Owning a Vladimier

Chapter 10

Of course, I won't believe him.

"Stop this, Mr. Petrov. Bakit hindi mo na lang sabihin kung ano ba talaga ang gusto mo? Bored ka na ba sa pagbibilang ng pera at businesses mo? What is this game you're playing? Bakit ba isinasali mo ako?" seryoso kong tanong sa kanya. Nakakapagod makipagtalo. Napapagod na ako.

"I'm not playing any game, Julian. I want you, that's all I have to say. And I'm not bored as well. I have money and businesses and I worked hard to multiply them. Going with you is actually an opportunity for me to have a break from working so hard."

"Can't you find anybody else to go with?" frustrated kong tanong.

Ivan smiled as he looked intently at me.

"You're not listening to me, babe. I told you, it's you that I want."

"Bakit? Bakit ako?" nahihiwagaan kong tanong sa kanya.

He looked at me.

"I want you," simpleng sagot niya na nagpabuntong-hininga sa akin.

"You don't even know me that much," wala sa loob kong saad.

"Going with you will give me that chance, Julian. Look, I know you've heard a lot of things about me from the papers and most probably from people we both know. I'm sure alam mo na hindi ako nag-aaksaya ng oras sa mga bagay o tao na walang kabuluhan sa akin. Hindi pa ba sinasabi ng mga ginagawa ko kung gaano ako kaseryoso sa'yo, Julian? I'm leaving everything behind just to get to know you the way that would be easier for you."

"I didn't tell you to do this."

"I decided according to your actions, Julian," mabilis niyang depensa.

"You know I could make it easier for me if I wanted to. But I'm not going to do it. I'm not going to force you because I want everything to start smoothly between us. You've been to rough roads before, I won't do that to you this time."

Napatingin ako sa kanya dahil sa sinabi niyang iyon. Talaga nga sigurong marami na siyang alam tungkol sa akin. And that injected worries within me. Hanggang saan ang alam niya tungkol sa akin?

"Ivan, I..."

"Just give me a chance, Julian. Get to know me and find out not only the things I can offer you but the things I can do for you. I want you. I don't care if you don't have any feelings for me. Yet anyway. Let me prove to you how serious I am with my offer of marrying you. You want to heal? I can help you with that much faster that you could possibly think of. You want to forget the past? I could also help you with that. I can give you new memories. Happier ones. Just a chance, Julian."

"And what if those won't work?" paghahamon ko sa kanya.

"Then you'll be the wealthiest man on this planet, Julian Vladimier."

Nagdikit ang mga kilay ko sa sinabi niyang iyon.

"Anyway, why don't you go back to sleep, Julian? Ilang oras pa ang flight natin. You need rest badly as I can see," pag-iiba niya sa usapan.

"I'm hungry." Hindi ko man gusto ngunit parang nagsusumbong ang dating ng sinabi kong iyon.

Nagulat ako nang may isang flight attendant na mabilis na nagpunta sa tabi ko dahil lang sa isang tingin na ibinato ni Ivan dito.

Tinanong ako nito kung ano ang gusto kong kainin at nang sagutin ko ay nagmamadali rin itong umalis. Ilang sandali pa ay nakahain na sa harapan ko ang sobra-sobrang pagkain na hindi ko inaasahan.

Napailing na lang ako at hindi na nag-abalang magtanong pa kung bakit VIP na VIP ang pagtratkng ginagawa nila sa amin ngayon

...

At 9 am in the morning, naglalakad na kami ni Ivan palabas ng airport. Behind us are three of his men pushing the trolleys of our luggages.

"So where are you staying here in the Philippines, Mr. Petrov?" Curious kong tanong sa kanya.

"I asked one of my men to buy me a house. I have houses in some parts of Asia aside from the Philippines, Julian. I don't like staying at hotels."

Oo nga naman. Madali lang sa kanya iyon. Bakit ba nagtanong pa ako samantalang bilyonaryo nga pala ang kasama ko?

"Julian!"

Napatingin ako sa pinaggalingan ng boses na iyon.

"Pa! Dad!"

Hindi ko napigilan ang pagdagsa ng saya nang makita ko ang mga magulang ko kahit na sabihing may bad history kami ni Dad. Tumakbo ako papunta sa kanila at halos sabay nila akong niyakap. Though deep inside I flinched when Dad's arms went around my body first.

Mabilis akong humiwalay sa kanya and forced myself to smile. I prayed hard na sana ay hindi niya nahalata ang naging reaksiyon ko. It's been many years but the trauma was still there. It got hurried so deep na habambuhay ko na iyong dadalhin and I had no choice but to just live with it.

"I've missed you, guys." I thanked God that my voice didn't tremble when I utreted those words.

"We've missed you, too," Papa replied while Dad was tenderly looking at me before his eyes shifted towards my back.

Napaharap ako sa tinitignan ni Dad. Nasa malapit na pala sina Ivan at ang mga tauhan niya.

"Good morning," kaswal niyang bati sa mga magulang ko.

"Julian, kasama mo ba siyang umuwi dito sa Pilipinas?" Nagtatakang tanong ni Papa.

"Mr. Ivan Petrov. I didn't know you know our son," saad naman ni Dad.

Ivan looked at me indicating that I should be the one to answer my parents' questions.

