Secret Love

Chapter 19

Sally

We're having a silent dinner. Maliban nalang ka Anwyll na napakadaldal sa hapag.

"Mommy, why is he not eating a lot? He don't like the food?" tinutukoy niya si Caleb. Paano ba naman kasi ang pihikan sa pagkain ayaw niya sa baka tapos ito pa ang naging ulam namin.

"Nanay Laring, I think our visitor don't like your cook!" inosenteng sabi niya.

"Baby, he just don't like the meat but he loves what Nanay Laring's cook." I explained.

"It seems not Mommy. Mister, if you don't like the food you can have another. We have fish in the fridge you can have it because it's cold."

Tumawa ako, napangisi nalang din si Dad. "Baby, you cannot give a food to someone that is uncooked." I said.

"Really? He might not come back next time mommy because he don't like our food!"

Caleb cleared his throat. "I will always come back Anwyll, I have reasons" Caleb grinned at me.

"I bet Mister. It seems you really like my mommy a lot but not on our food. Sorry to tell you she's no longer available because she's my mommy!"

"That's enough Anwyll. You finish your food now!" Dad interrupted.

"Mommy, when is tito Gio visiting us?"

I glimpse at Caleb not knowing he was already looking at me. "I don't know baby, you know tito Gio always suprise us." I smiled.

Dad stand up. "Follow me after" he excuse himself. I looked at Caleb and he nod at me.

"Baby, I need to talk to Daddy okay? Finish your food fast so that you could play."

"Yes mommy!"

Sabay kaming pumasok sa office ni dad. He looked at us like we had done something wrong.

"When did you came back, Leb?" Dad asked casually.

"A week ago, tito!" he answered

We were just standing like waiting for our principal to give his punishment for us. "So you know now that you left my daughter here pregnant."

"Dad" Singit ko.

"Yes, Tito. Seems like the destiny is working for us." he smiled.

Dad took a deep breathed he stood up. "Before Caleb left he talked to me. He told me about your secret relationship or I must say your secret love."

"Dad" I interrupted him.

"Let me finish baby" dad said calmly.

"I didn't told you that I knew things already because I'm waiting for you to open up for me. He told me you ended it, because you want him to leave and you explained it to me as well. Kahit naman hindi niyo sabihin sa akin ang relasyon niyo I would still choose Caleb for you baby. He's a good guy and if ever I'll leave this place I know I left you in a good hands."

"Dad don't say that!" I bit my lip because I'm getting emotional.

"It's a reality baby we have to accept it. When you told me you were pregnant. I was just suprise but I didn't get mad at you. At least I know who's the father and that person will come back for you. "

"He didn't 8 years nga eh akala ko 2 years lang uuwi na." mahinang bulong ko.

"Now that Caleb is here. I want everything back to fall in it's places. I'm sure you're ready to get married hijo?" baling niya kay Caleb.

"Of course tito!"mabilis niyang sagot.

"Daddd!"agaw pansin kong sabi.

"Baby we're not in a drama this is reality. Alisin mo na yang pagka childish mo I know what you wanted gusto mo pang pahirapan si Caleb. He don't deserves that, naghirap na nga siya sa ibang bansa papahirapan mo pa dito dahil parin sayo."

Natikom ko ang bibig ko. Ngumisi si Caleb sa akin.

"I hate you!" I whisphered.

"I want you to get Married!" He said in finality.

"Dad, we can't do that!" I said.

"Ayaw mong magpakasal sa kay Caleb?" dad looked at me with disbelief.

Gusto noh kaya lang.. Nag-isip ako.

"Hindi tito. Ikakasal na daw sila ni Gio next month" sabat ni Caleb.

Tumawa si Daddy. Damn! I'm doomed. What I told him was a joke.

"Ikakasal kay Gio?" natatawang sabi ni Dad. Bumaling siya sa akin. "Baby up until now you're still childish. May anak kana nga at may apo na ako nagawa mo pang sabihin iyan kay Caleb." umiling iling si Dad sa akin.

"You lied?" Caleb asked me like with a shocked face

I raised my left brow to him. "No. I was just making a joke duh!"

"Caleb, tell your papa to come here. We'll plan the wedding for you!" Saad ni Daddy.

"Yes tito."

"I think it's time for Sally to introduce you to your child." wika ni Dad.

Of course!

"Mukha nga tito. He's calling me Mister for two days already." Caleb chuckled.

Lumapit siya kay dad at niyakap ito. "Thank you, tito!" he murmured.

"Welcome Back!" Dad smiled.

