The Fortress Island Series 2: Romano, Can't We Try

NINETEEN: CEREMONY

Tumapat ako sa pintuan ng study room. Kabado ako. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang magiging reaksiyon ni Romano sa sasabihin ko. Humugot ako ng malalim na hininga bago ako kumatok.

“Romano?”

“Come in.” I heard Romano’s bored tone as a response.

Pinihit ko ang seradura ng pintuan at dahan-dahang tinulak iyon pabukas. Romano was sitting behind the desk. He didn’t bother lifting his head kahit na ba nakapasok na ako sa silid. Seryosong-seryoso ito habang nakatitig sa mga papeles. Nabanggit nito kanina sa akin na may pag-aaralan ito tungkol sa proposal na nilatag ng Marketing Department ng Salvatore-Alcantara Co. Ltd na ilulunsad dalawang buwan mula ngayon. Looking at him now, mukha itong hindi celebrity. He certainly has a knack of becoming a badass businessman.

It must have been exhausting dividing his time dealing with two different worlds of businesses—the showbiz and the corporate world. How he could manage his time as a singer and as a businessman was beyond me. No wonder he was pissed at Alejandro for giving up and letting him run the empire. Romano told me before how he hated running the family’s corporation. Pero tingin ko naman ay kayang-kayang gampanan ni Romano ang responsibilidad na patakbuhin ang buong kompanya. Matt told me that Romano’s father was being hard on him, but that wasn’t the entire truth. He was training Romano to become a great businessman. After all, he’s an heir of Salvatore Empire. Tiniyak sa akin ni Matt na hindi nila pinapabayaan ang lalake at nakaalalay sila sa bawat desisyon nito.  It’s just that the man doesn’t have enough faith on himself.

“Grandma, how long are you planning to just stand there and stare at me? Your presence is distracting me, you know.”

“Sorry. Magpapaalam sana ako. Pwede ba a—” Ani ko.

“No.” Umarko ang kilay nito at tuluyang binitawan ang hawak na papel. He glanced at his wristwatch. “Where are you going to? It’s quarter past ten o’clock in the evening.”

Umirap ako. “Patapusin mo kasi muna ako. Since buong araw ka sa kompanya ng pamilya mo bukas, pwede ba akong umuwi sa bahay? Day-off kasi ni Krizette at naki-usap ito na dun muna ako sa bahay matulog? Aagahan ko ang uwi dito sa sunod na araw.”

Romano propped his elbow on the table and rested his chin on his palm. Naningkit ang mga mata nitong nakatitig sa akin.

“This gives me a déjà vu, grandma. Baka bukas o makalawa, matatagpuan na naman kita sa isa sa mga club o w***e house ng Mafia?”

Just a mere mention of Mafia sent shivers down my spine. “Ano ba, Romano. Sa bahay lang ako. Tsaka, ang sabi ni Krizette nagsialisan na daw ang grupo ni Turing sa lugar namin. Hindi na daw niya ito nae-espatan. Nakakapagtaka nga, e. May kulang pa kami sa bahay at lupa.” Napag-alaman kasi namin na ang ang grupo ni Turing ay kasapi ng organisasyon ng Mafia. At ito pala ang may pakana kung bakit nadamay kami ni Krizette.

“Ayaw mo nun, wala nang manggugulo sa inyo?”

“Nasa kanya pa ang titulo ng bahay at lupa, Romano. Wala akong pakialam kung nasaan man ito ngayon. Kung buhay pa ba ito o patay. Pero kailangang maibalik niya muna sa akin ang titulo ng bahay at lupa.”

He shrugged his shoulders at binalik ang tingin sa papel na kanina’y binitawan. “Kung bahay, bahay lang ha. Wag na kayong lumabas ng pinsan mo at pumunta kung saan-saan. Kapag yang si Krizette ay inaya ka na naman sa mga raket niyang di alam kung raket nga ba o kapahamakan, at sa katangahan mo’y sumama ka na naman, may palo ka talaga sa akin.”

I snorted. Ang tono ng kanyang pananalita ay maihahalintulad sa isang amang binabalaan ang anak. “You’re not my father, Romano. Alam ko rin ang dapat kong gawin.”

“Ah, wari ba? Kaya pala nangyari ang hindi dapat mangyari. Kung dumiretso ka sana ng uwi noon after mo sa salon at kung marunong ka lang sanang umayaw sa mga paki-usap ng pinsan mo, hindi ka sana nadamay pa.” May pang-uuyam sa kanyang boses.

