DARE TO LOVE ME

(Zachary's POV) I just arrived at my office when my secretary entered. “Yes?” Tugon ko habang busy sa pagaayos ng mga papers sa table. “Sir, Mrs. Montenegro is in line one” Napahinto ako and heaved a deep sigh. “Thanks, Mika,” bago ko kinuha ang telepono. Nang makaalis na ang aking sekretarya ay inilagay ko na ang telepono sa aking taynga. “Good morning, mom,” masiglang bati ko at pilit na ngumiti kahit hindi naman niya nakikita. “Good morning din sa’yo, anak.” Masayang bati din ng aking ina. “Anyway, I just called to ask you if anong petsa ka uuwi dito sa Batangas to celebrate my birthday?” Natahimik ako at napahilot sa sintido. “Mom, you know, I’m really busy these days. So I think, I can’t go home to celebrate your birthday but I will send gifts and will call you to greet you on your special day. I’m really sorry mom.” Simula ng magretero ang aking ama, ay ako na ang namamahala sa kompanya at sa lahat ng negosyo ng pamilya namin. I’m 25 years old and yet ako na ang naatasang i-manage ang kompanya for the sake of our family. May nakatatandang kapatid ako, si Ziandra pero wala siyang planong tulungan ako sa pamamahala at isa pa nasa honeymoon ito with her husband Joshua sa Paris. “Anak, di ka ba pwedeng mag day off lang ng isang araw, It’s my birthday! Won’t you reconsider?” Maririnig kong ito ay nagtatampo. “Please naman anak, minsan nga lang kita makita, ni mismo sa kaarawan ko hindi ka makakapunta. Wala ka na ba talagang time na maibibigay sa akin? Sa iyong nag iisang ina? Ganyan ba ako hindi ka importante sayo, anak?” Napapikit ako, alam kong magagalit at magtatampo siya kapag sasabihin ko ang totoong dahilan kung bakit hindi ako makakauwi. “And your ninang Amanda from Germany will be coming too. Buti pa yung ninang mo makakapunta, e ikaw na nasa Makati lang.” patuloy parin nitong pagtatampo. “Mom, uuwi si ninang kasi kakamatay lang ng bestfriend nya. It has nothing to do with me.” “Anak, don’t say that,” she scolded me. “Nagkausap na kami sa telepono at uuwi sila for good. Sa bahay muna natin sila titira.” “Sila? Whose with her? I thought on trip si ninong?” “Her daughter is coming with her.” “Oh, okay.” “So, uuwi ka?” Alam kong gustong gusto talaga niyang umuwi ako. “Ok.. I can go home at night after work, I guess.” “Why at night?” she said. “Just take a day off, total ikaw naman yung boss diyan sa company, so hawak mo ang oras mo, anak.” I can’t really take a day off lalo na’t malapit na ang inauguration for the new extension of ZM Group sa New Zealand. It was really hectic and I don’t even have enough sleep specially my employees too, so its ashamed that I will take a day off while my employees are working hard for the company. “Mom, I’m really busy. You know the inauguration is coming. I have to focus so that everything will be perfect.” I know that she will understand me, right?. “But, son.” Yeah, she can’t understand. “I just want to see you on my birthday. Tumatanda na rin ako at ang dad mo, so why not just spend a little of yours. Ginawa ko na ngang excuse itong birthday ko just to see you tapos busy ka pa…..” she will make me feel pity on her again and again and again. “Ang lonely ko dito sa bahay dahil wala ka. And ang dad mo daming time sa friends pero s—.” “Mom.” I cut her off. Magdadrama na naman kasi para lang maawa ako. “Fine, I’ll come.” I have to, I miss her too. “YES! Alam mo anak, ipapakilala kita sa anak ng ninang Amanda mo. You know what, she is so beautiful, bagay na bagay kayo. Pareho kayong masyadong serious sa buhay, kaya alam kong mag ki-click kayo….” Hindi talaga titigil. There she goes again. Trying to act a cupid. Kung sino-sino na nga binablind date niyan sa akin. Sinisipot ko naman, but that’s it. Nothing works. “Mom, I have to work now. I’ll see you on your birthday. I love you.” Then I hang up. Hindi kasi titigil yun sa pagkumbinsi para lang magka daughter-in-law na sya. As of now, that is not my goal. I’ve had enough. (Hera's POV) Kakarating lang namin ni mom dito sa pinas. Nakakapanibago, but I say, nakakamiss ang ganitong sobrang init hahaha. Masyado naman kasi talagang mainit dito sa pinas, no one can’t deny that. “Hera, the luggage.” Binigay ni mom yung luggage nya sa akin then she grab her phone. Tatawagan siguro si Tita Marina to pick us up. Doon daw kasi kami sa kanila mag stay ng tatlong buwan. Yes, 3 months. Tagal nuh? Namatay kasi isa sa mga bestfriend ni mom at may inoffer na