61Wala akong nagawa kung hindi sumama pauwi kila mama. I don't want to, and I really don't plan to stand up to what she wants me to do, but Maddix has already talked to me. He really wants to please Mama. I really want to talk to Mom right now about her behavior, but Maddix's words are really making me stop.What am I? Bata ba ang tingin niya sa'kin? Why did she have to do this? I just glanced outside, habang ang mga Tito at Tita ko ay subrang busy sa pag-uusap tungkol sa natapos na kasal. When we were already in our house, I literally ignored Mama when she tried to talk to me. I know I'm being rude, but I really can't believe what she is doing right now.Huwag niyang gamitin na excuse na si Maddix ang dahilan kung bakit namatay si Papa. It was already clear na walang kasalanan si Maddix. Papa did it by himself. Kagaya ko ay nagpalinlang ito kay Tito Alfredo. "Aliyah!" Tawag ni mama, pero tuloy-tuloy pa rin ang pag-akyat ko sa hagdan.Pagpasok ko sa bahay ay siya namang pagtunog ng

63That day was so good for me. Mama didn't really like Maddix for me, but her saying that she would respect Maddix as my boyfriend made me so happy that day.Tinapos ko ang niluluto kong adobo. It's been a weeks since that day at dahil day off ko ngayon, plano kong pumunta sa opisina ni Maddix. Hindi niya alam na ngayon ang day off ko, kaya wala siyang kaalam-alam na may plano akong pumunta ngayon sa opisina niya. Gusto ko lang talaga siyang isurprise.He always makes time to go to the hotel para magkita kami, so this time, ako naman ang pupunta sa kanya.I took the food container and put what I cooked in it. I also got another food container for our rice, and after that, I took off my apron. Mom was sitting while she was sipping juice.Pagkatapos nang usapan namin, hindi na kailanman nagpasok si Mama ng tungkol sa ibang lalake sa usapan. Hinayaan niya rin kapag pumupunta na si Maddix dito, and right now, she knows that I am cooking right now for Maddix. Wala siyang sinabi at hinayaa

65 I tried to do that. Don't think about the news we watched. Days, weeks, and months passed, and hindi ko alam kung napapraning lang ba ako o ano. I felt like there was someone watching me from afar. I can't tell others that because I'm not sure. Maybe I'm wrong; maybe it's because I just thought about it often kaya minsan pakiramdam ko may nakatitig na sa'kin. It's been a month since Tito Alfredo was released from jail; maybe Maddix was right that Tito Alfredo will not do anything to make him go back to jail again. I'm just overacting. "Bakit pinagsakluban ka ata ng langit at lupa? Shouldn't you be happy? Finally, Maddix will introduce you to his whole family," Bella said while lying on my bed. Mahaba-haba ang vacation nilang mag-asawa. Kakabalik lang nila galing sa honeymoon at nandito siya kasi hindi ko maiwasang sabihin sa kanya ang sinabi ni Maddix sa'kin last time. Sasabog ata ako sa kaba habang iniisip na haharapin ko ang buong pamilya niya. Subra akomg kinakabahan sa mang-

67Wala kaming planong magpalipas ng gabi rito, pero mukhang dito kami matutulog ngayon. Hindi ako pinayagan ni Tita at Tito na umuwi. Gabing-gabi na kasi at talaga at malayo pa ang byahe pauwi sa'min. "What? We're not a child anymore!" Iritang sambit ni Maddix nang pumasok si Tita sa kwarto niya at hinila ako.Para akong batang masunurin na napasunod kay Tita nang hilahin niya ako palayo kay Maddix."Wala akong mukhang ihaharap kay Almira kapag hinayaan ko siyang matulog sa kwarto mo! Baka gapangin mo pa siya!" Bulyaw ni Tita kay Maddix.Napangiti ako nang makita ang mukha nito na para bang pinagsakluban ng langit at lupa."What?" Hindi makapaniwalang tanong ni Maddix kay Tita."Anong what? Diyan ka matutulog at si Aliyah ay sa kabila. Walang magtatabi sa pagtulog.""Mom!" Si Maddix at sinubukang hilahin ako pabalik."Hep! Hep! Hep!" Hinarangan ako ni Tita. "Kasal muna bago gapang. Balik doon sa loob at sa guestroom si Aliyah matutulog.""Mom!" "Abay kung gusto mo siyang makatabi,

69The whole area was almost filled with sobs from my crying. I don't know where to put the joy I feel right now. He proposed! He wants me to become his Mrs. Villaranza! Damn! I never imagined myself to be happy like this! The joy overflowed in my heart, and the only thing I could do was cry because of the overwhelming joy I felt.Maddix and I were surprised when the door opened. Tita's lips twitched when she looked at me. I quickly wiped the tears from my eyes because maybe she thought Maddix was making me cry; he is, pero baka isipin niya na umiiyak ako kasi sinasaktan ako ni Maddix or what, but before we could speak and explain to her, Tita immediately approached Maddix at pinaghahampas sa katawan."Hindi kita pinalaking namimilit ng babae!" Galit na ani ni Tita kay Maddix."Mom, ouch! I'm not!" "And why are you even here? I told you to stay on your room! Pasaway ka! Ang sabi ko ay hindi kayo magtatabi, pero nandito ka at nakalusot! Parehas talaga kayo ng ama mo!" Nataranda ako