I clenched my fist. “Paulit-ulit tayo, Romano? Nagkasundo na tayo na wag nang pag-usapan, di ba? I promise you, hindi na mauulit pa ang noon. We learned our lesson from that traumatizing experience. At isa pa, Romano, nag-iisang pinsan ko si Krizette. She’s the only one I have. Hangga’t kaya kong tulungan siya sa kung anumang paraan, gagawin ko. Dahil alam ko, kung babaligtarin natin ang sitwasyon, tinitiyak ko sa’yong hindi magdadalawang-isip ang pinsan ko na tulungan ako, gaano man kasimple o kahirap ang sitwasyon.”

Romano threw his both hands in the air. “I will trust your words this time, grandma. And please, for the love of God, when I say you should text me your whereabouts, I mean it.”

“Okay. Tatawagan kita para mas pumanatag ka. And please, let’s avoid mentioning the word ‘Mafia’, shall we? It triggers my anxiety.”

“Fine. Anong oras ka uuwi sa inyo?”

“After breakfast siguro.”

“Mauuna pala akong aalis sa’yo kung ganun. I have a breakfast meeting with Dad then sabay na kaming papasok sa office. Off to bed now, grandma. It’s late.”

“Okay.” Tinalikdan ko ito pero may nais pa akong sabihin sa kanya. I turned to face him again. “Romano.”

“Hmm?” May hinahanap itong kung ano sa mesa.

“Don’t be so hard on yourself. Have time to breathe and relax. Do you want me to bring you something to eat?”

Romano froze a moment then he slouched back solidly in his chair. His fingers were making a tapping sound on the table. He dragged his gaze from the table to mine.

“You.”

I blinked. “Huh?”

“You, grandma. Just you.”

“What do you mean?”

He heaved a deep sigh as he ruffled his messy hair. “I’m not hungry. Go to bed. Now.” He said in a reprimanding tone.

I swallowed hard before I turned the doorknob. “Good night, Romano.”

“Night.” He flatly replied.

Naguguluhan man sa kanyang sagot ay dumiretso pa rin ako sa aking silid-tulugan. I did my nightly routine and slipped into my pajamas. I charged my phone and placed it on my nightstand. I switched off the lights and was about to close my eyes when the door swung open.

Romano’s silhouette stood at the edge of the bed. I saw him removing his shirt and threw it on the chair. He rounded my bed and laid down on the empty space beside me.

“Romano, you can’t sleep here.” Protesta ko. Hindi ko gusto ang abnormal na t***k ng puso ko. Hindi ko alam bakit nagtataka pa ako gayung lagi naman akong ganito tuwing nasa malapit ang lalake.

“I’m tired, grandma. I want to have a good sleep. I don’t know what it is about this bed, but I always sleep longer when I’m in it.”

I rolled my eyes. “Maybe because my bed is softer compared to yours.”

“I don’t think so.” He tapped his shoulder and I immediately jumped closer to his side and rested my head on his chest. My arm stretched across his abs.

“Why don’t you think so?” I asked, hiding my grin. My gaze raked on his naked torso. What I was seeing was certainly impressive. He looked absolutely toned. Deliciously lick-able, as a matter of fact. I wanted to smack my head. Where did those ideas and words come from?

“It’s not about the bed. It’s about who’s in the bed. Now, sleep. Don’t you ever think I didn’t notice you grinning like a maniac a while ago, grandma. You like me being here.”

“Shut up.” I forcefully closed my eyes. Alam kong pag tiningala ko ito ay mapapako lang ang aking tingin sa kanyang mamula-mulang mga labi. I made myself comfortable under the bedsheet. Romano shifted his position and lay on his side, paharap sa akin. Nanatili ako sa aking posisyon at pikit ang mata. It took all my self-control not to glance on him and get a better look of his handsome face.

“Antok ka na?” Napapaos na tanong nito. Tumama ang mabango nitong hininga sa gilid ng aking pisngi.

I nodded. Humigpit ang yakap nito sa aking baywang. Sana hindi nito maramdaman ang pananayo ng mga balahibo sa aking katawan.

All I could only do was sigh in contentment. Ayaw ko mang aminin pero masarap at malalim ang tulog ko kapag yakap ako ng lalake.

“Pagbibigyan kita ngayong gabi dahil alam kong pagod ka, Romano.” I murmured.

