Ang Misis Kong Astig!

[9] Smile Over Bitterness

          

                                                       ****

Sinundan ni Brandon si Isabelle habang mag-isang naglalakad ang huli sa parking lot. Nagulat ang babae nang bigla niya itong hinigit sa braso. Nagsalubong ang mga kilay nito pagkakita sa kanya sabay nag-aalalang tumingin ito sa paligid.

"What are you doing here?" matigas ang tonong sabi nito.

"You've been avoiding me for more than a week," maamong wika niya.

"Let's talk some other time and some other place. I'm busy now," masungit na ika nito.

"I'm busy too! Pero hindi ko na matiis ang ginagawa mong pag-iignore sa mga tawag at messages ko! Ano bang problema Isabelle?"

Ngumisi si Isabelle at tinaasan siya ng isang kilay. "Why are you asking me that? You should ask yourself. Alam mo naman ang sagot di ba?"

"Dahil pa rin ba ito kay Mrs. Monteverde? I told you hindi ko kaya ang pinapagawa mo! I tried but I just can't do it! Bakit ba atat na atat kang sirain ang pamilya ng Blake Monteverde na yun?!"

Nangalit ang panga ng dalaga at lalong naningkit ang dati ng singkit nitong mga mata. "Because I want to have you and I want to end up with you! But because of Blake Monteverde I can't love the man I choose to love. Siya ang ginagawang batayan ni Dad sa lalaking dapat kong mapangasawa. He won't stop finding a man like him o kung hindi man ay pinepressure niya akong maghanap ng isang katulad ng Blake Monteverde. An extremely successful businessman who at same time can build a happy family! As long as Dad is being inspired by that man, kokontrolin niya ang buhay ko. Kaya gagawin ko ang lahat para masira ang pamilya ng Mr. Monteverde na yan. I want to show Dad na may itinatago ring baho ang pamilya ng lalaking pinupuri niya. I won't stop until he realizes that all rich men are trashes when it comes to handling their personal lives. That there's no such perfect guy like what he perceived about Mr. Monteverde now!"

Napanganga si Brandon. "I-Isabelle, what's wrong with you? Where did you get the courage to ruin other people lives for the sake of your own happiness?"

Natawa ang dalaga. "For my own happines? This is not only for me. It's for your sake too."

"Pero pwede naman tayong maging masaya nang wala tayong sinisirang tao."

"How? Tell me how!" mataas ang tonong sabi ni Isabelle.

"Let's tell yout father about our true relationship!" walang pag-aalinlangang salita ng binata.

Napatanga ng ilang sandali si Isabelle hanggang sa unti-unti itong matawa. "Are you out of your mind? Do you think he'll accept you?"

"Isabelle hindi man ako kasingyaman ng mga lalaking ipinapakilala niya sayo but I can prove to him how much I love you. That I can make you happy and take care of you for the rest of your life," seryosong pahayag ni Brandon.

"Love? Do you think a person like Dad believes in love? Everyone in his family found their partners thru arranged marriage. My sisters and brothers were the same. Don't ever commit the mistake of confessing to him kung ayaw mong gumulo ang tahimik mong buhay! You have no idea how evil he could be. Kapag kinalaban mo siya, kaya niyang sirain ang buhay mo kahit pa itinuring ka na niyang isang kapamilya. He can ruin not just you but your family too!"

"But having the courage to admit our relationship is the best and right way for us to be together! We won't be happy even if we end up together kung may sinira naman tayong ibang tao," matigas na tutol ng lalaki.

"Do you sincerely love me?" seryosong tanong ni Isabelle.

"Kailangan mo pa bang itanong yan kung alam mo naman ang sagot?" maamong sagot ni Brandon.