The Girl He Lost

CHAPTER 03: THE GOODBYE AND HELLO

"THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW?!" Sigaw nilang tatlo sa gulat

"Gosh, lower you voice" iritadong saway ko sa kanila, pakiramdam ko ay nabasag ang eardrums ko dahil sa kanila

"Bakit ang bilis naman?" Tanong ni Sanjo

"Well, naayos ko na kasi lahat ng kailangan ni mama bago pa ang libing at isa pa gusto ko na ding umalis agad para sa ganun ay hindi ako maging lugmok" paliwanag ko naman. Kung hindi ako aalis ngayon eh kailan pa ako aalis di ba?

"Hindi ka naman namin mapipigilan sa gusto mo ate pero sobrang biglaan kasi" aniya Danwil

"Uulitin ko sa inyo ah, babalik din ako after six months kaya wala kayong dapat na ipag-alala sakin. Okay?" Paalala ko

"We know, but it's just surprising because it's like just the other day you told us you wouldn't leave right away and now this is what you're telling us." Zaikie has a point in what he says, but if I don't leave the Philippines, I will be even more hurt knowing that River is also here and Kayla is with him. I don't want to be weak, and I don't want to see myself begging. Alam ko naman sa sarili ko na hindi ko agad makakalimutan ni River dahil minahal ko sya ng totoo pero mas mahal ko ang sarili ko kaya ako na lang ang lalayo.

"Pero kung iyan talaga ang gusto mo, I think we should just give you our full support" nakangiting saad naman ni Sanjo sakin

"Yes, thank you. Huwag nyong papabayaan ang puntod ni mama habang wala ako ah" I smiled and pats their head

"Kailangan ko din pala ng katulong para mag-ayos ng mga gamit sa bahay" dagdag ko pa

"You don't have to worry about your house anymore." Aniya Danwil na ikinakunot ng noo ko

"What do you mean?" I asked

"Napagusapan kasi naming tatlo na habang wala ka ay kami muna ang titira sa bahay nyo!" Masayang sagot sakin ni Zaikie na ikinagulat ko naman

"WHAT DID YOU SAY?!" Sigaw ko

"Sakto kasing malapit sa school namin yung bahay nyo kaya instead na umupa kami sa dorm edi sa bahay nyo na lang kami muna titira HAHAHAHA" tuwang paliwanag ng tatlo

"Ako ba ay niloloko nyo?" Taas kilay kong tanong sa kanila

"Bakit?" Sabay sabay naman nilang saad

"Paano kung hanapin kayo ng mga magulang nyo sakin?!" Inis na tanong ko

"Wala naman silang pake samin eh" aniya Sanjo

"Huh?" Kunot noong saad ko

"Hindi sa wala silang pake na ayaw nila samin ah, it's just that they give us our freedom to do what we want as long as we're not going down the wrong path." Paliwanag naman ni Zaikie

"Ahhhhh, ayusin nyo kasi ang sinasabi nyo" akala ko pa naman may mga family issue 'tong mga sira ulong ito eh

"Pero magiging maayos ka kaya doon ate Keilee?" Biglang tanong naman sakin ni Sanjo na seryoso pa ang mukha

"I don't know about that, kaya nga ako pupunta doon para malaman ko sa sarili ko kung magiging ayos ba ako o hindi" bahagya naman akong napangiwi sa sinabi kong iyon sa kanila

"Everyone is already living, what about us?" Aniya Danwil

"We should head back too" sabi ko

Nauna na akong bumalik sa van dahil makikipag-kamustahan pa daw sila Zaikie sa mga dati nilang ka-batch na mga naging estudyante din ni mama noon

"Keilee, are you here?"

"Mr. Cruz?" Bulong ko sa aking sarili ng makita ko itong nasa labas ng van kaya agad kong binuksan ang pinto at lumabas

"Mr. Cruz. What are you doing here?" Tanong ko sa kanya

"HAHAHAHA! I guess hindi mo ako nakita" natatawang sambit naman nya

"What do--- Kanina pa po kayo andito?!" Singhal ko sa gulat

"I wanted to approach you earlier, but you looked busy, so I just waited for the others to leave to talk to you." He said

