Blazing Mirror

BM7

MABUTI na lamang at napakiusapan ko ang ama ni Sage na sa labas na lamang kami mag-usap total ay hindi naman daw tungkol sa paaralan ang pag-uusapan namin. I needed a fresh air too. It sucks to know that me and that f*****g woman is going to share the same air!

Pagkatapos naming mag-order ay naging seryoso ang mukha niya. Sage's father is on his mid 50s. Maraming mga features ang nakuha ni Sage sa kanya.

"I'm sorry, Tito, for being late. Nagkaroon kase ng commotion sa secondary level. What is it that you want to talk about?" Pilit kong pinapatamis ang aking boses.

He smiled a bit. "I'm sorry about you and Sage. Gaustavio told me about your relationship with my son and he’s upset to know that it isn't going well—"

I acted like annoyed. "Dad told you about that? Oh my god, I'm sorry—"

"No, hija, it's okay." Bahagya niyang niluwagan ang kanyang necktie. "I guess my son hurts you that much…" aniya habang nakatingin sa buhok ko.

Fuck, I have no time for this! I have to investigate that woman!

Palihim akong tumikhim. "It's not what you think, Tito. I did this for myself hindi dahil kay Sage. And about my relationship with Sage, it's going fine po. Sadyang nasabi lang 'yon ni Daddy, kase… nadatnan niya kaming nag-aaway ni Sage, but our relationship is definetly going well…"

He nodded twice before buying my explanation. "Don't worry, hija, I'll let him know that I'm aware about what's going on between the two of you."

Ngumiti ako. Marami pa kaming pinag-usapan habang kumakain. We just had a light meal. I'm in a rush. While eating the dessert he offered to me something interesting.

"How can I compensate you for my son's unpleasant act…"

I wiped my lips before I looked at him straightly. "Ganito ba talaga kayo?"

He chuckled at nagkibit-balikat. "What can I say? I'm a businessman, after all."

"Well… give me another break. One week will do."

He smiled before he nodded.

AFTER the light meal, we parted ways. I'll spend my one-week break persuading Daven. Aaminin ko, hindi ko kayang gawin lahat ng plano ko na mag-isa.

Prente akong nakaupo sa isang coffee shop, hinihintay ang isang detective na siyang pinagkakatiwalaan ni Daddy. I want to have a background check on that woman.

Someone cleared his throat on the back where I was seated. Ayokong makita niya ang mukha ko. Alam niya kahit na mga personal na bagay tungkol sa mga Tolentino kasama na roon ang pagpatay ni Ariella kay Astrid.

"I want you to bring me the police record of the woman named Avilianna Castillo." 'Yan ang nakita ko sa nameplate niya. "And also, I want you to track down Daven Cheng's location. Titriplehin ko ang bayad kapag nahanap mo siya ngayong gabi." Tumikhim ako. "11 years ago, may aksidente sa eskinita malapit sa paaralan ng BIS, hanapin mo kung saang hospital dinala ang biktima. Her name is Delia Perez." Tumayo ako at saka nag-iwan ng puting sobre na mayroong laman na pera.

The war that was postponed for so many years is now starting.

PAGKATAPOS kong dalawin si Mommy ay kaagad kong pinaharurot ang kotse pauwi sa bahay ni Astrid. Papalubog na rin ang araw nang makauwi ako. Bahagya kong hinilot ang aking sentido habang bumababa sa kotse. I'm so drained. I want to have a rest.

Napangiwi ako nang makita si Sage na nakaupo sa hood ng kotse niya habang bored na pinapaikot ang susi sa kanyang mga daliri. Bahagya niyang niluwagan ang kanyang necktie. Nakatupi hanggang siko ang kanyang navy blue button down shirt.

He looks hot on blue.

"Anong ginagawa mo rito?" masungit kong tanong.

Bahagya siyang nagpaigtad. Kaagad nagsalubong ang mga makakapal niyang kilay. "What took you so long to go home?"

"Baka buhay ko 'to? Wala kang pakealam," sarkastiko kong wika bago siya tinalikuran.

"The kids are waiting for you, Astrid." The side of his lips rosed when I looked at him confusedly. "Don't tell me, you forgot Abby's birthday?"

Tangina, sino ba 'yang binabanggit niya? I acted like I was surprised because I forgot something. My eyes widened. "Oh my god, I forgot! Let's go!"

