11 - Waiting
3572 Words
“GISING na si Yvette.” Masayang balita ni Georgette pero hindi sa kanya dahil hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin nagigising si Keegan.
“Ang iba?”
“Hindi pa rin sila nagigising pero stable na ang lagay nila. Their vitals are now okay, hintayin nalang natin na magising sila.” Sinulyapan niya si Keegan. Natutulog pa rin ito, how he wished she’ll wake up anytime soon.
“Yvette!” tawag ni Ulysses nang makapasok na ito sa silid ng bagong gising. “Naaalala mo na ba ang lahat?”
“Uly?”
“Did they come back? Your memories?”
Dahan-dahang tumango si Yvette, “Yeah.”
“You made the viral infection right? You have the antidote?”
“What viral infection?” takang-tanong nito.
“Ang mabuti pa ay hayaan muna nating magpahinga si Yvette, Ulysses.” Suhestiyon ni Gette pero walang balak makinig si Ulysses sa sinabi nito.
“You made it Yvette it’s your specialty, you are good with microbes development and enhancement. We found the empty vial in the site and now the disease is spreading fast, save Sahara.”
“Pero hindi ko dinala ang vial Ulysses. Sinabi sa akin ni Keegan na hindi ko dapat dalhin iyon. It wasn’t me, I destroyed the one I made when we survived and before I lost my memories. Pati ang antidote ay sinira ko rin. I promised to myself not to risk the life of many once more with what I can do and that’s the truth.”
“Sino ang nagdala ng vial sa site?”
“Hindi ako iyon I promise. The viral infestation wasn’t mine.”
Lumayo si Ulysses at malakas na sinuntok ang pader, he was desperate and frustrated. Dumudugo ang kamao nito ng lapitan ito ni Georgette.
“Who did this?” nanggagalaiting tanong nito. “Who could have?”
“B-but we can make an antidote, I can do it. Kung viral infection nga iyon maybe I can work on it I just need more time and some blood sample.”
“How long?”
“I don’t know but Keegan can help me. She was there when I made the antidote she helped me with the formulation of the chemicals. She also assisted me during the inhibitory process and the amount of control agents. If she’d helped me we can formulate the formula in two days time.”
Muling namayani ang katahimikan sa buong lugar sa sinabi ni Yvette. Maging siya ay biglang napatingin kay Keegan na nasa kabilang silid na nahaharangan lamang ng salamin.
“That would be hard Yvette, she’s still asleep.” Bumaling sa kanya si Ulysses. “You wake her up.”
“How can I do that? Hindi ako diyos Ulysses.”
“You love her right? Your love should be enough to wake her up. Wake her up Maurice and I will do everything in my power for her to be yours.”
Walang ibang salitang sinabi si Ulysses kundi iyon lang pero bumaon iyon sa utak niya. If he loves her he should do everything for her to wake up. This is a modern world and fairy tale doesn’t exist, he doesn’t even believe about it. He believes in love, he believes in loving someone you can’t even think straight.
Lumabas siya ng silid ni Yvette dahil hinayaan na rin ng mga ito na muling magpahinga ang kagigising lang. Pumasok siya sa silid ni Keegan, she’s still sleeping, her cheeks were pink and her lips were pink. She’s an angel, his angel.
Hinawakan niya ang palad ni Keegan at marahang pinisil iyon at saka dinala iyon sa labi niya upang halikan. Her scent still brings him joy.
“Keegan please do wake up, tatanggapin ko ang lahat ng galit mo. Susundin ko ang lahat ng gusto mo just wake up. Hindi lang ako ang may kailangan sa iyo, everyone needs you. Wake up for me and wake up for the people who needs you. I love you for who you are, I love you so much. Mahal kita kahit alam kong girlfriend ka ng kapatid ko. Minahal kita kahit alam kong masisira ang relasyon namin. I love my brother he’s the only family that I have but when I met you I know everything was changed.” Marahan niyang hinaplos ang pisngi ni Keegan.
