Take Care Of My Heart

Chapter XIX

Yeesha's POV

I went inside his car. He's still silent and doesn't like to talk to me.
"Your employees are funny." Sabi ko sa kanya. I put the seatbelt on. I remembered it is my last day of vacation. I'll go to work tomorrow and maybe I could hardly see him.
We went to his restaurant.
Nag-order na ako. Of course I would eat a lot today because I'm really happy.
He is just observing me.
Then,when the food is served,I dig in immediately.
Kumakain na rin ito. Magana din itong kumain. Many people visited this restaurant because of the food. And I realized there are Filipino foods in here. Filipino-Thai cuisine!
Napatingin ako sa kanya.
"Aran,what Filipino food do you like?" I asked him.
He put his spoon and fork. Then he wipe his mouth using the table napkin.
"Adobo."
Napaiyak ako. He is really interested with Filipino stuff.
"Why are you crying?" tanong nito. Ibinigay niya sa akin ang bag ko na nasa tabi niya.
"Wipe your tears. Mukha kang Ewan dyan." wika nito. Natawa ako sa sinabi niya.
"What place do you like the most in the Philippines?"mahinang tanong ko.
" I love Marinduque!" sagot nito habang kumakain. Mas lalong bumabaha ang mga luha ko. It is my province.
"Are you crazy?why are you crying?" tanong nito. Tumingin pa ito sa paligid.
" nothing. Do you want to go to Marinduque?"
"Of course. I'd love to go there."
Tinapos na namin ang main course. Dessert naman ang kinain namin. Isang fruit shake na malamig na malamig.
"Hmm,delicious!" wika ko. I watched him closely.
"Don't look at me like that!"
"Why?"
"I feel I'm going to die"
"What?"
"Hmm,your stare is killing me."
"I don't use dagger look."
"Tsk..where's my ring?"
"Oh yeah,let's talk about the ring. Why did you give me that expensive thing. I don't need it."
"Christmas gift."
"And why?"
"Christmas nga. Ang labo mong kausap."
Natawa ako sa sinabi niya.
"Your birthday is approaching. It's February right? Kaya naman pala."
"Why,kaya naman pala?"
"They said when a person born in February,they are moody and sensitive. I think you are more than that. "
"Yah!!!" sigaw nito. Some people look at us.
"People will think you are scaring me." mahina kong sabi. Yumuko na ito.
Hindi na ito umimik at kinain na ang lahat ng laman sa bowl.
"Yah!!!" I did the same way. All people are looking at us.
"People will think you are scaring me." mahina nitong sabi. Natapos din nitong ubusin ang shake. Tumayo na ito.
"Hintayin mo ako."
Umalis nga ito. Nangangalahati pa yung laman ng bowl. Hinayaan ko siyang umalis. Suddenly he went back.
Kinuha niya yung bowl ko at hinila niya ako sa braso.
"Let's go." Hinawakan niya ang kamay ko. We went out at ibinigay niya sa akin yung bowl ng shake. Natawa ako ng makita ko iyon.

"This is not allowed to bring this thing outside " wika ko na natatawa sa ginagawa namin.
"I'm the owner so it's okay." Sumakay na kami sa kotse nito. Kinain ko yung shake.
"I'll go home now." wika nito. Pinaandar na nito ang makina at umalis na kami. It's past 2pm na nang hapon.
Dumating na kami  after a couple of minutes.
"Get out now." mahinang wika nito. Nilingon ko siya at kinuha ko ang bag sa likuran ng kotse nito.
"By the way,Mom is here already." wika nito.
"Yeah,I know. Arin is with her now. I'll just get my things and leave later. I'll go back to my apartment."
"Okay." Lumabas na ito. Sumunod na ako sa kanya. Dumiretso ito sa sariling silid.
I pack my things and put it in the living room. I knocked his door and said goodbye.
"I'll leave now. School starts tomorrow so I might be very busy." wika ko sa kanya. Nakaupo ito sa study table at nakatutok ang mga mata into sa laptop. Nilapitan ko siya.
"I'm going!" wika ko sa kanya. Nag-angat ito ng mukha.
"I heard you." wika nito. Ibinalik nito ang mga mata sa computer nito.
"Okay, I'm leaving." Tinalikuran ko na siya. Then a hand pulled my arms.
Niyakap niya ako. Biglang tumulo ang aking luha.
"I'm sorry. " mahinang wika nito. "Let me go. I'm not dying." I told him. Binitiwan na niya ako. Hinarap ko siya. He looked at me  with tears in his eyes.
"I've been a jerk to you for all this time. I always hate you even if I'm not. I became coward because I'm afraid if you won't love me." mahina nitong sabi sa akin.
"Long time ago when I was a university student,I dreamed to come to Philippines and live there. I studied your language and sure to speak it fluently."
Nakatingin lang ako sa kanya.
"But because I was too busy with all my business, it slipped in my mind."
"Why you didn't tell me you can speak my language?"
"You didn't ask me."
Bumalik siya sa upuan niya.
"Where's my ring?" tanong nito. Umupo ako sa kama niya.
"Are you going to visit me in school?"
"I'm busy."
"Okay. I'll go now. "
Tumayo na ako at tinalikuran na siya.
I went back to my apartment. I cleaned the place and cook for dinner. Biglang tumunog ang cellphone ko.
"Hello?"
"Yeesha?"
"Oh,Mrs. Maurer."
"Yeesha, call me mom"
"M-mom,"
"Please visit me this weekend in our mansion. I'll let Aran to pick you up,okay?"
"Mom."
"How is Aran?"
"He's fine. I think."
"On weekend don't forget,honey."
"Arin told me,Aran gave you a ring"
Natigilan ako.
"Don't worry,I'm happy for my son. He's lucky to meet you."
"Mom,he didn't propose to me."
mahina kong sabi.
"What??" Bulalas nito.
"Yes. It's not an engagement ring,mom. It's just a gift."
"Tsk,this man is terrible. By the way,hija,when are you going back to your country?"
"After my house is done,I would surely go home. It's not yet finished."
"Really,you're making your dream house ?"
"Yeah,mom. Why do you ask?"
"I want to go with you. I want to have a vacation. What if I'll tell Aran to make it done for you?"
"Mommy!No."
Natawa ito.
"Since he'll be your husband soon,why not he'll make it for you then."
"Mom,the ball is still rolling. Maybe someday he find another woman and he'll do it for her."
"I don't understand. Okay,do it. You both have crazy  mind and heart. You're always denying your feeling. Why can't you just said I love you to each other and get married. "
"Mommy,relax."
"I can't relax when every day you always deny what you feel. Probably you are waiting for a memo to marry my son don't you?"
Natawa ako.
"Why are you laughing? I'm dead serious here,Yeesha Julyenne Dominguez. Tomorrow, I will bring the memo in your office."
"Forget my love life,mom,I'll handle that. By the way,how is your health?"
I heard she took a deep breath.
"I'm sick,Yeesha. The doctor told me I have stage three colon cancer."
"Mommy,"
"Don't worry. I won't die. And I'm sure you will take care the school for me."
"No. I won't."
Tumawa ito.
Matagal pa kaming nag-uusap sa phone.
I take a rest after talking to her. She's sick. She's very kind to me. Maybe if something happened to her, it would be a heartache for all of us. But they have money so I'm sure they will really spent all just to save her.

