Forgetting Samuel (Filipino)

Kabanata 1: Unang Pag-ibig

IPINAGSALIKOP ni Adelaide Garduce ang magkabilang kamay.

Sinubukan niyang tanggalin sa isip ang katotohanang nakita niya lang naman si Samuel Dalton sa pader ng Ignacio Central Park. Huminga siya ng malalim at nagdisisyong wala siyang gagawing lalo lamang niyang ikasasama.

"No, Adelaide. Hold your horses." she whispered to herself. "He doesn't even know you. He forgot about your whole existence!"

"Mukhang babagyo na ho talaga, Miss Adelaide?" ani Mang Mio nang eksaktong bumuhos ang napakalakas na ulan.

Hindi sumagot si Ady sa kaniyang driver, bagamat ay lumingon lamang ito sa nadaanang lugar. Lumingon sa entrance ng Ignacio Central Park. Tanaw na tanaw niya ang malaking arko kung saan naka-emboss doon ang pangalan ng parke. Gusto niyang makumpirmang nandoon pa rin at nakatayo sa labas ng entrance si Samuel kahit na ang lakas na ng ulan.

Samuel Martin Dalton.

Ang kaniyang unang pag-ibig.

Kababata rin na mukhang nakalimutan na siya.

She's been going to St. Anne Institute for her entire schooling history. She was on her Seventh Grade when Samuel also enrolled there. And during his five year stay at the same campus, he never laid his eyes on Ady. He never noticed her or even approached her.

Or any signs for Ady to figure out that he still remembers her.

Ady then realized that Samuel must have really forgotten her whole existence-after all, she's nothing more than a boring and unsociable being. Ni hindi nga siya sikat sa buong school despite her family background.

She's that invisible.

But it's not like she cared for fame and elegance of life. For what it's worth, she's thankful pa ngang gano'n ang sitwasyon niya dahil ang gusto niya lang ay matahimik ang buhay niya for once.

Parents fighting over non-sense every time na magkakasalubong sa bawat sulok ng bahay? It's too frustrating for Adelaide. Her school life na lamang ang tanging maayos sa kaniya. The only good thing about their business is the fact na pinaglalayo nito ang magulang niya. Dahil kapag nawala ang harang sa pagitan nila, ay sasabog na naman silang dalawa kapag nagkatabi.

"Miss Adelaide? May naiwan ho ba kayong gamit? Babalik ho ba tayo?"

Agad lumingon si Ady sa kaniyang driver at napabuntong hininga, "Wala po, Mang Mio. Let's just go straight home. I'm hungry na rin po 'e."

"Opo, at balita ko 'e magluluto ang Mama ninyo para sa inyo."

Napaangat ng kaniyang kilay si Ady sa matandang pasulyap-sulyap naman sa kaniya sa rear view mirror habang nagmamaneho.

"Really, Mang Mio?"

There was an evident trace of hope in Ady's eyes as they sparkled hearing the sudden news. Her mother never cooked her meals. It's such a surprise to her hearing this news.

"Opo." ngiti ni Mang Mio, at sakto ring pagtunog ng cellphone ni Ady.

Agad niya itong kinuha sa kaniyang bag at saka tinignan kung sino ang tumatawag.

Mama was written on the ID caller.

Pa-lowbat na rin ang phone niya. Mukhang magsha-shutdown na. Nakalimutan na namn ni Ady na mag-inquire about sa latest gadgets. Nagloloko na rin kasi ang kaniyang cellphone. Hindi naman niya gaanong nagamit sa maghapon, ay nade-drain pa rin ang baterya.

Ady smiled so bright though, before answering the call.

"Hey, Ma-"

"I'm sorry, Ady. I don't think I can wait for you. Got an emergency sa office and I asked Nana to cook for you na lang, Sweetie. Bye. Bawi ako next time."

Agad bumagsak ang mga ngiti ni Ady sa labi at saka bahagyang tumango.

