Erina's Curse (FILIPINO)

Chapter 10

"Why are you still here?"

I asked him after he led me to his car. Basang-basa kami pareho kaya ngayon palang naaawa na ako sa maganda niyang sasakyan. Instead of answering my question, he extended his hand to get something from the backseat.

"Use this," he said while giving me a white towel.

Inabot ko naman agad at binalot sa sarili kong katawan dahil nanginginig na talaga ako sa lamig.

"Pano ka?" I glanced at him dahil wala siyang tuwalya eh halata namang lamig na lamig na rin siya kagaya ko.

"I'll be fine," he said habang ngumingiti ng tipid. "Do you want to change your clothes? Baka magkasakit ka," he added.

May inabot siyang paper bag sa backseat then he handed me a white shirt. Pwede naman siguro akong magbihis dito kasi heavily tinted naman yung sasakyan niya. Kinuha ko ang t-shirt mula sakanya sabay tinaasan siya ng kilay. Nakuha naman niya agad ang gusto kong sabihin kasi tumalikod siya at humarap sa may bintana. I quickly removed his hoodie then my shirt. Kaya pala lamig na lamig kasi naman doble-doble pa ang suot.

"Are you done?" he asked habang nakatalikod pa rin. I finished wearing his big shirt so I told him na pwede na siyang humarap. Inabot ko naman sakanya yung towel para kahit papano mabawasan yung panlalamig niya.

He was drying himself with the towel ng mapatingin ako sa bahay. Naalala ko nanaman kung anong nangyari kaya hindi ko mapigilang umiyak. This is the first time na nagkaroon kami ng ganito kalaking away. And I'm not used to it kaya wala din akong ideya kung pano aayusin.

I was crying silently while looking at the window para hindi niya makitang umiiyak nanaman ako. I don't want him to see me like this. Na mahina, na umiiyak.

"Erina....."

"What?" I tried to make my voice sound natural but I think I failed kasi narinig ko siyang nagbuntong hininga.

"Look at me, magkaka-stiff neck ka sa ginagawa mo," he sounded so concern at kung hindi ko lang iniisip sila Kesha, kikiligin sana ako.

"Ayaw...."I refuse to look at him. "Ang pangit ko ngayon kasi kanina pa ako umiiyak."

"Crying isn't a weakness, Erina. Pero kung ayaw mo talagang makita ko na umiiyak ka, I'll look the other way," he said.

Lumingon naman ako kaagad then I saw him na nakaharap na ulit sa may bintana. Since he's not going to see me cry anymore, sumandal ako at tuluyan nang pinakawalan ang pinipigilan kong hikbi. It's like loosing all over again. Back then, I lost my parents, and now, it felt like losing my friends.

Halos sampung minuto na ata akong umiiyak nang abutan niya ako ng bottled water. Kinuha ko naman agad sakanya kasi feeling ko ubos na ang tubig ko sa katawan dahil sa kakaiyak. After crying so hard, kahit papano gumaan naman ang loob ko.

"Thank you," I uttered which made him look at me. He smiled and I smiled back.

Sometimes, what a broken heart needs is someone who's willing to listen to its cries. Just by listening and letting me pour my hearts out, he was able to make me feel better more than what comforting words can do.

"Where do you want to go now?"

"I don't know," I answered him truthfully.

Kasi hindi ko naman talaga alam kung saan ako pupunta. I obviously can't go back in GreyHouse kasi ang bigat bigat pa ng atmosphere sa loob. Baka magkasagutan lang kami ulit kapag bumalik ako.

We all need to cool our heads first. It's better to talk when all the people involved have open minds and calm hearts.

"Just bring me to the nearest hotel," dun na muna siguro ako pansamantala. I'd be risking my safety pero wala naman akong choice. Hindi nalang ako lalabas at mabubuhay sa room service.

"That's risky, Erina. Bakit hindi ka nalang umuwi sainyo?"

He suggested while looking into my eyes. Agad naman akong umiwas at hindi na nagsalita. Wala naman siyang alam tungkol sa pamilya ko, I mean wala namang may alam bukod sa H&H at GreyArea because the company didn't want my family affairs to go in public. Nakakasira naman kasi talaga kung yung hinahangaan mo may broken family. Masisira yung perfect status ko. The fans think na nasa abroad lang ang mga magulang ko at ayaw ng magrelocate kasi nandun ang buhay nila.

Which is kind of the truth. NOON. I grew up in Spain because my mom is half-portuguese na nag migrate sa Spain noong kabataan niya. Doon na sila nagkakilala ng tatay ko. My dad works in a factory while mom works as a Sous chef in a local restaurant near our home. Akala namin noon kapag umuuwi ang tatay ko dito, binibisita niya lang ang mga magulang niya. Hindi namin alam na may asawa't anak pala siyang inuuwian dito.

