What Ties Us

Chapter 15

Irene

"Where's your luggage?" tanong ni dad sa'kin. Hinanap ito ng mata niya

"Why? You want to put some stuff there?"

"No. I will just carry it for you" sagot niya.

Aw daddy. Why so gentleman "Thank you but no need dad, Gray will carry it for me" nginitian ko siya.

"I think we should go so that we will not be stuck in the traffic later on" si mom "who will carry Anton?" bigla niyang natanong ng makitang nakatulog si Anton sa velvet sofa.

"I will carry him" mahina kong sabi para hindi siya magising.

"No, he's too heavy for you Madi. Let me carry my apo" agad na sabi ni dad.

"Okay dad. Pero sabihin mo sa'kin kapag napagod ka para buhatin ni Gray"

He nodded. Kinuha niya na si Anton at nag-umpisa na kaming lumabas.

It was nice staying in our hotel. I might give some reviews too later on.

I informed Ashley about this. Sinabi ko din na kung maaari sabihin niya kila tita at tito. They understand me. Ang sabi nila, bibisita sila sa US when they're free so I gave them my address.

Sana hindi magalit si Ashton sa gagawin ko. Nakapagdesisyon na 'ko, it is better for us to leave than to stay here. I am going to send him a message when we are at the airport already.

I'm sorry Ashton for doing this. I hope you can forgive me.

"Hi Mads" bati ni Rio. He also kissed me on the cheeks.

"Hi. So you really want to be our driver ha" sabi ko sa kanya.

Tinawagan niya 'ko kagabi and nasabi ko na uuwi na kami sa America. 
Well, except for Grayson. Siya muna magma-manage ng MGson.

Rio helped mom and dad to get in. Tinutulungan naman ako ni Grayson  ilagay ang luggage sa likod.

"Irene!" I immediately froze.

Paano niya nalaman? Sasabihin ko pa lang sa kanya mamaya.

"Let's go?" agad kong sabi kay Gray.

Nauna siyang sumakay. Pinasok ko na ang kanang paa sa kotse at loloob na sana nang hawakan ako sa beywang at hinila palabas.

I was shocked and I know my family too. Lumingon ako at nakitang si Ashton. Nakapulupot pa rin ang kamay niya sa'kin.

Nakita kong nagtinginan ang ibang nakakakita sa'min.

Bigla niya 'kong niyakap ng mahigpit. I didn't move even a step or two. Hinawakan niya 'ko sa may buhok at bumulong "What are you doing here? Sabi ko ayusin natin 'di ba?" he kissed my hair.

"I'm sorry" I barely here my voice.

Huwag kang umiyak. Pakiusap pigilan mong umiyak Madi.

Hinawakan niya 'ko sa mukha "Please just stay-"

Nagulat ako sa sumunod na nangyare. Hinila siya ni Gray at sinuntok sa mukha.

"You piece of shit!" mura ni Gray. "You don't deserve the love my sister gave to you" sinuntok niya ulit "And now you're here?" susuntukin niya sana ulit pero pinigilan ko.

"Stop it Gray, please!" sigaw ko sa kanya. Tinigil niya ang pagsuntok. Marami na 'ding nanonood sa'min.  Nakita kong dumudugo ang labi ni Ashton.

Lumapit ako sa kanya at tinignan ang mukha niya. He winced when I touch it. "I'm sorry" Bigla akong naiyak sa nakikita ko.

"Love, it's okay" he assured me.

"Love?" si Rio.

Lumingon kaming tatlo sa kanya. Lumabas din sila mom and dad. Naiwan si Anton sa loob.

"Ashton, what is this? Why are you here? Why did you stop us? Anong nangyayare dito?" sunod-sunod na tanong ni mommy.

Tumingin ako kay Ashton. I shook my head for him not to tell them about our past, about us. 

"Sorry for being selfish but I can't lose you this time" sabi niya sa'kin bago tumingin kila mom.

"Irene, I mean Madi, is my wife"

Napalunok ako sa sinabi niya.

"What?" tanong ni Rio.

"Ex-wife" si Gray.

May nilabas siyang envelope mula sa coat niya. Hindi ba yun yung isa sa mga nahulog ko sa kwarto niya? Anong laman 'non? Don't tell me it's our divorce papers?

"It wasn't processed" pinakita niya sa'min ang laman at tama nga ako. So siya ang kumuha nito?

I saw my mom gasped.

"I heard Madi talking to Rylie when we had dinner last time. Narinig kong hindi na-file ang papers namin. At first I don't know what to do but when the truth came out, that uh.. she didn't cheat on me, I immediately made a move"

"Let me file it now" sabi ni Gray "Give it to me Ashton I will file it now" tinaas niya ang kamay at hiningi ang papel.

"Stop!" it was dad. Natahimik kaming lahat. Bumalik agad ang iba sa ginagawa nila na kanina ay nakatingin lang sa amin.

"Madi is it true?" tanong niya sa'kin.

Nakatingin silang lahat. I nodded with tears pouring out of my eyes.

"I'm sorry for keeping this" I told them with a hoarse voice.

"So it means he's the father of-"

"Daddy! You're here" lumabas agad sa kotse si Anton. Nagising ata siya dahil sa ingay namin.

Tumakbo siya papunta kay Ashton. Kinuha niya ito at binuhat.

"I knew it! you will come. I want to stay with you daddy" Anton pouted.

Kumirot ang puso ko sa sinabi ng anak ko. So he really want to stay.

"Mommy you can go to our house, I will stay here with daddy" sabi ni Anton na ikinabigla ko. "You can visit me here if your work is done"

How can he say that? Ni hindi nga niya kayang mawala ako ng isang araw noon. Pero ngayon okay lang na umalis ako? Because he is with Ashton?

Nagtinginan kami ni dad pero iniwas ko kaagad.

"Anton, apo"

"Yes grandpa?" he asked innocently.

"Why do you want to stay here?" mahinahong tanong ni dad sa apo niya.

"Because I am with my daddy. I like being with my daddy" he immediately answer.

Naiyak si mom sa nangyayare.

Tinignan ko si Rio pero nakatulala lang siya. Si Gray naman pinapakalma pa rin ang sarili.

"Madi"

"Yes dad?"

"Remove your luggage from this car"

Oh no, please don't do this to me. Huwag mo ng ituloy ang sasabihin mo dad. I don't want to hear it.

"You will stay"

"Mom?" humingi ako ng tulong sa kanya.

"I'm afraid I can't do anything for you this time honey" agad niyang sabi sa'kin.

"Fix your marriage"

"But-"

"It's not a request. It's an order"

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