CHAPTER 3
1582 Words
CHAPTER 3
Hinilot ko ang aking sintido ng maramdamang sumakit iyon. My thoughts are bursting out of my mind. I'm shocked! And I can't believe why because I don't know either. Both doubt and happiness are fighting over on my mind that even if I take a glimpse to Nicholas, it is even too hard for me. Wala naman akong maalala na nakilala ko siya, but why do I felt like I know him? Even the small detail of his face is very familiar.
Impossible? I don't really know.
"Are you okay, Eli?" Nag-aalalang tanong ni Russel sa akin.
Umangat ang mukha ko. I directly stared at Nicholas who's in front of me. May kaunting pag-aalala sa kanyang mukha at pagtataka kaya napapatitig ako sa kanya.
"What happened?" Greg asked curiously as he eyed me intently.
Umiling ako sa kanya. "It's just a mild head ache." I smiled.
"Sanay na ako nito." Pagpapatuloy ko ng hindi ko makumbinsi ang reaksiyon niya. All of the men in front of me except for Russel who seats beside me are staring at me. Like they were so attentive and so eager to know any details.
Nicholas jaw clenched when I divert my attention on him. "Sanay? What do you mean?" Malamig niyang tanong. Even there is a hint of curiosity on his voice, it still remained cold.
How could he do that?
I smiled at him. Kahit hindi man naging maganda ang pakiramdam ko sa kanya ay nakuha ko pa ring ngumiti. I have no ill feelings for him and no intention of hating him too. It's not good to feel like that towards him since it was our first time to meet. Siya pa man din ang engineer para sa renovation ng mansiyon kaya dapat pa lang ngayon ay pakikisamahan ko na siya ng mabuti kahit may kunting pagtutol sa aking sarili.
"Well..." I said hesitantly but I still continue. "I met an accident five years ago. It was a severe accident na kailangan kong pumasailalim sa matinding operasiyon. It was a head injury and despite being saved, the doctor can't guarantee the recovery of my memories. Kaya't hanggang ngayon ay nanatili pa rin akong nangangapa sa naka---."
Napatigil ako ng maramdamang napasobra yata ako sa sinabi ko dahil napalitan ng gulat ang mukha nila. I even saw Nicholas's lips parted a bit. Then he looked down for an unknown reason.
"Naaksidente ka?" Si Alejandro na hindi na tinago ang gulat sa kanyang boses. "Hindi man lang ba naisipan ng mga taong tumulong sa'yo na maghanap o ipahanap ka sa pamilya mo?"
Natahimik ako. "We were instructed not to broadcast it. My father thinks that I might be a victim of assassination. Kung ipapahayag namin kung nasaan ako ay baka matunton ako ng taong gustong pumatay sa akin. There were no driver found in the truck. The police concluded that it might be an attempt to murder me."
Greg eyed me then he turned to Nicholas.
Pagak akong natawa nang matahimik silang lahat. "No need to be serious, gentlemen. It's all in the past now." Mahina kong sabi kahit nerbiyos ang tila namutawing emosiyon sa puso ko.
Russel then hold my hand to stoop my little laugh. Napatingin ako sa kanya.
"You are really too friendly, you nearly narrated half of your life, Elizabeth." Malambing niyang sabi sa akin.
Natatawa siyang umiling sa akin. Natigil lang ako sa pagtawa ng malakas at madiing nagsalita si Nicholas kaya napatitig at napabaling ako ulit sa kanya.
"Memory lost? Attempted murder?" Nahihirapang tanong niya. His face was so serious that I even tremble while trying to equal him. My heart beats faster when I see his hurt eyes.
Why?
"H-how?" He continue to ask.
Nagtataka at kinakabahan akong tumitig sa kanya pabalik. But before I could utter a word, Greg called him.
"Calm down, Nicholas." Seryosong saad nito habang nakatitig sa kaibigan. "You'll scare her. This is not the right time."
Bumaling sa kanya si Nicholas. He stared at Greg for a second. He looks like he's controlling his patience but then he suddenly stopped.
I bite my lips again nervously.
Russel notice the tension that's why he stopped it.
"Come on , guys! Narito tayo para magsaya at magbakasyon kahit saglit. Let us all loosen up, shall we?" Russel jokingly said.
Gabriel immediately smiled at me. "Yes, let's do that before we go home tomorrow."
"Tomorrow?" Tanong ko. Ang dali naman!
"The business orientation will be resumed tomorrow. Someone sent an invitation for me too." Russel said.
"I can't declined since it's for a good cause. Many young entrepreneur will be present and I must indulge myself for helping them building their own business." He continued.
Russel will be always the kind hearted man I've ever meet in my life. I like that aspects about him, it's very regenerating and refreshing. "That's good to hear. Maganda iyan lalo't pat marami ang kabataan ngayon na gustong kumita ng pera sa murang edad pa lamang."
