Chapter Twenty Five
2299 Words
Ria
"Kelan balik ni Zach?" Tanong ni Camille. Magkasama kami ngayon papunta sa Cafe and I'm driving Zach's Lexus.
"Sa Sunday pa balik nya." Sagot ko naman sa kanya.
"Kaya ang lungkot mo ngayon noh? Wala kang s*x life ng ilang araw."
"As if naman araw-araw namin ginagawa yun Cams."
"Bakit hindi ba?"
"Hindi naman araw-araw."
"Ok fine. Every other night nalang."
"Funny mo dun. Ikaw anong balita sa Love life mo?"
She went silent after my question. I think I crossed the line, she is not yet ready to open up. She heaved a deep sigh.
"Juri..."
Napasulyap ako sa kanya. I'm driving and I need to focus on the road.
"Red is asking me to marry him."
"What???"
Natapakan ko bigla ang preno. Mabuti nalang at sakto sa red light. Tiningnan ko si Camille. Madami akong gustong itanong sa kanya.
"I'll tell you everything Juri."
"Dapat lang Cams. Lahat ng detalye at lahat ng meron sa inyo ni Atty!" I exclaimed.
She chuckled. "Tho it's complicated. Ewan ko ba. Basta. Akala ko masaya eh."
"Cams.."
Pumasok kami sa parking lot ng mall na malapit lang sa cafe. We went to a milk tea store at nagdine in kami dun.
Hindi ko naman pinilit si Camille na ikwento ang lahat pero nashocked ako sa mga sinabi nya saken. Their story is like a roller coaster ride. Pero feeling ko si Camille lang ang magulo kasi knowing Atty. Red, he is a man of his words.
"Cams, I want you to be happy too. Wag mong ipagkait yun sa sarili mo. Status is not the basis of your love for a person. It will never be."
"Sana ganon kadali Juri. Pamilya nya ang makakalaban ko kung ipagpapatuloy ko ito. Wala akong pamilya Juri."
"Cams. Nandito ako, si Red. Wag mo din pahirapan yun tao kung talagang mahal ka nya."
Hinawakan ko ang kanyang kamay. A lone tear fell from her eyes.
"Pag-isipan ko muna Juri."
"Pag-isipan mo bago ka sukuan ni Atty. Pero alam ko naman na ipaglalaban ka nun, he is a lawyer and he should do his job."
"Baliw ka na Juri. Thank you." I smiled at her. "Wala pa bang laman yan ah?" Nginuso nya ang tyan ko.
"Wala pa siguro. Wala pa naman akong nararamdaman na kakaiba eh."
"Sabihin mo kay Zach, deep penetration."
"Bakit ganon ba ginawa ni Atty?"
"Oo, kaya ayun ang gago. Makaangkin saken masyadong wagas."
"Ang harsh mo kay Atty. Samantalang patay na patay ka sa kanya."
"Ngayon Juri mas gusto ko na syang patayin."
"Ang mean mo talaga sa tao."
Tinawanan lang ako ni Camille. Napailing nalang ako.
Inubos na lang namin ang Milk tea namin saka bumalik sa Cafe.
Pagdating namin sa Cafe, halos literal na mapanganga kami ni Camille sa mabilis na progress ng pagbuo ng cafe. Hindi ako makapaniwala na ganto kabilis magtrabaho ang mga kaibigan ni Zach.
"Mukhang malapit nang mabuo ang Le Cafe Ria ah."
"Oo nga Cams. Hindi ko naimagine na ganto kabilis magtrabaho ang mga kaibigan ni Zach."
"Ang gagwapo na ang tatalented pa. Yummy pa!"
"Hoy Cams! Stop drooling over them. May Red ka na."
"Hindi ba pwedeng humahanga lang ako sa mga blessings ni Lord?"
"Ewan ko sayo Cams."
Hapon na ng makauwi ako sa Condo. Feeling ko pagod na pagod ako kahit wala naman kaming ginawa ni Camille kundi mag-ikot sa mall.
Chineck ko ang phone ko para tingnan kung may message na si Zach.
"Bakit kasi magseset ng business meeting sa US pa?"
Napanguso nalang ako habang nakahiga sa kama. Kinuha ko ang unan na gamit ni Zach saka niyakap yun. Amoy na amoy ko ang manly scent ni Zach, it's so addicting. I remembered how we made love each night. My husband can't get enough of me.
Pero bakit hanggang ngayon hindi pa ako nabubuntis? Wala namang sinasayang si Zach sa mga tinatanim nya saken. And he said he is a healthy male. What if ako yung hindi healthy? Fear consumed me. What if I'm not capable of carrying Zach's child? Baka kelangan ko magpacheck up. Nasa ganon akong pag-iisip ng magring ang phone ko.
