She's The One (PUBLISHED)

Chapter 19

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KAKATOK na sana ako sa pintuan ng biglang bumukas iyon.
"Sam?"
"Ah, eh, hello po, Tita." Nag-smile ako sa kanya.
"Oh my God, amiga!" Biglang niyakap ni Mommy si Tita Gina. Napaatras nalang ako sa tabi nila Faith at Hope para hindi masyadong crowded sa may labas ng pintuan ng hospital suite ni Joseph.
Actually, hindi ko pa nakikita kung sinu-sino ang nasa loob niyon except for Tita Gina since siya iyong nagbukas ng door.
"I'm really sorry ngayon lang ako nakadalaw kay Joseph." My mom rarely apologize kaya napaangat iyong kilay ko sa sinabi niya.
"Okay lang iyon, Cecille," nakangiting sabi ni Tita Gina. Nakalimutan ko palang i-introduce sa inyo iyong Mom ko. Her name is Cecille Bautista-Tuazon, nag-iisang heredera ng mga naglalakihang chain of hotels na makikita mo lang naman na pakalat-kalat sa Europe.
"It's not okay, Gina. My daughter didn't tell me what happened to my son-in-law!" Tiningnan ako ni Mommy nang masama. "She was supposed to tell me what's going on with her life."
"Cecille, baka nakalimutan lang ni Sam."
Gustung-gusto ko talagang mag-thank you kay Tita for saying that. Actually, I was just so worried for Joseph kaya nakalimutan kong sabihin sa kanya. Tapos noong nagkamalay naman si Joseph, I was just too sad and hurting kaya nawala na rin sa isip ko. And beside he's fine now. Hindi na dapat ako nakikialam sa buhay niya.
"Gina, Sam's the most responsible kid noong nandun pa siya sa U.K. Nag-a-update siya sa amin ni Frederick tungkol sa buhay niya." (Yeap! Frederick is my Dad) "Ngayon lang siya naging malilimutin. OMG! Kung hindi ko pa kinakumusta iyong mga company namin dito sa Philippines sa isa sa mga amiga ko, hindi ko pa malalaman ang nangyari kay Joseph. And I wouldn't know my daughter is just spending her time sa bahay when instead she should be here for her fiance!"
Mom just shot me another fiery glare.
Hindi nalang ako nagsalita. She's upset. And if you know my parents very well, especially Mom, baka hindi mo rin gugustuhing sumagot sa kanila.
"Cecille..."
"I really can't believe she did this to me, Gina." Another glare at me. "Joseph's a part of her life now. Correction. Joseph is her life now. She should've told me what happened to him."
Tumingin nalang si Tita Gina sa akin. Siguro iniisip niya kung bakit di ko sinabi sa Mom ko iyong accident at iyong about sa engagement.
Wala eh. Nakalimutan ko talaga. Tsk.
"Anyway, Gina, I brought some fruits." Lumabas ulit ng room si Mommy tapos tinawag niya iyong mga body guards niya na nasa gilid lang din ng room na may bitbit na mga fruits at kung anu-ano pa. Iminuwestra niya na pumasok iyong mga bodyguards sa loob and then ilagay sa who-knows-where. Hindi ko kasi nakikita talaga iyong nasa loob ng room bukod sa side view ng TV set at ng mini ref and sa door ng CR. Nasa front view ko kasi iyon eh.
Pagkatapos ipasok iyong sangkaterbang fruits sa loob ng room ni Joseph, lumabas na iyong mga bodyguards. Pero sa dinami-dami ng mga nangyayari, nananatili pa rin ako sa labas ng room kasama sina Faith at Hope.
"Ayaw mo bang pumasok?" tanong sa akin ni Hope. Actually bukas pa iyong pinto and I can hear my Mom fusing over the fruits and Tita Gina helping her with those stuffs. Bukod sa boses ni Mom and ni Tita Gina pati ng TV, wala na akong naririnig na ingay.
Inakbayan ako ni Faith. "Pasok tayo, tara."
"Eh, kasi Faith...." Nag-aalinlangan talaga akong pumasok since di ba nga ayaw na ni Joseph na bumalik ako dun di ba?