Caleb wrapped his hand around my waist as soon as the door closed behind us. "So what's your drama baby? Getting Married next month ha?" He keeps on teasing me about it. I pouted. Nakakahiya...

Pumasok kami sa kwarto ko nakaupo sa kama si Anwyll habang nanonood ng tv.

Tumayo ang yaya niya ng sumenyas ako. Tumingin sa amin si Anwyll napanganga pa siya ng konti ng makita kami.

"Mister, I thought you left already. Are you staying the night in here. The guest room is next door not in here the space is not enough for you."

Tumawa ako. I wondered how he could talk straight like that.

Umupo kami sa tabi niya kaya napagitnaan na namin siya. Mukhang nahihiya na siya kay Caleb kaya lumapit siya sa akin at yumakap. "Mommy let's sleep" alam kong dahilan lang niya yun.

"Baby, I have to tell you something" I smiled at him and caressed his face.

Tila nabuhayan siya. "What is it mommy? Do I have a baby sister now?" He touched my tummy like searching for something.

"No baby, I cannot make a baby sister by myself" His chinky eyes became round.

I sighed and cupped his face while looking at him intently. "Baby, your dad is here" I smiled.

"Where?" his nose is turning red he's about to cry.

"Turn your back!" I said. He followed what I said.. Caleb was smiling already.

"You're my daddy?" He asked. Caleb smiled at him more and nod. Mabilis siyang niyakap ni Anwyll.

Tears from his eyes fell.

"Where have you been all this time daddy?" nakayakap niyang tanong.

"I was studying like you!"

"Why you didn't call us? Mommy and I are doing it if she's working."

Umalis sa yakap niya si Anwyll. Umiiyak na din ito. "Because I need to focus on how to save lives." he explained.

"Are you a hero daddy?" he asked again. Lumabas na naman ang pagiging kulit.

"Not yet. Almost there"

Yumakap sa akin si Anwyll. I'm getting emotional also. "Thank you Mommy!" yumakap na din si Caleb. This is what I've been dreaming since then.

Caleb

Kanina pa nakatulog si Anwyll sa gitna namin while I'm holding Sally's hand. "I never dream something about this but this is too fulfilling." I said.

Nakatitig lang siya sa akin. "I know that look Sall. Don't try me because I won't bother to wake up the people inside this house"

"What are you talking about. You're so feeler. I'm not doing anything!" She smirked at me.

I chuckled.

"What was his first word?" I asked

"Lolo" she answered.

"How many months was he when he knows how to walked and stand up by himself?"

"7 months he's good at crawling and standing by himself but fell off after. 1 yr and 2 months na siya when he could walk already kaya hindi ako nahirapan sa kanya. Sa bigat pa naman niya." Pahayag ni Sally.

"He is a healthy baby, ano bang pinagkakain mo?" natatawa kong tanong.

"Che. Mataba ka rin naman nung pinanganak ka eh." Saad niya.

"I'm sorry wala ako sa panahong may morning sickness ka sa paglilihi mo, tsaka sa--"

"Leb, It's okay. Pinalayas kita kaya okay lang at least hindi siya naging sakit sa ulo ko. Tignan mo naman manang mana sa akin" humagikgik siya. Nakaharap sa akin si Anwyll.

"Come on Sall. He looks a lot like me." I muttered.

"I know. Binibiro lang kita kahit wala ka naman nung nagbuntis ako sa kanya, niinis ako sayo kasi mas madaling mapansin na kamukha mo siya"

Ngumisi ako. "Gusto mong may kamukha ka?" I grinned.

"Of course."

"Tara bubuntisin kita pangako kamukha mo na yung pangalawa"

Hinila niya ang buhok ko kaya napa awe ako. "Manigas ka!" sabay belat niya sa akin.

"Hayss. Up until now I don't know the answer why I'm still so f*****g inlove with you!"

Bigla siyang bumangon akala ko kong anong gagawin niya pero bigla nalang niyang tinampal ang labi ko. "Why did you do that?" I glared at her.

"Don't you dare say another bad words again or I'll kick you out of this room" she gave me a death glare before laying down again.

"Sorry" I chuckled akala ko pa naman kaya siya bumangon para may mangyari na hahaha.

Naramdaman kung may tumatapik tapik sa akin. Si Anwyll pala. "Daddy, let's make breakfast for mommy" Hinila niya ang kamay ko kaya napatayo ako.

Ang sinabi niyang gumawa kami ng breakfast ay naging laro sa kanya. Pinahabol habol niya ako sa kanya. How did Sally deal with this? ang kulit ni Anwyll he keeps on running and hiding himself from me. Ang hyper hyper niya hinihingal na ako.

