MONTE COSTA SERIES 3: INNOCENT TIDES

Kabanata 11

IT WAS the first time that Ae didn't go to school even when she's supposed to. Iyak siya nang iyak dahil sa nalaman kaya naman idinala siya ni Linel sa tahanan ng mga ito. Ayaw sana niyang pumayag dahil baka mapagalitan ito ngunit naging mapilit si Linel.

He parked the car in their large garage before he looked at her again. "My parents are probably not home but some house helpers are inside."

Suminghot siya. "Baka isumbong ka nila. Mapagalitan ka pa ng parents mo dahil nag-absent ka."

"They would understand." Kinuha nito ang kamay niya't marahang piniga. "Let's get inside."

Ae pursed her lips and nodded as tears started to blur her eyes once more. Hindi na siya nagprotesta pa. Hinang-hina na rin naman ang katawan niya dahil sa sakit na nararamdaman.

Yes, her family is far from perfect. Her parents' marriage was flawed, but she never expected things to be this bad behind her back.

Siguro ay mas matatanggap niya pa kung naging matabang ang pagmamahalan ng mga magulang niya. Pero iyong magkaroon ng relasyon ang mommy niya sa ibang lalake habang kasal ito sa daddy niya? Iyon ang hindi niya masikmura kahit ano pa man ang dahilan ng mommy niya.

As much as she wanted to appreciate the Shault's family house, masyadong nakatuon sa sakit na nararamdaman si Ae kaya naman halos hindi na niya napansin ang mamahaling koleksyong armas ng mga magulang nina Linel.

The only thing that caught her attention was the large family portrait between the two grand staircases leading to the upper floor. Mrs. Shault was sitting beside her husband in a cleopatra chair while Linel and Linus were standing behind the couple.

Nagpunas siya ng pisngi habang nakatitig sa portrait. "Nag-uusap pa ba ang mommy at daddy mo kapag nagkikita sila dito sa bahay n'yo?" may lungkot niyang tanong kay Linel.

Linel nodded. "They do. Dad doesn't leave the house without mom either."

Basag na napangiti si Ae. "Buti pa sila." She sniffed. "Parang . . . natakot akong mag-settle down kapag lumaki na ako."

He stared at the portrait. "My . . . mother loves to cook. My dad doesn't know a thing in the kitchen but he would often stay beside her and give her company even if he couldn't help at all because mom wouldn't let him." He sighed. "Sinasabi ko 'to hindi para saktan ka. I just want you to understand that not all marriages fail the test of time."

Ibinaling niya ang tingin kay Linel habang kumikislap ang luha sa kanyang mga mata. "Maybe not all, but what if I'd end up unhappy like my parents? What if hindi gaya ng marriage ng parents mo ang matagpuan ko?"

Linel reached for her hand and entwined their fingers. "Ako ang pakasalan mo kapag nasa tamang edad na tayo, at ipinapangako ko sa'yo na hinding-hindi tayo magiging katulad ng mga magulang mo."

Ae doesn't know why but the sincerity in Linel's eyes warmed her heart. It was as if he's so certain that his feelings for her will never change. Na kahit lumipas pa ang ilang taon ay alam nito sa sariling siya lamang ang nais nitong mahalin habambuhay.

But they're too young to believe that they'd really end up together. Alam naman niyang maraming pupwedeng mangyari sa ilang taon. Linel would leave the country soon to pursue his dream while she will work on hers. Who knows? Maybe he will have a change of heart someday. Mas mabuti na iyong hindi siya umasa kaysa magaya sila sa mga magulang niya na kung kailan ilang taon nang kasal ay saka nagawang mangaliwa ng mommy niya.

Linel gently squeezed her hand. "Let's go upstairs."

Wala na siyang lakas para tumanggi. Pakiramdam niya ay masyadong bagsak ang katawan niya ngayon kaya naman nang idinala siya ni Linel sa silid nito ay hindi na siya nagreklamo.

Linel went on one knee in front of her to remove her black shoes. Nang mahubad nito ang sapatos niya ay muli siyang tiningnan.

"Do you want to change your clothes so your uniform wouldn't wrinkle?" tanong nito.

"Wala akong dala."

"You can wear my shirt. May shorts ka naman siguro sa ilalim ng skirt mo."

Ae pursed her lips and nodded. Tumayo ito at naglakad palapit sa malaking closet upang kumuha ng t-shirt. He handed it to her and told her that she can change in his bathroom.

Sinunod na lamang niya si Linel. Nang makapagbihis siya ay kinuha nito ang uniporme niya upang mai-hanger.

