Until My Last Breath

Chapter 2

Dane

After the incident, the pulisman brought me to my hotel. Nagpahinga na ako dahil maaga pa ako bukas. I was about to sleep when I remember her name, Keisha? Baka namali lang ang pagbasa ko. 

Tomorrow came and I prepared the things that I need to. When I'm done, I called my sister for more information about this. I am not really interested in this matter but I have no choice but to stand with it. Because if I don't want to, lots of things will be affected especially my family's condition.

"Good morning brother!" She cheerfully said. She is been as hyper as kid. Take note that she is already 29 years old, but she doesn't get tired.

"Anong gagawin ko?" Diretsahan kong tanong. It was evident in my voice that I don't like the task that was given to me.

I heard her chuckled from another line.

"Sorry brother, I can't help myself pft-- pupunta-punta ka diyan tapos hindi mo alam ang gagawin mo. Are you high?" then she laughed so hard like it was the funniest thing she had ever seen.

I irritatedly took the phone away from my ear. Napakatulis talaga ng tawa nito.

"Tsk. Can you just tell me what to do? You are wasting my time." 

She stated the things I need to do and informed me everything. Bumaba na ako sa hotel at nagtanong kung saan pwedeng bumili ng kotse. Hindi ako magco-commute. I can buy whatever I want in just a snap. I took the taxi to get in the mall and payed him 1000 peso bill. I don't have a change, neither a coin.

I bought car and smirked as I sent it to dad. No way he'll limit me. Ako magsu-suffer? Hell no. I already went here by bus and I couldn't take it. Madaming baliw sa byahe, just like that girl. I still couldn't forget how she suspected her when she is not my type.

From Dad:

Dane! What's the purpose of my punishment if you're still like this?!

I chuckled. I told you, you cannot make me sorry. I'm not sorry dad, I already bought one. Instead of answering his text messages, I just sent a sticker of a dog that was laughing his ass off.

I drove to the place where I should be right now. Dad sent me here in this province because of the lot. I don't f*****g know about this, he just ordered me since I am the CEO. f**k that crap, lots of responsibility are already on my hand, dumagdag pa 'to. I didn't even wish to be a CEO, I don't know about businesses and our company. I just wanna take a vacation and do whatever freaking I want. We already have tons of millions, there is no purpose of working. Dapat talaga kumuha na lang siya ng tao para naman siya na lang bayaran. 

Sigh.

If only I have a choice. 

As I arrived at the place, I knocked at the door and a woman in her 50's greeted me. She was wearing a daster, and kinda confuse who I was but as soon as she recognized me, she showed me her genuine smile.

Almost one hour na akong naghihintay dito sa labas ng bahay ng bibilhan namin dahil wala pa raw ang amahin nila. The one who owns the lot. I looked at my phone, alas 10 na pala. 

"Ginoo?" Tawag nito. 

My eyes widened as I saw her. 

"Ikaw?!" 

"Anong ginagawa mo rito?!" she hissed.

I just looked at her blankly. Mula ulo hanggang paa hindi ko maiwasang tignan siya. She doesn't wear any kinds of make up or even a lip balm on her lips. She looked so pale yet her natural beauty made her kinda... pretty, I guess. She is just wearing white T-shirt and a maong pedal. She is as simple as f**k. I never expected to see her right now. 

Kita ko ang inis sa mukha niya. As if I like to see her, too!

"Oh? Magkakilala kayo?" The woman who approached me earlier came nearer to us.

"Nay! Anong ginagawa niya rito?" Her brows furrowed as she looked at me. 

Pinandilitan siya ng mata ng kaniyang Ina saka lumingon sa akin at ngumiti.

"Pasensya na sa anak ko ah? Red days niya kasi," she laughed. Mas lalo siyang nainis at lumapit sa akin. I smiled a little. I see. Why the hell everyone gets pissed when they are at their period? 

"Hoy! Ikaw! Kung balak mong--" 

"Anak naman huwag ganiyan sa bisita. Nakakahiya. Ang bunganga mo, pigilan mo," saway nito saka pumasok na sa loob. 

I chuckled. So this is really her attitude? She's as noisy as bird.

My phone vibrated so I looked at it. My heart skipped a beat as I saw who the caller is. I slided it away, rejecting her call.

"Bakit hindi mo sinagot?" 

I lifted up my head. I never thought her attitude will change just like that. 'Di ko alam na may pagka-chismosa rin pala siya. I didn't answer her instead I went to my car and started the engine. I looked at her with knitted brows. Ano pa hinihintay niya? Sasamahan niya ako diba?

