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Chapter Seventeen

       " Baby Girl?" Panggigising ni Nico kay Maine.

       Dahan dahang nagmulat ng mga mata nya si Maine at nakita nya ang kuya nya na nakaupo sa tabi nya sa kama.

       " Can we talk?" Tanong ni Nico.

       Bumangon si Maine at hinintay na magsalita ang kuya nya.

        " I heard alam mo na yung news." Tanong ni Nico.

        Tumango lang si Maine. Wala pa ring imik.

        " First I want to say sorry about Manong Johnny. He made me promise and ayokong ibreak yung promise ko sa kanya. And next is I want you to know na opposed ako sa plano ni Daddy. Although I want you to end up with Rj, I want you to do it on your own. Alam mo naman na I'll support you sa gusto mo diba?" Sabi ni Nico.

         Muli lang tumango ang dalaga.

         " Si Rj din ayaw sa plano nila Daddy at Daddy nya." Sabi ni Nico.

         " Kuya bakit ganun? I haven't seen him in a very long time and the first time I saw himbad news agad ang welcome nya sa akin. Can't he wait until I've settled my heartaches on Manong Johnny's death? And why does he want to manipulate my life when he wasn't there while I was growing up?" Tanong ni Maine na hindi maiwasang may tumulong luha mula sa mga mata ng dalaga.

          " Stop crying na baby girl. It's tearing my heart seeing you cry. I promise you he can't force in this. Kung magpapakasal ka kay Rj that would be your decision and no one else's." sabi ni Nico.

          " Promise?" Tanong ni Maine.

          " Yes promise. Pero syempre gusto ko kayo ang magka tuluyan kasi I know how much you love each other." Sabi ni Nico na may ngiti sa labi.

          " Kaya lang parang sinunod ko na rin si Daddy nun." Sabi ni Maine.

         " What's wrong with it? You like Rj naman I mean you love him naman diba?" Nakangiting tanong ni Nico.

         Yumuko lang si Maine. Di nya masagot si Nico dahil natatakot syang umasa.

         " Baby girl you can be honest with me. You know I won't tell." Sabi ni Nico na itinaas ang baba ng dalaga.

         " Kuya I'm afraid." Sagot ni Maine.

         " Afraid of what?" Tanong ng binata.

         " Afraid that he will hurt me again." Sagot ni Maine.

         " I don't think Rj will hurt you this time. You see Baby girl the first time has hurt him too. I would catch him staring at your pictures. He is always excited when he sees new pictures sent by you and mom then bigla na lang lulungkot sya. Tapos when he heard that you cried when I told you na may girlfriend na sya dito naglasing sya. One week straight syang lasing kasi ang gago gago nya daw. Ang duwag duwag daw nya."

          " Serves him right." Smug na sagot ni Dei.

        " Maine!" Sabi ni Nico.

      " Sorry Kuya." Napayukong sabi ni Maine.

" He was hurt too." Sabi ni Nico.

Tahimik lang si Maine. Di na nya alam kung ano ang gagawin nyang reaction sa sinabi ng kuya nya. Nalilito na sya. Ayaw nyang ipilit ng daddy nya ang gusto nya but a small part of her brain is thrilled at the thought na ipapakasal sil ani Rj ng mga magulang nila. Alam ng kuya nya na ayaw nyang pinangungunahan sya sa mga decisions nya. Nagrerebelde sya pag pinipilit sya.