"Ah ganun po ba" mahinang sambit ko naman

"Do you need help?" He asked

"Help in what?" Tanong ko naman din

"With anything, pwede kang magsabi sakin" nakangiting tugon ni Mr. Cruz

"Maraming salamat sa offer nyo Mr. Cruz pero I already have those three idiots that I can rely on. Nakakahiya naman po kung hihingi pa ako ng tulong sa inyo eh binigyan nyo na nga ako ng oportunidad na makasama kayo sa China" pagtanggi ko sa kanya

"I should be the one to thank you for agreeing to be my partner in this assignment." People are right about Mr. Cruz being a very sensible person and also very helpful. Pero hindi ako dapat na umasa sa ibang tao, dapat akong tumayo para sa sarili ko

"hehe"

"Anyways, eight o'clock in the morning ang alis natin the day after tomorrow kaya make sure na naka-ayos na lahat ng kailangan mo" paalala nya sakin

"Don't worry Mr. Cruz, dati akong girl's scout kaya handa ako anytime HAHA" biro ko naman

"That's good to hear" he simply replied

"Ate!" Rinig ko namang tawag sakin nila Zaikie

"It looks like you're leaving." Said Mr. Cruz

"I think so too. Maybe I'll just message you, Mr. Cruz, when I still have a question about our departure." I replied with a smile.

"All right, I'll just wait for your message. I'll leave first. All of you, be careful on your way." Mr. reminded me. Cruz before he finally left.

"Si Mr. Cruz ba 'yon?" Tanong ni Danwil nang makalapit sila sakin

"Oo, hindi ko napansing andito pala sya dahil sa sobrang busy ko na asikasuhin ang mga kaibigan ni mama" sagot ko

"Anyway, tara na at mag-aayos pa ako ng mga gamit ko para sa pag-alis ko" dagdag ko pa at bumalik na ako sa loob ng van habang si Sanjo naman ay pumunta sa driver's seat dahil sya ang magmamaneho

"Ang bilis talaga ng panahon" aniya Zaikie matapos bumugtong hininga

"Ano ang gusto mong ipahiwatig dyan sa sinabi mo?" Tanong sa kanya ni Sanjo habang nagmamaneho

"Wala naman" maiksing sagot nya

"Sure ba talaga kayong sa bahay muna kayo tutuloy?" Tanong ko naman

"Yeah" they said

"Okay kung ganun ay ayaw kong pag-uwi ko galing china eh sobrang kalat ng bahay" taas kilay kong saad sa kanila

"Malinis kaming mga tao ate Keilee, you don't have to worry about us." Said Danwil

"Okay sabi nyo eh" saad ko at tumingin na lang ako sa labas at pinanood ang bawat lugar na nadadaan namin hanggang sa hindi ko na namalayang nakatulog na pala ako

TWO DAYS LATER

"Oh, kayo na ang bahala sa bahay at kay mama ah" saad ko

Kasalukuyan akong nasa airport kasama sila Zaikie na hinatid ako at gusto daw akong makitang umalis, hindi ko kasama si Mr. Cruz dahil kahapon pa sya umalis dahil may kailangan daw syang asikasuhin kaya mas maaga syang umalis kaysa sakin.

"Mag-iingat ka doon ate ah" paalala sakin ni Sanjo

"Kapag may time ka mag-send ka samin ng mga pictures mo para alam namin kung anong nangyayari o nangyari sa araw mo, gumawa na ako ng group chat nating apat kaya doon mo na lang i-send

"Sige, tuwing magkakaroon ako ng oras" nakangiting tugon ko naman sa kanya

"Pasalubong namin pagbalik mo ah" nakangiting sambit naman ni Sanjo na tinusok pa ako ng hawak nyang suklay sa tagiliran ko

"Anong iuuwi ko sayo? Mummified na katawan ng dating emperor ng China?" Sarkastikong tanong ko sa kanya

"Ate naman eh!" Protesta nya sakin

"I'm just kidding" natatawang saad ko

"Sige na ate at baka maiwan ka pa ng eroplano tapos kami pa yung sisihin mo" aniya Danwil na bahagyang tumawa dahil sa sarili nyang sinabi

"Okay, yung bilin ko sa inyo tungkol sa mga taong maghahanap sakin ah" paalala ko naman sa kanila

"Walang problema ate, alam namin ang gagawin namin" nakangiting sagot ni Zaikie

"Then that's good to hear. Goodbye boys, don't forget to take care yourselves!" Huling saad ko bago ko sila iwan at magtungo sa gates, hindi ko alam pero gates ang tawag nila sa waiting area kung saan ko hihintayin ang plane na sasakyan ko.

