When Two Hearts Meet

CHAPTER 13

Since it was the weekend, Mikael went home to be with his family. Leigh, on the other hand, also went home to visit her family. At dahil umuwi si Mikael, inaya siya ng kaniyang ina na pumunta ng supermarket. Syempre, sinamahan niya ang ina. Wala ang kaniyang ama dahil may business trip ito sa ibang bansa at tatlong araw ito doon. Yeah, his father set his business trip for only three days so that he could go home early.

Minsan napapailing na lamang si Mikael dahil sa ka-sweet-an ng kaniyang magulang na parang teenager pa lang ang mga ito. Kahit sa totoo matanda na ang mga ito. But he admired his parents' relationship. He envied his parent’s love. Lumaki siya na nasaksihan niya kung gaano nila kamahal ang isa’t-isa at kung gaano ka-faithful at nirerespesto ng kaniyang ama ang kaniyang ina.

Mikael also wanted that kind of love relationship that his parents had. He admired his parent’s relationship and ended up waiting for his first love. Yeah, he was talking about Leigh. Para sa kaniya ang isang relasyon ay isang sagrado. It wasn’t about having experience, but he wanted a serious and committed relationship. Hindi kagaya ng iba na ginagawang lokohan ang isang relasyon.

“Anak, can you go to the coffee section and get your father’s favorite brand?” Evelyn asked.

Mikael came back to his reverie when he heard his mother’s voice. Tumango siya. “Ilang pack, Mommy?”

“Two. Para hindi na bili ng bili. Sa makalawa pa uuwi ang daddy mo pero alam mo naman na ‘yon. Kape agad ang hahanapin niya pagdating.”

Tumango si Mikael saka iniwan ang ina at tinungo ang coffee section. Kukunin niya sana ang brand ng kape ng paborito ng kaniyang ama nang mula sa kaniyang tabi ay may humawak roon. Halos sabay lamang silang humawak sa kape.

“Sorry.” Mikael apologized and looked at the man.

But Mikael was stunned to see the person in front of him. Naka-cap ito kaya hindi kita ang mukha nito. “How are you?” the man asked with a smile on his lips.

Mikael was still stunned. After three years nagpakita rin ito sa kaniya. “It’s you.” Aniya.

Ngumiti ang lalaki saka kumuha ng ibang brand ng kape at inilagay nito iyon sa sariling push cart. “The Black Book. Give it to someone.”

Nagtaka si Mikael. “Who?”

The man tapped his shoulder. “You will know. Pero sa ngayon hindi ko sasabihin ang pangalan niya. Give it to someone someday. That is someone you could trust.”

“Hindi ko maintindihan.” Sabi ni Mikael na naguguluhan.

Tumawa ng mahina ang lalaki. “Hindi mo kailangang intindihin ang sinabi ko. Basta ibigay mo ang Black Book sa kaniya pagdating ng tamang oras. Katulad ng sabi ko noon huwag kang magtiwala kahit kanino maliban sa kaniya.”

“Sino siya?”

“Malalaman mo rin.” The man said and left.

Naiwan si Mikael na nagtatanong kung sino ang tinutukoy ng lalaki na ‘siya’. Nahilot niya ang sentido saka kinuha ang kape na kailangan niyang kunin saka bumalik sa kinaroroonan ng kaniyang ina.

Habang namimili sila ng prutas nagtanong ang kaniyang ina. “When will you introduce your girlfriend to me?”

“Huh?” Nagtaka si Mikael. “Girlfriend?”

“Yeah, hindi ba girlfriend mo si Leigh. Iyong sekretarya mo at kapitbahay mo pa.” Sabi ni Evelyn at kumuha ng mansanas at inilagay ‘yon sa push cart.

“She’s my secretary and my neighbor, but she’s not my girlfriend, Mom.” Ani Mikael. “Sinong nagsabi na girlfriend ko siya?” he asked. May ideya na siya kung sino pero gusto niyang makasiguro.

"Ang kapatid mo."

Napailing na lang si Mikael. “Mom, Leigh is not my girlfriend. I hope she is, but she doesn’t like me. Na-friend zoned na nga ako, eh.”

Gulat na napatingin si Evelyn sa anak niya. “Seriously?”

Tumango si Mikael.

“Why? May boyfriend na ba siya? Asawa?”

Umiling si Mikael. “She has a son.”