I checked the google. Then an article about the Maurer Group of companies appeared.
Aran Maurer-COO of Maurer Group of companies had announced his marriage this morning through an email sent by the Secretary's office. He will marry the School Principal in Chang Khan Montessori. She is Yeesha Julyenne Dominguez a Filipina from Marinduque,Philippines. Aran is thankful to meet her because in just short of time,his life became interesting. According to him, he will do anything just to be with her.

Natigilan ako. What news is this? I sat straight in my bed. Pilit dina-digest ang sinasabi nito sa article.
"Yah!!!!" Sigaw ko. No one could hear dahil sound proof yung dingding ng apartment ko.

I got up and get the room key and left.
I never bothered to see my outfit. Wala na naman ako sa katinuan dahil sa kanya.
At ipina-publish pa niya ang kasalang iyon. He never even say he loves me.

Nang marating ko ang mansion niya ay mabilis akong nagdoorbell. Binuksan ako ni Arin.
"Yeesha? What are you doing here?it's seven in the evening." Nakapajama na ito.
"I know. Where's Aran?"
"He's in his room"
Mabilis akong pumanhik sa second floor. I knocked the door impatiently.
Bumukas iyon na pumupungas-pungas pa. He's sleeping already. Nakatulog pa ito.
"What happened?something wrong?"he said lazily.
" what's this?" I asked him. He opened the door wider para makapasok ako. I showed my phone to him with the article.
He sat down on his bed. He looked at me intently.
"You came all the way here with that pajama?" I looked at myself. Nakapajama pala ako.
"Ehh ano ngayon?wala ako sa katinuan ngayon dahil sayo. Why you post this? Hindi ba pwedeng sarilinin mo na lang yong sinasabi mong magpapakasal."
Sabi ko. Lahat na yata ng dugo ko ay pumunta sa utak ko.
Then I found him smiling at me.
"I'm billionaire, Julyenne, if you forget."  Humiga na ito sa kama at nagkumot.
"You go home now,it's getting late. You disturb my sleep."
Lumapit ako sa kanya at pinagsuntok-suntok ito.
"Aray,ano ba!" wika nito. Hinila niya ako hanggang sa namalayan ko na lang na magkatabi kami sa kama at yung isang braso niya nagsisilbing unan ko at niyakap niya ang kaliwang braso sa beywang ko.
"Will you marry me?" mahinang tanong nito sa akin.
"Mahal mo ako?"
Binitiwan siya nito.
"You don't know?"
"You never said."
"Then,I . love. You." mahinang wika nito.
Natigilan ako. There,he successfully said the word. My heart beats fast and I couldn't hear his words anymore. My tears began to flow again.
"I'll marry you." mahinang sabi ko. Niyakap niya ako to the extent na hindi na ako maaaring kumilos.

We stay like that for two hours.
"I'm going home now." sabi ko.
"Just stay."
"Are you crazy? I'm going now."
Bumangon ako at sumunod din ito. He got his car key at lumabas na.
Naabutan namin si Arin na nanonood ng TV.
"Are you okay now?" tanong ni Arin. I nodded. Yumakap ito sa akin.
"My plan is really effective. Mr. Fulgar is great cooperative too." Wika nito.
"Your crazy Arin."
"My beautiful sister in law should not be sad" wika nito.
"Thanks Arin. "
"Your welcome."
Inihatid na ako ni Aran sa apartment ko.
"Wag ka nang pumasok. You go back home directly." wika ko. Lumabas nga ito at inihatid ako sa may pintuan.
"Bye,"
"Bye." He kissed my temple.
Bumalik na ito sa kotse at umalis na. Natulog na ako.
What a very beautiful day!