I See You

Theo

"The r**e case?" Mrs. Martins butt in.

"Yes po."

"Oh my gosh, congratulations! That was a tough case."

"Yes. Dun nga po ako pinakanahirapan. Aside from the fact na mahina talaga ang ebidensya namin ay dagdag sakit sa puso ko ang estado ng buhay ng akusado. He is old at kahit pisong pambayad ay wala. So it was a pro bono case."

"Jesus! You're so adorable and kindhearted. I am very sure your parents are very proud of you now darling." The old lady extended her hand and touched hers. Muntik na nga siyang maluha sa ginawa nito. For the longest time, ngayon lang niya muli naramdaman ang pagmamahal sa ibang tao.

She's living alone almost all her life.

"Thank you very much." She smiled her most sincere smile.

"And we are so proud of you." Sabi naman ni Mr. Martins.

"Thank you for helping and guiding me all throughout these years."

"Para ka na rin naming anak, Via."

"Your child is very lucky to have you both."

Dahil sa sinabi ay naalala ni Mrs. Martins ang dahilan kung bakit hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin nila nagalaw ang pagkain. "Oh nasaan na ba siya? Baka gutom na ito si Victoria."

"No, I'm okay po Tita."

"Andy, tawagan mo si S---"

Hindi na nito natapos ang sinasabi ng biglang sumulpot si Theo. At dahil nakatalikod si Victoria sa entrance ay hindi nito napansin ang dumating.

There's nothing more agonizing than this dinner. This was supposed to be one of those usual days she has - meeting with clients, talk with friends and associates and work, until the Martins' matriarch called her for dinner.

"Are you Okay, Via?" Mrs. Martins asked her out. She wondered why the environment suddenly turned cold when her son arrived.

No one dared to speak a word and she wondered why Olivia looked sick as soon as she saw Theodore. "Is there something going on? She wondered but did not blurt it out.

"Yes, Tita." She smiled, hiding the heart wrenching pain. God knows how much she forced herself to smile despite the pain that she's feeling right now. Sitting next to the guy she's been longing for for years is not easy, not at all.

"Are you sure? You looked bothered and sick." She asked but Via just gave her innocent smile.

"I am very sure Tita. I'm just a bit tired but I am completely fine."

She thanked all the angels when the old lady smiled. Mukhang napaniwala niya ito.

It was the longest dinner she ever had. Wala siyang ibang hiniling na sana matapos na ang gabi para makauwi na siya. She can't stand for few more hours being in one house with the guy she hates. Yes, she hates him...so much it makes her heart breaks in to tiny pieces. Galit siya dahil iniwan siya nito pero mas galit siya dahil parang wala lang sa lalaki ang pagkikita nila muli.

Ilang minuto matapos silang mag-dinner ay nag-aya ang matanda sa study nito to discuss about her Will. Olivia sighed. "Finally. After this I can go home." She told herself.

"Now that we are all here, I want to talk about my Will." The old lady said. She just stayed quiet, trying her very best to avoid his stares. "This is why I asked you to come home, Theo."

"Mom, you don't have to make a Will. Stop talking as if you're gonna die 'cause you are not. You are strong and please I hate talking about you dying or what." Olivia knows when he is annoyed...and he is sure as hell that he is very annoyed right now.

"I am doing this for you. How many years have you stayed abroad? I did not meddle with your life there because aside from the fact that you will not listen to me like what you did all these years, I know you were in love with that girl...That's why you left diba?" His mother shot him with death glared. Pero sa halip na maapektuhan sa sinabi ng ina ay iba ang naramdaman niya. He felt sadness...and guilt. When his mother mentioned about his ex, there was a lump on his throat and there was a pang of pain in his heart.

He looked at Olivia. She just stayed quiet and seriously looking at his mom. Blangko ang ekspresyon nito.

"Mom, please let us not involve her in this conversation."

"And why not?" His mother snapped.

"Because it's irrelevant!"

"Irrelevant? Really now, Theodore?" May halong sarcasm ang tinig nito.

"Mom---"

"Shut up now, Theo. I gave you those years, now it's my time. You don't have a choice but to listen!"

The meeting lasted for less than an hour. Wala namang masyadong kondisyon ang mama niya because she can't deprived him of his inheritance when the time comes. But because his Mom is cunning and intelligent, she was successful on her plan. Since Theo was in primary school, he hates his Uncle. His Mom's younger brother because of his lifestyle. His uncle is an example of a happy go lucky person na walang direksyon ang buhay. He just go to different clubs almost every night, hook up with girls, spend his shares from his dad, asked money from his older sister, do drugs, went to jail several times and no direction in life. And now that his Mom told him that if he will not make his life better this time, she will give a part of her wealth to her younger brother.

He never felt so annoyed until he heard his Mom. There is no way in hell he will make this happen. Tama na ang ilang taong pagiging dependent nito sa Mama niya. His Mom is always the savior and he doesn't want to give his uncle the easy life. He deserves to work his ass off in order to eat three times a day.

"Think about it, Theo. I am serious." His mom stood up and went out. Sumunod naman dito ang kanyang ama na walang imik. It looks like he knows her plans already.

It was almost too late when he realized na wala na palang ibang tao sa study kundi siya at ang kanyang dating kasintahan.

