Dangerous Embrace

CHAPTER 12

“ASH, may napansin ka ba kay Elliot?” tanong ni Nylah sa asawa habang pareho silang nasa balkonahe ng kanilang kwarto at nakatingin kay Elliot na mag-isang nakaupo sa may pavilion at nakaharap sa laptop nito.

“Well… he’s off lately.” Sabi ni Ashriel habang nakayakap sa asawa mula sa likuran. “I know our third son was a silent type, but he’s quietness this time was bothering me.”

Ngumiti si Nylah at sinulyapan ang asawa. “You should talk to him.”

Ashriel let out a small sigh. “Hintayin na lang kaya natin na si Elliot mismo ang magsabi ng problema niya sa atin.”

“Huwag mo nang hintayin.” Sabi ni Nylah. “Kilala mo naman si Elliot. Hindi ‘yan magsasabi ng problema niya hangga’t hindi mo siya tanungin.”

His wife was right. Sa apat na anak nila ni Nylah, ang pangatlo ang talagang tahimik. Unlike his other children, Elliot was the type of kid who would only voice what bothers him if you asked him.

“Sige. Kakausapin ko ang anak natin.”

“Don’t ask too directly.”

Tumango si Ashriel. Hinalikan niya ang asawa sa pisngi bago umalis sa balkonahe.

Before heading to the pavilion, he went to the kitchen first to get some snacks for himself and his son.

Napailing na lamang siya nang makarating siya sa pavilion at hindi man lang siya napansin ng anak niya.

Elliot’s eyes were glued to the screen of his laptop, but his attention wasn’t on the document he was reading.

“Elliot.”

Napakurap si Elliot nang marinig niya ang boses ng kaniyang ama. Nag-angat siya ng tingin. “Dad…”

Ibinaba ni Ashriel ang hawak na tray sa maliit na lamesa. He sat across from Elliot and looked at him.

“What's wrong with you, son? Bakit parang ang lalim ng iniisip mo?”

Elliot stared at the snacks his father brought. And then he looked at his father again. His father was wearing his usual relaxed expression. But knowing his father, he knew he wouldn’t leave until he got an answer.

Umiling siya. “Wala po ito, Dad.”

Tumaas ang isang kilay ng kaniyang ama. “Nothing?”

Hindi ito naniwala sa sagot niya.

Tumango siya, saka ibinalik ang atensiyon sa laptop.

Sumandal si Ashriel sa kinauupuan. “Come on, son. I’m your father. You can tell me anything.”

“I’m fine, Dad.”

“Really?”

Elliot glanced at his father.

“Because your mother noticed that something has been bothering you lately. And since she doesn’t want to interrogate you herself, she asked me to talk to you.”

Napabuntong-hininga si Elliot. Of course, Momma noticed. She always did.

“Dad, it’s nothing serious.”

“Then it shouldn’t be difficult to tell me.”

Tumingin si Elliot sa ama. His father was smiling, but there was genuine concern in his eyes.

Elliot closed his laptop and leaned back in my chair. “Dad, there’s someone.”

Tumaas ang isang kilay ng kaniyang ama. “Someone?”

“Don’t make that face, Dad.”

“What face?” Painosenteng tanong ni Ashriel.

“The face you’re making right now.”

His father chuckled. “I’m just surprised, son. My son, who barely has time for anything outside work, is finally interested in someone.”

“Dad.” Elliot became beet red.

Mas lalo pang natawa si Ashriel. Natutuwa siyang makitang namumula ang anak niya. Elliot was always calm and collected. But right now, he looked shy.

“Okay. Okay. Continue.”

Napakamot si Elliot sa batok. “Dad, can I really tell you anything?”

“Oo naman.”

“Huwag niyo pong sabihin kay Momma.”

Tumango si Ashriel. “I promised I won’t tell your mother.”

And Elliot trusted his father’s words. Because once his father said it was a promise, he would never break his word.

“I met a woman.”

“Hmm… It’s not surprising for you to meet a woman, son.”

“She’s engaged, Dad.”

Napatitig si Ashriel sa kaniyang anak. Hindi siya nagsalita ni nakinig sa kuwento nito.

Elliot told his father how he met Isabelle and what he found out about her.

