Love Story

Chapter 3 (Seashell)

Amalia and I decided to have fun. Nagplano kaming mag diving, snorkeling, swimming at mag spa. It's girls' day for us. She contacted a lot of companies with her connections para maipasok ako unfortunately, wala pa rin kahit isa ang pumayag. Amalia is known in her field ang kaso lang hindi pa siya ganoon kahasa.

"How are you with Heath, Am?"

"As usual, Scar."

"You're like a puppy always following him. Para kang tanga tingnan."

"It's fine, Scar. I love what I'm doing though."

Bumuntong-hininga na lang ako. I can't change her mind. Ang magagawa ko lang ay ang suportahan siya sa lahat ng desisyon niya. Many times I've told her to stop what she's doing with that bastard pero wala pa ring epekto.

The dessert was served and in the middle of that, tumawag si Daddy.

"Scarlet? Where are you?"

"Dad, I'm with Amalia. Bakit po?"

"Your Mom is looking for you. Can you come to the resort we're staying, dear? May importanteng pag-uusapan lang tayo. Don't worry, this is fine."

"Yes, Dad. I'll get ready."

Sinabihan ko si Amalia. I shouldn't be nervous dahil na rin sa si Daddy ang nagsabi sa akin nun. Dad knows what's good for me.

Amalia was sad of the sudden decision I made. Wala siyang makakasama for the rest of the day but she insisted she'll be fine.

"I'm really sorry babe. Babawi ako next time, okay?"

"You should, Scar. Ring me after your meeting."

Pabalik na ako sa resort na pinag-stayhan namin. Amalia and I decided to have separate stay in another villa sa Ceviste resort. Ayaw daw niyang mag-stay kung saan kami naka-stay that's why I still need to go back to our place.

"Red, yung Daddy mo andito na."

Dad was waiting for me already. He insisted not to have breakfast dahil kakain rin naman sa venue. Gusto kong magtanong kay Dad pero wala akong maitanong.

"Scarlet, trust me in this, okay? You'll be fine. Hindi kita pababayaan."

Those words soothed me. Dad really knows how to comfort me.

The venue was in a VIP room. Pagpasok namin namataan ko ang mga Ceviste. I have a bad feeling about this but Dad said this will be fine. Kalmado akong umupo. Havana is there also. We are seated in a long table.

"Salamat at pinaunlakan niyo kami, Criselda."

"Never a problem, Yna. Let's start eating baka lumamig na."

While eating napansin kong kulang sila. I know the Ceviste couple have two children pero isa lang ang nakikita ko. Napadapo ang tingin ni Mr. Ceviste sa akin.

"Beau isn't around, hija. He's very busy abroad."

Gusto kong lamunin na lang ng lupa. I was not looking for him!

I just smiled at him and continued eating. Halfway for the second course of dish, nagsalita si Mrs. Ceviste.

"Scarlet, are you ready for like an internship work?"

Napaangat ang tingin ko. I didn't expect that.

"Yes, ma'am, since I'm already half way in my course." Thank God I didn't stutter!

"Napagdesisyunan naming patrabahuin ka sa kompanya namin since you're in an Engineering field and we have the best offers for that but eventually kapag nakapagtapos ka na, you'll have your own decision if you will continue or not."

Is this happening? Awhile ago nagproblema pa kami ni Amalia dahil walang tatanggap sa akin pero ngayon may offer na, sinong aayaw?

Agad akong tumango.

"It's my pleasure, ma'am."

Mommy was very pleased with my response.

"You can start then, hija. Pagbalik mo galing dito, we will set an appointment for you to meet your team."

"T-team? Wala pa po akong experience sa mga ganyang bagay ma'am."

"Hija, just call me tita, okay? And besides may tutulong sayo. Its not like you'll lead them. They will be the one to lead you. May mga pagkakataon lang na isasalang ka sa field to test you."

Bigla akong kinabahan. I know that I don't really like Civil Engineering but eventually napamahal na rin ako sa kursong kinuha ko. Ibang usapan na kapag sumalang na ako sa field work!

I only nodded as a response. Wala akong ibang masabi because aside from not having something to say, nabigla pa ako sa mga nangyari. This is an opportunity!

I am delighted going back to Amalia. Hindi ko inexpect na napadali lang ng sitwasyon ang sinabi ni Mrs. Ceviste sa akin. Strike two! Pangalawang beses na niya akong natulungan.

"What's with the mood?"

Nakataas ang kilay ni Amalia sa akin.

"Well, Mrs. Ceviste offered an internship for me! Akalain mo iyon!"

Hindi ako sinagot ni Amalia kaya napatingin ako sa kanya. She's staring at somewhere. Nang sundin ko ang tinitingnan niya, it's Heath.

Bumuntong-hininga ako. Alam ko kung anong plano nitong bruhang 'to! Susundan na naman niya si Heath!

