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Finale

Clyde's POV

"Uhm, binigyan po ako ni kuya Clyde ng ice cream ate." Her little sister uttered. Natalie gave me a glance.

"Someone's being grumpy huh." Mapang-asar kong sabi.

I offered to send them home, at first Natalie refused but her sister insisted na magpahatid para daw maka-tipid sila.

Natalie is just a young lady, she just reached her legality. Pero itinataguyod n'ya mag-isa ang nakababata n'yang kapatid na otso anyos. I met her at the club, I went there to cool down my mind but she caught my attention, a young stunning lady is working in that kind of bar? Kaya naman ay na-intriga talaga ako sa kanya.

"Salamat." She thanked me, and that's enough.

"Nagtatrabaho ka parin sa bar?" She didn't utter a word, she nodded instead.

"Why don't you find another job?"

"Sa tingin mo ba kaya kong tustusan pangangailangan namin kung hahanap ako ng ibang trabaho? At ano'ng trabaho mahahanap ko? Dishwasher? Trabaho na 250 isang araw? tapos mataas ang living expenses? Nahihibang kana ata." She smirked bitterly. I grew up in a great household kaya hindi ako makarelate sa sinasabi n'ya.

"Sorry, ang bata mo pa kasi masyado para sa trabaho na pinapasok mo, hindi ko alam pa'no mo nasisikmura pag nagkataon na matanda ang pipili sa'yo." I looked away, I pity her.

"Mind your own business." Damn it, did I piss her off?

Kaya naman, kinabukasan ay pinuntahan ko s'ya sa pinagta-trabahuhan n'ya. But she's ignoring me, nilagpasan n'ya lang ako.

"Iniiwasan mo ba ako?" I asked, I know she's mad. But can't she see that I am sorry?

"Bakit, dapat ba kitang harapin?" Mataray n'yang sagot sa akin. At hindi ko na napigilan ang sarili ko na itanong sa kanya kung kailangan ba ay magiging client n'ya muna ako bago n'ya ako harapin, and I instantly regret asking her that. I just made her madder at me which isn't my intention at all.

"Why? Where do you think I'll take you?" Deretso ang tingin ko sa kalsada dahil ayaw ko naman na mag-aksidente kami. I dragged her in my car and now I'm sending her home, pero kita sa mukha n'ya ang pagtataka nang mapagtanto n'ya na pauwi sa kanila ang daan na tinatahak ko.

I didn't mean any harm, I don't know what happened to me but the day I met her, her stunning beauty made me want to protect her. Lalo nang malaman ko ang edad n'ya. I was her client and yes, I f****d her. Pero hindi ko inakala na hahanap-hanapin ko s'ya pagkatapos nang gabing 'yon.

"Quit your job." Lakas loob kong sabi sa kanya. I offered to lend her a money para sa expenses nila ng kapatid n'ya.

"Why would you do that? At anong kapalit sa'yo lang ako makikipag s*x ganon ba?" Why is she taking my offer negatively?

"No, y-you don't have to do that." I looked away, because she was looking at me and this damn body of mine reacted differently.

"J-just stay with me." Hindi ko alam bakit ko nasabi 'yan, I just ran out of words.

"Girlfriend gano'n ba?"

"Parang gano'n na nga." I answered, she laughed. Sarcastically.

"Hibang kana nga, naririnig mo ba ang sarili mo?Clyde, bayaran akong babae-- uulitin ko ha? isa akong bayaran na baba-,"

I cut her off, "And so what? Ikinasama mo ba 'yon? You are just doing your best to survive-- was that wrong? Hindi naman 'di ba?" I went closer to her, I put my hands on her shoulder. She's looking down. Oh, baby don't, you didn't do anything wrong.

I held her chin and made her look at me, "Hindi mo ginusto ang mga nangyayari sa'yo, hindi ka masamang tao, wala kang inaapakan na ibang tao." I caressed her face which made her close her eyes, I was stunned when I felt her hot tears falling on my hand.

"Shh, I'm here." I can't help but to hug her, just how much struggles has she gone through?

She asked me if I was sure about living with them, hell yes. Silang dalawa lang ng kapatid n'ya ang nakatira sa bahay na 'to and they are both girls, kaya hindi ko maiwasan na mag-alala.