"Baby I thought we're a going to cook for mommy?"Hinahabol habol ko pa ang hininga ko. I didn't have an enough sleep akala ko makakabawi na ako.

"Later daddy. Let's play a little bit!" he answered.

Damn. Kanina pa niya iyan sinasabi ang 'a little bit' niya na laro ay nagiging oras...

Pagod na pagod akong umupo sa sofa. Tumakbo si Anwyll sa lolo niya at humalik. "Grandpa, daddy was with us already last night" he said happily

Ginulo lang ni Tito ang buhok niya. "Ang hyper niya ano?" tanong sa akin ni tito. "Ganyan siya sa lahat maliban sa Mommy niya" natatawang saad ni tito. Napailing iling nalang ako. Gusto ko ng sumuko.

Bumaba si Sally at tumakbo si Anwyll sa kanya. "Mommy" mabilis itong yumakap sa kanya. "You're sweating already baby!" pinunasan niya ito ng bimpong dala niya.

"Daddy played with me"

Tumingin siya sa akin. Natawa pa siya paniguradong ang panget kung tignan dahil na stress ako.

"You made your daddy tired baby, looked!"ininguso pa niya ako. Malungkot siyang tumingin sa akin..Tumakbo siya at nagpakarga. Damn! mabigat nga siya. Dati kinakarga din ako ni mama hanggang 9 ako. Paano niya nakayanan iyon sa bigat ko?

"I'm sorry daddy." he hugged me tight and just by that parang nawala ang pagod ko. Kinarga ko siya hanggang sa table.

Nilagyan siya ng pagkain ni Sally. Kaya pala bumibigat si Anwyll dahil grabe siya magpakain.

"Sall, baka sumakit ang tiyan niya!" saad ko.

"Sus. Baka sumakit ang tiyan niya kasi kinulang mo sa pagkain" aniya.

Nagkwentuhan pa kami. Natawagan ko na si Papa tungkol kahapon dadating daw sila bukas kasama sina Mamila at Dadilo.

Nagulat ako ng humingi pa ng pagkain si Anwyll kay Sally. Damn my baby will get heavier more. Hindi na siya pinagbigyan ni Sally at pinapainom nalang ng gatas.

Umalis si Sally kasama si Anwyll. Sinabi kong aalis din ako mamaya dahil kukunin ko ang gamit ko kina Isaac. Akala ko si Rolly ang maagang nag-asawa at nagkaanak. Mali pala ako dahil malaki na ang anak ko kung hindi siguro ako pinaalis ni Sally malamang kasal na kami 8years ago pa.

Kinausap ko si Tito. Gusto ko kasing mag propose muna kay Sally. Ayokong diretso lang kami sa simbahan dahil magkasundo na kami. Kung hindi nga ako umalis sigurado akong pag 20 ko magpropopose na ako sa kanya at kasal pagkatapos.

Mabilis ang pangyayari. Hindi muna ako nagpakita sa kanila. Pumunta ako sa jewelry shop. Sinabihan ko na ang maids sa mangyayari mamaya sila na daw bahala. Pumili ako ng singsing. Yung may ginto sa gitna ang napili ko, pinaengrave ko pa ang pangalan naming dalawa sa singsing.

Sinuot ko na agad ang akin. Tinawagan ko sina Isaac at Jikko nakipagkita ako sa kanila at hindi na ako nagulat sa mga reaksyon nila. Tinukso pa nila ako na batang ama ako pero hindi ako na offend seeing my son how he grew up I'm more proud of what he became. Binatukan pa ako ni Jikko dahil crush niya daw talaga si Sally tapos ako pala nakabuntis. Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin dahil magiging asawa ko na ang crush niya.

Pinatulong ko sila sa proposal ko mamaya. I want everything to be perfect. Ayokong mag-isip ng sasabihin ko mamaya dahil gusto kong kusang lumabas sa bibig ko ang nararamdaman ko.

Nag off din sina Crystal at Genevib. Tawang tawa pa sila sa akin na hindi ko na maintindihan. Katulad nila Jikko tinukso din nila ako na batang Ama.

"Kaya pala pag tinitignan ko yung anak ni Boss may naaalala ako sa kanya di ko lang mapoint out" humagikgik na sabi ni Crystal.

"Anak namin, Tal!"saad ko.

"Yahh. Anak na anak mo kamukhang kamukha mo eh."

