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Chapter 19

Katrina has been in their province for a day now. Dumating siya doon ng hapon at ngayon ay kinaumagahan na muli. Nakapagpaliwanag na siya sa mga magulang niya ng totoong sitwasyon nila ni Aspen at kung bakit ganoon ang mga lumabas sa social media at TV.

Her mother understood. She knew how it was to fall in love.

Pero ang Tatang niya ay galit na galit at babarilin daw si Aspen kapag nakita niya ito muli. Wala daw itong karapatang gawin siyang kabit.

That night was stressful so this morning, nanatili lamang siya sa kwarto niya. The province was quieter, more peaceful. Siguro ay dito na lamang siya muna para makaiwas sa eskandalong naiwan niya sa Maynila.

Fresh air would also suit her and her baby. Bumangon siya at sumilip sa bintana ng kwarto niya. Napapaligiran ang bahay nila ng mga nagtatayugang mga puno, something you can never find in the city.

But was shocked her the most was a Jeep Wrangler now parked in front of their house. Mukhang kadarating lamang ng sasakyang iyon dahil pababa pa lamang ang driver noon. At nang palapit na ito sa bahay ay namukhaan niya ang makisig na binata.

"Aspen!" she whispered in recognition.

Kitang-kita niya ang paglalakad nito papunta sa harapan ng bahay nila. But what alarmed her was that her Tatang was sitting in their front terrace at nagkakape. Baka kung anong gawin nito kay Aspen kaya dali-dali siyang nagtatakbo palabas ng kwarto at ng bahay nila.

True enough, pagdating niya doon ay huli na ang lahat.

May hawak na shooting gun ang Tatang niya at nakatutok ito ngayon sa binatang nasa harapan nila.

"Tang!" sigaw niya at dinaluhan ang ama.

"Huwag na huwag kang lalapit dito sa pamamahay ko at lalong-lalo na sa anak ko," pagbabanta ng Tatang niya. He still couldn't stand properly. Pero he sure knows how to fire a gun. Gamit nito ang baril na iyon para manghuli ng mga ibon at ibang mababangis na mga hayop.

"S-Sir, I'm here para makausap ang anak 'nyo," panimula ni Aspen, now both hands in front of him in an act of surrender. "Wala po akong masamang -"

But her Tatang cut him off. "Ang lakas naman ng loob mong magpakita dito matapos ng mga kasinungalingang sinabi mo sa harapan ko pa mismo!"

Just then, lumabas na rin ng bahay ang Mama ni Katrina marahil sa ingay ng sigaw ng Tatang niya. "Diyos ko, Nilo!" wika ng Mama niya at pinigil ang asawa sa pagtutok nito ng baril sa bisita.

"Huwag nyo kong pigilan, Ella! Nararapat lamang barilin ang walanghiyang lalaking 'yan!" her Tatang continued.

"Sir, I'm here to ask for your daughter's forgiveness. I've tried my best to clear everything from the press. Hindi na nila tayo guguluhin. They will stop slandering Katrina's name. At itatama ko po lahat ng maling ginawa namin," Aspen declared, and this time, he looked right at her.

Katrina was starting to melt under his gaze again. Pero nilabanan niya iyon. He didn't fucking call her the last five days at pagkatapos ay magpapakita ito bigla!

"Katrina, listen to me!" tawag muli ni Aspen sa kanya. "I thought you were still in my penthouse. I'm sorry if i haven't called. Naging busy ako sa pakikipag-usap sa press at sa pamilya ko. Pati na rin sa pamilya nina Dahlia. I made it right. Sinabi ko na sa kanilang lahat ang tungkol sa atin. Katrina, please... Come home to me again."

Nagulat siya sa mga sinasabi nito ngayon. Didn't he just leave her days ago without a word?

"Hey... Katrina..." Aspen begged and stepped closer.

Pero biglang ikinasa ng Tatang niya ang baril nito. "Sige, lumapit ka pa at talagang tatamaan ka!"

