Fall

thirteen

thirteen | lira

thirteen | lira

Time flies when you're having the best time of your life, they say, and I agree. Work, family, Paul... they kept me happily occupied the past days. After no'ng kasal ni Marsha, may inasikaso pa kaming schedules nila Madel. And I must say na kahit na nakaka-stress, naging mas magaan ang trabaho ko not only because I had the best team, but also because Paul was always there. Kaya kahit anong pagod pa ang nararamdaman ko, parang everything's worth it.

Uuwi ako sa bahay kasama si Paul at madadatnan sila Mama at Papa pati ang mga kapatid kong nagkikwentuhan. We would eat dinner together. Syempre, dahil parte na ng pamilya si Paul since we were in high school, kasalo namin siya.

Papa is okay with Paul and me being together. He confessed it was one of his secret desires, 'yung maging kami.

After the wedding, hinatid ako ni Paul. And when he left, kumatok si Papa sa kwarto at kinausap ako. He peeked inside cautiously.

"'Pa? Bakit po?" I was anxious of what he would say, but when he smiled, I was assured he wasn't going to scold me or anything close to that. Maybe he just wanted to talk. Na-miss ko rin kausap si Papa. I gestured him to come inside.

He walked towards me and sat at the foot of the bed. Pinag-aralan niya lang ang mukha ko bago siya nagsalita. "You and Paul, huh?"

Napayuko ako. This would be the first time na si Papa ang kausap ko about Paul. Well, at least after he and I became a couple. Hindi naman strikto si Papa. He and Paul get along really well. No'ng high school kami, madalas silang mag-basketball. Dahil na rin madalas na nasa amin si Paul, they would bond like Father and Son. Papa treated Paul like his own son dahil nga matagal bago dumating si Sam. He would even advise Paul about girls and relationships!

"Mahal mo talaga siya." Not a question but I guess a realization for Papa. And he wasn't against my relationship with Paul, thank goodness. "I've always known that that young man has something special for you. Mga bata pa lang kayo ramdam ko na 'yun. Ewan ko ba sa kaibigan mong 'yan kung bakit pinatagal pa bago umamin."

Nag-angat ako ng tingin dahil nasurpresa ako sa mga sinabi ni Papa. "Hindi po kayo galit?"

Umiling siya. "You're all grown up now, Anak. Alam mo na kung ano'ng makakabuti at makakasama sa'yo," he said. "And I am confident sa inyo ni Paul."

"Thank you, 'Pa." I could really hug him right now.

He smiled pero bumuntong-hininga siya pagkatapos. Tumungo siya saka muling nagsalita. "Hindi ka pa naman siguro ilalayo sa'min ni Paul, 'di ba? Hindi pa ako handang mabawasan ng isa ang mga anak ko." He sounded and looked so sad. Pero what he said next really made me want to laugh. "I have been dying to have a grandchild, though. Pero masyado pang maaga para sa inyo. Wait at least until you turn 27."

"Papa! Ano ba'ng sinasabi niyo?" natatawang tanong ko sa kaniya. I couldn't believe he's talking about marriage and grandchildren. One moment he's making me worried, the next, he's throwing things like that. Wala pa nga kaming dalawang linggo ni Paul.

Tumingin naman siya sa'kin habang nakakunot ang noo. "I'm just saying. Baka kasi bukas o makalawa, bigla ka na lang kunin sa amin ni Paul. Hindi pa nga graduate si Trisha, at maggi-grade school pa lang si Sam iiwanan mo na kami. Sabihan mo si Paul 'wag munang magmadali. Kaya ka pa naman naming pakainin ng Mama mo."

Napahalakhak na ako sa tinuran ni Papa. Para siyang bata kung maging possessive. "Papa, wala pa kaming plano mag-settle down. 'Wag nga kayong OA, isumbong ko kayo kay Mama, e."