15 - All is well

RJ's POV

Tito Teddy opens the gate for us. Though he is too surprise to see me with Charm it is obvious he is happy about the news.

"Tutoo palang tuloy na ang kasal, akala ko bluff lang ni Meng para hindi ko itago si Celestine eh." Tito Teddy said and this confirms how much effect Celestine has to Charm.

"Tay, wala sa usapan natin na idadamay mo si Celestine." Charm replied to Tito Teddy.

"I agree, but you know I will do everything just to prove my point and get what I want." Tito Teddy firmly said.

"Good morning Tito Teddy." I greeted.

"Good morning, RJ. Come in hijo. Malapit na rin lang ang tanghalian, might as well join us for lunch today." Tito Teddy replied.

"Sige po." I sincerely replied.

Tito Teddy and Tita Mary joined me in the living room while I wait for Charm to change to her house clothes. I took that opportunity to apologized for my rude behavior during our dinner last night.

"Tito Teddy, Tita Mary, I'm sorry for what happened last night. I was wrong in saying that. Hindi na po mauulit." I apologized.

"To be honest RJ, I did not see that coming, specially from you. But I understand na hindi naman madali ang pinapagawa namin sa inyo. Kaya lang both of you agreed to this arrangement so we presumed you are both matured enough to handle situation such as Charm's being a single mother. Your reaction is normal but I don't expect you to utter those words last night." Tito Teddy said.

"I know that Tito Teddy. Nabigla po kasi ako talaga kagabi. The way you and my Dad conversed last night, feeling ko parang I was the only one who does not know the truth, while I will be the one to marry Charm. Pakiramdam ko po kasi parang akong robot na dapat susundin na lang kung ano ang iutos sa akin. I have nothing against single mothers Tita Mary, I also have female friends who are raising their child alone." I explained.

"Let's forget about it RJ. The fact that you already realized that you were wrong and humble enough to apologized, I can say that you and Charm can help each other to grow. Meng has her flaws and we could not deny that Celestine is one of those flaws. But regardless if you choose to accept our little angel or not, she is still part of Charm's package. My daughter is not easy to handle but she is a good person pero kung sa tingin mo mas maraming kang magiging problema sa package na dadalhin ng anak ko once you live together, siguro nga mas tama lang na hindi na lang natin ituloy ang kasal." Tita Mary said.

"I already thought about that last night Tita before I decided to talk to Charm about pushing through with wedding. I am here and asking Charm na ituloy namin ang kasal. I hope that is a clear indication that I accept the extra baggage Charm will bring after the wedding." I said.

"We don't expect you and my daughter to treat each other as to how the real married couples are. But since pumayag na rin lang kayo sa sitwasyon na 'to, sana maging magkaibigan man lang kayo." Tito Teddy said which I agreed.

Charm's POV

From our family room, I can hear RJ's conversation with my father. I hate to admit it but Tatay is right. When I agreed to this arrangement, I should have thought of the status of our families. The people around us should also be considered. Hindi sa bundok nakatira ang mga pamilya namin kung saan pwede kaming mabuhay na sarili lang namin ang iintindihin namin. We live in the city where most of the people prefers to look at other people's flaws instead of accepting theirs.

I know Celestine will not be spare with the scrutiny of those people in our circle and I have to prepare her on such situation. As what Nanay says, maybe RJ and I can help each other. At least there is something we were able to do for each other before we part ways and end this arrangement.

Since RJ will join us for lunch, Tatay suggested that we wait for Celestine so I can properly introduce RJ to her. We were not able to do that last night because of RJ sudden burst of emotion. We stayed in the lanai while we waited for my little angel.

"Nagtext si Dad, tinatanong kung ready na daw ba yung complete list ng entourage. Pero sabi ko mag-uusap muna kami. Nagpanic bigla, akala nya nag-back-out ka ulit." He said smiling and find him cute when he smiles.

"Anong sabi mo?" I asked

"Sinabi ko na one of your condition is to make the wedding not as grand as what he and Tito Teddy have in mind." He replied.

"Ok lang daw ba sa kanya?" was my follow-up question.

