If I Ain't Got You

EIGHTEEN

CHIE's POV

As I was talking to Patricia my Mom called asking me to go home. Just because she arrived. I had no choice but go home. Ipinahatid ako ni Patricia sa bahay namin. Ang laking hassle ko na kay Pat sa totoo lang. Pero buti na lang she supports me and never lets me down. Maybe she understands me na din.

"How was the concert tour of Kathryn?" Bungad ni Mom sakin "I didn't finish it. Im going to bed" sesermonan pa sana ako ni Mom pero nagsarado na ako ng pinto ng kwarto ko. This day should rest.

*knocks* ang aga aga may nangangatok "In" naupo ako at hinintay kung sino man "hey" si jon pala "jon, i thought you're leaving?" Naupo sya sa kama ko "just wanna check on you. You okay?" "That's sweet of you Jon, Im fine. You may go with your trip. See you in three days" di naman sa tinataboy ko sya pero business is business e "ok im leaving. Go back to sleep." Ngumiti lang ako. Tamad na talaga ako sumagot pangiti ngiti nalanga ako. Nang papalabas na sya humarap ulit sya "by the way, i met someone saying he is your friend. You're mom says she'll take care of him. His name goes uhhhh. Alex... Alexander. Yeah alexander. Aunt is talking to him now" alex is here? "Seriously?" medyo gulat kong tanong at naguguluhan syang sumagot "Yes. Hey is there any problem?" Habang nagsasalita pa si Jon nagtatakbo na ako sa sink at nag hilamos. Nagsuklay at tumakbo sa front door.  Sumunod naman si Jon sakin. Pero pagdating ko sa front door si Mom na lang naabutan ko "where's my visitor!?" Pagalit kong tanong "who?" "Come on Mom. Jon mentioned that Alex was here. Where. Is. Kit. Alexander. ?" May emphasis kong sinabi na nanggigil na kaya pumagitna na samin si Jon "Aunt. Chienna. What is going on? Please calm down" Tumingin ako kay Jon "Stay out of this Jon. Please." Tumingin ulit ako kay Mom "Now Mom, where is he?" "He left already. I told him you are getting married soon and that you do not love him anymore and that you chose Jon now. And oh, i told him you dont want to see him. There. He left." Nalaman kong alam pala ni Mom ang tungkol samin ni Alex kaya nya ako pinadala dito kaagad and that caused my rebellion. "I hate you Mom. Im leaving. I will talk to Alex" tatakbo na sana ako nang pigilan ako ni Mom "you are not leaving this house. You cannot disobey me. I am your Mom" "Aunt she's hurting." singit naman ni Jon

"Go on and disobey me, your only friend Patricia will lost her business" huh. "Is that all you can do. Mom?! I pitty you. You put me on a cage since I was born. Can't i have freedom?! Fine. I am not leaving. But this i am telling you, I am not marrying Jon. I will die first before that happens. I am sorry that you have to hear this Jon. I love Alex and Alex alone. And please stay patricia out of this. She is the only person I have the only friend I got. So if you do not want to totally lose a daughter you wont do anything to Patricia." at bago pa nagsalita si Mom at Jon nakatakbo na ako papunta sa kwarto ko at naglock.

Knowing na mahal pa rin  talaga ako ni Alex at alam kong mahal ko sya ayoko nang pagpakulong sa nanay ko. 17 yrs nyang pinatakbo ang buhay ko. Sabi nila Mothers' knows best at inilalayo nya ako sa masamang pwedeng mangyari sakin. E paano yun kung inilalayo nya rin ako sa pwedeng maging ako?

I have many dreams and aspirations all I cannot achieve because she planned my life. "AHHHHHHHH!" I shouted 

*knock knock knock*

"Amanda. This is Jon. May we talk? Let's talk"

"Just leave me alone Jon. Please"

"Okay then. Do you want me to ask Patricia to go here?"

"Nah. I really need to be alone"

"Ok. Just call your helpers if you need something. I'm leaving. I have things to attend to"

"K"

Finally. Silence ruled.

"Hello Patricia. Withdraw my money. Keep it. Di ko alam gano katagal ko pa kaya to. I just want to make sure that I will survive when I chose to give up"

"Okay Friend. Wait friend. I see Alex coming ..."

"Let me talk to him."

"Oh my God friend. Jon is coming too. This is going to be fun. Call you later friend"

"Wait! When Jon left tell Alex to stay. Im going there"

"Sure. TC"

Naligo ako kaagad at tumakas kay Mom na busy sa laptop nya in her office. Hinayaan lang ako ng helpers namin sa bahay.  Oo tumakas ako. Bahala sya. Thanks to our helpers

PATRICIA's POV

"Hey Alex. Look who's behind you" kumunot na ang noo ni Alex bago tumalikod

"So it's you. You are Jon. Right? Im Alex"

I feel tension here. . .

"Alex, Jon upo muna kayo.  Kalma kayo please? I'll get drinks for you. What do you want Alex?"

"Pareho kami ng paborito ni Chienna."

"Okay. I know what you want Jon. Excuse me. Wag kayo mag babasagan ng mukha please? Please? Wag nyo sirain image ng business namin ni Chie."

Pumunta ako sa counter para sabihin ang kailangan nung dalawa at naupo sa gitna nila.

"Speak if you want guys. Sabihin nyo kung ako gusto nyo kausap. Kung mag uusap kayo, basta dito lang ako"

Wala ata balak mag usap itong dalawa?

"Im not here to fight with you Alex. I want  to bring you to her"

"What for? She chose you. She is marrying you. She love you"

Huuuuh? Gusto kong sumabat sa dalawang to baka lang masapak ako. Ito kasing si Alex. Nanggigigil na. Si jon di ko madefine

"You dont understand it bro. Di ako ang mahal. Di na nya ako papakasalan. Di nya ako pinili. I dont know your story but i know and i am certain that its you and just you. Bro. Help her. Ayoko sanang humingi nang tulong sayo pero ikaw lang talaga ang makakatulong sakin. Nakakulong sya sa bahay nila ngayon."

"Actually. Tatakas sya. Magka text kami kanina. Tatakas na daw sya. When she knew that Alex is here"

Parang gulat na gulat si Jon

"Delikado to!"

"Why/Bakit?" Sabay kami ni Alex na tanong

"May guards sa gate nila and I am sure she cant escape them. Call her"

Nagmadali akong tumawag kay Chie

"Unattended"

"This is bad. Patricia. Alex. Stay here. I'll bring her here."

"Im going with you Man"

"No. Di ko sya maiitakas pag sumama ka. Wait here."

"Oh no. Kawawa naman ang Kaibigan ko. Rebelde na nga wala pa.ding magawa" sabi ko habang nagtatatakbo si Jon

"what do you mean rebel?" Ay rinig pala ako

"Rebelde na sya. Ilang beses na rin yan nag attempt umuwi ng Pilipinas. Kung anong bawal sa mata nang nanay nya yun ang gagawin nya."

"She's sweet and obedient"

"No not anymore"