Rebound (bxb)

Chapter 20

Maki

"I heard your team made through finals. Ibig sabihin ba ay makakapasok na kayo sa Nationals?" tanong sa akin ni Lolo matapos ang laro namin kaninang umaga.

Pagkatapos ng laro ay pinatawag ni Lolo ang pamilya namin to dine with him at the main house. Wala kaming ideya kung bakit since katatapos lang ng annual gathering namin noong isang araw.

"That's the plan, Lolo," sagot ko sa kanya.

"That's good," aniya nago tumayo. "Follow me to the study room," sabi pa niya. "I need to talk to you."

Nagtataka ako kung bakit ngunit sumunod pa rin ako sa kanya. Pagkatapos kong isara ang pintuan ay narinig kong tumukhim ito.

"I heard rumors," sabi niya bago naupo sa swivel chair na nasa harapan ng malaki niyang mesa.

Napalunok ako. Does he know? I have been hiding it carefully. And Raiga also knew about how scared I am when my granddad finds us out.

"W-what rumors?" kinakabahang tanong ko.

"Is it true that you broke up with that Aio girl?"

Napalunok ako at nakaramdaman kong pinagpawisan ako sa kabila ng lamig ng aircon loob ng study.

"Y-yes."

"That's good. I have been waiting for you to do it," sagot niya.

Huh? Hindi siya galit?

"Okay lang po ba sa iyo iyon?" tanong kong naninigurado.

"I never liked that girl so yes. But I want you to come with me next week. I'd like you to meet the girl I wanted for you. Galing siya sa prominenteng pamilya at may mga multiple business dito at overseas. I already talked to her parents and they are willing to meet you," sabi niya.

Hindi ako nakaimik sa sinabi because I was surprised. Ano ang pinagsasabi nito? Why me? Sa dinami-rami ng apo niyang lalaki, bakit ako pa?

"But why me? Should you offer it to my older cousin? I'm still a highschooler," sabi no sa kanya.

"You know among all your cousins,you are my favorite right? I also told this to your parents at pumayag sila," sagot niya.

No it can't be! I don't want to be married in the name of business soon.

"I'm sorry 'lo but I'm currently in a relationship. I love my girlfriend so I'm afraid I should decline it," sagot ko sa kanya.

Pinagmasdan ako ni Lolo like he's studying me.

"I never heard about it," sagot niya. "I will give you time. After you broke up with your current relationship, meet her and accept my proposal, Maki. I'm giving you the time to unwind until then," sabi niya bago tumayo at humakbang palapit sa pintuan kung saan ako nakatayo.

Huminto at saka tinapik ang aking balikat.

"You didn't follow your cursed Uncle, didn't you?" bulong niya.

Hindi ko pinahalata na bahagya akong natakot sa tanong niya.

"Of course not. I won't dare to humiliate our family, grandpa," sagot ko sa kanya.

"Goodboy. You know what will happen right?" aniya.

"Yes, grandpa," sagot ko sa kanya.

"Let's go," sabi niya.

Sabay kaming lumabas sa study room habang pinagpapawisan ang aking mga palad.

Bigla kong naalala ang ginawa niya sa kapatid ni Papa two years ago. It was when we had our annual gatherings as usual. I was Uncle Jin's favorite nephew back then. It was actually a secret for us that he's a gay that he's dating a guy back then. Hindi ko rin naman sinasadyang mahuli siya noon. We both knew that if grandpa would learn about this, he'd disown him. So I promised myself that I wouldn't tell anyone about his secret. Uncle Jin is the youngest of grandpa's children and he is his favorite son.

Hindi kataka-taka kung bakit ito ang paborito niya. Matalino ito, masipag at higit sa lahat ay dedicated jt sa business at maging sa kagustuhan ng lolo. He was betrothed to the woman that my grandpa chose for him. Hindi siya tumanggi.

But it was really a big question for me why he agreed to that engagement when he had someone he loved so much. He neve tells me much but I do understand why he keeps this for so long . Ayon sa kanya ay highschool lovers na siya ni Greg. And Greg even knew all of it. The plan was, both of them will elop before the wedding day. I was happy for them of course.

Isang araw, nadatnan kong nagkagulo sa loob ng main house. Nakita ko su Tito Jin na umiiyak habang galit na galit na nakatingin kay lolo habang hawak hawak siya ng iba na niyang kapatid.

"Get out of my sight you faggot. You no longer son for me. You are a disgrace in the family. Get out!" kalmadong sabi ni Lolo sa kanya.

"Where is Greg!? What did you do to him?" galit na tanong ni Uncle sa kanya.

"What did I do? Nothing. I offered him money in exchange for breaking up with you. And he took it. He probably run away with the huge amount of money he had," walang emosyong sagot ni lolo.

"You are cruel," iyon lang ang sagot ni Uncle bago tinanggal ang mga kamay ng kapatid niya sa kanya at umalis.

He looked at me one more time and then smiled before he turned his back at me.

Hindi ko maigalaw ang aking mga paa. I wanted to run to him and hug him because I felt that he needed someone right now.

"Don't you ever think about comforting him, Maki. Stay away from him," sabi sa akin ng lolo.

