My Destiny (Completed)

k5

"Your girlfriend's best friend is my sister," deklara ni Katrina.

As usual, wala na naman itong pasabing darating ito. Gabing-gabi na at matutulog na dapat siya. Pero mukhang hindi kayang ipagpabukas ni Katrina ang balitang dala nito.

"Are you serious?" Though she sure looked dead serious.

"KC is my sister," ulit nito.

"You're kidding."

"She came for Charlize's necklace." Ikinwento nito kung paanong bumalik daw sa event place ang bisita ni Alex at hinanap ang nahulog nitong kwintas.

"Baka magkapareho lang ang kwintas n'yo. O baka napulot niya lang."

"It wouldn't mean so much to her if that's the case. I have her mother's name. Help me find out how she adopted Chalize." Determinado si Katrina.

Nahulog sa malalim na pag-iisip si Francis. If KC was Charlize, it would perfectly explain why he felt comfortable with her. Kahit noong una niya itong makita sa bus, iba na ang pakiramdam niya. He felt connected in a way he had no idea how. But he'd never noticed her necklace.

"Will you help me?" Nagmamakaawa si Kat. "I don't want to tell mama unless sure na ako. But I really believe na siya ang kapatid ko."

"Then sino ang inilibing natin?" Nagdududa pa rin siya dahil nakita niya ang sinapit ni Charlize noon. She was literally burned to death that there's no way one could recognize her.

"That's why we'll have it re-investigated, 'di ba? Please, Francis?" Tiningnan niya lang ito, maipapangako ba niya iyon? Baka mabigyan niya ito ng false hope. "Please, kuya?"

"Okay." Bigla siyang napangiti. It was the first time Katrina called him kuya. Kaya naman napapayag siya nang wala sa oras.

"Yes! Thank you!" Mahigpit itong yumakap sa kanya.

*****

For the nth time, missing in action na naman si Alex. Nasa New York na naman ito to see her latest gown.

It was almost a very boring day dahil walang masyadong gawa sa opisina. Malapit na ang uwian nang magkaroon siya nang 'di inaasahang bisita.

She was busy doing a report when suddenly a very handsome visitor came to her desk.

"Hi, KC!" She looked up to see Francis smiling over her.

"Francis!" Nagulat siya. On impulse ay tumingin sa siya sa opisina ni Alex kahit alam niyang wala roon ang kaibigan. "Wala rito si Alex."

"I know. I really came here for you," he said, still smiling.

"Why?" Dinig niya ang t***k ng puso niyang natuwa na namang makita ang binata.

"I'd like to invite you out for dinner," sabi nito making himself comfortable at the visitor's chair across her table.

"Francis -" papayag ba siya o tatanggi? "Alex might -"

"She wouldn't mind." Mabilis na sagot nito.

"Okay then." She glanced at the digital clock on her desk. "It's still an hour and thirty, Francis."

"I'll wait."

"Are you sure?"

"Would you like to wait inside Alex's office?"

"No. I'm perfectly okay here. Don't worry about me."

Hindi komportable si KC. Pinipigilan niyang tumingin sa gawi nito. But everytime she would risk looking, she would catch him looking at her too. She would offer a shy smile and he would nod.

"Are you really okay there?" Basag niya sa katahimikan. Tapos na niya ang ginagawang report at nagpapanggap na lang siyang abala.

"Yeah," he answered, smiling a bit.

"Okay." She started doodling on a bond paper. On Francis' view, she may look busy writing notes but in fact nagdo-drawing lang siya ng kung anu-ano.

Bakit ba antagal ng oras?

"Aren't you getting bored?" Tanong uli niya nang magtama ang mga mata nila.

"No." But he took his phone and started keeping himself busy.

*****

Francis couldn't help staring at KC. He wanted to see if there could be any trace that she is Charlize.

He had the perfect view to study her face. Doon niya na-realize na may hawig nga ito sa mama ni Katrina. But the similarity is hard to see. Especially that Charlize and Katrina aren't identical twins.

After several times na nahuhuli siya nitong nakatingin dito ay ipinasya niyang abalahin ang sarili sa ibang bagay. But upon browsing his phone, he started searching KC Salvador on google.

Wala siyang masyadong nakitang impormasyon. Hindi marahil mahilig sa social media si KC and even uploading info of herself in the internet.

"Time to go," KC announced kaya napatingin siya rito -- napatitig actually. Because when she smiled, he saw his Tita Cassey. "Are you okay?" She snapped at him.

"I am. Let's go."

*****

"Where are we going?" Tanong ni KC, lumampas na kasi sila sa mga kainan.

"My house," kampanteng sagot ni Francis. "Hahaha, don't look at me like that KC... My sister just wants to see you," dagdag nito sa nagulat niyang reaksyon.

"You have a sister?"

"Actually, foster sister ko. Sa kanila ako lumaki. My parents separated when I was just little. Nobody wanted to take me kasi ayaw ng mga bagong pamilya nila. So I lived with a family friend."

"I'm sorry."

"It's okay, KC. I've learned to live on my own."