Evelyn's lips formed an ‘o’. “Really? Then do your best to pursue her. She must be a nice woman and a good mother. I was already used to those women chasing you because of your money and looks, but this is the first time that I heard that the woman doesn’t like you and the worst is that the person who doesn’t like you is the woman you like her.” Ngumiti siya. “I wanted to meet her. Ipakilala mo siya sa akin, anak.”

“Mom, paano ko naman siya ipakilala sa inyo? Wala naman kaming relasyon ni Leigh.” Sabi ni Mikael. He was trying his best to explain that he and Leigh were not in a romantic relationship, but he was hoping that they would someday.

“Basta. Gumawa ka ng paraan. Ngayon pa lang gusto ko na siya para sa ‘yo, anak. Hindi ka niya pinatulan, eh. Kaya ako ang gagawa ng paraan upang patulan ka niya.” Nakangising sabi ni Evelyn. Noon pa man alam na niyang habulin ng mga babae ang anak niya dahil gwapo ito at maraming pera pero walang pinatulang babae ang anak niya. He remained single and doesn’t do flings.

Seeing his mother’s grin, Mikael became reluctant, but he still agreed. “Okay, sure. Pero kung ayaw niya huwag niyong pilitin, mommy.”

“Oo naman.”

Mahinang napabuntong hininga si Mikael. Pero sa ngayon wala siyang balak na ipakilala si Leigh sa ina niya lalo na minsan at may kalokohan ang kaniyang ina. Though his mother was a nice woman, he still didn’t want to introduce Leigh to his mother. Saka na lang.

Pagkatapos nilang mag-grocery na mag-ina umuwi na sila. His father and Everly weren’t home. His father is on a business trip while Everly is in Italy with their grandparents. At kasalukuyang inaaral ni Everly kung paano pamahalaan ang Bernardi Royal Real Estate.

“Mommy, parang mula ng dumating ako hindi ko nakita si Mikhail. Nasaan po siya?” tanong ni Mikael.

“Nandoon sa bahay ng Uncle Marius mo. Binisita ang Lola Zoey at Ate Mavielyn mo.”

Napatango si Mikael. Then he looked around. “Mom, bakit parang wala ang iba nating kasambahay? Pinalayas mo ba?” pagbibiro niyang tanong.

Binato naman siya ng kaniyang ina ng kamatis. Natatawa namang sinalo ni Mikael ang kamatis na binato sa kaniya ng ina. Wala ang Chef nila dahil day off nito kaya sila ng kaniyang ina ang nasa kusina. He’s not ignorant when it comes to the kitchen.

“Pinag day-off ko ang iba sa kanila at ang iba naman bukas ang day-off.”

“Ang bait talaga ni mommy.”

Ngumiti si Evelyn. “Oo naman, hindi kagaya mo. Ang sama raw ng ugali mo sa ibang tao ayon kay Odysseus. Syempre naniwala ako dahil hindi nagsisinungaling ang batang ‘yon.”

Mikael just shrugged his shoulders.

Napailing naman si Evelyn. Alam naman niyang masama ang ugali ng anak niya sa ibang tao. She is Mikael’s mother, and she knows him better than anyone else. Isa lang naman ang concerned niya rito. Sobrang siyang nag-aalala lalo na at may nagbabanta sa buhay ng anak niya.

“Mikael.”

“Yes, Mom?” Mikael glanced at his mother. Then he went back to peeling the onion.

Evelyn took a deep breath. “Promise me that you will be safe always, okay? Don’t make us worry.”

Ngumiti si Mikael. “Promise, Mom.”

Nakahinga ng maluwang si Evelyn. Mikael promised that she knew her son would keep his promise.

HUMUGOT ng malalim na hininga si Mikael habang nakatingin sa Black Book na nasa kaniyang harapan. He was inside their family’s safe vault where the valuable documents and things were being stored and secured.

Kinuha niya ang Black Book saka ito inalapag sa lamesa na naroon at umupo. Mikael opened the Black Book. If he had given it to the police before, maybe a disastrous thing had already happened to his family or someone might be in danger.

He told me not to trust anyone. He thought, remembering what the man had said. At sinabi niyng ibibigay ko lamang ang Black Book na ito sa kaniya.

Mikael was confused. Sinong siya ang tinutukoy ng lalaki?

