Her Unheard Weeps

Promised

Chapter 9

So after the making up...talk, i decided to stay for a bit and just cuddle while watching tv.

He was sitting on the edge of the sofa habang ang dalawang paa ko ay prenteng nakatihaya sa ibabaw ng sofa. It was me who had most of the space on the sofa. My whole weight was supported by him since i was leaning, and my head was on his shoulders habang nababalot ng kumot ang aking katawan.

From time to time i would further lean in order to grab a handful of popcorn from his bowl. Wala sa amin ang nagsalita. We were both too focused on the horror movie that we were watching.

By the time that the movie ended. Full credit was shown on the end of the film, sakto ding tumunog ang aking phone.

I looked at it and napakagat ng labi ng makitang si mommy iyon.

"Hinahanap ka na?"

"Yeah" i turned to him. "I have to go"

Tumayo na ako at nagsuot na ng sapatos. The whole time he was silent. Until he cleared his throat.

"I—do you want to come with me?"

Tinapos ko muna ang pagkakatarintas ng sapatos bago humarap sa kaniya ulit.

"Saan?"

"There will be a party. And i would be more happy if you come with me" i looked unto his eyes. I'm not sure but i think i see edginess in them.

Bakit naman siya kakabahan?

"Sure. I will gladly come with you" i smiled. "Kailan ba? Is it a weekday? Dahil baka kasi may final demo ako ng araw na 'yo—"

"It's my mother's birthday" aniya na kinaawang ng mga labi ko.

I blinked multiple times.

"Birthday ng...ng mommy mo?"

Tumango siya. "Yes"

"And you want m-me to come with you?" I whispered.

Napababa ako ng tingin ng hawakan niya ang kamay ko. He was still sitting on the couch while i was standing in front of him.

Tumango siya. "It's what she said. And it's what i wish"

"Ano? A-anong she said?"

"Baby...it's time that you meet my family"

Wala sa sarili akong napalunok na kinatawa niya.

"Hindi mo naman kailangang kabahan. My family is not as bad as they look"

Hindi pa din ako nakapagsalita. Tama nga siya, kinakabahan ako. Kinakabahan na ako na hindi ko pa sila kaharap, paano na lang kaya kung nasa harap ko na sila?! Oh God...

"Hey...i'm not forcing you okay? If you're not ready and comfortable, you are free to decline. I'm just saying this as consideration"

"Pero 'yong mommy mo. Sabi mo siya 'yong nagsabi na...pupunta ako?"

Tumango siya.

"She did"

"Alam niya ang tungkol sa atin?"

"Oo naman."

"Paano?"

"As i've said, i'm not keeping us a secret. I didn't even try"

So he told them about us? He didn't bother to deny.

Wala sa sarili akong napakagat ng labi. Bahagyang nakaramdam ng hiya dahil ang lahat ng ginagawa niya ay salungat sa ginagawa ko.

"I feel bad" i opened up.

Kumunot ang noo niya.

"Bakit naman?"

"Kasi unfair sa'yo." I whispered looking down. "Because you want me to meet your family when i can't even have you to meet mine"

Halos isang minuto din siyang natahimik. Pagkatapos no'n, he moved to grasp me on both hands. He further pulled me to him hanggang sa napaupo na ako sa kandungan niya.

"Ash. It's okay. Hey....It's okay" hinawi niya ang buhok ko. "Naiintindihan ko naman. And i'm not angry nor sullen. I understand"

"Pero oli—"

"I understand that not every individual has the same outlook. For instance, my mother can like you while your mom, can dislike of me and our relationship. And that's okay. All we need is to try to understand each point of views"

Napanguso ako.

He chuckled. "What's wrong?"

"Bakit naman kasi ganiyan ka kamature mag-isip? Nagmumukaha akong bata" nguso ko.

He laughed loudly.

"You can be mature too you know...at times. But majority of it you're—" hindi niya tinuloy ang sasabihin at tumawa lang ng malakas.

Pinisil niya ang ilong ko na nagpasama ng tingin ko sa kaniya. Tumayo na ako at gano'n din siya.

