Chapter 2
2017 Words
One of the main businesses of the Lius lies in jewelry. All those fine precious ornaments with rare stones, Liu Jewelry produces them. All kinds and types, in every category.
I have a keen eye when it comes to them. The reason why I have a special class about it. Ahma saw my potential and she decided to nurture it. I can easily spot a valuable gem in a second, even if it is surrounded by different stones.
Just like what I am seeing today. Kadarating ko lang sa Pilipinas at pagkatapos magpahinga, nagdesisyon akong puntahan si Ahia sa pinapasukan nito. That's where I saw him, the beautiful gem I have ever seen, the rarest of them all. There are so many stones scattered but he stood out the most.
"Corrine..."
Bahagyang nawala sa lalaking nakangisi na nasa di-kalayuan ang atensyon ko nang lumapit sa akin ang kapatid ko. I already informed him about my arrival and by the way I see it, mukhang okay naman s'ya rito.
I thought he's trying to get by, na baka naho-homesick s'ya and he misses Luceanna but no, Ahia looks happy... and carefree.
"How's your flight?" Ahia kissed my forehead.
"Fine..." I lazily glanced at the gem I found. He really piqued my interest.
Ahia followed my gaze. Nakalapit na rin sa amin ang tatlong lalaking kanina lang ay nasa may gate ng eskwelahan. Saka ko lang napansin na hindi sila pare-pareho ng suot. The other two are wearing the school's uniform while Ahia and my special gem is wearing a uniform for maybe, soccer?
The one with dimples smiled widely. "Hello!"
I looked at his smiling face then to his hand he offered. Looks so formal yet casual. This one is a heartbreaker for sure.
I ignored him and eyed my brother. "Ahia? Who are they?"
"Classmates," he replied. He pointed to my special gem. "And he's my teammate."
"This is Sebastian," pagpapakilala ni Kuya sa lalaking natatawa dahil hindi ko tinanggap ang pakikipag-kamay. "This is Julian Christian and this is Alfonso Ian."
Agad na naglahad ako ng kamay sa huling lalaking binanggit n'ya. "Corrine Ayra Liu."
Alfonso frowned. I saw how he smirked before shaking his head. Saglit din muna s'yang tumingin kay Ahia bago tinanggap ang kamay ko.
"Hello, kiddo." His voice is cold yet...
Hindi ko pa naiisip kung anong salita ang idudugtong doon nang bitawan n'ya ang kamay ko. I looked at my hand before putting it down.
He never shook my hand, tinanggap n'ya lang talaga pero wala pa yatang dalawang segundo bago binitawan.
"Seems formal, Ahia." Pinagtaasan ko ng kilay ang tatlong kaklase ng kapatid bago bumalik sa sasakyan.
"Ohh!"
"Wala pa si Letti!"
Hindi ko alam kung tungkol saan ang pinag-uusapan nila pero hindi ko na nilingon. Pagkalapit sa sasakyan ay mabilis akong pumasok sa loob niyon.
The car's tinted. Malayo kong nakikita ang nangyayari sa kapatid at sa mga kaklase nito.
And what did he call me? Kiddo?
I sighed. I shouldn't complain, though. I'm really a kid.
I saw how Alfonso frowned and laughed. Hindi ko naririnig ang pinag-uusapan ng apat pero mukhang masayang-masaya s'ya. Ganoon din si Ahia. He's having fun, really.
"That Alfonso Ian, who's that?" Hindi ako nakapagpigil at tinanong ko ang nasa driver seat. He's Ahia's personal assistant and butler.
"The youngest of the Zaragosas, Miss Corrine," Mori responded. "Anak ng business-tycoon, katulad ng dalawa pa."
Hindi na ako nagsalita. I pulled my phone from my bag and typed Alfonso's full name. Hindi nga ako nabigo, kaagad kong nakita ang profile ng lalaki. Hindi naman mahirap hanapin lalo na at mula sa kilalang pamilya rito sa Pilipinas.
Zaragosa...
Sa halip na basahin ang lahat ng detalye, I closed the site and put down the phone. I unconsciously looked at him again.
What a waste, he's really a special gem. I found him, yes... but he's not Chinese.
"I'm expecting you to be gloomy." That's what I told Ahia on the second day of my stay in the Philippines.
