Undying Flame (Nathan Kyle & Jhauztine Chloe Story)

Chapter 14

Hindi ko na nabilang ang araw simula ng huli kong nakita, huling naka-text, huling nakausap si Kyle.

Nang una parang sobrang hirap. But Dawn was there to smack my face with the truth whenever I felt like succumbing back to my feelings for Kyle.

Hanggang sa kaya ko na siyang tanggihan, kaya ko na siyang sabihan ng hindi, kaya ko ng iuna ang ibang bagay bago siya. His texts and calls soon vanished after a while. When I told Dawn about this, she just shrugged her shoulders and said, "Kasi wala na siyang mapapala sa'yo kaya tumigil na siya."

I'm not gonna deny it. Her words cut me deep, but however I put it. It is the truth. Since, I refused to give him a shoulder to rely on about him and Rrena, I was deemed useless.

Besides, nang una pa lang naman, alam ko nang 'yon lang ang magiging papel ko sa buhay niya.

"Hoy, ba't ka nakasimangot diyan?"

Nagulat na lang ako dahil nasa harap ko na si Ric. I shook my head, clearing my thoughts.

"It's nothing." I sighed.

He looked at me worriedly before he nodded his head and went inside his office. I know he took my reply as a sign that I'm not still ready to talk about it. Saka ayaw ko na rin na nag-uusap kaming kaswal sa harap ng iba pa niyang empleyado.

At lunch time, I received a text from Ric to meet me at bistro near his building. Wala rin naman akong baon gawa ng nasa US si mama kaya pumayag na lang din ako.

"Bakit ka nga nakasimangot? Ibinilin ka pa man din ni Tita sa'kin tapos ganyan ka. Baka sabihin niya pinapabayaan kita."

The waiter just took our order and I'm stuck looking at my empty plate.

"Kasi nga, hindi ako masasamahan ni Dawn sa Baguio. Matagal na naming plinano 'to kaso something came up so she can't go with me."

"Bakit? Hindi siya pinayagan mag-leave sa trabaho niya?"

I laughed at the thought of Dawn working. "Hindi naman nagtatrabaho 'yon. Her dad doesn't allow her to work, he's very. . hmm. . .old fashioned when it comes to his daughters."

"So? Bakit hindi siya puwedeng sumama sa'yo?"

I mentally thanked God because he decided not to pry about Dawn's life. Ayaw ko kasing may nagtatanong sa'kin tungkol sa buhay niya, because it's not my story to tell.

"Her boyfriend got invitated to a gala in Singapore and she needs to go with him. Okay lang naman sana, but her boyfriend opted to fly early para raw may panahon pa silang magpasyal bago 'yong event. Ang kaso nasagasaan 'yong lakad namin."

"And she chose her boyfriend over you?"

I scowled at him, "Dawn's not like that! Basta, hindi mo kayang intindihin kaya shut up ka na lang."

The waiter arrived and started to place our orders. I was silent, choosing not to talk to Ric because it irritated me when he thought of Dawn that way.

"'Wag ka na ngang sumimangit diyan. Ako na lang sasama sa'yo sa Baguio."

Napatigil ako sa paghati da manok sa plato ko at napatingin sa kanya. "Sus! Sinasabi mo lang 'yan kasi napikon ako sa'yo."

"Malamang. Shinut up mo kaya ako."

"Kasi napaka-judgemental mo." I countered.

Inirapan niya ako saka patuloy na kumain. "Ano? Gusto mo bang samahan kita sa Baguio o magpapaka-loner ka dahil ayaw mong patalo?"

I gave what he said a thought. Damn, kailangan ko na rin ng kasama dahil malamang sa malamang malulungkot lang ako. I mean the reason why we planned this is to completely forget about Kyle.

"Hindi ka ba busy?" I segued.

"May karapatan naman din akong magpahinga, ano?" he sarcastically replied.

Now, it's my turn to roll my eyes at him. "Okay, sige. Pero dahil napipilitan ako at dahil wala akong choice."

"You really know how to bruise my ego, don't you?" he muttered which I answered with a giggle.

We both enjoyed our meal after. Me, showing away the remaining memories of Kyle in my mind, while Ric, maintains his silence.

When it's time to get the bill, I argued with Ric to split it but of course being the arrogant, millionaire that he is, hindi niya ako pinayagan.

"Ano bang plano niyo sa Baguio?" tanong niya nang pabalik na kami ng opisina.