“When I knew, you were a member of Generation syndicate I should have hate you but I can’t.” nag-init ang kanyang mga mata habang nagsasalita pero pinigilan niya ang huwag maiyak. He wanted to be as honest as possible with regards to his feelings towards the owner of his heart. “Hindi ko kayang masaktan ka dahil kapag nakikita ko ang mga mata mo lagi kong nakikita ang sakit at paghihirap na pinagdaanan mo. Kapag nakikita ko ang balikat mo alam kong dumaan ka sa sakit na hindi ko pa nararanasan. Hindi ko magawang magalit sa iyo sa halip mas lalo akong napapamahal sa iyo. I wanted to erase all the bad memories and replace it with new and happy ones.”
“I am selfish because I know Mason can’t make you happy. I can make you happy I can make you my queen and I’ll give you the world you never had. I am confident that I can make you happy but I know I can also make you feel such pain. Sinaktan kita para sa pansarili kong kapakanan. Nasaktan kita dahil gusto kong sumaya ako I am sorry Keegan. I am sorry for everything pero kung mauulit man ang lahat ng ito gagawin ko pa rin ang lahat ng nagawa ko. I will still fall for you over and over again. Susulutin pa rin kita kay Mason, aagawin pa rin kita. I love you Keegan.” He bowed and press his lips on hers for a kiss. “I’ll be back Kee, I’ll be back.”
“DON’T.” Kunot-noong tinaasan niya ng kilay si Mau, papasok na siya sa simbahan kung saan ikakasal ang kanyang dating asawa. She wasn’t invited but she wants to invite herself. She wants to know how Mason have been since their divorced. After the divorced they separated ways, nagfocus siya sa trabaho niya at sa sindikato.
“Huwag kang pumasok.” Wala na siyang nararamdaman para kay Mason, noong naghiwalay sila ay saka niya napagtanto na matagal ng wala ang kanyang feelings para sa dating asawa. At ayaw man niyang aminin gusto niyang magpasalamat kay Mau dahil sa ginawa nito. Wala na siyang maramdamang hinanakit para sa lalaki mukhang naghilom na nga talaga ang sugat sa dibdib niya para dito. “He is happy now.”
Pinameywangan niya ang lalaki. Matagal na rin silang hindi nagkikita pero hindi katulad kay Mason hindi pa rin nagbabago ang nararamdaman niya dito. Kapag nakakasalubong niya ang mga mata nito ay hindi pa rin niya napipigilan ang sariling kumabog ng malakas ang dibdib, at iyong feeling na may uod sa tiyan mo?
“I know.”
“Why are you here Keegan?” bakas sa mukha ni Mau ang pag-aalala.
“Don’t worry hindi ako nandito para sirain ang kasal nila I am here to say something as the ex-wife.” She wanted to snort when she said ex-wife. Gusto niyang matawa sa hitsura ng mukha nito pero may urge pa rin na gusto niya itong lapitan at gusto niyang maramdaman ang katawan nito sa katawan niya. May mga gabing nagigising siya na sobrang pawis na pawis dahil nananaginip siya, hindi nga lang talaga iyon panaginip. Totoong nangyari ang nangyari sa kanila sa kanyang panaginip.
Pero hindi pwede, hindi na pwede. Maraming pwedeng mangyari mamayang gabi pwedeng bukas ay hindi na siya silayan ng araw.
Diskumpyado ang mga tingin ni Mau sa kanya. “You don’t trust me?”
“I trust you!” mabilis na sagot nito.
“Gusto kong pumasok Mau. I want a closure I think everyone deserves to have one right? Hindi ko na naman hahabulin si Mason dahil tanggap ko nang wala na talaga kami gusto ko lang gumaan ang loob ko.”
Wala pa rin siyang narinig na salita mula rito pero hindi siya papatalo sa lalaki, alam niyang nagsisimula na ang kasal.
“Sandali lang Keegan.” Hinawakan ni Maurice ang braso niya. “Ayokong pumasok ka dahil baka mapahiya ka.”
