Could This Be Love?

Chapter 47

CTBL - His Appa

Ella's POV

Parang nanlamig ako sa kanyang sinabi. Anong sabi niya? Arranged marriage? To whom? Kailan pa?

My heart is beating fast right now. Parang hindi maproseso sa aking utak ang kanyang sinabi. I haven't met his father pero nakita ko na siya sa mga social media at doon sa napakalaking picture frame doon sa bahay nila Chan. Hindi ko rin alam kung anong klaseng ama siya kina Chan, but I heard stories of him. Like, he had an affair with someone else, tapos nagkaroon ng kapatid sa labas sila Chan.

Pero ngayon? Marinig mismo kay Chan na ipapakasal siya sa iba? Parang hindi ko ata kaya. I know bata pa kami, there are still other people whom we are going to meet. Hindi ko rin naman iniisip na hanggang sa huli ay kami pa rin ni Chan. Maaaring maghiwalay kami ni Chan at may makilala pa kaming ibang taong mamahalin namin. But I just couldn't believe that his father is already deciding his future, future wife to put it that way.

"K-Kailan p-pa?" I asked as I tried not to crack my voice.

He sighed and look away.

"Before Christmas Eve." mahina niyang sagot pero sapat na para marinig ko.

Medyo nagulat ako sa kanyang sinabi. Before Christmas eve? Kaya ba sobrang lungkot ng mga mata niya noon? Pero sabi niya he just stopped by at Korea para batiin lang niya ang pamilya niya ta's dumiretso na siya papuntang Pinas. Wala naman kasi siyang nabanggit na nagtagal siya roon.

"Actually.. I lied something to you." agad napapantig ang mga tainga ko sa kanyang sinabi.

He lied something to me?

"I didn't actually just stopped by in Korea. I actually stayed in Korea because Noona asked me to have dinner with the family, at syempre pasko yun. At first, I protested because I know Appa would be there, but Noona begged to me at sinabi niyang kahit Christmas gift ko na lang sa kanya. I didn't have a choice kaya pumunta na ako. My real plan was after the concert pupunta na ako ng Pinas."

Tamihik lamang ako habang nakikinig sa kanya.

"We had a normal dinner, hindi nga lang ako kumikibo. I thought magiging okay lang ang pagpunta ko sa dinner dahil wala namang gaanong usapan ang nangyari sa amin, at kahit naman kausapin niya ako I will just ignore him. But I was wrong, he suddenly announced that I will meet the daughter of one of his business partners. 'Di naman ako tanga para hindi alam kung anong ibig sabihin niya doon. I knew where it was going and I couldn't help myself to bring the past." Nakita ko naman na merong nangingilid na luha sa kanyang mata. I can see in his eyes of how much pain he has been through, but he's still trying to show that he's stronger.

Pinatong ko naman ang kamay ko sa kanya at hinawakan ito ng mahigpit. I'm sorry, Chan, if I wasn't there when you needed someone to rely on, I'm sorry, kung hindi kita nasamahan sa lahat ng sakit na naramdaman mo noon. But I promise to you today that I will be here, I'll be by your side. Sasamahan na kitang harapin lahat ng masasakit, masasaya, at paghihirap mo.

"Siguro dahil sa gulat at nasaktan si Eomma sa sinabi ko dahil sa nagawa ni Appa, for the first time, she raised a hand to me. Would you believe it that after three years ngayon lang ulit kami sabay sabay kumain tapos nant dahil lang doon sa sinabi ni Appa, masisira na naman kami?" malungkot na ngiti nito.

'Di ko napigilan ang sarili ko at niyakap ko na siya. Naramdaman ko naman na ngumiti siya sa ginawa ko at niyakap din niya ako pabalik.

"Don't worry, Maryiella. I would do whatever it takes para hindi matuloy ang arranged marriage." he said assuring me and gently kiss the top of my head.