It's Zach. Nagrerequest ng face time.
I immediately opened my face time app. At sumalubong ang gwapong mukha ng asawa ko.
"Hi Love. I missed you so much."
"I missed you too Love."
Nagtitigan muna kaming dalawa.
"Bakit ang aga mo tumawag? Madaling araw pa lang dyan ah."
"Can't sleep Love. Gusto ko ng umuwi sayo. Pero hanggang Sunday pa ko dito."
"Ilang tulog nalang naman." He is staring at me intensely. "Nagusap na kami ni Camille kanina Love. She told me everything about her and Atty."
"That's good to hear. Sana maayos nadin nila ang relasyon nila. Red is crazy over with Camille. And he is going crazier." He chuckled.
I really miss my husband. Napansin yata nya ang pagtahimik ko bigla.
"What's wrong Love? Are you sick? f**k!"
Umiling ako.
"Bakit hindi pa ako nabubuntis Love? Iniisip ko ako yung may problema. Baka hindi ako healthy. Baka hindi pala kita kayang mabigyan ng...ng anak."
"Hush. Love, listen to me. It's too early to think about that. Pagbalik ko dyan wala tayong ibang gagawin kundi ang gumawa ng baby."
Natawa ako sa sinabi nya.
"Hindi ako titigil hanggat hindi kita nabubuntis Love. Hindi ako mauubusan ng itatanim sayo. Tang ina gusto ko ng umuwi!" And he looked so pissed right now.
"I'll wait for you Love. Pasalubong ko."
He heaved a deep sigh and stared at me intensely. Tinitigan ko din sya.
"I Love you Ria."
"I Love you Zach."
It's really hard for us to end the call that's why we continue to talk for an hour. He showed me where he is staying. He is staying in a Hotel, a luxurious one.
Nakatulog na ako after namin magusap ni Zach. Pagkagising ko tinamad na ako magluto kaya nagcup noodles nalang ako.
Pumunta ako sa terrace at dun muna nagstay.
Ang ganda pa naman ng langit. Kalat kalat ang mga bituin. Napatingin ako sa City Lights.
"I miss you Zach."
Hindi ko na pala kaya ng wala si Zach sa tabi ko. I really love him. Kinain ko ang lahat ng mga sinabi ko about kay Zach. In the end it still him.
Kinabukasan bisita ko si Camille sa condo. May dala pa syang Blue Berry Cheesecake saka Milk Tea, kakamilk tea lang namin kahapon ah.
"Alam ko iniisip mo Juri. Kakamilk tea lang natin kahapon. Nagcecrave ako eh."
"Baka buntis ka Cams."
"Isang beses lang buntis agad? Hindi noh."
"Isang beses lang ba talaga?"
"Isang beses lang ang natatandaan ko eh. I was drunk and wasted."
"Ano bang gagawin natin ngayon?"
"Let's just chill Juri. Kaya ako pumunta dito, baka kasi puntahan ako ni Red sa apartment ko. Ayaw ko syang makita eh."
"Tama talaga si Atty sayo, ang complicated mo."
Ngumisi lang ang bruha.
"Magbar tayo mamaya Juri. Tara sa Legend."
Ngumuso ako. "Wala naman si Zach eh."
"Nandun naman ang friends nya. Hindi naman tayo magwawalwal. Chill lang tayo."
"Sige, magpaalam lang ako kay Zach."
"Lahat talaga pinapaalam mo sa asawa mo."
"Oo naman Cams, magiging ganyan ka din kay Atty."
"Wish nya lang."
I sent a message to Zach informing him that we will go to the Legend Bar. I didn't receive a reply from him. Maybe he is in a meeting or sleeping or doing something.
I wore a Black Fitted Dress and a Black stilleto. I paired it with an elegant string bag. Camille is in hot red body con dress and paired it with a Black stilleto.
"You're burning hot Cams. Red suits you."
"IKR." Nginisian lang nya ako.
Pagdating namin sa venue, halos mapuno na ang parking sa dami ng mga magagarang mga sasakyan na nakapark. Pagpasok namin ni Camille sinalubong agad kami ng ingay ng Bar. We just looked for a vacant space near the platform.
Hindi naman ganon kacrowded ang loob, spacious and elegant ang interior ng Bar. Halata din na mga lalake ang may ari.
Nakaupo na kami ni Camille nang makita kong papalapit si Chivas.
"Hey Ria! Camille! Why are you here? Dun kayo sa VIP Room." Tinuro pa nya ang VIP Room.
"We're fine here Chivas. Makikita namin ang performance nyo ng harap harapan." I answered.
"Sayang lang wala ang asawa mo. May Business Trip eh." He answered.
"Oo nga, mag-eenjoy padin naman kami sa performance nyong apat." Sagot naman ni Camille.