She gave him a small smile. “I am fine at wala naman akong gagawing ikakapahiya ko.” at nang hindi pa rin kumilos si Mau ay tinanggal na niya ang palad nito sa kanyang braso at sa isang iglap lang ay natagpuan niya ang sariling hinihila ang lapel ng suot nitong suit hanggang sa magtama ang kanilang labi. Kung ito ang huling araw niya sa mundo siguro tama namang pagbigyan niya ang kanyang sarili.
She can feel her heart beating when he started to respond to her kisses hungrily, his arms wounded around her waist pulling her closer to his body. She closed her eyes and feel his lips coaxing wanting for more. She can smell his breathe, she can feel his heart pounding. And she knew he feels something for her she’s not dumb.
She’s still gasping when he releases her, her palms pressing his chest for support. She pushed him and made her way inside the church. Gusto niyang matawa dahil sa simbahan nagpakasal ngayon si Mason, dito sa bansa kasama ang pamilya at mga kaibigan nito. Alam niyang desisyon din niya ang magpakasal sa Los Angeles pero iba pa rin pala ang feeling kapag sa simbahan talaga ang kasal. It feels so surreal, solemn and warm.
“Ikaw babae tinatanggap mo ba ang lalaking ito-.”
“Itigil saglit ang kasal.” Sigaw niya.
“Keegan.” Nahabol siya ni Maurice pero huli na ang lahat. Sabay-sabay na napalingon sa kanila ang mga bisita, si Mason ay nanlalaki ang mga matang nakatitig sa kanya. Kunot-noo namang napatingin ang bride nito. His bride looks so lovely wearing a white wedding gown. Dahan-dahan siyang naglakad papunta sa altar, all eyes on her.
Is this how it feels to walk in a long aisle while her groom is waiting for her?
“Keegan?” maang na tanong ni Mason.
Seryoso ang mukha niya habang naikuyom ang kanyang kamao, ang kanyang tingin ay nasa kay Mason lang. At nang ilang hakbang nalang ang layo nila sa isa’t isa ay huminto siya. Mas nakikita na niya sa malapitan si Mason. Nag-iba na nga ito, medyo lumaki ang katawan at naging lalaking-lalaki na ito. He looks so matured and yet no matter how he changed her feelings would never changed. Naattrack siya kay Mason dahil mabait at sweet ito, palagi siya nitong inaalagaan. At ito ang unang lalaking nagpakita sa kanya ng ganoon kaya hindi na niya ito pinakawalan. She loves the attention he can provide forgetting one important thing… love.
She doesn’t love him, she was fascinated but not love.
“Mason.” Tawag niya sa pangalan nito. “Nakakasakit ka ng damdamin hindi mo man lang ako ininvite.”
“Kasi-.”
“After all these years hindi ka pa rin nakalimot?” she asked provoking him. Dahan-dahang itinaas niya ang kanyang braso na nakakuyom ang kamao. Akala yata nito ay susuntukin niya ito kaya napapikit ito pero hindi ito umalis. Malakas na singhap ang pinakawalan ng lahat maging ng bride nito. She chuckled seeing her reaction. “You never changed Mason, you are still that person whom allowed to be hurt when I am mad.” She smiles at him when he looks back at her. She opened her palm and showed him what she’s hiding. Her wedding ring. “Your wedding needs drama so I am giving it for free.” She chuckled. “Nagbibiro lang ako, kung alam ko lang agad na ikakasal ka na I should have given this. Hindi ko na rin ito maisasauli ng personal pagkatapos ng kasal dahil may kailangan akong gawin at baka matagalan ako pagbalik o maaaring hindi na rin ako bumalik pa.” humarap siya sa magiging asawa nito at hinawakan ang kamay nito at siya narin mismo ang nagsuot ng dating singsing sa palasingsingan nito. “Congratulations on your wedding, you deserved to have this ring as well. This was never mine in the first place I just kept it for the right woman to come and finally found the owner.”
“Keegan-.”
