ML Story (iM eLove)

85

"Ethan, let's go! Let's play upstairs." Bryan invited Ethan to come with him after we ate. He got the hint that we have to talk and Ethan shouldn't hear it.

Ethan looked at his parents to asked a permission. Kuya and Sheena nodded their heads. Sheena wiped Ethan's lips and bent to kiss him. Bryan tapped my shoulder and held Ethan's hand.

Ilang saglit kaming natahimik simula nang umalis si Bryan at Ethan. Uminom si Mama sa baso niya at tumingin kay Kuya.

"So, bakit ngayon mo lang sila naisipang ipakilala sa amin Gerald Nathaniel?! Hinintay mo pa talagang lumaki ang anak mo bago mo iharap sa amin?! I didn't raised you to be like this!" nagpipigil na sermon sa kanya ni Mama.

"Ma, relax. Let them explain." pagsisingit ko.

"At ikaw naman! Alam mo palang may anak na ang kuya mo. But you still tolerated him!" istriktong baling niya sa akin.

Minsan lang magalit si Mama pero matindi siyang magalit. Lumalabas ang pagiging punong guro niya na parang senesermunan ang buong estudyante sa flag ceremony.

"Ma, recently ko lang nalaman, as well as Brianna." panimula ni Kuya. "Hindi ko intensyon na itago siya sa inyo o anu pa man! That's why I settled a date to come home to introduce him to both of you as soon as possible." pabalik balik ang tingin ni Kuya sa mga magulang namin.

Natahimik si Mama, napakunot ang noo niya dahil hindi naintindihan ang sinabi ni Kuya.

"Anong ibig mong sabihin?" tanong ni Papa. Magsasalita na sana si Kuya nang hawakan ni Sheena ang braso niya para patigilin siya.

"It was all my fault po, I hid Ethan from him. It wasn't an intention at first since I'd got to know my pregnancy weeks after I went to US for my Masters. Natakot po ako sa mga magulang ko na malaman nila kaya halos putulin ko na ang connection ko dito sa Pilipinas, huli lang po nila nalaman nang minsang bumisita sila sa Amerika. At that time Nathaniel was still studying and w-we're not...in good terms. I know it wasn't enough reason for me to hide my son...but I have p-profound r-reason po aside from that. And I am truly sorry for that." nakayukong paliwanag ni Sheena.

Naalala ko fifth year college si Kuya ng umalis sina Bryan. They three have the same age since Kuya was a shifter. Kaya mas naunang g-um-raduate si Sheena at Bryan sa kanya.

"Hindi ko alam kung anong tunay na nangyari pero hindi ko kakampihan ang anak ko dahil alam ko ang kahinaan nila. Looking back at my son's playful reputation towards girls, hindi na ako magtataka kung tataguan nga nang anak yan." My mother glared at my Brother.

"Ma! Papanagutan ko naman kung alam ko!" he protested.

"We are sorry that you have to raise our grandson alone, Hija. It might be so hard for you" my father looked at Sheena sympathetically.

Ngumiti ng mapait si Sheena at nahulog sa malalim na pag iisip. "Inaamin ko pong hindi naging madali. But Ethan gave me the courage to continue with my life with him even if it means balancing my studies, responsibilities, my son, and work. I have to work po kasi nahihiya po ako sa parents ko na iaasa ko pa sa kanila ang needs ng anak ko."

Nagulat kami sa narinig namin kay Sheena. I can't imagine her living a life like that, the hardwork and all. I've seen her like a brat girl before who easily gets what she wants. Ang alam ko may kompanya rin ang pamilya niya kaya medyo nagtataka kong bakit sa kompanya siya nina Bryan nagtatrabaho ngayon.