Chapter XXIX

"Bro, sigurado ka na ba na liligawan mo si Dale?" tanong ni Marco na pinuntahan sa kwarto nya si Edward.

"What kind of question is that Marco?"

"I want to know if you are sure of what you want! Edward, this is Mary Dale we are talking about!"

"I'm honestly confused by your question Marco!"

"Noong nalaman mo na sya si Mary Dale at hindi yung simpleng Maymay na nakilala mo, hindi ba nagbago ang pagtingin mo sa kanya?"

"Hindi! If anything mas lalong tumindi yung kagustuhan ko na mas makilala pa sya!"

"Bakit? Dahil nalaman mong mayaman pala sya at pasok sya sa requirements na hinahanap mo sa gusto mong maging asawa?!?"

Natigilan si Edward sa sinabi ni Marco.

Ngayon naiintindihan nya na kung bakit ganon ang tanong sa kanya nito.

Inaalala pala nito ang mga sinabi nya.

"Is that the reason why you didn't tell me the truth about her?"

"Aside from the fact that it's not my secret to tell, yes it is! Ayoko na ligawan mo sya dahil lang sa dahilan na yun!"

Hindi na sumagot muna si Edward.

Gusto nyang kapain rin sa dibdib nya kung ano ba talaga ang nagtulak sa kanya para sabihin na liligawan nya si Mary Dale.

Si Mary Dale ba talaga ang liligawan nya o si Maymay?

Pero iisang tao lang sila!

"Hindi ba pwedeng kilalanin ko sila pareho?" he finally said to Marco.

"Pwede! Dahil iisang tao lang naman si Mary Dale at Maymay! Just make sure that you like her for her and not because of her wealth!"

"Kung yun ang inaalala mo, remember I was willing to chase her here believing that she is Maymay the yaya. Imagine my surprise when Atty Ric introduced her as Mary Dale the heiress!"

"Wag kang mag-alala, pareho lang naman kayo nagulat nung nalaman nyang hindi ka pala driver ko!"

"I know right! Her shocked reaction was priceless!"

At napangiti sila pareho.

"So what's the plan?"

"First, Mary Dale and I need to talk about Maymay the yaya and Dodong the driver."

"At gusto ko ng pag-usapan namin yan ngayon kaya maiwan na kita!"

"Okay! Bumalik ka na lang dito kapag pumayag na syang magpaligaw sa'yo!" at pareho na silang lumabas ng kwarto.

Nakasalubong nila si Nanay Remedios.

"Nay, pwede po bang makausap si Mary Dale?"

"Naku Edward, malamang nagpunta yun sa kubo sa maisan!"

"Ganun po ba? Sige po salamat Nay!"

"Tara, samahan na kita! Alam ko kung saan yung sinasabi ni Nay Medi!"

At pumunta na nga sila sa kubo.

Iniwanan ni Marco si Edward pagkarating nila sa kubo.

Mahinang tinawag ni Edward si Maymay.

"Maymay? Mary Dale?" nang walang sumasagot ay pumasok na si Edward sa loob.

Nakita nya ang dalaga na nakahiga sa papag.

Nakatulog pala ito.

Yakap nito ang isang picture frame.

"Mary Dale?" ang tawag ulit nya pero hindi ito nagising.

Lumapit sya dito at nakita nyang larawan ng mag-asawa ang yakap nito.

Marahil ito ang mga magulang ng dalaga.

Marahan nyang inalis ang larawan at ipinatong sa side table.

Hindi pa rin nagising ang dalaga.

Pinagmasdan nya ang mukha nito.

She looks like a baby sleeping so peacefully.

Hindi nya napigilan ang sarili.

He traced her eyebrows with his finger.

He traced her cute nose.

He then traced her lips with his finger.

Her mouth slightly opened with his action.

He withdrew his hand.

He felt a current run through his fingers.

He was kneeling beside the bed and he felt his knees buckle when he felt that current.

"Dodong..." she whispered in her sleep.

And his name on her lips was his undoing.

He slowly reached for her lips and kissed her.

It was just a brief and fleeting kiss but it felt like eternity.