14 - I think I Love You (4)
1614 Words
DINALA si Clio sa hospital at nasa waiting area siya nang dumating si Bastien at Daphne.
"Anong resulta, bro?" tanong kaibigan.
"Wala pa..." nag-aalala niyang sagot.
Umupo sila at tumitingin-tingin sa pintuan ng Emergency Room.
"Bro, as much as I want to say everything is alright," guarded ang boses ni Bastien, "ay hindi ko magawa sa totoo lang."
He looked at his friend and saw tears running on his cheeks. Daphne hugged him and whispered words of comfort.
Bastien was in a daze while mumbling, "Seven years ago – dis oras ng gabi nung isugod namin siya sa hospital. Hindi na siya bumalik...she even died for five minutes. I could not do anything as her brother but wait for months to see her wake up from a coma."
Parang nabuhusan ng malamig na tubig si Tygo sa mga sinabi ni Bastien. Although narinig na niya ang information mula sa isa sa mga doctors ni Clio pero iba pa rin ang impact kapag mula ito sa kapatid ni Clio – who was the only person who stayed that night at the hospital.
Biglang bumukas ang ER at napatayo silang tatlo.
"Kapamilya ni Mrs. Clio Nils?" tanong ng isang lalaki.
"Yes...I'm his husband, this is her brother and sister-in-law," sagot ni Tygo.
"Binigyan namin siya ng pain reliever ngayon to ease the headache she's feeling," informed ng lalaki. "We still have to check her for couple of days para masigurado ang condition niya since she had an experience of brain operation before."
Tumango si Tygo.
"We'll do the best we can," sabi ng lalaki bago ito umalis.
Parang nakalutang si Tygo habang inaasikaso ang mga dapat asikasuhin para sa hospitalization ng asawa. Bastien,Daphne and Sandra stayed with him.
Nang itanong niya kay Bastien kung alam ng mga magulang nila ang nangyari kay Clio ay medyo nagtimpi ito bago sumagot, "I informed them at the same time sinabihan ko sila na huwag dumalaw."
He just nodded in response.
Clio slept soundly for the next hours while he worked from the hospital room. Minsan kapag nagigising si Clio ay tinitingnan lang siya nito at minsan naman ay ngumingiti ang babae. Hindi sila masyadong nag-uusap at sinisigurado niya talaga na makapagpahinga ang babae.
Two days later, nabawasan ang kaba nila ni Bastien nang sabihin ng doctor na hindi bumalik ang tumor sa utak ni Clio and she was physically fine. Her headache was caused by stress lang talaga. Doon naalala ni Tygo ang regarding sa tapes na malamang ay trigger factors sa sakit sa ulo ng asawa.
When they got home, ipinahinga niya si Clio sa master’s bedroom. She just smiled gently at him that made his heart hurt so much.
“I’m alright, Tygo.” She caressed the stubbles on his chin. “Don’t worry.”
Sinugurado niyang tulog ang asawa bago kunin ang laptop at ni-review ang CCTV footage nung araw na ‘yon. Napatiim-bagang siya nang makitang pumasok si Odessa bitbit ang VHS tapes at pinanood ang isa sa mga ito bago inilagay sa tokador.
Bumuga siya ng hangin at pilit kalmahin ang sarili. He got up and called Lydia to tell Odessa that he would talk with the woman.
Lumapit siya himbing na asawa at umupo sa tabi nito. Hinaplos niya ang maiksing buhok nito na sing-itim ng galit niya para kay Odessa. Hinaplos niya ang malasutla at kulay gatas na kutis. Tumungo siya at hinalikan ang mga mapupulang labi nito.
“I’ll try my best to protect you, Clio,” he whispered before he went out.
He was inside the study room when Odessa came in.
"Hello, kamusta na pala si Clio?" Matamis na ngiti ang binigay ng babae sa kaniya.
He frowned. "Anong purpose ng paglagay mo ng VHS tapes sa kwarto namin?"
Nasorpresa ang babae pero bumawi ito. "Ah eh ano kasi...nakita kong nanonood si Clio ng mga tapes. Pumunta rin ako ng attic at nakita ko ang pangalan niya sa tapes kaya napag-isipan ko…”
"And you have the f*****g guts to come in our room?" galit niyang bulas. "Sinong nagbigay pahintulot sa ‘yo na pumunta sa kwarto namin?
Namilog ang mga mata ni Odessa at napaatras ito ng bahagya.
“You f*****g b***h!” He hissed. “Ikaw ang dahilan kung bakit dinala namin si Clio sa hospital.”
Her lips trembled and she fidgeted. “I...I…”
“You what?” He stood. “You f*****g what?”
Odessa bit her lower lip.
"Napansin kong inaaway mo si Clio simula nang dumating ka sa pamamahay ko," he seriously said. "Pinalagpas ko kasi bisita ka ni Mama."
"Sorry..." Namumutla na si Odessa.