"What? Ihahatid mo ba ako o hindi?" Naiinis kong tanong. I don't know, bigla akong na badtrip simula nang tumawag siya. 

"Hoy hala mister! Okay ka lang? Lalakarin lang natin, baka nakakalimutan mo bundok ito? Kaya lumabas ka na dahil ayaw kitang makasama ng matagal!"

As if I want it too. Mas mabuti pa si Keis-- ugh! Stop it Dane! Don't ever mention her name. 

I let out a sigh and turned off the engine. I went outside and came nearer to her.

Lumakad na siyang mag-isa at iniwan ako. Kaya napatakbo ako ng mahina para mahabol siya. Lakad lang kami nang lakad na hindi nagpapansinan. Hanggang sa dumaan kami sa putikan at namanchahan ang puti kong sapatos.

"f**k!" Galit kong ikiniskis sa puno ang sapatos ko para mawala man lang ang ibang dumi. I heard her chuckled so I glared at her.

"Just laugh if you want too. Hell I care," I spoke while still cleaning my white shoes. I didn't know that this will got stained! Mainit naman ang panahon, bakit may putik dito.

And I was right.. she bursts into laughter after.

"Alam naman kasing bundok ang susugorin, nagsuot pa ng puting sapatos. Boplogs ka ba?" She still laughs, almost closing her eyes. 

"So what are you trying to imply for? I am stupid? Alam mo namang puti ang sapatos ko edi sana pinahiram mo ako," I hissed.

She raised her brows while still smiling. Why does she look so cute in her smile?

"Hindi, ikaw may sabi niyan, saka hindi kita papahiramin 'no! Ano ka sineswerte?" Then she laughs so hard again.

"Dalian mo na nga riyan! Ka lalaki mong tao ang arte mo," she added and left me alone.

Damn that girl! She's really annoying!

Dumating na kami sa palayan nang may nakita akong isang matandang ginoo na papalapit sa amin. Hinalikan naman siya kaagad ni Keish-- Keisha Mendez. Right! She's Mendez not Marquez. 

"Oh, ikaw pala. Halika pupunta tayo sa kabilang bayan para makapag perma ka na. Perma na lang talaga kasi ang kulang," the old man spoke and fixed his things. 

What? Babalik kami ulit? Ang layo-layo na ng nilakad namin tapos babalik lang pala?

"What po?" I repeated, trying to calm my voice.

"Pumunta raw kayo sa kabilang bayan! Bingi mo naman!" I shifted my gaze to this silly woman beside him. 

Ganito ba talaga kakulit 'to?

I looked back to the man and asked again.

"Malayo pa po ba?" 

Fuck. I looked like a kid who's excited to see the city!

"Hindi, mga limang bahay lang ang layo. Malapit lang, ijo. Pasensya kana, nilalakad lang talaga namin dito sa bukid." 

I sighed. I thought I would lost my breath because of this. It sucks. I would never go back here again. I have so much important things to do in my office than this! 

We started walking and when we touched down, we did all the things that needed to. Thank God because dad already managed this s**t, hindi na ako nahirapan pa. It was raining when we went back to their house, so I have no choice but to wait the rain to stop before I totally leave. 

"Nako, hayaan mo munag huminto ang ulan anak bago ka umalis ha? Sobrang dulas ng daan dito sa amin baka mahulog ka sa mga bangin," the old lady smiled. I just nodded my head as a response.

Nahulog na nga ako sa maling tao.

"Thanks po."

She lets me sit on their sofa and handed me a hot coffee. I roamed around to find Keisha but I cannot see even the shadow of her. 

Where the f**k is she? Iniwan siya namin kanina dahil nagpaiwan siya. 

I shrugged when I didn't see her. The hell, why am I looking at her? 

I have decided to opened my phone and got shocked to the missed calls. 75 missed calls, 40 text messages and all are from Keisha. 

Keisha Marquez. The one who left me.

"Dane, please forgive me."

"Dane I went to your house, sinabi sa akin na nasa probinsya ka raw."

"Dane kailan ka uuwi?"

"Baby, please let's talk."

"Baby.. mas pinili kita."

"Baby, mas mahal kita."

I faked a smile. She loves me? I doubt it. Kung alam mo naman pala na mahal mo 'yong tao, bakit ka pa maghahanap ng iba?

What's the purpose of finding someone new if you don't want to lose the one who's staying with you right now? 