Ilang minuto kaming natahimik pagkatapos non. Wala na akong nagawa kundi ang tahimik na nakikinig sa kanila. Paminsan minsan ay napapansin ko ang titig sa akin ni Nicholas. Sa tuwing nahuhuli ko siya ay hindi man lamang siya mag-iiwas ng tingin kaya nababahala ako. He just stared at me like he has no plans to withdrew it.
I only smiled at him. Kahit hindi niya iyon sinusuklian ay ngumingiti pa rin ako sa kanya upang maibsan ang kabang nararamdaman ko.
For some reasons, I have some difficulties in finding out why my heart beats faster than the usual when I stared at him. Even his presence makes me uncomfortable but sadly not in a disgusting way. Hindi naman ako ganito sa mga gwapong lalaki na nakikita ko sa probinsiya. May manliligaw man pero wala talaga akong interest para sa mga bagay na iyon. But seeing Nicholas here while staring at me, I think my composure was already ruined.
Napagpasiyahan kong ibalewala ang nasa isipan ko at marahas na bumuntong hininga.
Natigil sa pag-inom ng wine si Russel at tiningnan ako.
"I'll just go and get more strawberries. Excuse me." Paalam ko sa kanilang lahat bago tumayo.
Hindi na ako nag-aksaya pa ng panahon na bumaling sa derikyon ni Nicholas upang makita ang reaksiyon niya dahil alam kong nakatitig pa din siya sa akin.
He's freaking me out but I still wanted to act normally despite of his weakening stares.
Tumalikod ako sa kanila pagkatapos kong magpaalam.
I sighed heavily when I reached the kitchen.
Walang tao roon kaya nagtaka ako at pansamatalang nakalimutan ang nararamdaman. Lumapit ako sa pintuan palabas ng kitchen at tinungo ang mini-garden.
Nasaan ba sila Nanay at Lino?
Muntik na akong mapatampal sa aking noo ng maalalang naroon sila sa kabilang bahay katabi ng mansiyong ito. Pinagawa ko iyon simula noong nakaraang dalawang taon. Doon nila Nanay naisipan na magsalo salo mamayang gabi. I suggested that it will be held at the mansion instead but Nanay insisted that the mansion will just be too big for us. Baka ay hindi pa daw sila mag-enjoy kaya hinayaan ko na lang.
"Narito na po ang gamot ninyo, Ma'am." Saad ni Mila sa ilang minuto kong pagmuni-muni sa garden.
I smiled sweetly at her. "Salamat, Mila." Saad ko at kinuha ang gamot at isang basong tubig mula sa kanya.
Pagkatapos kong uminom ay kaagad naman niya akong nginitian at iniwan. I still want to fill my lungs with fresh air but I felt a slight cold. Napayakap ako sa sarili ko. Ang dali ko lang talagang lamigin kaya madalas akong napapabili ng jacket sa lungsod ng probinsiya namin.
"You're here." Napapitlag ako ng marinig ang malamig na boses na iyon.
Lumingon ako at nakita kong si Nicholas iyon. His hands was on his pocket while he was standing coolly at the door. He's wearing a smug smile on his face as usual.
I smile awkwardly. "Do you need anything, Engineer? We can call Mila to get it." Kalmado kong saad.
He withdrew his stares. He then slowly walks toward me.
Umiling siya.
"This place is beautiful." Saad niya habang nakatingin sa garden sa harap namin.
Matangkad siya kaya nakatingala akong napatingin sa kanya. I don't want too but his face and presence was enough to magnetize and mesmerize me.
"I can actually tour you around Baguio, Engineer. Mas marami pa ang magagandang tanawin doon keysa dito." I offered.
"You looked like you belong in here." He said and then looked at me. "So peaceful....away from the hell world I'm living in." Malamlam niyang saad sa akin.
I arched my right brows. His eyes were intently staring at the further horizon his eyes can see.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
He looks like he's suffering.
Umiling siya at yumuko sa sinabi ko. He then lifted his hand. Napatingin ako roon. He stopped midway. Kumuyom ang kamao niya at inilapag pabalik ang kamay.
Pumikit siya ng mariin.
"May problema ba?" Agaran kong sabi nang makita ang reaksiyon niya.
Umayos kaagad ang itsura niya at tumingin ulit sa akin.
"It's nothing. You should go and get inside. It's cold out here and you're not even wearing a jacket." He said coldly.
Natawa ako sa kanya.
"I'm fine. Nasanay na ako sa simoy ng hangin dito."
"Even though, you are not used to cold places."
I gasped in surprised.
"W-what?" I asked. "How did you know?"
He sighed.
"I always do." He said with a finality in his voice. "Now, let's go back together inside."
- Writer
