Always, My Jade

Unmoved (37)

Hinatid ko muna si Althea sa condo namin to rest dahil biglang sumakit ang ulo niya. I told her I just need to buy something, ayaw pa sana niyang pumayag but i insist.

I was in the parking lot when I saw someone I didn't expect to see. Cathleen. Great. I know, I should not be affected pero i get intimated by this woman, maybe because she had loved my girl so much, too though in a friendly way now.

"Hi!" bati ko

"Hi Jade! Can we have some coffee before you go on your business?" yaya niya after namin nagbeso.

"Sure!" ngiti kong sabi. Sa isang coffee shop malapit sa condo kami pumunta.

"How's Althea?"

"Iniwan ko siyang tulog, nagpaalam akong aalis saglit. Ayaw niya nong una pero pumayag din pinatulog ko muna. She's still mad."

Tumango lang siya. "You know who's behind it, do you? Sa kanya ka pupunta ngayon?" tanong niya. Surprised but I just nodded. "Why didn't you tell Althea na alam mo kung sinong gumawa nito?" sunod niyang tanong.

"I'm afraid she would run away from me, or gawin niya ulit yong ginawa niya noon na layuan ako. I can't take it if that'll happen, Cathleen."

"So what's your plan now?"

"Kakausapin, tatakutin. Anything just to let this thing stopped at hindi na magtuloy pa kung anumang binabalak nila."

"She told me that that's the last kiss in the lips cause when she gets married bawal na, I can't even call her baby anymore baka daw magselos ka."
Natahimik ako at nakatungo.
"She loves you that much Jade. Mas gusto niyang siya na lang ang nasaktan kesa ikaw. She wanted to show to the whole world how much she loves you but couldn't because this d.amn society will only hurt you. She'll protect you in any way she can.

"I know." yon lang nai sagot ko. Katahimikan ang sumunod parang walang gustong mag umpisa muli ng sasabihin.

"Need to go, I'm sorry if i have to follow you kanina. I'm really just protective of your fiancee. I saw a suspicious car following you kanina. But I won't make a move Jade, sabi mo nga you will talk to that person.

"Yes, and thank you Cathleen." nakangiting sabi ko na lang, bakit parang natatameme ako pagdating sa kanya.

- - -

"I never thought you'll play this kind of game Angkong, it is not so you. How desperate are you to do this?" derecha kong tanong kay Angkong, when I reached the house siya agad ang pinuntaha ko.

"Jade?! What are you talking about?" gulat na tanong ni Angkong.

"Let's not pretend here Angkong, at wag niyo na ring itanggi. Let's say hindi kayo direktang gumawa, but you have the go signal. Please don't deny it anymore. Paul remained discreet out of respect for you and Althea asked me the same because she wants to protect me from people who has the same thinking like you. But I tell you Angkong, if this incident or something like this ever happened again I won't be this discreet anymore. I would be your worst granddaughter you could ever imagine that even your friends in media can do nothing to cover the "disgraceful acts" I would do that would embarrass your clan ---"

"---How dare you threatening me Jade! sarili mong Lolo, kadugo mo, wala kang respeto, tinatrato mo ng ganito?"

"Kadugo niyo rin po si Paul but you never treated him as your own just because he's gay Angkong!"

"He's different!"

"Well I'm different too, Angkong!"

"Nahawa ka lang sa babaeng yon!"