Welcome home

Pagkatapos ng sampung araw ay heto ako ngayon muli kong babalikan ang mga bagay na iniwan ko sa hindi ko kagustuhang paraan.

Allessandro insisted on sending me home, but I refused his offer.

Hindi pa ako handang sabihin sa lahat na I already married.

Baka walang maniwala.

Updated kaya lahat ng mga marites dito sa amin. Alam na alam nilang wala akong boyfriend kaya kapag sinabi kong may asawa na ako ay baka maloka sila sa kaiisip kung paano nangyari iyon. 

Pagbaba ko ng taxi ay nakita ko si Jack.

Halos patakbo siyang lumapit sa akin.

"Welcome home! Kung saan-saan ka namin hinanap ni Alena. Saan ka ba nagsususuot?" Bungad niya na tila nanenermon.

Umismid ako.

Sinasabi ko na nga ba malamang sa malamang pina blotter na ako ni Alena.

"Ano na, Alana? Halos mabaliw kami kahahanap sa'yo." Untag muli niya. Huminga ako ng malalim.

"Kamusta na si Papa?" Alam kong hindi iyon ang akmang kasagutan sa mga tanong ni Jack subalit gusto kong malaman kung naging successful ba ang operation niya o kung naoperahan na ba siya.

"Naoperahan na si tito. He's now recovering." Tugon niya.

Napawi lahat ng jet lag ko dahil sa narinig.

Hindi na ako makapaghintay na makita si Papa.

"I have to see him." Nagmamadali kong sabi saka mabilis na humakbang papasok ng bahay.

Nakasunod pa rin sa akin si Jack.

"So, ano ngang nangyari?" Pangungulit pa rin niya.

Dapat ko bang sabihin sa kaniya na isa na akong Mrs. Castellucio?

I still can't believe it.

I'm a married woman now. 

Hindi naman ako nagsisisi sa ginawa ko kasi nagbunga naman iyon. Sa wakas ay magiging maayos na rin ang kalagayan ni Papa. Iyon lang naman ang madalas kong kahilingan, na maging maayos ang lahat at makitang healthy si Papa.

Matapos kong ipasok sa kuwarto ko ang maleta ko ay nagshower muna ako para mabawasan 'yong pagkahilo ko.

Tiningnan ko ang sarili ko sa isang salamin.

Maganda naman ako.

Hindi sa pagmamayabang peru maganda talaga ako. Australiano si Papa at halos namana ko lahat ng features niya. Buhok lang yata ni mama ang namana ko.

Ayaw ko na sanang isipin pa siya. I hate her so badly. I wanted to curse her, but I know I don't have the authority to do so.

She abandoned her whole family.

She left us without any trace and without any reason.

Halos ayaw ng mabuhay noon ni Papa subalit para sa aming dalawa ni Alena ay pinilit niyang bumangon araw araw.

I know he was totally broken into pieces. But I didn't hear him complain about it. He always smiled just like he was fine and was living in happiness.

Bigla akong nakaramdam ng lungkot. 

Saglit akong naupo sa kama hawak ang picture ni Sean Cullen.

I admired him. I adored him.

He was my everything.

Why does he look so perfect?

'Yong ngiti niya sobrang nakakalunod.

Kailan ko kaya siya makikita in person?

He's so hot.

Napabuntong hininga ako.

Si Sean na yata lahat ang makikita sa buong kuwarto ko.

Napukaw ang pagpapantasya ko nang marinig ang pagtawag ni Jack sa pangalan ko.

Nawala sa isip ko na nasa sala nga pala siya.

Dali-dali akong lumabas ng kuwarto at tinungo ang kinaroroonan niya.

"Seriously, wala ka talagang planong sabihin na Allessandro Castellucio is your husband?" Tila nununumbat siya.

Nagkibit-balikat lamang ako.

"Whatever." I replied shortly.

"Tapos inikot mo na yata ang buong Europe. Samantalang kami na naiwan rito ay halos mabaliw kung nasaan ka na. Then you're here ni'y wala man lang pakonswelo." Tila nagtatampo ang himig ng tinig niya.

Naupo ako sa tabi niya.

Then I pinched his nose.

"You want a souvenir?" Tanong ko.

"Ang ibig kong sabihin ay bakit wala man lang invitation na nakarating sa akin noong wedding niyo ni Allessandro." Nagtatampo pa rin siya.

"Because it's a secret wedding." Tugon ko.

"You have no idea how worried I am, Alana." Finally, hindi na siya masyadong galit.

"I understand. Did Papa know already?" Nag aalala kong tanong.

I hope it's not too late to explain everything to him. I don't want to hurt him. I don't want to disappoint him.

Umiling si Jack.

Nakahinga naman ako ng maluwag.

"I want to see him." Nagmamadali akong tumayo at nagsuot ng sapatos upang puntahan ang ospital na kinaroroonan ni Papa.

I really missed him.

Biglang tumunog ang cellphone ko.

Holy cow! My husband is calling.

I didn't remember that he knew my number. I leave my phone here in the house on my wedding day.

Do I have to answer his call?

Teka lang, kinakabahan ako.

Para akong nasa recitation scene.

Ano namang sasabihin ko sa kaniya?

"Maghihintay ka pa ba ng pasko bago sagutin 'yong tawag sa cellphone mo?" Untag ni Jack.

Saka lang ako natauhan.

Maybe I have to answer him.