“Thank you for coming to his life, don’t worry I was never his wife we were just friends who happened to be trapped in a very funny situation.” She stepped backward and look at the pair one last time. “Best wishes.” At nagsimula na siyang humakbang papalabas ng simbahan. magaan ang loob niya at pakiramdam niya ay nabawasan ang bigat sa puso niya. She’s free now. She’s free from guilt due to what happened years ago. Mason finally found his perfect bride and will have a wife to share his life forever. Now, she needs to risk her life to finally free herself from her chains.
“Keegan, where are you going?” salubong sa kanya ni Maurice na naghihintay sa kanya sa loob ng simbahan.
“You don’t have to know Maurice.”
Tumigil siya sa paglalakad pero hindi siya nagtangkang tingnan ito dahil ayaw niyang magbago ang isip niya.
“Maurice may itatanong ako sa iyo.”
“What is it?”
“Do you have feelings for me?” she wanted to laugh at her own question but she wanted to know.
“Yes.” Walang kagatol-gatol na sagot ni Maurice. Marahas siyang lumingon dahil sa gulat. Hindi kasi niya inaasahan na diretsahang sasagutin nito ang tanong niya. Akala kasi niya ay takot ang mga lalaking umamin ng totoo nilang nararamdaman sa isang babae gaya ng nababasa niya sa mga libro. “The main reason why I don’t want you to end up with Mason. I fell in love with you the moment I heard your voice, the moment I saw you. Call it love at first sight, call it whatever you wanted. I know you might not believe it you are a genius and love and first sight can’t be explain by science. I have feelings for you, I am already in lo-.”
“Stop.” She doesn’t need to hear it… not yet.
“I want to tell you-.”
“I said stop I don’t want to hear it.”
“But why?” bakas sa mukha nito ang lungkot sa sinabi niya.
“Because I don’t know how to respond with your feelings Maurice.” Pag-amin niya dito. “And I am leaving I don’t know when to come back or if I’ll be back alive. I am not normal, my background wasn’t either. Kahit tugunin ko ang nararamdaman mo sa akin alam nating pareho na nasa panganib pa rin ang buhay ko at buhay mo. I am not going to risk anyone’s life anymore.”
She starts to walk away, she needs to keep her distance.
“I’ll wait Keegan.” Sigaw ni Mau sa kanya. “I’ll wait for you to come back no matter what happened.”
She bit her lips and tried not to wet her cheeks with her unshed tears, her heart is thumping like crazy inside her chest.
“I love you Keegan Garces and I’ll wait for you. I’ll do everything to win you.” He promised.
I promise too Maurice, if I’ll be back alive I will face my feelings for you and will do everything to have you too.
“SAAN ka ba galing kuya?”
“Binabantayan ko si Keegan.”
“What happened to her?” nag-aalalang tanong nito. Sinamaan niya ng tingin ang kapatid na tumawa lang sa naging reaksyon niya. “May asawa na ako and I love my wife if you just wanted to know. Kaibigan ang turing ko kay Keegan.”
Bumuntong-hininga lamang siya habang hinihilot ang pagitan ng kanyang ilong. “Pagod na pagod ka.”
“They are returning her memories Mason.”
“That would be good.”
“Sa memories niya ikaw pa rin ang mahal ni Keegan. Paano kapag naalala niyang ikinasal ka masasaktan siya.”
Parang tangang tiningnan siya ng kapatid niya at bigla itong tumawa ng malakas na para bang nakakita ng clown na nagsasayaw sa harap nito.
“Why are you laughing?”
“Kuya you are so dense.”
“Kapatid mo pa rin ako.” Inis na sambit niya at aalis na sana sa harap nito kung hindi lang siya nito napigilan.
“Keegan doesn’t love me and I think she never did.” Natatawa pa rin nitong sabi.
“What do you mean?” kunot-noong tanong niya sa sinabi nito.
