Getting To You (Azucarera Series #2)

Kabanata 30

Kabanata 30

Past

What does he want to talk about?

Iyon na lang ang inisip ko. I refuse to think that this is more than a talk we need to close the past. I refuse to hope. I know how fragile my feelings for him all these years and I don't want to awaken them. Not that it was ever asleep.

"K-Kung may gagawin ka o magpapahinga ka..." he trailed off, probably seeing my reaction.

"Naipangako ko kasi sa pamilya ko ang dinner bukas, e. Celebration namin sa opening ko. With my family."

He swallowed hard and nodded. Gustong bumawi, agad akong nag-isip kung kailan puwedeng magkita.

"How about on Monday? I'm free in the afternoon!"

Yumuko siya. "May trabaho ako. Pasensya na. Sa gabi kaya no'n?"

Ako naman ang yumuko ngayon. "First time kasi na matagal magsara ang cafe, e. Kaya baka kailangan ako rito sa linggong ito."

"Then, I'll come here!" he said.

"Dito?"

Tumango siya. "Hihintayin kita na matapos dito."

Bahagya akong natawa. "Hindi na naman kailangan. Uh... We can set it on... Saturday! Puwede ako no'n ng dinner."

"Pupunta ako rito sa Lunes. I'll eat my dinner here."

"Sigurado ka?"

He nodded.

I still don't know how I survived that conversation. Nanatili iyon sa isipan ko nang nasa hapag na at animo'y may piyesta sa harapan dahil sa tatlong bubuwit at mga matatandang nag-uusap-usap tungkol sa saya ng grand opening ko.

Pagkatapos kong laruin ang mga bata, natahimik na lang ako kaiisip sa usapan namin ni Alonzo.

"Alonzo was there, right? Hindi ko na masyadong maalala," si Kuya nang umabot na roon ang usapan.

"Alonzo Salvaterra?" Mommy asked as if there's another Alonzo that we know.

"Nakita lang yata ni Sancha sa station. Nagpapagasulina, kaya inimbita ko na. Ang batang 'yon, hindi na nagbago. Napakamagalang pa rin."

Mommy cleared her throat and looked at me. "Nandito na kaya sina Laura at David?"

Umiling si Kuya. "Wala pa raw, e. Kinukumbinsi niya pang umuwi."

"Kumusta na si Alonzo, Manolo? May asawa at anak na ba?" si Daddy.

Nagkibit ng balikat si Kuya. "Nakalimutan ko kung natanong ko ba."

"Wala pa siyang asawa at anak, Dad," si Camila na siyang sumagot kay Daddy.

Napatingin naman si Daddy sa akin. "What happened in the past was really unfortunate. Hindi ko maitatanggi na mabait at magalang nga si Alonzo. My view of him just got tainted by that incident. Sancha was very young and it was very inappropriate."

"I-If you're talking about the kiss, hindi naman po si Alonzo ang nag initiate no'n, Dad. It was me."

Naiwan ang ingay galing sa mga bata. Uminom ng tubig si Kuya Manolo at natahimik pareho si Mommy at Daddy.

"But still, you have to know, Sancha, that whatever happened, it was against the law. Alonzo can't have a relationship with a minor, that was you," si Ate Peppa. "Alam ni Alonzo iyon at iyon ang dahilan kung bakit tinanggap niya ang kaparusahan."

Kumunot ang noo ko. "Pero-"

"Sancha, listen..." si Ate Peppa sa seryosong tono. "I know you're guilty about what happened. But this is the truth... Alonzo should've pushed you away because you were a minor and he's years older than you."