In Love With You

Chapter 14

"Pain and regrets"

ANSON's POV

"Ans anak, let's visit your future in-laws. They need to learn about you and Erica"

Mom is currently hugging and praising Erica. She's been very excited since this morning. She prepared a lot of food for breakfast alone. I know that she's been too fond of her since she's been a part of our family and same as I am also a son to her parents. But still, I'm kind a nervous about our relationship. I know that Papsi Boy and Momshie Mel loves me too, but Erica is their daughter and they're aware of my silly behavior in the past.

"Mom, yes I will. Give us time don't interrupt."

I managed to asked them ahead of time last night that no one in her family should know about this. It's my responsibility to do that.

"Anak, we will come with you. Finally-"

"Mom, we're living." I cut her off and my dad just laughed.

"Ans you sure you don't need us to come? This is a very good news! Let your Dad and I come with you so we can plan your wedding ahead of time"

"MOM?"

I know that she's excited but how can she jump into wedding plans? That's for us to decide and we haven't even talked about it yet.

"Honey, I know you're excited but you're scaring erica. Look at her blushing face."

I laughed when I saw her face turned ref and my parents are in awe.

"Okay fine, you're adults I'll leave you alone then."

We exited the house but mom is still shouting reminding us to call her back. We just laughed and went out.

ERICA's POV

I'm still shaking as we entered my parents' Salon. They're not so busy today since it's not the peak hour yet. I know they're gonna be fine with me and Ans being in a relationship but still, I feel a little tensed same as with Ans.

"Oh mga anak. Hindi yata kayo magka-away ngayon"

Si papsi, na madalas makiramdam sa tuwing nagtatalo kami o kung may alitan kami ni Ans. I wonder if he also feels that there's something between us now.

"Ans ijo, kumain ka naba? Gusto mo ba ipagluto kita ng paborito mong adobo?"

Si Momshie na parang si Ans ang anak hindi ako. I don't really have any problem about us being together dahil pareho kaming tanggap ng pamilya namin. Na baka nga magfiesta pa parents ko kapag nalaman nilang si Ans ang boyfriend ko. They know that Ans has been a chick-hunter, but Papsi has always been so fond of him na ipinagtatanggol pa nya sa akin minsan. He often tells me that Ans still have a lot to learn and that he's really a kind person. Which is true. Him being a playboy doesn't define who he is when it comes to his family and friends.

"Kumain na po kami ng breakfast. Ipinagluto kami ng agahan ni Moms"

I answered since I felt like Ans has been internalizing his first step to reveal our relationship to my parents. We didn't get to talk about how we could tell it to them since we were both so quiet on our way here. Ans seated beside papsi and I can't help but smile since I can see that he's doing his best to get their approval.

"Ijo, kumain ka ng prutas oh." Nilapag naman ni Momshie ang isang plato ng mixed fruits sa lamesa. I took the opportunity to seet across them and focused on the fruits in front of me. I saw Ans being tensed and signaling me to help but I just smiled and arched my brows which irritated him.

"Aaamm... Paps" Ans started and this was the first time I ever saw him stutter.

"Oh.." Sumagot naman si Papsi habang nakatutok parin sa binabasa niyang news paper.

"I... I actually want to-"

He was interrupted by his phone ringing and I suddenly felt the urge to throw it off.

He excused himself and went out.

"Anong meron dun sa kaybigan mo erica? May problema ba sya?"

Tanong sakin ni Papsi pero umiling lang ako. I could've told them by now if only he didn't asked me and his parents that he wants to take responsibility about it and I felt "kilig" so yes I'll be giving him the chance. He has been into many relationships, one-night, or whatever you may call it but I know this is kinda hard for him since he's doing this parent-thing for the first time.

"Erica!"

We got astonished when he suddenly went in gasping for air looking like he's about to tremble.

"What happened?"

I asked him but he was out of words.

"Anak anong nangyayare?" Papsi and Momshie also got alarmed but he didn't answered. He was about to cry.

"Ans, look at me" I held his face with my hands and looked into his eyes.

"It's okay, tell me what's happening. I'm here okay?"

His tears were falling and it's giving me a lot of thoughts. Something terrible might have happened!

"Erica, my Dad." He sobs. "My dad is in comma right now. I- I don't know what to do."

I pulled him into a tight hug and my parents did the same. We did our best to calm him since he's not on his right state right now.

"Anak, let us go see you Moms. Hindi mo kaylangang pilitin ang sarili mo sa ngayon. Erica will stay with you here. Kaylangan mong lakasan ang loob mo. Kami nang bahala sa moms mo."