Napairap ako nang makasakay ako sa kotse niya nang diretso. Bahagya pang nag-flex ang biceps niya nang nagsout siya ng seatbelt. He's the Adonis of Laguna. I grimaced at my thought.

Sa kalagitnaan ng byahe, hindi ko mapigilang sulyapan ang sarili sa review mirror. Wala na akong make-up. The reason why I didn't change my outfit is because I don't want to get tempted by the bed. Antok na antok na talaga ako.

I sighed deeply before I opened my handbag to have some retouch. Nagkatinginan kami ni Sage ngunit kaagad siyang nag-iwas ng tingin. I sneered at that.

"I prefer your face without make-up." Parang nagpigti yata ang pasensya niya dahil nagsalita siya. Talagang binagalan ko ang aking galaw para asarin siya.

"Well, I have one man to be impressed," panunuya ko habang naglalagay ng lipstick.

Ilang minuto ang dumaan bago siya nakabawi. "I like the color of your hair…"

"You should be. Ikaw ang dahilan nito."

"But it doesn't suit you."

Mabilis pa sa alas singko akong napalingon sa kanya. You know what? We can't stand each other without getting annoyed with each other.

Nang huminto ang kotse niya ay kaagad akong bumaba at padabog na isinarado ang pinto ng kotse niya.

"Mama Astrid!" My eyes widened at disbelief when tons of children are coming to me for a hug. They hugged my thighs, lahat ata sila. Iyong iba ay pumunta kay Sage. May buhat na siyang dalawang bata ngayon at naunang pumasok. Napatingin ako sa isang signboard.

Astrid's Kids.

So this is Astrid's orphanage?

"Good evening po, Ma'am Astrid, kanina pa po kayo hinihintay ng mga bata," nakangiting sabi ng madre.

Pilit akong ngumiti. Hindi ko inaasahan ito.

Kumain muna kami. Isa lamang simpleng handa ang kanilang ipinagdiwang. Lumaki ako sa isang maliit na orphanage kaya hindi na sa 'kin bago ang makipaglaro at makipaghalubilo sa mga bata. I love kids.

"Mama Astrid, ba…kit ang ta…gal niyo po?" tanong ng isang maliit at cute na batang babae, I reached for her cute little hands.

"May inasikaso kase si Mama Astrid ninyo. Huwag kayong mag-aalala, sa susunod na punta ko rito, bibilhan ko kayo lahat ng mga laruan! Gusto niyo 'yon?" tanong ko na siyang nagpahiyaw sa kanilang lahat.

Kaagad nila akong nilubayan nang pinapunta ko sila sa isang staff para ilista ang mga gustong laruan nila. I smiled while staring at them. Gano’n parati ang ginagawa ni Mommy sa t'wing bumibisita siya sa 'min noong mga panahong hindi pa niya ako inampon.

"Nasaan si Abby?" tanong ko sa isang staff nang lumapit ito sa 'kin at inalukan ako ng orange juice.

Nabigla siya sa tanong ko at napayuko. "S-si Abby… w-wala na p-po siya…"

"Uh... Oo nga pala. I'm sorry I lost—"

"Naku! Ayos lang po 'yon. Saksi ako kung paano kayo naging malapit sa isa't isa!"

I smiled at her and nodded softly.

We don't have much time with the kids coz when the clock strikes at 8 pm, kaagad na silang pinapatulog ng mga madre. I smiled widely at them while waving my hands.

"Good Night! Have a sweet dreams!" sabi nila habang kumakaway sa 'kin papasok sa isang bahay.

"Good Night po, Mama Astrid!"

I don’t want to go home so Sage accompanied me. Well, pinapauwi ko na siya pero matigas ang ulo niya. Ayaw niyang umuwi. We’re now in the seashore feeling the sea breeze. Malapit lang ito sa orphanage ni Astrid. Astrid had a taste in choosing the right places.

I never thought of Astrid being the epitome of kindness and empathy. She doesn’t deserve her death! Her death deserves justice!

"I'm taking back my words in the car…" Napalingon ako sa kanya. "All of them played with your hair. It's shiny and soft daw." He chuckled a bit.

Hindi ko alam kung ilang minuto akong nakatitig sa kanya. "I pity you, sinayang mo si Astrid." I said it unconsciously, but I'm not taking it back.

"Huh?"

I chuckled before I drink the whole can of beer. I guess I have a stress reliever now.