"Am, are you listening?"

"He's here."

Tumango ako at umirap na para bang nakita niya ang ginawa ko.

Amalia looked at me pleading. Huwag naman sana ako maging marupok kagaya nitong kaibigan ko!

As expected, Amalia told me her plans following Heath. Pupunta kami sa bar na nalaman ni Amalia kung saan ito pupunta. This is kinda adventurous though. Gusto ko ring makalabas sa stress sa pamilya.

"Am, sa bar ang punta natin hindi sa opisina."

I rolled my eyes at her. Sino ba namang matino ang magko-corporate attire sa bar? I'm not wild but at least I know the dress code.

"Scar, hindi ako sanay."

Then stop following him! Muntik ko nang maisatinig sa kanya ang mga iyon. Kung hindi ko lang talaga mahal itong babaeng ito jusko!

I did her make-up. She's not used to this pero ginagawa niya para sa gagong iyon!

Napagpasyahan naming huwag magreserve para makita si Heath. That bastard wants a lot of women in his grip. Pagpasok pa lang namin pinagtitinginan kaming dalawa ni Amalia. Who would not?

Ako sakto lang ang attire pero itong kasama ko? Amalia's not a nerd, okay?

She has a curvy body, big boobs and butt. Tinatago niya lang talaga. In short, she's traditional.

Dumiretso si Amalia kay Heath which is for me a bad move for her to start. Mabuti nalang at hindi siya itinaboy nito. We already talked na hindi ako sasama sa kanya kapag pupuntahan niya si Heath. I'll be on my own kaya napagdesisyunan kong pumwesto sa lugar na hindi masyadong naaaninag.

Nag-order lang ako ng light drinks. I can't be drunk and besides, hindi ako sanay uminom.

Nilingon ko si Amalia at Heath. They're talking fine sana lang huwag magdamot itong si Heath. I've seen a lot of scenarios him pushing away Amalia. This time, hindi ko siya palalagpasin kapag itinaboy niya pa.

"Hey"

Oh no. Not now, please. Hindi ako sanay makihalubilo sa mga tao. I was about to respond when the guy went away from my table. Good boy!

Yun nga lang siya namang pagdating ni Altair. I don't know kung sinasadya niya ba o talagang tadhana lang na magkita kami ulit?

Kinunotan ko siya ng noo. I don't want anyone with me right now especially him.

"What do you want?"

He didn't respond. Hinubad niya ang leather jacket niya at hinagis sa akin. Kung hindi ko pa nasalo baka natapon na ang inumin ko. What's wrong with him?

"Cover your legs."

"Excuse me?"

Tinaasan niya lang ako ng kilay.

"Sinuot ko ito kaya hindi ko ito tatakpan. It's normal here in the bar to wear this kind of outfit."

He sighed.

"Yes, you can young lady but you can use that whenever you want. You're alone here you can't expect no one not to come here and entertain you."

Inirapan ko lang siya. Hindi mo 'ko type pero kung makaasta parang boyfriend na ayaw ako pasuotin ng maiikling damit! I don't want that!

"Then you can sit here. Kunin mo na lang itong jacket mo." sabay hagis sa kanya pabalik ng jacket.

Dumaan ang galit sa mga mata niya. I don't mind.

"Why are you here?"

"To do bar?" sarkastiko kong tugon.

"Bata ka pa. You should abstain yourself from going here."

"I'm not a child anymore tsaka pwede ba? Stop whining."

Natahimik siya. Did I say something wrong?

Nilingon ko ulit sila Amalia at Heath pero hindi ko sila makita sa pwesto nila kanina. Nang mamataan kong lumipat si Heath ng table nakita ko si Amalia. Nagbuntong-hininga na lang ako.

"Friend?"

Tumango lang ako. Paano kapag itinaboy nga siya ni Heath? I don't want to pity Amalia but what she's doing right now? Hindi na ata tama.

Isang oras na yata kaming magkatapat dito ni Altair pero walang nangahas sa amin na mag-usap. Nasupalpal ko yata kanina.

I was looking at the people dancing pero lumihis ang mga mata ko kay Altair. Honestly, hindi ko alam kung anong gagawin ko sa kanya kapag magkaharap kami. Should I act as Havana or Red? He saw me being those two at ngayon ko lang maramdaman ang kaba kapag magpapanggap ako. He has this dangerous aura na kahit sino hindi makakapantay. I've never praised a man like this. Siguro ngayon lang dahil si Altair ang madalas kong makausap nitong mga nakaraang araw.

Would I find a man who will love me till the end? 'Yung tipong kahit hindi ka na katanggap-tanggap, tatanggapin at tatanggapin ka pa rin niya. I wish I could but for now, hindi ko alam.