"Ano na? Akin na nga at ako ang kakausap." Pangungulit pa rin niya.

Sinubukan nga niyang agawin sa akin ang cellphone. Nagkagulo na kaming dalawa sa sala hanggang sa nagtagumpay nga siya.

"Hi, it's me, Jack, Alana's boyfriend. Who are you?" Bungad niya.

Gusto ko siyang batukan.

Wala siguro siyang ideya kung sino ang nasa kabilang linya.

I knew it was Allessandro.

It's him, dahil wala naman akong ibang kilala na tatawag sa akin. Lahat ng friends at co-workers ko ay nakaregistered ang number sa phone ko. 

"What you want? Stop disturbing her." Seryosong sabi ni Jack.

Nakita ko ang biglang pamimilog ng mga mata niya.

Saka mabilis niyang ibinalik sa akin ang phone ko.

Is he trembling?

Did he hear anything scary?

Dahan-dahan kong inilagay malapit sa tainga ko ang cellphone.

"Stay right there, I'm coming to pick you up." Allessandro's voice is so damn serious.

Is he furious?

Or is he jealous?

Nakatingin lamang sa akin si Jack.

"Your husband is a devil. You want to hear what he said?" Tila may takot pa rin sa boses niya.

Tumango ako.

"He can end my happy life in the blink of his eye." He stated.

Namilog ang mga mata ko.

My husband is the devil. I remembered he told me about it at our wedding. I think I have to believe that my life is in hell because I chose to marry him.

"I have to leave the house urgently before he arrives." Nagmamadali kong sabi saka mabilis na hinila palabas ng bahay si Jack.

I'm glad that he has a car.

Ilang minuto pa ay narating na namin ang ospital kung nasaan si Papa. Kaagad na kaming pumasok sa loob. I turned off my phone.

I have to see my father first and then explain everything to him.

"You're back!" Alena shouted.

"Stop being exaggerated. How is he?" I asked her.

Ngunit sa halip na sumagot siya ay mabilis niya akong niyakap.

"Thank you for drugging me. I almost ended up in a hospital bed." She whispered.

Napalunok ako.

I have to face her.

"I'm just saving you, Alena. Allessandro is not an ordinary man. He's very different to anyone." I answered her through whispering too.

"Papa already knew what happened." Bulong niyang muli. 

Napabuga ako ng hangin.

"How?" I need an answer.

"Your husband told him." Sagot niya.

Mas lalong nanlaki ang mga mata ko.

Allessandro is driving me crazy.

He has no right to rule me. I'm still Alana Garcia. A very strong and independent woman.

How dare he do this to me?

Magsasalita pa sana ako subalit narinig ko ang pagtawag ni Papa sa pangalan ko.

"You have to explain to him," wika ni Alena saka ngumuso pa sa kinaroroonan ni Papa.

"Alana, come here." Mahinang sabi ni Papa.

Dahan-dahan naman akong lumapit.

Parang maluluha ako.

"I'm sorry, Papa. I'm so sorry." Parang tutulo na talaga 'yong luha ko.

I hate crying.

Gusto ko masaya lang palagi.

I hate dramas.

"You don't have to explain. I already understand you." Nakangiting sabi ni Papa.

Niyakap ko siya.

Saka tuluyan na nga akong napaluha.

Lumapit din si Alena at niyakap din ako.

"I have a story to tell you." Seryosong wika ni Papa.

"There's a young boy; he hasn't tasted ice cream in his whole life and he keeps wondering how it taste. Then one day, he found a money box belonging to his father under his bed. He was tempted to get some money to buy ice cream and taste it. He got the coin and bought ice cream, and finally he knew how it tasted. He enjoyed eating his ice cream, and he was shocked when he saw his father in the plaza too. He immediately ran to the ice cream vendor and bought another one and said to give it to his father. The vendor gave the ice cream to the little boy's father and told him that the child bought it for him." Papa stated.

Napatingin ako kay Alena.

It seems that Papa is talking about me and my lies.

"Do you know what the story means?" He asked.

I know he's waiting for my answer and not for Alena.

"What do you think about the little boy's father's feelings?" He asked again.

"Just tell us, Papa." Sabat ni Alena.

Napangiti ako ng bahagya.

"He was angry, but it fades immediately when he tastes how sweet the ice cream is." He replied.

"You can lie, but there's always someone who can tell the truth." He continued.

"I'm sorry, Papa, I just want to---"

"Shhhh... stop explaining yourself because I already know the reason. I hope you won't lie again to me because it hurts me." He continued.

Maybe Allessandro explained everything to him.

Do I owe him?

Alena winked her eyes.

"Your hottie husband saved you, girl." Pilyong wika niya. 

Saka naghigh five pa sa akin.

"I know Allessandro will never hurt you, and I trust him, but I want to meet him again. Can you let me talk to him again?" Tila nakiki-usap si Papa.

How can I refuse him?

Gosh, mas lalo yata akong nalagay sa alanganin.

"Can you do it for me?" Tanong ni Papa.

"Of course." Maikling sagot ko saka tumingin kay Alena na nakangiwi.

Allessandro saved me from my lies. He did it even though I never asked him to do it.

Wait, am I really saved by Allessandro?

Maloloka yata ako.

Na-saved nga ako peru nagkaroon naman ako ng utang na loob sa iba.

I opened my phone.

50 messages?

Holy cow! Allessandro is very angry.

What do I have to do?