After a few minutes, they announced that we needed to board the plane where my flight was assigned, so I acted quickly because I was carrying a lot and I didn't have an assistant, but fortunately there was a flight attendant who helped me, so it was easier for me to carry my belongings.

"Parang napagod ako doon ah" saad ko sa sarili ko nang makaupo ako sa seat ko, buti na lang at nasa tabi ako ng bintana dahil gusto ko talagang makita yung labas mula dito sa loob ng eroplano habang nasa himpapawid kami

"Welcome on board SRT005. This is Captain Raji Drecko speaking. First, I'd like to welcome everyone on board the Boeing 777. I have some information about our flight. Today's flight will take 4 hours and 40 minutes, and we expect to arrive at Beijing Capital International Airport at 9:30 a.m. local time. So, please relax and enjoy our trip and our service."

"Oh?" Hindi ko akaling mabilis lang pala ang magiging byahe namin papunta sa China

"Aalis na talaga ako, so I guess this is my goodbye. See you in six months Philippines"

RIVER'S P.O.V

KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!

"Come in" saad ko ng makarinig ng katok mula sa pinto ng kwarto ko

"I'm back, sir. River." Aniya Sid na ikinagulat ko naman

"Didn't I say you couldn't come back until Keilee signed our annulment papers?" Taas kilay kong tanong sa kanya

"That's why I'm back because Ms. Raven has already signed the annulment paper." Mabilis na sagot naman sakin ni Sid

"What did you say?" Kunot noong tanong ko kahit pa narinig ko naman ng maayos ang sinabi nya sakin

"Napirmahan na po ni Ms. Raven ang annulment paper" ulit nya sa kaniyang sagot

"How? Why?" Tanong ko pa

"Hindi ko po alam, ginawa ko lang ang iniutos nyo sakin" said Sid

"Bakit pinirmahan nya agad?" Mahinang tanong ko sa aking sarili, sa pagkakaalam ko hindi agad papayag si Keilee na pumirma sa annulment dahil sa mama nya. This is not what I expect her to do

"Wala rin po syang sinabi sakin" tugon nya sakin

"Well, I don't know what her reason is for signing the annulment paper right away, because that would be better so we don't have any trouble when we meet at the hearing." I said and took the paper from Sid

"But what Ms. Raven told me was that you don't need to meet in court anymore because your marriage is not official and it's just a contract so you have no reason to meet in court." Sid replied

"Is that so?" Kunot noong tanong ko sa kanya.

It's surprising if Keilee said that, but that's okay because I have nothing else to think about but my business.

"Anyway, I'm going back to philippines next week. Sabihan mo si Raji na kailangan ko sya" I said before I went back to work.

TWO YEARS LATER

"Welcome back. Sir" bati sakin ni Sid matapos ako nitong salubungin sa airport

"Enough with the sugar coating. Sid, I've only been gone for a week, but why do all of you in the company seem to have lost the will to work?" I said angrily to him

"I'm sorry, sir, we didn't know this would happen." He explained

"Anong hindi nyo alam? Di ba nga dapat alam nyo ang lahat ng kilos ng mga artist ng kumpanya?!" Iritadong tanong ko kay Sid.

Napakamot na lamang ako sa aking batok dahil sa mga nangyayari, isang linggo lang akong nawala tapos ganito na ang nangyari,

habang naglalakad kami ni Sid ay bigla naman akong napahinto nang parang may mabunggo akong isang bagay at kasabay naman nito ang isang maliit na tinig

"OUCH!"

"Huh?" Agad akong napayuko, at sa aking pagyuko ay nakita ko ang isang batang babae na nakaupo sa sahig. She must be the one I heard

"Who?" I said

"Ouch, mama!" Aniya ng batang babae kaya agad ko itong binuhat upang itayo

"Are you okay?" Tanong ko sa kanya at agad naman nya akong tinanguan

"Baby girl, what are you doing here? Are you alone? Where are your mommy and daddy? Are you lost?" Sunod sunod na tanong sa kanya ni Sid ngunit tinitigan lamang kami ng batang babae

"Hindi mo ba naintindihan ang sinabi ko?" Mahinahong tanong ni Sid sa batang babae kasabay ang pagtanggal nya ng sumbrero nito.

My eyes almost grew bigger when I saw this child's face. It was as if I had seen her face before. When I saw her face, my heartbeat suddenly quickened for no apparent reason.

"She does look like her." Mahinang saad ko

"Sir?" Tawag sakin ni Sid

"What?"