I clutched my chest. Nagmahal ka lang naman, bakit kailangan ka pa masaktan?

Love is so foul. No matter how much you tried to keep the person you love, if she/he wants to cheat on you, she/he will cheat. 

Nakakabobo talaga ang pag-ibig. Kasi kahit anong gawin mo, kahit gaano pa kalalim ang pagmamahal mo sa kaniya, nariyan pa rin ang mga oras na gagawin kang tanga, at magpapakatanga ka rin.

How ironic that we all don't want to be hurt yet we are still holding the person who's giving us pain. 

Ang drama ko na.

To love:

Hey, I just read your message. Sure, we can talk. I miss you.

I bit my lower lip before I send.

Fuck, why I can't let go the person who cheated on me?

"Oh." I furrowed my brows as I saw a handkerchief right in front of me.

"Kunin mo na, walang panget dito sa bahay. Panget mo na nga kasi, umiyak ka pa, edi lalo kang pumanget," she playfully said and sat down beside me.

I harshly took the handkerchief and wiped my tears. Damn, why am I crying? This is so gay. 

"It's raining obviously. Nabasa lang ako," I denied.

She raised her brows and formed something o on her mouth. 

"Wow. Edi, kahit thank you na lang, wala?" 

I looked directly on her eyes. I squinted my eyes as I noticed something.

Is she somehow look like my ex-girlfriend?

I shrugged! Why am I seeing my ex-girlfriend's face. 

The rain stopped so I bid goodbyes and went back to Manila right away.

I don't wanna see her face anymore. Mas lalo kasi akong nasasaktan 'pag nakita ko siya, which reminds me of my ex. 

"You did a great job anak. By the way, your secretary gave me her resignation letter. Her mom is sick so she had no choice but to leave the company and take care of her."

I creased my brows.

"What? What about me? My sched?" 

The hell, madami akong gagawin. I couldn't take care of my schedule. I just went home, at ito inabot kong balita? 

"Yeah you badly need it, especially may aasikasohin ako sa state. I will not be here to help you because I'll be there for your mom, I miss her, son." 

One thing I love about my family is they really love each other. They are consistent as if they just met. They are the relationship I wanted. In fact, I used to wish that my relationship with my girlfriend will be the same as theirs. However, unfortunate things happened that caused me to change my mind. After what happened to me, I don't believe in happy ending anymore.

"You should get me one!" I demanded.

"I really don't get you, son. After what happened about you and Keisha bigla kang naging tamad sa lahat ng bagay. In fact, you are better than me because you really love managing things. But what happened now? Palagi kang galit. Palaging mainit ulo mo. You are not the Dane I used to know." I can hear the sadness in his voice.

I guess, people change. There's really nothing constant in this world but change. Everything changes and that's okay.

"Hindi ako magaling dad, kung magaling man ay sana na manage ko nang mabuti 'yung relasyon namin," I answered. Totoo naman.

"Son. In life, don't expect too much. Mapaglaro talaga ang mundo. Madadapa ka o masugatan but always remember to stand up! Yeah, you failed handling relationship, but don't forget that there are still lots of things which you could handle more. Don't stuck with the thing you think you suck, explore more."

I nodded. Dad is really a man of words.

"I already have one for you, okay? You will meet her tomorrow, for now let's rest," he added and left my room.

Napatingin ako sa kama ko. Kinuha ko ang phone ko saka binuksan at humiga.

From love:

I miss you too :<< I'll be there tom. Sa office mo na lang. I love you!

I sighed. Hanggang ngayon hindi ko pa rin napapalitan ang pangalan nito sa contacts ko, I still love her. That's the fact.

I just sent her okay and decided to sleep.

"Dad, are you serious? Siya magiging secretary ko?" I hysterically asked.

Kakapasok lang ni dad sa office ko at ganito kaagad bungad nito.

"Yes. This is my choice son. I badly want to help them," he nodded.

Aysh!

"Why are you so kind to them? We don't even know them. They're not a family friend." I commented.

"No, they are son."

"I'll explain to you if I have time. For now, let's welcome her." He went outside for a second and entered my office again with my new secretary.

Her eyes widened and her lips curved widely. I didn't respond, instead I just gave her a bored look.

"Ikaw pala magiging boss ko! Kung alam ko lang, sana naging mabait ako sa'yo diba? Pero kalimutan mo na 'yon! Hehe, Kiesha nga pala! Kilala mo na ako eh!" daldal niya kaagad.

Yes, it's Keisha. 

Keisha Mendez. The crazy and noisy girl I have met.