I was 23 when I decided to live with them.

Her sister was happy that I'm living with them. And I am happy as well, nae-excite ako. Ako ang nagtatrabaho para sa aming tatlo, it was tiring but it's worth it. Fresh graduate ako kaya hindi ganoon kalaki ang sahod ko but it's more than enough for the three of us, my parents don't need my money since they have their own business. They are busy and didn't even know what I was up to.

This is the first ever time that I felt alive, binuhos ko ang atensyon ko sa trabaho at sa dalawang babae sa buhay ko ngayon. I even did my best to give her the best birthday that she ever has.

"You're being too good to us. Baka isang araw maglaho ka nalang bigla niyang ha-- sabihan mo naman ako pag aalis kana sa buhay namin, para mapaghandaan ko naman." Natalie suddenly open this up.

"Are you doubting me?" I can't help but to be irritated, I'm giving my all here.

"No, I'm doubting myself." She laughed bitterly, didn't I gave her enough reassurance? Are my actions not clear?

"I like you-- no, I love you. If you doubt yourself then can you at least trust my love for you?" I thought she knew all along, because I wouldn't waste my time and energy to live with her if I wasn't interested in her. I could sense how shock she is, right now.

"I've been loving you-- that's why I'm doing my best to make you happy," Mataman ko s'yang tinignan.

"I l-love you too," That's all I need, baby.

But some things are hard to deal with. I got a call from my family, my parents wants me home. They found out that I've been living with Natalie and her sister. They basically don't like her, they even have her investigated.

"You are living with a slut, Clyde? Saan ba nauntog 'yang ulo mo, ha? Hindi kami nagpapaka-hirap ng daddy mo para lang mapunta ka sa ganyang klaseng babae!" My mom yelled. I received a slap and a punch from my parents.

"She's not a sl*t mom!" Hindi ko mapigilan ang sarili ko na sumagot, I've never disrespected my parents but, the way they are judging my girl is just beyond my limit.

"Ano ba ang ipinagmamalaki mo Clyde? Kaka-graduate mo palang. Kakaumpisa mo palang sa trabaho mo, ganyan na agad ang ipinapakita mo sa amin ng mommy mo? Kung hindi lang sana namatay si Caden ay t'yak na he is doing better than you!" Mapait akong napa-ngiti. My twin brother has been dead for a f*****g decade yet his ghost is still hunting the hell out of me.

"But he is dead dad. And there's nothing you can do about it." Tiim bagang kong sabi. I received a punch, but I just smirked, I even donated my other kidney to my brother for him to survive pero after a year ay namaalam rin s'ya. My parents couldn't accept it, Caden was obedient, and he was the good son while I was not. But hey, I'm trying!

After having a huge fight with my parents, sinubsob ko sa trabaho ang sarili ko. I came home late, recently. Good thing that Natalie is not asking anything because I might lose it, I am so f*****g tired.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAHAAAAAL!" My baby greeted me as soon as I entered the house.

"KUYA HAPPY BIRTHDAY POOOO!" Nathalia couldn't be more energetic.

"Thank you." Tipid akong ngumiti.

My girl bought a cake and cooked for me, habang kumakain kami ay hindi ko maiwasan na titigan ang dalawang babae na nasa harapan ko. I recently got an offer abroad, as a general manager in a huge hotel. And I accepted it, I didn't tell anyone aside from Kael, my best friend. I already submitted my resignation letter sa trabaho ko, immediate 'yon.

I left my ATM for them, it has my whole savings so it's a huge amount at kaya non tustusan ang pangangailangan ng magkapatid hanggang makapag tapos si Natalie. Hindi ko binawasan kahit piso 'yon, dahil sagot ng hotel na pagta-trabahuhan ko sa Singapore and travel expenses ko at ang stay ko sa Singapore.

I need to do this, I need to prove myself to my parents that I can be successful without their help.

Baby, please wait for me. Live well and show them what you've got.

See you on top, I'll be waiting.