"So...come with me?"

He held out his hand. I looked at him for a couple of seconds bago tinanggap ang kaniyang kamay ng nakangiti.

"Gladly" i answered that left me nervous after a few minutes of realization.

But not as nervous when we reached our house. I kissed him on the lips and bid my goodbye bago lumabas ng sasakyan.

Sa susunod na araw ko na poproblemahin ang desisyon kong pagsama sa birthday ng mommy niya. Ang kailangan kong sulosyonan ngayon ay kung paano ako makakapasok ng bahay at kwarto ng hindi napapansin ni mommy! Na hindi niya makita ang dala kong bouquet!

Shit! Sobrang laki pa naman! Pano na 'to? Hindi ko naman magawang iwan lang sa condo ni oliver. Baka anong iisipin niya. Na hindi ko ma appreciate iyon.

Pa unti-unti akong tumungo sa pintuan. I slowly opened the door and curse in whisper every time it would make a slightly loud screeching sound.

I slowly peeked my head inside at kaagad na idinako ang tingin sa kusina, where she usually is. Nang makitang walang tao doon, i braced myself, and i ran.

Nasa hallway na ako, pero napatigil din kaagad at napaatras patago sa dingding nang makita si mommy na nasa sala, nakatalikod sa akin at nanonood ng tv.

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko.

Paano na 'to?

Oo, nakatalikod nga siya sa akin pero kapag aakyat ako sa hagdan ay makikita niya pa din ako.

I was thinking of a plan nang marinig ang boses ni mommy na patawag.

"Dianne! Wala pa ba ang kapatid mo!?" Sigaw niya mula sa sala.

"Wala pa my. Sandali lang, tatawagan ko"

Oh no...

"Letseng bata talaga 'yon" rinig kong bulong ni mommy.

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang matantong papalapit iyong boses, kasabay na pagkarinig ko ng mumunting yapak papalapit sa akin.

Mula iyon sa sala!!

I was already readying myself for some believable alibi when...

"Myy!" Boses iyon ng nakakatandang kapatid.

Nang tingnan ko ay kakalabas niya lang ng sala at nakatingin siya sa banda ko. Her both hands were raised and palms facing a certain direction na tila may pinipigilan.

"Ate, Anong ginagawa mo?" I mouthed.

Bahagya siyang umiling tsaka bumaling na sa ina na nasa kabila ko lang ata.

"Ano na naman 'yan dianne?"

Ate cleared her throat and tried her hardest not to look at me para hindi mahalata. She walked towards our mom, hindi pa din binababa ang kamay.

"Dito ka lang my"

"Bakit naman? Ano na naman 'to?"

"Kasi ano my...ang paborito mong teleserye. Lalabas na. You don't wanna want to miss it, do you?"

"Sandali lang. kukunin ko lang ang phone ko. Tatawagan ko lang kapatid mo"

"Ako ng tatawag my. Dito ka lang. Relax lang. Ka text ko 'yon kani-kanina lang. Pauwi na daw"

I can't help but chuckle, but silently though. Hindi na ako nakarinig ng angal pa galing sa ina. Siguro naniwala na din sa sinabi ng kapatid.

Ilang segundo pa ay nakita ko ang ate na lumiko at humarap sa banda ko. She tilted her head sideways, motioning me to go and that the coast is clear.

Kaagad naman akong tumakbo pataas habang ang ate ay pumwesto sa tabi ni mommy, sinisigurado na hindi ako makita.

When i closed the door behind me, i can't help but chuckle a little while catching my own breath. Nagbihis muna ako saglit bago kinuha ang vase na nasa vanity table. I filled it with water first bago maingat na nilipat isa-isa ang mga bulaklak sa vase. Before i did that, i made sure na nakuhanan ko iyon ng litrato.

For memories.

Napatingin ako sa pintuan ng bumukas iyon at iniluwa no'n ang kapatid.

"Thank you ate!!" I got up, Energetically hugged and kissed her on the cheeks.

She chuckled and did a thumbs up. Napangiti ako.

