FIFTEEN: FOR REAL (PART 1)

3375 Words
Nakatulog ako sa biyahe pabalik ng Maynila. Ginising lamang ako ni Krizette nang humimpil ang sasakyan sa driveway ng building. When I arrived at the penthouse, my heart sank when there was no trace of him. I was somehow hoping na maabutan ko pa ito pero mukhang hindi na dumaan pa ang lalake dito sa kanyang pamamahay. Siguro ay doon na ito sa mansiyon nila sa Forbes dumiretso. Gusto ko sanang magpahatid doon pero mariin na pinigilan ni Krizette ang aking plano. “Sinasabi ko sa’yo, Mira. Malaman ko lang na hinahabol-habol mo si Romano, malilintikan ka talaga sa akin.” Matalim na sumulyap ito sa akin. Marahas na pinasok niya sa katamtamang maleta ko ang aking mga damit. Hindi ko na rin ito masaway dahil wala akong ganang kumilos. Nakaupo lamang ako sa dulo ng aking kama at niligid ang tingin sa kabuuan ng aking silid. Pakiramdam ko’y ito na ang huling beses na masisilayan ko ang bahay ni Romano. Sa maikling panahon na pananahan ko dito ay marami akong magagandang alaala. Ayoko mang sabihin ito at baka unfair kay Krizette, pero ang mga araw na inilagi ko dito, bilang personal asssistant at housemate ni Romano, they were the best days of my life since the time I woke up from that fire incident. Bumuntong-hininga ako. “Kailangan ko ang eksplenasyon niya, Kriz. I need to know what’s going on. What’s on his mind. Why he suddenly got angry at me. Why he acted that way. What exactly happened? We were okay the last time we talked on the phone. I have no idea what went wrong.” “Pag ang mga lalake biglang mag-iba ng pakikitungo sa karelasyon nila, asahan mong may ibang babae ito. Take it from me, dear couz. I have enough heartaches to last me a lifetime. I knew these kind of men like the back of my hand.” Umiling ako. Krizette was too judgemental. What she knew was only the tip of the iceberg. Hindi ko pa naikukwento sa kanya ang kahapon namin ni Romano. Hindi niya pa alam na nakakaalala na ako. Ano kaya ang magiging reaksiyon niya kapag nalaman niyang magkasintahan na kami ni Romano noon pa man? Hindi pa niya kailanman nakita si Romano at kapag nagkukwento ako sa ‘kaibigan’ ko sa Batangas, I purposely avoided droppping names dahil baka makarating kay Mama. Tanging si Tiya Lorna lamang ang personal na nakilala ni Romano, bukod kay Papa. “Hindi ganyang tao si Romano. Alam kong alam mo ang tungkol diyan.” Tumayo ako at naglakad patungo sa malaking bintana. I stood there, letting the silence of the night englulfed me. “Unang-una pa lang ay binalaan na kita na wag kang iibig sa kanya. Okay, sabihin na natin na mabuti siyang tao but that does not make him a saint. Heck, he’s no angel and we both know it. Kaya ka nga naging housemate ng lalakeng yun dahil sa mga kabulastugan niya sa mga babae. He’s a manwhore bago pa man magkrus ang mga landas ninyong dalawa and I don’t think magbabago siya agad in a span of months. Once a manwhore, always be a manwhore.” “You don’t know him on a much personal level, Kriz.” “And you do?” Binalingan ako nito. Umiwas ako ng tingin sa kanya at binalik ang tanaw sa labas ng bintana. “I do. Trust me, I do. He loves me, Kriz. At mahal ko rin siya. Kaya kailangan ko siyang makaharap at makausap ng masinsinan para alamin ang kanyang rason.” “Are you dumb, Mira? That’s exactly the point! He doesn’t want to let you know his reasons that’s why he treated you that way! Kung ako sa’yo, wag mo nang ipilit ang sarili mo sa kanya. Wag mo nang alamin pa ang rason kung bakit ka niya tinatrato ng ganyan. Dahil kung may isang bagay mang tiyak dito, iyan ay ayaw na niya sa’yo!” Nag-igting ang bagang ko. My lips started to