CORDIVILLA: Breathless

Chapter 61

Chapter 61

Everything happened so fast.

Kinaumagahan, I woke up only to see my mother and Stan talking in the corner of the room. My mother was smiling habang kausap si Stanford na tumatango sa mga sinasabi niya. Doon pa lamang gising na gising na and diwa ko.

"Mommy..." I whispered lowly.

Napatingin sila pareho sa akin. I glanced at the other people at the room. My cousins were there, having their own talk. I narrowed my eyes on them and they avoided my gaze. These people! I thought they would keep their mouth shut and let us handle this!

Stan gently pushed my mother's wheelchair towards my bed. Matalim ang tingin sa akin ni Mommy. May halong akusa at pagtataas ng kilay.

"Is it true?" Was the first thing she said.

Napakurap ako. May narinig akong tumikhim sa grupo ng aking mga pinsan. Inangat ko ang tingin kay Stan, naghahanap ng tulong. Ngumuso siya sa akin at pumirmi ang labi.

"Boyfriend mo si Stanford?" Dagdag niya nang hindi ako sumagot.

I sighed and forced a smile. Like I could do something about it, right? I smiled more loosely at my mother. I need to face it now.

"Yes, My. Pasensya na po kung ngayon ko lang-"

"Oh! Don't worry! Naipaliwanag na sa akin ni Stanford! He was patient with every questions and I am very satisfied with it! Alam ko namang hindi ka pala-kwento. But I was really surprised to hear it from Era! And your dad, too! He wans to see you both immediately!" She cut me off.

Umawang ang labi ko. Ilang beses kumurap dahil hindi ako makapaniwalang nakangiti pa siya nang sinabi niya iyon. Pumikit ako ng mariin. Ate Era... damn!

Kinagat ko ang labi at nagmulat. Nang bumaling ako kay Ate Era ay naka-peace sign na siya sa akin at nakangiwi. Bumuntong hininga ako at nilingon si Stan.

So he already talked to my mother? I wonder what kind of questions she asked and how he answered it. It takes a lot of explaining to do since they're my parents. Compared to my nosy cousins, we have to be more careful when it comes to them. And oh, now, Dad is coming for us!

"But don't worry, I'll tell your Dad to wait until you can walk properly so you can visit us downstairs." Dagdag ni Mommy.

Tinitigan ko siya. That's it? No more follow up questions? Well it's not like they pushed me again to marry someone after Erick o ireto ulit ako sa iba. Mula noon ay hindi na sila nakialam sa parteng iyon ng buhay ko. They never asked too if I have a boyfriend or whatever.

"Galit ba si Daddy?" Tanong ko at sinulyapan si Stan na pinapanood ako.

"No, no. He was just surprised. Very! Hindi namin akalain na kasintahan mo pala itong si Stanford! At matagal na pala kayong magkakilala! I am very suprised too, Veil! Mabuti na lamang at naliwanagan ako sa mga sinabi ni Stanford." Nanliit ang mga mata ni Mommy sa akin.

I pursed my lips and stared at Stan. He licked his lips and his jaw moved. I held my breath and squinted at my mother.

"I'm sorry, Mom. Magpapaliwanag po ako kay Daddy." Ani ko.

"Oh, don't worry! Kinausap na ni Stanford ang Daddy mo tungkol sa inyo. Ang gusto lang ni Daddy mo ay makausap kayong dalawa pero 'tsaka na 'yon. Everyone of us needs to rest first." Mommy replied.

My lips parted. Kumunot ang noo ko kay Stan. I want to talk to him but I would save that for later. Marami pang sinabi si Mommy bago siya hinatid ng mga pinsan ko sa baba. And Ate Era, whom I am supposed to confront, escaped!