"Okay-"

Before she could even complete her sentence ay pinutol na ng kaniyang ina ang linya. Napabuntong hininga na lamang si Ady.

"That's Mama. Hindi daw po tuloy yung dinner, Mang Mio."

Napakamot si Mang Mio sa kaniyang batok, "Nako, Miss Adelaide. Pasensiya na at pinangunahan ko ang surpresa, naudlot tuloy."

"Okay lang ho, Mang Mio." ani Ady at saka binigyan ng isang tipid na ngiti ang matanda sa repleksyon ng mga mata nitong nakatanaw rin sa kaniya sa rearview mirror.

Lumingong muli ang dalaga sa bintana at saka tumingin na lamang sa labas.

Napaka lakas ng ulan. Hindi na niya maaninag ang bawat building at establecimiento na nadadaanan, ngunit napansin niyang muli ang familiar bookstore na pinanggalingan nila, kung saan siya namili ng school supplies.

"Mang Mio? Why are we here again?"

Napakamot muli si Mang Mio sa kaniyang batok.

"Pasensiya na ho, Miss Adelaide. Naikot lang po pala natin ang labas ng parke dahil paikot din ang daan. Masyado ho kasing mabigat ang bagsak ng ulan at hindi na po maaninag ang exit."

Napakapit muli si Ady sa magkabilang kamay bago lumipat ng puwesto sa kabilang bintana. Napaka lakas ng t***k ng kaniyang puso. Sumasabay ito sa bawat mabibilis at maiingay na paghampas ng tubig ulan sa kalsada.

Pakiramdam niya, pati ang kaniyang tainga ay tumitibok at sinasapawan nito ang ingay ng ulan sa labas.

Isa lamang ang nasa isip ng dalaga.

Samuel.

She's wondering if he's still there on the same spot. She swore to herself na kapag nandoon pa rin ang soaking wet figure ni Samuel ay bababa siya upang bigyan ito ng payong.

"Mang Mio, stop the car." utos niya agad sa matanda.

Pakiramdam ni Ady ay manlalambot ang kaniyang mga tuhod kapag lumabas siya ng kotse. Hindi man lang niya ininda ang lakas ng ulan. Tanging ang ideyang nandoon pa rin si Samuel ang siyang nagtutulak sa kaniya upang lumabas.

"Malakas ho ang ulan, Miss Adelaide." pagtutol naman ni Mang Mio.

Ngunit buo na ang loob ni Adelaide at kapit-kapit na ang payong na kanina lang ay nakahiga sa lapag ng kotse, sa backseat.

"I need to do this, Mang Mio. I'll go home, I promise."

"Pero, Miss Ade-"

"Please, Mang Mio. Mama's not home rin naman po. She'll never know."

"Ginagawa ni'yo ho ba ito para gantihan ang Madam? Delikado na ho sa labas at malakas pa ang ulan."

Umiling si Ady, "I just need to do something, Mang Mio. It's an opportunity I'll never get again. Samuel's outside... I'll be back soon, I promise. But I need you to go home na. I'll call you, guys, on my way back."

Napakamot muli ang matanda, "Si Sir Samuel na naman ho ba?" sambit nito at tipid na nangiti sa dalaga bago ibinigay ang kaniyang desisyon, "Sige po, Miss Adelaide."

Agad lumabas ng kotse si Ady bago pa magbago ang kaniyang isip at saka nagtungo papunta sa sidewalk. She could hardly see anything dahil sa lakas ng ulan.

Nagsimula nang umalis ang kotseng sakay ni Mang Mio. Nilamon na rin ng lakas ng bagsak ng ulan ang ingay ng syudad.

But she saw him there on the same spot.

He's standing there on the entrance of the park, soaking from the rain. He was wearing a cap and scrolling down on his cellphone. He looked sideways and then turned off his phone. Basang-basa na siya ng ulan.