“Well, we started as friends. I like her because she’s nice and sweet and really smart. She didn’t tell me she was a genius. I was fascinated by her, the ways she talks it all makes sense. I admit I really loved her she was my first love. Kaya kahit nararamdaman kong hindi magkatulad ang nararamdaman namin sa isa’t isa ay hindi ko iyon pinansin. I want someone like her as a wife who wouldn’t want her? She’s beautiful and smart.” Tumango siya sa sinabi nito. “But I can’t reach her heart. That’s why I asked her if she could marry me and I am glad she did.” Natahimik saglit at saka sumulyap sa kanya. “But she changed after you two met.”
“What?”
“May nag-iba sa kanya. Mas lalong nabuhay ang mga mata niya at kahit na nakatingin siya sa kawalan ay napapangiti lang siya bigla. I tried to neglect it. I even asked her if she still wanted to marry me and I saw hesitations. She doesn’t want to marry me but everything was all set and she thought if she backed out she’ll hurt me.”
“She doesn’t love you?”
“She has feelings for you.”
“Paano mo nalaman? Paano mo nasabi?” pakiramdam niya ay para siyang teenager na sinabihan ng kaibigan na may crush sa kanya ang crush niya. He is too old for this but how can he stop it?
“Sinong bride na tinititigan ang bestman sa halip na ang groom sa mismong kasal niya?” tumawa muli si Mason. “Dapat ako na mismo ang gumawa ng paraan upang hindi mangyari ang kasal ng mapansin ko iyon but I can’t do it. I just wanted to try my luck with her and married her.”
“And everything happened.” He said.
“It happened for a reason kuya.” May kung anong ngiti sa labi ni Mason habang nakatingin sa kanya. “Nakita kitang pumasok sa silid naming mag-asawa.” Mas nagulat siya sa sinabi ni Mason. “Gusto kitang suntukin at patayin ng mga oras na iyon. I was your only family but you chose her instead. Alam ko na ang mangyayari at ang nangyayari,”
“But why did you—but why?” wala na siyang maisip na tamang tanong dahil sa nalaman.
“Iyon ang pinakamadaling paraan para maisalba ko ang pagkatao ko kuya. I married someone who doesn’t love me and I married her knowing she doesn’t love me. I tried to work it out but failed eventually, I feel like a failure and I can’t think of anything that would save my ass. At galit na galit ako sa iyo kaya gusto kong mahirapan ka rin tulad ko and there’s nothing more painful than seeing the woman you love hate you for destroying her life.”
Naikuyom niya ang kamao niya sa sinabi nito. His brother is indeed his brother.
“I won’t say sorry for it bagay lang sa iyo iyon for stealing her from me. But you are still my brother and I love you so I learned to move on and found a new love, but hell with you kuya ako nakarating na sa finish line pero ikaw hindi ka pa rin umuusad.” Pumalatak ito. “Don’t worry about me I don’t really care anymore. May sarili na akong buhay kaya asikasuhin mo ang buhay mo.”
“I intend to.”
“Good, gusto kong may kalaro ang magiging baby ko.” he smiled at him and he returned the smile. Kung totoo ang sinabi nito sa kanya hindi nga malayong mahal talaga siya Keegan and it was him all along. He can’t help himself but to smile. He can’t help it.
“NASAAN si Keegan? Bakit wala siya sa silid niya?” nag-aalalang tanong niya kay Georgette na nagbabantay pa rin kay Sydney na hindi pa nagigising.
“Gising na siya Mau.”
“Really? Pero nasaan siya?”
“Umalis na sila ni Ulysses at ni Yvette. They need to create the antidote.”
“Wala ba siyang sinabi? Sinabi niyo bang nandito ako?”
Tumango si Georgette. “Oo alam niya.”
“And?”
“And she didn’t say anything.”
“Mukha ba siyang galit? Galit pa rin ba siya sa akin?”
Tinitigan lang siya ni Georgette at saka napabuntong-hininga. “Kaya mo pa bang maghintay kay Keegan?”
“I am good at it… waiting.”
Gette gave him a small smile and tapped his shoulder. “Good things come to those who knows how to wait Maurice.”
- Writer
