Race's Obsession 2: Her (COMPLETED)

Chapter 1: No Ring

"So you mean hanggang ngayon hindi ka pa rin n'ya sinabihang tumira sa condo n'ya?" gulat na tanong ni Andrea.

Nagkibit balikat na lamang ako. Hindi ko rin alam kung bakit. Dalawang linggo na simula noong nakabalik ako rito at hanggang ngayon ay nags-stay pa rin ako sa hotel. Not in Berlinetta of course.

I didn't say that I should live with Race now. Hindi nama n'ya na-oopen sa akin ang topic na iyon kaya ayaw ko namang umasa. Ayaw ko ring ako pa ang magsabi na titira ako kasama niya.

And besides, we barely talks now.

"I don't want to pressure him," sagot ko at tinanggap ang isang shot na ibinigay niya. "I don't want to pressure him also."

"Kung sa bagay, ang plano mo lamang naman ay mag-stay rito in a month, right?"

Pumipikit na ang mga mata ko. Everything here in their house seems like spinning. God, I'm tipsy!

Mind you, this is not her parent's house. It's her and Aston's house. Yeah, theirs. They actually built a house for their future family. Though they are still boyfriends, alam kong magkakaroon sila ng isang masaya at kumpletong pamilya.

The one I'm wishing for myself. And I have a more long way to go before that happens.

"You know, Race changed so much after you left." sabi n'ya at inangat ang baso bago ininom ang alak. Ngumiwi s'ya sa lasa noon bago muling nagsalita. "That's what I thought though. His friends said that that's the real him. The real him before you. So he's that before and after you."

She laughed a little. Ngumiwi naman ako. "I'm not his after."

Because I'm still here. Nothing change about my feelings in those five long years. The truth is, it becomes worst.

"Yeah? You came back because you wanted to talk to him right? Dahil ang akala mo ay natuloy ang kasal nila ni Kayla. At ngayong alam mong hindi, gusto mo ng magstay?"

Inagaw ko ang alak na nasa kanya at ininom iyon.

Ngumiwi s'ya sa akin at tinuro ako. "And you really changed too! Hindi ko naisip na matututo kang uminom!"

Umirap ako sa kanya at ibinalik ang baso sa counter table ng CR nila. Don't ask why we are drowning ourselves in alcohol right now. I'm actually inviting her to go for a bar so we could hang out. But hey! She said she's not going to q bar and that it's Aston's strict rules not to go to a bar without him. At mas madalas nga raw ay ganito ang ginagawa nila imbis na magbar pa.

"It's because no one of you told me that the marriage was off. Madalas ko nga kayong kausap pero wala naman kayong binabanggit! I was miserable there!" tumaas ang kanang kamay n'ya at akmang magsasalita ngunit hindi ko s'ya hinayaan. "And I lived in New York for like five years. Alam mo naman si Zac."

"Miserable huh?" nagtaas s'ya ng kilay, ang mga mata ay unti-unti ng pumupungay. "And I told you that Zac is a bad influence for you!"

Umirap ako sa kanya at sa kaingayan naming dalawa rito. Aston is busy with their family business kaya wala s'ya rito. Hinayaan n'ya naman kami kaya para tuloy kaming ewan dito. Muli kong tinanggap ang isang baso ng alak na ibinigay n'ya.

"I told you, I'm miserable. Miserable." I emphasized the word. "And Zac is not a B.I! He helps me to get over with everything. Life in New York is so different here. Mamatay ako sa boredom doon kung palagi ako sa bahay."

Pinilig ko ang ulo ko na kunwari ay sumasayaw, remembering how fun it was in New Yorks' bars and clubs.

"Get over huh? Hindi halata." she raised her one brow to me.

Ngumiwi ako, also remembering how hard I tried to party everywhere, do anything possible just to forget things, alam kong hindi madali. Hindi naging madali. I thought the alcohol really helps me but I was wrong. Ngunit sa tuwing umiinom ako ay panandalian kong nakakalimutan ang lahat. Just when I'm tipsy. But when I'm sober already, the truth would surprisingly slap me in the face.

But at least, kahit sandali ay nakalimutan ko ang lahat di ba?

"We're still going out for a date sometime if he's not busy. So I think that's enough for now."

Kahit sa totoo lamang ay ako palagi ang nag-aaya. He'd always said he's busy with his works. At dahil ako naman itong wala pang pinagkakabalahan dito ay ako na ang nagco-compromise. And I understand if he's really busy with work. Basta huwag lang sa mga inaakusa ng mga kaybigan namin sa kanya.

I know, I know. I was gone for five years at sila itong naiwang magkakasama rito. But still, doesn't because I'm not here and doesn't because it's our friends speaking ay maniniwala na ako. I know Race very well to believe them.

"That's not enough." Andrea countered. "Even how busy he is for his own business, he always have time with his girls. Kata dapat ay ganoon din sa'yo!"

