I Was Lost

End

Nakatulog ako? I asked myself when I woke up on a bed. I checked my wristwatch for the time. It's already seven in the morning. What happened?

Ang naaalala ko lang ay ang kasal. Then, Jinan. The park. Wait. Where am I? This is not my room. Hindi ba ako nakauwi?

I checked my dress. Still the same.

Lumabas ako ng kwarto. His house? Walang hotel sa probinsiya. Maybe an inn? Dylan and Lien's wedding took place at our province. This was where Dylan always dreamed of marrying his bride eversince he was a kid and yesterday, it took place.

Papunta akong kusina. Don't ask why. When you wake up, it's the first place you want to go.

There, I found the person I thought that took me. He was cooking, and quiet happily I must say.

Umupo ako sa pinakamalpit na upuan at tinitigan lang siya. Seems like he did not notice me. He's too engrossed on what he was doing.

Ilang sandali lang, nakaharap na siya sakin. His eyes widen at the sight of me.

" Anong ginagawa ko dito?"

Hindi siya sumagot. Iniwas niya ang mga mata niya sakin at pinagpatuloy ang pagluluto.

"Hoy!"

Mabilis niya akong nilingon. Madilim ang mga mata.

"I have a name."

I raised an eyebrow.

"Hindi mo pa sinasagot ang tanong ko."

Tinitigan niya lang ako at bumalik sa ginagawa niya.

I was about to burst out when he spoke.

" Nakatulog ka."

"At?" I answered fishing for more information. Ano ngayon kung nakatulog ako. Puwede namang ginising o ini-uwi niya na lang ako!

"Aah." He trailed.

He served the food with his forehead knotted. Still not answering.

"At?" I asked.

"Bakit hindi mo ako ginising o iniuwi?"

Tinanong ko nalang. Wala siyang balak na sabihin.

" W-well... Uhmm. Let's eat." Sabi niya.

Tinitigan ko siya nang matiim. Iniiwas niya ang usapan. I stood up and went out of the kitchen while he was disoriented and kept on calling my name.

Ayaw mo? Edi aalis ako. Hinanap ko ang bag ko. Then, I realized that everything that I brought is in the car.

Dinala niya ako dito. Ibig sabihin ang sasakyan ko'y nasa bahay pa rin nila Dylan.

Lalabas na sana ako nang bahay. Hoping that maybe this place is close to where I live so I can just walk o di kaya'y sumakay ng tricycle. I always leave money with me even if I bring a purse. For emergency purposes. Pero bago pa man ako makalabas, an arm stopped me.

"San ka pupunta?" I looked at him then shrugged.

"Uuwi."

Hinawakan ko ang kamay niya at sinubukang tanggalin sa pagkakahawak nang hinila niya ako, papuntang kusina.

" We'll eat first, we'll talk later."

Tinitigan ko lang siya. Kung hindi ka magsasalita ngayon, aalis ako.

He looked at me then breathed a sigh.

"Alright."

Looks like he got the message. Umupo ako. When he saw that I have no plans of eating, he sat down in front of me and clasped his hands.

"Well?"

"Well, you fell asleep." He cleared his throat.

"And?"

"At, uhm, dinala kita dito."

Nakayuko lang siya habang sinasabi iyon. Where is the angry Jinan, huh?

" Bakit di mo ako inuwi?"

"I don't want to?"

He said that while looking straight to my eye.

Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay. Umiling lang siya.

"Uuwi na ako."

I attempted to stand pero pinigilan niya ako.

" Walang aalis." He said firmly.

I looked at him. Wondering why he won't let me. The talk that he asked for is done. I cleared my name, he didn't even clear his. Come to think of it, we never talked about him, it's all about me.

Pero ayaw ko nang magtanong. Kung sila ni Kelly, I won't mind. But, at the very least, can he just let me go! He already have her.

Because of what I was thinking, anger arose inside of me. Naiirita ako!

Matalim ko siyang tinitigan. He just looked at me bewildered. Huminga ako ng malalim. Kinakalma ang sarili. If you want to leave peacefully, don't burst. I looked at the food in front of me and decided to eat. Maybe after eating I can go home.

Nagsimula na rin siyang kumain. I did not look at him and just continued eating even though I can feel his eyes on me.

"Nagmamadali ka?"

Napahinto ako at tinitigan siya. Napabuntong-hininga ako at tumango. Ipinagpatuloy ko ang pagkain.

"Walang aalis."

Tinitigan ko siya. Tinapos ko na ang pagkain at uminom ng tubig.

"Uuwi na ako."

I was going to get up from my seat when a chill ran down my spine. I looked at him and saw the dark expression he was emitting.

Napalunok ako. He's angry.

"Sit down."

He muttered in a low voice yet you can hear the warning in it.

As much as I wanted to stay, I can't. What if the lady of the house comes home. I've had enough drama in my life.

"I need to go-"

"Sit. Down."

Napa-upo ako sa sinabi niya. He's really angry. Napapikit nalang ako sa inis.

" Kailangan ko nang umu-"

Hindi ko natapos ang sasabihin ko dahil sa titig niya. Napalunok ako.

" B-baka dumating si K-Kelly."

Napainom ako ng tubig matapos sabihin iyon. I've been meaning to ask this since I woke up. I haven't seen her anywhere so I assumed that maybe she went out or she's just anout to come home. Saying it now felt like all the water in my body drained.

