#BTSEp29
It's Friday night, bukas kami magka-camping sa Lambingan Hills sa Tanay, Rizal. Sa linggo naman ay sa Nagpatong Rock Formation ang destinasyon namin.
At ngayon, dito kami dumiretso ni Liv sa isa sa mga expensive restaurants sa Quezon City. Pareho pa kaming nakasuot ng uniform habang hinihintay si Mom.
Ngayong gabi, aamin na kami sa kanya.
Kasi gusto ko na talagang maging official kami. Ayoko na siyang i-tago sa pamilya ko kasi alam kong unfair for him. Alam ko, deep inside, nahihirapan na rin siya.
Kung ano man ang kahinatnan ng gabing ito, hindi magbabago ang desisyon ko. Ipaglalaban ko si Liv kay Mom. I will never let her halt our relationship. Liv is the best thing that ever happened to me and no one, even my own mother, can ever ruin it on my watch.
Makalipas nga ang ilang minuto, we saw Mom without Dad. The moment we saw her set her foot inside was also the moment I got intimidated. She really has this power that will make anyone admire her with pure respect.
Right now, she is sophisticatedly dressed as usual. From her expensive earings, down to the indigo dress that her famous fashion designer made, to the limited edition of black chanel bag on her hand, and lastly, her white gucci high heels-- she is a walking definition of expensive.
And because she is the great Velinda Cabral Samonte, her perfect eye brows rose the moment she darted her gaze at me. It even went summit when he realized that Liv is sitting beside me.
"Sorry, I am late." She said with a massive pride on her voice.
Liv stood up. Pinagtulak niya ng upuan si Mom. But she rejected his effort. Taas noo siyang umupo doon sa isa pang bakanteng upuan. Nagpakawala na lang ako nang iritadong paghinga.
Grace, calm down.
Walang matinong mangyayari kapag sinabayan ko siya. The last thing that I want right now is to have a not so good interaction with her publicly. But I bet, it won't happen. Mataas ang pride ni Mom. Mas pipiliin niya ang magtimpi ng galit kaysa pagpiyestahan ng media bukas.
Mom sat her chanel bag on the table. Kami naman ni Liv ay parehong tensyonado habang pinapanood siya. There was something on her aura tonight, she seemed annoyed and fuming at the same time.
Then she landed her sharp stare at me. "You are an adult now, mija. You even disregarded my request on your 18th Birthday." She turned her gaze at Liv. Nakakainis na napaka-matapobre ng itsura niya ngayon.
"So, ano pang gusto mong pag-usapan natin? At wow," she scoffed as she rolled her eyes at Liv, "sa harap pa mismo ng lalaking 'to? What a joke."
My breathing started to go hard. Hanggang sa maramdaman ko na lang na hinawakan ni Liv ang kamay ko. He squeezed it gently. Tila bang pinapakalma ako.
"Mom--" I started but I was halted by the waiter. He excused himself as he put the plates with beef steaks infront of us. Because I am an actress, I was so quick to cope up with the situation. I began to go cheerful towards that waiter. Then I concluded it with a grateful tone when exit himself.
That moment, wala ni isang nagsalita sa amin. Mom just knifed her medium rare steak. She is so conservative looking as she dig into her food. Doon ay nagsimulang kunin ni Liv iyong bote ng white wine. Nilagyan niya iyong bote ni Mom.
But my chest caved in when Mom grabbed the handkerchief from her lap. I knew that moment that she was up to something. Marahan niyang pinunasan ang bibig bago tinabig iyong glass of wine. Iyon ang dahilan kung bakit nalaglag iyon sa sahig. Nakagawa iyon ng malakas na ingay. Nakuha namin ang atensyon ng lahat dahil doon.
Mom really loves attention.
Lahat ay natahimik habang nakatingin sa amin. Some are whispering something. The way they whisper made me belittle myself at the moment.
"Oh, sorry!" Mom acted as if it was an accident. She is faking an apologetic face doon sa waiter. Sa nakikita ko sa kanya, gusto ko na lang umalis dito. Gusto ko na lang siyang iwang mag-isa dito kasi sobra na siya. Sobrang-sobra na siya.
"Baby, I am okay." Liv whispered as he continued squeezing my hand. He even gave me a small genuine smile before he ran his hand above my hair.
I am looking at him with all of the apologies that I can think on my head. He only shook his hand as he cotinued to smile. He is assuring me that he is totally fine.
Nang matapos na ang mga waiter sa paglilinis sa ginawa ni Mom, we were left with silence again. Tahimik lang kaming kumain. Minu-minuto akong humuhugot ng malalim na hininga. Gusto kong pakalmahin ang sarili ko. Gustong-gusto ko nang matapos ang gabing 'to.
"Mom," I started again, I bit my lower lips as she threw me a deadly gaze again. It was now or never now, wala na akong pakialam sa sasabihin niya. Basta ang mahalaga, matapos na lang talaga ang gabing ito, "Liv and I are officially together now."
That earned me a fuming face from Mom. I was so thankful na nandito kami ngayon sa public. Kasi kung nasa bahay lang ako, siguradong kanina niya pa ako nasampal.
She is now looking at me as if I am the biggest sin on Earth. "What did you just mumbled, young lady?"