"You heard your grandpa Maki, right? Don't go after him," sabi pa ni Dad.

I learned back then that grandpa is someone who can be feared. His words are absolute.

Few days later after the confrontation between Uncle and grandpa, Uncle took his own life inside his apartment. It was a big blow to the company back then since most of the negotiations between stakeholders were all my Uncle' work. It was a struggle back then.

Few months later, binisita ko ang puntod ni Tito. Nadatnan ko room si Greg. He was crying and he looked so mess. Malaki ang ipinayat niya at may eyebags na ito unlike noong magkasama pa sila ni Tito. Bumangon ang galit ko sa kanya sa isiping iniwan niya ang tito para lamang sa pera. At nagpakamatay ang tito ng dahil sa kanya. Ang kapal ng mukha niyang pumunta rito.

"What are you doing here?" galit na tanong ko sa kanya. "Go away! Uncle doesn't need a traitor like you!" sabi ko sa kanya sabay sipa sa bulaklak na inilagay niya sa puntod ng tito.

"I'm sorry," mahina niyang sagot sa akin.

"Sorry? Sorry? Iyon lang ang sasabihin mo? Minahal ka ng tito pero anong ginawa mo? Sinuhulan ka lang ng pera pagkatapos bigla ka na lang nawala? You left him hanging by himself! You loved you so much! And if it wasn't for you, buhay pa sana siya. Umalis ka dito! You took my uncle's life. Go away! He doesn't you! Mukha kang pera!" galit na galit kong sabi habang umiiyak.

"I'm sorry," iyon lang ang sinabi niya.

"Your sorry won't gonna bring my Uncle once again. Just go away. Don't ever come back! Just die! I hate you! It thought you were the one who understood him but you betrayed him! Go die!"

Nakita kong may kinuha si Greg sa bulsa ng kanyang jeans. At ibinigay sa akin.

"Here," malungkot niyang sabi. "This is what your grandpa gave me. Can you return this for me?" sabi niya na para bang maiiyak. "I know what I did was wrong. I thought Jin will be alright without me. But I was wrong," aniya na unti-unting tumulo ang mga luha niya sa kanyang mga mata. "This world is cruel, Maki, especially if you are the son of an influential family, I know everyone's against us. But you were different. Your uncle said to me that if his family liked you, we could have been happy and that we would never live secretly. I also suffered when I learned Jin took his life. So I had to go back and give back the cheque. I never had the desire to use it. I'm poor but I love Jin more than anyone else. So I hope you return this for me, Maki. I promised that this will be the last time we will see each other but I would like to give my gratitude to you for keeping our secret."

Those were the last words I heard from Greg. The following day, he also took his life.

What if Grandpa will come to learn that I'm dating a guy and not a girl? Will he also chase Raiga away? Hindi pa man ay nakaramdam na ako ng takot. I don't want to end up like Uncle Jin. I will do everything to protect and keep our relationship a secret.

"Where are we going?" tanong sa akin ni Raiga habang nagba-bike kami pagkatapos naming bumili puting rosas sa isang flower shop.

Si Raiga ang nagda-drive sa bike habang nakaupo sa likuran niya.

"To the cemetery," s**o ko sa kanya.

"Huh? Anong gagawin natin doon?" tanong niya.

"I'd like you to meet someone dear to me. So hurry up! Malayo pa tayo," sagot ko sa kanya.

"We could have rode in a taxi rather than riding this bicycle. It makes me swear so hard."

Natawa ako.

"Just shut up. We'll be there soon if you drive faster," sabi ko.

Makalipas ang ilang oras ay narating na namin ang private cemetery kung saan ko ipinalibing si Tito. My family doesn't want to do anything about his body so I took it myself and used half of my savings to buy him a decent place to rest forever.

"Sino ang nakalibing dito?" tanong niya sa akin.

"My uncle," sagot ko sa kanya bago hinawakan ang kanyang kamay papasok sa arko ng sementeryo.

"What if may makakita sa atin?" tanong niya noong nagtatanong ang kanyang mga mata kung bakit hinawakan ko ang kanyang kamay.

"Don't worry, walang nagpupunta sa semeteryong ito. This is a private cemetery."

Magkahawak kamay kaming naglalakad patungo sa puntod ni tito. Huminto kami sa isang puno kung saan naroon ang lapida ng tito.

"Hello Uncle," bati ko sa puntod as if naroon lang ito at nakikinig sa akin. "It's been a while. Sorry for not visiting you often," sabi ko bago nilinnig ang lapida niya at saka inilagay ang bulaklak. Hinila ko ang kamay ni Raiga. "And this is Raiga. He's the one I'm dating now. So I hope you 're happy for me. I promised that I won't let grandpa come in our way. We promised each other that no matter what happens, we will always be together forever."

"Don't worry Uncle, I won't let that old geezer come in between Maki and I. And I also promise you that I will never make Maki cry. Trust me. I won't do that because I love him so much." sabi ni Raiga. Rest assured that no matter what happen, I will protect him."

I look at Raiga and then captured his lips in front of uncle's grave. I don't really know what will happen int he future but I will never going to allow anyone to come between us because this guy I'm with is the first guy I have loved when I was a little.