Life With You

11 - Hurt

Jade

When Althea and I went down for breakfast I can see the sudden change of mood in the people around the dining table. But the funny thing was the look in Lolo and Dada's faces, hindi ko alam kung alangang seryoso na masaya or tuwang itinatago. Maybe because there's still the feeling of guilt for what they did but at the same time relieved and happy for what happened.

"You're right on time for breakfast, girls." bati ni Mama.

"Good morning po." magalang na bati ni Althea habang papalapit kami. She gestured me to sit next to mama and sat beside me after. I didn't say a word but smiled at Mama when I got down the table.

"It is really a good morning, isn't it?" mahinang tugon ni Lolo Pablo at ngumiti lang ako pansin kong ganon din si Althea. "Mga Apo, kailan ang balik niyo sa Maynila?" dugtong ni Lolo.

"After lunch, Lo. After we go to church and lunch biyahe na rin kami ni Jade. You can stay here pa po Ti-" biglang nahinto si Althea sa sasabihin na parang nahiya saka tumingin kay Mama at nginitian lang siya ni Mama at tumango. "You can stay here pa po M-mama and Pa..pa..." as she slowly shifted her gaze to Dada."...if you want po para may kasama si Lolo." I can see the sudden changed in Dada and Lolo's face. It's like they heard a good news that made their day.

"Oh...eh..bakit babalik naman agad kayo?" Si Lolo muli "Maanong magtagal muna tayo para magdiwang." masaya niyang sabi at lahat kami napatingin sa kanya.
"Ibig kong sabihin magdiwang ng magandang umaga...araw...ano bang okasyon ngayon?" bigla niyang sabi na parang nataranta.

"It's ok, Lo. I need to work na tomorrow and Jade has an appointment kaya we really need to go." putol ni Althea at mukhang sumuko na si Lolo Pablo sa apo.

"Siya sige, kayo ang bahala. Nawa ay lagi kayong lumuwas dito ng makapagpahinga dahil kailangan niyo yan lalo na kung magkakaapo na ako." Lolo said, his eyes not looking at us but his food. Nagkatinginan kami ni Althea, here we go again Lolo sabi ko sa isip ko. Walang nakaimik.

"Do you want to get married again?" basag ni Dada sa katahimikan, hindi ulit kami nakapag salita ni Althea "You know? I mean, the first wedding...I mean your wedding was not that..." hindi na tinuloy ni Dada dahil napako na sa kanya ang tingin namin ni Althea. "Just a suggestion..." ngiti niyang sabi sabay subo ng pagkain. What's with this two at biglang kung anuano ang sinasabi.

- - -

Pauwi na kami at si Mang Julio ang nagdrive sa amin dahil ang Althea ayaw umalis sa tabi ko. Clingy lang.

"Do you want us to get married again?" she suddenly asked.

"Why?" dko sinagot tanong niya.

"To make us official." sagot niya habang masuyong hinahaplos ang kamay ko.

"Isn't what we had already official?" tanong ko muli.

"We're married officially, Mahal." she called me and I saw Mang Julio glanced at us, smiling. "what I mean is, you can have a wedding that you dreamt of."

"It's ok Love, i couldn't have a church wedding anyways." simple kong sagot

"I...I'm sorry I can't give you that." she said almost a whisper.

"I mean no offense, Love." baling ko sabay hawak sa pisngi niya. "I'd rather have that quick and shotgun wedding and be with the person I want to spend the rest of my life." and i saw her smile.
"Ikaw gusto mo ba ikasal tayo ulit?" it's my turn to ask.