“Hmmm…Ganun pala. Dapat ko palang pagurin ang sarili ko para payagan mo akong matulog sa tabi mo. Okay. Noted, grandma.” He sniggered. Oh, he did find this amusing.

“Ewan ko sa’yo. Good night, Romano.”

He chuckled once again. “Good night, babe.”

Just like what I expected from him, he dropped a kiss on my forehead. Now that was what made my night extra special.

**********

Busy ako sa pagkukulay ng buhok ni Krizette nang maramdaman ko ang pag-vibrate ng aking cellphone sa aking bulsa.

“May tumatawag ata sa akin. Kaye, ikaw na muna magpatuloy nito.”

“Ano ba yan, Mira.” Reklamo ni Kriz. “Hindi hiyang ang buhok ko sa ibang kamay.”

“Arte nito. Kinukulayan lang, e.” Ani ni Kaye nang tumapat ito sa likod ng pinsan ko. Kinuha nito ang brush sa aking kamay.

“Baka mahalaga ang tawag na ito, Kriz. Saglit lang.” Hinugot ko ang cellphone sa aking bulsa.

“Sinabi kasi ni Mira na ikaw ang mauna pero umayaw ka naman.” Rinig kong wika ni Jona.

“Edi sana binabanlawan na yang buhok mo ngayon.” Singit ni Rutchell.

“E hindi pa ako makapag-decide ng kulay, mga bruha kayo. Kurutin ko kayo sa mga singit n’yo, e. Magsilayas nga kayo.”

Umiiling akong lumayo sa apat na nagbabangayan. Pumasok ako sa aking silid at pinindot ang answer button. Hindi ko kilala ang may-ari ng numerong tumatawag pero baka mula ito sa Moon Records.

“Hello?”

“Hi Mira! Ah, grabe ka sa akin. Ang tagal mong sagutin ang tawag ko, a.”

Kunot-noong nilayo ko ang cellphone mula sa aking tainga. Tumikhim ako. “Sino po sila?”

The man made tsk sound. “How could you easily forget me?”

“I’m sorry. Medyo may kahinaan ang memorya ko.”

“You’re impossible, chick.” He sounded upset.

Wait, chick? I gasped when it finally dawned on me. “JK De Vera?”

“The one and only.”

“JK, kumusta ang sugat sa kamay mo? Gumaling na?”

“Yeah, it’s healing.”

“Thank you for what you did, JK. Salamat talaga.”

He cleared his throat. “Well, why don’t you go out with me tonight?”

“Why? I mean, bakit?”

JK laughed. “Alam ko ang tagalog ng why, Mira. Hays. Ang cute mo talaga. Kung wala kang gagawin mamayang gabi, let’s have dinner.”

Kumagat-labi ako at napasandal sa dingding. Hindi ko alam ang isasagot ko sa kanya. Bakit mamayang gabi agad?

“Ano kasi, JK…medyo busy kasi ako….”

“Really? C’mon, Mira. I just want to take you out for dinner. I won’t kidnap you and do anything harm against you. We’re just going to eat, trust me.”

I sighed in resignation. “Okay. I can only spend two hours with you, JK. Okay lang ba yun?”

“Two hours is enough. Thank you. I will fetch you around six-thirty in the evening. Give me your location.”

“No need, JK. Text mo na lang sa akin ang address ng restaurant at ako na lamang ang pupunta doon.”

“Err…Okay fine. Baka pag ipilit ko pa ang gusto ko e mag back out ka. See you tonight, chick.”

“Uhm. Yeah. See you.”

***********

JK pulled a chair and gestured me to have a sit.

“Thank you.” Tipid kong sabi. Umikot ito sa mesa at umupo katapat sa akin. “Tayo lang ba ang tao dito sa second floor?”

He smiled and nodded proudly. “Yes. I rented the whole floor. Ayoko nang distorbo sa date nating dalawa. Gusto ko ang buong atensiyon ko ay nasa iyo at ang atensiyon mo’y dapat sa akin lamang.”

“Date? I thought this is just a casual dinner, JK.”

“For you pero para sa akin, this is a date. And mind you, this is my first official date with a girl. Consider yourself lucky, chick.”

This conversation was getting awkward by the minute. The fact that I came here underdressed was enough to make me feel uncomfortable. And not to mention the way he looked at me. His piercing gaze felt like he was looking through my soul.

