HERMOSA CLUB SERIES: Trick or Tears

Kabanata 4

Sylestia

Joaquin didn't visit for a week. Madalas ko siyang abangan sa baba buong maghapon ngunit walang ibang dumarating kun'di ilang tauhang nagpupunta sa bahay para idala ang mga bagay na ipinabibigay ni Joaquin.

Another sigh escaped my lips after RX handed me a bag of expensive indoor shirts. Ang balita ko mula sa ibang tauhan ay si RX ang pinakapinagkakatiwalaan sa lahat.

He comes here often. Talks less than the others do. He's tall, a very nonchalant man, but very good-looking. Like a straight-out-from-a-magazine-cover kind of good-looking who always wears chinese collar shirts and is slaying his French crop hairstyle.

"Kailan siya bibisita?" tanong ko kay RX.

His emotionless eyes stared into mine. "He's still busy with Ma'am Mysha but he wants you to know that he's coming over tonight."

Napalunok ako sa narinig. "Si Mysha ba . . . alam ang tungkol sa akin?"

Marahan siyang tumango. "Yes."

"And she's . . . okay with this setup?"

"Sir Joaquin is doing this for her. She's being targeted by a lot of hate and threats from people who don't want her for Sir Joaquin."

Sandali akong humugot ng hininga. So I really am a decoy, huh?

"Why do people hate her?"

Nagpamulsa si RX. "She didn't come from a well-off family. Her background wasn't that good. She was previously involved in a scandal and used to do drugs but Sir Joaquin saved her."

Basag akong napangiti. "He's like her knight in shining armor then? How did they meet?"

"Ma'am Mysha and Sir Joaquin met at a rehab center that Sir Joaquin is funding."

"I see." Humugot ako ng hininga. Maybe I should stop throwing questions. Baka lalo lang akong masaktan sa mga maririnig kong sagot.

"Do you need anything else?" tanong ni RX.

Umiling ako. "Salamat. Pakisabi na lang kay Joaquin na hihintayin ko siya."

A simple nod was his answer before he left. Tinanaw ko na lamang ang papalayong Montero hanggang sa lumiko iyon sa unang kanto sa kaliwa.

I shut the door and sighed. Dumiretso ako sa sofa hindi para tingnan ang laman ng paper bag kun'di para tumunganga.

I am getting more and more curious about everything but I'm too afraid to find out all of the answers. Gaya ng kung bakit Descartel na ang dalang apelyido ni Joaquin.

Was he adopted by the rich man from our place? Bakit sobrang yaman na rin niya? Yes, Mr. Descartel was rich but that's in Sta. Ana where everyone is pretty poor. Ibang usapan ang yaman na nakikita ko kay Joaquin.

More than that, he seems . . . very powerful. Napakalayo sa probinsyanong inibig ko noon.

I shut my eyes and sighed. Ilang minuto rin akong nasa ganoong pwesto bago ko naisipang pumanhik na sa itaas para sa phone ko.

I removed my phone from the plug before I laid on my stomach on my bed. Wala akong f*******:. I only have Twitter where I get in touched with some clients who wanted to pamper me but I rarely respond to them. Pero dahil naiintriga talaga ako kay Joaquin ay napa-download ako.

I created a new account and tried to stalk him but his account has been dead since I left Sta. Ana. Huling post niya ay iyong larawan pa naming dalawa.

Napatitig ako sa screen. He was leaning against a large rock while I stood in front of him. His arms were wrapped around me while his lips were pressed on the side of my head. Matamis ang ngiti ko sa larawan. Nakatitig sa camera habang nakakapit sa braso niyang nakayapos sa itaas na banda ng katawan ko.

My chest started to feel a familiar sting. Bakit . . . nagawa kong itapon 'to?

I swallowed the lump forming in my throat before I saved our photo to use it as my wallpaper. Desperada na ako. Kahit na alam kong posible akong masaktan nang husto ay gusto kong subukang ibalik kung ano ang itinapon ko.

I spent the rest of my afternoon browsing online. Marami akong nabasang article tungkol kina Joaquin at Mysha. Looks like Joaquin had himself a large group of ladies who wanted him after he appeared in a television show where he talked about one of his businesses. Mysha and Joaquin were spotted eating at a restaurant a year ago, and that's when all the hate trains started.

Napapalunok na lamang ako sa mga kumento. Ang ilan ay halos hindi na kayang sikmurain. If Mysha is being hated a lot for not being rich, having a scandal, and for previously using drugs, paano pa ako na galing sa isang club?

That thought ran into my mind for the rest of the day. Kahit noong naliligo na ay hindi pa rin iyon nawala sa isip ko. Probably because I am afraid, too. I've been living in the dark for years. Tapos bigla akong tatapatan ng spotlight para saluhin lahat ng pangungutya na si Mysha ang unang nakatanggap.

I put the hair dryer down. Lumabas ako ng banyo para sana magbihis na ngunit pagkabukas ko ng pinto ay nakita ko si Joaquin na nakaupo sa gilid ng kama. Our eyes met. He looks exhausted but still handsome.

Pinakatitigan niya ako bago siya tuluyang tumindig. "Hindi ako magtatagal. I just came here to check on you and tell you that we're going to Sta. Ana tomorrow. People need to start seeing us in public."

Nakaramdam ako ng kaba. "Sa . . . Sta. A-Ana? B-Bakit naman doon pa tayo pupunta?"

Tumaas ang kilay niya. "Why? Afraid that your past will haunt you?"

Nalunok ko ang sarili kong laway. "H-Hindi naman sa gano'n. Nangako lang ako sa sarili kong hindi na ako babalik pa roon."

Napansin ko ang pagguhit ng galit sa mga mata niya. "You had no plans to go back, hmm? Yet you still had the audacity to tell me you love me samantalang wala ka palang planong umuwi?"

Hindi ko alam ang isasagot. Goodness. Parang lalo ko lang siyang binigyan ng dahilan para tuluyan akong ayawan. So stupid!

Joaquin sighed. "Bukas ang death anniversary ng nanay ko. You should also visit your father's grave. People would think we've--"

"A-Ano?" Napakurap ako kasabay ng pagmanhid ng aking dibdib dahil sa umusbong na kirot. "D-Death anniversary ni tita? P-Puntod ng t-tatay ko?"

His jaw clenched. "Ni hindi ka man lang talaga nakibalita tungkol sa mga nangyayari sa Sta. Ana?" He scoffed. Halatang naiinis. "My mother passed away a couple months after your father's passing. Gusto mong malaman kung ano ang ikinamatay ng tatay, hmm?"

Nalunok ko ang namuong bara sa lalamunan ko. "A-Ano?"

Lumamig ang kanyang ekspresyon. "Nabaril dahil nahuling nagnanakaw ng pera para may pamasahe siya para sa paghahanap sa'yo, Sylestia." Tinalikuran niya ako. "Ngayon mo sabihing karapat-dapat iwanan ang Sta. Ana . . ."