Naguguluhan akong tumingin sa kanya. Hindi ba ay sinabi ko namang lumalabas kami kung minsan? Is she already drunk? Daya naman!

And girls!? Race definitely doesn't have any girls. They better stop that accusation against him!

But yeah, Race actually has his own business and managing it by himself, and friends of course. Malamang dahil about cars ang business n'ya. Classic, modern and whatever kind of cars. Kaya rin pala mas naging maganda na ngayon ang racing track nila ay dahil naging legal na iyon at si Race ang namamahala. Ni hindi ko alam na illegal pala iyon dati.

"I want him back," I said to the glass of alcohol. I bite my tounge, tasting the bitterness in my voice. "I want Race back."

"Come on Kate! Come to think of it. You came back here to just talk to Von. Like a closure right? And now, nalaman mong hindi s'ya kasal, you suddenly want him back?"

Salubong ang kilay ko ng marahas kong punasan ang basang dumaan sa pisngi. Nang tingnan ko iyon at napansing luha ay bahagya akong natawa sa sarili.

"You're getting dehydrated because of your unstoppable tears," I remember Zac telling me.

Paano ba naman kase, hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa talaga ako nauubusan ng luha. Or maybe it's so silly of me to think I'll lose tears. That's so impossible. Bukod sa tao ako ay nasasaktan pa rin. A person who gets hurt cry. Don't hide it. That's the truth and that's life.

"I still love him Andrea." I honestly told her. Nang naramdaman ko ang luha sa pisngi ko ay natatawa ko iyong pinunasan. "You still don't want him for me?"

Nagsalubong ang kilay n'ya. My face is probably as red as hers. "It's not like that. Gusto ko na s'ya para sa'yo noon pa. Pero ngayon? Kate, he's not the same man you used to know..."

Ngumiwi ako sa isa pang shot ng alak. Not the same man? Maybe because he changed? Alot?

God of course! He's so masculine and mature now!

"And I guess, you're not the same Kate he used to know." nagtaas s'ya ng kilay sa akin at tinitigan ako mula ulo hanggang paa. Kahit ang gladiator shoes na suot ko ay pilit n'yang dinungaw.

"I'm from New York, you can't blame me." Kailangan kong makibagay doon kung gusto ko talagang makalimot.

"Okay, fine!" ans she raised both of her hands as if she's been defeated. "If you want to pursue him, fine! But you better start with his quest of girls."

Nagtaas ako ng isang kilay. Sa dalawang linggo ko na rito ay palagi n'ya iyang sinaasabi. Kahit si Erisse ay nabanggit na rin iyan.

"I'm going!" sabay tayo ko. Sadaling umikot ang mundo ko pero kinaya ko naman. I'm used to it. Zac told me I have a.high tolerance in alcohol kaya ayos lang daw na maglasing.

"Saan ka naman pupunta?"

"Cut Race's quest of girls?" I smirked.

"You sure kaya mo pang magdrive? Tibay mo ha?"

I smirked again. "I know. But anyways, I'm going to ride a cab. I don't want to get into an accident as early as this. I want to make sure first that Race is mine again."

Tumayo si Andrea at dala ang bag ko ay sabay kaming lumabas ng kusina. Sa malawak nilang sala. I don't like this huge kind of house. Kahit simple lamang ay ayos na sa akin. Kahit maliit. I just want to see my family in wherever part of the CR I am in.

"Hey, you're not telling to us what reay happened in your race with him!" Andrea suddenly pointed to me. She's swaying to her feet. Nang nakita ang isa sa mga kasambahay nila ay tumuwid s'ya sa pagkakatayo at ngumisi. "I'm not drunk. Don't tell to your Sir."

Tumango at ngumiti lamang ang kasambahay bago pumunta sa kusina. Para siguro ligpitin ang kinalat namin doon.

"Sino ba ang nanalo? Bakit bigla na lamang kayong magkasama at basang-basa sa kotse ni Race? I can still remember Greg's face dahil iniwan n'yo ang kotse n'ya sa gitna ng ulan!"

Ngumisi ako dahil doon. Ngunit agad kong naramdaman ang pag init ng pisngi ko ng maramdaman kung ano nga ang totoong nangyari doon.

Should I tell her I lost my virginity under the rain on top of a car in the middle of the road and between two sports cars? Should I?

Better not yet.

I was saved by the bell. Literally by the bell when their doorbell rings. Mabilis na inayos ni Andrea ang kanyang buhok at pilit na tumayo ng tuwid. Bago pa kami makalabas ng sala ay nakasalubong na namin si Aston with his office attire. Sa likuran n'ya ay isa pang kasambahay na nagbukas siguro ng gate.

Nagbalik-balik ang tingin n'ya sa amin. Nagkibit balikat ako bago n'ya nilapitan si Andrea.

"You're drunk?" hindi makapaniwalang tanong n'ya when it's all obvious.

Andrea is so red and she's even swaying. Siguro ay namumula na rin ako dahil ang init ng katawan ko. Pero hindi naman ako gumegewang katulad n'ya. I've been ib my worst in New York kaya I know how to handle it now.