Bata pa lang ako deprived na ako sa pagmamahal galing sa isang ina. Whatever Mom will do to me kahit siguro patayin niya ako I will never resent her. A mother is irreplaceable. Kung siguro lumaki ako sa isang pamilyang payapa at maalaga, I will never be like this. Hindi ko siguro maiisip magrebelde sa mga magulang ko.

Minutes later, may tumabi sa akin. Hindi ko na kailangan pang lingunin. I know it's Lynx. Hindi ko alam kung anong reaksyon ni Altair sa ginawa ni Lynx but I'm sure he's watching us.

May sinasabi si Lynx pero hindi ko siya marinig dahil na rin sa lakas ng tugtog sa bar. I was about to go near Lynx when Altair pulled me up at kung saan dinala hawak-hawak ang kamay ko. I was shock pero wala akong masabi sa ginawa niya.

"What do you think you're doing?"

Binitawan niya ang kamay ko. Napadpad kami sa restroom sa labas ng bar. Tahimik at walang katao-tao.

He didn't say anything instead he's glaring at me like looks could kill me.

"Kanina sinabihan mo akong takpan ang damit ko ngayon naman hihilahin mo ako na parang isang basura lang! What do you think you're doing to me old man? Kaibigan ko ang kausap ko, ikaw? Sino ka ba sa akin?"

He didn't flinch even a bit. You have to stay away from me Altair.

"I am your friend, Red. I just don't want anything bad to happen to you."

He's supposed to get mad at me bakit parang sinusuyo niya ako?

"I'm sorry for bothering you awhile ago." he licked his lips and looked at me intently.

Wala akong masabi. Damn it! Bakit parang pakiramdam ko kasalanan ko ito?

I walked out and left him there. I just don't know how to face him. That was the first time I heard from a stranger that he cares about me.

Paglabas ko nadatnan kong may komosyon na nangyayari. Dali-dali kong pinuntahan si Amalia. That's their f*****g table!

Sinampal ni Amalia si Heath.

"I hate you!"

Dinaluhan ko si Amalia na basang-basa. What happened? Dapat kasi hindi na talaga ako dinala noong lalaking iyon!

"Am, let's go."

Nagpatianod lang si Amalia sa akin. I don't know what happened but I can't get over that she slapped Heath. Ngayon ko lang nakitang galit si Amalia kay Heath. Heath is like a God to her but now? I don't think so.

Hindi ako umimik buong byahe. Pagdating namin sa resort, binigyan ko ng tubig si Amalia. I hugged her tightly.

"I'm sorry, Am. What happened?"

"Ba't ka nagso-sorry?" natatawa niya pang tugon sa akin.

"Scar, no matter what happens ako pa rin si Amalia na kaibigan mo, okay?" and then she cried to my shoulder. Hindi ko siya maintindihan but I know for sure she's done with Heath.

Later that night, tumawag si Lynx sa akin. Nagtanong siya tungkol kay Altair at sa nangyaring paghila kanina. I assured him that Altair is a nice guy pero hindi niya pa rin ako tinatantanan dahil na rin sa lalaki ang pinag-uusapan namin. He wanted to see me day after but I declined. Mas kailangan ako ni Amalia ngayon.

Day after, we're back to our usual self. Yun nga lang kailangang bumalik na ni Amalia because of some company problems that only her can do it. She doesn't want to leave me but I insisted.

"Ceviste's might contact me later, Am kaya kailangan mo na ring bumalik. Magkikita rin tayo doon when I get back home. Take care."

That day pumunta ako sa isla. This might be my last day sa isla. Kanina pa ako naghihintay sa memo ni Mrs. Ceviste but nothing came across my email. This day I'm hoping to see Altair to say sorry and thank you to him. I've decided to at least leave him a good impression on me. It's not that I hate him pero mabigat kasi sa pakiramdam na nagsisinungaling ka sa isang tao.

Sunset came and still no signs of Altair. Mukhang hindi siya pupunta ngayon dito. I wish I will never meet him again. Mahirap na kapag nagkita ulit kami without formal goodbye to him.

I was about to manuever the boat to go home when I saw him. Halos hindi ako makagalaw nang makita siya.

Red, you have to say sorry and thank you to him.

I cleared my throat. Hindi pa rin siya umiimik. Nilapitan ko siya and as I was about to say something, he grabbed my wrist and put something on it. It's a seashell bracelet!

"Thank you!"

There was a ghost of smile he plastered on his face.

"Thank you and sorry sa nangyari kahapon. I was too harsh to you."

"Not a problem."

Walang nagsalita sa amin at gaya nalang nang nangyayari sa amin, we always watch the calm sea.

"See you when I see you." Altair

Hindi ko na idinagdag pa ang pangalan niya. This is the first time I felt heavy going home. Parang ayokong umuwi. When I see you Altair, I hope you'll see me as Red not as Havana not as anyone but Red.