DUCANI LEGACY SERIES 12: Keeyan

Kabanata 8

Rachel

"GOOD morning," Keeyan greeted me as soon as I opened the door of my apartment for him.

He insisted to pick me up and give me a ride to the office. Hindi ako makatanggi kasi binanatan ako ng linyang 'bawal tumanggi sa grasya'.

I swear, the more we're getting closer, the more he's revealing his goofy side. Hindi ito ang Keeyan na inakala kong makikilala ko noong una kaming nagkita sa eroplano.

I smiled back. Kinuha niya ang bag ko pati ang tumbler. Knowing him, I know he will not let him carry my stuff so hindi na rin ako nakipagtalo.

"Parang excited ka," puna ko matapos kong i-lock ang pinto ng unit.

He smirked. "It's bring your toddler to work day, remember?"

Napaismid ako. "Alam mo usapan sa GC 'yon kagabi. Halos lahat nai-stress kasi nag-aalalang mangungulit ang mga bata mamaya, pero ikaw, ikaw ang bukod-tanging excited."

"Well, I'm willing to babysit all of them," walang pag-aalinlangan niyang sagot.

I shook my head. Kung hindi niya lang nasabi sa akin na hindi siya straight, iisipin kong ready na siyang magkaroon ng anak. That joy in his eyes is contagious. Parang pati ako ay napapaisip na parang ang sarap ngang magka-baby.

I instantly shrugged the thought away. Hindi pa pwede. Hindi porke't sinabi niyang kamukha ko si Mama Mary ay pwede na rin akong basta na lamang mabuntis nang wala akong asawa. Isa pa ay marami pa akong obligasyon.

Isa sa napagtanto ko noong naghiwalay kami ni Eldritch ay baka mahirapan lang ako kung sakaling nagkatuluyan kami. Pareho pa kaming nagbibigay sa mga pamilya namin. Mahirap bumuo ng pamilya kung may mga responsibilidad ka pang nakaatang sa mga balikat mo.

It made me realize that having a child in this economy is a luxury, not a need. No matter how much our church teaches us the importance of bearing a child and building a family that will serve God.

Oo, sinabing humayo at magpakarami. Pero na-realize ko, noong sinabi iyon ng Diyos ay hitik sa resources ang unang mag-asawa sa mundo. They don't have taxes. They don't have parents and siblings to support. They only have to feed themselves and the babies they made. Hindi gaya ng sitwasyon ko.

"A penny for your thought?"

Napahugot ako ng hininga nang maagaw ni Keeyan ang aking atensyon. "Naisip ko lang. Blessing in disguise din siguro na hindi kami nagkatuluyan ni Eldritch."

"Mind telling me why?"

"Eh kasi pareho kaming may responsibilidad sa pamilya namin. Sa responsibilidad pa lang namin sa kanya-kanya naming pamilya, kulang na ang kinikita namin. Paano pa kung bumuo kami ng pamilya? Hindi naman pwedeng magtitigan lang kami."

Natawa pa ako sa huli kong sinabi habang ngumiti naman si Keeyan. It was as if he's contemplating whether to share his thoughts or not. Siguro ay iniiwasang ma-offend ako kung sakaling may masasabi siyang makaaapekto sa akin.

I inhaled a sharp breath as soon as we got into his car. "Ako naman. A penny for your thought."

Keeyan heaved a sigh. "I'm just happy that you had those realizations. Marriage, as my father used to say, isn't all about love. Because if love is the only foundation, then the relationship will crumble once love is already fading. Another thing is . . ."

Tinitigan niya ako na tila nagdadalawang-isip siyang ipagpatuloy ang gusto niyang sabihin.

"Another thing is ano?" I asked.

He clicked his tongue then released another sigh. "Please don't get me wrong on this one. I have so much respect for breadwinners because you guys are living proofs of how much Filipinos love our families. But once you build your own family unprepared financially and with your family still seeking your help for their needs, hindi lang ang mag-asawa ang mahihirapan. Pati na rin ang magiging anak."

Payak akong ngumiti. "Huwag kang mag-alala. Na-appreciate ko nga, eh na may ganyan kang view sa sitwasyon ko kahit na laki ka naman sa yaman."

"Our grandparents never fail to give us life lessons even when our family is comfortable. Anyway, have you tried sitting down with your family to discuss about your thoughts? I mean, have you tried telling them that you want to prepare financially, too for your family to build in the future?"

Umiling ako. "Sensitibong topic 'yon, Keeyan. Mahirap pag-usapan."