quiver. Marahas na nilingon ko ang aking pinsan. “Wala kang alam sa aming dalawa, Krizette! Walang kahit sino sa inyo ang nakakaalam sa pinagdaanan namin! At kahit pa siya ang nag-umpisa sa sunog na iyon, pitong taon na ang nakakalipas, alam kong hindi niya iyon sinadya. Hindi niya alam na nandun ako! Mahal niya ako, Krizette! He promised to love me forever when he thought I died in his arms. I will hold on to that promise until he will say he doesn’t love me anymore on my face!” I broke down. Hindi ko na kontrolado ang aking mga pinagsasabi. “Anong sabi mo?” Tumigil ito sa ginagawa at inilang hakbang lang nito ang distansiya naming dalawa. “Ulitin mo ang sinabi mo, Mira. Sunog? Siya ang nag-umpisa ng sunog na iyon? Magkakilala na kayo noon pa man? Ipaliwanag mong mabuti sa akin!” Niyugyog nito ang aking balikat. Kumunot ang noo ko. “Bakit Kriz, alam mo ang tungkol doon? Alam mo ang totoong nangyari sa akin?” Naglikot ang mga mata nito. “Answer my questions, Mirasol.” “No.” Tinanggal ko ang kanyang mga kamay sa aking balikat. “Bakit hindi mo sinabi sa akin ang totoo, Kriz? Bakit pinaniwala n’yo akong lahat na car accident ang dahilan kung bakit nawala ang memorya ko at kung bakit nasunog ang kanang bahagi ng mukha ko? Bakit?” Tuluyang bumalong ang mga luha na kanina pa nagbabadya. Umatras ako mula sa kanya. Umiling si Krizette at naiyak na rin. “Hindi ko alam ang totoong nangyari, Mirasol. Pero isang beses, nung naglasing si Mama, siguro isang linggo ang nakalipas buhat ng maoperahan ka. She was blabbering things na hindi ko maintindihan. Nabanggit niya minsan na nagsisisi siya na pinayagan niya kayo. Hindi ko alam kung sinong ‘kayo’ ang tinutukoy niya. Kung alam lang niya na magiging sanhi iyon ng iyong kapahamakan, sana ay nilayo ka niya. She kept blaming herself, Mira. She was angry. Gusto niyang magalit sa taong nag-umpisa ng sunog pero hindi niya magawa dahil mahalaga na rin ang taong iyon sa kanya. Tinanong ko si Mama kung ano o sino ang tinutukoy niya pero umiling lamang ito sa akin. Mas mabuti na lang daw na ibaon sa limot ang lahat. Na hayaang isipin na namatay ka sa sunog, na sana hindi lumabas ang katotohanan. Na babaunin niya ang katotohanan sa kanyang libingan gaya ng ginawa ni Tiyo Norman.” She sobbed. “When I heard her say those words, I prayed to God na sana dahil lang lasing siya kaya niya nasabi yun. Na imbento lang ang mga iyon. Pero ngayon, gulong-gulo na rin ako, Mira. Ano ba talaga ang totoong nangyari sa’yo? At ano yung sinabi mo na hindi sinasadya ni Romano ang pagsunog sa cottage? Wag mong sabihin sa akin…” Suminghap ito at nanlaki ang mga mata. “Romano Alcantara Salvatore…..” Her legs wobbled at napaluhod ito sa sahig. “Of course….Villla Alcantara….” She laughed sarcastically. “Of course…oh my God… Bakit ngayon ko lang napagtagpit-tagpi ang lahat.” She planted her face on her hands and cried. Humikbi rin ako at lumuhod sa kanyang harapan. I hugged her. She craddled my head to her chest and we both cried to our heart’s content. “I’m so sorry, couz. I’m really sorry.” She whispered softly. “I had no idea. I had no idea that you met the youngest Salvatore seven years ago. Hindi ko rin alam na si Romano Alcantara na isang celebrity ay siyang si Romano na taga-Batangas. Marami naman kasi ang magkakapangalan at magkaka-apilyedo. At isa pa, alam mong wala akong interes sa mga artista. Kung maglaro nga naman ang tadhana. I’m sorry, Mira. Hindi natin alam kung anong rason ni Romano bakit tinataboy ka niya ngayon. Perhaps, because of guilt.” “Maybe he was disappointed when he knew that Maya and Mira are one person. Magkaiba ang mukha pero