THE UNEXPECTED

AIKKA'S POV

Shocks!

Dad didn't even told me na pupunta pala si Nathan dito. He's making his own decision again.

Umupo na lang ako sa swing at pinagmasdan ang paligid. Dumidilim na rin kaya nakabukas na ang lights dito sa garden.

Wait a minute. Bakit na naman siya andito?

"what are you doing here?" me.

"are you mad at me? did I do something wrong?"

"nothing" I just said.

I just wanted to be alone this time. Naiinis kasi ako sa ginawang decision ni dad.

Kasi naman eh....I'm trying to move on nga di ba? I already have Spade! kaya bakit pa siya bumabalik sa buhay ko?

"alam kong galit ka, a_ano bang nagawa kong mali? Okay pa naman tayo kahapon ah" him.

(Oo, okay tayo yesterday. Pero sa tuwing naaalala ko ang past, hindi talaga tayo okay. Masyado akong nasaktan dahil sa pagtataboy mo sa akin noon.

If I could just tell you now, ang kaso, wala kang maalala so it would be just a waste of time.)

"Please, just don't ask Nathan"

"Nathan? wala man lang Director? Iyan ba ang tawag mo sa akin noon when I was still courting you?"

What did he just said?

Di kaya_

"B_bakit?"

"you're memories are back?" napatayo ako bigla sa swing.

"hey....d_does it really matter to you?"

Kung para sa kanya, wala nang kabuluhan ang nakaraan...well sa akin, napakaimportante nito kasi nandoon ang lahat ng pinakamasayang happenings sa buhay ko kahit na marami akong hindi magagandang ala-ala sa mga panahong iyon.

"of course, it does"

"so, does it mean na...you still have feelings for me?"

Napalunok ako bigla.

So bumalik na nga ang memories niya?

"she already moved on, kaya wala kang karapatang itanong iyon sa kanya" then inilayo ako ni Spade mula kay Nathan.

Kanina pa ba siya dito?

"h_hey, calm down. I'm just asking okay, wala iyong malisya. We're just friends!" he said.

"Yes I know na magkaibigan lang kayo kasi ako naman talaga ang boyfriend niya"

"Oo, ikaw na ang boyfriend niya..fine. Kaya easy ka lang okay? Besides, maraming girls na naghahabol sa akin kaya hindi natin kailangang pag-agawan si Miss President. Sa iyo na siya" him tapos bigla na siyang umalis.

Bwiset siya!

Kahit kailan talaga, duwag ang isang iyon. Tss.

"you heard him, kaya you don't need to get jealous. We're just friends" I explained to Spade.

"mabuti na iyong klaro para alam niya rin kung saan siya lulugar"

Then he put his arm across my shoulder.

"ahem! ma'am..sir, excuse me po"

Napatingin kami kay Manang Esther.

"pinapatawag na po kayo sa loob, kakain na daw po"

So we went inside na habang hawak niya ang kamay ko. Ang awkward tuloy kasi andito sila dad and mom kaya agad akong bumitiw nang makarating na kami sa dining area.

"let's eat na Aikka" dad said.

Umupo na kami ni Spade and we started to have our foods na rin.

"You want this Chicken Parmesan sweetie?" ask ni mom.

Inabot ko naman iyon and I put it on my plate.

"thanks mom"

"eto rin Aikka, pinaluto ko ito sa Chef namin."

"what is this? I already have this mushroom pasta, baka tumaba ako niyan" me jokingly.

"its Gnocchi, don't worry, kahit ano pa ang itsura mo, i still love you" him.

(then someone coughed, i don't know if nabulunan ba or talagang may ubo siya)

"uh...I_ I'm sorry" Nathan said.

"ah, can I also have this Gnocchi? favorite ko rin ito eh bukod sa adobo" him.

"of course, kumuha ka lang dyan hijo" mom said.

"thank you po" him tapos he put some of it na rin sa plate niya.

"by the way nga pala, asaan na ang family mo ngayon?" mom asked him.

Bakit ba tanong ng tanong sila kay Nathan? Di man nila kausapin si Spade.

"ah...si tatang po ay nasa bahay, kasama ni Mac-Mac ngayon. Tapos...si Jonamee naman po, I think...nasa SA pa rin po siya this time kasi nagpaalam siya sa akin kanina eh."

"binata at dalaga na rin ang mga kapatid mo noh?" dad said.

"opo Chairman"

"its nice to hear it Director Alejandro, well by the way, you can also invite them here if you want. I want to meet them"

Shocks! Tiningnan ko lang si dad.

Why are they doing this to me?

Why are they doing this to Spade?

I need to change the topic. He's not my boyfriend kaya dapat hindi siya ang talk of the night.

"ah dad, Spade also is planning to help us with our Charity, right Spade?" me.

"oh yes tito, I am planning to be a partner for your Charity events and to extend help not only to students but also sa mga indigenous people outside the town" Spade said.

"I would love too but I think, it would be better if you would invest that money for your business...for your future."

"dad, baka nakakalimutan niyo pong nananalaytay sa dugo niya ang pagiging business-minded person so no need to worry for our future" I said.

"I'm just being practical sweetie, since he's a fresh graduate, it will be a good start to establish his own business lalo na't bata pa siya" dad said.

"w_well, iyan po ang hindi ko magagawa tito cause I have my own plans. And I won't stay here much longer."

When he said it, nagulat kaming lahat. I am not expecting na sasabihin niya iyon.

"what do you mean Spade?" me.

"ah... that's actually my reason why I took this opportunity to have dinner with you guys, well, I'm planning to go somewhere, and matagal ko nang pangarap iyon"

"Spade, akala ko ba_"

"its okay Aikka. Pwede mo naman akong dalawin doon eh, anytime. You don't need to go with me there, I know na you're family is here and your work so, I understand you. But don't worry po, I can assure you na makikita niyo pa rin po ako" then he smiled.

Simula nang dumating dito si Spade, iba talaga ang pakiramdam ko sa mga sinasabi niya. Ewan ko ba, 'yung feeling na parang mamimiss ko siya whenever na nagsasalita siya about going somewhere or something na hindi ko siya makakasama. Nasanay na rin kasi akong lagi ko siyang kasama lalo na nung nasa Europe pa ako. So definitely, I'll miss him kapag umalis siya.

"ano bang dream iyan hijo? Do you want to be a travel vlogger ba?" mom asked.

"hmmm...hindi po, honestly, I really wanted to stay here kasama ang unica hija nyo but kailangan po eh, and I know na you will understand me in the future."

"well, if that's your decision, think about it twice, para no regrets din if ever na you pursue that dream, kasi you can always have a chance to choose naman eh.... but once na pumili ka na, wala nang bawian"

He just smiled sa sinabi ni dad. Mukhang buo na talaga ang decision niya about going somewhere.

"ah..excuse po ma'am, sir, may tao po sa labas....papasukin ko po ba?" one of our bodyguards said.

"sino daw? we didn't invite somebody bukod sa kanila dito" dad said.

"Brent daw po ang name eh"

Wait. WHAT?