04

Kakadating lang namin from the dinner date outside. Inaalalayan namin ni Marco si lola papunta sa kwarto niya. After making sure that she's comfortable, bumaba ako sa kusina para uminom ng tubig at tumambay muna sa living room in front of our staircase. I massaged my head because it hurts a little.

"You okay?" Marco asked.

He sat on a sofa in front of me. I nodded without looking at him.

"Anyways, I'll be leaving tomorrow. Pinapa-uwi muna ako ni daddy sa Davao." He said.

I looked at him.

"Bakit daw?" I asked.

"He wanted me to start handling the business."

"Ahh okay."

"Will you be okay here? I mean, kayong dalawa ni lola? Or should I decline dad's offer?"

I shooked my head.

"Hindi na noh. Diba last year pa dapat yan?" He nodded. "Yun naman pala eh. At ikaw lang naman ang magmamana ng lahat ng business ng daddy mo so mas mabuting pag-aralan mo na ng maaga ang pag handle niyan."

"Paano kayo ni lola? Kung nandito lang si tito edi wala sanang problema. I don't know if I could sleep in peace knowing na ikaw lang at si lola ang tao dito sa bahay." He said.

"Hayaan mo na si daddy sa Siargao, broken hearted pa yun hanggang ngayon dahil sa divorce nila mommy." I joked. "At okay lang naman kami ni lola dito. May mga katulong naman, may driver din kung sakali, at may security guard din. Plus, this village has a tight security so you don't have to worry." I said.

"How can I not worry when I've been living with you and lola ever since? Ngayon lang ako mawawalay sa inyo ng ganito."

I chuckled. "Napaka dramatic mo. Para namang ang layo layo ng Davao sa Cebu. It's just an airplane away. Kung mami'miss mo kami edi bumisita ka dito."

He rolled his eyes. Minsan talaga hindi ko maintindihan 'tong si Marco. Isang taon lang ang agwat namin pero kung maka asta kuya na kuya. His father and my dad are siblings. His mom naman died giving birth to him kaya mahal na mahal si Marco ng daddy niya kasi ito nalang ang alala nito kay tita.

"That's not what I meant Astherielle. Your safety and Lola's safety are my top priority. Kaya–"

"We'll be fine Marco. Kung may problema tatawagan agad kita." I assured him.

He sighed and nodded.

_____

The next day, hinatid namin si Marco sa airport. Lola insisted kaya wala nang nagawa si Marco kundi pumayag kahit ayaw niya. Lola reminded him a lot of things. Akala mo talaga hindi na sila magkikita. While listening to Lola's lectures, nasa tabi lang ako ni Marco. He's really paying attention to what lola is saying pero ako kung saan saan umaabot ang paningin ko.

Until we dropped him off outside the airport. Gusto pa nga ni lola na ihatid siya sa loob pero he declined. If I know ayaw niyang ihatid siya ni lola sa loob kasi baka hindi niya mapigilang umiyak. He may be tough on the outside pero he's still a Lola's boy in the inside. Before going outside the van, he reminded me again to call him whenever there's a problem and to update him casually. I only nodded. After that umuwi na kami ni lola.

"Astherielle, come here." Lola said.

She's seated at her usual spot in the garden. I went towards her and give her a questioning look.

"Sit down." She said and I obliged.

"What are your plans?" She asked.

"Plans for?" I asked.

"For your life."

"Ahh well, finish dentistry with latin honors, get that license, and eventually put up my own clinic." I said confidently.

"And?" She asked na para bang nakukulangan siya sa sagot ko.

"And... yun lang." I said.

She looked at me with disbelief in her eyes.

"Wala nang iba?" She asked.

I shooked my head. She sighed deeply.

"Wala sa plano mo ang maghanap ng mapapangasawa at magkaroon ng sariling pamilya?" She asked.

I almost laughed at her question. Ako maghahanap ng mapapangasawa? Ni hindi nga ako naghahanap ng boyfriend, asawa pa kaya.

"Why?" She asked.

"Why not?" I asked as well.

"Astherielle, don't you want to have someone with you na makakasama mo hanggang sa pagtanda mo? Someone who will be your comrade as you battle with the hardships of life?" She asked slowly like it'll help me come to my senses.

"Don't you want to have someone who will wait for you to come home to eat dinnner with him? Someone who will wake up early to make you breakfast?" She asked. Again.

I smiled.

"Lola, kaya ko naman pong magluto para sa sarili ko. Okay lang din naman sa akin na kumain ng mag-isa. So I don't–"

"That's not what I meant Astherielle. I wanted you to have someone na masasandalan mo. Someone who will–"

I cutted her.

"Stay with me until I get old?" I chuckled. "Lola, you do know that I don't believe in that anymore. Why do I need to be with someone who will eventually leave me? I don't want to get married only to get divorced as years passed by." I said with a bit of bitterness.

"Oh my goodness. Ito na nga ba ang sinasabi ko. When your parents broke up, ni hindi ka man lang umiyak. Hindi ka rin nagtanong. Kaya akala namin okay lang sa'yo at tanggap mo. But here you are, refusing to be in a relationship because you thought what happened to your parents will also happen to you.

Your principles has changed, your beliefs were twisted. Now I'm hating the aftermath of the ruined marriage of your parents." Lola said.

I looked away. I refused to acknowledge what she said. Kahit naman itanggi ko, wala naman akong ibang rason kung bakit ayaw kong makipag-relasyon eh. What happened to mommy and daddy's marriage give me negative interpretation towards relationships.

Kung talagang mahal nila ang isa't isa bakit kailangan nilang maghiwalay? They fell out of love? Bullshit. Ang sabihin nila talagang hindi nila minahal ang isa't isa. Cause when you love someone aren't you supposed to stay with them through thick and thin? Well, whatever. I don't even know what love is at this point.

"Iha, don't close your doors yet. Hindi ibig sabihin nangyari sa mommy at daddy mo eh mangyayari din sa'yo." She caressed my face slowly. "Hope Astherielle, we could only hope."

***

:)