24 - Eve of 365 days

RJ's POV

Kung tutuusin, hindi naman mahirap ang pinapagawa ni Lolo, if they want a grandchild nandyan na si Celestine. We could already file an annulment kasi apo lang naman talaga ang gusto nila.

But I know in my heart I don't want that annulment to push through anymore. Upon learning who I am to Celestine I changed my mind about the annulment. I don't want my daughter to grow in a broken home environment. Kailangang mapaamin ko si Charm na ako talaga ang daddy ni Celestine because I can feel my connection to that kid the first time I laid my eyes on her.

"You seem bothered sa condition ng Lolo mo. I have never seen you in deep thought like that. Hindi mo man lang namalayan na nakapasok na ako dito sa family room." Daddy Ricky said.

"Dad." is the only word that I was able to say and continue playing my favorite video game.

"It seems desidido ka na talaga dyan sa annulment na yan ah, mukhang hindi ka pa kinakasal, separated na agad ang civil status mo." He said.

"Actually Dad, it is the other way around, I don't want to push with the annulment anymore." I said.

"Tutoo ba RJ? I'm sure your Lolo will be very happy to know that. What made you change your mind?" He asked.

"Celestine is my daughter, Dad." I replied.

"If you plan to adopt her, go ahead. Mas maganda yun para pareho na sila ng surname ni Charm, wala nang magtatanong bakit hindi sya Faulkerson." He said.

"But she is a Faulkerson." I insisted.

"What are you saying RJ?" He said.

"Dad, I am Celestine's biological father." I replied.

"What made you say that? Sinabi ba yan sa iyo ni Charm. Paanong mangyayaring ikaw ang biological father ni Celestine?" He asked.

"Remember Dad, sa iyo ko na rin nakuha ang idea na baka anak ko nga si Celestine because of the different connection I felt for her when I first met her." I said.

"That's impossible, I saw how decent of a girl Charm is. I actually regret thinking it is possible that you had a child in her. She won't go with stuff like having a one night stand to a stranger." He said.

"It is possible if she gets too drunk. It happened in Calatagan. She was the girl I saw drinking alone sa harap ng cottage ko. She had a fight with her bestfriend and she was all messed up that time. Lasing na lasing talaga sya, uminom ba naman ng kalahating bote ng vodka tapos pati yung mga hard drinks ko pinagdiskitahan din at hindi tinigilang hangga't hindi nauubos." I said.

"Nag-inuman lang kayo nabuo na si Celestine?" He mischievously asked.

I actually could not help but smile upon recalling what happened that night, "Nag jack en poy kami, Dad." I said beaming.

"Nakakabuo na pala ang jack en poy ngayon, bakit hindi ko alam yan sana ginawa namin ng Mommy mo para mas marami kayong magka-kapatid." He said smiling.

"Yung consequence ang nagdala dun Dad, kung sino ang matalo, magtatanggal ng isang bagay na nakasuot sa kanya. I could no longer recall kung gaano katagal inabot ang game namin na yun, basta ang na-recall ko na lang nagising ako the next day because of your call with a naked woman beside me, sound asleep on my bed. I admit I left her in my cottage in that state because of your call pero nung bumalik ako Dad wala na sya. I don't even know where her cottage was and I was not able to get her name para itanong ko sa information kung nag-check out na sya." I said.

"Alam ba ni Charm na ikaw yun?" He asked.

"Yes Dad, she figured it out when she saw some of my pictures in Batangas?" I said.

"Anong sabi nya?" He asked.

"She did not say anything. Tumahimik na lang at biglang iniba ang topic hanggang sa everytime I tried to talk to her about it, iniiwasan nya." I replied.

"Ano plano mo ngayon?" He asked me.

"I will not file the annulment, Dad." I firmly replied.

