Playboy's Sanity

Chapter 13

Parents

I already met Ashen's father before. Noong pumunta ito sa bahay kasama ang mga pulis. And also in jail noong bumisita ako kay dad. But this time it's different.

I'm here with Ashen. At iba ang sadya ko ngayon. I am here to introduce as Ashen's girlfriend. To be honest I am way more nervous than before. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang magiging reaction ng ama ni Ashen saakin lalo na pag nalaman niya na ako ang girlfriend ng binata at ako din ang anak ng lalaking pinakulong niya years ago.

Marahang pinisil ni Ashen ang kamay ko. Mas mukha pa siyang kinakabahan kaysa saakin. Hindi ko tuloy maiwasan ang matawa, he pouted when he heard me laughing.

Now that I'm here naisip ko bigla kung bakit never kong nakita ang mommy ni Ashen. Even in gatherings, news, wala akong nakita o narinig tungkol sa mommy niya. Hindi din iyon napaguusapan sa mansion ng mga Corrins. At ngayon ang ama niya lang ang makikilala ko ngayon. What about his mom?

"Ashen,"I called him. Tinawag na ang daddy niya at pababa na daw iyon.

"Where's your mom?"tanong ko. Nakita kong natigilan si Ashen at sumeryoso ang mukha.

"Let's not talk about her. I'll tell you later. For now si dad muna, okay?"he answered then kiss me on forehead.

"Ashen! Son."

Tumayo kami ni Ashen mula sa pagkakaupo nang marinig ang boses ng daddy niya.

Ashen looks so much of his father.

"Dad."tinanguan lamang siya ni Ashen.

"I get excited when Elysian called me. You're going home...with a girl."nakangiting sabi nito at bumaling saakin.

"Hello, Hija. You are?"inilahad niya ang kamay niya sa akin.

"Sapphire..."I shake his hands."...Belaez."

Hindi ko siya nakitaan ng pagkagulat o pagkabigla.

Andoon pa din ang ngiti nito."Welcome to Corrins, hija. So when will I met your...father? Your parents? To talk about the wedding."medyo tumawa ito sa huling sinabi.

He knows it. Kilala niya kung sino ako.

"Ah. Dad is not here. Nasa states po."I answered.

I didn't see Ashen's mother the whole time I'm in their mansion. Parang ang ama niya lang ang mag-isang nakatira doon. Hindi din namin napag-usapan ang asawa nito. At hindi ko alam kung bakit curious ako malaman iyon maybe because he is my boyfriend now and I want to know him more. Even though hindi ko na siya maipapakilala sa magulang ko because I don't have any. Wait. I stil have one. Si dad. But I doubt if magiging ganon siya kawelcome tulad ng daddy ni Ashen. I could imagine him throwing words at Ashen at ang pagsasabi ng tutol ito sa relasyon namin.

"So...hindi magkasama ang mommy mo at ang daddy mo sa mansion niyo?"

Saglit siyang lumingon saakin habang nagmamaneho.

"Yes."tipid na sagot niya na para bang ayaw pag-usapan iyon.

"Why?"pagpapatuloy ko pa din.

"Kasi may iba na siya."sagot niya at nakita kong humigpit ang pagkakahawak niya sa manibela.

May iba na? Sino? Is it his dad?

"Si Mom."he told.

"Oh."gulat na sambit ko. Hindi ko iniexpect iyon. Mas inaasahan ko pa na ang daddy niya ang magchecheat. I mean you are damn lucky if you are married to a Corrins. Ang mapansin nga lang nila ay sobrang suwerte mo na how about marrying them?

"I'm sorry. Hindi na dapat ako nagtanong. I just want to know...you."paliwanag ko sa mahinang boses.

"It's fine. It happens when I was a teen. I really can't remember actually. But ever since I grow up in a...broken family. Can you imagine it? Everyone thinks we have everything in this world."he laughed."I'm embarrassed to tell you about my family, babe."

"It's okay. Kung meron dapat mahiya dito it should be me."I grinned.

"I'm sorry. You're unlucky. Ako ang Corrins na nakapansin sayo."he said sadly. Para bang insecure ito.

"Ano bang sinasabi mo diyan?"inirapan ko siya.

Mas lalo lang lumungkot ang reaction niya at pilit na ngumiti saakin."If only you chose my cousins and not me maybe you'll be much more luckier."

"At sino naman ang dapat kong piliin? Si Elysian? He's married. Si Deyron? Kasal na din iyon. Si Pierre? E mas malala pa nga yon sayo e. Si Park naman hindi ko naman type iyon masiyadong maginoo."I grinned at him. Inihilig ko ang ulo ko sa balikat niya."Ikaw talaga ang gusto ko. Ikaw lang. Simula umpisa now I know why I hates you so much before because the more you hate the more you love. At masuwerte din ako noh. Biruin mo ang playboy na si Ashen Corrins saakin pala babagsak? Ako pala ang puputol ng pagiging manloloko mo hahaha."

He chuckled."You really know how to make me feel okay. Thank you, babe. Thank you for meeting my dad too."

"Anything for you."I replied."I'm sorry wala akong maipapakilala sayong magulang. But maybe we can visit mom's grave?"suhestyon ko.

Ashen is standing beside me, nakapulupot ang braso nito sa baywang ko.

"This is my mom, Ashen. Mom, this is my boyfriend. At baka sa susunod na punta namin dito asawa ko na po siya."I laughed."Alam ko ito ang unang beses na may pinakilala ako sayo, mom. And I want him to be my last. I want to marry him too. I want to love him and give my everything to this man. I have grown and realized my feelings for him. It wasn't hatred...but it's love. Love that I hid for years. Love that I chose to ignore. But after what happened. Noong may baliw na babaeng kumidnapped saakin at inakala kong iyon na ang huling oras ko sa mundo I've realized everything. I love him. And I want you to meet him, mom. I want you to meet this playboy who loves me so much. And I plan to return all the love. Babawi ako sa pangrereject ko sakanya noon na maging kadate niya sa graduation ball."huminga ako ng malalim at hinarap si Ashen na parang naestatwa na sa gilid.

"I love you. In front of my mother's grave I am confessing my feelings for you. I love you, Ashen Corrins. And I'd never love before like this. You make me want you, I was incomplete before I met you. My days we're lonely until you came and make my nights warm. I would like to be with you every day. I'm in love with you."

"S-Sapphire..."namumula na ang mata niya habang kagat-kagat ang labi. Pinipigilan niyang wag maiyak.

"I love you. I was scared to die because I haven't told you yet my feelings. I wasn't ready to die. I still want to see you, gusto ko pang makita ang pangungulit mo. I still want to be with y---OH MY GOD!"napasinghap ako ng lumuhod siya sa harapan ko. Napahilamos muna siya sa mukha niya bago may kung anong kinuha sa bulsa niya. And the moment na nakita ko kung ano iyon hindi ko alam pero kusa na lang akong napaiyak.

"I always bring this with me after I met you again. Pagkatapos mong lumabas ng Corrins Empire n'ong manghingi ka ng favor saakin. I went and fly to Italy to buy a ring. Hindi ko alam kung anong iniisip ko n'on but I told myself I'm gonna settle down...with you."he gulped.

"Sapphire Belaez...will you Marry me and be a Corrins? If you say yes please bear in your mind na hindi na kita pakakawalan. I won't let any man ruin our relationship. Please say yes. Please marry me."