THE SUBSTITUTE BRIDE (COMPLETED)

CHAPTER 8: THE DECISION

INA'S POV

Napatayo ako bigla kaya natabig ko ang baso na may lamang tubig at natapon ito kay Irene.

"Ahh! Look what you've done!" Iritang sigaw sa akin ni Irene habang pinupunasan ng table napkin ang binti niyang nabasa habang ako hindi makapaniwalang nakatingin sa parents ko.

"Say it again? I think I just misheard you dad." Tanong ko.

"Marry the Torrealba company's president. That's the only way you can do to help us." Paguulit ni daddy.

Mapait akong napangiti saka napaluhang nakatitig sa mga magulang ko. Ito ba ang dahilan? Kaya ayaw nilang ipagawa kay Irene? Pinahid ko ang luhang lumandas sa mga pisngi ko saka matapang na sumagot.

"NO! it's a no dad. Thanks for the dinner. Excuse me." Paalam ko saka mabilis na tumalikod para umakyat sa kwarto ko.

Narinig ko ang pagsigaw ni dad saakin pero hindi ako lumingon. It'll only break my heart to see mom taking care of Irene nabasa lang naman siya ng tubig ah. Samantalang ako ipapakasal lang naman sa taong ni hindi ko kilala. How sweet really!

Mabilis ang naging lakad ko papunta sa kwarto I locked the door to make sure that they can't open it. Napahikbi ako saka mahigpit na niyakap ang unan ko. Did they ever think of me too? Is all about Irene's happiness matters to them? Pano naman ako? Nakatulog ako na puro katanungan ang nasa isip ko. Kinabukasan nagising na lamang ako sa marahang paghaplos ni nanay loleng sa buhok ko habang pinupunasan ang sarili niyang luha.

"Nay! Why are you crying?" I asked her.

"Patawad anak ha? Kung walang magawa si nanay para mabawasan naman kahit papano ang sakit na nararamdaman mo." Maluha-luhang sagot ni nanay.

"Narinig niyo po pala. Ok lang po at least nandito po kayo para sa akin. Nay, wag niyo po akong iwan ha? B-bka po kasi hindi ko kayanin." I told her and hugged her tightly.

"Nandito lang ako anak. Hindi kita iiwan." Sagot ni nanay

After some moment I fix myself to come down and face my parents again. As I entered the dining hall I saw my parents and Irene already sitting comfortably and waiting for me.

"Have you already thought about last night Ina?" My mom asked right after we finished our food.

I didn't answer and just looked at her. Is she really asking that? Of course my answer is still no.

Tatayo na sana ako para umalis ng magsalita si mommy ulit, so I stay stilled.

"How about we have a deal Ina?" Suggestion niya habang nakatingin kay daddy.

"What is it?" I curiously asked them.

"Hahayaan ka na namin sa gusto mong mangyari. This will be the last time that we will be asking you a favor because after this, you're free on your own. Be what you want to do and such we won't mind it. Just this last thing we asked. What can you say?" Sabi ni mommy habang nakangiti.

I chuckled rudely on what my mom just said kaya napakunot ang noo niya.

"Be on my own? Really mom? You don't realize that all this time simula pa lang nung bata pa ako, I have always been on my own. Because you? You don't care at me at all!" I shouted  angry.

"Enough Ina! I won't tolerate this anymore! Ano bang mahirap sa gusto naming ipagawa sayo?" Galit na tanong sa akin ni dad.

"Anong mahirap dun?? Lahat yun!! Lahat ng pinapagawa niyo sa akin mahirap para sa akin and this? This is too much. At ayokong gawin dahil may sarili na akong pagiisip. I can stand on my own now that's why I dont want to follow you. Is this only what I'm worth of for you?" I asked them shouting. Kaya pati si mommy napatayo na din.

Galit na galit ako dahil sa sinabi ni daddy. Mahirap dun? Sa tingin ba niya ganun lang kadaling gawin ang utos niya? It's all about the rest of my life they're talking about and they think it's a normal thing? To marry someone I dont even  know?

