Habibi, Boss Karim

Habibi 13 - Karim 2

It's been a week since the incident in Emirates Palace happened. I decided to lay low para hindi ako matunton nina Mama pagkatapos ng nangyari. I even send someone to attend on my behalf noong Monday sa ibang bansa dahil ayokong magback-out ang aming client.

"Hey! Don't you want to visit your family. It's almost two weeks and still you're not showing up. I'm sure they're worried about you," nakaupo kami ngayon ni Ismael sa kanilang majlis area.

"Nah! I need a month to clear my mind. For sure, if you were in my shoes, you don't want someone to dictate whom you want to marry. I'm just following you. Your parents set you up with other girls, but you choose Leila instead. Look at you now, you're always happy. Do you think you will be this contented if you didn't follow your heart?"

"Yeah, you're right. But you know.. w-well I kinda understand them now. It's different when you are a parent. I have my own family now and I want the best for my kid. I'm also thinking of setting up my kid to someone whom I think will take good of them when they grow up." Ismael is laughing while sipping his tea.

"What?! Are you telling me that they were right in choosing Hala to be my wife. Heck no, I don't agree with you." Gigil na wika ko dito. Parang kampi na siya ngayon sa pamilya ko samantalang kinalaban din nito ang sariling magulang matanggap lamang sila ni Leila.

"Bro, I'm just joking--- sweetheart... I think someone is outside. The bell is ringing," Ismael is laughing. Lumapit naman sa amin si Leila, ang asawa nitong dati nilang housemaid.

"'Heart, I'm cooking. I tell Ate Judith na to check who's outside." Sagot nito at ipinakita pa ang hawak na spatula.

Tumayo naman si Ismael at niyakap ang asawang puno ng harina ang kamay. "That's why I love you my wife. Your always taking care of me!"

What an eyesore!

"'Heart, stop it. Nakakahiya, Karim is looking at us," tumatawang wika ni Leila pero yumapos din sa asawa at naghalikan pa talaga sa harapan ko.

"Don't be embarrassed with him. If his jealous then he can marry his girlfriend, your kabayan, not the one his family is arranging for him." Paalala ni Ismael sa sitwasyon ko ngayon.

Habang nakatingin sa kanilang dalawa ay bigla namang sumingit sa isip ko ang housemaid nina Mama.

'She will make a good housewife judging from the way she cooks in our villa.'

What the heck. Bakit siya na naman ang biglang pumasok sa isip ko. It should be Janice that should occupy my mind not some lowly housemaid. I agree that our new housemaid makes good food kaya I always look forward to eat her food.. maybe that's the reason why she suddenly pops up on my mind---

"Hello everyone. I'm here for a surprise visi--- Karim!"

.

.

.

"Yara?!"

"I knew it, you were here all along at nagtatago lamang because you don't want that f'cking arranged marriage. Don't you know what happened after you left?" Malakas na sigaw ni Yara. Why is she acting like this? Hindi niya 'to bahay so why make a scene here.

"I thought your outside the country. How did you find me here?"

"Deal done but I'm not here for that reason. I know for sure na wala kang alam sa mga nangyayari because you were hiding yourself for more than a week now."

"Spill it, Yara. This is not our villa so don't make a scene here!" Nauubos na ang pasensiya ko kung bakit narito ito dito.

"Lolo, is in the hospital right now. He suffered mild stroke because of you. This is all your fault, Karim!"

'D*mn!'

So that's why I'm having nightmares every night since the night na umalis ako sa restaurant, this is all my fault.

"Let's go to my villa," kaagad kong hinila si Yara palabas at nagpaalam na sa mag-asawa, "thanks for letting me stay here for awhile. We will go home now."

"We will pray for your lolo, bro."

"Thanks."

Pagdating sa villa ay kaagad na nagwala si Yara. Pinagbabasag nito ang mga gamit ko sa kwarto. Sinisisi ako nito sa nangyari kay lolo.

I felt guilty somehow kaya hindi ko rin mapigilang mapasuntok sa pader.

"Sorry, I did not know that it would happen to lolo---"

"Your sorry is not enough. Bakit hindi ka na lang pumayag na pakasal kay Hala? Hindi sana mangyayari 'to!" Sigaw ni Yara kaya nagpanting ang tenga ko.

"Are you blaming me because I don't want to marry Hala? Yara.. come on, don't be a hypocrite, for sure baka nagsisigaw ka na do'n sa Emirates Palace kung ikaw ang nasa kalagayan ko." Napatahimik naman ito sa sinabi ko. Of course, she knows what I'm feeling that time because noong siya ang biniro ni lolo na ipapakasal sa isa naming pinsan ay kaagad itong nagwala at umuwi ng Pinas. She stayed there for one year kaya hindi na nila pinilit pa si Yara sa takot na kung ano ang gawin nito sa susunod. Yara is a sweet girl but can be a b*tch sometimes.

"But this is serious, Karim. You need to see lolo and follow his wish.. at least for the meantime. I love, lolo, kahit na ikaw ang paborito niya. I know he will feel better if you see him and talk to him." Pakiusap nito sa akin. She really loves lolo.

"And what will I tell him?"

"Your clever, Karim. Your man enough to know what's the best thing to do right now. And one more thing, in this country, there's divorce. So why afraid of getting married."

"It's not that easy, Yara."

"It's up to you. Just remember this, si lolo na lang ang natitira sa atin. Lola left us in a blink of an eye because of a heart attack. You don't want lolo's condition to get worsen, right?" Pahabol nito bago pumasok sa kwartong nakalaan para dito. Eventhough that this is my villa, each of my family members has their own rooms for them to stay whenever they want.

"Sir Karim, p-pwede na ba akong maglinis sa kwarto ninyo? Tinawagan ako ni Madam Yara na pumunta dito." Just now I noticed that Doray is here.

"Thanks, Doray. After this, you can go home na."

"Opo, Sir."

Pagkatapos ng bangayan namin ni Yara ay bumalik ako kina Ismael. I want to drink. Gusto kong maglasing dahil I lost. I thought dahil nagawa kong suwayin sina lolo ay nanalo na ko, but now that lolo is in the hospital, this is a sign that I need to surrender to them-- means marrying to Hala.

"Are you sure that's your final decision, you will agree with them and marry Hala?" tanong ni Ismael ng pasakay na ako ng aking sasakyan. I'm tipsy but not drunk. I'm going to the hospital to visit lolo.

"No choice, bro. My lolo is more important than my ego." pinaandar ko na ang aking sasakyan.

"Good decision, bro. Goodluck." Kumaway pa sa akin si Ismael paglabas ko sa kanilang villa.

Yara already told me kung nasaang hospital naka-confine si lolo. Mama at Papa already knew that I'm coming kaya inaantay nila ako sa ospital.

Nang makarating sa ospital ay dali-dali na akong pumunta sa room ni lolo.

Huminga muna ako ng malalim bago kumatok at pumasok sa loob.

"F*ck!"

Malakas na suntok ni Papa ang sumalubong sa akin pagpasok na pagpasok ko sa room.

"Walid! Karim! Stop it! This is not the right place for you to fight!" Hinawakan kaagad ni Mama si Papa at inilayo sa akin.

"This is all your fault, Karim---"

"Okay! Okay! It's my fault that's why I'm here..."

Ramdam kong pumutok ang labi ko sa suntok ni Papa pero hindi ko iyon ininda. Huminga muna ako ng malalim bago nagsalita.

"Let's end this drama. I know that you're all blaming me for what happened to lolo, so... okay.. okay.. for everyone's peace of mind--- I will marry Hala!"