I know she will hate the hell out of me, I know how sad she must be because of my disappearance without telling her anything, I didn't even left her a message but I TRUST her. Alam kong kahit masama ang loob n'y ay gagamitin n'ya ang pera na iniwan ko, dahil alam ko na hanggat may option s'ya na huwag na bumalik sa dating trabaho n'ya ay gagawin n'ya, even if it will hurt her pride, dahil mahal na mahal n'ya ang kapatid n'ya and I trust her love for me.

It took me 8 years to settle everything, I've proved myself to my family and they know how I am doing well now. I bought a house in the Philippines as well, at nakapangalan 'yon sa babaeng pinaka-mamahal ko. I have my own business na rin, para hindi ko na kailangan lumayo palagi sa taong mahal ko to provide everything she needed.

Despite of being successful, I felt empty. My daily motivation for the past 8 years was her. Sa loob ng walong taon ay sa mlaayo ko lang s'ya nasusulyapan, dahil kailangan kong ayusin muna ang lahat para sa amin, para finally, araw-araw ko na syang makasama.

"K-Kuya Clyde?" Thalia looked surprised when she saw me. This kid grew up as a fine young girl, masaya ako na nakita ko s'ya ulit.

But this has been my plan, luckily one of my client's daughter is her friend so I asked a favor to let this kid meet me. Nandito ako ngayon sa bahay ng kliyente ko.

"Thalia," I smiled at her, pero luha ang tanging sagot n'ya.

"I-I'm sorry." Inabutan ko s'ya ng panyo.

"W-where have you been? Alam mo ba kung gaano ka-lungkot si ate sa pagkawala mo? Alam mo ba kung gaano s'ya katyagang umaasa noon na balang araw ay babalik ka? Do you know how much she cried?" Sunod sunod n'yang tanong, napayuko ako saglit.

"O-of course, I know." Then I began telling her everything that she deserves to know since I've been a big part of her life, I gave this little girl a hope. A hope that I destroyed.

"W-what? Paano pag nabasa ni ate ang laman nito kuya?" Nag-aalangan n'yang sabi, I'm secretly planning my wedding with her sister. At kailagan ko nang pirma ng magiging bride ko syempre. And I'm planning to do that secretly, pag napirmahan n'ya itong marriage certificate ay magiging madali nalang ang lahat sa akin, I'll deal with her anger later on.

"She won't, trust me, Thalia. She trust you, just make it quick na para bang nagmamadali ka, just tell her na waiver iyon for your fieldtrip. At i-taon mo na busy s'ya para wala talaga s'yang panahon na basahin itong papel na 'to." I gave her the papers for our marriage.

"Do you still trust me, Thalia?" I look straight into her eyes, she sighed.

"I still do, kuya. I'll do my best."

When Thalia successfully made her sister sign the papers. Agad akong kumausap ng wedding planner, Natalie wants a beach wedding so I'll make her dream come true, about the wedding invitation, I let her sister decide about it, since she's eager to help.

"Clyde Lim, everyone!" There, I finally saw her up close. Throughout the meeting, my eyes didn't left her. I missed this woman, so much.

"Avoiding me?" I teased her which made her eyes rolled.

"Punta ka sa kasal ko ah, dapat naka white dress ka kasi mero'ng dress code." I smiled at her sweetly.

"Nagamit ko ang pera pero nabalik ko na ulit, salamat." Binalik n'ya sa akin ang ATM card na iniwan ko para sa kanila. Tinaggap ko to ease her mood na rin, mapupunta rin naman ulit ito sa kanya, lahat ng akin ay magiging kanya rin.

Our big day, is finally today. I am nervous and excited at the same time. Kinakabahan ako dahil ang daming what ifs sa isipan ko. What if magalit s'ya? What if tumakbo s'ya? What if kamuhian n'ya ako lalo?

"Relax," My best man tapped my shoulder.

"Can't help it." Singhap ko.

Finally she's here, her eyes are full of confusion. My young lady turns into a wonderful woman, and she never fail to amaze the hell out of me. She's wearing a white dress, kinagat ko ang labi ko dahil hindi ko maiwasang mapa-ngisi. She's annoyed but still, here she is, beside me and we are now saying our bows.

"Thank you for waiting and trusting me, my love. I love you, until death do us part." I whispered to her ears.