"May sinabi po ba kayo?" Tanong pa nya

"Wala" mabilis kong tugon

"Marina! Where are you?" Rinig kong sigaw galing sa di kalayuan na syang nilingon ng batang babae

"You appear to be separated from your mother, young lady." Aniya Sid at tinanguan lang sya ng batang babae

"Marina!"

"Hurry, they are looking for you" dagdag pa ni Sid

The girl stared at us for a moment before she finally ran in the direction where we could hear the shouts.

"Mukhang mahiyaing bata" saad pa ni Sid

"You guess?" I asked

"Yes sir, and she also looks like someone I know, but I just can't say who." He said. I agree with what Sid said. That girl does resemble her, and they look very much like the person I know.

"Anyway, where is he right now?" Tanong ko kay Sid

"He is in the company now." He replied

"Tell his manager that I need to talk to them in my office, so tell them to wait for me there." I command him.

"Yes sir" He said as we entered the car and he drove it.

Habang nasa byahe kami ni Sid ay hindi ko maiwasang hindi isipin ang mukha ng batang babaeng nakabunggo sa akin kanina sa airport, sobrang magkamukha talaga silang dalawa. "Maybe it's just a coincidence?"

"What are you saying, it's just a coincidence, sir?" Biglang tanong sakin ni Sid habang nagmamaneho

"What?" Kunot noong tanong ko sa kanya. Did I say what was in my mind?

"What you said may be a coincidence. So I'm asking you what you're saying just by coincidence." He explained

"Nothing" pag-iwas ko naman sa mga sinabi nya ipinikit ko na lang ang aking mga mata upang makapagpahinga dahil bahagya akong napagod sa byahe ko sa eroplano

After more than an hour trip we finally arrived at the company so I quickly entered here and took the elevator to go to my office.

"Akala ko hindi ka sisipot eh" saad ko nang makapasok ako sa opisina ko at madatnan ang dalawang taong pinatawag ko

"Most likely, of course, if I don't show up, you will most likely send your men to find me and drag my ass here." Said Saber, my younger brother

"Buti naman at alam mo" nakangising sabi ko naman sa kanya

"Sir" tawag sakin ni Cat, ang manager ni Saber

"You don't have to explain anything to me, Cat, because Sid has already told me everything." Saad ko sa kanya at muli akong tumingin kay Saber na kasalukuyang umiinom ng tubig

"Alam mo ba kung gaano kalaking problema ang binigay mo sa kumpanya ngayon?" Tanong ko sa kanya

"Kuya, wala akong mali, yung lalaking 'yon ang may mali at ginawa ko lang ang tama" halata sa boses nya ang pagkainis, bilang nakakatandang kapatid ay kabisado ko ang ugali ni Saber at hindi sya gagawa ng gulo not unless hindi nya nagustuhan ang ginawa ng isang tao

"But that doesn't mean na kailangan mong basagin ang mukha ni Celvin" sambit ko

"He deserve it, bakit alam ba ng mga fans nya na hina-harass nya ang mga staff nya? Hindi naman di ba? Paano kaya kung i-post ko sa lahat ng social media platform ang mga kababuyang ginagawa nya lalo na sa make up artist nya?" Aniya Saber at itinaas ang paa nya sa upuan

"Because of what you did to Celvin's face, his company is demanding huge compensation from our company." Paliwanag ko naman

"We don’t have to give them what they ask from us dahil kapag nagpatuloy ang career ni Celvin sa showbiz ay patuloy nya ring bababuyin ang mga staff nya. Why don't we just expose the disgusting shits he's doing to his staff instead of giving them whatever compensation they demand, because Celvin doesn't deserve to be in the entertainment industry in the first place." He said

Knowing Saber, alam kong hindi nya ko tatantanan kapag may nakita syang mali o ayaw nyang ginagawa ng tao. Well, he had a point in what he said, but it was not easy to do what he wanted to happen because, first of all, I had no evidence to prove all his accusations against Celvin, and I also know that CG Entertainment will cover them up because Celvin is the face of their company and they will not let anyone ruin Celvin's public reputation.

