One Roof

Chapter 5

CARL'S POV

Nagtataka kong tiningnan si mommy. Why in the world did she do that?

"What is that about?" I asked with my firm and angry voice.

"Para gisingin ka. Baka kasi nananaginip ka pa." She said sarcastically.

Hindi ako kumibo. I know where's it leading.

"May asawa ka na Carl! Maryosep! May ikinakama ka pang iba!" Napasapo ito sa noo.

"Ikinakama? Mom, that was Aubrey! Siya ang mahal ko."

"Besides, kayo lang naman ni lolo ang may gusto na pakasalan ko yung babaeng 'yon, ma. Hindi ako."

"Pinagbigyan ko na kayo. Can it be my me time, now?"

"Ako naman, ma. Yung sarili ko naman ang pagbibigyan ko. Akala nyo ba masaya ko sa tinatakbo ng buhay ko? There's Aubrey, the woman I want to be with. The woman, that I want to be married with. The woman I love. Pero hindi na pwede. I can't be with her now. Because of you. Because of lolo." My tears began to build up.

"Noon, okay lang kaming magkasama pero ngayon, kung maglalakad kami sa labas, kung magkahawak kamay kami, kung halikan ko sya kahit sa pingi lang, lahat ng yun mali na! Dahil itinali niyo 'ko sa babaeng hindi ko naman gusto! Hindi ko s'ya gusto, ma." And I let my tears flow from my eyes.

"Anak..." narinig kong sabi niya pero di niya ito itinuloy.

She embraced me instead.

"I'm sorry, Carl. Nagsisi na rin ako kung bakit ako pumayag sa kagustuhan ng lolo mo. Pero Carl, anak wala na tayong magagawa. The only thing I can do to lighten up your burden is the hope that when papa, your lolo's not around.. " she hesitated a bit.

"Mom!" Tawag ko sa kanya para sawayin sa sasabihin nito.

"I know, I know, but, anak more than all these troubles I caused you with your papsi, is me. A mother who'll do everything for you. And I just want you to know that by then.. anak, you can be with Aubrey again or with any girl whom you'd want to settle down with." She said rubbing my back.

"Pwede mo na ipa-annul ang kasal nyo. Pero ngayon," Alicia sighed.

"Pero sa ngayon Carl, anak hindi pa pupwede" She added and I shook my head in disbelief of what I'm hearing from her.

"Mom! Will you stop that! Are you wishing na mamatay na si lolo?"

"Of course not iho. How can I even think of that? Para ko na siyang tunay na ama. Where would I be without him? Nang iwan tayo ng dad mo, his own son, he was the one who helped me stand up on my two feet again. Alam mo naman yun di ba. It's just that.." she sighed.

"Gawin mo na lang muna kung ano yung nararapat. Kung ano yung tama. Temporary lang ito lahat. Yun na lang muna ang isipin mo. Kasi, baka mas lalo tayong malagot sa lolo mo kapag nabalitaan niyang natutulog pa rin dito si Aubrey."

"Mom," niyakap ko si mommy to comfort her.

I know naawa si mommy sa situation ko ngayon. Alam ko rin naman ang reason why she agreed with lolo. They are my treasures, my family and Aubrey kaya I will do everything for them even to this point kung saan narito ako ngayon. It's just that, me and Aubrey are being sandwiched in this situation. Ang hirap lang talaga.

"Anak konting tiis lang please. Do this for me. And for your future too. Please!" Mom rubbed her palm on my head and I nodded in agreement of what she said.

We talked more about our new set up and was stunned at what I found out from mom.

"What?!" I was really shocked.

Pero si mommy casual lang na tumango.

"But why?" I asked annoyingly.

"Because she's your wife. Kaya nga hindi na pwedeng nandito si Aubrey. Baka mamaya magsumbong 'yon sa lolo mo and worst scenario maudlot pa yung sa inyo ni Aubrey kaya anak, please! Makisama ka." Pakiusap ng ina.

"But why? Bakit kailangang nandito siya? Ikaw naman, mom nakisawsaw ka pa." Inis na sabi ni Carl.

"Anak, you know I don't have a choice."

"Pwede namang weekend na lang magkita-kita, family bonding. Why.." I sighed in hopelessness.

"She don't need to move in here." Reklamo ni Carl na hindi maitago ang pagkainis.

Pero wala naman akong magagawa dahil sa amin, ang lolo Lorenzo palagi ang may final say.

I breathed deeply closing my eyes in exasperation.