Lihim niyang hinangaan ang pagiging matapang ni Francis. He said that the moment he was able to work, pinagtrabahuan nito ang anumang meron ito ngayon.

"If I were to have my own family someday, got to make sure we don't end up like mine," medyo may hugot na dagdag ni Francis but she understood perfectly where he's coming from.

She herself wasn't blessed with a complete family.

"I'm sure Alex would make a perfect wife."

"Yeah." Sinulyapan siya nito. "I just hope she would stop going places without telling me. But I love her still anyway." He smiled.

She smiled back - a hurt smile. Kasi she wanted badly to love him but she could never.

"Malapit na tayo."

Nakatira si Francis sa isang high end na condominium. She somehow expected that. Kahit low profile si Francis, mukha pa rin talaga itong may kaya sa buhay.

*****

"Katrina?!" She was surprised to know na si Katrina ang kapatid ni Francis.

"It's very nice to see you again, KC." Mahigpit na yakap ulit ang sinalubong ni Kat sa kanya.

"Wow, I'm surprised to know you are related."

"She is Alex's sister," sabi ni Francis. Saka nga lang naisip ni KC 'yon. Na legal wife pala ng papa ni Alex ang may kaarawan noon na nanay naman ni Katrina.

"Oops, please let us not talk about my unwanted relation with her," saway ni Katrina.

"Kat, she is your sister," giit ni Francis.

"Francis, stop!" Katrina dismissed the topic. "Come, KC, I cooked your absolute favorite! The exact way you wanted your pasta!"

"How did you know that pasta is my favorite?" Kunot-noong tanong niya.

"Ah!" Napaapuhap ng sasabihin si Kat. "Ahm, Francis told me!"

"What?- " parang na-confused ang binata. "I mean yeah, Alex told me. Every little bit of it -"

KC did not react. Alex hates pasta so they never ate pasta together.

"Let's go." Iginiya siya ni Kat sa dining kung saan special ang pagkakaset up ng mesa.

Over dinner, KC got to know Kat and Francis more. Kahit wala ang pamilya ng binata, lumaki itong kumpleto sa piling ng pamilya ni Katrina. Nalaman din niya na may kakambal si Kat. The same year her twin died, they got to know about Alex. It was hard for her to accept her half sister dahil pakiramdam nito, replacement ito ng namatay nitong kapatid.

"But Alex is still your sister," saad niya, a bit worried how Kat would take it.

"I know. But maybe if Charlize would tell me to accept her, then I may consider thinking about it." Ngumiti ito sa kanya.

Nginitian na lang din niya ito. Impossible nga atang matanggap nito si Alex. Napakahirap magkatotoo ng kondisyon nito.

"We should do this more often," sabi ni Kat nang matapos sila. Nasarapan siya sa pasta, kuhang-kuha ni Kat ang lasang gusto niya. On how she did it, she had no idea.

"Maybe next time Alex can join us? I mean, it's not good to hang out with you guys behind her back -"

"We are not doing anything wrong. Besides," napatingin ito kay Francis, "Hey, KC here would make a better girlfriend than Alex."

"Kat!" Namula siya sa pagiging straight forward ni Katrina. Nahihiyang tumingin siya sa napapailing na lang na binata.

"Why not, 'di ba? I couldn't believe how everyone sees Alex as the perfect daughter, perfect best friend and even the perfect girlfriend when she was an evil sister to me?!"

"There you go again, Kat. Please don't tell those in front of KC."

"Oh, sorry." Bahagya itong kumalma.

KC felt something wasn't right. Parang may dapat yata siyang malaman na kung ano ay di pa niya alam.

"I understand."

*****

"I'm not happy about this." Naka-cross arms si Alex habang sinasabi iyon.

Kinausap siya nito tungkol sa post ni Katrina na kasama siya at si Francis.

"She invited me," she defended. Pasaway na Katrina, imbes na hindi nalaman ni Alex, eh.

"You and Francis didn't tell me. Are you hiding things from me? Like you've already known each other without my knowledge?"

"Alex, I'm sorry." Hindi na niya madeny, may ebidensya eh. "Pero 'yong kay Francis, wala akong idea na siya ang boyfriend mo. I did not tell you because I didn't know it would matter."

"I'm still disappointed with you, KC. I am your best friend! Not Katrina!"

"I know. But I couldn't be rude, right?"

"Still. Don't ever do this again!"

"Okay," sagot na lang niya. First time niyang makitang gano'n si Alex.

Siguro nga dahil hindi sila close ni Katrina kaya ayaw nitong nakikipaglapit siya sa half sister nito, especially, through Francis.

*****

Nagbago si Alex.

Ipinaparamdam na nito kay KC ang kaibahan nila. Na ito ang boss at assistant lang siya, na mayaman ito at mahirap siya. Higit sa lahat, na girlfriend ito ni Francis at kaibigan lang siya.

Does Alex see her as a threat?

Gayunpaman ay ikinalulungkot niya iyon. She had said sorry many times. At hindi pa rin siya sumusuko. Ipaglalaban niya ang friendship nila. Sigurado namang nagtatampo lang si Alex.

