Giving In

Chapter 8

               It was the night of Liam's dad's birthday. Sa bahay lang daw naman nila ang celebration. Only close family and friends were invited but that was still a lot of people. Mari was very apprehensive. She knows that wala siyang dapat ikabahala. She didn't want anyone's approval. Not for her daughter and not for herself. Pero kinakabahan pa rin siya. There was just something about meeting a guy's parents that terrifies the shit out of you. Kailangan lang niya paulit ulit na ipaalala sa sarili na wala siyang dapat patunayan. She'd survive, even if tonight didn't end well for her.

Meeting Liam's parents? If she can survive her parents and sister, surely she can survive an evening in the presence the city's elite. She dressed Kara in a sky blue dress that wasn't too fussy. Kara was slowly learning to talk but right now but all she could say coherently was "mama." She could also take a few steps at a time but always reverted back to crawling or being carried when she sees Kara, Liam or her yaya. It was amazing how fast their daughter got used to Liam. Iniwan nila si Lina sa bahay na binili ni Liam.

Mari was dressed in jade green sleeveless dress. She didn't think too much about her outfit. Wearing a dress was an effort already. Malabo naman pansinin nang mga magulang ni Liam ang suot niya. All she hopes for was that no one takes much notice of her or their daughter but she knows that wasn't realistic. All Liam said to his parents was that he was bringing a special someone. He didn't say there were two.

Nang makarating sila nang mansion ng mga magulang ni Liam, dumoble ang kaba niya. It was Liam who was carrying Kara. Aminado na man rin si Mari na nabibigatan na siya sa anak kaya di na siya umangal nang maunahan siya ni Liam sa pagkarga sa bata.

As they walked into the house, they were greeted by some of the help who were taken aback at the sight of Liam carrying a baby girl. Nang makarating sila sa likod ng bahay kung nasaan ang pool at ang pagtitipon, agad nabaling sa kanila ang atensyon ng lahat. Cliché as it may seem, Mari just wanted the ground to swallow her whole.

Agad silang lumapit sa mga magulang ni Liam na may kausap na mga kaedaran lang din nila. There were also two girls with them. One looked older than Liam and the other look younger. Liam's father looked surprised and wary while his mom looked like the typical kontrabida in local teleseryes. Or the usual mother-in-law from hell. Mari wanted to back out but it was too late.

Wala kang dapat patunayan Mari, paalala niya sa sarili. "Dad, happy birthday," bati Liam sa ama. Di pa rin nito binibitawan si Kara na palingon lingon sa paligid. The twinkling lights distracted her. "This is Kara, my daughter," pakilala ni Liam. "Ang Mari, my daughters mother," he added. Tila wala tong pakialam na di lang pamilya niya ang nandun. "Mari, my father Victor, my mother Katherine, and my sister, Victoria and Katrina."

Mari could see the tightening of Liam's mother's hand on her wineglass. Napanganga naman ang mga kapatid ni Liam. And the couple his parents were talking to excused themselves as politely as they could. "Ngayon mo ba talaga kailangan gawin to Liam? It's your father's birthday for God's sake!" his mom said, barely controlling her annoyance.

"Ma, can you please not do this now?" inis namang tanong ni Liam. Well, at least he had the balls not to give in to his mother easily.

Katherine dela Vega gritted her teeth in irritation. "Victoria, take... your brother's woman and her daughter inside," Mari wanted to roll her eyes so bad. This scene was taken directly from those overdramatized local series. Seriously? "Liam? Sophia and Sabrina Torres just arrived. Sila muna asikasuhin mo." Mari just wanted to go. Her sister was a saint compared to this woman. Halata naman sino yung magkapatid na yun. And they were popular online. Sophia was a fashion designer who also sometimes model her own work along with other local socialites and "it" girls. Sabrina was into the local art scene, her medium was oil and canvass but was an interior designer by profession. That was probably the most subtle way Katherine dela Vega could announce to the world that her son had his pick of the two heiresses.

Agad na kinuha ni Mari ang anak niya mula kay Liam. Kung pwede lang umuwi na lang siya. But she wasn't a coward. And this was still her daughter's family, unfortunately. Kung di man niya mapakisamahan, iiwasan na lang niya. Pero di na siya tatakbo. Victoria dela Vega silently led her inside. She looked nice enough, maybe she wasn't completely her mother's daughter, hopefully.

Nang makarating sila sa loob ay dinala siya nito sa parang library na opisina. Mari wasn't sure of the room's function. "So, you're my brother's ex-girlfriend?" tanong nito sa kanya. Umiling si Mari. "Ex-fubu," sagot ni Mari. But Victoria wasn't fazed. She didn't looked surprised. "At least. My brother may be hot, handsome and rich but he's an asshole. Wala kang mapapala dun," sabi nito.

Mukhang curious pa ito so Mari obliged her with some details. "Our arrangement lasted for about a year back then but, as you said, your brother is an asshole. He knew I was pregnant. But things don't always work out as they should. I went home, stayed with my aunt, gave birth to Kara and went back to school. I was actually an employee at your dad's company kaya kami nagkita ulit ng kapatid mo."

Before Mari could laugh see Liam's sister's reaction sa summary ng nakaraan nila ni Liam, dumating ang magaling niyang nanay. "Magkano? Magkano para layuan mo at ng bastarda mo anak ko?"

Mari stared incredulously at Katherine. Maybe she really was a fan of those teleseryes. Her lines were probably quoted from some iconic kontrabida. "Mrs. dela Vega. I'm not here by choice. But don't worry, you will never have to see me or my daughter again after tonight. Pero yung anak mo pagsabihan mo."

Victoria's mouth was hanging open. Mari wasn't sure why. Whether it was because of her mother's dramatic lines or Mari's disinterest with her brother. Katherine dela Vega made it clear she didn't like where the conversation was headed. She expected Mari to beg, to cower, but she did nothing. Mari was letting her daughter play with her hair while she stared back blankly at Katherine.

"Ma, this is your granddaughter we're talking about." It was Victoria who said it. She really wasn't like her mother at all, thank God.

"There's no proof of that Victoria. Wag kang makialam!" galit na sabi ni Katherine sa sariling anak. The woman was hopeless.

Ngumisi si Mari. But deep inside she was seething. What right does this woman have to judge her? "I'm open to having my daughter have a DNA test or blood test. But right now, I want to go." Bumaling si Mari kay Victoria, Possibly the most sane one in the their family. "May taxi bang dumadaan diyan sa labas ng gate niyo?"

"Mari wait." It was Liam. Mari was just tired. Tired of all the drama and upheaval. "Sasabay na ako," sabi nito.

"Liam!" galit na sigaw ng ina. Pero umiling lang si Liam. "Go with that woman and face the consequences."

Liam took Kara from Mari dahil baka nabibigatan na ito. "Ma, di na ako menor de edad. Di mo na ako matatakot sa mga ganyan mo. Kara is my daughter. I don't need tests to prove that. And Mari is the woman I want to spend my life with. I'm not asking for your approval anymore. You either accept that or move on."

Author's Note:

Punyeta na laptop. Ilang beses ulit nag shut down while I was typing. Konti na lang at mahahampas ko na talaga to sa pader. Kanina pa to dapat tapos tong chapter na to eh. Di ko na to maeedit kasi bwiset na bwiset na ako sa laptop so hayaan niyo na lang please ang typos. (Forgive the bad words. Inis lang talaga ako sa laptop.)

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