"Um, Papa. Nagkasabay lang po kami sa eroplano. And we've met in Russia, Dad. He's actually Alexei's uncle. Magkatabi kami sa flight kaya nagkakuwentuhan kami konti." Puno ako ng nerbiyos habang sinasabi iyon.

Lalong kinabog ang puso ko nang mangislap ang mga mata ni Ivan habang nakatitig ang nga ito sa akin.

"Is that so?" malamig na tanong ni Papa. I know that he feels bad towards Alexei's family for abandoning our relationship.

"Actually, Mr. Vladimier, Alexei is a distant relative. And I'm here in the Philippines because of your son." Bumaling ang tingin niya kay Papa.

I growled unconsciously because of frustration. Don't tell me sasabihin niya talaga sa mga magulang ko ang dahilan kung bakit magkasama kami ngayon?

"I'm here with him to ask for your permission for his hand. I want to marry your son, Mr. And Mr. Vladimier," buong kumpiyansa niyang saad na nagpanganga sa mga magulang ko.

Damn it, sinabi nga niya talaga!

"Julian?!" may galit na tawag sa akin ni Papa.

Ibinaling ko naman ang tingin ko kay Ivan na nakangising nakatingin lang sa akin.

Damn you, sonofabitch.

...

Naririto na kami ngayon sa mansiyon ng aming pamilya dito sa Pilipinas.

After his declaration in front of my parents, they decided to invite him or rather interrogate him in front of our family or should I say together with my grand parents.

Kaya heto, magkakaharap kami sa living room. Katabi ko si Ivan at kaharap namin sina Dad, Papa, ang kambal kong Lolo at si Lola Cles.

"That's so sweet of you, Mr. Petrov. Talagang sumama ka pa sa kanya rito sa Pilipinas para hingin ang kamay ng apo ko." It's undeniable that my Lola Cles likes him unlike the men in the family including me.

"I want you and him to know how serious I am in marrying him, Mrs. Vladimier."

"But you're too old for Julian." Lolo Summer said.

"Iyan nga rin ang tingin ko, Pa." Papa seconded.

"Age doesn't matter, Pa... Jurace. As long as he could provide and could make Julian happy, then he'll get my blessing."

Napatingin ako kay Dad. Hindi ko inakala na mas madali siyang papayag kumpara kay Papa.

"Are you for real, Miggy? Tignan mo nga at parang mas bata lang siya sa atin ng limang taon," paninita ni Papa.

"Oh, shut up, Jurace. Matanda na rin si Julian. Kaya na niyang magdesisyon. If Ivan is the man who can make him happy, bakit pa tayo kokontra? I don't think papayag si Julian na isama siya rito kung ayaw ng anak natin sa kanya."

Wait... What?

No, hindi ko gustong magpakasal sa Ivan Petrov na ito!

"A--actually..."

Nagulat ako nang hawakan ni Ivan ang kamay ko at pagkrusin ang mga daliri ng mga kamay naming dalawa. Hindi ko nagawang kalasin ang pagkakahawak niya sa akin dahil sa tila apoy na nagmumula sa kamay niya at sumusunog sa kamay ko.

"I wanted to really meet you to tell you personally and to give respect to all of you, Sirs and Ma'am. Gusto kong personal na ipaalam sa inyo na kaya kong ibigay ang lahat ng pangangailangan ni Julian at ang lahat ng makakapagpasaya sa kanya. He doesn't have to work anymore when he's married to me. He can help me expand our businesses if he wants to or even start his own business which I am willing to finance should he decide to have one. I can provide him security. And I can give him happiness which you are all looking forward to. You don't have to worry a bit when he's married to me. I also promise that no one, not even me, could hurt him anymore."

"I've heard those words from Alexei's mouth before, Mr. Petrov," saad ni Papa. Sa kanila ng mga sinabi at ipinangako ni Ivan ay nasa mukha pa rin niya ang Hindi pagpayag.

"Mr. Vladimier," kalmadong pagharap sa kanya ni Ivan. "What you've heard from his mouth we're words of a mere child. But the words coming from me right now are words from a man. My portfolio could prove that I walk my talk. You could check me out and my background and you'll know who I am."

"Actually, Mr. Petrov, almost everyone in Russia knows who you are. Apologies for my husband's ignorance because he usually lives under a rock."

"Miguel!" pagrereklamo ni Papa. Umismid naman sina Lolo sa kanya. Samantalang ako ay napailing na lang.

"We know that you could provide everything for our Julian even if he won't ask for any of them. What matters to us most is that Julian won't suffer from your... Marriage."

"He won't, Mr. Vladimier. I assure you that," seryosong saad ni Ivan.

"It seems you already have an agreement but have not asked for a word from Julian."

Napatingin ang lahat kay Lolo Winter na nagsalita sa unang pagkakataon bago sila bumaling sa akin.

"Julian, what can you say, anak? Will you marry this man?" tanong sa akin ni Papa.

Tumingin ako sa kanya bago ko ibinaling ang mga mata ko kay Dad, kay Lola Cles, sa mga Lolo ko, at sa huli at kay Ivan. Naramdaman ko ang pagpisil niya sa kamay kong hawak-hawak pa rin niya na naging dahilan para mag-init ang buong katawan ko.

I cleared my throat before opening my mouth.

"I..."