“Ang ganda ng restaurant.” Ani ko. It was actually an understatement. Laglag ang panga ko nga kanina pagbaba ko sa taxi. Naririnig ko lang ang pangalan ng restaurant na ito kapag binabanggit ng mga artista sa telebisyon. Adam’s Eve. There was something intimate and erotic with the restaurant’s name.

“I’m glad you like it. The owner, James Sandoval, is a friend of mine. His brother is the one managing the Luzon branches. Well, speaking of the devil.” He looked past me, and I looked over my shoulders para tignan kung sino ang kanyang tinutukoy.

A young, handsome man in his business suit came to us with a teasing smile lurking on his lips.

“JK, dude.”

JK got on his feet na may ngising nakapaskil din sa mga labi. “Henry.” They shook hands.

“How’s everything?” Henry glanced at my direction. Pinasadahan niya ako ng tingin. The surprised look on his face was something one couldn’t miss. I probably caught him off-guard. Hindi siguro nito inaasahan na ang date ni JK ay ang isang weird na babaeng kagaya ko. Now, nagsisi ako kung bakit hindi man lang ako nag-effort na mag-ayos at magmukhang presentable. Hindi ko naman kasi alam na ganitong dinner pala ang dadaluhan ko.

“Everything is perfect, dude. By the way, this is Mira. Mira, this is Henry, co-owner of Adam’s Eve.”

“Hi, Mira.” Henry gave me an awkward smile bago nag-abot ng kanyang palad.

Inabot ko iyon. “He—hello.”

“You look…uhm... good.” He commented pero alam kong may bahid na kasinungalingan iyon. “Anyway, dumaan lang ako para batiin ka ng personal, JK. Happy Birthday, dude.” Tinapik nito ang balikat ni JK. “You look really happy though.”

“Thanks, dude. Syempre, I’m spending my birthday with this beautiful lady.” He winked at me.

Tumawa lamang si Henry. He must have been thinking that there’s something’s wrong with JK’s eyes. “Let me know if you need anything, okay?”

“Sure. Salamat ulit. Send me regards to James.”

Henry rolled his eyes. “He’s busy worshipping the ground his wife walking on. Pero makakarating.” Henry then looked at me again. “Bye, Mira. I hope you will enjoy the food. It will be served soon.”

“I think I will, thank you.” My reply.

Nang makaalis si Henry, saka pa lang ako pumanatag. “JK, birthday mo today?”

He nodded. “Yes, Ma’am. Tinapat ko talaga sa araw na ito na imbitahin ka. I want to spend my special day with you.”

“Sorry, JK. Hindi ko alam. Wala akong regalo.”

“That’s fine. Your presence is all I needed.”

I sighed. “JK, alam kong malaki ang utang na loob ko sa’yo sa pagligtas mo sa buhay ko. Pero gusto kong malaman kung ano ba talaga ang kailangan mo sa akin? I mean, don’t you think you’re just wasting your time with someone like me?”

“Wasting my time with someone like you? Alam mo bang ito ang pinakamasayang birthday ko so far? Because I’m spending it with you.”

“You don’t know me.”

“Chick, all I need to do is to look at you and I could tell how good of a person you are. There is really something special about you. I just can’t figure out. You have this kind of vibe that could light up the entire room. It’s like everything you touches turns gold. You have an angelic aura within you. You’re glowing with purity and innocence. All I know is that when you’re next to me, my heart is beating like crazy. I never had this kind of feeling before.”

Umiling ako. “That’s impossible. There’s nothing special about me.”

“Hmm…Why don’t we ask Romano? I think he and I have the same feelings towards you.”

“Romano? Now that’s totally impossible. Romano is a kind person that’s why he’s treating me well. At isa pa, I’m his employee. Natural lamang na concern ito sa akin.”

“Wrong. I’ve known Romano for years now and trust me when I say this. He doesn’t care about anyone at all. He treats people professionally but never did he once lose himself just to protect someone. What happened days ago, it was not the Romano I used to know. You’re special to him.”

Yumuko ako. Ayokong umasa dahil alam kong masasaktan lang ako. Romano had someone from the past. At kahit wala akong alam sa buong detalye, ramdam kong nasa puso pa rin nito ang babae. At kaya tinatrato ako ng mabuti ni Romano dahil na rin siguro sa may hawig ako sa babaeng yun. Sa kilos at gawi.

“Hey chick.”

“Hmm?”

“Are you busy next Saturday?”

Umiling ako. “Day-off ko yun pero kung aayain mo akong lumabas ulit ay tatanggi ako, JK.”

