Kabanata 5.2
1273 Words
Wala kaming imikan ni Brett habang nasa elevator. But his glances weren’t silent, though. Every glance was screaming at me. Hindi ko na lamang pinansin dahil abala ako sa pag-iisip.
How should I react if I see Iñaki? Should I smile? Or would it be better if I just ignore him? But the latter seemed like I was still bitter! And if I didn’t, baka ma-offend siya. Paano ang balak kong pakikipag-usap sa kanya tungkol kay Pocholo?
So, should I smile at him?
“Is Pocholo still upset with his father?”
Mula sa malalim na pag-iisip ay hinugot ako mula roon ng mga salita ni Brett. Ang mga mata niya ay nasa daan.
Umayos ako sa pagkakaupo at tumikhim. “I don’t know. W-wala na siyang nabanggit pagkatapos ng birthday party niya.”
Pocholo let it all out that day. Kinabukasan ay wala na siyang sinabi tungkol sa kanyang ama. Until now. It was unusual after all the things he learned from someone.
If he really believed it, na hindi siya mahal ni Iñaki, pakiramdam ko ay mababasag ako.
When the car halted, muling bumangon ang kaba sa akin. Hindi iyon maikukumpara sa mga kabang naramdaman ko para rito noong mga nakaraan. Walang-wala ang mga iyon.
“You look constipated,” puna sa akin ni Brett.
Sinulyapan ko ang malaking gate. Sunod-sunod ang pagpasok doon ng mga tao. Mula rito sa amin ni Brett, dinig na dinig ang ingay mula sa loob.
I bit my lower lip. Should I . . .
“Oh, no, no, no, Anaddy.” Brett held my arm. “Hindi ka aalis.”
Darn it! My knees were almost wobbly!
“B-Brett, baka nandito si,” lumunok ako. “I-Iñaki . . .”
The corner of his lips moved. Marahan niya akong hinila pabalik sa dati kong kinatatayuan. He smiled and tucked the loose strands of hair at the back of my ears.
“Akala ko ba matapang ka na? Pinaghandaan mo ‘to nang ilang taon, Anaddy. Ngayon ka pa ba matatakot? Remember Pocholo. This is not for you. It’s for him.”
I bit my inner lower lip.
He offered his elbow, still giving me an encouraging smile. Nag-atubili ako nang halos isang minute bago ko inangkla ang braso roon. Mas lumawak ang kanyang ngiti.
“You look really hot and beautiful tonight,” he whispered before entering the venue.
Ngumuso ako, pigil ang ngiti. He looked really fine in his navy blue long sleeves, black jeans, and leather shoes, too. But of course, hindi ko nga sasabihin sa kanya kung gaano siya kagandang-lalaki. Baka lalong lumaki ang ulo.
Carmela was pleased when she saw us. In her black halter strap sheath dress, she was exceptional. Her straight hair was curled tonight.
“You didn’t answer my calls! Akala ko ‘di ka na darating!” aniya matapos bumawi sa yakap.
“Well, sino bang nasa harap mo ngayon?”
“And, wow.” She raked my body. Then, her eyes settled on my décolletage. “You look . . . hot.”
My face burned. When we were still in US, somehow, my modesty was tainted. I learned to show some skin and all.
Hinampas ko siya sa braso. She giggled then her eyes went to Brett. The latter smiled at her sheepishly and lifted his hand without waving. Bahagyang umawang ang bibig ni Carmela. Nang nakabawi, she gave me a knowing look.
“Are you sure you two aren’t dating?” she whispered to me while assisting us to our designated table.
“Hindi nga kasi,” napipikang sagot ko.
“But he’s damn hot as hell! How could you endure those years without the hots for him? If I were you, ilang beses ko na sigurong hinila ‘yan sa kama.”
Ngumiwi ako kay Carmela. Six years is really long enough to change people, huh? Sa pagkakaalala ko, it was Michelle who was scandalous with her mind and words between us three. Ngayon, gusto niya yatang makipagpaligsahan.
“So, journalist ka na ngayon? Of what company?” usisa ng dating class president namin sa akin. She got this annoying smile on her lips.
Sobrang plastic. “Yeah.” At sinabi ko ang kumpanya.
“Not bad,” aniya at sumimsim sa kanyang wine.
Pinigilan kong mapaikot ng mga mata. Kung hindi lang talaga kailangan, hindi ako pupunta rito.
Hindi nagtapos doon ang pang-uusisa sa akin ng mga dati kong kaklase - or practically, of everyone. Like what I was right now mattered a lot to feed their egos.
Pathetic.
“Is he your husband?”
I smiled and glanced at Brett. “No. But he has a girlfriend. He just came to escort me.”
And even my friend became a subject of scrutiny of these people! Hindi nakawala sa akin ang malalanding tingin nila sa kaibigan ko.
Brett chuckled and whispered something to me. “Relax. Para kang papatay!”
I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms. Nakakapagod makipagsabayan sa mga plastik!
Good thing, no one dared to ask me about the things that happened when I was eighteen. Well, even if they asked me anything about it, wala silang aasahang sagot sa akin.
As the night grew older, mas umiingay. Gustong-gusto ko nang umuwi ngunit hindi ako pinayagan ni Carmela at panay pa rin ang abot sa akin ng alak. Paunti-unti lang ang pag-inom ko dahil may pasok pa ako bukas. Brett seemed to enjoy the party, too. Maraming nakikipagkilala sa kanya at ngayon nga ay kasama niya ang ilang may edad na. Probably talking about business.
Nasaan kaya si Iñaki? Did he attend? Hindi ko pa siya nakikita magmula nang dumating kami.
“I called him yesterday. Hindi raw siya pupunta,” dinig kong nanghihinayang na turan ng isang babae sa aking likuran.
“Sayang naman! Kaya nga ako pumunta rito para makita siya. Even his brother, Iñigo, didn’t come!”
“Baka pinigilan no’ng warfreak niyang asawa . . .”
That caught my attention.
So Iñaki wouldn’t be here. Mas lalong lumakas ang kagustuhan kong lisanin na ang lugar.
“Wait. Hindi ba ‘yan ‘yong traydor na best friend ni Iñaki?”
Nagtagis ang mga bagang ko.
“Why, yes. Si Anaddy! She was his ex-fiancée! Nakauwi na pala siya?”
“I heard, may live-in partner siya during her stay abroad. I’m not against live-in but she was among those pa-virgin during our days. Virtues, my ass. Santa-santita, isa rin palang . . .”
That was it! How dare they to talk ill of me when they didn’t even know the whole story!
I wasn’t the same Anaddy Mouera G. Fortalejo, girls. Hindi na lang ako tatanga at iiyak kapag may kumikiliti na sa limitasyon ko!
I was about to turn to them, ready to spit fire, when my eyes caught someone.
Biglang tumahip ang dibdib ko. My heart started beating in an unfathomable speed. Wala na akong ibang marinig kundi ang kabog nito.
Nakakabingi.
“Oh, my God! Si Iñaki!”
Napalunok ako at kahit hirap na hirap ay ipinihit ko pabalik ang sarili sa dating posisyon.
Dahan-dahan kong inangat ang aking tingin, only to be met by those dark and menacing orbs.
“Akala ko ba ‘di siya dadalo?”
His eyes had always been the darkest. But now . . .
“I thought so, too!”
Napakurap-kurap ako. A lump formed in my throat. Hirap na hirap akong lunukin iyon habang nakatitig sa kanya pabalik.
Standing approximately seven meters away from me, in his almost dark fashion with those brooding eyes, was the Iñaki Villaraza.
- Writer