Napabuntong hininga na lamang ang binata at tinignan ang laman ng Black Book. Hindi niya kilala ang mga taong nasa Black Book pero ang ilan sa mga ito ay kilala bilang matataas na tao sa gobyerno, serbisyo, at ilan sa mga ito ay mga kilalang businessmen. Napailing si Mikael. Indeed, he couldn’t take down the Mafia, but he would do his best to protect the Empire that his father built for them. Nakita niya ang sakripisyo at pagsusumikap ng kaniyang ama upang ipatayo Kang Salazar Empire. Hindi niya hahayaan na masira ito ng kanilang mga kalaban.

“These people…” pagtukoy niyang saad habang nakatingin sa Black Book.

Mikael closed the Black Book and put it back in the cabinet.

Umalis na siya ng safe vault pagkatapos niya itong isara. He was on his way to his room when he received a message from Leigh.

‘I’m back.’

Awtomatikong gumuhit ang ngiti sa labi ni Mikael. Tumigil pa siya sa paglalakad upang reply-an ang dalaga.

‘How was your trip?’

Mikael continued walking and went inside his room. Humiga siya sa kama habang nakikipag-chat kay Leigh.

Leigh Clemente: So, kailan ka babalik sa flat mo?

Ngumiti si Mikael at biniro ang dalaga. ‘Why? Miss me?’

Napailing naman si Leigh na nakabasa sa chat ni Mikael. She replied, ‘hindi. Wala kasing magluluto. Tinatamad akong magluto. Napagod ako sa biyahe.’

Mabilis na napabalikwas ng bangon si Mikael. ‘Wait for me.’ Then he logged out.

Nagmamadali si Mikael na lumabas ng kwarto saka hinanap ang ina. Nakita niya ito sa may hardin kasama si Mikhail.

“Mom, babalik na ako sa apartment ko.” Paalam niya.

“Akala ko ba bukas ka ba babalik, Kuya?” nagtatakang saad naman ni Mikhail.

Ngumiti si Mikael ng makahulugan.

Nagkatinginan naman si Evelyn at Mikhail.

“I’m going.” Paalam ni Mikael at umalis na.

Napailing si Evelyn. “Ang Kuya mo talaga.”

Mikhail laughed. “Alam ko na kung bakit nagmamadali si Kuya na umalis. Baka dumating na si Ate Leigh. Kuya told me that she went home to visit her family.”

“Kaya naman pala umuwi ang Kuya mo. Wala ‘yong inspirasyon niya.”

Nagtawanan ang mag-ina.

MIKAEL was excited while going back to his apartment. Pagdating niya doon ang apartment agad ni Leigh ang una niyang pinuntahan. Since he had keys on Leigh’s apartment hindi na siya nag-abalang kumatok upang pagbuksan siya nito ng pinto. Sa kusina siya dumeretso dahil doon niya naririnig na may ingay.

Natigilan ang binata nang makita si Leigh sa harapan ng kalan at nagluluto. Nilingon siya ng dalaga at nginitian. “Hi.”

Bumaba ang tingin ni Mikael sa mga labi ng dalaga. Lumunok siya. Hindi niya maikakaila sa sarili na nakakaakit ang mga labi nito. At isa pa namiss niya ang dalaga. Dalawang araw rin na hindi sila nagkita. Walang inaksayang oras si Mikael, tinahak niya ang distansiya nilang dalawa saka niyakap ang dalaga.

Natigilan naman si Leigh sa pagyakap sa kaniya ni Mikael pero kusa na lang na gumalaw ang braso niya at yumakap pabalik sa binata.

Ngumiti si Mikael. “I miss you.”

Leigh knew to herself that she missed Mikael too, but she didn’t have the courage to tell him because she had already told him that she didn’t like him. Pero ang hindi niya inaasahan na gagawin ni Mikael ay bigla na lamang nitong sinapo ang mukha niya at hinalikan siya sa labi.

Leigh’s eyes widen. Mikael wasn’t drunk but he kissed her.

He is kissing me.

Leigh wanted to push Mikael away, but her arms did the opposite. Ipinalibot niya ang braso sa leeg ng binata at tinugon ang halik nito.

Mikael was stunned when he felt Leigh respond to his kiss. But even though he was stunned, he continued kissing Leigh.

They kissed passionately.

But after the passionate kiss between Mikael and Leigh, Leigh doesn’t know how to face Mikael anymore, so she avoids him.