Chasing Fire (Completed)

Chapter 23

Home

In the morning, Marco decided to bring me home. Kung noon nangyari to, baka halos mamatay na ako sa kaba dahil kay Daddy. But now, I don't feel anything. It's not that I do not have respect to Dad anymore, I am just upset.

Alam kong huhupa rin tong nararamdaman ko but when that time comes, I will still not marry Lex. Back when I still don't know that Mom and Dad's marriage was fixed, I really admire their relationship. I even told myself that when I grow up, I want to have a relationship like what they have. That's when I knew their marriage was fixed when Mom left us.

Kaya hindi ko gusto ng ganoon. I do not want to enter a relationship that is full of pretention. Because I know it will just end up like the relationship of Mom and Dad. And I don't want that.

Nasa loob kami ng sasakyan ni Marco na nakatigil sa labas ng gate namin. I was about to go out after I said my goodbye ng pigilan niya ako.

"I'll talk to your father." He seriously said.

What?

Nanlaki ang mata ko at mabilis na umiling nang hindi nakapagsalita.

"No, Marco. He will do something to you if he finds out." Halos nagmamakaawa kong sabi.

Like I know he wants to help me but talking to my Dad? Hell no! I know my father, I know what he'll do to Marco. And I will never let that happen.

"Please? Just trust me." He said as he held my cheek with his right hand.

I am so tempted to say yes. Damn it. Tumitig lang ako sa kanya at hindi alam ang sasabihin.

"Let's go. I will still talk to your father even though you'll say no anyway."

"Marco!" Tawag ko at hinampas ang balikat niya. "I'm serious!"

"And I'm serious too. Let me do it please?"

Hindi ko alam kung paano niya ako napapayag sa gagawin niya. I firmly held his hand while we entered the double doors.

"Manang si Daddy po?" Tanong ko sa isng kasambay na parang nagulat rin nang nakita ang presensiya ni Marco.

"Nasa study niya. Tatawagin ko ba?"

Napatingin ko kay Marco na nag-aabang na sa paglingin ko sa kanya. He smiled reassuringly that made me sigh.

"Opo. Pakisabi nasa living room ako at gusto ko siyang makausap. Salamat." Sabi ko at umalis na ng kasambahay.

I guided Marco to sit on the couch in the living room. Sobrng higpit ng hawak ko sa kanya like he's going to slip away if I don't hold him like this. He felt my nervousness kaya hinawakan niya sa dalawang kamay niya ang kamay ko at hinalikan ito.

"Don't worry okay? We can handle this." He whispered.

Tumango lang ako, unable to speak. When I heard heavy footsteps from upstairs, mas kinabahan ako dhil alam kong si Daddy iyon.

I stood up and Marco followed nang nakita ko siyang pababa at nagtagpo ang paningin namin. Bumaba ang tingin niya sa magkahawak naming kamay at nakita ko agad ang galit sa ekspresyon niya.

Nang nakalapit siya ay siinubukan kong kumalma at hindi ko ipinakita sa kanya na konakabahan ako. I can do this. Marco and I can do this.

"Good morning Sir. I am Marco Melendrez, Vienna's boyfriend." Sabi ni Marco at naglahad ng kamay kay Daddy.

Tiningnan lang ni Daddy ang kamay niya at umupo na sa pang isahang sofa kaya't napapikit ako ng mariin.

Marco just cleared his throat as he withdrew his hand. Umupo na kaming dalawa habang si Daddy ay wala yatang balak na makipag-usap.

"Melendrez. What are you doing here?" Panimula ni Daddy at sa tono palang ng pananalita niya, I know he won't take any bullshit from me.

I squeezed Marco's hand. Hindi niya kailangang gawin 'to. He can still tell me na hindi siya tutuloy.

"I want to marry your daughter, Sir." Diretso sabi ni Marco na halos manigas ako sa kinauupuan ko.

Marry me?! What the hell? Yes of course you can Marco. Kahit ngayon na agad.

Damn it Vienna, be serious! Wag muna magloko pakiusap.

Dad's expression was unreadable. His stare drifted to me at agad akong nagbaba ng tingin. Yes I am upset but I can't help but to be scared alright!

"My daughter is engaged with someone already. She can't have a boyfriend kaya itigil mo na 'tong kahibangan mo Vienna."

Huh?

"I apologize Mr. Melendrez at nagpatulong pa ang anak ko sa'yo para magpanggap." Patuloy ni Daddy.

Oh please.

"I'm not engaged with someone Dad! I never said yes! I already talked to you about this!" Hindi ko na napigilan ang iritasyon ko.

"Come on Vienna. You will really go this far? Sobrang simple lang ng pinapagawa-"

"I am serious, Sir." Putol ni Marco sa pagsasalita ni Dad.

Parang natigilan si Daddy at hindi makapaniwala. Why? What's the matter? Akala niya talaga humingi lang ako ng tulong kay Marco para mag panggap na boyfriend ko?

"Enough. Ikakasal na ang anak ko. If you don't want to be dragged by the guards, umalis ka na."

"Dad!" Protesta ko sa asal ni Daddy.

At hindi ko na siya napigilan nang tumayo siya at umalis. Damn it!

"I'm sorry." Mahinang sabi ko kay Marco.

He sighed heavily.

"No, I'm sorry. I can't convince your Dad. Mukhang kailangan ko pang galingan." He laughed lightly.

I don't know what to say kaya't niyakap ko nalang siya. Bakit ba ako pa ang naging anak ni Dad? I don't wanna be in this situation. I don't wanna marry someone I don't like at ayaw ko ring umabot sa punto na kamuhian ko si Dad. He's my only family now. I don't wanna loose him too.

Maghapon akong nagkulong sa kwarto. Hintiran lang ako ni Nana Selia ng tanghalian kanina.

My phone rang because of a call from someone. Inabot ko iyon sa bedside table. I was expecting that it's from Marco so my eyes immediately widened because it was Mom!

"H-Hello?" Nanginginig ang boses ko nang sinagot ko ang tawag.

"Vienna..." It was Mommy's soft voice.

Agad na nangilid ang luha ko. Is this relly happpening? Am I dreaming?

"Mommy... I miss you. I miss you so much. Please kunin mo ako dito. I wanna be with you, please." I cried.

"I miss you too sweetie. Wait for me."

Napabangon ako sa huling sinabi niya.

"A-are you coming home? Kukunin mo ba ako dito? Please, Mom..."

"Stop crying. You're gonna be with me okay? At... iiwan mo si Daddy mo mag-isa?" Mom's voice was so gentle.

"I hate him. Mom, please help me. Ipapakasal ako ni Daddy at hindi ko gusto yon! You won't let that happen right?" Tuluyan ng umagos ang luha ko.

I never thought talking with Mom after eight years would hurt like this. Halos hindi ako makahinga. I miss her so much.

"Yes, sweetie. Just wait for me." She assured.

"Thank you Mommy... I love-"

Then the line went dead.

"you."

Mas lalo pa akong naiyak. I called her again and again pero hindi na siya sumasagot. She didn't even hear my "I love you".