Ideal Love

Chapter XII

Maaga silang umuwi sa Batangas. Nagvolunteer itong ipagdrive siya. Alas-singko pa lang ng umaga ay nasa biyahe na sila. They both want to spend their whole weekend with her dad. Natutuwa naman siya dito dahil areglado nito lahat ng bagay para sa kaniya. He prepared snacks na babaunin nila pauwi at lahat ng kakailanganin niya ay ipinaalala pa nito sa kaniya.

Maaga pa ng makarating sila sa bahay. Her dad was still having his coffee ng bumulaga sila sa pinto.

“Good morning daddy!” she kissed him in his cheek. Niyakap naman siya nito.

“Good morning po Tito,” Kris said. Ngumiti naman ito sa daddy niya.

“You too, hindi pa kayo nagbreakfast ano? Come join me here,” anyaya nito sa kanila. Masaya silang kumain ng almusal.

“So, ano ng balita sa dalaga ko? Mukhang hindi na si daddy ang only man of your life this time,” he smiled, waiting for her stories.

“Dad naman eh,”

“Aiah, you’re twenty four. And I’m not getting any younger. I had prepared myself long long time ago that any day someone will ask for your hand and take you with him,”

Tahimik lang si Kristoff habang nag-uusap silang mag-ama. He busied himself eating and listening to them, giving them time to talk without any interruptions. Sumulyap siya dito at ngumiti naman ito sa kaniya at ipinagpatuloy ang pagkain. Maya-maya’y ito naman ang kinausap ng daddy niya.

“Kailan ka pala lilipat Kristoff?”

“Bukas po Tito, pag-uwi namin. Konti lang naman po ang gamit ko kaya mabilis lang po ‘yon. And I need to buy stuff for my unit, wala pong kalaman laman e,”

“Isama mo yang si Aiah at maganda ang taste niyan sa mga gamit sa bahay,” her father suggested.

“If she’s not busy po,” ngumiti ito sa kaniya.

“Ano naman ang gagawin niyan don?” tumingin sa kaniya ang daddy niya.

“Wala po daddy,” she answered. “Papasok ka ba today dad?”

“Nope, minsan ka lang umuwi kaya let’s just spend this day together,”

“May plans ka dad?”

“Magbeach tayo sa Anilao. Your Ninong Marcus invited us to his newly opened resort. Extension nung dati. Tutal hindi pa nakakapagbeach yang si Kristoff. Maganda naman ang panahon,”

“Great, sayang wala si Sam. Adik pa naman ‘yun sa beach,”

“So, prepare your stuff at ng maaga tayong makaalis,”

The crystal clear water of Anilao sea greeted them from Anilao port to his Ninong Marcus resort. Dahil nasa gilid ito ng bundok, they still had to ride a speed boat. All of them inhaled the cool sea breeze. Pakiramdam niya nahugasan ang baga niya. Marcus greeted them pagbaba nila sa boat, kasama nito ang kinakapatid niyang si Ross.

“Welcome kumpadre,” bati nito sa daddy niya. Lumapit naman siya dito at hinalikan ito sa pisngi, “Lalo ka gumaganda hija,”

“Thanks po tito, tito si Kristoff po,” her introduction. Nakipagkamay naman si Kristoff sa ninong niya.

“Nice meeting you po,”

“Boyfriend mo na ba ito hija?” ngumiti lang siya sa Ninong niya at tinitigan ng masama si Ross na kanina pa ngiting ngiti sa kaniya.

“Buti nakarating kayo kumpadre, kabubukas pa lang talaga namin last month at madami na agad kaming guests,” her Ninong as he led the way to the hotel. Magkasabay ang dalawang lalaki at siya naman ay kasabay si Kristoff. Tahimik lang ito habang si Ross naman ang kumukulit sa kaniya.

“Aiah hindi ka naman nagrereply,”

“Kailan?”

“Nagtext ako sa’yo nung opening,”

“Wala akong narereceive,” she lied. Kahit kalian talaga hindi niya kayang tagalan ang kinakapatid niyang iyon. Sobrang kulit nito at para pa itong bata. Gwapo naman ito pero hindi niya talaga ito type kaya ilang beses na niya itong nabasted. At wala pa rin itong balak tigilan siya.

“Pagnagpunta akong Manila, magkita tayo ha?”

“Pag di ako busy,”

“Dad, pumayag na si Aiah na magdate kami pagpumunta akong Manila,” habol nito sa ama. Pinandilatan niya ito and she rolled her eyes. Abnormal talaga ang kinakapatid niya.

Hindi pa rin kumibo si Kristoff hanggang makapagcheck-in sila. Isang house cottage ang ipinagamit sa kanila ni Marcus. Nagpaalam din agad sa kanila ang daddy niya dahil hinihintay daw ito ni Ninong Marcus sa lobby ng hotel dahil may billiards dun. At paborito iyon ng daddy niya. Babalik daw ito at sabay sabay silang maglalunch. Hindi niya alam kung anong isusuot niyang swimming wear. Kanina pa niya pinoproblema iyon. She’s used to wearing swim suit but not with the company of men. Pero magmumukha naman siyang nakakatawa if she’ll not wear them. Nilaksan niya ang loob. She wears her two piece chocolate brown with white stripes swim suit. Pero parang hindi niya kayang lumabas ng kwarto knowing that Kristoff is waiting for her outside. She searched for a cover up and her white sexy shorts. Now, she looked more decent although her swim suit is still visible. Paglabas niya ng kwarto nakita niyang nakahiga si Kristoff sa sofa, with earphones in his ears. Nakafloral na shorts lang ito.

“Kristoff,” she called him but still he didn’t move. Nilapitan na niya ito at napapitlag naman ito ng makita siya. He removed his earphones and examined her from head to toe.

“Tara na,” yaya niya rito.

“Ayoko lumabas,” he again lied in the sofa and stared at the ceiling.

“E anong gagawin natin dito?” she started to sound irritated.

“Lumabas ka kung gusto mo, pero ako I’ll stay here at baka makapanakit lang ako ng tao,” he sighed.

“And why would you do that?”

“Hay nako Aiah, didn’t you know? Jealousy is eating me all up. And with your beauty, no man will not be mesmerized by your presence, lalo na with that outfit. God, I’d rather stay here than see men looked at you the way that I did or I’ll ended up in jail,” himutok nito. Bigla namang tumaas ang tingin niya sa sarili. It’s true. Marami naman talagang tumitingin sa kaniya whenever she went to malls. Pero she didn’t really consider herself beautiful, she’s too plain and simple compared to her bestfriend.

“Pero ikaw naman ang kasama ko ah, with your praises, you should be proud I’m with you,” pang-aasar naman niya dito. He’s cute when he’s jealous. Para itong bata.

“Why should I be proud if I don’t even have the right to guard you from them,”

“Come,” yaya pa rin niya.

“Ayoko nga,”

“Come, let’s show the world that I’m yours,” automatic itong napatayo buhat sa pagkakahiga dahil sa sinabi niya. Surprise and amazement written all over his face.