Napahawak si Ady sa kaniyang dibdib. Papalakas na ng papalakas ang t***k ng puso niya. Wala na siyang ibang naririnig kundi ang sistema niyang nagkukumahog na mapalapit kay Samuel. She doesn't even know if she's doing the right thing. Paano kung magmukha siyang tanga sa harap ni Samuel?

Samuel was leaning on the wall, cap on. He shoved his hands on his pants, his phone secured on his pockets as the heavy rain washed the whole city. He tilted down his head. Ady wasn't sure if he caught her figure approaching.

Ady took in a deep breath, gripping tight her umbrella holder. Pakiramdam niya ay lalabas ang kaluluwa niya sa kaniyang katawan. She felt stupid for getting out of the car. She felt more stupid, to think na kinuha pa niya itong opportunity to get him to talk to her.

Why is he even here?

There's so many things to do dahil first week pa lang ito ng kanilang school year, kahit na hindi pa gaanong fixed ang kanilang schedules kaya nakatengga pa lang sila at busy sa mga organizations.

Samuel, being a candidate as the next Supreme Student Council President... he shouldn't be there standing and doing nothing. He's better than that. He should be preparing para sa advanced meeting tomorrow sa school. He should be rehearsing for answering sample expected questions from their fellow students.

Bumuntong hininga si Ady.

This is the stupidest thing she ever thought of! Why is she even here? Standing, watching him from afar?

She stepped back. Nakapagdesisyon na siyang tumawag na lamang ng cab and pretend she's never really there, when Samuel suddenly raised his head and looked straight to her direction.

Pakiramdam ni Ady ay piniga ang puso niya sa tingin ng binata sa kaniya. She cleared her throat, wanting to run for her life when he raised his pointing finger and ushered her to come to him.

Napaturo pa si Ady sa kaniyang sarili for confirmation.

"Ako?" she asked as if he could hear her over the heavy rain.

He stared blankly at her. Agad na binasa ni Ady ang kaniyang labi at nagtungo agad kay Samuel. Hindi niya lubos maisip kung bakit siya tinutuyuan ng bibig gayong napaka lamig at napaka lakas ng ulan.

"Yes?" she asked when she finally closed the distance between them, sheltering him to her umbrella.

Samuel didn't hear her though. Her voice came out like a whisper, even her own ears didn't catch. Nilamon na ng malakas na buhos ng ulan. He continued to stare at her blankly, then he reached at the back, on his nape, rubbing it as he thought of words to say to her.

"Can you call me a cab? My phone's lowbat." he finally asked, his voice louder over the rain.

Agad napapikit ng ilang beses si Ady at saka agad tumango ng paulit-ulit kay Samuel.

"Yes, of course." sagot ng dalaga at agad lumingon sa paligid.

Determined and fueled by the sudden communication that Samuel himself initiated, Ady moved towards the other direction, away from him to hail him a cab. Tapos ay doon niya napagtantong mababasa na naman si Samuel kapag umalis siya sa tabi nito.

Napabuntong hininga na lamang si Ady at agad na inabot kay Samuel ang kaniyang payong. Before Samuel can even accept or decline her silent offer ay nakatakbo na ang dalaga papunta sa part ng sidewalk kung saan naghe-hail ng cab.

Her eyeglasses immediately fogged up nang dahil sa ulan, kaya nanlabo ang paningin ng dalaga at napilitang i-push up sa ulo niya ang kaniyang glasses upang mahawi rin ang kaniyang mga buhok na nakakalat sa mukha niya. It slipped down dahil sa lakas ng ulan at bumalik lang sa tip ng nose niya, dahilan para mapilitan na siyang tanggalin at ilagay na lang sa bulsa ng kaniyang suot na mustard-colored jacket.

Her eyes weren't exactly blurry. She just liked using glasses so much para na rin perfect ang vision niya. Without the glasses though, her eyes are as good as 100/100. An ordinary number for an eye sight. Not as high-defined as 20/20, but good enough.