"Katrina, believe me. I was just too damn busy fixing this mess for us kaya hindi ako nakabalik kaagad. I flew all the way to the province of the Tantocos para opisyal na humingi ng paumanhin dahil hindi ko kayang pakasalan si Dahlia. I only have eyes for you. Katrina, maniwala ka... I rushed home kahapon pagkatapos kong ayusin ang lahat. But only to find you gone," pagkuwento nito. "I was so worried... Mabuti na lamang at natunton ka ng mga bodyguards ko at nalaman nilang sumakay ka ng bus papunta dito. I was worried as hell. Hindi kita matawagan dahil nakapatay ang telepono mo. Maniwala ka, Katrina..."

"A-Anong sinabi ng pamilya mo? Itinakwil ka ba nila because of me?" she asked. It was a painful question for her dahil hindi niya mapapatawad ang sarili kung maging dahilan siya ng pagkasira ng pamilya nito.

"Katrina, you are my family now... Pakakasalan kita. Just as I promised to you and your family. Kung itinakwil man ako ng mga magulang ko, that doesn't change the fact that I love you and I'm willing to make it right with you. So please... come home, Katrina. Maniwala ka na hindi kita iiwan," Aspen declared and practically begged.

His words had quickly melted the fear in her heart. He was the only man she wanted right now. Wala ng iba. And here he was, declaring his love in front of her and her whole family.

Kung kaya't hinarap niya ang ama at sinanggahan ang baril na nakatutok dito. "Tatang, ibaba nyo na po ang baril." And after saying that ay tinakbo niya ang pagitan nila at niyakap ang binata.

She was crying while doing so, unable to stop her tears and overflowing emotions. Akala niya talaga kahapon ay tapos na ang lahat sa pagitan nilang dalawa.

"Akala ko wala ka na... I thought you gave up on us...," she said in between sobs.

"Katrina, I don't care if my parents throw me out as long as I have you and our baby."

"But did they throw you out?" she asked, still crying in his arms.

Umiling si Aspen. "No. In fact, they're excited to meet you and our baby," masayang balita nito. "Honestly, I didn't really care anymore if they throw me out. When I stormed back to the mansion ng gabing iyon, all I wanted was to break the news to them- that I won't marry Dahlia because I already have you in my life. I was so ready to be thrown out, shouted at by my dad... But he was quiet. He just approved noong tinanong niya kung mahal kita. And I told him yes! So stop crying. We have to get you back so you can meet them... and plan for our wedding."

Natigilan siya sa sinabi nito.

"I promised your Tatang I'll marry you, right?" he said.

And what came next was a surprise for Katrina. Aspen kneeled down in front of her, in front of her Tatang carrying a gun and her mother who was trying to stop her husband from shooting an innocent man. "Will you marry me and be my wife, Katrina? Because you're the only woman I want to spend the rest of my life with. To hell with everyone else, but it's you I'm choosing. You're not my mistress and you'll never be. Please marry me." And he opened a little box in front of her with a ring in it.

Her jaw dropped at this unexpected proposal. This morning was a myriad of different emotions. From surprise of seeing him to fear for his life to this. Tears were fogging up her vision... tears of joy from the sudden proposal. "Aspen..."

"Say yes," he pleaded.

"Yes!" she quickly answered.

He stood up and quickly slid the ring on her ring finger. "You're mine now, Katrina." And he kissed her firmly on the lips. "Tatang, she said yes!" sigaw ni Aspen sa ama niya pagkatapos.

She just laughed at how he called her own father 'Tatang'. Her Tatang must have been so pissed off. Nakatingin ito sa kanilang dalawa ngayon na parang inis na inis na hindi nito nabaril si Aspen.

Napatawa na lamang siya sa reaksyon nito. Samantalang sinalubong sila ng yakap ng Mama niya. "Masayang-masaya ako para sa inyo, mga anak!" masayang wika nito at halos maiyak sa tuwa.

"Salamat po," magaling na sagot ni Aspen.

"Halina kayo. Kailangan nating mag-usap at magplano. Kakaluto ko lamang ng agahan kaya tamang-tama," anyaya ng Mama ni Katrina sa kanila.

And they all went inside the house, with Aspen's hand around hers.

*****
A/N: Merry christmas!!!!! Hope you like this gift 🎁 i prepared for you all. 🤗🥰😘🎄🎉