business si tita, so maraming purpose naman kung why tatlong buwan kami dito. As for me, I help mom in her business, so hindi naman siguro ako jobless niyan diba? “Hera, let’s go.” Kinuha ni mom ang luggage nya and she lead the way pa exit ng airport. “Amanda!!!!!!” she then hug mom. Someone approach mom. Ghad! She is so beautiful. She has this fair skin, pinkish lips, she’s not even wearing make up nor expensive outfit but she looks simple yet elegant. How can be you po. “Marina!!! It’s so good to see you again!” she hugs her tightly. Ang ingay nila huh. Para kami lang ng bestfriend ko tuwing magkita dahil may bagong chika or may nakitang gwapo. “After all these years. Amanda, your still gorgeous! Kaya patay na patay asawa ko sayo noon eh hahahaha.” Wait.. what? “Nako! Nagsalita yung first love ng asawa ko. Mas patay na patay nga sayo yun noon dahil sa angking ganda at talino mo, Marina.” Ang hirap ng sitwasyon nila huh. Naging magbestfriend pa sila niyan. “Wag naman masyadong real talk. Oh! Is this your daughter? Hera?” she pointed at me. “Yes.” Then mom grab my hand. “Marina, this is Hera, my daughter. Hera, this is your tita Marina.” mom introduced me to her. “Well.. hello po tita, it’s so nice to meet you po.” I was about to handshake her but she hug me tight. As in very tight. “Oh my god! Hera, you’ve grown up. You are so beautiful. Manang mana sa akin!” parang may mali sa sinabi nya. “Mas maganda ka po tita, nasa pinky finger lang nyo po ang beauty ko.” Well, totoo naman. “Oh sya! Tama na yang contest ng pagbibigay ng compliment nyo sa isa’t isa.” Then mom grabs tita’s arm. “Oh right, you two must be tired. Mang Kanor, their luggage po.” Then someone pick up our luggage, it must be their driver. “Let’s go, darling.” She then grab my hand. While we were at the car. Grabe kung maki marites yung dalawang feeling dalaga sa life nila hahaha. Antagal din kasi nilang hindi nagkita. I look out the window. I’ve heard, maganda sa batangas, yung mga beaches daw nila is so nice visit. Siguro may resort sila tita dito. Halata naman kasing mayaman si tita, kutis at car pa lang. By the way, madaldal lang ako sa isip ko, pero ako yung tipong hindi masyadong nakikipaghalubilo sa iba, naninibago kumbaga. Kaya expect na nahihiya pa ako sa lugar at sa mga tao dito. Hays! I miss my bestfriend. [Casa de Montenegro] Ito na siguro yung mala mansion na bahay nila tita. Well, mansion nga sya! Taray! ang yaman hahaha. Bumaba na kami sa sasakyan. I look around. Para siyang resort na may pagka-hacienda. May malaking bahay, maraming puno at pananim. We enter the house, at halos malaglag ang panga ko sa ganda. Sa harap, mala mansion ang dating but when you enter the house at the back of the mansion, just wow! It’s really a resort!! the long stretch of cream sand, the crystal clear seawater makes it more appealing to watch and dive in. Kung ikaw ba naman araw-araw gigising na ganito makikita mo every morning, matatanggal talaga ang stress mo. Ang ganda naman kasi ng lugar. Sarap maging daughter in law ni tita ah hahaha. “Why don’t we eat while doing a chika, hija.” Taray ng chika ah. “Yes po tita, I believe, you prepared sea foods, right?” hula ko lang naman, obvious eh. “Why? do you have allergy in sea foods?” “No po, I do really love sea foods hehe.” Wag ng mahiya, favorite ko sea foods eh. “That’s great! Where’s your mom?” she look around, after noticing mom is not around. “She just called dad, that we arrived here safe and sound.” “Oh, let’s head inside first.” She hold my hand. “By the way, I’m just wondering darling if…” she is hesitant to ask me. I smiled to show that it’s okay to ask even if its private matter. “So, are you single now, iha?” Oh. “Well.. ahmm…” nakakahiya pero… “Yes po tita hehe.” Then I whisper it to her. “Since birth po.” “THAT’S GREAT!!!” nagulat naman ako sa pagsigaw nya. “I mean, that’s nice.. ahmm… let’s get inside hehe.” Oh okay.. single siguro ang unico hijo nya hahaha.. Habang pabalik na kami sa loob, when we heard a manly voice “Mom?” Napalingon ako. And my eyes widened… s**t! s**t! s**t! “Hey, son! You came!!” wait… son? “Of course, you make me look a bad son as you keep complaining for not coming home.” Then he look at me. He stop. “Di ka naman mabiro.” tita laugh while slapping his arm lightly. I remember that masculine arms. “Oh, by the way… this is Hera, your ninang Amanda’s daughter. Hera, this is my son, Zachary.” Lupa lamunin mo na ko!