Way of Forever

Kabanata 15

“Thank you so much, Maeve, dahil pumayag ka na pumunta sa bahay namin. My son was lucky to meet you. Sana tumagal kayo ni Levine. For the past years palagi na lang fling ang ginagawa ng binatang ‘yan! Ayaw mag-seryoso. But then, you came,” ani ni Louisa habang nakaupo sila sa living room. Pumunta ang dalawang anak niya sa office ng ama dahil may mga pag-uusapan ito. It maybe the business, lahat naman ng pag-uusapan ng mag-amang ‘yon hindi mawawala ang negosyo. His husband becomes workaholic buti ngayon ay nakakapagpahinga na ito dahil ang anak na nila ang nag-ma-manage ng kumpanya.

“I’m sure hindi na po magagawang maghanap ni Levine. If he ever does…”

“Ako mismo ang sasampal sa anak ko!” pagpapatuloy ni Louisa kaya napatawa si Maeve. As if naman na forever magiging ganito sila ni Levine. This is just a roleplay, a bet who will be the one to fall in love and she's not giving Levine the satisfaction of being the one inlove in this dangerous game.

“Bakit pa siya maghahanap ng iba, right, tita?” Kapalit-palit ba siya?

“Kaya nga, eh.” Biglang lumungkot ang mukha ni Louisa.

“What’s wrong, tita?”

“A-ah,” napangiti ito ng mapait. “Simula kasi pagkabata hindi mabigyan ng atensyon si Levine ng kanyang ama. I know what he was feeling. He always did his best for his father, working and studying hard just to see the proud look of his father. And everytime na hindi pinapansin ni Alberto ang ginagawa ni Levine, gumuguhit sa mukha ng anak ko ang sakit at disappointment dito. Kaya hindi ko din masisisi kung naging iba ang ugali ni Levine.” Tiningnan ni Louisa si Maeve ng mahinahon. Her eyes were sad and devoid of sparks.

“Sana alagaan mo siya, Maeve. Hindi namin naiparamdam sa kanya ang pagmamahal ng isang pamilya dahil aminado ako sa sarili ko na nagkulang din ako bilang ina. Kaya sana sa’yo niya maramdaman iyon. I hope that you two will last forever and have a family, a happy family.”

‘Pero hindi sila,’ sagot ni Maeve sa kanyang isip. Marami ang pwedeng mangyari sa loob ng limang buwan. Levine may comes to meet the woman who will be with him, who will be the one to treat him better like Louisa said. Pero hindi siya ang babaeng 'yon. Isa pa nandito si Lorenzo.

Ngumiti siya dito for assurance. Nagpapanggap lang naman sila, ‘di ba? It won't hurt them.

“I will, tita.”

-----

“It’s good that you always pay attention to those clients, Lorenzo. Hindi nga ako nagkamali na ikaw ang pumalit sa akin.”

Levine just boredly browsing in his phone while sitting casually inside his father’s office. Hindi na bago sa kanya ang papuri ng ama sa kuya niya. It’s always been like this.

“Levine.” Rinig n’yang tawag ni Lorenzo kaya ibinaba niya ang telepono saka tumingin dito.

“How’s work?”

“Good,” maikli n’yang sagot na nakapagpataas ng kilay ni Alberto.

“You should also pay attention to the business, Levine. Hindi lang sa girlfriend mo.”

Levine gave his father a knowing smile.

“It’s hard. Sa ganda ba naman ng girlfriend ko,” sagot nito. Kumunot ang noo ni Lorenzo sa narinig.

“Your girlfriend is working for you?”

“Yep! She’s my secretary.”

Medyo humigpit ang hawak ni Lorenzo sa armchair ng kinauupuan. So, she’s Levine’s secretary? Very good!

“How is she treating you?" Tila ata curious na curious ang kuya ni Levine sa relationship nila ni Maeve. Well, expected naman ata ito pero hindi sa kagaya ng kuya niya na tahimik. Baka dahil akala nila ay sila talaga ni Maeve. Heh! If they knew that they were just playing, what could be the result? Pero hindi niya hahayaan ‘yon at matali sa pesteng loveless marriage ng kaibigan ng ama. Hell no! Ayaw niya sa babaeng ‘yon.

“She takes care of me. Pinapagalitan niya ako kapag hindi ako kumakain sa tamang oras,” nakangiting tugon ni Levine kahit na ang totoo ay hinahayaan lang siya ng dalaga. Tsk!

Biglang lumamig ang tingin ni Lorenzo sa kapatid. Hindi niya sinagot si Levine. Really? Maeve. was taking care of his brother? He laugh inside his mind.

Tahimik lang na nakatitig si Alberto sa dalawang anak habang malalim ang iniisip. There was something on Lorenzo this day and he was curious what is it all about.

“You two can leave.”

Pagkatapos sabihin iyon ni Alberto ay sabay na tumayo ang dalawa. Hindi na nagpaalam ni Levine kagaya ng kapatid niya. Why would he? His father doesn’t care.

“You should take care of yourself, Levine. Huwag mong iasa sa girlfriend ang lahat ng ‘yan,” pangaral ni Lorenzo habang nasa hallways sila ng second floor ng bahay.

“Well, she loves to spoil me.”

“You love her, huh?” sarkastikong sambit ni Lorenzo at ikinuyom ang kamao sa loob ng bulsa ng pantalon.

Kumunot ang noo ni Levine. “Teka! Are you mad? Hindi ka ba happy na may girlfriend na ako? This time for real? Don’t worry about it, brother. Magtatagal kami ni Maeve.”

‘Damn it!’ Lorenzo cursed in his mind. How can he be so happy if the woman he was looking for was in the arms of another man— his brother?! Maeve, the woman who he first experienced love, the woman who makes his heart flutter, the woman who makes him smile is now in love with Levine. But it’s not too late, right? Or is it?

Wake up, Lorenzo! How can you ruin someone else’s happiness? You should be happy and erase the woman from your mind. She’s gonna be your sister-in-law in the future.

Pero hindi niya ata maatim ang isiping ‘yon. Kilala niya ang kapatid niya. What if he hurt her? Is he willing to see Maeve in tears? No! He couldn’t let her cry. Yes, Lorenzo was still in love with Maeve, the one he was searching for. Oo nagkamali siya pero hindi niya ba pwedeng itama iyon? Is he not deserving of second chances?

His eyes turned cold as his body exuded a cold vibe. He needs a drink. He’s not functioning properly.

-----

“Bye, mom! Next time ulit!” paalam ni Levine sa ina habang pinagbubuksan ng pinto si Maeve.

Maeve waves her hand pero napadako ang tingin niya sa bintana ng second floor kung nasaan nakatingin sa kanila si Lorenzo. She immediately averted her gaze and looked forward.

“Thank you,” ani ni Levine nang makalabas ang sasakyan nila sa gate ng bahay.

“No problem. Magpapatalo ba ako?” mataray na sagot ni Maeve kaya napatawa si Levine.

“Right. Watch yourself, girlfriend, habang nasa akin ka walang pwedeng lalaki ang lumapit sa’yo. I’m possessive and I don’t intend to share—”

“Oh, wow! I’m not a thing, Levine, at hindi ako sa’yo.”

“Wrong!” he growls. “Habang nagpapanggap tayo ay akin ka it’s a part of our bet. Do you want them to see our facade?”

Maeve turns to look at Levine. She leaned unto him, her breast touching his arms.

“Then, akin ka lang din,” bulong nito na may ngiting nakakaloko. Let’s see who will win this spicy play. Kayanin kaya ni Levine ang kamandag niya?