"Gloomy?"
We're having breakfast. Regular ang schedule ng schooling n'ya and he also have few advance lessons after school. His schedule is packed but he looks excited and giddy.
I showed him my three fingers. "Three months. You're away from Luceanna for three months and you're not even sad."
He just chuckled and continued eating. Hindi man lang nag-abalang sagutin ang tanong ko.
I stayed in the Philippines for three days. Hindi ko na ulit nakita ang special gem na teammate ni Ahia. Hindi na rin naman ako nagkaroon ng interes ngunit hanggang sa huling minutong nandoon ako sa bansang iyon, I prayed to at least see him. Even for the last time. But it didn't happen.
"So?"
Inilapag ko sa gilid ng study table ang eleganteng boteng naglalaman ng ginagawa kong cranes. One hundred and three pinkie cranes. I did a lot when I went to the Philippines.
Harper tapped my arm. "How's your Ahia?"
Sandali kong sinulyapan ang hindi natapos na crane dahil mukhang hindi na makakapaghintay si Harper. Kanina pa rin s'ya nagsisisi dahil kung alam lang daw n'ya, sumunod na s'ya sa akin sa Pilipinas. Imposible nga lang iyon dahil nagbakasyon sila ng pamilya n'ya sa Afghanistan.
"He's good." I gave her a short smile.
Ahia's more than good. He's having the time of his life. Sa ilang araw ko sa Pilipinas, I saw him laughing and smiling like an idiot. May ka-video call din s'ya and he's acting like an annoying love-sick teenager.
I don't know what happened to him. Hindi na rin ako nagtanong dahil natatakot ako sa maaari n'yang isagot.
For just a few months, Ahia changed a lot. He's not that cold and stiff anymore. He's no longer our Ahma's puppet. He's his own person now.
"Good for him." Harper's voice cut into my thoughts. "Siguradong nag-a-adjust pa ang kapatid mo roon."
I just nodded. My best friend continued blabbering about something I couldn't understand.
"What I cannot fathom is Luceanna's influence to your Ahma..."
Muli akong tumango.
Harper frowned, her small forehead creased. "I mean, how can she influenced your Ahma just like that?"
Kung hindi lang kami pareho ng iniisip, baka hindi ko na sinang-ayunan ang sinabi n'ya. But I know better.
I triggered Luceanna. Hindi ako sigurado pero sinubukan kong laruin ang kagustuhan n'yang magkaroon ng balita tungkol sa kapatid ko. Iyong balitang mangagaling sa pamilya nito, sa akin.
Hindi ko nga lang inaasahang may ganoon s'yang impluwensya kay Ahma. Malaki ang paniniwala kong isa si Luceanna sa naging factor kung bakit nakabisita ako sa Pilipinas. Dahil kung sa normal na pagkakataon, hindi papayag si Ahma na pumunta ako roon.
"Does it mean na your Ahma's looking at her differently na?" Shock na napatayo si Harper. "Or did Luceanna use a potion to your Ahma?"
I chuckled. "Stop your idea of witchcrafts, Harper."
I didn't know or how Ahia convinced our parents, especially Ahma but he never visited China since he went to the Philippines. Normal lang naman iyon but during holidays? New year?
I have a fear on my heart for the possible reason but I kept it. It's just my foolish thought.
"How are you, Corrine?"
During those holidays he failed to go home, we're celebrating through a video call.
"Hmm..." I raised my brow. "Kung Hei Fat Choi, Ahia."
He looks shocked. "Oh!"
I smirked. He forgot this day, katulad noong mga nakaraang taon.
"So, when are you going to visit here? Is Beijing your home or Manila?"
He chuckled but didn't give me an answer.
He's on his study room. His table is on its messy state, there are so many papers, neat and crumpled.
His study table looks depressing due to the bulk of papers on it but Ahia... he looks the opposite. I saw how he tried to suppress his smile. He's looking at his phone.
I sighed. Should I ask him? Should I remind him of the responsibilities awaiting for him? I should... but I don't have a heart to remove his smile and those spark on his eyes.
"Macky! Bumaba ka na rito!"
A very familiar tone slapped my thoughts away from me.