"Sana nga apat kami eh tatlo lang kami ngayon." Naiinis na sagot ni Chivas.
"Wala si Keith?" Tanong ko. Alam ko naman na sya yung wala.
"Yeah, hindi namin alam kung nasaan. Sinamantala pa nya na wala si Zach. Galing talaga!" He exclaimed.
"Kayang kaya nyo naman yan Chivas! Ichecheer namin kayo."
"Wala naman kami choice. Hindi kasi pang weekend yun mga newly recruits." He chuckled. "Enjoy the show!"
"Rock N' Roll Guys!" Pahabol ni Camille.
At ilang minuto pa ang lumipas, nakatapat na sa kanila ang spot light. Three gorgeous men standing on the stage. Luke is on drums, Chivas on his bass guitar and of course Matthew as the lead vocals. And the crowd goes wild as they started to play.
Matthew:
I am an arms dealer fitting you with weapons in the form of words
And (don't really care which side wins)
As long as the room keeps singing that's just the business I'm in
This ain't a scene, it's a goddamn arms race
This ain't a scene, it's a goddamn arms race
This ain't a scene, it's a goddamn arms race
I'm not a shoulder to cry on, but I digress
Chivas:
I'm a leading man
And the lies I weave are oh so intricate,
Oh so intricate
I'm a leading man
And the lies I weave are oh so intricate,
Oh so intricate
Luke:
I wrote the gospel on giving up
(You look pretty sinking)
But the real bombshells have already sunk (prima-donnas of the gutter)
At night we're painting your trash gold, while you sleep
Crashing not like hips or cars but more like p-p-p-parties
This ain't a scene, it's a goddamn arms race
This ain't a scene, it's a goddamn arms race
This ain't a scene, it's a goddamn arms race
Bandwagon's full, please catch another
Matthew:
I'm a leading man
And the lies I weave are oh so intricate,
Oh so intricate
I'm a leading man
And the lies I weave are oh so intricate,
Oh so intricate
Chivas:
All the boys who the dancefloor didn't love
And all the girls whose lips couldn't move fast enough
Sing, until your lungs give out
This ain't a scene, it's a goddamn arms race
This ain't a scene, it's a goddamn arms race
(Now You)
This ain't a scene, it's a goddamn arms race
(Wear Out The Groove)
This ain't a scene, it's a goddamn arms race
(Sing Out Loud)
This ain't a scene, it's a goddamn arms race
(Oh, oh)
This ain't a scene, it's a goddamn arms race
Ang gagwapo na ang tatalented pa. Masyadong blessed ang mga kaibigan ni Zach isama pa sya at si Keith. They performed like a real rock stars. Parang concert na nga ang dating.
Matthew:
Can't count the years on one hand that we've been together
I need the other one to hold you
Make you feel, make you feel better
It's not a walk in the park to love each other
But when our fingers interlock, can't deny, can't deny, you're the worth it
'Cause after all this time
I'm still into you
Chivas:
I should be over all the butterflies but I'm into you, I'm into you
And even baby our worst nights
I'm into you, I'm into you
Let 'em wonder how we got this far,
'Cause I don't really need to wonder at all
Yeah, after all this time
I'm still into you
Luke:
Recount the night that I first met your mother
And on the drive back to my house I told you that, I told you that I loved ya
You felt the weight of the world fall off the shoulder
And to your favorite song we sang along, to the start of forever
And after all this time
I'm still into you
Matthew:
I should be over all the butterflies but I'm into you, I'm into you
And even baby our worst nights
I'm into you, I'm into you
Let 'em wonder how we got this far,
'Cause I don't really need to wonder at all
Yeah after all this time
I'm still into you
Chivas:
Some things just, some things just make sense
And one of those is you and I
Some things just, some things just make sense
And even after all this time
I'm into you
Baby not a day goes by that I'm not into you
Luke:
I should be over all the butterflies but I'm into you, I'm into you
And even baby our worst nights
I'm into you, I'm into you
Let 'em wonder how we got this far,
'Cause I don't really need to wonder at all
Yeah after all this time
I'm still into you
I'm still into you
I'm still into you
"Wow! They can really sing anything huh!" Camille exclaimed.
"Galing talaga nila!"
Naghigh five pa sila sa isat-isa after ng performance nila. Tuwang tuwa naman ang crowd dahil sa performance ng tatlo.
Sana nandito din si Zach saka Keith.
Umuwi kaming pagod ni Camille. We didn't drink that much. Umupo pa sa table namin ang tatlo after ng performance nila. Nakalibre pa kami ng food and drinks.
That's when I received a message from Zach.
"I missed you Love. Take Care!"
"I missed you too Zach."
***
Songs Used:
This ain't a scene, it's an arms race- Fall Out Boy
Still into You: Paramore
- Writer