"Get some rest. Kukuha lang ako ng pagkain sa baba," ani Linel bago akmang lalabas ng silid ngunit hinawakan ito ni Ae sa braso.

Linel looked at her hand before he met her gaze. Nilunok naman ni Ae ang bara sa kanyang lalamunan saka niya ito pilit na nginitian.

"I'm . . . not hungry."

Humarap ito sa kanya't marahang itinulak ang ilang hibla ng kanyang buhok patungo sa likod ng kanyang tainga. "Do you wanna cuddle and talk about it?"

She pursed her lips together before she gently nodded. Maybe hugs would help lighten the heaviness she was feeling. Yes, Linel had a bad reputation in her memory but right now, she doesn't feel that he wanted to do anything s****l to her. Tila ba nais lamang nitong gawin kung ano ang tingin nitong makatutulong sa kanya.

Linel went to the bed then helped her lay next to him. Ipinasandal siya nito sa dibdib nito saka nito marahang pinatakan ng halik ang tuktok ng kanyang ulo.

Somehow, there was something with the way Linel holds her that helped lighten the load that she was feeling inside her chest. Tila ba inaagaw nito ang sakit na nararamdaman niya sa pamamagitan ng mararahang haplos sa kanyang buhok at mainit nitong yakap.

"Do you think my mother really did it to help my dad get the position? Oh sadyang na-fall out lang siya kay daddy?" she asked while listening to his heartbeat.

Linel inhaled a sharp breath. "I am in no position to judge your mom, but whatever her reason was, it's still unacceptable to cheat on your spouse."

Tiningala niya si Linel. "If you were in my dad's shoes, what would you do?"

"I'd probably do the same thing. I'd quit on my job and I would definitely question myself. Saan ako nagkulang bilang asawa. Sabi ng daddy ko, hindi lang pagmamahal ang dapat ibinibigay sa asawa. Beyond all the sweetness and romance, the man should offer respect, consistency, and safety because when those three are present in the relationship, the woman is at peace and she has more energy to nurture and care."

Napatitig si Ae sa asul na mga mata ni Linel. "You sound so mature. Parang alam na alam mo ang tungkol sa mga ganitong bagay."

"My parents love having conversations with us over dinner. Stuff like that are often talked about and discussed by our family."

Hindi naiwasang mainggit ni Ae, ngunit sa kabila no'n ay hindi rin niya napigilang humanga sa pamilya Shault. Looks like she really got Linel wrong. Mukhang hindi nga biro iyong mga pinagsasabi nito noon na investments, bahay, at kung ano-ano pa. Maybe Linel just really listens to his dad.

She flashed a broken smile. "Sana ganyan din kami. Sana nag-uusap-usap din kami kapag magkakasama kami sa bahay."

Kumunot ang noo ni Linel. "Don't you?"

Malungkot siyang umiling saka niya pinakawalan ang mabigat na hangin sa kanyang dibdib. "We're like strangers who are forced to live under the same roof. My mom would often busy herself gardening while my Dad spends his morning reading newspapers. Ni hindi ko sila naririnig na nagbabatian man lang. Hindi ko rin matandaan kung kailan ko sila huling nakitang sweet sa isa't isa."

Gumuhit ang awa sa mga mata ni Linel. "I don't wanna judge your father. I'm not justifying your mother's actions either, but if your mother had to sleep with another man to help him secure a position, then there's definitely a problem with the safety he was offering her. Sabi rin ng daddy ko, hindi manlalamig ang babae kung palagi pa ring nililigawan kahit kasal na."

Lumamlam ang mga mata ni Ae. "I hope my parents could talk about their issues. Ayaw kong maipit ako sa gitna."

"Let's pray for that." Hinagod nito ang likod niya. "If you wanna cry, it's fine. I won't leave your side."

Ae filled her lungs with enough air before she drew small circles on Linel's chest. "K-Kapag . . . umalis ka na ba para . . . i-pursue ang pangarap mo, would you . . . still call me or . . . message me?"

"Of course," mabilis nitong sagot.

Nilunok niya ang bara sa kanyang lalamunan. "B-But what if I'd . . . reject you . . . before you leave the country?"

"Then I'd pursue you again."

"Why?"

"Because I cannot entrust your heart to someone else when I know I could love you better than anyone could."

Ae sighed. "Kung makapagsalita ka, parang siguradong-sigurado ka na sa'kin samantalang ang babata pa natin, Linel. Imposibleng gusto mo pa rin ako oras na makita mo na ang mundo."

Linel flashed a confident smirk as he cupped her cheek. "Watch me . . ."