Growing up, lagi akong sinasabihan na kapag nag-ayos lang ako ng kaunti, lalabas yung natural na ganda ko. Because of my mom, I have this Latina look which distinguishes me from other idols, mukha akong espanyol, tapos ang puti puti ko pa dahil naman sa tatay ko. Another feature which set me apart from others is my green eyes. Only about 2 percent of the world's population have green eyes at isa ako sa may ganoong kulay ng mata. Back then, hindi ko naman inakalang magiging performer at model ako, I didn't care about my looks at wala namang oras sila Mama na mamili pa ng mga magagandang damit kasi hindi naman kami mayaman, but we were happy. I just didn't know na may katapusan pala yung kasiyahan na yun.

"I'm sorry. I don't know your story but I can clearly see from your eyes that it's a sensitive topic," he looked at me apologetically.

"It's okay."

It is a sensitive topic pero hindi ko naman ikakagalit kung mababanggit niya. I can't change my past and my past is tragic but it made me who I am today.

"What do you think of staying in my condo for a while?"

"W-What?"

He was looking at me with serious eyes but we're also both blushing. Seryoso ba siya?

"Soo Hyun, I'll be okay. Ayokong makaabala sayo," umiwas na ako ng tingin kasi ang awkward. I love him pero hindi pa ako ready for mature roles! Wala akong experience as in.

"Look Erina," he made me looked at him. "I have two guest rooms and I'm always busy kaya halos hindi mo rin ako makikita sa condo. Please do this for me kasi hindi ako makakatulog knowing that you're staying in a hotel alone when I could've helped you. You have a big name and that comes with a great threat to your security."

May point naman siya. Staying in a hotel is like living in the open. And I wouldn't trust their security dahil madami ng actors and actresses na lumabas ang personal information dahil sa pagli-leak ng mga hotel staffs.

"Fine, but I promise that I'll moved out as soon as possible."

Sana magkaayos na kami agad nila kesha. Ilang oras ko palang silang hindi nakakasama parang may kulang na kaagad sa pagkatao ko. I miss them already.

He smiled at me then started driving. Padilim na rin kasi mag-aalas singko na. It's still raining outside kaya nakatingin nalang ako sa labas ng bintana. Unti-unti nang binubuksan ang city lights kaya ang sarap pagmasdan. Naabutan kami ng traffic kaya almost 7pm na nang mag-park siya ng sasakyan sa third floor parking lot. Inalalayan niya akong bumaba and then he led me to the VIP elevator. Dahil nga VIP, nakarating kami sa top floor ng walang ibang sumasakay sa elevator.

He opened the door and led me inside. I wasn't wrong when I thought na sobrang laki siguro ng condo niya nung sinabi niyang may dalawang guest room. Hindi naman kagulat gulat kasi nga penthouse 'to. The condominium is loft type kaya may hagdan akong nakita sa gilid. The interiors are mostly white and wood at may kaunting bahid ng itim.

He led me to I guess one of the guest rooms and then left me there to get some clothes na pwede kong gamitin. The guestroom didn't look like a guest room at all because it's spacious at may sarili pang entertainment area. There's also an en suite bathroom kaya dun ako dumiretso para maglinis ng katawan.

I was applying shampoo when I heard someone knocked on the bathroom door.

"I'll leave the clothes in the bed," I heard him said. Sumagot naman ako at nagpatuloy nang maligo.

After taking a bath, I wore his shirt, boxer shorts and jogging pants. Ang baduy pero wala naman akong choice. I let my hair down kasi wala akong suot na bra. After checking myself in the mirror, lumabas na ako at dumiretso sa sala.

Wala akong naabutang Soo Hyun at sobrang tahimik kaya baka naligo din siya sa kwarto. After a few minutes, I saw him walking down the stairs with his black shirt and black shorts, may nakasabit pang tuwalya sa balikat niya and he's drying his wet hair.

"I ordered Chinese food for dinner, is that okay?" he asked me tapos tinabihan niya ako sa sofa. I said it's okay at dahil wala ng nagsasalita saamin, he turn the TV on para magkaingay naman.

After a few minutes of awkward silence, narinig naming may nag-doorbell. Probably the food already. Siya na yung tumayo para kunin yung pagkain. He quickly came back at inayos na ang pagkain sa center table sa sala. Kung sabagay, mas gusto ko rin na kumain dito kaysa dun sa dining table na pagkalaki laki. We both sat on the floor and started eating.

"How did you know that Chinese food's my favorite?" I asked him while eating my Chow Mein.

Napahinto naman siya sa paghigop ng Wonton Soup at napatingin sakin with creased forehead.

"What?"

"Are you stalking me? Crush mo 'ko, noh?" I continued asking habang may kagat pang Kung Pao Chicken.

He clicked his tongue and continued eating. Nagulat nalang ako when he handed me the Shrimp Vermicelli. He's looking at me na parang inuutusan akong kumain nalang at tumigil sa kakadaldal.

"You're not a good stalker kasi hindi mo alam na allergic ako sa hipon"

"Isn't that proof enough na hindi ako stalker?" he told me with a smirk.

"Ay sayang naman, dapat i-stalk mo 'ko para naman makakita ka ng maganda"

"Acid Rain ba yung ulan kanina kaya kung ano-ano na sinasabi mo?"