"Oh, c'mon. Your Mom literally shouted your name a lot kanina. Alam na ninuman na nandito ka," sabi ni Faith. She tried to move a step forward kasama ko, kaya lang umatras talaga ako.
"Faith, ano kasi..."
"SAMANTHA!"
Another shout coming from my mother. Geez! Nakakahiya naman talaga eh.
Before pa ako naka-move, lumabas na siya.
"What the heck are you still doing there, standing like you don't know why are you even here?" she said.
Oh, Mom! Geez!
"Pumasok ka na! You've got a lot of things to explain to me and to Joseph." And then she walked back inside.
"Nakakatakot naman your Mom, Sammy," pabirong sabi ni Hope.
"Yeah, right. Hindi pa siya galit sa lagay na iyan." Bumuntong hininga nalang ako. Saka marahang naglakad papasok sa room.
Nang makapasok na kami nina Hope and Faith sa room, inilibot ko kaagad iyong mga mata ko. It's been 2 days since I've been here.
Nakita ko si Mom na nag-aayos pa rin ng mga fruits while Tita arranges the flowers. Nakita ko sina Lance and Cole na nanood ng TV habang prenteng-prente lang na nakaupo sa sofa bed doon. Actually there are 3 sofa beds. Tapos may lounge chairs din and then another couch sa may pintuan. You can really picture the hospital room like hotel VIP suite.
I saw Dylan's eyes fixed on me. Napalunok ako. He looks so tired and hurting. Gusto ko sana siyang lapitan kaya lang magtataka naman silang lahat. So I just stood there looking back at him. Hindi ko man alam kung ano nasa isip niya, for sure he was curious about what's going on and bakit di pa alam ni Mommy na wala nang kasalang magaganap.
Hinila ako nina Faith at Hope paupo sa couch and then I lost eye contact with Dylan. Napabaling kasi iyong mga mata ko sa bed ni Joseph.
Beautiful.
Togsh.
Togsh.
Togsh.
Iyong puso ko. Lintik.
He's sitting. Nasa TV iyong mga tingin niya. I wonder kung tumingin man lang ba siya sa akin noong pumasok ako. Tapos pinagmasdan ko lang siya hanggang sa napansin ko si Karen na nakaupo sa tabi ng bed niya. He was fiddling with her hands using his right arm since iyong left arm niya iyong may fracture habang si Karen naman ay tutok din sa TV.
I can't stop jealousy and a bit of anger creeping on my heart.
Pakiramdam ko talaga maling hawakan nang kahit na sino ang kamay ni Joseph. Kasi dapat sa akin lang iyon. Kaya lang...
Ugh!!!
Hindi porke't hindi kami, wala na akong karapatang magselos!!!
Syet naman! May nararamdaman ako eh. Tsaka, alam naman ni Karen na I have feelings for Joseph, di ba? She said she can see it on my eyes. Bakit di sila maging discreet di ba? Just for some respect. My Mom is here and hindi niya pa alam iyong totoo. And I thought she loved Dylan, eh bakit kamay ni Joseph iyong hawak-hawak niya?
Teka, sila na ba? Kaya ba na nakatingin lang sa akin si Dylan just to see my expression about Joseph and Karen's hands intertwined?
Mali eh. Mali talaga!
"Jealous, aren't you?" bulong ni Hope sa akin. She's watching the TV as well pero napapansin kong ngingiti-ngiti siya.
"Shut up, Hope."
"Kasi kung tinanong mo lang sana siya..." Faith also whispered trailing off.
"Eh di nasaktan lang ako," bulong ko rin. Nakakainis ang dalawang ito. Pinagtatawanan pa yata iyong nararamdaman ko.
Nakangiting tiningnan lang nila ako. Tapos tumayo si Hope at pumunta palapit kina Mommy. Humingi yata siya ng apple and some oranges tapos umupo sa tabi ni Faith. Inabutan lang din nila ako ng orange pero tumanggi ako.
"Hindi porke't nasasaktan ka, ay hindi ka na kakain. Masama ang suicide," nakangiting bulong ni Faith sa akin.