"But I took down notes on the days you hurt my wife. Nagpalagay ako ng CCTVs sa lahat ng sulok sa bahay simula nang sampalin ka ni Clio.” His pulse on his forehead ticked at the memory. “And to think I severely punished her at that time.”
Hindi niya nagustuhan ang desisyon niyang gutumin ang asawa at ipinalunok niya rito ang pride. Nagpalagay siya ng CCTVs kasi gagamitin sana niya ang mga ito para ipamukha kay Clio ang pang-aaway nito sa iba. Pero ano ang nakita niya? This b***h tried to corner his wife at every chance Odessa got. Mabuti na lang talaga at hindi na umuwi sa pisikal na p*******t ang panunudyo ni Odessa kay Clio. But knowing his wife? Clio would not take it sitting down.
He did not like her violent ways before but knowing that Odessa practically hurt Clio in this state, Tygo felt proud that his wife made marks on Odessa’s being. Even if by almost scratching this b***h’s eyes.
“I tried to be lenient sa’yo, Odessa kasi relative kita.” He pinched the bridge of his nose. “But you made a grave mistake of hurting Clio this time. You know she’s vulnerable after she lost her memory but why would you f*****g add something to hurt her?”
"Sorry Tygo...sorry..." Umiiyak na si Odessa. "Hindi ko alam kung bakit naging ganito ako kapag nakikita ko si Clio. I remember na tinatawagan niya ako noon at inaaway dahil sa ‘yo. Siguro -"
“Let me ask you this thing and please be honest about it.” His grey eyes pierced through her soul. “Did Clio physically hurt you before her memory loss?”
“T-Tygo…” She stammered as her eyes were full of tears.
“Sagutin mo ako o ililibing ko ang negosyo ng pamilya mo!” Sumigaw si Tygo. Kinuha niya ang isang flower vase at itinapon sa harapan ng babae at napatili ito sa gulat.
“No!” she cried. “She never did. I was just jealous…”
Umupo si Tygo sa kaniyang excecutive chair habang tinitingnan ang babaeng napaluhod sa sahig. “You have to remember that Clio Xanthe is my wife.”
"Tygo huwag mong idamay ang family business namin please..." sumamo ng babae.
He sighed. "Pack your things right now and get the f**k out from my home. Hindi ko na uulitin pa ang sinabi ko."
Odessa ran outside.
Hinayaan muna niyang humupa ang emosyon saka siya bumalik sa kwarto nila ni Clio. Nakita niyang nanonood ito ng cartoons. Tinabihan niya ito.
"Kamusta ka na?" tanong niya.
"I'm okay," she said. “Anyare? Ba’t maingay kanina?”
He kissed her forehead. "Don’t worry about it."
She faced him. "Tygo? Sorry ha... ang sama sama ko pala..."
"Shhhhh... the past is in the past," bulong niya habang hinalikan ang dulo ng ilong ng babae.
"Tygo?"
"Hmmm..."
"I want to meet them."
"Who?"
"Ang mga babae sa tapes," sagot niya.
"What?” Napaatras siya sa gulat. “ Why?"
Inayos ni Clio ang upo at humarap sa kaniya. "I want to apologize in person."
"Per-"
"Tygo, ito lang alam ko para makabawi..."
He grabbed her gently and hugged her. "If that's what you want."
"Salamat..."
"Clio, may sasabihin ako sa ‘yo."
"Ano?"
He held her shoulders. His heart beat so loud but he managed to say, "I have to be honest with you. I don't like being confused with my emotions when it comes to you. A couple of months ago I was set on continuing to hate you until eternity. But... but you slowly and unconsciously crept into the depths of my being."
"Huh?" Napatingin ang babae sa kaniyang Adam’s apple.
"I am in the current state of wanting but at the same time not wanting to feel like this."
"Hindi ko maintindihan..." Bumalik ang paningin nito sa kaniyang mga mata.
He tried to memorize her form, slowly morphing since they were kids until it became this woman in front of him. Andami niyang napagdaan kasama ang babaeng nasa kaniyang harapan. Andami niyang nagastang emosyon dahil din sa babaeng ‘to. At hindi niya inakalang darating ang panahon na sasabihin niya ang mga sumusunod na kataga sa harap ng babae, "I think I am falling in love with you. No...I think I love you."
Clio looked at him with a frowned expression. He felt jittery but controlled himself. She sighed and replied, "Thank you?" Then she lay back on the bed and continued to watch cartoons as if his confession did not mean anything to her at all.
Fuck!
What the hell was that?
And then Tygo laughed. Of course, si Clio Xanthe 'tong asawa niya at hindi isang ordinaryong babae lamang. Umiling siya at tinabihan ulit ang asawa at nanood sila ng cartoons buong magdamag.
As if hindi sya nag confess at as if hindi narinig ni Clio ang mga sinabi niya.
- Writer
