Her Hero

Revelations

After the medical mission we all headed to our house. We had dinner together with the whole team.

Ilang oras pang at nagpa alam na rin ang iba kasama, naiwan na lang sila Tito dahil may paplanuhin pa daw sila sa ginagawang Annex ng ospital. Kaunti na lang ang natitirang bisita dahil mga pagod na rin.

Tumulong na ako magligpit ng garden sa Canopy kasama sila Nanay Carmen at Nanay Myrna. Sanay kaming magkakapatid sa mga gawaing bahay, hindi na rin bago sa mga kasama namin sa bahay dahil parang pamilya na rin kami at bilin yun nila Mama at Papa sa kanila na hayaan kami na matuto sa mga gawaing bahay.

Nagpapatong patong ako ng mga pinggan ng may bumati sa akin.

"Hey..." Nilingon ko at nakita ko si Xymon. Napakunot ang noo ko dahil sa pagtataka.

"What are you doing here? If this is about convincing your brother again, you will only be disappointed." binuhat ko na nag mga platong nakasalansan at nilagpasan sya.

"It's not why I am here. Mama Yvonne called us to join the after dinner. She said it's about time..."

Inilagay ko sa dishwasher ang mga plato, naghugas muna ako ng kamay at kumuha ng kitchen towel bago humarap muli kay Xymon.

"I'm sorry... I feel like you had me at disadvantage. Mama invited you and your brother. You both call her Mama..." padabog kong tinapon ang gamit na kitchen towel and I crossed my arms. "There is something I need to know. Tell me what it is."

"I am not in the position to tell you about it."

Naiinis na 'ko. They are hiding something from me and I hate it when I am unaware of something that I feel am very much involved.

I marched out of the kitchen to the living to the study room where they're are convening but before I could walk in someone grabbed me and kept in a very tight embrace. I know this scent, but this is impossible. I looked and confirmed my suspicion.

"Ate..."

"Baby sis! I missed you!" she kissed both my cheeks while am still in shock.

"What are you doing here!"

"That wasn't the standard response. By the way to answer your question... I'm here to visit...Namiss ko kayo..."

I pulled myself from her embrace.

"No, no, no...something is not adding up. Something is surely happening."

"I'm back. That is what is happening."

I looked back and saw Xymon still standing behind us. I looked back at Ate who is still giddy.
Kelan pa sya andito at mukang walang jet lag.
Bumukas ang pinto at lumabas si Kuya.

"Oh...good. You're both here na..."
Kuya wasn't looked surprised when she greeted Ate and gave her a peck on the cheek.

I frown. They're obviously hiding something from me.

"Get in..."

Pumasok na kami. Dumiretso ng prenteng upo si Ate matapos bumati at humalik kila Mama at Papa at nag mano kila Tito.

I just stand at the door while they all settled on the couch.

"Please tell me this isn't an arranged marriage shit, because I won't comply." I let out my opinion at dahil sa kabog ng dibdib ko, parang mababasag ang boses ko nung sinabi ko yun.

They all looked at me and that made me more worried. But before I could say a word they all laughed and Papa spoke, "That is hilarious anak. I didn't know you could crack something like that. But I mind the language. It doesn't suit you."

That made me more confuse.

"C'mere, Babe." sabad ni Xavier sabay tapik sa tabi nya sa couch.

"Quit it Xavier...Can anybody please tell me what's going on."

Lumapit sakin si Mama at hinawakan ang magkabila kong balikat at inakay umupo.

"Relax anak. We are just so delighted that you and Xavier finally get along."

"What do you mean?"

"You probably don't remember him, but he has been very patient. We have been very anxious that you won't recognize him. But I guess fate had already had its way."

"But this isn't an arranged marriage, right?"
Ate Ysabell laughed so hard again that the others do as well.

"What's so funny?"

Mama kept his hands on my shoulders as she sits on my side.

"No, anak. This is just a proper introduction and delayed gesture of gratitude..."
I didn't answer so Mama continued.

"You remember when you were in Fourth Grade that you were almost kidnapped and a boy helped you escape?"

I just nod...

"Since then, you grew fascination to Xymon because you thought he was the one who saved you..."

It was true. I was grateful to Xymon and it grew into an infatuation because he was once my knight in shining armor. I remember having a scar sa tagiliran ko. pareho kaming nadaplisan ng bala dahil sa ilog kami nagpatianod dahil binabaril na kami ng kidnappers.

"Since then, you also stick to your plans and schedule because you were so afraid that it might happen to you again. It was the single occasion that you didn't wait for our driver to fetch you and you bravely follow the urge to ride a taxi from your school."

It was true...

"You didn't know that Xavier had their driver followed your cab. And while their driver was contacting us, he sneaked in and helped you from your kidnappers and you know what happened.

I subconsciously rub my scar sa tagiliran ko. I looked at Xavier. He's just looking at me with a comforting smile... I looked at them all, and lastly to Xymon. This is shocking and embarrassing. Now he knows that I have a crush on him. Or he probably knows it before.

"You see, anak. Xymon and Xavier look very similar. Only, Xymon have a birthmark at left side of his neck."

May nunal nga sya sa leeg. But it all happened so fast and years already passed and I can't recall everything clearly but I can still remember how it felt like.

"It was Xavier who saved you, not Xymon. I thought that we should made it clear since you are getting along so well now. Since then, we treat them like an extended family that's why they both call us with the same endearment like we all have with each other."

I sighed in relief. But a thought snapped in my head. I looked at Xymon and Xavier.

"So, having a crush on Xymon is like committing an incest?!" nanlaki ang mata ko sa idea na yun.

They all laughed again. Kung ganito lang pala kadali magpatawa, baka ikayaman ko ang pagiging comedienne.

"No, anak. That's not likely to be an incest. But we think this is relevant because you might refuse from our request..."Sabi ni Papa.

"So...there's a catch...hindi incest, I am indebted to them so you will arrange our marriage because their business is at stake?" I presumptuously butt-in.

Natawa silang lahat, si Meera na nagpapahid pa ng luha kakatawa ang nagsalita, "Bes, if I didn't know you well I might assume na gusto mo lang makasal sa isa sa kanila. Kanina ka pa assume ng assume ng arranged marriage. Hahahaha"
Napasimangot ako, ako pa talaga.
"Anak, Xavier told us about your approved application. And we want you to know that you have our full support."

Tinignan ko ng masama si Xavier. "May kadaldalan ka talagang taglay, hano?"

Hinaplos ni Mama ang pisngi ko at muling nabalik ang atensyon ko sa kanya. "Anak...you don't hide things like that to us. Don't blame him. He also wants the best for you. Now, before you fly to France with your Ate. Xymon and Xavier would like to seek your help in one of the departments of their firm."