Paradise (Book One)

The Reason (Part Three)

I'm not a perfect person
There's many things I wish I didn't do
But I continue learning
I never meant to do those things to you
And so I have to say before I go
That I just want you to know

I've found a reason for me
To change who I used to be
A reason to start over new
and the reason is you

I'm sorry that I hurt you
It's something I must live with everyday
And all the pain I put you through
I wish that I could take it all away
And be the one who catches all your tears
Thats why I need you to hear

I've found a reason for me
To change who I used to be
A reason to start over new
and the reason is You

and the reason is You [x3]

I'm not a perfect person
I never meant to do those things to you
And so I have to say before I go
That I just want you to know

I've found a reason for me
To change who I used to be
A reason to start over new
and the reason is you

I've found a reason to show
A side of me you didn't know
A reason for all that I do
And the reason is you

 

"Are you ready to face him?"

Tumango ito. Hindi nakatingin sa kanya. "Why are you doing this?"

"I got your permission to court your daughter, remember? I'm starting now," nakangiti niyang tugon

"Pero bakit ako ang nililigawan mo?"

"If the way to a man's heart is through his stomach, then the way to a woman's heart is through her parents."

"And from where did you get that, young man?"

"Sarili kong quote, tita."

"In love ka nga sa anak ko." nakangiti nang turan ni Divine, then she looked back at the window.
They were travelling back to Vienna. Ihahatid niya ito kay don Delfin then he'll go back to the Philippines. They took the train para makapag-usap pa sila ng matagal at dahil na rin sa hiling ng ginang.

He told her about what he knew about Don Delfin and his condition. Ituring na siyang pakialamero pero ito pa lang ang alam niyang paraan para makabawi.

He finally learned the truth. He was resting at his hotel when a call came from JV. Naghina siya nang marinig ang sinabi ng kaibigan. Totoo daw na nalugi nga ang kanyang ama, pero kasama si Don Delfin sa nalugi at hanggang ngayon nakikipag-cooperate pa rin ito sa NBI para mahuli ang mga sindikato. They were foreign syndicate, member of Italian Mafia, kaya mahirap para sa gobyerno na ma-resolve ang kaso.

At lalo siyang nanlumo nang malamang ang don pala ang may kagagawan bakit hindi nailit ng bangko mga ari-arian nila. Ito rin ang nasa likod ng mga tulong na na-receive nilang mag-ina nung nagsisimula silang bumangon pagkatapos ng trahedya.

Lahat ng iyon ay madaling nalaman ng kaibigan niya mula mismo sa attorney na inatasan ng don.

How stupid could he get! He was so consumed by his hatred of the old man, he did not bother looking for further answers. All those years of full of wrath against the man who, in the first place, did nothing but good to them.

Paano siya babawi?

"Seriously, di ko alam kung paano babawi sa mister niyo. And this the only way I know, so far."

"By trying to get us back together?" baling ulit sa kanya ng babae.

"Why not? Are you still gonna deny that you don't love your husband anymore?"

Hindi ito nakaimik. "Does he know we're coming?"

"No. And if it's okay with you, please don't tell him it was I who informed you of his condition."

"Bakit naman?"

"He's mad at me for what I did. And he'll be more angry now, for sure."

"Pero hindi ba dapat kausapin mo na ulit siya after what you had found out?"

"I will, in time. Mas importante po kayong dalawa muna ang magkaayos."

"Nagpapalakas ka talaga sa akin ha," biro ni Divine.

"Halata po ba?"

"You were brave enough to admit to me your mistakes and even what you did to hurt Asher. I don't think any man would dare admit doing such things at inamin pa sa harap ng magulang ng babae. You really love her that much, do you?"

"I've been with so many girls but I've never been with a real woman. I don't even believe at love at first sight, but maybe that's what I felt for your daughter. Hindi ko kasi alam ang pakiramdam na 'yon until I was slapped with the truth. My heart was full of hatred with your husband, feeling otherwise was unknown to me."

"What made you give up that hatred and love my daughter instead?"

"Honestly, I don't know. All I realized was my future will be bleak without her. Half of my life I lived with anger. Nakakapagod din pala lalo na kapag nalaman mong wala ka palang dapat ikagalit in the first place. I don't want to live the next half of my life living the same. And my mom, she told me about forgetting the past, that it won't do me any good living with it. Move on daw ako. I will, but with your daughter beside me."