"Let me think about it" tanging tugon ko lamang sa kanya

"Cat, make sure na babantayan nyo si Saber dahil ayoko na ng iba pang sakit sa ulo" dagdag ko pa

"What?! Bakit kailangan ko pa ng chaperon? I'm already twenty-four years old, you know?" Sunod sunod naman nyang tanong sakin

"Oo nga, twenty-four ka na pero ang immature mo pa din to the point na lahat na lang ng bagay ay dinadaan mo na lang sa init ng ulo at ang ending ay ako na naman ang aayos" sambit ko

"Shut up, magkatulad lang naman tayo na dinadaan sa init ng ulo ang lahat kaso ang pinagkaiba lang nating dalawa ay mas malala ang ugali mo kaysa sakin kuuya" he said

"Anyway, mukhang narinig na nila mom at dad ang ginawa mo kaya pinapauwi nila tayong dalawa sa mansion ngayong gabi" sabi ko naman

"What?!" Singhal nya sa gulat. Syempre magiging ganyan talaga ang reaksyon ni Saber dahil alam nya ang ugali ni mom

"You heard me right" I said

"W-wait, I-i r-remember m-may photoshoot pala ako tonight!" Utal utal na pagdadahilan ni Saber

"Pina-cancel ko lahat ng schedule mo kaya wala ka ng photoshoot na pupuntahan ngayong gabi" I smirked at him

"Damn you!" Inis na sigaw nya sakin

"That's what you get when you let your anger win" saad ko

"Fine. So, anong oras ang out mo para sasabay na lang ako sayo?" Tanong nya

"You finally give in, seven o'clock ang dinner natin" sagot ko

"Okay, Cat, you may go home now" aniya Saber

"All right, I'll just send you your new schedule for this week tomorrow morning." Said Cat and quickly leave my office

"You shouldn’t be torturing her" I said

"Really... said the guy who annulled his wife for no reason whatsoever." Napakunot naman ang noo ko sa sinabi nyang iyon

"What did you say?" Kunot noong tanong ko sa kanya

"You frown too much, baka tumanda ka lalo HAHAHAHAHA!" Asar nya pa sakin

"If only you would never have mentioned that to me." Mahinang saad ko ngunit sapat na upang marinig ni Saber

"Fine, sabi mo eh" kibit balikat nyang sambit

BANG!

"Hellooooo! Welcome back sa pinakamamahal kong kaibigan na laging galit sa mundo!"

"What the f**k are you doing here, Red?" Seryosong tanong ko sa kanya matapos nitong sipain pabukas ang pintuan ng opisina ko

"Aaww, don't be like that!" He said using his flirty voice

"You're giving me chills, get out" sabi ko

"Yow, kamusta Saber? I heard that you took care of Celvin's face really well." Pag-iwas ni Red sa sinabi ko

"He deserve it though" said Saber in a bored tone

"HAHAHAHA! Like older brother like younger brother" aniya Red na tawang tawa pa

"What's your real intention?" Tanong ko sa kanya

"Gaya nga ng sinabi ko eh nabalitaan ko ang ginawa ni Saber kay Celvin kaya bilang isang mabuting kaibigan ay andito ako kung sakali mang idemanda ng CG si Saber!" Pagbibida ni Red sa sarili nya

"Kung idedemanda man nila si Saber eh hindi ikaw ang lawyer na kukunin ko" basag ko sa kanya

"Why?!" He asked in disappointment

"Because you're too lazy and incompetent" I said directly

"Ang sakit mo namang magsalita!" Inis na singhal sakin ni Red at padabog na inilapag ang kaniyang suit case bago umupo sa couch

"Ako na nga nagkukusa na tulungan ka eh" pagalit nya pang reklamo

"Oh yeah, sure" I said in a cold tone

"Tch! No wonder why Keilee didn't come back as we predicted." He glared at me

"Pardon me?" Nakangising saad ko

"Ooppss" he said and give me a peace sign

Saglit ko namang hinilot ang magkabilaang sintido ko bago ako tumayo sa aking upuan at lumapit sa kanilang dalawa "alam nyo, kung wala kayong magandang sasabihin sakin..." seryosong sambit ko sa kanilang dalawa

"Why are you so affected?" Tanong naman ni Saber na akala mo ay batang walang alam sa mundo

"Shut the f**k up" sabi ko kasabay ang pag-upo ko sa tabi ni Red

"Well, you can't call Keilee your ex-wife because you didn't tell the public before that you were married, and your marriage was just a contract, and you didn't have a wedding ceremony, plus you just let everything go of the issue and news about you and Kayla then." Aniya Red na sinasagad talaga ang pasensya ko

"I agree!' Pagsang-ayon naman sa kanya ni Saber

"Me too" saad ng isang pamilyar na boses mula sa likod ko kaya mabilis akong napalingon dito

"Seven?!"