Tinitigan niya lang ako nang may pagtataka.

"Ano ngayon kung dadating si Kelly?"

"Won't she get angry when she sees you with another woman? I-I mean, uhmm."

"Why would she?"

His voice may be serious but I can see a ghost of a smile in his lips. Kumunot ang noo ko doon.

"W-well, it's normal for a woman to be angry if he sees his man with another lady?"

I was supposed to add that maybe Kelly won't be happy to see me since the last time we saw each other was not that great when his serious face broke.

His laughter filled the whole room. Gulat akong napatitig sa kaniya. Is there something funny?

Nakatitig na siya sakin ngayon ng may ngiti sa mga labi. He opened his mouth and closed it again. Like he wants to say something but cannot.

He heaved a deep sigh. Then looked at me. Gone was the happy man seconds ago. Now, he's looking at me seriously.

" You." He trailed. Nakatingin lang ako sa kaniya. Hinihintay ang sasabihin niya.

"You love me."

Natigilan ako. Suddenly, everything seemed to have stopped. My heart is beating so fast. Cold sweats are forming. What in the world?

I breathed in and calmed myself.

" What makes you say that?"

Congratulations, you said that without stammering. Hooray. Note the sarcasm.

"Kelly... She's coming."

Bitterness flowed within me.

Tinitigan ko lang siya at tumango.

" Then, I have to go."

I said calmly throwing away the pain that's crawling.

Tumayo na ako at tumungo sa pintuan. Mabilis na nilakad ko ito. Jinan was calling me but I ignored him.

I was wondering why he didn't catch up to me when he followed me immediately. Nevertheless, I'm thankful for that cause anytime, I feel like my heart would breakdown and my body would ignore the persistence I've been doing to prevent myself from breaking down.

"Kelly"

I held the handle ignoring his words.

"She's my sister."

Nahinto ang akmang pagbukas ko sa pinto. Sister. I never knew he has one. He must be lying. Yes, he is.

Bubuksan ko na sana uli nang biglang my tumulak nito galing sa labas.

" Kuya! Guto- ah. Hi?"

Kelly. Wait. Kuya?

" Oh my gosh! You're here!"

Niyakap niya ako ng mahigpit habang ako'y tulala. Nilingon ko si Jinan. Nakatitig lang siya sakin. Okay, so, he's not lying.

" Let me see your hand!"

Pagkatapos niya akong yakapin ang kamay ko naman ang pinagdiskitahan niya. Nakatingin lang ako sa ginagawa niya nang galit niyang tinawag ang kuya niya.

"Kuya! You proposed without a ring. Anong klaseng lalake ka?"

Nakapameywang pa siya habang sinasabi iyon. Wait, what?

I looked at Jinan and found him looking at me with fear. Hinila niya ang kapatid niya at may binulong. Shock was registered on the lady's face.

"What! You haven't told her you love her?"

Hindi ko alam kung sinadya niya ba 'yong iparinig sakin o hindi. The only thing I know is that my heart suddenly felt warm. The pain earlier can't compare to the happiness I'm feeling right now.

Kung masaya ako, si Jinan naman ay hindi na maipinta ang mukha. He's torn between talking to me or scolding her sister. Gusto ko ng matawa ngayon pero pinipigilan ko. Tinitigan ko lang si Jin.

Kelly on the other hand acted like she messed up.

"Oops."

She ignored her brothers dark stare and smiled sweetly at her.

" I'll be in the kitchen."

She happily bid goodbye and ran towards the kitchen.

Tiningnan ko si Jinan. He was just watching me. I leaned at the door and raised a brow at him.

" So... You love me."

I grinned. It's my turn to say that line.

Kabaliktaran ng inaasahan kong mangyari, hindi siya nabahala. Instead, he gave me a smirk and slowly walked towards me.

" Says the lady, who got jealous over my sister."

I paused for a moment. Now, how am I gonna react.

He lookd at me intently. Like I'm the most prized possession in this world.

"I love you."

Settle down. He just said he loves me!

" You love me too."

" Wait. Who said that I love you?"

He stopped and looked at with a grin.

" You told me yesterday."

" Oh, I did now, did I?"

I scoffed. What confidence! I may have told him the story. I did not tell him I love him!

Well, maybe he guessed through the story. But, damn!

" Let's stop playing games here."

Now he's serious. This man, really. I laughed.

This man, I've loved him ever since, without me noticing it. He was hurt for so many times yet loved me still.

Gusto ko siyang pahirapan muna. I endured for years you know? But he endured longer. I don't want to see pain in his eyes again.

" I love you." I said then walked towards the kitchen. Well, I can play a little bit, right? Just a little.

Before, I could even get far, a hug stopped me. He has a hobby of stopping me, really.

" I love you."

He looked at me with questioning eyes.

"What?"

"I said I love you. Tell me you love me too!"

He demanded like a child.

"Do I?"

Now, he's irritated.

" You just said you love me!"

" Did I?"

Naiinis na siya.

I kissed him then continued walking.

"Damn woman!"

I laughed. I looked at him. He was smiling from ear to ear.

I mouthed the words he wanted to hear. Now, from this day forward, I'm yours.

'I love you'

-end-

*rylfrtrss