"Not really," my good friend has the gut to deny the obvious. "Kate needs to go to her hotel she's staying in now."

Umiling ako ng lumingon sa akin si Aston. "Not the hotel. O want to see Race first. Do you know where he is?"

Tinitigan n'ya ako mula ulo hanggang paa. Tuwid akong tumayo upang ipakita na hindi ako sobrang lasing tulad ng girlfriend n'ya.

"We had a meeting at his company earlier. Maaga ring umalis dahil may important meeting."

Marahan akong tumango. So still a business. "Where then? Where's the place of that important meeting? And with whom may I know?"

Nagsalubong ang kilay n'ya. Habang pilit na inaalalayan si Andrea ay sinagot pa ri ako.

Their driver drove me to the restaurant Aston told me. Habang nasa b'yahe ay ininom ko ang bottled mineral na dinala ko. I even fixed my hair and make up para hindi masyadong halata na uminom ako. Halos makatulog na ako sa sasakyan ng gisingin ako ng driver. Ilang beses kong sinampal ang sarili upang magising.

Nagpasalamat ako sa driver ng bumaba ako ng sasakyan. Hindi naman ako ganoon nalasing pero nahihilo pa rin ako.

Muli kong inayos ang sarili ko. Nang napansin ko ang suot ko ay mukhang hindi bagay sa loob. But anyways, I'm here for Race.

Akmang papasok ako sa loob ng restaurant ng matanaw ko si Race sa gilid ng kalsada. He's with a girl, wearing black tight fitting dress. Sa tabi nila ay isang itim na sasakyan. I don't think that's Race's. Siguro ay sa babae.

So this is an important meeting Aston is saying. Akmang lalapit ako ng mapag-isip kung bakit ako nandito. Bago kami magkita ni Race ay nagtetext ako sa kanya. Siguro naman ay hindi s'ya magagalit kung biglain ko s'ya di ba?

He gets cold, yes. He will treat me as cold as ice. But get mad at me? Not so my Race.

Dahan-dahan akong naglakad palapit sa kanila. Nang biglang hinawakan ng babae ang balikat ni Race at si Race naman ay hinawakan ang baywang ng babae ay biglang bumilis ang lakad ko. Before they face could get even more nearer, I held the girl's hair and pulled him harshly away from Race. Sa sobrang harsh ay napaupo s'ya sa pavement. Or maybe it's because of her high heels too.

Nang nagawa ko iyon ay saka ko lamang narealize na magbebeso lamang sila.

Well, doesn't change the fact that the action was done.

Race is so shocked. Of because I'm here or because of what I did, I don't know by the moment.

"What are you doing with that b***h?" I asked defensively. Wala na e. Nagawa ko na.

"What?" he asked confused, tila hindi makapaniwala sa kung ano. Nilingon ang babaeng malamang ay nakaupo pa rin sa lupa. Nang akmang lalapitan n'ya iyon ay agad ko s'yang pinigilan.

"Oh no, you're not going to help her!"

"I am." he said firmly.

"Who is she? How dare her to this to me!?"

The familiar voice made me looked back at her fast. Parehas na nanlaki ang mga namin.

"Kate?" Kayla called, not believing what's in front of her.

The effect of the alcohol was totally gone in my system when Race walked to her and helped her up.

Nagbalik-balik ang tingin ko sa kanila.

Race quest of girls.

Akala ko ba ay hindi natuloy ang kasal? Bakit nagkikita pa rin sila?

Mabilis akong lumapit sa kanila at marahas na binawi si Race. Parehas na nanlaki ang mga mata nila sa pagkabigla. Maging ang ilan sa mga taong nakatingin sa amin.

"Race is mine. Your engagement with him was off and there's definitely no marriage happened. But now?" I raised my hand and showed her the diamond ring Race gave to me. "This is real and he's engaged to me."

"Kate," Race warned. Mas hinigpitan ko ang paghawak sa kanya. Mahirapan na baka mapunta pa sa kalaban.

She has no reaction at all, tila walang narinig. Nakatingin lang s'ya sa akib bago dinungaw ang kamay ko at kamay ni Race. "I don't know about the ring. He never tells or announced to everyone he's engaged." Her voice was soft. Really soft like she's totally changed.

But her words? It hurts.

Palihim kong ginalaw ang kamay ni Race. Should I give him a ring too? Para malaman ng lahat na akin na siya? Kung paano niya ako ginagawang alipin dahil sa singsing na ito?

I asked him this before. But he's so serious and cold that if he didn't answer, I wouldn't insist. Hindi ko lamang alam na mapapahiya ako ng ganito dahil doon.

I just hope that maybe, he's ready to announce to everyone what we are. Pero ano nga ba kami?

Para saan pala ang singsing na ibinigay n'ya? Why asked me to marry him and gave me a ring? Ano ito at ikinukulong ako sa singsing na ito?