Three Portraits

Chapter 25

"WHAT coffee would you like to have, Sir?"

I just shook my head on her questions. Hindi ko alam na sa pagpunta ko rito sa kabilang mundo ay ganito ang aabutin ko. I don't think my look would be so drastically altered.

I gave the waitress a big smile. It's no surprise that the p***y cat was smitten with this immortal.

"Please, sit down." Ani ko at minuwestra ang upuan sa aking harapan.

Bahagya siyang nagulat sa aking sinabi at napakurap-kurap pa habang nakatingin sa akin. I remain smiling like an i***t.

She had a great facial shape, a thin nose, almond eyes, and a perfect nose... I'm not a big fan of mestiza beauty. Morena's is still my preference.

"Uh, we weren't supposed to-"

"I've already spoken with your manager, and I'd like to discuss your boyfriend with you." Nang banggitin ko ang pangalan ng kanyang boyfriend bahagyang kumunot ang kanyang noo.

Bahagya niyang sinulyapan ang counter bago nilapag sa table ang menu. Dahan sahan siyang umupo nag-aalinlangan.

"What about him?" Banayad niyang tanong.

Was it really worth it for this girl to have that p***y cat?

Before I regained my composure, I cleared my throat. "How did he do?"

Ilang linggo na itong hindi umuwi sa aking puder and yeah it really made me worried.Even though that individual regarded me as a piece of garbage in the world, I saw him in the same light.

I used to look after him when he was a baby. I looked after him not simply because he was the grandchild of my first love. Love at first sight...

His grandma was, indeed, my first love.Ang unang bumigo sa akin. Ang unang nagparamdam sa akin na ang kagaya ko ay hindi nararapat na magmahal ng normal na tao na kagaya niya.

"Who are you? Bakit mo siya kilala?"

Napangisi ako. Kung sasabihin kong ako ang ama niya this pretty lady would think that I'm crazy. I'm lovin my appearance right now...

"Let's say that were a good friends. I'm... Jastin." Pagsisinungaling ko. Of course, I'm not going to tell that p***y cat that I paid a visit to his sweetheart.

Ngumiti ito. I like it how she smiles. She's an outgoing person. Sumasabay...

"I'm Danica... Nice to meet you."

I nodded modestly. "Nice to meet you too. Hindi na ako magpapaligoy-ligoy pa. How's my friend? Hinahanap na kase siya ng mga magulang niya." Then I smirked, was my acting skills convincing? Hell, I don't know.

Nakita ko kung paano dumaan ang sakit sa kanyang mga mata. "Iyan din ang gusto kong itanong sa kanya, but I just couldn't..."

"Why?"

"Cos it feels like... If I asked that question, pakiramdam ko hindi ako magiging handa sa kanyang sagot. Parang kahit anumang oras ay magsisinungaling siya. Dalawang taon na kami pero hindi pa yata nangangalahati sa kanyang pagkatao ang alam ko." Ramdam na ramdam ko ang kanyang lungkot at dismaya sa kanyang boses.

I gritted my teeth. Bakit hindi ko nalang kaya gawing artista ang isang iyon? Dahil total alam niya lahat kung paano umakto at pekein ang mga bagay bagay sa kanya.

"Was he distant on you?"

Kaagad siyang umiling bago nag-iwas ng tingin. Her eyes were fixated on the road, outside the window.

"Hindi naman. Alam mo 'yon, kahit anong pilit ko parang hindi ko talaga mabuksan." Nang nilingon niya ako may nagbabadyang luha na sa kanyang mga mata. "Kung makita mo man siya... Pakisabi naman na magpakita na siya sa akin.I miss him terribly.'' Yes, I do. Because of her weeping, her speech was a little shaky.

Danica, I'm not sure where he is either.

I let out a long sigh before patting his shoulder. Ito lang ang tanging alam ko na makakapagpagaan sa loob ng tao.

I have no idea how to console because I've never been consoled since birth.

