agad namang nagtinginan ang mga reporters sa isa't isa at tumingin sakin, "You are the daughter of the owner of Franco Hotels right?" Napatingin naman si Rance sakin, he raised his eyebrows. Iniwas ko naman ang tingin ko sa kanya.
" Y – Yes." Maikli kong sagot.
I get awkward when someone sees me as a girl born with a damn silver spoon on her mouth and can get whatever she wants. I don't know why but I guess hindi ko lang talaga gusto na makilala nila ako dahil lang mayaman ang pamilya ko. I want them to know me through my achievements and hard work.
Napansin rin ni Rance na hindi ako mapakali at komportable, " Ano naman ang konek dun?" Rance asked.
" May relasyon ba kayo dahil may koneksyon sa isa't isa ang pamilya niyo? Ayun ba'to sa utos nila? Is it because your family's planning to merge?" Napakunot naman ang noo ko. Parang iba yung tono ng pananalita niya ah.
Rance chuckled pero ramdam kong galit na siya. Man – He's really good at hiding his feelings, " Of course not. Walang kinalaman ang pamilya namin. At matagal niyo na ring alam that I've been an outcast in my family for a long time. I don't have anything to do with their business affairs. Hindi ko kilala ang magulang ni Antonia, I've never met them but soon I will. Kong ano man ang nangyayari ngayon, kagustuhan namin to."
Napangiti naman ako. This is so surreal. Sana totoo to – Na mahal talaga namin ang isa't isa. I need to work this out para maging akin siya. Abot kamay ko na siya – No scratch that. Magkahawak kamay nga kami ngayon o! Papakawalan ko pa ba?
" So are we expecting wedding bells?"
Napaawang naman ang bibig ko sa tanong nila. It's so irrelevant! Ang narrow-minded naman ng mga taong to!