"Acid ka ba?"

"Bakit?"

"Wala curious lang," I said then he laughed out loud. Natawa nalang din ako kasi nakakahawa naman talaga yung tawa niya.

"I thought you have a pick-up line or something"

"I tried to think of an entry kaso nakakabobo ata yung ulan kaya wala ng laman ang utak ko"

"Are you feeling si--"

"Kundi ikaw lang......."

His worried face slowly turned red kaya nagtawanan nanaman kaming dalawa. What I said was so corny pero mukhang natuwa naman siya kaya okay na rin.

We were almost done eating when I saw the last piece of Xialongbao. I tried to quickly pick it up with my chop sticks pero nagkasabay pa rin kaming kumuha. We looked at each other at parehong ayaw bumitaw.

"This is my favorite."

"This is my favorite too," hindi talaga siya nagpapatalo kahit na ang sama sama na ng tingin ko sakanya.

"Please," I quickly changed my tactics and displayed my pleading face.

"Hindi gagana 'yan. You look like a duck," he answered with a smirk na nagpabalik ng masamang tingin ko sakanya.

"Excuse me! Ganda ko kaya. Ikaw panget..."

"Ah so may crush ka sa panget?"

"Kapal mo!" pilit ko pa ring tinanggi. Hindi ko naman kasi talaga siya crush kasi diba mahal ko na siya?

"Hindi ba totoo?"

"Oh sige fine! crush kita pero hindi na ngayon kasi sinigawan mo 'ko kanina!"

His smile quickly vanished at tuluyan nang binitawan ang Xialongbao kaya nakuha ko na at naisubo. Tuwang tuwa ako habang ngumunguya at aasarin ko na sana siya when I see how pained his expression was.

"Huy....joke lang naman," I said then placed my chopsticks on top of the center table.

"Erina, I'm sorry," he looked at me with apologetic eyes. "I didn't mean what I said earlier. I just didn't like the feeling of being doubted. I'm sorry that I raise my voice like that," he added.

"I'm sorry din kasi nangialam ako. Wala naman akong karapatan na magta--"

"No! It's okay. I like it when you're curious about me," he said kaya napaiwas naman ako ng tingin. We were silent again for a few minutes. He sighed heavily then started to talk. 

"Her name's Theia," he started to say but I quickly cut him off.

"Hindi na kailangan, hindi mo naman kailangang magpaliwanag."

"I just wanted you to know about my past, because I didn't want the past interfering with my present......and future," he continued to say while looking into my eyes.

I'm happy na nago-open up siya sa'kin. He seems like giving me assurance kahit na hindi ko naman hinihingi. Wow, Erina. Assurance agad bakit kayo na ba? I heard my conscience pero binalewala ko nalang. I smiled and nodded for him to continue.

"I've known her since middle school. We became together for three years then she broke up with me three years ago to chase her dreams abroad. I tried to take her back and even beg her to be with me again but then last year, I heard that she became a successful fashion designer in New York," he said while smiling at me.

"I realized that she flew so much higher when I wasn't with her. That the love we had was weighing her down. Just recently, I visited her in New York to attend one of her shows and congratulate her."

She must have been a one hell of a woman to let someone like Soo Hyun go. I can clearly see in his eyes that he's sincerely glad about her achievements. Ang swerte naman niya.

"We sometimes see each other on international shows but that's just about it," he shrugged his shoulders then started to clean the table.

"Thank you for telling me," I exclaimed habang tinutulungan siyang magligpit.

Dahil parehong pagod, we both decided na bumalik na sa kanya-kanyang kwarto para magpahinga. We said good night to each other at tuluyan na siyang umakyat sa hagdan.

Nakahiga lang ako sa malambot na kama while staring at the ceiling kasi hindi ako makatulog. I'm bothered with how Soo Hyun uttered her name with affection. Kahit sinabi niyang tapos na sila, iba yung mga pumapasok sa utak ko. Dahil hindi talaga ako mapakali, lumabas ako ng kwarto at umakyat sa hagdan. Kakatok na sana ako sa pinto ng kwarto niya when I heard him talk. Hindi niya siguro tuluyang naisara ang pinto.

"Fucker! You're not helping," galit na may halong tawa niyang sabi sa kausap niya sa telepono.

"I'm using all my strength to stop myself from kissing her."

Hindi na ako nakatiis at kumatok na sa pinto. He was so shocked when he saw me standing in the door way. Agad naman niyang binaba ang telepono at tumingin sa mga mata ko.

"Do you need anything?" Oo, ikaw.

"I'm not Theia," agad namang kumunot ang noo niya pagkarinig sa sinabi ko.

"Marami rin akong pangarap but I'm not Theia."

"Look Erina, I kno---"

"Hindi kita iiwan."

I was determined to keep my word. I really am. But my love for him wasn't selfish. My love for him was strong enough to give him up and let him go for the sake of others, because his love taught me that sacrificing was worth it when you do it for the right reasons.  

Author's Note:

Xialongbao = Yummy

You all should try it.