iisang katawan, puso at kaluluwa. He probably thinks I fooled him. Gusto kong magpaliwanag sa kanya.” “I don’t think so. I think there something’s more to this than meets the eye. Pero whatever his reasons are, mali pa rin na tratuhin ka niya ng ganito kaya patawad kung hindi ako sasang-ayon sa plano mong harapin siya at kausapin. To me, he doesn’t deserve you.” “I don’t know what to do anymore, Kriz.” She sighed. “For now, let’s go home.” Home. I knew what she meant. My home was with her. I nodded because after all, that was true. When we were done crying and packing my things, dumaan ako saglit sa living room at pinagmasdan ang canvas na naka-display doon. Tahimik akong lumuluha. Diyos ko, hindi na ata titigil sa pag-agos ang mga luha ko. Nang ginuhit ko ang isla, masaya ang puso’t at isip ko. Even though I was so young back then, I knew I was so in love with Romano. I just could not express it fully because I did not know how and I was too naïve. When I gave the canvas to Romano, I thought he would paint it with vibrant colours. Now I understand why the painting gives such melancholic feeling. No wonder I cried the first time I saw it. It was as if something pierced right through my heart. I reached out and touched the surface of the painting. “Romano, palalagpasin ko ang pananakit mo sa damdamin ko ngayon. Pero alang-alang man lang sa mga pinagdaanan at pinagsamahan natin, I have the right to know the reason of your hatred. You owe me an explanation, Romano. I will demand that from you. You can’t get away from me that easily.” ******** It’s been two weeks since the day I last saw Romano. Alejandro’s marriage with Adrielle was all over the news. Kahit walang official photos from the couple at sa buong pamilya, ilang araw ding pinag-usapan ang tungkol dito. Sumagi sa isip ko si Bea. I wish I knew how to contact her o kung nasaan na ito ngayon. Gusto ko siyang damayan sa pighating dulot ng pag-iwan ni Alejandro sa kanya. Mapait akong ngumiti. Ang lupit ng magkapatid na Salvatore. Ganun ba talaga? Iiwan na lang kami nang wala man lang matinong eksplenasyon? Hindi man lang ba nila kami bibigyan ng mga kasagutan? Iiwanan kami sa ere pagkatapos ng lahat? I refused to believe the Salvatore brothers are that heartless. Tiyak akong may matinding rason sa likod ng pag-iwan nila sa amin. Pero ang hindi ko maintindihan, bakit ayaw nilang ipaalam? Paano mapag-uusapan ang problema, kung meron man, kung hindi sila magsasalita? Hindi ba lahat naman ay nadadaan sa mabuting usapan? Kung wala na silang pag-ibig sa amin, matatanggap namin iyon kung sasabihin nila iyon mismo sa harap namin. Pero yung tatalikuran lang kami ng basta-basta, pagkatapos ng lahat, hindi ba’t napaka-unfair niyon? Pagkatapos mong mahalin at tanggapin ang lahat-lahat sa kanya, lahat ng pangit at magaganda niyang katangian, after you accepted his flaws and still chose to love him anyway, even if he’s the reason behind your near-death experience, yet you chose to ignore it dahil mas mahalaga sa’yo ang ngayon, pero bigla ka niyang iiwan ng walang dahilan, nasaan ang hustisya? Nasaan na ang pangako niya? The next day after I came back to the city, I resigned as Romano’s personal assistant. I sent my resignation letter to his father’s office at nagpasa din ako sa Moon Records. Hindi ko tiyak kong matatanggap ba ni Don Arturo ang aking sulat gayung nasa America pa ito pero hindi na iyon mahalaga. Iniwan ko ang cellphone at laptop sa penthouse ni Romano. Akala ko ay sa bahay sa Tondo kami ihahatid ni Franco pero laking gulat namin ni Krizette dahil dinala niya kami sa kanyang condo. Well, one of his