JB1: The Cold Hearted Father [BXB] [√]

40

Nathaniel Craig Juariz

It's been two days since we last saw dad's ex-lover. Tumawag ito noong nakaraang araw para ipaalam nandito na sila sa Manila. Tomorrow will be his last day here in Manila and I've already set up their meeting.

Pero ayokong ituloy ang plano hanggat hindi ko ito naipapaalam kay mom. She deserves to know what might happen tomorrow. She is my mom and she deserves to know what I really wanted but it's upto her if she accepts it or nah.

It's already past 9 in the evening ng puntahan ko ito sa rooftop na paborito nitong lugar dito sa mansion.

"Ma." Pagtawag ko sa kanyang pansin. I found her staring blankly into space while drinking from her wine glass.

Hindi yata ako nito napansin dahil hindi man lang niya ako tinapunan ng tingin. I walked to her table and sat in front of her. Ibinaba nito ang kanyang wine glass at tumingin ito sakin. A smile appeared on her face.

"Ginabi ka yata, nak? Why are you here, you should be sleeping now. Pagod ka sa trabaho." She said, I got a cup of wine from the table and poured myself some wine.

Ininom ko 'yon at tumingin rin sa kawalan. This is it. I gathered all of my courage and face her.

"Mom, I want to marry Austine." Panimula ko. "I am planning to get him back and protect him but I need dad's approval or atleast his help."

Hindi ito nagsalita at sa halip ay nagsalin ng alak sa kanyang kopa. She drank it silently. She stared at me calmly and I can't predict what's going on in her mind. I would be lying kung sasabihin kong hindi ako kinakabahan. No matter how much I tried to make myself believe that I wouldn't get affected, it will not change the truth that I am my mother's son and whatever her judgement will be will become a burden in my heart.

"Nathaniel, ever since you were little suportado ko ang lahat ng gusto niyong gawin sa buhay niyo but I don't have much authority to oppose your father. I really can't help you much. I know Austine is a good man but if I didn't do that hindi lang kayong dalawa ang mahihirapan. Marami ang pahihirapan ng papa niyo." My mom's voice was calm but there's a hint of sadness and regret. I didn't detest my mom for sending Austine away because I'm just the same as her.

"But dad loves you, ma. Isn't that enough reason for him to hear you out and your opinion about this situation? You're supposedly dad's soft spot."

Umiling-iling ito na para bang may sinabi akong kabaliwan. I even saw a tear escape from her eyes na mabilis nitong pinunasan.

"I think you know why, Nate. I know you've met Christian Balbueno already." She smiled at me. The kind of smile she always give us everytime she caught us red-handed.

"Me and your dad, we're forced in this marriage. Pareho kaming nahulog sa mga patibong ng mga magulang namin. Inipit kami ng mga magulang namin and no matter how much we try to resist we just keep on getting hurt. Hindi lang kami ang nasasaktan, Nate. The people we loved got hurt more than us." Nag-uunahang nagsilabasan ang mga luha ni mama.

Seeing her cry broke my heart. My mother's tears is my weakness. Minsan lang itong umiyak sa harapan namin. I stood up and reached her place. Umupo ako sa tabi nito at ikinulong siya sa aking bisig. Ilang minuto rin itong nanatili sa mga yakap ko habang umiiyak.

"I got married secretly to my first love bago ako nabuntis ng papa mo." Kumawala ito sa bisig ko at tipid na ngumite sa kawalan.