May dumaang awa sa kanyang mga mata. Maya-maya ay sandali siyang umiwas ng tingin at bumuntonghininga.

"Buti na lang hindi ako breadwinner. Kahit hindi ka magtrabaho, kaya kitang buhayin," he said.

Napakunot ako ng noo saka nagtanong sa bahagyang natatawang tono. "Bakit mo naman ako bubuhayin? Hindi mo naman kailangang bumuhay ng kaibigan."

Umismid siya. "Were you rubbed with ice while growing up, love?"

"Ha? Bakit?"

"Kasi medyo manhid ka." He laughed. "Kidding. Let's just go."

Napakurap na lamang ako't hindi na nakakibo pa. Ako, manhid? Hindi, ah? Ayaw ko lang bigyan ng kahulugan ang mga ginagawa niya para sa akin. Pati na iyong mga banat niya. He isn't straight. I don't want to make the same mistake twice.

We reached the office ten minutes early. Dahil wala namang trabaho roon si Keeyan ay ibinili na naman niya ako ng kape saka niya inayos ang desk ko. I organize my stuff before I leave. Kaso hindi yata siya satisfied kaya inayos niya ulit tapos ni-refill niya pa ang ilang gamit na alam niyang madalas kong gamitin gaya ng sticky notes.

"Sir Keeyan! Hindi naman kami na-inform na personal assistant ka pala ni Rachel!" biro ni ate Sandra nang pumasok siya kasama ang anak niyang lalake na tantya ko ay nasa dalawa o tatlong gulang.

Keeyan just grinned while I turned red out of embarrassment. Si Keeyan naman kasi, eh! Natutukso na tuloy kami sa opisina kahit friends lang naman kami!

As if Keeyan was too excited to meet ate Sandra's son, he immediately finished organizing my desk so he could go say hi to the little boy.

Pinanood ko siyang makipag-apir sa bata ngunit mukhang nahihiya ang anak ni ate Sandra. Ngumisi naman si ate Sandra bago nagsalita.

"Mahiyain 'to, Sir. Takot nga 'to sa tao at hindi basta sumasama kahit kanino. Hindi 'to makikidnap."

"Well, I'll still try," ani Keeyan. Halatang giliw na giliw sa paslit.

Ngumisi na lamang ako nang makitang iniwasan talaga siya ng bata. Imbes na panoorin kung paano niya kunin ang loob ng anak ni ate Sandra ay sinimulan ko na lamang ang pagtatrabaho ko.

I was already checking one of the designs that I will submit for approval when Keeyan went to my workspace. Buhat na niya ngayon ang anak ni ate Sandra at may napakalapad nang ngiti sa kanyang mga labi. It was like he's having baby fever and he feels proud that the little boy came with him.

"This is Tita Rachel. She looks like Mama Mary. Do you know who Mama Mary is?" he asked the little boy but the kid just shook his head.

Umismid ako. "Sir Keeyan talaga. Tigilan mo na ang kaka-Mama Mary sa akin. Baka mamaya bigla na lang lumobo ang tiyan ko kahit wala akong asawa."

He smirked. "If you will miraculously get pregnant then I'll volunteer to be your Joseph in a heartbeat."

My cheeks slightly burned. "Puro ka biro."

"Who said it's a joke? Kaya nga kitang pakasalan kahit maging white lady ka. How come I cannot father your miracle baby?"

I shook my head while heaving a sigh. "Kunwari na lang po naniniwala ako."

Tumalikod na ako at nagtungo sa drawing table. Naagaw naman ng iba pang dumating na empleyadong may bitbit na bata ang atensyon niya. Halos hindi na nga niya alam kung sino ang una niyang kakargahin. It was like he loves kids so much that if he could carry them all, he would've done it already.

Maya-maya ay mayroong dumating na empleyadong wala pang one-year-old ang buhat na baby. Hindi raw intentional ang pagdala nito sa anak. Sadyang wala lang daw talagang mag-aalaga.

"I will babysit her so you can work. Give her to me, please?" Keeyan begged. Natawa tuloy ang mga kasamahan ko sa trabaho.

"Naku, Sir! Mag-asawa ka na nga at mag-anak! Halatang excited ka nang magpakaama!" udyok ni ate Sandra.

Keeyan looked at me for a couple of seconds before he turned his attention back to ate Sandra.

"Saka na," I heard him say.

"Saka na kapag?" tanong ni ate Sandra.

I saw Keeyan smirked before he looked at my direction again.

"Saka na kapag naka-graduate na ko sa pagiging tropa . . ."