Kabanata 10

𝐾𝑎𝑏𝑎𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑎 10

'Cadu'

"I'm sure, dad will be happy if he sees me like this," masayang saad ni Kera habang nakaupo kami sa gilid ng sea wall.

She's swaying her foot on the water. And her genuine smile plaster on her lips. Halatang sobrang saya nito. Inaya ko itong tumambay muna dito sa gilid ng seawall upang makalanghap ng sariwang hangin. Para narin tumatag ang loob nito.

Kera asked me to accompany her to their house. She badly want to see her parents, especially her dad. To tell them the great news, that she is willing to get married who ever it is her dad wants her to marry.

"Sa tingin mo...di na kaya galit si Daddy sa akin?"

I stare at her while she's looking at the clear sea water in front of us. May ngiti nga ito sa labi, pero ang mga mata naman nito ay malungkot. I can't help myself not to hold Kera's hand, to assure her that her father will definitely happy.

"Sigurado ako, masaya siya pag nakita ka niya ngayon," pagpapalakas ko ng loob nito. Agad naman itong nagpakawala ng matamis, kaya napaiwas ako ng tingin dito.

Habang nasa biyahe pa kami papunta sa apartment ng mga magulang ni Kera, panay ang buntong hininga nito. She's obviously nervous and look so worried.

"Everything's will be fine," pag papapakas ng loob ko rito tsaka ko ito nginitian. Tumango naman si Kera sa akin at ngumiti rin. Kera blew a loud breath once more, before she got out to my car.

Kung di ko lang alam na masasaktan ko si Kera kapag sinuntok ko ang ama niya ay ginawa ko na. Who wouldn't get mad to her father, kung makikita mong buong pusong lumuluha si Kera habang yakap yakap niya ito.

I clenched my jaw at and fist dahil sa galit na nararamdaman ko para sa ama nito.

"W-why can't he forgive me?" Kera cry helplessly. Damang dama ko ang sakit na nararamdaman nito ngayon. I was gulping hard because I think I was choke by the air I am breathing right now as I heard Kera's sobs.

Pagpasok namin kanina sa apartment ng mga magulang ni Kera ay napatigil ito at biglang tumulo nalang ang luha while looking at their wall. Her father put a death garland on her picture, that hanged on their wall. It was a curse for her, as part of their tradition. And it broke me seeing her crying like this.

Marahas na pinunasan nito ang mga luha sa pisngi, at humarap sa akin, puno ng determinasyon ang mga mata nito. I saw how painful it was for Kera. Being cursed by her own father. Of course, it is!

"Ipinapangako ko, simula ngayon, kung may magyaya sa akin ng kasal, magpapakasal agad ako," Kera gritted her teeth making me look away.

"I'll prove to him that there is a man who want to marry me despite of those rejection I had before," determination drawn in her voice and eyes and all I can do is to nod and hug her tight.

A single tear roll down in my face as I heard how determine she is to get married. For her father to accept her. And I am a coward for not having a courage to tell her what I feel for.

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