"Why would you leave your umbrella to me?" a voice asked at her back after a few hail to nothing but darkness and rain on the road.

"Sorry." sagot agad ni Ady at saka napatapik sa kaniyang noo. Agad niyang niretrieve kay Samuel ang kaniyang payong at saka tipid na ngumiti.

If only Daiah was here, she'd be proud to know na nandito si Samuel sa tabi ng kaibigan this time of the night. It's a big thing. Maybe one of the things she'll never regret doing, after all.

Everything's so quiet except of the sound of the heavy rain na tila kinain na sila. Wala nangn sasakyang dumadaan. She can't even say anything, at pakiramdam niya ay nakahang sa hangin ang huling word na binanggit niya. She felt so awkward. But she would agree that this moment is somewhat rewarding and worth remembering.

Samuel sighed.

"You know what, never mind. I'll just walk home." and then Samuel started walking away.

Nanigas si Ady sa kaniyang kinatatayuan. Nakamasid na lamang sa lalaking mahal niya na unti-unti na ring nilamon ng ulan papalayo sa kaniya.

This isn't the end.

At least, nagkita at nagkausap sila kahit papaano.

It's a huge step.

It's good.

***

"Where have you been, Samuel Martin?" Rowyna Dalton answered the door at once nang may kumatok mula sa labas.

Sa sobrang lakas ng ulan, hindi niya magawang umakyat na lamang sa kuwarto at hintayin ang pagbalik ng kaniyang panganay. Instead, she served herself a tea and waited on the living room sofa for Samuel and continued to call his number.

"I'm sorry, Ma. I forgot to get the keys. It's in my bag." Samuel answered scratching his nape. "I went to Ignacio."

Rowyna blinked several times, trying to absorb Samuel's answer.

"Ignacio? That's a town away. What were you doing there, anyway?"

"I actually met with my party. Run through the assumed questions." Samuel answered.

"Oh, right, the advanced meeting for tomorrow. Why are you wet, anyway? Aren't there any cab around? You should have called us... I've been calling you, hindi mo sinasagot."

Samuel nodded at once, as a simple answer to each of his mother's questions.

"Yeah, I'm sorry, Ma. There's no cab around and... I can't risk taking my phone out dahil ang lakas ng ulan."

"Didn't I get you one of those waterproof kind of cellphones? Anyway, go upstairs and get changed na. Ihahanda ko na ang dinner mo."

"Thanks, Ma." sighed Samuel, thanking the Heavens na tapos na ang interrogation ni Rowyna Dalton.

Napaka mausisa pa nga ni Rowyna when it comes to Samuel. Hindi siya ganitong ka-involved sa buhay nila Seth at Stephen every time na late ang mga itong umuuwi. Not that it became an issue towards the brothers. Kung sa totoo lang ay inggit pa si Samuel sa ibang mga kapatid niyang malayang nakakagalaw at nagagawa ang gusto, kumparavsa kaniyang panganay.

Nagsimula nang magtungo si Samuel sa kaniyang kuwarto sa taas habang kinukuha ang phone niya sa kaniyang bulsa. He swiped it open and logged in on his i********: account. There are several notifications from her account. He smiled looking at each of her recent posts, clicking the heart button at each of them.

Overwhelmed by the feelings brought about the unexpected moment he had with her, he opened his photo gallery and looked at the few stolen pictures he just captured of her. It's going to be his subject for tonight.

"Anyway, Samuel, anak..."

Samuel turned his phone off immediately and looked back to his mother before he continued to ascend the stairs. He waited for her mother to talk.

"You know I'll let you stay, right? To finish senior high? You did enroll on the same campus?"

Tumango agad si Samuel at saka bahagyang ngumiti sa kaniyang inang nakatingala sa kaniya mula sa tiled floor ng sala.

"There's a last minute change, though. Your Tita Heloise suggested something regarding your stay here in the Philippines."

