Blinded

Chapter Thirty-nine

Business

Naabutan kong tahimik na nag-aalmusal sina Daddy. Ni hindi nila ako tinapunan ng tingin ng umupo ako sa hapag. They were just eating silently.

How I wish I could kill the already dead silence. Nakabihis na ako. Nagkasundo kami ni Alec na magkita ngayon. He won't be available tonight 'cause he needs to run some errands. He has a flight to catch so his only time is now, morning and afternoon.

He'll be back tomorrow night but I can't let this pass. I need to tell him that I've already told my parents about us. We will talk for our next movement and also to spent time with him. Susunduin niya ko that's why I need to hurry.

"Aalis ka?" Natigil ako sa pagnguya ng umalingawngaw ang may diin na boses ni dad. Napalunok ako.

"Yes, dad."

"Where are you going?" Bumuntong hininga ako.

"I'm meeting Alec." Diretsong sagot ko.

"Stop meeting that man! Lumayo ka sakaniya, Demetria!" Padarag kong binitawan ang kubyertos at hinarap si Dad.

"Did you already forgot what he did? Huh? Nakalimutan mo na bang pinatay nila ang Kuya mo!? How selfish of you! Stop being so goddamn stupid!" He said through gritted teeth. Tumayo na si Mom at lumapit kay Dad at sinubukang pakalmahin ito.

"Dad, I love him! Stop being so close minded! Open your mind! He didn't kill--" hindi pa ako natatapos ay sumigaw na siya pabalik.

"What do you know about love?" He asked. Napanganga ako sa tanong niya. How could he ask this? Ha. Really, dad? Tumulo ang mga luha ko sa tanong niya, what do I know about love? How can I really define love?

"Ma'am Demetria, may bisita po kayo sa labas." Tumango ako habang nakatitig pa rin kay Dad at pinalis ang luhang nang-ahas na lumandas sa mga mata ko. Tinalikuran ko sila at sinabit ang sling bag ko at naglakad palayo.

Napatigalgal ako nang marinig ang boses ni dad na sumigaw.

"Demetria, come back here!" Tumigil ako sa paglalakad at hinarap siya. Nag-aalala si Mommy habang pinapakalma si Dad.

"What do I know about love? This." Sagot ko at naglakad na palayo. Narinig ko pang tinawag ako ni Mommy ngunit hindi ko na sila pinansin. Nakita ko si Alec na nakatayo sa tabi ng kaniyang Silverado at parang may malalim na iniisip.

Dali akong tumakbo at lumabas ng gate. Kumunot ang noo niya ng makita akong nagmamadali at niyakap siya. He hugged me back and whispered in my ears.

"What happened? God. You're not okay. Why are you crying? What happened?" Alalang tanong niya. Humikbi ako at pinunasan ang mga luhang tumulo. Hinarap ko siya.

"Mamaya na natin pag-usapan. Let's go?" Alangan siyang tumitig sa'kin ngunit kalaunan ay tumango na din siya at pinagbukas ako ng pintuan.

Tulala lang ako sa bintana habang tahimik siyang nagmamaneho.
"So what happened?" Basag niya sa katahimikan nang itinigil niya ang sasakyan dahil sa traffic.

"They already knew." Tanging bulaslas ko. Nanlalaki ang mga mata niyang hinarap ako at kinunutan ng noo.

"I thought we'll slow it down? Wait. How?" Naguguluhang tanong niya. Napalunok ako.

"Yesterday, I didn't expected that Jameson's home with my parents. They were smiling at me like they are happy to see me. Little did I know that Jameson told them that the two us were getting married..." I trailed off.

"What the fuck?" Iritadong sabi niya. I caressed his arms for him to calm down.

"We fought. Ang akala niya kaya ko siya ni-reject ay dahil ayaw kong sumama sakaniya pabalik ng New York. He don't want to believe that I'm already in love to someone else. And, I am forced to tell them the truth. Doon rin naman patungo. I told you we will slow it down. Sinimulan ko ng sabihin. I hope they would accept us." Mahina kong bigkas. He nodded and he continued to drive.