Owning a Vladimier

Chapter 11

"I..."

"Julian..." Napatingin ako kay Ivan nang tawagin niya ang pangalan ko.

"I know you still have doubts on me, babe. But I want you to know that no matter what your decision will be, I won't give up on you. I know that you're still healing from your broken heart and you have not gotten over him totally yet but I am willing to wait for you especially after what has happened between us. I've found the one for me in you, and I know you feel the same way as I do."

Bumagsak ang panga ko sa sinabi niya. What the hell is he saying?!

"After what happened between you? May nangyari na ba sa inyo?! Hindi ba at kabi-break mo lang kay Alexei last week, Julian?!" naeeskandalong tanong ni Papa sa akin.

Napapikit ako nang mariin sa galit na sumiklab sa puso ko. Why does he have to say that in front of my elders? Pinalabas pa niyang "easy" ako.

"What the hell, Ivan?!" Kahit hindi niya literal na sinabi na may namagitan na sa aming dalawa, what he said already put conclusions to my parents' and grandparents' minds.

"Is that the only reason why you want to marry my grandson, Mr. Petrov?" Natahimik ang lahat sa malagom na boses ni Lolo Winter. Matanda na siya ngunit nanunuot pa rin sa balat ang boses niya sa tuwing nagsasalita siya.

"Of course not, Sir. Whether or not we shared something special between us, I still want to marry Julian. You may even asked his cousins. I've talked about them about this first," determinado niyang sagot kay Lolo.

Damn Ivan's honesty!

"At your age, have you been married yet?" singit na tanong ni Lola sa kanya. He tenderly smiled at my grandmother.

"I am very much single from the first letter of my name to the last, Mrs. Vladimier," magalang nitong sagot.

"Then, that's it! Bakit ba tayo nagpapatumpik-timpik pa? Let the two men get married. I think it would be better kung dito sila sa Pilipinas magpapakasal. To be sure na seryoso talaga si Mr. Petrov sa mga binitawan niyang mga salita at pangako, dito na sila sa bansang wala pang divorce magpakasal. What do you say, Mr. Petrov?"

My grandma may be a sweet talker like Ivan but she's also very smart. Kitang-kita ko ang kislap ng paghahamon sa kanyang nga mata. When I looked at Ivan, nakita ko rin doon ang kakaibang kislap na tila tatanggapin niya ang anumang hamon na ibabato sa kanya nga sinoman sa aking pamilya.

When he opened his mouth to speak, halos hindi na ako humihinga.

"Set the date, grandma. I will fly my family and each member of your family here in the Philippines to be witnesses of our wedding."

"Great!" pumalakpak pa si Lola Cles sa naging kasagutan ni Ivan samantalang ang mga lolo ko at mga magulang ay halos hindi na makangiti. "Ano ba ang magandang date para sa kasal ng dalawang ito?"

"L-lola... Ivan and I..." Napatingin sa akin ang lahat nang sa wakas ay matagpuan ko na ang boses ko.

"Umm, we came here to get to know... each other better. I... I think there's no need for us to rush the... the wedding..." paputol-putol kong saad.

"Of course, apo. Kahit halata kong in love na in love si Mr. Petrov sa iyo, wala naman siyang sinasabi na agad-agad na dapat ang pagpapakasal ninyo. But you have to appreciate his efforts too. Based from what I see, he's a serious businessman. He even mentioned about his businesses in Russia which he left just to be with you. Isn't he so sweet?" Lola said giddily that made both her husbands sigh.

"Matanong ko lang, saan ka mag-sstay dito sa Pilipinas, Mr. Petrov? As big as this house is, currently we don't have any vacant rooms for you and your men. Plus, we all need our privacy, if you get what I mean."

Dad bluntly lied. This house can accommodate at least 20 people. But I know that tama lang na hindi manatili si Ivan dito. The house is just for family and close friends. My sisters are also here. But I can't understand why there's a nagging feeling inside my chest. Parang naaawa ako kay Ivan na hindi ko maintindihan.

"I totally understand, Mr. Vladimier. One of my secretaries bought a house for me at... What's the name of that place again? Alabang?"

Napalunok ako. I know that place. It's where some of the richest people in the Philippines live.

"Oh, yes. That's an hour drive from here," patango-tango namang saad ni Papa. I don't know if he's impressed that Ivan bought a house here in the Philippines so he could be with me.

"I'd also like to grab this opportunity to ask for your permission to ask Julian out on dates while we are still here. I'll be staying in the country as long as he's here. Gusto kong sabay din kaming magbalik sa Russia once a decision has been made as to when the wedding will happen."

"Julian?" tanong sa akin ni Papa. Nang tumingin ako sa kanya ay may tila warning sa kanyang mga mata na hindi ko maintindihan.

Ngunit bago pa ako makasagot ay nagsalita ulit si Lola Cles.