A ghost smile crept on Samuel's lips, "What changes?"

"Seems about right. After all, I wouldn't want to start a new life in US with Samuel there. Good riddance, Ma."

Stephen Morgan was descending the stairs carrying his laptop, smirking, as he overheard the news from his stepmother. He walked past Samuel, bumping on his arm.

"Enough, Stephen Morgan. Ang lalaki ni'yo na, tigilan na ninyo ang samaan ng loob." saway naman agad ni Rowyna sa kaniyang ikalawang anak na lalaki.

Apat na lalaki ang anak ng mga Dalton. Panganay si Samuel Martin. Ikalawa si Stephen Morgan, ikatlo si Seth Malcolm, at bunso sa mga lalaki naman si Simon Marshall.

Mayroon pa silang anak na babaing pinaka bunso sa pamilya, ang rebeldeng anak na si Stephanie Marizel. Sa ngayon ay nasa kung saang parte ito ng probinsiya at hinayaan na lamang ng mag-asawa bago pa lumala ang gulo.

Mayroon din silang isa pang kapatid na hindi talaga nila kapatid sa ina, ang bastarda ni Steven. It's Skylar Dalton. Ilag ito sa kanilang pamilya, pero may closeness sa kaniyang ama. She refused to stay in the Dalton Mansion sa Pintados, dahil sa issue sa kaniya ni Stephen Morgan. Hindi rin ito kilala sa social group ng mga Dalton.

Despite knowing the product of Steven Dalton's infidelity, every people in Pintados adore the Daltons so much. They look up to them. Bukod sa pinaka mayaman ito sa buong bayan, at hanggang sa mga karatig bayan tulad ng Ignacio (kung saan nakatira sila Adelaide) ay matulungin din ang mga Daltons. Lalo na't respetadong Chief of Police rin ang asawa ni Rowyna na si Steven Dalton. Habang isang kilalang designer naman si Rowyna Dalton sa fashion industry.

Rowyna wasn't actually the first Dalton wife. She was not Samuel and his brothers and sister's biological mother either. Their mother, Cassandra Dalton, died of a heart disease when they were too young. At itong si Rowyna na ang kinilala nilang ina nang ikasal kay Steven dahil ito na rin ang inabutan nila sa paglaki.

Agad ring naglaho si Stephen sa sala. Malamang ay nagtungo ito sa study room dahil bukod sa bitbit nitong laptop kanina ay may dala rin itong ilang notebooks.

He wondered what his brother's doing though, since aalis na sila at hindi na naman magmamatter pa ang school works. Isa pa't hindi na rin naman nag-enroll si Stephen this semester dahil nga't aalis na sila patungong US.

Thanks, America; September pa ang start ng class. May mahigit dalawang buwan pa ang mga Daltons na maghanda para sa pag-aaral nila sa US.

"The deal was, well.. you wouldn't stay with your father here."

Samuel raised a curious eyebrow, "Where would I be, then?"

"There's this place in Ignacio. A family friend which I guess, at somepoint, ay kilala mo. The Garduces, you know them, right?"

Samuel blinked at what he heard. He cleared his throat, "What of it?"

"You're going to stay with them for the whole school year."

***

Ady woke up feeling sick. Her head was so heavy at pakiramdam niya'y sasabog. There's also a KoolFever na nakadikit sa kaniyang noo. She guessed she couldn't come to school today.

She felt exhausted getting home last night. Her phone was lowbat to even call home tapos ay wala na ring dumadaang transpo para iuwi siya. Good thing na safe siyang nakauwi, pero mukhang sakit naman ang inabot niya.

The meeting with Samuel was so overwhelming too, na pakiramdam niya ay hindi totoong nangyari. But because of this sickness, she knew it's real. This sickness pa ang naging proof to make what happened last night legit enough for her paggising niya.

"Hija, kumusta ka na?"