"Welcome back dude!" Nakangiting bati nito sakin

"Shut up and f**k off, will you?" Tanging tugon ko sa kanya

"What are you guys doing?" Tch! Dumagdag pa 'tong isang ito

"Remembering kuya's past" nakangiting sagot ni Saber kay Seven

"HAHAHAHA, together with her ex-contract wife?" Tanong ni Seven na tawang tawa pa. Ito ang ayaw ko kapag nagkikita kita kami dahil ako na lang lagi ang napagdidiskitahan nilang pagusapan at asarin

"Mapipilitan akong ipadampot kayo sa mga guard ko kapag hindi nyo ako tinigilan" pananakot ko sa kanila at muli akong bumalik sa lamesa ko upang ipagpatuloy ang trabaho ko

"Kill joy mo naman" aniya Saber

"Eh kung hindi mo kasi hiniwalayan di ba?" Parinig naman ni Seven sakin

"It was just a contract, so nothing was wasted on our fake marriage." I gave a serious explanation to the three of them.

"Pero yung feelings ni Keilee hindi" aniya Red

"It was her fault that she fell for me knowing that our marriage was fake and you guys also know that I don't have any feelings for Keilee in the first place. You also know that our contract was only for her sick mother and to stop my mom and dad from setting me up for those useless arranged marriages. Pareho lang naming ginamit ang isa't isa para sa parehong intensyon, that's it." Paliwanag ko sa kanila

"Okay, sabi mo eh" sabay sabay nilang saad at hindi ko na sila muling pinansin pa bagkus ay ipinagpatuloy ko na lang ang pagtatrabaho ko habang silang tatlo ay mga nagkwentuhan na lamang hanggang sa dumating na ang oras na kailangan na naming pumunta ni Saber sa mansion upang bisitahin sila mom at dad

"Sure na ba talagang kailangan nating umuwi?" Tanong sakin ni Saber na nasa back seat habang ako naman ang nagmamaneho

"And whose fault do you think it was that they called us?" Sarkastiko kong tanong sa kanya

"Oo na, kasalanan ko na" he pouted

"Alam mo naman na siguro ang gagawin mo kapag andoon na tayo di ba?" Tanong ko naman

"I already know" he simply replied

"That's good then" I said

After a few minutes, we arrived at the mansion. Fortunately, there was no traffic because we might not be able to reach the call time and we would not stop Mom from preaching to us both.

"We're home!" Saad ko nang makapasok kami sa loob at agad naman kaming sinalubong ni Dad na galing sa taas

"You're right on time, boys." He gives us a smile.

"Thank God that there was no traffic at all." Sabi naman ni Saber

"Asaan si Mom, Dad?" Tanong ko sa kanya

"Nasa kusina at nagaasikaso, siguraduhin nyong hindi nyo gagalitin dahil nasa magandang mood ang Mom nyo" he said and wink

"Bakit? Anong meron?" Tanong ni Saber kay Dad

"I don't know, she just came home from the super market in a good mood, whereas earlier, when she found out what Saber did to his co-actor, she was very angry. Ayaw ko namang masira ang mood ng Mom nyo kaya hindi na lang ako nagsalita at umakyat na lang ako sa office ko para asikasuhin ang ilang papel na kailangan kong pirmahan" paliwanag ni dad

"What could have happened to Mom?" Tanong pa ni Saber na bahagya pang ibinaling ang kanyang ulo pakaliwa

"Anyway, let's head to the dining area" saad ni Dad at nauna na syang maglakad na sya namang sinundan naming dalawa ni Saber

"Mom" tawag ko sa kanya nang makapasok kami sa dining area

"You guys are home now? Magsi-upo na kayo dyan at dadalin na namin itong mga pagkain dyan!" Rinig kong saad ni Mom mula sa kusina

Syempre tipikal na set up ng pamilyang mayaman tuwing hapunan, si Dad ang nasa gitna habang kami naman ni Saber ay magkatabi sa kaliwang bahagi ng lamesa habang si Mom naman ang nasa kanang bahagi ng lamesa

"Thanks for waiting, boys." Saad ni Mom nang makalabas ito galing ng kusina

"That smells so good, honey." Pagpuri naman ni Dad sa luto nya

"Thank you, honey"

"Why do you seem to have cooked so much, mom?" Tanong ko matapos makita ang mga pagkaing inihanda nya para samin

"Siguro kasi napapansin kong hindi na kumakain ng maayos ang dalawa kong anak kaya ang isa sa kanila ay laging gumagawa ng gulo sa media at ang isa naman ay laging nasa opisina o di kaya nasa business trip sa ibang bansa" sarkastikong sagot naman sakin ni mom

"Wow! It all looks delicious. Let's just eat mom." Said Saber, His acting skills were an advantage here.