"Bakit hindi ka na lang tumira sa bahay ng fiance mo habang naririto kayo sa Pilipinas, Julian?"

"Ma!"

"Cles?!"

Halos sabay-sabay na angal ng mga lalaki, except Ivan, sa sinabi ni Lola.

"What? Julian must be a good host! Nagpunta si Mr. Petrov dito pagkatapos ay pababayaan niya lang mag-isa sa bahay nito? Ninyo niya na ito kaya kailangan na asikasuhin niya habang naririto ito sa bansa natin? May masama ba roon?" angil ni Lola sa lahat na nagpatahimik sa mga ito.

"Lola..."

"Julian, as much as I want you to be with us, your fiance needs you more than we do. Besides, Ikaw na rin ang nagsabi na kikilalanin pa ninyo ang isa't isa, hindi ba? Paano mo ba makikilala ang isang tao nang mabuti kung hindi mo siya makakasama sa iisang bubong? Kung may gagawin siyang masama sa'yo, then come back here anytime at ipinapangako ko na hindi ka na niya makikita kahit na gaano pa siya kayaman. Nasa Pilipinas siya, mas makapangyarihan tayo rito kesa sa kanya," saad niya sa Tagalog para hindi maintindihan ni Ivan. Bago pa ako makareklamo ay muli niyang hinarap ang lalaki.

"My grandson will live with you at your place, Mr. Petrov. But promise me that he will not be harmed when he stays with you. Hurt a tip of his finger and you'll go back to Russia inside a box." Lola sweetly said but the threat is expressed.

Tumawa si Ivan and took Lola's hand then kissed it.

"You have my word, grandma. I'll take care of your grandson. As I've said earlier, not even me will hurt him."

"Very good, Mr. Petrov. Call me Lola Cles from now on. I think you have rested enough. Let go have some late lunch at Alabang and then allow us to see your house so that we'll know where to visit you when we suddenly miss Julian, hmm?"

"Of course, Lola. I heard the house could host at least 50 people."

"Wow, pretty impressive, ha?"

Napabuntonghininga na lang kami nina Papa, Dad, at ang aking dalawang Lolo. Nobody among us had the guts to complain about Lola's decision. What she says goes in our family.

Damn. I can't believe this is happening to me right now.

...

"Gosh, I can't believe you got Russia's most sought after bachelor, bro!"

"Jessica!" pananaway ni Papa sa ate ko.

"Pa, can't you see how lucky Julian is? Bakit siya pa? Pwede namang sa akin na lang or kay Ate Mikaella ma-in love si Mr. Petrov!" pabulong nitong saad kay Papa na nagpaikot sa mga mata nito.

"I wouldn't work so hard kung alam ko lang na magkakaroon ako ng brother-in-law na billionaire," dagdag pa nito.

"You're still a dork, Ate."

"Aw, shut up, Julian baby," panunukso niya sa akin.

"You two, stop it. Hindi na kayo nahiya sa bisita natin," pananaway naman ni Ate Mikaella sa amin. Pagkatapos ay bumaling siya kay Ivan na pangiti-ngiti lang habang pinapanuod kaming magkakapatid.

We're all at an elegant resto here in Alabang for our late lunch. My sisters came to join us. Galing sila sa company ng mga Vladimier dito sa Pilipinas which they both manage while vacationing here. Ganon din sana ang balak ko ngunit nagbago na ang lahat dahil sa naging desisyon ni Lola kanina. But I will ask Ivan to allow me to visit our company here habang naririto kami sa bansa.

Natigilan ako sa naisip kong iyon. Teka. Bakit kailangan kong magpaalam sa kanya kung gusto kong magpunta sa company namin? I don't need his permission. Not yet anyway dahil hindi pa naman kami kasal.

Damn, mukhang sa kasalan din talaga ang bagsak naming dalawa.

"Are you all done? Kung tapos na kayo, ihatid na natin sila at nang makauwi na rin tayo. Your grandparents need to rest."

"Anong need to rest ang sinasabi mo, Jurace? Malakas pa kami," pagrereklamo ni Lolo Summer sa sinabi ni Papa.

"Ate, will you lend me your car? I need it in case gusto kong madalaw ang company."

"Oh, sure..."

"You will borrow your sister's car?" Singit ni Ivan sa usapan namin ni Ate.

"Yes. I need it for transport."

"There's no need to borrow her car, Julian. I'll buy a car for us."

"But..."

"I'll buy for each of us."

"Whoa!" Kulang na lang ay pumito si Ate Jessica sa sinabi ni Ivan. Papa and Dad both rolled their eyes while Ate Mikaella smiled.

Nang dumaan siya sa gilid ko ay may ibinulong siya sa akin na nagpapula sa mukha ko.

"Choose the most expensive one, Julian. A car which can accommodate you both when you want to do it."

Kumindat pa siya sa akin bago niya ako tuluyang nilampasan.

"Ate!" gigil kong tawag sa kanya.