“Hindi ko po alam kung ano ang nangyayari sa akin,” pag-amin niya. “I saw her picture with that man, and I couldn’t stand it.”

Pinagmasdan ni Ashriel ang kaniyang anak. Then he asked, “Do you love her?”

Elliot frowned. Love? He didn’t have any idea how to love someone. “Hindi ko po alam.”

“Then let me ask you, what do you feel?”

Napatingin si Elliot sa mga bulaklak sa hardin. “I want to see her. I want to know if she’s okay. And when I found out she’s marrying someone else…” he paused, remembering the broken glass in his hand. “I lost control.”

Mabagal na napatango si Ashriel. “Does she know how you feel?”

Umiling si Elliot. “No.”

“Sinabi mo ba sa kaniya?”

“No, Dad.”

“Then how can you expect her to understand what you want?”

Tumingin si Elliot sa ama. “Dad, she’s engaged.”

Ashriel rolled her eyes. “Yes, you mentioned that.”

“And I can’t just walk into her life and tell her not to marry him.”

“Then don’t.”

Kumunot ang noo ni Elliot.

Ashriel leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “Son, loving someone doesn’t give you the right to decide for them. You can’t demand that she choose you just because you want her.”

Mabilis na nag-iwas ng tingin si Elliot dahil sa sinabi ng kaniyang ama. “Alam ko po.”

“Do you?” Ashriel asked gently. “Because from what you’re telling me, you’re more focused on keeping he away from another man than finding out what she actually wants.”

Natahimik si Elliot dahil totoo ang sinabi ng kaniyang ama.

“Have you asked her if she wants to marry him?”

“Hindi po.”

“Have you asked if she’s happy?”

Umiling si Elliot.

“Then perhaps that’s where you should start.”

Napalunok siya. “Dad, paano kung gusto niyang pakasalan ang lalaking ‘yon.”

Ashriel gave his son a thoughtful look.

“Then you’ll have to respect her decision.”

The answer was simple, but it was the last thing Elliot wanted to hear.

Umigting ang kaniyang panga. “Even if I love her?”

“Especially then.”

Tumingin si Elliot sa kaniyang ama dahil sa naging sagot nito.

His father smiled faintly. “Your mother and I didn’t build our relationship by forcing each other to stay. We chose each other. Everyday. That’s what love should be, Elliot. A choice—not a cage. Remember that.”

Nagbaba ng tingin si Elliot. For a moment, he thought of Isabelle.

The ways she had looked at the ice cream before accepting it. The way she was careful with every stranger and the sadness she tried so hard to hide.

Ayaw niyang isa siya sa mga taong gagawa ng desisyon para rito.

Pero hindi niya puwedeng balewalain ang nararamdaman niya na parang may mali.

“Dad,” he said. “What if she’s being forced into that marriage?”

“Then help her find a way to make her own decision. But don’t make that decision for her.”

Tumango si Elliot.

“Find out what she wants, son. Pakinggan mo siya. At kung kailangan niya ng tulong, offer it without expecting anything in return.”

Ashriel stood and placed a hand on his son’s shoulder. “Don’t try to be her hero just because you want to be the man she chooses.”

Tumingin si Elliot sa kaniyang ama. “Then what should I do?”

Ngumiti ang kaniyang ama. “Be someone she can trust. Let her decide what you mean to her.”

Elliot fell into silence.

Ashriel sighed, seeing Elliot’s bandaged hand. Looked like his son really had lost control. And it was because of a woman. I should celebrate. My Elliot has finally bloomed. “Kainin mo ang dinala ko. Maraming nagugutom ngayon. Don’t waste food.”

Tiningnan ni Elliot ang pagkain na dinala ng kaniyang ama. “Thanks, Dad.”

Nang makaalis ang kaniyang ama, his advice kept repeating in his mind.

Find out what she wants.

Let her decide.

Pinulot ni Elliot ang cellphone saka tiningnan ang larawan ni Isabelle na nasa wallpaper.

It was a picture taken by him by chance.

He was thinking about how to reach her.

And perhaps, for once in his life, he needed to learn how to be patient.

Tama ang kaniyang ama.

Let Isabelle choose what she wants.

Hindi siya ang magdedesisyon para rito.

Because loving someone is not a cage; it is a choice between two people, choosing each other.