"It's not suicide, idiot. Para iyan sa pasyente," sabi ko.
"Pinsan ko naman iyong pasyente eh, and kaibigan kita and fiance mo siya." Faith said gleefully. Medyo malakas iyong pagkasabi niya kaya napatingin sa amin iyong mga tao sa loob ng room.
Napayuko ako. "You are hopeless."
"Katabi ko si Hope."
"Whatever."
Tumawa silang dalawa kaya tumingin na naman iyong mga tao sa amin.
"Kompleto yata iyong casting dito ah," sabi na naman ni Faith. She was smiling widely habang pangiti-ngiti lang si Hope sa tabi niya.
Nakita kong tumayo na si Mommy and then lumapit sa bed ni Joseph. Nakita ko rin kung paano binawi ni Karen iyong mga kamay niya from him and then without looking at my place she walked straight papunta sa pwesto nina Dylan. Tapos naupo na siya doon.
Dylan gave me another curious look. Napansin siguro niyang maging ako, nagtataka rin kaya umiwas na rin siya ng tingin.
"Joseph." I heard my Mom said like she was talking to a very fragile child. Napatingin ako sa kanila. Actually, kaming lahat napatingin sa kanila.
Joseph looked at my Mom with a genuine smile on his lips. "Po?"
And then my Mom sighed. "Pagpasensyahan mo na si Sam ha? She really should be here spending time with you. Hay naku!!! Ewan ko ba talaga sa batang iyan, umuwi naman siya dito sa Pilipinas without us, her parents, knowing para lang makita at makilala ka. Kaya ewan ko talaga bakit wala siya sa tabi mo ngayon!"
My Mom shot me another glare.
Napanganga ako sa sinabi niya. Teka lang. Umuwi ako para i-cancel iyong engagement. Make Joseph back out. You know, for my freedom. Ganun. Hindi ako umuwi para kay Joseph. Teka, bakit iba iyong sinabi niya?????????
Shit! And then these people were looking at me now like I was some sort of another human specie.
Teka lang!
Napatingin ako kay Joseph. He's looking at me with an unreadable expression.
"Hay! Pasensya ka na talaga, Hijo. Buti at okay ka na. And you are recovering fast. I don't wanna lose my son-in-law." My Mom sighed. "Kasi wala na akong ibang naiisip na maging son-in-law bukod sa'yo. I'd rather want to see Samantha be a nun or an old maid than to see her marry someone who is not even you."
"Mom.." I tried to protest. Ayaw kong maging old maid, no? Pero mas gugustuhin ko rin naman na maging old maid kung hindi si Joseph ang magiging asawa ko. At malamang mangyayari iyon.
"Shut up, Sam." My Mom looked at me. "I was so upset when you didn't tell me what happened to him!"
"Mom, I forgot, okay?" mahinahong sabi ko. "And besides, as you can see, he is fine now. Stop fussing over me. Akala ko ba you are spying on me? So where the heck is your spy?"
"Matagal ko na siya pinatigil. Simula noong...." She paused while thinking. "Simula noong natulog si Joseph sa bahay natin."
EKKKKKK!! Bakit niya sinabi iyon dito? Pakiramdam ko talaga namumula na iyong pisngi ko sa kahihiyan. Pwede bang lamunin na ako ng lupa ngayon? Bakit ba wala akong invisible powers?
Napahagikhik nalang sina Hope at Faith sa tabi ko pero noong tiningnan ko sila, pinigilan nila iyong tawa nila.
Tsss.
Nakakahiya.
Mommy naman eh!!!
"Mom, I have to tell you something -"
"Save it, Samantha." Hinaplos ni Mommy iyong mukha ni Joseph. "Hijo, I'm really sorry. OMG! Nasti-stress yata ako. But anyway, I still apologize since hindi ka dinamayan ng anak ko and then hindi niya sinabi sa akin ang nangyari sa'yo. Geez! Akala ko pa naman, Sam's starting to show you she cares."
Ano raw??? Teka. Wait!
"Mom, I have to tell you something important!"
"Nag-uusap pa kami," Mom said forcefully at me.