"I'm telling you Ina! Once you don't agree with us alam mo ang kaya kong gawin.  Remember yaya loleng's childrens? I can make them suffer you know that.  Kaya ko silang ipatanggal lahat sa trabaho and they would starve to death. They will be the one to receive your punishment because of your seselfishness." Banta ni dad.

Para akong nanghina dahil sa sinabi niya. NO!  They can't do this to them. Those people are innocents. Bakit kailangan silang madamay dito?

"Leave them alone dad! Hindi sila kasali dito." I said while almost crying.

"Then follow us Ina kung ayaw mong may madamay dahil sayo." My mom said as they left me in the table.

Nanghihinang napaupo ako sa upuan ko. Nang bumalik si Irene.

"Hey sis! I enjoyed the show and by the way welcome back." Nakangiting sabi niya saka umalis.

I gritted my teeth. How dare she?

I'm on my room thinking when the door open then nanay loleng came in. The moment she reach me, I hugged her tightly like a child and cried hard like I ever can.

"Shuuush! Tahan na.. tahan na anak." Pagpapatahan ni nanay loleng sa akin habang nanginginig din ang boses dahil sa pagiyak.

After a couple of minutes i stopped crying then nanay loleng talked.

"Anak wag kang makinig sa kanila. Wag mo kaming iisipin. Bumalik ka na lang sa buhay mo sa Paris. Hindi mo kailangan sundin lahat ng ng gugustuhin nila." Paalala ni nanay loleng habang pumipiyok din ang boses.

"N-no! Nay I can't let that happen. Kayo na lang ang natitira sa akin sa bahay na toh. H-hindi.. hindi ko po kayang pati pamilya niyo madamay nang dahil sa akin." Sagot ko habang pilit kong pinapakalma ang sarili ko.

"Hindi! Anak makinig ka may sasabihin sayo ang nanay pero kailangan maingat tayo." Sabi ni nanay na parang hindi mapakali.

But I have already decided. This is for me and nanay .

" I have decided nanay and this will be the last time that I will follow them and doing a favor for them." Putol ko sa kung ano mang sasabihin ni nanay.

"Anak hindi! Wag mong hayaang pati itong parte ng buhay mo ay pakikialaman nila! Hindi na ito tama!" Nanlalalaki ang mata ni nanay habang hindi makapaniwalang nakatingin sa akin.

"Nay! Maybe after this I will be happy baka nga ito na yung paraan ni god para makaalis na talaga ako sa kanila. As much as I wanted to say no, I can't! Some lives are depends on my decision and I can't risk it. I just can't!" I hugged her again.

Matagal ang naging pilitan namin ni nanay pero hindi na ako magpapapigil sa kaniya because I know I really have to do this. Umalis ako sa kwarto ko at hinanap sila daddy. I couldn't find them so I asked one of our maids and told me that they are at their private office. I knocked and went in.

"What brought you here?" My dad asked.

Huminga ako ng malalim saka nagsalita.

"I will marry him in one condition. "

"What is it honey? Anything you asked for." Nakangiting sagot ni mommy.

"After this leave me and nanay loleng alone. That's what I want." I answered.

Mom smiled widely and said. "Is that all? Of course we could do that. Right honey?" She asked my dad.

Tumikhim si dad. Saka tumango kay mommy.

"Be ready. Next week we will meet them." My dad said. 

As I left, I heard how grateful they are and Irene will be relieved at my decision.

AN:
so yeah that's it. It's been like month s since I last updated? I'm really sorry I have some personal issues to deal with. But hey! I really want to finish this story I have something to write also. But problems seems like to love me. GOD! they are everywher! :)
and anyway my phone broke so yeah basically nakihiram lang ako. Hope you like it.

Ps. Im sorry if there are some errors and wrong grammars maybe? Haha :) love lots..