Way of Forever

Kabanata 25

Ngumiti na lang ang mamamangka ng pilit at napakamot ng kilay. Hindi niya naman alam dapat pala hindi na lang siya nagsalita. He shuddered at the way Levine looked at him. Grabe naman ang tingin ng binatang ito. Nako!

“Sige na’t baka may mga pasahero pa doon. Humayo kayo at magsaya!” Kumaway pa ang namamangkero na nakangiti. Kumaway din pabalik si Maeve bago mabilis na kinuha ni Levine ang kamay nito at lumakad sa isla para kumuha ng cottage.

“Galit ka ba?” tanong ni Maeve dahil ang higpit ng pagkakahawak ng binata sa kamay niya. Ramdam niya din ang inis nito lalo pa’t naka-purse and lips nito at salubong ang kilay.

“Obvious ba?” inis na reply nito but he later calm down nang ma-realize na girlfriend niya pala ang nasa tabi. He heaved a sigh and gently rubbed her thumb. "I-I just don’t like it. He mistakenly assume that you and my older brother were girlfriend and boyfriend syempre iba ang nararamdaman ko kahit alam ko naman na hindi kayo,” ani nito. He doesn’t feel it right.

Maeve giggled and kissed his cheeks, “Silly. Bakit pa ako titingin sa iba? I already have someone who vibes me well, boyfriend.”

Pinigilan ni Levine ang ngiting gustong kumawala sa bibig niya. He pursed his lips but in no avail napangiti pa din siya. Boyfriend? Ang sarap sa tenga. His ears reddened as she looked at her side. Mayroong ngiti sa mukha ni Maeve as they walk hand in hand. ‘She’s so beautiful.’

“Saan kayo pupuntang dalawa?” A voice sounded behind their back. Levine turned around and saw his brother looking at them displeased. “Nandito ang cottage,” bored na dagdag nito.

“Right!” segunda din ni Victoria at tumabi kay Lorenzo. She crossed her arms and looked at the two, twitching her lips.

“Oh? Sorry, ang ganda kasi ng girlfriend ko kala ko view.”

“You’re so lame,” bulong ni Maeve bago hinigit ang binata papunta sa kasama nila. Her eyes glanced at Lorenzo who had an unexplainable expression looking at their intertwined hands before walking out first.

It’s better to show Lorenzo that she is already done with him. Kung ano man ang meron sila noon, hanggang doon na lang iyon. Ayaw niya ng bumalik sa kung ano sila dati it’s better if they are just strangers and forget the past. Kasi siya, okay na ngayon. Okay na ang buhay niya na wala ito.

-----

Hapon na at naisipan ni Victoria na maglaro sila. Why not naman? She has to seized the moment being with Lorenzo.

“Kayo na lang,” sagot ni Lorenzo habang nakatingin sa dagat. Ang tahimik nito at silang tatlo lang nina Levine at Maeve ang nag-iingay.

“Don’t be KJ, brother. Ngayon lang naman, eh. Don’t tell me natatakot ka?” Levine challenged him kaya nakatikim siya ng panliliit ng mata galing sa kapatid pero nginitian niya lang ito.

Lorenzo sighs and faces them just to play this child’s game. What he needed was peace and relaxation but what is this? A game? He didn’t sign up for this.

“Anong lalaruin natin?”

“Truth or dare,” Victoria answered and a smile boomed at her lips. Masaya ‘to.

“Game,” reply naman ni Maeve. They did this thrice with her friends. Grabe ang kalokohan nila dahil halos lahat sila dare ang pinili. Buti na lang at sa bahay niya sila naglaro noon dahil mas malala ‘pag nasa labas at marami ang tao.

“How about you, kuya?”

“Do I have a choice?”

Napangiti naman ng malaki si Levine. Kinuha niya ang isang bote at inilagay ito sa gitna nila which is sa mesa.

“Ano ang gagawin kapag hindi nagawa ang dare or hindi nagsalita?” tanong ni Maeve at pinasadahan ng tingin sa gilid si Lorenzo. Lorenzo pursed his lips. What does she think? That he cannot do it? Tsk!

“Well…” Kinuha ni Victoria ang isang shot glass at bote ng alak na puno pa. Prepared na prepared ang dalaga sa game nito. Siya ba naman ang nag-isip ng game na ‘to?

“Okay, deal!”

“Ako na ang mauuna.” Victoria spun the bottle and they waited on who it would stop to. Ilang sandali pa ay pahina ito ng pahina at tumigil kay Levine.

“Truth or dare?”

Levine crossed his arms and answered, “Truth.”

“When did you have your first kiss?” usisa ni Victoria at tumingin kay Maeve. Everyone knows na babae si Levine at imposibleng hindi pa ito nakakahalik ng babae.

“Uhm… I think noong college ako. Third year I kissed a girl in our class,” sagot nito at ngumiti. Ano’ng magagawa niya? Ipinanganak s’yang heartthrob. Kahit ibang school dumadayo para makita siya.

“Ikaw pa talaga ang nag-insist?”

“Pinagbigyan ko na. Kawawa naman.”

‘Wow!’ Maeve sarcastically commented on her mind. Makapal talaga.

“Okay! Next! Ako naman ang mag-i-spin ng bottle.

The bottle stopped at Victoria and everyone looked at her including Maeve who was also looking at her in a bitchy resting face.

“Okay! Truth or dare?”

Ngumiti si Victoria bago nagsalita, “Truth.”

“Tell us, may nagugustuhan ka ba sa work?” Halata din ni Levine ang pasulyap-sulyap na tingin ng dalaga sa kapatid niya. Victoria is not bad though.

Victoria glanced at Lorenzo at hindi niya ini-expect na nakatingin din ito sa kanya. She immediately averted her gaze and smiled as blush creeped into her cheeks.

“Actually, meron. Abot ko naman siya pero ang hirap. He’s so near yet so far. You know that feeling? You are just loving him behind the shadow,” Lumungkot ang mga mata nito at ngumiti ng mapait. Maeve looked at her seriously. Mukhang mahal na mahal nga ni Victoria si Lorenzo.

“Let’s continue. Magagawa ko ding pahulugin ang loob niya, noh!” Then she started to spin the bottle. Unexpectedly akala niya ay mag-i-stop na ito kay Maeve pero tumuloy ito kay Lorenzo.

“It’s your turn, brother! Galingan mo Victoria.”

“Don’t be offended, President. This is a game and whoever can’t do the game will have the consequences,” medyo pabiro ang boses ni Victoria nang sinabi niya iyon.

“Go on. Para matapos na ‘to.”

“Truth or dare?”

“Truth.”

“Did you ever have a girlfriend? Uh, kahit hindi girlfriend basta may minahal ka?”

“So which one is your question? Hindi ba’t isa lang?” nakataas na kilay na truan ni Lorenzo.

“Oh. I apologized. Ito na lang, may nagugustuhan ka na ba?”

Silence. They all looked at Lorenzo, expecting him to answer the question. Kahit si Levine inaabangan kahit alam niya na na meron itong naging girlfriend. His first love. Maeve drunk the whole glass of juice and looked at the ocean pero naka-focus ang tenga niya sa sasabihin ni Lorenzo.

“Yes. But I don’t like her... I loved her.”

Maeve grip the glass tightly. Hindi pa din susuko si Lorenzo. Pero ayaw niya na. Hindi ba nito nakikita na siya ay girlfriend ng kapatid nito? They both don’t deserve each other. He didn't even hesitate to leave her. In the end, siya pa rin mag-isa.

He had her with his words but he lost her with his actions.