"Hmph!" Pagtataray sa kanya ni mom

"Paano natin uubusin ang lahat ng 'to, kuya?" Bulong sakin ni Saber

"Kumain ka lang" sabi ko naman

"Masyado kasi akong good mood kaya hindi ko napansing marami rami pala akong nailutong pagkain" nakangiting sabi ni mom

"Anong nangyari sa araw mo, mom?" Tanong ko sa kanya

"Well, I was at the super market earlier and was shopping for the ingredients I needed for our dinner when I saw a twin, girl and a boy. Sobrang cute nilang dalawa sa totoo nga nyan eh hawig mo River yung batang lalaki, tapos yung batang babae naman ay sobrang ganda at cute, ang taba ng mga pisnge nya..." Kwento nya at saglit itong tumigil

"Of course I approached them both because they were so cute, I couldn't stop myself from approaching them. The little girl is a shy type and the little boy is a protective one. Sayang lang at hindi ko nakita ang magulang nung dalawang bata dahil tatlong lalaki ang kasama nilang dalawa sa super market, I bet nasa genes na nila iyon" dagdag nya, mukhang tuwang tuwa nga si mom sa nakita nyang dalawang bata kanina dahil hindi maalis ang ngiti sa kanyang mukha

"Dapat ay sinama mo pala ako kanina para nakita ko din sila" nakangiting saad naman ni dad

"But you're working earlier, honey, panigurado ako na sobrang saya ng grandparents ng dalawang batang iyon dahil may dalawa silang apo na sobrang cute" sambit ni mom

"I really guess too" said dad

"Dapat kinuhaan mo sila ng picture, mom" pag-singit naman ni Saber

"I left my phone in the car earlier, so I couldn't take a picture of them." Tugon ni mom sa kanya

"It's nice to wake up every day with such adorable grandchildren, and every morning I'll greet them good morning, and they will call us grandpa and grandma." Nakangiting sambit naman ni dad

"Oo naman, hindi katulad ng isa dyan na ni minsan ay hindi man lang ipinakita sa atin ang asawa nya at higit sa lahat ay hiniwalayan pa kaya heto tayo ngayon, tatandang walang apong aasahan" parinig ni mom at tinitigan ako ng masama

"Wait, why do you seem to be referring to me?" Sambit ko

"Oh, alangan namang si Saber ang tukuyin ko di ba?" Mom said sarcastically

"Oo nga naman kuya" panggagatong naman ni Saber kay mom

"Kung pinatawag nyo lang kami para dito ay aalis na lang ako" sabi ko naman

"Sit down, River, hindi pa tayo tapos magusap" utos ni dad

"Wala tayong dapat na pagusapan kung paguusapan lang nating yung bagay at yung taong hindi naman dapat pagusapan" I said

"In fact, River, we have something to talk about as a family." Dagdag naman ni mom

"What is it?" Tanong ko

"If you want us to start this conversation, sit down." She said, at gaya ng ng sinabi ni mom ay naupo akong muli upang masimulan na naming pagusapan ang bagay na tinutukoy nila

"So what is it?" Tanong ko

"River, your grandfather wants you to marry the youngest granddaughter of the Reyes." Napaka-straightforward talaga ni dad sa kahit anong bagay

"Kahit pa ayaw namin sa ideyang ito ng lolo ay wala rin kaming ibang magagawa dahil pursigido na sya" dagdag naman ni mom

"I humbly decline" seryosong tugon ko naman sa kanila

"What did you say?" Kunot noong tanong sakin ni dad

"All he wanted was a successor, right?" I asked as I took a sip of my wine.

"See? You already know what your grandfather wants, but why are you still refusing?"

"A marriage without love will never be called marriage." Sambit ko bago tumayo sa kinauupuan ko

"I finished my food, aakayat na ako sa kwarto ko" dagdag ko pa

I didn't wait for mom and dad to talk. I walked straight to the second floor of the mansion to go to my room and rest there.