Worth the fall
It was a sunny afternoon when I woke up.
Can't believe that I only slept for about an hour ago and need to get up for work. What boring day.
A few minutes after I did my usual morning routine, Angelica called. "Good afternoon, Miss Ericka. Sorry to disturb you sleep but Sir Chan is looking for you."
"Kailan siya dumating?" "Twenty minutes ago po. Nainip na po siguro kakantay dito kaya ngayon palang nagsabi na nandito siya sa office niyo."
Nagsalubong ang kilay ko sa narinig. "He should have called me para hindi na siya nag-antay pa ng matagal."
"E, ewan ko din po sa kanya, miss. But he told me that he's here to give you the contract that you need to sign."
"Kailangan na ba niya ngayon ang contract?"
"Hindi ko po sure, miss. I'll ask him po muna." The line went silent for awhile. Napahikab ako dahil antok pa rin ako. If this isn't for my future, I'll go home without even caring for our employees. "Oo daw po, Miss Ericka."
Napabuntong-hininga ako sa narinig. Grabeng bungad sa Monday ko.
"Can you please pass the phone to Chan? I'll talk to him."
The line went silent again when I heard Chan's deep voice.
"Good morning, sweetie." He said. Napairap naman ako bigla. "Good morning? It's already afternoon, mister."
"I know, sweetie. But it seems like you just woke up from your dreamland. Pakiramdam ko pa nga may natuyong laway ka sa gilid ng labi mo. Parang sarap ding halikan ang labi mo."
Napahawak naman ako sa labi ko dahil sa narinig. Wait, why did I even check it?
At bakit naimagine ko din na naghahalikan kami ni Chan? Gosh, Ericka! Pervert ka na!
"At talagang chineck mo pa, Ericka." He said then laughed.
"Oh my gosh, Chan! Stop laughing na, will you?!" He stop laughing but I know better. "What's with the contract and you need it today?"
I stood up from my bed and started picking my clothes for today. "What's with you today and you are not calling me 'sweetie', hmm?"
"Chan."
"Yeah, fine. I need you to sign the contract today because dad needs it for the renovation of the resort that he bought for mom. You know mom, she doesn't want any properties under her name."
"Then, why me? Pwede namang sa'yo na lang ipangalan, di ba? Ikaw naman ang anak ni tita and not me."
"And also, you can ask my dad to just secretly put Tita Anne's name in the contract to make sure that she will really own the resort from now on."
"Your dad? You mean, our dad." He laughed.
"Yeah, our dad. Because my dad will be your dad after they got married."
As soon as I picked my clothes for today, I went to my balcony. Feeling the fresh air from Tagaytay.
"Yeah. That's the reason why dad asked me to let you sign the papers because we will be a family soon."
I wiped my tears that fell down upon hearing it from Chan.
I didn't cry because I'm happy that Tita Anne is already considering me as her own but the fact that Chan was once my boyfriend and now will be my step-brother hurts me alot.
"Ericka..." He called me. "I still love you."
"I love you too but we can't be, right?"
"We can but..."
"But we both know that hurting our parents will be the last thing that we'll do."
"C-can I call you mine just this time? Please, Ericka."
"No, kuya. See you after fifteen minutes. Bye."
Tears started streaming down my face after I ended the call. As much as I want to prolong our conversation and be sweet to Chan, we both know we can't.
Tita Anne and my dad fell for each other since they were in high school. It's romantic that they still love each other even though they end up marrying mom and Tito Alfred.
And Chan is my ex-boyfriend. We've been together since we're still in college. But we separated ways upon knowing that my dad loves his mom even before me. And I know for a fact that before mom, there was someone. But I did not expect that it will be Tita Anne, Chan's mom.
My love for Chan will always stay in my heart since the first time I laid my eyes on him. Our love was worth fighting for but not all love are good to others. I can't hurt my dad just because I love the son of her first love. And hurting dad will be the last thing I'll do.
We tried fighting for our love but when I saw how dad's eyes sparkle as he talks with Tita Anne, I know from that moment that I cannot hurt my dad. Even if it means sacrificing my own happiness for them. Even if it means losing Chan to make my dad happy, it is still worth it.
Our sacrifices for our parents will now be worth it. That is why Chan will always be worth the fall even if he is not mine anymore.