It was my lone and final discussion with Danica before I learned that she had died in a vehicle accident.

Worst of all, you know what's worse? I'm to fault for that hulking behemoth. Mas lalo lamang itong lumayo sa akin, hell ni minsan ay hindi ko naramdaman na walang pader na namamagitan sa aming dalawa.

Sa loob ng dalawang taon kinulong niya ang kanyang sarili sa kanyang bahay na walang ka buhay buhay. Parating pumupunta sa mundo ng babaeng mahal niya para dalawin.

Ramdam ko naman na hindi talaga sila magtatagal, It's just that I don't know that it would be so early. Hindi ko alam na ganito kaaga mangyayari.

Alam ni Tristan kung saan siya nanggaling kung ano ang estado naming dalawa sa mundong ginagalawan namin. One day when he got home drunk. He blame me for giving my blood on him. Galit na galit siya sa akin kung bakit ko siya pinainom ng aking dugo para dahilan na mas humaba ang kanyang buhay.

He can't blame me. Ito lang ang tanging alam kong gawin sa araw na mangyari ang aksidenteng 'yon.

Not until this woman came in the picture.

Clea.

Ang babaeng may pagkahalintulad kay Danica at sa babaeng napakalupit noon. Even their name two were rhyme. Alam kong mayroong mali dahil walang kung sinong makakapasok sa parallel world kung walang malaking dahilan.

I was the one who made her forget who she was when she saw someone she knew. Pilit kong winawala sa kanyang memorya kapag mayroon siyang nakikitang kamukha rito sa ibang mumdo.I also brought an end to her ailment, which had caused her to close her third eye. If I didn't force it, it would be obstinate as f**k.

Clea and Danica resemble each other, but Clea and Cleo were almost identical. Iyon rin ang aking ikinakabahala dahil mayroon ring pagkakahalintulad si Danica ni Cleo. But Clea is so different. Clea is like a soft version of Cleo.

What made me worry the most... Dahan dahan ng bumabalik si Tristan sa dati. Sa mga panahong hindi pa niya nakikilala si Danica. Sa mga panahong hindi pa niya alam ang tungkol sa isang mundo.

I shouldn't have introduced him to the other world if I wasn't so nosy. Sana ay hindi niya nakilala si Danica. Sana ay hindi siya ganito ka miserable ngayon.

But that was heaven's decision. Sa huli ay nasa langit ang desisyon ng mga kapalaran naming dalawa.

When the thug smacked me in the face, I moaned in pain. Tangina ang sakit sakit.

I looked up at him how could he punch me? Tss. His fury was visible in his eyes right now.

"What did I told you, Jakar?! Huwag na huwag mo na akong pangingialaman-"

"What are you talking about?" I said, behaving as if I were a moron.

He smirked mockingly. "Sa oras na mangialam ka na naman hindi lang 'yan ang aabutin mo sa akin. Akala mo ba hindi ko alam na nakipagkita ka kay Danica at binago ang anyo mo?!"

And that made my jaw clenched. Hindi ko alam kung mayroon ba akong matatatagong sekreto sa isang 'to.

"What about her?" Tanong ko pabalik sa isang malamig na boses.

Pagak siyang napatawa. "Don't act like an i***t here, Jakar. Hindi mo na mabibilog ang utak ko."

I don't know that after Danica's tragedy, he would still be able to fall inlove again. Kilala ko siya, mahal na mahal niya si Danica na kahit pa na mayroong babaeng desperadang nagnakaw ng mukha ni Danica ay hindi niya ito matignan man lamang kahit isang sulyap man lang.

Clea did really changed Tristan.

Nakita ko kung paano niya ito tignan. Kung paano niya tignan si Danica noon— Yes, he did stare at them in the same manner, but I know that when he looked at Clea, his eyes twinkled like a light in the night. Pareho man niyang tignan pero sa ibang paraan. Mas nag niningning ang kanyang mga mata kapag si Clea na ang titigan.

I guess I should be always attentive.