"Erica anak, ikaw munang bahala sa kaybigan mo. Ngayun ka nya kaylangan."

They left us both and went straight to the hospital. We decided to close the shop for now.

"Erica, tubig."

Lush and Sherry decided to leave us both to give Ans time to think.

I held his hands, they were cold and shaking. I've known Ans as a very strong person. But this kind of challenge is something that he couldn't face alone.

"Ans.." I tried to get his attention since he has been focused into nothing and I can't guess what's in his mind.

"I'm sorry Erica. This should've been a happy day for our relationship"

How can he even think of that in this situation.

"Ans.. it doesn't matter. Let's talk about us some other time. For now, you have to get yourself together. Your mom needs you."

I saw another tear fell from his eyes. I faced him and held his face once more.

"Ans, I know it's hard. But you have us remember? Everything's gonna be fine. Don't think of anything. Let's pray for your Dad's recovery."

He stood up and pulled me into a hug.

"I'm scared. I'm too scared Erica. I'm scared I might lose one of them again."

"No babe. Don't think of anything. Kaylangan nating maging malakas para sa mga taong mahal natin. Stay here with me, tibayan mo ang loob mo and just tell me if you're ready to see your Dad. He's gonna be fine."

After sobbing like a baby, he fell asleep in my lap. I can't stand seeing him like this. It's painful that I can't share the pain he is holding.

ANS POV

I got the ice-cream in my hand tasting them so happily. It's my favorite and I always come out from school to buy from the street vendors which moms doesn't know about because she might punish me. I am already in Grade six and I'm starting to see how fun are my mom's "bawal" thing is.

"Anson!"

F*ck! What is she doing here?

"What do you think you're doing?"

She grabbed my hand and dragged me towards the car.

"Get off me! I'm still eating" I was about to cry but she didn't mind.

"Let's go home and be quiet unless you want mom to know about this."

"No!!" I hate her! I swear I hate her!

"Antigas ng ulo mo I told you to always wait inside your campus. You're such a pain in the head!"

I got my headset and increased the volume of my music. She's always like that and I'm always like this. I don't f*cking care about what she's saying. I don't even want her driving me to school and back home. But well, she has a car and I don't have.

"Can you please at least do your best in school? What kind of brain do you have?"

She crumpled my test paper and throw it in my face. She might have gotten it through my teacher. I purposely didn't took it since mom and dad might see it. This girl is such a know-it-all! She always get what she wants and my parents are always proud of her. Well, she's got my dad's smart genes. She's in her senior college and helping my dad with our company at the same time. My dad has been telling her she'll go abroad for her master's degree very soon and hold the company when she's ready. Which is very good I don't have to carry that task.

When her graduation day came, everyone praised her. And so do I. She graduated as a c*m laude while I couldn't even imagine if I will ever pass my 6th grade.

"Ans! Where are you! I'm gonna be late with my flight!"

She's nagging at me on the phone and I swear I really wish she could go now. It's gonna be a lot of fun soon as she leave.

"I'm not gonna see you off. Just go okay? I'm with my friends."

I shouted back. But actually, I'm already at home.

"Stupid kid. You'll miss me"

I laughed since she know I'll have fun without her. She's even worst than my mom. I remember her toring one of the love letters I received from an admirer.

"Graduate, get a job and go date anyone!" Is what she would always tell me.

"Fine. I will be leaving soon. Wait for me at the airport. Dad's not gonna see you off he has important meeting."

Our family driver drove me to the airport since mom instructed me so I didn't have a choice but to go see her.

I waited at the departure area and has been calling them but I couldn't reach them and no one's answering my call. Where are they? Even mom in not responding.

Half an hour have passed bit still I couldn't look for them. Don't tell me I reached the airport first! I have so many games and series waiting for me. This two woman are really a pain in my head!

"Sir. Ans"

Our driver approached me after another minute.

"Where are they? Have they called you?"

"Sir..." He doesn't seem to know what to say

"WHAT?!" My temper.

"Nasa hospital po and kapatid mo at ang mom mo. Tumawag po ang Dad nyo. Naaksidente po sila papuntang airport. Ligtas ang mom nyo, pero.. ang kapatid nyo po.."

I got my knees shaking and I felt like my surrounding was shaking too. I felt cold, I tried running but my surrounding became dark.

"No.. No.. S-shane...."

I woke-up sobbing with Erica holding my face.