"Bakit parang siguradung-sigurado ka ngayon na mapapasagot mo ang aming dalaga?"

"You're with me. I have the most solid backer I could get para mapa-oo siya."

"Remember, hindi niya ako kilala."

"I will help you with that, don't worry. And I'm sure she'll welcome you with open arms."

"Kahit hindi with open arms, at least man lang makilala niya ako."

"I'm confident she'll do more than that."
 

"If you decide to go home, let me know, please. You'll be more than welcome to stay in my house."

"Thank you, hijo. Will do that."

"Kailan po?"

"No definite date yet, but I will. And siyempre, magiging depende sa usapan namin ni Delfin."

"Your husband may be the toughest man in the business industry, but I think he has the softest heart when it comes to his family."

"Sabi mo lang yan."

"When I learned what he did for me and my mother, he acted like a father to me without me knowing it. And look what I did? But he did not retaliate. When he wanted me to leave Asher alone, his words almost hit me to the core because he loves her so much. Plus, I know why he chose here para magpa-opera. He can go to the states or to other countries but he wanted here. So dun pa lang, alam ko nang kung gaano ka-importante para sa kanya ang pamilya niya."

"Why would he choose to be operated here?"

"You tell me, tita."

"Gerald?"

"C'mon, tita. It's enough I gave a you a hint. The rest, you discover by yourself."

"Ewan ko sa 'yong bata ka. Ang dami mong alam."

"Of course! I have to know a lot about my future family, 'di ba mommy?" ngisi niya.

"Heh, magtigil ka. Hindi mo pa nga napapasagot dalaga ko, humihirit ka na agad ng family. Siguraduhin mo muna na papasa ka sa second base. Don't run immediately to the third base, baka ma-disqualify ka. Alangan ka pa nga sa first base, dulo na agad ang iniisip mo. Hinay-hinay lang hijo at baka sa kung saan ka pulutin."

"Why, are you not going to help me anymore?"

"Hindi sa ganon. At the end naman, it will be Asher who will decide, hindi ako o ang tatay niya."

"Before, tita, I was so confident when it comes to women, but with your daughter, nawawala diskarte ko. Umalis ako ng Pilipinas na malabo ang mga bagay-bagay sa aming dalawa. I don't know what the situation will be pagbalik ko doon. Kaya, pasensya na talaga kung hindi kita masasamahan sa mister mo. I want to settle things with her too kaagad. I'm not hearing good things about her."

"What do you mean?"

"It's not her particularly, but those men who won't stop wooing her. And the last time I saw her with a guy was a bad sign for me. My confidence was vastly depleting everyday without seeing her."

"Hala, malala ka na pala talaga hijo. Sige, I won't stop you going back to Manila. Goodluck to your courting. You have my blessing, basta ipangako mo lang sa ken na hindi mo paiiyakin si Asher. Pag nangyari yun, ako mismo ang gugulpi sa 'yo."

"Mukha nga pong ako ang iiyak sa inyong dalaga, tita eh."

"If you really love her, kakayanin mo. And you have my vote, remember?"

Natahimik sila pareho.

"So, paano? I hope I'll see you again hijo. Goodluck sa panliligaw mo. I still suggest you do it the old way. Sabi nga ng matatanda, ligawan mo siya sa santong dasalan, huwag mong idadaan sa santong paspasan. And don't overrun to the third base, it will be useless."

"I'll remember that, tita. Sa inyo din po, goodluck. If there's anything I can do, just give me a ring."

"We'll keep in touch. Sige na, mali-late ka pa sa flight mo."

At nagpaalaman na silang dalawa.
 

As soon as Gerald was free, he made a call to Holland.

"Make sure they're delivered tomorrow morning 11 am Manila time," bilin niya. After he got a yes, he ended the call.

After that, he went to the airport.

"Goodluck, Gerald," he heard someone said.

"Gago ka talaga bata. Anong pumasok sa utak mo at yan ng ginagawa mo, ha? May panahon pa, pwede mo pang ituloy ang una mong balak."

"Enough, Taning! This time, sigurado na si Gerald. Wala ka nang magagawa pa. Maliwanag na ang lahat para sa kanya. Kaya tumahimik ka na. As usual, talo ka na naman, pwede ka nang bumalik sa lugar mo at magmukmok."

"Aw, shut up Miguelito!"

In his imagination he did a high-five with Miguelito.