"But based on your Lolo's condition, kahit isa lang sa inyo ang umayaw na sa pag-sasama nyo after one year of being married and hindi kayo nag-kaanak he will help you push the annulment. You know how your Lolo keeps promises, obviously hindi na ikaw ang aayaw pero what if umayaw si Charm?" He asked.

"I will talk to Charm, for Celestine's sake. Iniisip ko ngang magpa-DNA just to prove that I am really Celestine's father." I replied.

"Just make sure you get Charm's consent when you do that." My Dad said.

"What for? This is all her fault, tinago nya sa akin ang anak ko." I said.

"Did you gave him your number so that she could reach you whenever she needs you?" He asked.

"I did not. I did not even gave her my real name." I said in frustration because I already see what my Dad is pointing out.

"Therefore, she has all the right na angkinin si Celestine. You cannot blame her if she denies na ikaw ang father ni Celestine. You left her alone in that cottage at wala kang iniwan na kahit ano. How can she trust you now? Having a DNA test will not help at this moment son. You have to get Charm's trust first, that's better than the test. Kung hindi sya magtitiwala sa yo, malamang mas lalong hindi ka makakalapit kay Celestine. Malay mo kapag nagtiwala na sya sa iyo hindi mo na kailanganin ang DNA testing. You have to win her heart first to gain rights for Celestine because the court always favors the mother of a child below seven years old. As Celestine's mother, give her the respect that she deserves son. If you really want to have that DNA testing, it is proper to get her consent." He said.

"Alright, Dad. I understand." I sadly said.

"I am just wondering son, why do you have this sudden resistance to push through with the annulment, is it really for Celestine or for Charm as well?" He asked.

"Of course for Celestine alone, Dad." I replied.

"Para kay Celestine lang naman pala, you can still proceed with filing the annulment and just request for visiting rights. I'm sure the Mendozas will not allow you to get Celestine's custody because you were not there while she grows up." He said.

"Ayoko namang lumaki si Celestine na may dalawang bahay. Ayokong mapabilang pa sya sa mga batang lumaki sa broken family." I replied.

"Therefore, Charm should have the same perspective as you para hindi matuloy ang annulment. But I see otherwise, she seems decided to have a separate life without you." He said.

"Then she has not change. The first time I met her, she was that selfish brat who cheated on her bestfriend. Hindi pwedeng puro sarili lang nya ang iisipin nya." I said.

"Or maybe she want to spare Celestine for a bigger heartbreak once she sees both of your bickering while living together. Ngayon pa nga lang grabe na kayong magbangayan what more kung magkasama na kayo sa iisang bubong? Also, how sure are you that you will not end up splitting eventually kung ngayon pa lang impossible na kayong maging magkaibigan. Another thing, what if she falls in love with someone else? I'm sure she'll ask for that annulment." Dad said.

"Bakit parang kumakampi ka kay Charm Dad? You are supposed to be on my side." I said.

"I have to play devil's advocate for you to see both sides. Charm is not here to defend herself, we do not know what is on her mind. If she refuses to discuss things about Celestine then respect that, maybe she is not yet ready to talk about it. Baka nabubulunan na sya sa dami ng mga nangyayari sa buhay nya ngayon, give her time to adjust, son." Dad said.

"Then kelan pwede? Baka tapos na ang one year hindi pa rin namin napag-uusapan ang tungkol kay Celestine." I asked.

"You are the only one who could figure it out." He replied

"How will I do that?" I asked.

"Start with clearing with yourself the real reason why you want to stay in this marriage. Why are you backing out in the annulment where you were the first one who insisted to have it. Your mind should agree with your heart, hindi pwedeng magkasalungat ang gusto nila. Kapag klaro na sa iyo ang rason, maraming paraan na ang maiisip mo na pwedeng gawin." He said.

"Alright Dad, I get your point. Thanks." I said.

"You're welcome son. Magpahinga ka na, tomorrow is your big day, the start of your 365 days. Sana lang mapagkasundo mo na ang puso at isip mo bago matapos ang 365 days." He said.