Giving In

Special Chapter 1

               "Liam, pwede ba? Let your daughter have fun," inis na sabi ni Mari habang pinagpapatuloy ang pagkain ng agahan nila kasama ang dalawa pang anak na sina Nate at Damon. Their two sons knew better than to interfere when their parents were arguing. Magkasunod lang silang dalawa ng edad. Nate was ten while Damon was nine. And the Kara was fifteen already.

Ang pinoproblema nila mag-asawa ay masyado yatang nagmana si Kara kay Mari. She was starting be rebellious. Di naman din masyado masisi ni Mari ang anak. Liam can be overprotective and overbearing. "Mari, please be reasonable. Pool party? With the entire class? Tapos anong susuotin niya? Bikini?"

Nate and Damon were trying hard not to laugh. They lived to annoy their older sister. Umirap si Mari sa pagiging higpit ni Liam. "My God Liam! Payagan mo na! She deserves a prize for being in the top 5 of her class. And I already told her to wear a rashguard kahit pwede naman siguro one-piece bathing suit. Di naman lahat malaswa."

"Boys, tapos na kayong kumain diba? Pwede bang iwan niyo muna kami ng mama niyo?" tanong ni Liam sa dalawang anak. Tumango na naman sila at lumabas na ng dining room. "Mari, please. Half of her class are boys. And she's fifteen. Ang she's beautiful. So please, trust me on this. It's better if she doesn't go to that year end party. Ipagshopping mo na lang kung gusto mo bigyan ng prize anak mo."

Mari was trying hard to calm down. Her husband just doesn't get it. "Let's not be hypocrites here Liam. Gusto mo bang matulad akin yang anak mo? Pregnant at nineteen?" namutla naman si Liam sa tanong ni Mari. It's not that he doesn't like Mari's background, she turned out well for someone who used to be a diehard party girl or for someone who drank as much as him. Pero anak niya pinag-uuusapan dito. To hell with double standards. "Coz that's where she's headed if you continue this. Lalo yang magrerebelde kung palagi mo na lang pinagbabawalan. And besides, there's going to be teachers around naman kahit di official school activity."

Liam sighed in resignation. He can never win any argument with his wife. "Fine, but you owe me for this." Mari understood his overprotective tendencies. Every time they got into an argument which he never wins, she always does something para bumawi sa kanya.

"That same weekend will be the annual gathering of owners of local companies at that new four-star hotel. There's a formal party on the evening. Why don't we check in for the night?" Liam asked in his most innocent tone but he wasn't fooling anyone. Lalo na ang asawa niya.

Tinaasan ni Mari ang asawa ng kilay. "Liam, aren't we too old for that? Tatlo na anak natin at nagdadalaga na ang panganay natin." Natawa si Liam at pinasadahan ng tingin ang buong katawan ng asawa. She was thirty four but she still looks like a woman who hasn't reached thirty. At kung wala ang mga anak nila sa bahay ngayon, he would have had her at the table already. "At diba pinabibigyan naman kita kahit nandito tayo sa bahay?" tanong niya sa mababang tinig. It was only two or three days ago when they last did it.

If she were to be honest, Mari was a bit concerned. Nagsasawa na ba si Liam sa kanya? She works hard to maintain her appearance. And kahit minsan na lang sila nagkakaroon ng oras na silang dalawa, di naman nagreklamo si Liam. Liam noticed the crestfallen look on his wife's face. She was wondering again if she was enough for him. "I know that look Mari. Kaya kung ano man yang nasa isip mo, tigilan mo yan. I just want you to myself even for just a night. Yung walang mambubulabog sa atin sa umaga o mangungulit sa atin sa gabi. And we haven't gone out without the kids in a while."

"Fine. We really have lost time for each other haven't we?" Mari asked on a somber voice. Di man niya sinasadya, aminado naman siyang nababalewala niya minsan si Liam. She realized she has to make it up to him. Masyado na kasi siyang nagconcentrate sa negosyo niya at sa mga anak, nakakaligtaan na niya ang asawa. It was a miracle for Mari that he hasn't strayed considering that he only grew hotter as he aged. And he was only thirty five, bago nga lang nagpakasal ang iba nitong mga kaibigan sa mga mas bata dito.

Mari was looking down on her plate, unable to face her husband. "Mari, you're not doing anything wrong okay? I just want you to myself. We haven't indulged ourselves recently pero di mo naman ako pinapabayaan." Mari suddenly looked up at Liam. Was he reading her mind now? "No, I'm not reading your mind. Masyado ka lang halata. Stop doubting yourself okay? I love you. No matter how old I get and no matter how much we don't spend time with each other, ikaw pa rin mahal ko. Nothing's going to change that."

Napangiti si Mari. Until now, Liam never fails to remind her how much he loves her. "I love you too," she smiled, saying the words back. "And if you want, why don't we go there early? Mga biyernes ng hapon?"

Lalong lumapad ang ngisi ni Liam. Maybe he should make his wife guilty more often, he thought to himself. She was so adorable when she was guilty and she tended to do anything to he asks of her. "So, ikaw ba kakausap kay Kara o ako?" pag-iiba ni Liam sa usapan. He didn't like where his thoughts were headed. Anytime ay pwedeng bumalik ang mga anak nila.

"Maybe we should go together. I know she'd still want your approval and don't you dare make it obvious that you're reluctant at letting her go. Kahit ngayon man lang ipakita mo sa kanya na pinagkakatiwalaan mo siya." Pissed off Mari was back now. And Liam knew better than to go against her. Baka di pa matuloy lakad nila.

They reached their daughter's room at nakita nila tong nakahiga sa kama at nagtitipa sa cellphone. They knocked on the partially open door to let her know of their presence. Kara looked at them expectantly but still a little bit warily. Liam sighed. "You can go. But remember, no alcohol."

Napatalon naman to sa kama at tinakbo ang distansya nila. Kara hugged her dad. Finally! "Thanks Daddy!" sabi nito. "And wala naman talagang alcohol. Two of our teachers will be there," she added.

"Thank your mom. Pasalamat ka at di ko mahindian mommy mo," he conceded. Liam brushed a hand on his daughter' face, she was growing up too fast.

Bumaling na man si Kara sa ina. They were both grinning. "Thanks mom," she said. "Anong kapalit nito this time?" tanong ng anak nila na nakangisi pa rin.

"You don't want to know," sagot ni Mari sa anak. Naintindihan naman agad ni Kara. She really didn't want to know about her parent's sex life.

Author's note:

Okay lang? Hahaha no more update today coz I don't feel too well. And baka wala rin bukas. :((((

Any suggestions on the next special chapter? Hahaha

COMMENT KAYO HAHAHA