I sigh, a tired one, "Kami na ni Liv, Mom. Off-cam and on-cam."
"Wow," Mom clapped her hands before she gave Liv a disgusting expression on her eyes, "the audacity of this cheap and dirty rag is impossible. I never knew guys could be a gold digger too?"
"Mom," madiin ang tono ko, kasabay ng pagbitaw ko sa kutsilyo at tinidor ko, "please, stop degrading Liv. We both knew that he never deserves it."
Mom equalled the intensity on my voice. "Asia, you are just being blinded by this . . ." Mom ran his gaze on Liv's face down to his body, disgusted is still painted on her well make up face, "guy. The kind of him are those who will only loot gold to your vault. At kapag wala ka na? For sure, he will only leave you with nothing but your dumbed heart."
It was her turn to put down her knife and pork harshly. "If I were you, I would find someone better than this rat. Come on, Asia. You are meant for the castle, not for this delusional nipa hut."
Mom concluded her gaze at me, "Mahal ka lang niyan kasi alam niyang mabubuhay siya sa 'yo."
Napapikit ako sa inis. Gusto ko siyang sigawan. Gusto kong sabihin na isa siyang malaking shit. Na isa siyang bullshit for spouting things that only she and her toxic traits created. Tapos na tapos na talaga ako sa ugali niya. Nakakairita na.
"Ma'am," I suddenly opened my eyes when I heard Liv. When I opened my eyes, he is now staring at Mom with his usual neutral expression. Nakakainis na kahit na nilalait na siya ni Mom ay ginagalang pa rin niya ito, "compared to your wealth, I know that my bank savings were nothing but a mere coins to you."
He glanced at me. He gave me an assuring smile before turning his eyes on Mom again. "Yes I was poor, Ma'am. But I am wealthy with my principles."
This time, ako naman ang humigpit ang paghawak sa kamay ni Liv. Habang nagsasalita siya ay maramahan niyang hinahaplos ang hinlalaki sa kamay ko.
"I may be poor back then but I know to myself that I will never love someone just for money. I am the kind of a guy who would want to earn his wealth with his own hard work. And I can assure you, hinding-hindi ako hihingi sa anak niyo ng kahit na singkong duling."
Bakit ganon?
Bakit ang kalmado niya pa rin?
Kasi kung ako talaga ang nasa posisyon niya, magwawala ako dito! Mangugulo ako! Mananakal ako!
"Hindi niyo man maramdaman ngayon pero I really love your daughter, Ma'am. Mahal na mahal ko ho si Asia. And I know words can't prove it, but atleast, give me a chance to show you that I am never a goblin for her. Give me your precious time to prove you that my love for Asia is more than the money of your family."
I hate this.
I really hate to put Liv on this situation where in he has to prove something he supposed not to. Ako ang nasasaktan para sa kanya. Ako iyong nanliliit sa kasamaan ng sarili kong nanay.
"Don't worry, Ma'am. I will never stop on working hard to earn your permission of taking her hand. I will make sure that I will graduate to give her the life that you want her to have. Maaaring hindi ko mapantayan ang expectations niyo but I will still try my best. I will really try my best to earn your nod of seeing me as a worthy man for your daughter."
That moment, I found myself to be stunned.
That moment, I was left with nothing but my growing tears as I continued listening to Liv.
Sure na ako, there was no man I want to look forward my life with but him. It's been him since day one.
Then I saw his adam's apple to go up and down. "Gan'on ko ho kamahal si Asia. Paghihirapan ko siya. Pagsisikapan ko siya."
When I turned my gaze at Mom, her face was red. A bad sign. She is flaming in anger as she stood up. Lahat ng mga tao ay napatingin sa kanya noong dinuro niya si Liv.
Her voice was so low that no one from afar us can ever hear her. "Remember this, dirty rag. You will never earn my permission. You should know that a guy like you-- a poor like you will never ever be deserving of the wealth of family."
Mom harshly grabbed her chanel bag. Padabog siyang naglakad papalayo sa amin. Lahat ng mga tao ay sinusundan siya ng tingin hanggang sa makalabas na siya ng restaurant. At ako? Ako ang nahihiya para sa kanya.
"Everything will be fine, baby." Liv pulled me for a hug. I responded with a tighter embrace to him.
"I am sorry." I only came as I lay my head on his broad chest. I was crying and silently sobbing. My heart was aching for my man. My mind is creating a storm as Liv carefully help me stood up.
"We need to leave now, baby. Pinagtitinginan na nila tayo." He mumbled, I am still sobbing as I let go of him. Nang isakbit niya ang back pack niya ay inabot niya ang mukha ko para punasan ang luha ko.
"Smile ka na. May camping pa tayo bukas, 'di ba? Ayaw mo naman sigurong magmukhang, as per you," he chuckled as he quoted, "stress na tinubuan ng mukha ng tao sa mga pictures mo bukas sa taas ng bundok, 'di ba?"
I was pouting as I nod. I am still crying when he decided to grab my bag. Sinakbit niya iyon sa balikat niya bago hinawakan ang kamay ko. And the next thing I knew, we were walking out of the restaurant with all of people's eyes following us as we suddenly vanish on their sight.