Chapter 37 : Permission

Maundy's POV

HUTAAAA!! KINAKABAHAN AKO!! Iyong tinginan ng mga kuya ko ay nagpapalit-palit sa aming dalawa ni Chal Raed. Mighad! Hindi ko alam kung ano ang sasabihin ko, pakiramdam ko nawalan ako ng boses!

"So, magtitinginan na lang tayo?" biglang tanong ni Kuya Mayvee. Napayuko naman ako agad. Gusto ko siyang ipakilala, pero hindi ko alam kung paano! Huta! Tapos 'yong tingin pa ni Kuya Mico hindi ko ma-explain! 

Tumikhim bigla si Chal Raed at saka ito pormal na tumayo, "g-good afternoon, I'm Chal Raed Alonzo," aniya gamit ang totoo niyang boses. W-Wow! Very manly, pips!

"Alonzo?" tanong naman ni Kuya Mico. Seryosong-seryoso talaga 'yong pagkakatanong niya kaya kinabahan ako nang sobra-sobra.

"Yes, I'm her Boss's son," sagot naman ni Chal Raed at napatango agad si Kuya Mico.

"Hey, Chal Raed, I'm Mayvee Marice," pagpapakilala ni Kuya Mayvee at agad na nakipagkamay kay Chal Raed.

"I'm Messle," tapos sila naman ang nagkamayan.

"And, I'm the most handsome of all Marice, the youngest, Miracle," hanep ang introduction nitong si Miracle, ha.

"Kuya Mico, would you like to introduce yourself?"  bulong pa ni Kuya Mayvee na hindi man lang kinibo ni Kuya Mico. Mighad! Bakit ba ang seryo-seryoso niya?!

"Why are you here?" sa tuwing ganyan ka seryoso ang boses ni Kuya Mico ay talagang nagsisitayuan ang mga balahibo ko sa katawan, pati sa ano—charot!

"Ah..." tumingin sa'kin si Chal Raed at halatang kinakabahan din siya. Tumango na lang ako para ipakitang suportado ko siya, at para mawala na rin 'yang tense na nararamdaman niya, "I'm here to formally ask for your permission to court Maundy," dagdag pa nito.

Medyo nagulat ang tatlo habang si Kuya Mico ay nananatiling walang ekspresyon ang mukha. "I will not allow you to court her," ang tatlo ay mas lalong nagulat nang sabihin 'yan ni Kuya Mico, si Chal Raed naman ay agad na napayuko.

"Kuya, b-bakit naman? Kilalanin mo kaya muna siya saka mo 'yan sabihin," sabi ko. Napatingin siya sa'kin at talagang hindi ko mabasa ang sinasabi ng mga mata niya.

"No need, Maundy, sinabi ko nang hindi, kaya hindi ka niya liligawan," matapos niyang sabihin 'yon ay bigla siyang umalis kaya sinundan ko siya agad. Hindi ito tama, dati naman kapag may nanliligaw sa'kin kinikilala niya muna, ginigisa kung pwede ba sa'kin, pero ngayon, agad-agad NO na ang hatol niya? Ang unfair naman yata.

Mico's POV

Pinayagan ko na siyang mag trabaho sa kompanya ng mga Alonzo kahit labag sa kalooban ko, tapos ngayon, liligawan siya ng isang Alonzo? HINDI PWEDE! Hindi pwedeng magkaroon kami ng connection sa mga Alonzo. HINDI AKO PAPAYAG!

I stopped messing my hair and let myself calm down when I heard some footsteps going through here in the garden, "Kuya!" I knew it, it's Maundy.

"Why are you here?" I asked her using my serious tone. I need to show my seriousness so she'll know that I am not in favor of an Alonzo courting a Marice. Hindi talaga ako pabor, kahit kailan hindi ko papayagang manligaw ang isang Alonzo kay Maundy.

"Kuya, kailangan ba talagang sabihin mo 'yon agad sa kanya nang hindi mo man lang siya kinikilala? Kuya, ba't nabago bigla? Dati naman kinikilala mo 'yong gustong manligaw sa'kin, 'di ba? Tsaka ayaw mo nito, siya na mismo ang ginustong pumunta rito nang makilala kayo at hingiin ang permiso niyo na ligawan ako. Kaya, Kuya, hindi ko makita ang dahilan kung bakit kailangang hindian mo siya agad," this is the first time that I've seen Maundy so serious. Nasanay akong makita siyang nagbabaliw-baliwan. Ibang Maundy ang nakikita ko ngayon.

"Where did you get your guts to say those words, Maundy? Are you contradicting my decision?!" medyo galit ko nang tanong. Hindi ko na mapigilan 'yong sarili ko. Hindi ko talaga inaasahan na sa tanang buhay ko mangyayari 'to.

"Hindi, Kuya, hindi. Gusto ko lang malaman kung bakit pakiramdam ko ayaw mo sa kanya! 'Yong tingin mo kay Chal Raed parang nilulusaw mo siya, napaka seryoso mo kung kausapin siya. Bakit, Kuya, bakit?! Hindi ko maintindihan, eh," medyo tumataas na rin 'yong boses niya. Hay.