condos. “Franco, you don’t have to do this.” Si Krizette pagkaibis namin sa sasakyan. Halos sabay naming tiningala ang building. Wala pa atang sampung minuto ang layo nito mula sa building ni Romano. “I want to. Alam natin na hindi safe ang lugar na iyon sa inyong dalawa. You don’t want me to go on killing spree every time I see someone touches you, no?” Krizetted snorted. “Lumaki kami sa lugar na iyon, Franco. Sanay na kami sa gulo at ingay. You’re being unreasonable.” “No.” Umiling ito at humakbang patungo sa aking pinsan. Napaatras si Krizette at napasandal sa pintuan ng sasakyan. Franco placed his arms on her both sides, caging her. “I’m just protecting what’s mine. You know I’d go batshit when you’re in trouble, Krizette. If you want me to spare lives, live here with your cousin. This way, mas panatag ako.” “Franco, trust me, we’re safe there.” “My enemies know you’re my woman. They are going to hurt me by hurting you. I won’t let that happen.” That statement of his put a silly grin on my cousin’s lips. Sinampay ni Krizette ang kanyang mga braso sa balikat ni Franco at bahagyang diniin ang sarili. She whispered something against his ear that made the man stiffen. The next thing I knew, they’re kissing and eating each other’s faces. I shook my head as I rolled my eyes at them. PDA. Tunog ng cellphone ang nagpagising sa diwa ko. Alas otso pa lang ng umaga pero nakatulala na ako. Kinuha ko ang aking cellphone at agad na nagsalubong ang aking kilay dahil hindi pamilyar sa akin ang numero ng tumatawag. “Hello?” Alanganin kong bungad. “Hello? Mira? Is this really you?” Bahagya kong pinilig ang aking ulo. Sino ba ang nagmamay-ari sa boses na ito? Pamilyar but I could not pinpoint. “Mira? It’s me, Matt. I’m so worried about you.” “Matt? Oh. Hi, Matt.” I wanted to sound enthutiastic but my voice failed me. Ilang araw na kasing paos ang boses ko. “I could tell how excited you are just by hearing my voice, Mira. Thank you. It’s so obvious how much you have missed me.” Pag-uuyam nito. “Why did you change your number? Ilang araw na akong pabalik-balik sa bahay n’yo sa Tondo pero sarado ito. Where are you now?” I leaned my back against the headrest of my bed. “You’re using a PH number. Nasa Pilipinas ka na ba?” The last time I saw him was at the airport. Kasama siya ng mga Salvatore lumipad papuntang US. “Yes, three days ago pa.” Tumuwid ako sa pagkakaupo. “Ah.” Kumagat-labi ako. Gustong-gusto kong itanong kung kasama ba niyang umuwi si Romano. “Bakit ka nandito na sa Pinas?” “Dahil wala na akong gagawin dun.”  “Uhm. Ah, okay.” I heard him sigh. “Magkasama kami ni Romano umuwi, kung yan ang nais mong malaman. Look, Mira. I have no idea what happened between the two of you at wala rin akong makuhang matinong sagot mula sa kanya. He is so difficult to deal with and has been a pain in the ass lately. It has been a hell for all of us, Mira. Kung ano man ang di n’yo napagkaunawaan ni Romano, I hope both of you will work it out soon. Hindi namin alam why Romano suddenly changed. Halos hindi na namin alam kung ano ang gagawin namin sa kanya. Tanging si Alejandro lang ang kinakausap niya. But you know, Alejandro has a lot of weight on his shoulders now. Lalo na’t hindi stable ang kompaya dahil sa economic crisis. And at the same time, nagpapagaling din ito. His heart is bleeding, too. But that’s not the point. The point is I like you, Mira. Pero alam kong hindi ako ang gusto mo. Hindi ako ang mahal mo. I know you’re in love with Romano. Alam kong pareho n’yong gusto ang isa’t isa at ayoko mang sabihin ‘to pero sa inyong dalawa, mukhang ikaw ang kailangan gumawa ng hakbang