Pero, pero, pero....
"Mom, you can't just talk about me like I wasn't even here." Hindi ko talaga napigilan iyong bibig ko.
But she just ignored me.
"Like I was saying, akala ko talaga natatanggap na ni Sam iyong nararamdaman niya. OMG! Looks like, hindi pa pala. I mean, she used to care for no one except for me and her Dad and a few friends back in UK. She didn't even care about the engagement until a few months ago when I told her she'll be meeting you in person sa birthday ng Mom mo. She even hired a private investigator just to investigate everything about you. And I was so happy she was finally curious about someone else especially it was you." My Mom again sighed. Nagtatakang tumingin lang sa akin iyong mga taong nandun, lalo na si Joseph.
LOL! Teka!
"Mrs. Tuazon, hindi ko po kayo nagi-gets," Joseph said. Oh my gosh! Kahit nahihiya na talaga ako sa pinagsasabi ni Mommy, naramdaman ko pa rin ang pagkamiss ko sa kanya.
Mom looked horrified. "What did you just called me?"
"Er, Mrs. Tuazon, po?"
"It's Mama!"
"Eh kasi po..."
"Basta call me Mama." And then Mom looked at me.
"What did I do this time?" I said.
"Bakit di mo sinabi sa kanya kung ano na ang dapat niyang itawag sa akin?"
Hala! Kasalanan ko ba naman iyon? "Malay ko ba dyan?"
"You were supposed to tell him everything, Sam!" Frustrated na yata talaga si Mommy.
"What's everything?"
"Geez! You should tell him that he should start calling me 'mama' and your dad, 'papa'. Dapat masanay na siya."
"Eh hindi pa po kami kasal."
"Iyon lang ba? Gusto mo ipakasal ko na kayo bukas?"
"Mom, no! Wait! Teka nga lang, listen to me first."
"Whatever, Sam. Anyway, I took care of that Annika Santos."
"Sinong Annika Santos?" tanong ni Faith sa akin.
"Aba, malay ko!" Nakakaloka. Sino ba iyon?
"You forgot?" Mom looked at me frustratedly. "She was the girl on the mall. Iyong may parents na may combine net worth of 100 million per month. Hindi mo dapat kinakalimutan kung sino ang mga karibal mo kay Joseph, Sam. As the saying goes, keep your friends close but keep your enemies closer."
Hindi na ako nag-react. Tumingin nalang ako kay Karen. She was busy watching TV. Pero alam kong nakikinig siya.
"Anyway, Joseph, I'm really sorry about that. Ayokong mapunta ka sa ibang babae. Same goes for Sam. Sam's for you."
"With all due respect po, baka ayaw po ni Sam -"
Hindi na pinatapos ni Mommy si Joseph kasi nagsalita na naman siya. "Anong ayaw ni Sam? Ayaw niya sa'yo?"
Nagkibit balikat lang si Joseph sa sinabi ni Mommy and then Mom looked at me again.
"Mom, I really hate it when you look at me like that. Wala na akong sinasabi oh."
"Oo nga. Pero dyan tayo hindi nagkakaintindihan eh. You won't talk. And you keep everything to your self. If I know nobody in this room knew you were freaking jealous to that Jeanne Flores!"
WAAAAAHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Pinagkanulo na ako ng Mommy ko!
Itinakip ko nalang iyong mga palad ko sa mukha ko. This is insane. Sobrang kahihiyan na yata to eh.
Nightmare. Nightmare.
Wahhhhhh!!!!!!
"Nagselos ka kay Jeanne?" tanong sa akin ni Hope. Halatang pigil niya ang tawa niya.
"Upakan kita dyan eh!" sabi ko. "Bakit naman ako magsiselos dun?"
"Because you like Joseph. Is that enough reason, daughter?"
EEEKKKKKKKKKKK!!!! Mommy ko ba talaga iyon????????????? Bakit niya sinasabi iyon? And infront of these people? Teka, wala akong sinasabing ganun ah! TEKA!!!
Tumayo na ako papunta sa door. " Whatever, Mom. I'm going home."