Pumasok si Nana Sela sa kaniyang kuwarto, ang asawa ni Mang Mio na driver nila Ady. May hawak itong tray kung saan nakapatong ang breakfast ni Ady.

"Kainin mo muna ito, anak." dagdag pa nito.

"I can't go to school, Nana. Pwede po bang paki-inform ang school?"

Tumango agad si Nana Sela, "Tumawag na ako kanina hija, at inaapoy ka ng lagnat kagabi. Mabuti pa't magpahinga ka ngayong araw. Bakit ka ba kasi naligo sa ulan?"

Bahagyang napangiti ang dalaga, "Eh, Nana, naalala ninyo ba si Sammy? Nakita ko po kasi siya... I just want to spend some time with him po."

Ngumiti si Nana, "Gano'n ba? Eh, nagkausap naman ba kayo?"

Napakamot sa batok niya ang dalaga at saka bahagyang tumawa. Mainit ang hiningang lumabas mula sa kaniyang ilong dahilan para mapahaplos siya dito.

"Yun lang po, Nana. Hindi ko na po siya naabutan. Ta's lowbat na rin phone ko to call you, guys... So, I ended up walking home po. Lakas po ng ulan at nabasa rin ako, lakas po ng hangin, 'e."

Napabuntong hininga na lamang ang matanda at pinakiramdaman ang noo ng kaniyang alaga, "Oh, sige na, kumain ka muna."

Inilapag ni Nana Sela ang food tray sa nightstand at saka kinuha sa ibaba ng kama ang food table na ginagamit lang kung breakfast-in-bed mode si Adelaide.

"Thanks, Nana." ani Ady nang mailapag na ni Nana Sela ang food table sa lap niya.

"Magpagaling ka, hija." sambit ni Nana at saka muli ay dinama ang noo ng dalaga, "Mabilis ka talagang madapuan ng sakit. Kunin ko lang ang gamot mo, anak." tapos ay nagmadali na itong lumabas ng kuwarto.

Tumunog ang cellphone ni Ady na nakacharge pa rin at nakapatong sa nighstand.

Napabuntong hininga na lamang ang dalaga nang marealize na na-over charge na naman ang kaniyang phone. Palagi na lamang niya itong nakakalimutang tanggalin sa saksakan. Kaunti na lang talaga at lolobo na ng tuluyan ang kaniyang cellphone. Kaya ito nagloloko sa tuwing ginagamit niya, ay dahil rin sa kapabayaan niya.

Hinugot ni Ady sa saksakan ang phone at saka tinignan ang isang message galing kay Daiah.

Hindi ka papasok girl? Y u so late? Yare meeting de avance ng papi mo di mo mawawatch. We're not allowed to take a video e. Daming ROTC boys na nakakalat as guards or something.

Muli ay napabuntong hininga si Adelaide. Samuel's meeting de avance means so much to her. She wanted to see him talk on stage. She wanted to ask questions to him and counted it as an interaction with him. She fantasized so much for that day in every possible angle... pero tila nawasak ang lahat ng pantasya niya dahil nilalagnat siya ngayong araw.

But was that even better than what happened last night?

Napailing na lamang ang dalaga sa kung anu-anong naiisip niya.

So much better. Isa pa't hindi iyon school-related work, and Samuel wasn't obliged to respond to her, or even approach her.

Yes, so much better.

Got sick. See u tom.

Bumukas muli ang pinto at siyang pasok ni Nana hawak ang isang maliit na tray na naglalaman ng isang bote ng gamot, kutsara, at isang basong tubig. Hindi umiinom ng tabletas si Adelaide kahit na seventeen years old na siya. Hindi niya lamang talaga ito kayang lunukin, at hindi tinatanggap ng kaniyang sikmura.

"Inumin mo pagtapos mong kumain, hija."

Tumango ang dalaga at saka inilapag na ang kaniyang cellphone sa nightstand bago nagsimulang kumain.