His lips pursed, pinakawalan niya ang kanyang mga binti na hawak niya, at tumitig sa kalangitan habang nasa likod ang mga kamay, sinusuportahan ang bigat niya. While I remained still hugging my knees.

"Yeah, I pity myself on that department. You're a soft-hearted person, to the point that, I don't like you because you don't deserve me." He smirked. "I tried to love you, Astrid. But I just really can't. I'm sorry If I was harsh on you on the day before you flew to Australia. I wanted to push you away from me. Ginusto ko ang saktan ka para lumayo ang loob mo sa akin, so that you will despise me... Somehow, I realized that what I have done that day isn't good." Lumingon siya sa 'kin, he shifted his body in my direction, giving his full attention.

"I'm in love with someone else, Astrid. So please… stop loving me. I don't want to be unfair on you anymore."

I felt a little spang on my heart for Astrid. Hinawakan niya ang kamay ko at inilagay doon ang engagement ring nila ni Astrid. Pagkatapos niyang ilagay 'yon ay pilit niyang isinarado ang mga palad ko.

He smiled at me and his dimples showed.

If I don't have intentions on your school, baka pinakawalan na kita kanina pa. But what I needed the most right now is you and your school.

Dumukwang ako palapit sa kanya at kinuha ang daliri niya kung saan dapat nakalagay ang singsing. I slide it to his finger while were looking into each other's eyes. Saglit niyang tinapunan ng tingin ang ginawa ko bago binalik sa 'kin ang tingin. When I successfully put it to his ring finger, umiling siya kaya napailing rin ako at ngumiti.

"I love you so much to the point that I can bear all the pain," I whispered while caressing his face.

I don't know if it's alcohol, but when my eyes landed on his lips, it's tempting me to kiss him! Slowly, I closed my eyes, I can now smell his fresh breath, our lips were about to land on each other when my phone rings.

Pareho kaming napaigtad doon. Napapikit ako nang mariin bago tumayo at sinagot ang tawag habang siya ay napasabunot sa sariling buhok.

It's the detective that I hired.

"Hello?" bungad ko.

"I already found Daven Cheng's location and the other stuff that you want me to find."

"I can't meet you right now. Just send me all the details in my email and I'll call you back once I read it all." Then I hang up.

BUONG byahe namin pauwi ay tahimik. Walang bumasag sa katahimikan. Alexandra, you're such a b***h! Inaamin ko, sa tuwing naglalasing ako, my lips won't survive without kissing someone! f**k! f**k! f**k!

Kahit nasa harap na kami ng bahay ni Astrid, hindi pa rin ako bumaba. Should I say sorry? Don't act like it was your first kiss to him, Alexandra! Don't act like you haven't been kissed by him roughly!

Napairap ako. "Urgh, whatever!" pikon kong paasik at lumabas sa kotse niya. Diretso-diretso ang lakad ko at hindi na siya nilingon pa.

Mabuti na lamang at tulog na ang mga tao nang dumating ako. Nang makarating ako sa kwarto ay kaagad akong sumilip sa bintana and to my surprise, hindi pa rin siya umaalis. Ilang minuto pa ang lumipas bago niya pinaharurot ang sasakyan paalis sa tapat ng mansyon nina Astrid.

Ngumiwi ako bago pumunta sa laptop ni Astrid at ini-log-in ang email account ko. Tinawagan ko muna ang detective bago binasa ang kanyang email. Buti naman at kaagad niya itong sinagot.

"Ayon sa police record ay wala ni isang mang batas natin ang nilabag niya. Her police record is clean and clear."

Kumuyom ang kamao ko. This woman really has the ability to wake the lion inside on me.

"H-how about Delia Perez?"

"September 28, 2005 is the day that she got into an accident. Her corpse was cremated dahil walang nag-claim nito—"

"Kung ganoon, nasaan ito ngayon?!" Nahihimigan ko na ang pagiging desperada sa aking boses.

"Someone claimed it after. Alberto Castillo ang pangalan ng taong kumuha nito. I dig deeper about that and it turns out that, that man is Avilianna Castillo's stepfather. He's the one who dumped Delia Perez' ashes—"

Out of anger, itinapon ko ito sa pader at kaagad itong nabasag. Still not enough! I threw Astrid's laptop too while screaming, I don't care if they'll hear me.

Humigpit ang hawak ko bedsheet habang habol ang hininga. My teeth gritted. 10 years is too much for you. It's time to pay your debt, Castillo. You dig your own grave.

Just like what I said...

Buhay kapalit ng buhay.