Seconds later, her eyes landed on the vase thay was now placed back on my vanity.

"Wow" she complemented. She tilted her head to the side at pinasadahan ng daliri ang bulaklak. "I really like this guy for you. Ang effort"

Napatawa ako. "Serves just right for forgetting our 1st anniversary as a couple"

She chuckled. "Well..what can i say? Ganiyan talaga silang mga lalaki. Masyadong makakalimutin"

"Or are we just too remembering even in the slightest detail?" I laughed. And she agreed.

Ilang minuto din kaming natahimik. Naramdaman ko na lang na tumabi na siya sa akin.

"What's wrong?"

"Nagkakilala na kayo ng magulang ni kuya tom diba ate?"

"Of course. It's just right since matagal na din kami. Bakit? May problema ba?"

"Wala lang" bulong ko.

"Oh come on! Tell me" hawak niya sa kamay ko.

Tiningnan ko siya ng ilang segundo bago bumuntong-hininga.

"I'm expected...to meet with oliver's parents by the end of this weekend"

"Oh.."

"Oh na oh talaga" i whimpered and dropped my body on my bed.

"Yan ba ang problema mo? Kinakabahan ka?"

"Oo naman ate. Sino bang hindi kakabahan? Bakit? Ikaw? Hindi ka man lang ba nabahala sa kung anong magiging tingin ng pamilya ni kuya sa'yo no'ng una kayong nagkakilala?"

"Of course i did, kung alam mo lang." she chuckled as if she reminisced something in her head. "But they all looked friendly and welcoming..you know? Kaya nawala din kaagad ang kaba ko. Akala ko nga noong una, mayabang sila at masama ang ugali, dahil sa karamihan sa mga mayayaman diba ganon? Ano ba naman tayo diba?"

Napanguso ako.

She chuckled when she saw me.

"Oliver's family are filthy rich" i whispered.

"Hindi naman kasi lahat lil sis...masama ang ugali. Pero kung sabagay, sobrang yaman nga nila, hindi impossible..." Tawa niya.

I grunted.

"Ate! You are not helping!" Nguso ko. "Ayoko na nga! Ayoko na. Magba back out na lang ako—"

"Hindi! Ano ka ba!" Saway niya. "What i'm saying is...it doesn't matter kung average lang tayo sa tingin nila. If you truly love one another, you should fight for it! You know? At nandiyan naman ang boyfriend mo e. Hindi ka naman niya pababayaan"

I just looked at her for a couple of minutes. Tumabi na din siya ng higa sa akin. Both are foots are remained on the floor.

"Matanong ko nga, sino ba nag imbita sa'yo?"

"Ang mommy niya"

"Yon naman pala e! Ang mommy niya naman ang nag imbita! That means she's curious about you, That she wants to meet you personally. And i'd wager, oliver had already spoken about you to his family"

'Yon nga ang sinabi niya...

"Maybe you're right"

She tsked. "I am right"

I chuckled. I moved to hug her from her side. Napatawa siya ng mahina.

"Thank you"

"You're most welcome" she whispered back.

"What am i gonna do without you?"

"That's the point. I'm not going anywhere"

"I'll hold on to that" i smiled and closed my eyes as i hug her more tight. She caressed my arm a bit, tapping.

"Of course. Ako pa maghahatid sa'yo sa altar."

I laughed. "Altar talaga? Kasal kaagad?"

"Oo naman!" She laughed.

"Sige, ako din. Ako din maghahatid sa'yo kay kuya tom sa altar"

She laughed.

"And i will get to advice you about how it takes to be a caring wife" she said like she was already imagining it. "And i will be there throughout your labor"

Napatawa ako ng malakas.

"Talaga ate? Nakaabot na tayo sa pagbubuntis?"

Tumawa din siya.

"Our kids will grow up together. Just like us...sisters. They will love each other like siblings" She touched the tip of my nose. "They will grow with each other side by side, care for each other how i took care of you...still am"

Napangiti ako ng matamis.

"I will take care of them" i smiled. "That's a promise..."