Ilang araw na rin niyang iniiwasang makipagkita kina Francis at Katrina kahit ga'no pa kakulit ang huli. She would sacrifice everything to save her friendship with Alex.

"KC, I need you to work on something tonight. Please check your email," sabi ni Alex nang ihatid niya rito ang report na pinahanda nito.

"Alex, I requested for an early out, 'di ba?" Paalala niya, nangako kasi siya sa ina na maaga siyang uuwi dahil may sasabihin umano ito sa kanya.

"Sino ba boss dito?" Iritadong tanong nito.

"Okay. I'll do it," sabi na lang niya at bumalik sa desk niya.

Hindi niya kailangang kontrahin si Alex kasi nakikipagbati siya rito. Sigurado naman na maiintindihan siya ng kanyang ina.

*****

"Francis?" Antok pa si KC nang maalimpungatan dahil sa bahagyang pagtapik sa kanya. "You're here?" Nananaginip yata siya. Why would Francis visit her while she was sleeping?

"KC, let's go home." Dinig naman niya ang gwapong boses nito, meaning kasama nga niya sa panaginip ang binata.

But wait- Home? Bakit? 'Asaan ba siya?

"Don't overwork again next time." He was smiling while gently caressing her face, her eyes only half opened. "C'mon, wake up already. It's almost twelve midnight."

"H-huh?" Bigla siyang napatuwid ng upo. "Where am I? Francis? Is that really you?!" Sunod sunod na tanong niyang tuluyan nang nagising ang diwa niya. "What are you doing here?"

Then she realized na nasa opisina pa siya. Alex had her work over time. She remembered finishing at ten pm. Exhausted and tired, she told herself to rest for five minutes before packing up.

But she must have slept.

"Your mother is worried. She called me." Paliwanag ni Francis. "Hindi ka raw kasi sumasagot."

"I'm so sorry. Naabala ka pa! Really sorry, Francis" hiyang-hiya siya. She even checked kung tumulo ba laway niya habang natutulog siya. "But how did you know I'm here?"

"I asked the guard downstairs kung lumabas ka na. Sabi niya 'di ka nga raw niya napansin. So, we went up here to check kung may tao pa. Good thing the guard knew you well."

"Ah, kasi," ugali niya kasing batiin ang mga guards sa building.

"Anyway, halika na. Ihahatid na kita. I called your mom already that you're okay "

"Sorry talaga." Nahihiya pa rin siya pero touched din sa gesture ng binata. "Pack up lang ako. Saglit lang." Dahil natataranta, nahulog niya tuloy ang bag niya at sumabog sa sahig ang mga laman no'n. "Sorry -" she was picking up her wallet nang masabayan iyon ni Francis ng pagpulot - their hands touched.

On impulse, KC wanted to withdraw her hand at once but Francis held it. Napatitig tuloy siya rito at pakiramdam niya gusto niyang hawakan siya nito habambuhay.

"Please, don't panic, okay?" Francis assured her it was alright, his eyes were the most sincere pair she had ever seen.

"Thank you."

Binitawan na siya ni Francis at tumulong itong ibalik sa bag niya ang mga gamit niya, good thing there were just few of girly things inside her bag - just perfume, powder, comb and her wallet.

"By the way, did you plan to sleep here?" He teased while she was turning her computer off.

"No, I just wanted to rest a bit. Nasobrahan," she admitted.

"Okay. Weren't you afraid here? Mag-isa mo lang at malalim na ang gabi- baka may -" he laughed nang makitang nanlalaki na ang mga mata niya.

"Francis!" Kinilabutan tuloy siya, ni hindi niya iyon naisip kanina.

"I'm just kidding, hahaha." Pero ang ikinagulat ni KC, niyakap siya ni Francis, like trying to make up for scaring her.

Oh well.

"Let's go." Tinulungan siya nitong magsara ng opisina.

Niloloko pa rin siya nito when they were turning the lights off. Kung anu-anong creepy things ang sinasabi nito. Kaya kahit nasa elevator na sila, pigil na pigil niyang dumikit sa binata.

"Come here," sabi nito nang huminto ang elevator sa isang floor pero wala namang sumakay, madilim na corridors lang nakita nila.

"Why?"

"Because someone is beside you."

Napatili naman siya at agad na lumapit sa binata. Nagtago siya sa likod nito actually. While Francis was laughing hard at her reaction.

"KC." Tumatawa pa rin ito pero nang makita nitong namumutla na siya ay agad naman itong nag-alala. "Are you alright? I'm sorry." Niyakap ulit siya nito. "I'm sorry." He kissed her hair.

But she was too scared to pay attention. Kahit noong makababa na sila sa lobby ay parang hinang-hina ang mga tuhod niya. In fact kaya siya nakakatayo ay dahil yakap-yakap siya ng binata.

"KC, I'm sorry."

"I-it's okay. I'm f-fine now." Niyakap niya ang sarili nang bitawan siya nito kaya hinawakan na lang nito ang braso niya para igiya siya sa naghihintay nitong kotse.

When she was settled, she realized she just had moments with Francis that she could treasure forever. Moments she knew were just borrowed - atleast before he gets married to her best friend.