I'm sorry, Love, pero hindi talaga pwede. Hindi ka niya pwedeng ligawan, hindi pwedeng maging kayo kahit pakiramdam ko ipaglalaban at ipaglalaban mo siya. Hindi talaga pwede.

"Hindi ba halata, Maundy, he's gay! Do you want a gay to court you? What a disappointment!" humanap ako ng palusot. Wala na akong ibang choice kun'di sabihin 'yan.

"Disappointment? Nakaka-disppoint ba 'yon, Kuya? Oo, bakla siya, pero inuumpisahan na niyang magbago para sa'kin! Ngayon sabihin mo, nakaka-disppoint pa rin ba?!"

"Why are you defending him? Gusto mo rin ba siya?!" please say no, Maundy, please.

"H-Hindi ko alam. Pero masaya ako, masaya akong andiyan siya, masaya akong gusto niya ako, masaya ako sa ginagawa niya, masaya akong makita siya, masaya ako, Kuya," I was surprised as how her tears fall down. You're a sh*t for hurting your sister, Mico! "Kaya pwede bang payagan mo siya? Okay lang kahit hindi ngayon, hindi bukas o sa susunod na araw, basta isigurado mo lang na papayagan mo siya. Kilalanin mo muna siya," dagdag pa niya. Lumapit siya sa'kin at biglang napayakap, "sorry kung sinagot-sagot kita, Kuya," she then started walking away after she gave me a peck on my cheek. Despite of the stupidity I've shown to her she remained respectful.

I let out a deep breathe. I faced-palm.  I'm so disappointed of myself! I'm really sorry, Love, sorry. You'll understand me soon.

After a minute of staying in the garden, I decided to go back inside and the three approached me so soon. "Kuya, inaway mo ba si Ate Love? Her eyes and nose were reddish when she went back here," usal pa ni Miracle.

"No, we just talked," sagot ko naman.

"Kuya, let that Chal Raed court her. When you're outside we've got the chance to talk to him, and swear, I can sense he's gentleman, respectful, and honest. So, please, Kuya, ligaw lang naman, why don't you give your permission?" asked Mayvee. 

"Right, Kuya. And I can see that Maundy is happy when she's with him. Her smiles and laughs are different," Messle said.

I closed my eyes and my fist as well. Why do I feel like they think more mature than me?! Screw this! "Where are they?" I asked.

"They're outside, hinatid na siya ni Maundy sa sasakyan niya," Mayvee replied.

I immediately went outside. Nakita ko naman silang nag-uusap. "Sorry talaga, Chal Raed," I heard Maundy said.

"No, it's okay, Mon," sagot naman nito.

"Alam kong mahirap intindihin 'yong desisyon ni Kuya, pero intindihin mo na lang, ha."

"I will. Siguro baka nabigla lang siya kasi ngayon lang ako nagpakita tapos biglang sasabihin ko na aakyat ako ng ligaw, 'di ba? Kaya I do understand your Kuya and I respect his decision."

A smile flashed on Maundy's face, the smile Messle has said that is very different. "Babalik ka pa ba?" she asked.

"Of course. I'll try and try until I succeed. I'll do my all best just for you, alam mo naman 'yon, 'di ba? Kahit paulit-paulit akong ireject ng Kuya mo, I won't give up," he answered with sincerity.

I let out a big sigh. Maundy doesn't deserve this. She's not involve of my issue with the Alonzo, even my other siblings. It's the sin I committed alone, so I'm the only one who need to suffer. I won't let this issue affects the happiness of my loved ones. I don't want to be the hindrance of their own story.

"You don't have to come again next time to ask for my permission," I said as I showed my self hiding from behind.

"Anong ibig mong sabihin, Kuya?" confusion can be seen on Maundy's face.

"Because the next time you come back here...you're already courting her. Chal Raed Alonzo, I am formally giving you my permission to court Maundy, and I'm sorry for the attitude I've shown earlier," matapos sabihin 'yon ay bahagya akong yumuko para ipakitang sincere ako sa pagsosorry ko.

"Thank you so much, Sir Marice, thank you," he said while he's showing off his happiness.

"You can call me Bro or whatever you want to, it's okay with me," I said with a smile on my lips.

"Then, thank you, Bro. I don't do promises, but I swear you won't regret that you gave me your permission to court your sister," he said.

"I am looking forward to that, Chal Raed," I replied.

"Kuya, thank you!" Maundy said and she hugs me tight. I can really feel her happiness. And her happiness makes me happy, too. "I love you, Kuya Mico," she added.

"I love you, more than you do," sagot ko naman.

"Oww, I'm jealous. Could you say I love you to me, too, Maundy?" Chal Raed asked. I don't know if that was a joke 'cause Maundy suddenly laughs. "Just kidding," he added. Okay, I don't think that was a joke. I guess he was being serious. Hindi pa siguro umaabot sa puntong mahal na siya ng kapatid ko. Sabagay ang sabi niya lang masaya siya dahil sa lalaking 'to, at paniguradong ang sayang naidudulot ni Chal Raed kay Maundy ay mapapalitan din ng magandang resulta sa tamang panahon.

I'm happy with my decision and I won't ever regret this.