Olivia.

She was about to grab her bag when he spoked.

"Olivia." It was so low it was almost a whisper.

She did not reply. Nagtuloy-tuloy lang ito sa paglalagay ng mga gamit nito sa attache case. He's not sure kung hindi ba nito narinig o sadyang hindi lang siya nito pinapansin. He noticed his cold eyes the first time he saw her after many years...After he left her.

"You're a lawyer now." He said, this time a bit louder.

She did not speak but he saw how she stopped from putting her phone to her bag.

"I'm glad to see you again after all-----"

She faced him. Halos hindi niya nakayanan ang nakita niya. Her eyes were full of pain, sadness, hatred and longing. "I'm fine. Now, I'll take my leave." It was the shorted reply he heard from her and he knows why.

"Can we talk?" He said, not thinking twice his actions and words. Alam niyang masyado siyang naging mabilis. Hindi na niya inisip kung ano ang sasabihin niya. It felt like he needs to say something to stop her from leaving. It's crazy how much he wanted her not to leave when he was the one who left her before.

"Set an appointment with my Secretary, Sir." She said with full of confidence. The sadness and all those emotions he saw earlier were all gone. All he can see is the strong Oliva.

"Olivia I wan---"

"You can call me Atty. Al-Ani, Mr. Martins." She smiled, pero nakita niya na hindi ito umabot sa kanyang mga mata. "If you'll excuse me."

It was too late for him. Nakalabas na ito ng silid na hindi man lang siya binigyan ng tingin.

"f**k!" He screamed as soon as the door went close. "f**k this!" He wanted to run after her and explain pero alam niya na hindi pa ito handa. Nakita niya ang pagkagulat nito kanina habang papalapit siya sa ina niya. Nakita niya kung paano nanubig ang mga mata nito pero kalaunan ay napalitan ng galit at dismaya.

Bago pa siya nakauwi ng Pilipinas ay alam na niya ang kanyang gagawin. What he did earlier was stupid. Hindi niya dapat ito kinausap. Alam niya na galit ito sa kanya dahil sa ginawa niya but the hell...gusto niyang makausap at mahawakan ang babaeng matagal ng laman ng puso niya. But he was a jerk. He did not see her worth. Mas inuna niya ang babaeng akala niya mahal niya kesa sa babaeng nagmahal sa kanya ng sobra.

"Damn it, Olivia!" Nahahapo siyang napaupo sa couch. Sa tuwing tinitingnan niya ang babae ay pinipiga ang puso niya.

"My Oliva." He badly want to utter these words pero wala siyang lakas. He was a jerk who does not deserve a beautiful and kind hearted soul like her.

As soon as she stepped inside her unit ay pinakawalan na niya ang kanyang mga luha. She cried like hard. She cried so much it makes her heart aches so much in pain and grief. The pain is almost intolerable like before. When she saw him, it felt like her world stopped from spinning. It felt like she stopped breathing. When she saw him, it felt like millions of needles were pricking her heart. Tumingin ito sa kanya na parang walang nangyari sa kanila noon. He looked okay and fine. He looked happy. And it hurts her more because it looked like she's nothing to him when he meant everything to her.

Every second became harder. Every second felt like forever. Buti na lang at hindi siya nadisgrasya habang nagda-drive siya pauwi. She felt like the old Olivia who was so weak and fragile. The old Olivia who cried herself because she was dumped by the love of her life.

Gusto niyang matawa sa sarili niya. Why she's acting this way? Kung noon nga hindi siya pinahalagahan nito, ngayon pa kaya? Why she is so affected and pained?

"Damn!" She shout so much she felt her pain in her throat. "Bakit ka pa bumalik? She was crying so hard while talking. "Bakit ka pa nagpakita? Why does it have to be this painful?" Dinig niya kung paano nabasag ang vase na tinapon niya. Wala na siyang pakialam. She can destroy all her things right now mawala lang ang sakit na nararamdaman niya ngayon.

"Bakit ang sakit pa rin? Bakit?"

Umaga na ng nagising siya. Good thing it was Sunday, hindi niya kailangang gumising ng maaga. She looked at her clock...

10:00 AM

Babangon na sana siya ng maramdaman niya ang ulo niya. Sumasakit ito and she knows why. She cried herself to sleep....again...for years.

She sighed. She doesn't want to start her day with a heavy heart pero sa twing naaalala niya ang nangyari kagabi ay hindi niya mapigilan ang mapaiyak. "Damn, Olivia. You're not a baby, stop being so childish. He's just an ex." Alo niya sa sarili.

She settled on the corner of his bed. She can vividly remember every details that has happened at the Martins' Mansion. It was agonizing..very agonizing she badly wanted to go away.

Alam niyang mangyayari ito. When the old lady said na papauwiin niya si Theo ay alam na niya ang mga posibleng mangyari. She even practiced her expression the moment her and Theo faced each other again. But all those things are not useless. Kahit anong gawin niya, pinipiga ang puso niya sa twing iniisip niya ang lalaki.

Hindi niya namalayan na unti-unti na namang tumutulo ang luha niya. "s**t. When will you stop hurting me, Theo? When?"

She was too occupied about the sudden rush of emotions when the doorbell rang.