Familiar? Paano ko nasabing pamilyar? It's been years since I heard that, isang beses nga lang. Kaya hindi ko alam kung paanong nagawa ko pang makilala ang boses na 'yon.
"Who's that Ahia?"
"Oh?" He laughed. "That's Alfonso, the friend you saw with me. Remember him?"
I blinked. Kuya responded to Alfonso while I was looking at him through the screen.
Yes, of course. Hindi ko nakakalimutan si Alfonso. Kahit ang boses nito.
But what made me speechless is the term Ahia used. Friend. Not a classmate or teammate. He's now having friends. His own set of friends, hindi iyong mga kaibigang pinili ni Ahma na kailangan n'yang pakisamahan.
"You okay, Corrine?"
I forced a smile before nodding.
"The friends you're talking about..."
"Hmm?"
"They're at your place," I voiced out my observation.
Mackisig Liu is not the type who'll share his space. Ni hindi s'ya madaling magtiwala. He was trained to doubt everyone who'll approach him. So he can avoid being used. Alam ko ang tungkol doon dahil itinuro rin sa akin ang kahalagahan ng pagbibigay ng tiwala, kasama na ang disadvantage nito.
"Wait..."
Mabilis na kinuha ni Ahia ang cellphone n'ya at dahil hindi naman pinatay ang tawag, malinaw kong nakita ang mabilis na pagpapalit ng paligid. He's almost running down the stairs.
"Ang tagal mo naman! Nandito na sina Sebi at Letti..."
That voice...
"I'm talking with my sister, Alfon. Nasaan na sila?"
"Nasa kusina. Gustong magluto ni Letticia at nangungulit si Sebastian. You know that idíot. Gustong-gusto n'yang inaasar si Letticia."
"Should I just choke him?" I heard Ahia's irritated voice.
Mukhang nakalimutan na nga n'ya ako dahil kanina pa ako nahihilo sa nakikita ko sa screen.
Should I end this call?
"Dàmn, my sister!" Finally! "Come on, talk to her for a couple of minute."
Hindi ko masyadong naintindihan ang sinabi ni Ahia pero sa halip na ang nakakahilong screen, ang nakangising mukha ni Alfonso ang bumungad sa screen.
I gasped, my eyes widened. Nasapo ko pa ang dibdib dahil sa gulat. It's been years since I saw him. Una at huli pero ngayon...
"Hello!" Natatawang hinagod n'ya ang batok. "Your brother's a bit busy, kausapin daw muna kita."
Nakatingin lang ako sa screen, sa kanya. He's really good looking. His features—both hard and soft. The sly smirk on his lips. Alfonso's a rare yet perfect gem.
"Kung Hei Fat Choi, Corrine." His voice sounded melodious.
I cleared my throat. He called me by my name.
"You know my name..." Huli na nang ma-realize kong nasabi ko iyon. I unconsciously bit my lower lip to stop myself from talking.
Alfonso chuckled. "Of course, your Macky's sister. We met years ago, right?"
I just looked at him. My tongue is really not working.
"Wait..." Alfonso frowned. "Naaalala mo pa ba ako? Or, do you even know me?"
I eyed his lips. Bahagya s'yang nakangisi.
"Yeah..." I responded after shaking my head. I'm thinking why I felt a strange emotion towards this friend of Ahia.
Alfonso chuckled again. Mukhang wala na s'yang maisip na sabihin dahil ilang beses na s'yang napapakamot sa ulo. Panay din ang tingin n'ya sa kung saan, maybe looking for my brother.
I'm not a kid anymore..." I blurted out. I'm shocked with the declaration I made but I have no regret.
He laughed.
"Oh..." He sat on the couch. "You changed a bit... but still a kid."
I rolled my eyes and he burst into laughter.
"I'm not a kid anymore." I don't even know why I'm trying to have a debate about that. Clearly, I'm still a kid.
"Don't grow up so fast, Corrine..." dagdag n'ya, bahagyang nangingiti. "Adulthood is not really the best way to enjoy life."
I sighed. Ilang taon ba ang tanda sa akin ng isang 'to? Kung makapagpayo, akala mo ay matanda na.
"You're not even that old." I snorted.
Alfonso laughed playfully. "Yeah but I'm still older than you, kiddo."
- Writer