Napakibit-balikat ako, "Wala, actually. Dawn said that we can go in there blind and just enjoy every moment of it."

Napatango siya, "Ano ba kasi ang iniiwasan mo na hanggang ngayon hindi mo pa rin lubos matakbuhan?"

Sandali akong napatigil sa paghinga at napalingon sa kanya. Pinagbuksan kami ng pinto ng guard at sabay kaming pumasok sa lobby area.

"H-ha?" I croaked, my attempt in acting dumb about what he said.

"Anong ha? I've been observing you for quite some time now. Don't you deny it, Jhauztine Chloe."

I huffed my resignation and lowered my head. "You sound like Dawn right now."

"It is something about that friend you met the night before?"

I felt a bubble of trepidation rose to throat. Buti na lang, people started to greet him as we made our way towards the lift, so I have enough time to stall.

I am dreading that he might push the conversation and go big-brother mode on to me but my surprised he respected my silence over the matter.

"Whenever you're going through, I hope you leave it all in Baguio." he said once more before he left for his office.

I slumped my butt on my chair and stared at the pen I placed on my organizers. 'Di hamak naman na mas maayos ako bago kami nagkita ulit ni Kyle. Everything was so simple then. Sa simpleng pang-sta-stalk lang sa Fäcebook at i********: niya solved na ako.

Bakit pa kasi ako nangarap ng higit pa?

I huffed out a sigh and continued with my tasks. When my shift is over, I went straight home since Dawn is there waiting for me.

She volunteered to stay with me for the time being, hanggang sa makauwi si mama galing America. Medyo biglaan din kasi ang alis niya, ang sabi niya lang may kailangan silang ayusin ni papa.

"Welcome hoooooooooome. . . " bungad sa'kin ni Dawn. Mat hawak pa nga ng basong alak.

"Dawnnnnnnn, alak na naman." Suway ko sa kanya sabay agaw. Sumimangot siya pero hinayaan niya lang ako. "May nangyari bang dapat kong malaman?"

"What made you say that?" she said after she dumped herself on the couch. She patted the space beside her which I immediately claimed.

"Because you only drink when you're upset."

Napabuntong hininga siya "I'm upset because I can't go with you to Baguio. Ako pa nag-aya tapos ako 'yong hindi makakapunta."

"Don't beat yourself over it. Naiintindihan ko naman."

"Yan 'yang nakakainis sa'yo, Chloe. Lahat iniintindi mo, kahit hindi dapat." Pagmamaktol niya.

I shook my head amd punched her lighty in the arm. "Eh kasi nga, wala naman akong magagawa. Saka sasamahan naman daw ako ni Ric, kaya hindi na ako mag-isa."

She snapped her head at to me, studying my reaction. "'Yong kwinekwento ni Tita na kalaro mo noon? Mabait ba 'yon? Baka manyak 'yon ah!"

I laughed at her before hugging her tight, "Ric is the big brother I never had. Hindi lang ako nasanay mag-Kuya dahil hindi 'yon uso sa ibang bansa."

"Bakit? Ilang taon na ba 'yon?"

"Twenty seven."

Napatango lang siya. Binalot kaming dalawa ng katahimikan hanggang sa binasag 'yon ng pagtunog ng cellphone ko. Mabilis naman naabot ni Dawn ang bag ko sa mesa para halughuhin ang phone ko roon.

Pagkakuha niya, parehas kaming natigilan ng nakita ang pangalan ni Kyle. Ito na lang ulit ang pagkakataon na kinontact niya ako.

I was itching to grab my phone, but Dawn scowled at me, "Don't you dare, Chloe!" She hissed before she declined the call.

Akala ko matatapos na 'yon doon pero muli na namang tumunog, at si Kyle pa rin ang tumatawag. Limang beses na ganoon at limang beses din siyang binabaan ni Dawn.

"Persistent, motherfucker." She cussed under her breath.

She's about to place my phone back on my purse when it chimed, and again it was Kyle trying to reach out.

Kyle: Clo, I'm really sorry for the series of calls. I know you've been busy, but I don't know you're avoiding me. Baka may nagawa akong hindi mo nagustuhan pero hindi ko napansin. Kung ano man 'yon, gusto kong mag-sorry. I respect your decision, but tonight, I really need you. Nanliligaw na kasi si Leomer kay Reena. I feel so. . .broken. Ikaw ang unang pumasok sa isipan kong kwentuhan. Pasensiya ka na kung naiisturbo kita."