Villa Martinez Series #3: Addicted To You

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty

With me

Jake

"You don't know that, Mom!" tumaas na ang boses ko, kahit ayaw ko sana. She's still my mother.

But I can't just stand here while she accused Lou of anything. I know Lou more than her. Kami ang magkasama lagi. She was there for me. And I've seen her sacrifices for me and for our son.

"Don't be blinded, son! Binibilog ka lang ng babaeng 'yon! She only want your money!-"

"Enough, Mom! Lou is not that kind of a woman." I gritted my teeth.

"Kung talagang matino ang babaeng 'yan nasaan siya ngayon? Hindi ba't basta nalang siyang umalis nang walang paalam? Tinakas pa niya ang apo ko!"

"Mom," nagkatinginan kami. "I know you don't like her." Nakikita ko naman 'yon. Kaya nga halos hindi ko nalang ipalapit sa kaniya si Lou. Hindi pa naman nagsasalita 'yon. "And I don't understand." I shook my head. "Lou is an amazing woman, Mom."

Hindi siya nakapagsalita at natahimik. I'd like to think that she'd seen the sincerity in me. She was looking at me.

I let out a small smile. "Noong tinalikuran ninyo ako ni Dad-"

"Tinalikuran mo rin kami ng Daddy mo noon! Because of that woman! See?!"

Tumango nalang ako. Napapagod na rin ako sa ganito. "Tinanggal n'yo sa 'kin ang lahat no'n, Mom. And Lou was there for me. Wala akong trabaho. She worked for the both of us. Kahit pa buntis pa siya no'n. Hindi niya ako pinabayaan."

Natahimik na si Mommy. I continued.

"Aren't you proud of what I've become? This is because of Lou. She taught me to be a better man. And I want to be the best for her and our son. For you, Mom, and Dad. I am working hard each day for my family."

She looked away.

"I grew from the careless Jake I used to be. Aren't you proud of me, Mom?" I asked her again.

Bumaling siya sa akin at nagbuntong-hininga. "I am very proud of you, son." she said. And I smiled. Muli siyang nagpakawala ng buntong-hininga. "I can see that you've changed... you matured. Kaya nga pinagkatiwala namin ng Daddy mo sa 'yo ang business. And I am happy, Jake. I just want the best for you..." she sighed.

I nodded in understanding. "Give Lou a chance, Mom. She's a good woman. At nakikita n'yo naman siguro na napapalaki niya ng maayos ang anak namin. I will marry her." Na dapat noon pa.

But things happened. Halos mawalan ako ng mana. Hindi ako sanay so it was hard for me. Kung hindi pa muntik napahamak si Lou at ang anak namin noon ay hindi pa ako magigising. It was an eye opener. I got so scared. I don't know if I ever was that scared before. Pero takot na takot ako noong mawala sila sa akin. Kaya kumilos na ako. Mom was still hard on me then. She made me choose between them and Lou. I wasn't rebelling against them. Sadyang hindi ko lang din talaga kayang pakawalan si Lou.

Lumapit ako kay Lolo. He was sick pero wala na akong ibang maisip malapitan. May utang na rin ako sa mga kaibigan ko. They were offering help pero ayaw ko naman dumepende sa kanila. Gusto ko nang kumilos para sa sarili ko. Mabuti nalang hindi ako sinukuan ni Lou. She stayed with me through ups and downs. And I love her more for that.

Hindi naging madali ang simula ko sa company namin. Nagsimula ako sa mababa. At parang sadya pang pinapahirapan ako ni Mommy noong una. Kung hindi dahil kay Lolo ay hindi ako makakapasok sa kompanya. That's why I really thank him, too. Pero kahit medyo mahirap madalas kinaya ko. Kailangan para mabuhay kami ng mag-ina ko. And there I realized na masarap pala sa pakiramdam ang ganoon. And since then parang wala na akong ibang gustong gawin kung 'di magtrabaho nang mabuti para sa mag-ina ko.