Sinubukan kong buksan iyong door.
"You won't open that, daughter."
I looked at my Mom and then sa door. Binuksan ko ulit. Bakit ayaw?
"Kahit balyahin mo man iyan, hindi ka pa rin makakalabas dito." Mom smiled triumphantly.
Goodness. She's such a manipulator.
"Why are doing this to me, Mom?"
"Because I'm your mother."
"And you were supposed to what?"
"I'm supposed to tell everybody what you failed to tell them."
"Mom, pagod na talaga ako eh." Nawawala na iyong pagkapahiya ko. Nakaramdam na talaga ako ng pagod. Pagod sa lahat ng nangyayari these past few weeks. Pakiramdam ko, ito na iyong pinakamahabang taon sa buong buhay ko. "Mom, look, I cancelled the engagement already. Wala nang kasalan, okay?"
She grinned at me. "Alam ko."
"Alam mo?"
"Mommy mo ko eh."
"But I thought, wala nang spy. I thought..."
"Yes."
"Then what the heck is this!?" Nagbo-boil na iyong blood ko. Nakakainis naman eh. Napahiya na nga ako, hindi pa ako makaalis dito and then here is my Mom manipulating me. Plus the fact that she's telling everybody what I'm feeling. This is............. NIGHTMARE!
She just smiled at me.
"Mom, let's all move on. Alam mo na naman eh. Let's forget about the engagement. Let's forget about everything. Let's start anew. Balik na tayong lahat sa normal, please?"
My Mom just chuckled. "Okay, but tell them first."
"Tell them what?"
"You know what, daughter." She looked at me like I really knew what she's talking about.
Tapos nang tingnan ko iyong mga audience namin, lahat sila nakatingin sa akin.
Hope and Faith was grinning from ear to ear.
Karen, Lance and Cole look up to me like they are expecting me to tell them what they already know.
Tita Gina's face was full of concern and ... relief?
Dylan also look at me encourangingly.
Tapos, si Joseph....
Hindi ko alam. But as far as I know his face looks as expressionless as a cold stone.
Nag-stammer ako. Hindi ko naman alam kung anong sasabihin ko. I'm super clueless and what the heck???????????? ANO BA KASI SASABIHIN KO?
Bahala na nga. "Er. Um. Sorry po sa lahat ng perhuwisyo ko. And salamat sa friendship. Tapos na iyong palabas. Uuwi na ako sa U.K with Mom."
Then I smiled at them. Nagtatakang tiningnan lang nila ako.
"Samantha, I wasn't talking about that!" Mom said habang umiiling-iling.
EH ANO BA KASI????
"Hay naku! You and Joseph should really talk." Tumayo na siya tapos tinapik niya iyong balikat ni Joseph. "Be good to her. She's so clueless. I can't imagine saan niya namana ang pagiging manhid niya. Tsk."
Tumango lang si Joseph. Teka! Bakit pumayag siyang makipag-usap sa akin?
"People, let's move out." Ina-announce ni Mommy iyon.
Dumikit ako sa door. "Mom, I thought you can't open this?"
"You can't. But I can. Now, move away and talk to him."
Umalis ako tapos nang pinihit ni Mom iyong door, biglang bumukas iyon and then pumasok iyong mga body guards niya.
AND THEY ALL HOLD ME!
"Mom!"
"Shh. Alam kong may plano kang umeskapo kaya tada! hahawakan ka nila habang palabas kaming lahat." She winked at me. "Lalabas din sila after namin. So if you don't want to get hurt. Huwag ka nang magpumiglas. Okay ba?"
"Mom!! THIS IS HARASSMENT! TATAWAG AKO NG BANTAY BATA!!"
"Okay, daughter."
Pagkatapos, lumabas na sila and while they do that they keep on whispering good luck and patting my shoulders. Maging si Karen, ngumiti lang sa akin.
Tapos lumabas na iyong mga body guards.
AND I AM LOCKED INSIDE THIS HOSPITAL SUITE WITH JOSEPH VELASCO.
Geezz!
I turned slowly to face him and found out he was looking at me. Cold and blank.
Paano ngayon to??