Play Pretend

Chapter 1

#OLAPlayPretend

Chapter 1
Secretary

My eyelids fluttered as I stared at Xaiver with shock and disbelief. Nanuyo ang aking lalamunan. Gusto kong itawa na lang ang tanong niya sa akin, ngunit hindi ko magawa. Kahit ngumiti man lang ay hindi ko kaya.

Xaiver was never the type to joke around. He was always serious. He meant every word coming out from his lips. I thought I already knew him, but at that time around, it seemed like I was staring at a stranger who looked exactly just like him.

"P-po?" Nanginig ang aking mga labi nang pilitin ko ang sariling magsalita.

"I'm asking you," Xaiver said, still not taking back his words. "What do you think about marrying me?" he casually repeated. Para bang tinatanong niya lang ako kung ano ang lunch niya kinakabukasan.

"Uh... Uhm..." Hindi ko mahanap ang tamang sagot sa tanong niya.

Kung sinabi kong oo, ano ang iisipin niya? Na may gusto ako sa kanya? At kapag hindi naman, magagalit ba siya? Kapag namali ba ako ng sagot, sisisantihin niya ako?

Madaming katanungan ang nagsisulputan sa isipan ko. I chewed my lips, feeling the pressure getting heavier on my shoulders. I could hear the clock ticking at the back of my mind.

"You can give me the answer some other time."

Like I was holding my breath the entire time, I found myself exhaling heavily in relief. Napaangat ako ng tingin kay Xaiver. Seryoso pa rin ang kanyang titig sa akin.

"I'll go now," paalam niya.

"Yes, Sir! Ingat po kayo!" I couldn't help sounding livelier once the burden was lifted off.

Nanatili pa ng ilang sandali ang mga mata niya sa akin bago iniwas ang tingin. I closed the doors and stepped back. Hinintay ko munang makaalis ang SUV bago ako nagpasyang pumasok na sa loob ng bahay.

Naabutan kong nasa sala si Mama at nanonood ng TV. Nilingon niya ako agad nang madinig na pumasok.

"Anak!" Masaya siyang lumapit sa akin. Her smile lit up my day, making me feel reenergized again after a long trip. Parang handa na akong magsimula ulit ng panibagong araw nang masilayan siya.

To see her doing great and feeling okay was everything to me. I would do anything just to make sure she's happy and healthy, just like how she did everything she could to raise me on her own.

Even if it was meant joggling her regular job and doing freelance for extra income, she didn't slow down and hustled to give me everything I needed. At dahil may trabaho na ako na sobra pa para sa aming dalawa, handa akong ibalik sa kanya ang lahat kahit na hindi niya hilingin.

Wala sa sarili akong yumakap sa kanya bilang pagbati nang naging medyo emosyonal. Ipinatong ko ang aking baba sa balikat niya at saka bumulong, "I love you, Ma. Na-miss po kita."

My biological father died only days after my first birthday. Ang sabi nila ay talagang hinintay lang ni Daddy ang araw ng kaarawan ko bago magpaalam. Nang nalaman ko 'yon ay punong-puno ako ng panghihinayang. I did feel pain, but not much. Siguro ay dahil na rin sa wala akong alaala kasama siya noong nagkaroon na ako ng muwang sa mundo. Kung may labis man akong naramdaman, iyon ay ang panghihinayang na hindi ko siya nakasama nang matagal.

Three years later, gaya nang gustong mangyari ni Daddy, my mother took a second chance at love with my stepfather. Naging mabait si Papa sa akin at tinuring niya akong tunay na anak. Bukod pa roon ay naramdaman at nakita kong talagang mahal na mahal niya si Mama. I was very much grateful for his existence in our life, even if it was temporary. Kahit papaano, naranasan kong magkaroon ng isang ama at ng kumpletong pamilya. Sayang lang at agad din siyang binawi sa amin.