SUNSHINE

PART 8:THE DEAL

GELO'S POV

"Do you still have feelings for me?" diretsong tanong ko kay Shine.

Saglit itong natigilan saka tumawa.

"I don't have feelings for you anymore." sagot nito.

"Then you really can help me."

"Help you with what?"

"Marry me."

Parang bigla itong nalito. Nabigla.

"What??" takang tanong nito. "You asked me if I still have feelings with you. I answered you NO, then you'll ask me to marry you?"

"I know this sounds crazy. But I really want you to marry me."

"No." agad na sagot nito. "I think I should leave."
Akmang aalis na ito ng bigla ko siyang hawakan sa kamay niya.

"Please. It's for Abuela. She wants me to marry you." pagmamakaawa ko.

"When I said that you'll ask me to marry you 7years ago, this is not the perfect idea of that. Find yourself a bride. But not me. Abuela will understand." binawi nito ang kamay saka tumayo at naglakad palabas ng restaurant.

Agad akong naglabas ng cash pambayad sa inorder namin kanina ni Eric saka nagmamadaling sinundan siya.

"Shine wait!" tawag ko sa kanya.

"Don't follow me. I already said no." sagot nito.

"Can you please stop walking and listen to me first?"

Humarap ito at saka matalim akong tiningnan.
"Abuela is sick. Her final wish is she wants us to get married. Can you not give her what she wants?" pagpapatuloy ko.

Biglang nagbago ang reaksyon niya. Halatang nag-aalala.

"H-how is she?"

"She's not gettin'any better. So please? We can file a divorce after a year."

"Yun lang ba talaga ang dahilan?" seryoso niya akong tinitigan.

"O-oo. Yun lang."

"I don't believe you." saka ito akmang tatalikod ulit.

"Wait---Wait! Okay! I won't get any inheritance if hindi kita mapapakasalan by next month."

"There you have it. Ayaw mo pa sabihin ng buo na hindi ka papamanahan kung hindi mo ako papakasalan."

Hindi na ako nagsalita. Tiningnan ko lang siya.
"What's in for me if pumayag ako?" tanong niya.

"I'll give you a share. I'll pay you."

"Okay." casual na sagot niya

"P-pumapayag ka na?" hindi makapaniwalang tanong ko.

"Ayaw mo ba?"

"Thank you Shine. Thank You!" masayang sabi ko. Hindi ako nakapagpigil at nayakap ko siya.

Hinatid ko siya sa flowershop niya. Napagkasunduan namin na wala kaming pagsasabihan na kahit sino tungkol sa usapan namin.

DON'T FALL INLOVE. Yun ang number one rule para sa aming dalawa. Nabanggit ko din sa kanya na may girlfriend ako. Pinaliwanag ko naman na alam nito ang sitwasyon at pumayag naman ito.

"We'll see each other more. Abuela will be here next week." sabi ko sa kanya.

"Okay. Just call me anytime you need me." saka ito bumaba ng sasakyan.

Saka ako nagmaneho paalis. Atlast problem solved! Buti nalang at pumayag siya.

Sakto na nagring ang cellphone ko. Inilagay ko ang bluetooth headset ko sa tenga ko.

"Hi Honey. Yes I talked to Shine and she agreed. Everything's good now."

#Scarlett