"Sige daw ibigay na daw namin kung ano ang gusto mo at baka magbago pa ang isip mo." He replied smiling, at lumabas na naman ang magandang dimple nya, nakakatuwa kasi lalo syang naging gwapo. "Pero yung tutoo ano ang dream wedding mo?" He then asked.

"Wala! I don't have any plan of getting married, paano ako magkakaroon ng dream wedding" I replied.

"Eh bakit pumayag ka sa arrangement na 'to?" He asked.

"Because there will be no expectations. You get to do your own stuff while I get to do mine." I said.

"Pwede bang magtanong? Medyo personal pero ok lang naman kung hindi mo sasagutin. I will understand." He asked.

"Sige pwede naman palang next question please ang sagot eh." I replied.

"That guy you called Jacob, are the two of you dating? I just want to make sure na wala akong masasagasaan." He asked and I smirk with a lifted eyebrow.

"No. We are not dating, Faulkerson Jr." I said. "We were dating before, but that was a long time ago." I replied.

"What happened?" He asked me.

"Not meant to be." I replied.

"Paanong nangyari yun eh mukha namang patay na patay sa iyo. Very territorial pa nga. Parang pag-aari ka, kulang na lang bumuga ng apoy sa sobrang inis nung nakita ako. He also mentioned about proposing to you several times but got turned down, why?" He said.

"Not meant to be nga. That's all I can tell you" I said. "At saka pwede ba wag ka ngang tanong nang tanong na parang close na tayo." I said to stop him from asking too much about Jacob.

"Pwede naman na nating umpisahan." He said.

I smirk and asked, "Ang alin?"

"Maging close sa isa't-isa." He replied.

"Close agad hindi ba pwedeng acquaintance muna?" I asked.

"Pinahirap mo pa yung word, pareho din naman yun, di ba sabi mo your bestfriend died several years ago, I don't mind replacing her." He said.

I am about to protest but I heard Celestine already arrives home

"Mommy, mommy." She shouted while she runs towards me and RJ.

"Hello, baby. How's school?" I asked.

"Two stars, Mommy" Celestine brags and I saw RJ smiles at her.

"Wow, ang galing-galing talaga ng anak ko. I am so proud of you, baby." I said.

"Hello, Tito RJ" Celestine greeted him and I am surprised that she remembers him.

"Hello, Celestine. Congratulations on your two stars and for making your mommy proud." RJ said.

"Thank you po. Can I go now and change Mommy?" She asked.

"Of course baby, go and change, then we will have our lunch." I replied.

"Wait." RJ said before Celestine runs inside the house. "There is something I would like to ask you first, Celestine?" He added.

"What is it, Tito RJ?" Celestine asked him.

"Would you like to be a flower girl?" RJ asked and Celestine replied "Yes, I like that."

"That's great. You see Celestine, your Mom and I are getting married soon, I bet you will be a pretty flower girl in our wedding." RJ said while Celestine stares at him, blankly

"Don't you want to be my flower girl in my wedding, baby?" I nervously asked.

"You're getting married? How about me? Are you going to leave me?" Celestine asked while tears started forming in her eyes.

"Of course not, Mommy will never leave you. I will go wherever you go, and you go wherever I go. It is just that, we will live with Tito RJ in one house after we get married" I replied

"He will be my Daddy?" Celestine asked and I saw the spark in her eyes. Now, this is the part I am not prepared. "No baby it is not that …" I began explaining.

"Of course baby, I will be glad if you call me Daddy from now on." RJ butts in.

"Seriously?" Celestine asked again to gain confirmation from RJ and he nodded while smiling widely. Then she swiftly hugs RJ and runs inside the house while shouting, "Lola, Lolo, Tito RJ is now my daddy."

"Why did you do that?" I asked RJ.

"What's wrong with that? Technically, magiging daddy na rin naman nya ako kapag kinasal na tayo." He said.

"I don't want Celestine to get attached to you. She will be hurt kapag nagpa-annul na tayo." I explained but RJ does not even care to reply at what I said, instead he stood up and said "Mukhang ready na ang lunch, let's get inside. Gutom na pala ko." then quickly walks inside our house without waiting for me to say anything.

Bwisit na anak araw 'to papahirapan pa akong mag-explain kay Celestine kapag naghiwalay na kami.