CALL ME (COMPLETED) (2018)

Part 13: CALL ME

This part is dedicated to Yelsyeng: Hindi ka naman makulit, haha! You are interested. It is tolerable, and I'm patient, you are valuable, no sweat... :p

FAITH

It was amazing how I felt that people could just let me go easily. Nakalabas ako ng bahay ng mga magulang ni Marcus. Nobody even dared ask where I was going or how can I go from there to the main gate when there was no public transportation inside this exclusive subdivision.

But it was okay. I need this. I could think while I'm walking. Wala akong nakikitang naglalakad sa labas, lahat ay nakasasakyan. I am seeing securities in motor bikes though, paikot-ikot. Siguro ay rumuronda ang mga ito kada minuto. Huh! Exaggerated naman. I kept on walking while making sure that my face was dry already. Nakakawala ng poise yung makitang naglalakad ako dito na umiiyak.

Hindi ko alam kung kanino ko isisi ang nangyari. Tito Alfonzo had meant well. Dapat lang naman nitong i-screen ang pakakasalan ng anak nito. I was just humiliated because of the offer. One million? Meron din ako niyon! And then I laughed inside myself. Malapit nang mawala ang savings ko. Mauubos iyon ng isang bagsakan lang dahil sa isang maling desisyon. I still would not accept Tito Alfonzo's offer though. I knew that he did it because to their experience it always do the deed. I couldn't blame him. Marcus, he was just desperate and I was the nearest he could grab that he really knew. I should be proud of myself. He trusted me. Kahit magkaibigan kami ay may boundary iyon sa personal naming buhay. So the conclusion, I just really had myself to blame, bow!

I sighed. Hindi naman siguro ako naliligaw. Tinanaw ko ang dulong unahan, malayo pa. At wala akong nakikitang gate. May mga crossroads pero alam ko kung saan ako liliko, I would know when I get there, I would see landmarks.

Natakot ako nang may biglang humintong Mercedez Benz Sedan sa harap ko. It was the latest model in black. Lumingon ako sa likod. Kung ki-kidnap-in ako nito ay makukuha ako ng walang kalaban-laban. Walang tao o sasakyan sa paligid. Maybe I could use a little bit of a self defense. I took up a few class in Teak Won Do, I should be bale to use it now. I got myself ready.

The man that came out was tall and big in black sports shirt. His pants was also black. There was a kind of seal stitched on the pocket of his expensively shirt. "Sorry to scare you. I can give you a ride. I am one of Alfonzo's back up," he said in perfect English. 

I looked at him suspiciously. I was ready to attack, Alfonzo's back up means top security, right? Nah! I don't believe him.

He didn't seem to mind. Tumayo lang siya sa may pinto ng driver seat at hinintay ako.

"You may get in anytime that you are ready." Panay ang tingin nito sa paligid.

Magtatanong sana ako nang marinig kong may bumusina sa likuran. Si Marcus! It was his R8 Black Audi. Nagmamadali akong tumakbo papunta sa kotse niya. I just saw the big man looked and nodded at him thru the windshield. Mukha ngang magkakilala sila.

Nang buksan ni Marcus ang pinto ng kotse nito ay binuksan ko ang passenger side. "Huwag ka nang bumaba." I sat beside him.

He shut the door silently at umandar kami. Noon lang ako nakaramdam ng pagkapahiya. Hindi ko matigasan na hindi ko siya kailangan dahil nandito ako sa lugar nila. Pero kahit naman kailan ay hindi ako nakapagmalaki dito. Kapag magkasama kami, he was always in charge. Somehow I felt protected and taken care of. Nakakasawa din kasing alagaan ang sarili. Being self independent is something. When someone takes care of me is another thing.

"Thank you," I said silently when we were about to get out of the executive subdivision.

Inabot niya ang kamay ko na nasa kandungan ko at pinisil. "I'm sorry about the scene in the house. Papa is just out of his mind. He wouldn't do that for the world."

Hindi ako kumibo.

"Tonight would be our engagement."

Bigla akong bumaling sa kanya. "Niloloko mo ba ako?"

He slightly smiled. "Don't worry about my father. He would apologize tonight."

The gate was about two kilometers away from EDSA. Private road pa rin ang dinadaan namin. "I'm not marrying you anymore, Marcus. That's final," mahina kong sabi.

Bigla ang pagtapak niya sa preno.

I almost hit my forehead on the dashboard.

"I'm sorry," he said, suddenly sounding nervous. He slowly drove the car to the emergency parking on the side. He kept the air conditioning on. Humarap siya sa akin. "Please don't worry about Alfonzo. He likes you. Nagpahanda siya ng malaking hapunan mamaya para sa engagement natin."

I frowned.

"He tried to bribe you. You didn't take the bait. You just won his trust."

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko. "That was a bait?"

Huminga ito ng malalim. "Yes, I'm sorry. We had this going a few days ago that whoever would decline my parting gift will become my bride."

Napaawang ang bibig ko. "I-I don't know if I like that."

"I promised you that this would be the last time that Dad would interfere in our relationship."

I don't know about that.

"Faith," he kissed my knuckles. Was he for real?

"Really, Marcus, marami namang iba, give them a chance, like Gigi."

Umiling siya. "I want to marry my bestfriend."

Wow! I probably heard that somewhere. "What if I say no?"

"You wouldn't." Umayos siya ng upo. He started driving again.

I looked at him. His eyes were on the road. He really knew something.

"You wouldn't want for anything else. Everything will be given to you. You wouldn't worry anymore and you'll keep everything that you have right now."

My eyes grew wide.

"I knew it Faith."

No!

"And I knew more than you do."

No! No!

"That's really a stupid move. Hindi ka dapat nagpadala sa kanila."

I swallowed hard.

"That's okay, ako ang bahala sa 'yo."

"Kapalit ng pagpapakasal ko sa 'yo?"

Nilingon niya ako. "Kung hindi, what will you do?"

"I have savings."

"Kulang ang savings mo."

What? I didn't know what to say, on where to start and end. "Marcus."

Pinisil niya ang kamay ko. "Leave it to me..."

Paano niya nalaman? Alam ba ng mga magulang niya? Hindi sana ganito ang gusto kong sitwasyon ng pag-aasawa.

Inihilamos niya ang kamay sa mukha ko.

"You are getting wrinkles, stop frowning, stop thinking."

How???

===========================

Please VCS, it'll keep me alive in Wattpad.

You are all amazing. Please pray that my PC would work so I could add up to St Vincent historical.

Loves

-nimf