Kahit ayaw ko pero mukhang kakailanganin ko si Gio sa proposal ko. Tinawagan ko siya. Nakipagkita siya sa akin umamin siya na hanggang ngayon mahal niya si Sally hindi ko siya masisisi. Sinumbat pa niya na wala daw ako sa tabi ni Sally nung panahon na kailangan niya ako at siya ang nandoon pero hanggang ngayon hindi parin siya ang pinipili ni Sally. Sa huli pumayag siya at nagparaya. Tinawagan na din niya ang barkada niya.

Umuwi ako ng maaga. Si Gio ang pinasundo ko kay Sally. Biniro pa niya ako na kikidnapin niya si Sally at ang anak ko para hindi makarating sa proposal na hinanda ko.

Malapit na daw sila yun ang text niya. Nasa garden kami. Pinahanda ko na ang fireworks na magfoform ng " will you marry me?"

Narinig ko ang paghinto ng kotse. Hawak ko ang guitara sa gilid ko. Pinatago ko silang lahat. Tumakbo si Anwyll.

"Daddy where is everybody?" he asked confusingly. Sumunod sa kanya si Sally.

"Asan sila?" tanong niya din. "Tsaka ano yang gimik mo? Nakadamit ka pa na mukhang magtatanim." natatawa niyang sabi. Ganito daw ang ang sinoot ni papa nung umakyat siya ng ligaw kay mama at maging sa pagpropopose niya kaya ginaya ko lang.

Tinaas ko ang guitara at nagstrum nito..

NW: Marry Me

Forever can never be long enough for me

To feel like I've had long enough with you

Tinignan ko siya sa mata. Habang hawak niya sa balikat si Anwyll. I smiled to her.

Forget the world now, we won't let them see

But there's one thing left to do

Her facial expression change. I know she's going to cry.

Now that the weight has lifted

Love has surely shifted my way

I winked at her and her tears are forming already.

Marry me

Today and every day

Marry me

If I ever get the nerve to say "Hello" in this house

Say you will

Mm-hmm

Say you will

Mm-hmm

Tinigil ko ang pag guitara at pagkanta. A tear escaped from her eyes. I looked at my son. "Baby, can you moved aside first" I asked.

He nodded at pumunta siya sa gilid.

I felt so nervous and running out of words. God help me!

"I loved you already when I first laid my eyes on you. I stole a kissed from you when you were 12. You're the only woman I've kissed, well besides my mom. I never saw you again after that, when something happened in Oriental papa sends me here to continue my studies. I think the destiny is making it's way to cross our paths again. I know you still remember what happened that's why for the half year of staying here you didn't talk to me." I breathed ang bilis kasi ng kabog ng puso ko. " Sall, baby, when you pushed me away that night I still wanted to stay but something insides me wants to follow you and I did."

"Caleb" humihikbi niyang sabi.

"Shh.." I smiled at her. "Surely when I get 20 I'm very sure already that I'll propose to you but something happened. You don't know how it makes me happy that even you pushed me away I still left you my minime" I chuckled and look at my son.

She pouted.

"Hindi naman magbabago ang isip ko kahit kailan because my heart, mind and soul only belongs to you." I bend one of my knees. " Under this beautiful night full of stars witnessing us, Solidad Clary Enriquez, will you be my wife and grow old with me until the next life?" My voice became husky naiiyak din ako. Pumutok sa langit at nag formed doon ang

"Will you marry me?"

Humarap sa akin si Sally. "I could never say no to you!" she pouted.

"Can I hear a yes from you?"

"Yes!" she exclaimed. I slipped the ring on his finger and stand up. I kissed her. Pinailaw nila ang gilid at naglabasan sila sabay ang pagpalakpakan even our son clapped for us.

"I love you, always!" I whispered to her.

"I love you too!" she hugged me tight.

Everyone congratulated us. I know Gio wants to talk to Sally that's why umalis muna ako sa tabi niya at sinenyasan siya na puntahan na si Sally.

Inakbayan ako ni Tito. "You suprised me of what you did!" natatawa niyang sabi. "But I hate your revelations. Dapat pala pinakulong na kita sa ginawa mo sa anak ko dati"

Nag sorry ako kay tito. Naiintindihan naman daw niya. Ganun din daw siya sa mommy ni Sally noon bago naging sila. Sayang nga daw at di ito nakita ng mommy ni Sally. Sally was only seven when her mom was diagnosed of cancer.

"I think let's change the tito to Dad!" aniya. Tumawa ako. "Well Dad! I'm marrying your daughter." I laughed

The next chapter will be the end of this story. Stay tuned! :)