para magkaayos kayo. Hindi ko na alam kung anong gagawin ko sa kanya. I am like talking to a wall. He’s not responding to anyone. Plus, he’s been drinking a lot lately and he wasn’t even a heavy drinker to start with. As a matter of fact, the drunktard is on the floor, as we speak.” “What happened?” “Nothing. Nagpakalunod lang naman ang gago sa alak. Nandito kami sa penthouse. He’s been drinking since we came back, Mira. Trust me, he’s such a mess. I don’t even know if he already took a shower. He barely touches the food I prepare.” Napapapikit ako. Gustong magdiwang ng puso ko dahil apektado ito sa nangyari pero hindi ko magawang magsaya. Mas lalo akong nag-aalala. “Did he ever sleep?” “He did sleep. But the moment he woke up from slumber, ang pag-inom agad ang inatupag nito. He did not even eat the breakfast I prepared for him. I am not here to babysit his drunk ass but it seems like he should be my priority. Baka bukas o makalawa, sa ospital na ang bagsak namin.” “What is wrong with him?” “You tell me.” “Can I come over?” The words just came out from my mouth. “Well…” Nag-alangan ito. “I know I’m asking you a favour to fix whatever is wrong with him but I know both of you are still in pain. I just want to give you a heads up. He keeps mumbling about how much he hates you. He keeps saying that he doesn’t want to see you anymore. Pero alam ko naman na hindi talaga yan ang gusto niya. He always calls your name even when he’s unconscious.” Napayuko ako. My chest tightened. “I’d still want to see him, Matt.” He sighed. “Okay. Where are you now? I will pick you up.” “No need. Ako na lamang ang pupunta diyan. I’ll probably be there in thirty.” “Huh?” He seemed surprised. “That fast? Nasa malapit ka lang ba? Where exactly are you, Mira?” “Where did you get my number, by the way?” “From the agency. Don’t avoid my question, woman.” Right. It was necessary to leave my new contact number to the HR, just in case they needed to reach me for my so-called benefits and compensations. “It’s better if no one knows where I am, Matt.” Well, I could not tell him my address without asking Franco’s permission. “Fine. I’ll find out soon. Are you really going to come over? Should I tell him?” “Don’t, please. Itataboy lang ako ni Romano. I…I just want to… gusto ko lang siyang makita, Matt. Even just for a couple of minutes.” He muttered incoherent words. “That asshole doesn’t deserve you, Mira, but I love you both.” It put a smile on my face. “You’re like our big brother, Matt. Thank you for being so nice to me since day one.” “Thank you for breaking my heart, too.” He laughed, a genuine one. “Hurry up, lady. I want to hug you so bad.” “Be there soon.” I was so glad Krizette and Franco were not around at mamaya pang gabi ang balik nila. Krizette didn’t leave my side for a couple of days. She treated me as if I just came out from a major heart operation. I could tell Franco was pissed about it because his girlfriend’s attention was on me. After I finally convinced Krizette that I wasn’t planning on taking my own life, she finally left my side and guess what? Two days straight she did not come here in our flat. She stayed in Franco’s and God knows what the two did for those two days. Franco probably wrecked her and she loved it. She loved him. I wished Franco would not break her heart. Sa dami ng naging boyfriends ni Krizette, ngayon ko lang nakita kung gaano ito kasaya sa piling ng lalake, regardless of how dangerous the man was. (TO BE CONTINUED)
Free reading for new users
Scan code to download app
Facebookexpand_more
  • author-avatar
    Writer
  • chap_listContents
  • likeADD