Make Her Mine in 50 Days

Chapter 4

I was gritting my teeth as I walked my way to the café where Sean and I are about to meet.

Nervousness keeps on running through my veins, thinking what if he was with Sandra. I haven’t seen her for two years. But seeing her should be none of my concern. I’m just here to sign the papers and only that.

My heart won’t stop beating fast as I waited for Sean’s arrival, that didn’t last long. When I saw him enter the café alone, without anyone with him, my heart immediately calmed down.

What was I expecting?

Sean wandered his gaze around the whole café before he finally found me. Wala naman siyang inaksayang panahon at agad na lumapit patungo sa’king kinauupuan.

“How are you?” Sean started talking as soon as he sat in front of me.

“Just go and get straight to the point, Sean,” mariing sabi ko. “Let’s not act like we’re okay when we’re not.”

I didn’t mean to be rude. Sadyang ayoko lang na patagalin o unti-untiin pa ang kahihinatnan ko sa pag-uusap namin na ‘to.

“Look, Brendt...” panimula niya. “What happened two years ago, it’s already fine with me. Wala na sa akin ‘yon.”

Of course, he would be fine. He has Sandra and Lyrae with him. Hindi ko masabi na wala na para sa’kin ang nangyari dahil inaamin ko sa sarili ko na hanggang ngayon ay may natitira paring sakit mula sa nakaraan.

“The papers for the petition of changing Lyrae’s surname are there. I’ve completed all the requirements no’ng nasa America pa lang kami,” sabi ni Sean nang ilapag niya sa aking harapan ang envelope. “If we will be able to get your signature, it will be easier for us to change her surname. Medyo nahirapan kami dahil sa conditions ng pagpapapalit ng apelyido ni Lyrae, pero nagawan naman ng paraan ni Ashley.”

Once I sign those papers, it means I’m already letting go of everything. I didn’t know why I was thinking twice. The reason why I called him here is because I’m ready to let everything go. Pero tuwing babalikan ko ang mga nangyari, kahit masakit ay ayaw kong bitawan.

Ngayong nandito na siya sa harapan ko ay parang nawala ang lahat ng lakas ng loob na naipon ko para mabitawan ang lahat.

“In less than a month or two, I’m going to marry Sandra again,” bigla namang sabi ni Sean na dahilan kung bakit ako muling napatingin sa kanya. “I’m planning a surprise wedding for her. And as a gift, I will tell her that Lyrae will finally be under my family registration. She’s a Sarmiento. At ‘yan ang nananalaytay sa dugo ng anak ko. Once and for all, I’m her biological father. Ipaglalaban ko ang dapat kong ipaglaban kahit gaano kahirap, mabigay lang kay Lyrae ang dapat na sa kanya.”

But like what I said to myself before, what Sandra made me experience is a great lesson that I’ll be carrying throughout the rest of my life. I shouldn’t be selfish. She already gave me enough, and it’s time to give it back.

“I know,” sabi ko na lang. “You didn’t have to repeat it all over again. I already know those facts. You’ve been ranting about it and shoving it to my face two years ago.”

Kinuha ko na ang mga papeles na nasa loob ng brown envelope. Dali-dali ko itong pinirmahan bago pa ako muling magdalawang-isip.

“Everything’s done,” I announced and put the papers back into the envelope.

Sean beamed at me the moment I gave the envelope back to him.

“Again, Brendt, before I leave...” sabi naman ni Sean nang naitabi na ang importanteng envelope.

“What now?”

“I just want to tell you that I’m very thankful for the years you took care of and love Sandra and Lyrae. Thank you for treating my daughter as your own. I know that it’s hard for you to let go of them but I admire you for being man enough to let them go,” he told me, trying to sympathize with me. “It’s true that it’s my fault—and also yours—that’s why they were separated from me for years. But I’m not going to ignore the fact you are also one of the reasons why they came back to me.”

Nag-iwas ako ng tingin sa kanyang habang walang sawa na bumabalik sa akin ang mga ala-ala noon. Kahit na pinipilit kong huwag alalahanin ay hindi ko magawa. Kung sana ay ang mga mismong ala-ala lang ang naaalala ko ngunit pati ang sakit na naramdaman ko noon ay bumabalik.

If only we can simply replace our hearts with a new one, then everything would be fine.

“I’m not going to stop you if you want to meet or visit Sandra and Lyrae. Just contact them or me. You can also go to our house if you want,” he said. “Thank you, Brendt. I’ll just send you the invites for our upcoming wedding. Please come. Lyrae and Sandra will appreciate it for sure.”

Right after he gave me one last smile to show his gratitude, he stood up and left.

As soon as he vanished from my sight, tears began to fall. My heart slowly opened and bled again, starting from the cracks it received when it was torn down into pieces before. Pinilit ko lang namang buoin ang puso kong nasira sa loob ng dalawang taon. It didn’t fully heal on its own that made it so fragile right now.

After this day, I swear, I’m gonna let my heart heal itself.

“S-Sir...”

Gulat naman akong napaangat ng tingin kung kanino galing ang pamilyar na boses na tumawag sa’kin. Why is she here?

She offered me her handkerchief that I stared at.

“Take it, Sir,” sabi niya at mas inilapit pa sa akin ang panyo.

“I don’t need that,” sabi ko na lang at saka nag-iwas ng tingin.

Sa lahat ng babaeng puwedeng makakita sa aking umiiyak ay siya pa talaga.

Bahagya naman akong nagulat nang hatakin niya ang isang upuan patungo sa aking tabi at walang pakundangang inangat ang aking mukha na dahilan kung bakit ako napatitig sa kanya.

Damn...

The moment she smiled as she wiped the tears on my cheeks, made my heart beats wildly. Halos mabaliw sa paghampas ang puso ko sa’king dibdib. I don’t know how she’s able to make my heart act this way. But I’m pretty sure that it’s every time she smiles.

“Huwag kang umiyak,” marahan niyang sabi.  “Sayang naman ang kaguwapuhan mo kung iiyak ka lang. There are so many girls there who are dreaming for you. Maybe the one you should end up with is one of them. Don’t get yourself stuck with one girl.”

My lips slightly parted. “You heard everything...”

“Hindi ko naman ipagkakalat ‘yon, basta ngumiti ka lang ngayon,”  sabi niya at kinuha ang aking kamay para ilagay roon ang kanyang panyo. “Keep it. I know you need it,” she said before standing up from her seat.

I thought I’ll be miserable for the whole day, but because of her presence and the comfort she gave me, this day suddenly felt like a normal day.

“Xylia!” I called her before she took a step away from me that made her turn around, still wearing that smile.

Seriously... damn that smile of her. Muntik ko pang makalimutan ang sasabihin ko.

“Thank you,” I managed to say.

She smiled widely and shook her head. “It’s nothing, but...”

Her smile suddenly faded and made me slightly crease my forehead. Why did my Cinderella stop smiling?

“Can I make a request?” she asked.

“Sure...” I said, very hesitant.

She took a deep breath before her eyes stared right through me. “Look at me, get over her and fall for me.”

Instead of making my heart beat faster like it usually does whenever she smiles, she was able to make it skip a beat this time—and I didn’t like it.

This is not what she really wants. This is not real.

She’s just doing this for a deal. A deal that I thought I could handle perfectly, but it turned out that I couldn’t take part in it or be involved anymore.

She just wants to make me fall without wanting to catch me. Pagkatapos kong mahulog ay hindi niya naman ako sasaluhin at hahayaang muling bumagsak.

I wouldn’t let myself crash anymore.

If this is one of her ways on how to make me fall for her, then I will not let myself fall for her trap.