“C’mon, chick. Samahan mo ako, please? This will be your birthday gift for me.” He grinned mischievously.

“Is this some kind of blackmail?” My eyes hooded at him.

He chuckled. “Kind of. Just this once, okay?”

“Ano na naman ba yan, JK.” Napapakamot ako sa aking batok. Kahit kakakilala ko lang sa lalake ay hindi ko maipaliwanag bakit kampante ako sa presensiya niya. There was nothing threatening about him. He seemed really kind and joyful.

“Malalaman mo.” He reached my hand that was resting on the table and squeezed it a little. “It will be the one of the, if not the greatest highlights of my life.”

Bahala na.

Romano’s POV

“Romano, mabuti naman at lumabas ka na rin sa lungga mo.”

I found Matt sitting comfortably on the sofa. Kakalabas ko lang sa aking studio room. Malapit na ang deadline para sa upcoming album ko. Kailangan ko nang matapos sa pag-record ang dalawang kantang natitira. I was having a hard time mixing the sound but somehow, I liked the outcome of the last one I did.

“What’s up?” Ginalugad ko ang buong kabahayan. It was surprisingly quiet kahit ba umaalingawngaw ang tunog ng bukas na telebisyon. Grandma took her day-off and she said she would come home late. I wonder how late did she mean by that?

“You’re looking for someone?” Matt c****d his eyebrow at me.

“Shut up.”

“Anong oras daw uuwi si Mira?”

“Ah. Kaya ka nandito dahil hinihintay mo siyang dumating? Do you like her, Matt?”

“And if I like her, ano ngayon sa’yo? Di mo naman siya gusto di ba?”

Marahas na kinuha ko ang beer in can sa center table. “Shut up.”

Matt placed his can on the table and faced me. “Why don’t we talk about it now, Romano. I’m planning to pursue her. Kung wala kang gusto sa kanya o kung hindi siya espesyal sa’yo, wala naman sigurong problema kung liligawan ko si Mira?”

“She’s mine, dammit!” Nagtagis ang bagang ko.

“No, she’s not yours, Romano! You’re being selfish here. You are leading her on. Don’t treat her as your possession. You told me before that you can’t love someone else. I don’t know what you mean by that pero siguro ang tinutukoy mo ay ang babae sa iyong nakaraan. I don’t know what really happened to you after that incident pero kung hindi mo pa kayang kumawala sa nakalipas, wag mong idamay si Mira.”

“I swear, Matt. If you don’t shut the hell up, I’m going to punch the living s**t out of you!”

He sighed and sat back. “I don’t know about you Romano, but Mira is special to me. I don’t want her to get hurt.”

“For f**k’s sake! I’m not going to hurt her, okay!”

“You sure about that? Because it seems like you’re already hurting her.”

My stare was drilling on Matt’s bones. What did he mean by that?

“The guests are starting to arrive.” Matt said while looking at the TV screen.

I sighed. Umayos ako ng upo at sumandal sa sofa. I brought the can to my lips and drank from it. My eyes fixated on the TV screen. Tonight, was the Award Ceremony that I declined to attend for the first time.

Celebrities were about to walk on the red carpet. This part was kind of boring to me. Pero gusto kong malaman kung sino-sino ang umattend ngayong gabi.

There was a huge crowd comprising of fans and reporters. I saw my other friends and colleagues waving at the cameras as they passed by. A limousine stopped at the entrance. JK stepped off from the expensive car and people went gaga over him. He waved at his annoying fans as he rounded the car and opened the door like a gentleman that he was.

A beautiful girl in her white dress which hug her body like a second skin stepped off from the car. JK guided her hand to his arm. She looked scared by the blinding flashes of the cameras. She seemed so lost and distracted. Reporters started to crowd them.

The girl whispered something to JK, and the man dropped his arm around her waist, pulling her closer to his side. The girl finally relaxed and faced the camera with a shy smile on her face.

And that’s when my heart stopped from beating.

I shot up from my feet and angrily picked up my phone. I dialed Jia’s number with a tremble hand. “Jia! Prepare me a damn suit for that stupid Star Awards Ceremony!”

I hastily strode towards the door. I bumped against Matt who was as furious as I was. Both of us were holding our car keys.

“See you there, Romano.” There was a warning in his tone.

I grunted. “Don’t you f*****g try me, Matt. I’m in a very foul mood right now and I’m not that very forgiving.” I warned back.

That Mira Grandma! Wait till I get my hands on you!