RBS 3: Suffered Love (FREE TO READ)

CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER 4

Sumapit ang gabi at nagsimula na nga ang masagang kainan sa kabilang bahay. Inimbitahan ko ang mga kaibigan ni Russel, agad naman silang pumayag kaya medyo naging pormal ang takbo ng handaan.

After our talk earlier, Nicholas and I left the garden with so much questions swirling on my mind. I was gonna asked him about it but he just stopped me and said that all things were meant where it should be, kaya mas lalo akong naguguluhan. It's like he's telling me that I should forget what he said and forget the past?

What past?

Umiling ako sa mga naiisip. I'm thinking so much and it's not a good thing to overthink everything especially in my case right now.

"Marami pa pong letchon doon, Ma'am Eli. Ipapahatid ko po sa inyo kay Lino." Masayang saad ni Lilith nang makalapit sa akin.

Ngumiti ako sa kanya. "Salamat. Iyong sa parte lang ng tiyan, Lilith." Maligaya kong sabi.

Nagugutom na ako at ayaw ko namang istorbohin si Nanay dahil busy din siya sa pagseserve ng pagkain kaya nagdesisyon akong tumayo at tinulungan sila.

"Kami na diyan, Eli. Magpahinga ka nalang diyan at baka sumakit na naman iyang ulo mo dahil sa pagod." Agad na awat sa akin ni Nanay ng akmang kukunin ko ang kanin.

Tumawa ako. "Ano ka ba, Nanay? Okay lang naman po sa akin ito. Nakapagpahinga naman po ako kanina." Saad ko.

"Saan po to iseserve?" Balewala kong tanong habang bitbit ang isang rice plate.

Nanantiya si Nanay na tumingin sa akin. Pero ng makita ang pursigido kong mukha ay hinayaan niya ako.

"Doon mo iyan i-serve sa table ng pinsan mo at sa mga kaibigan nito, hija." Sagot ni Nanay. "At pagkatapos ay doon ka nalang umupo dahil ipapahatid ko na kay Mila ang pagkain at gamut mo."

I cursed silently.

Now, I regretted why did I even insisted to help. But there's no turning back, it's already my responsibility now. Humakbang ako patungo sa kanilang table. They were so much enjoying while making a conversations with some of my men workers. Hindi makitaan sa kanila ang pagkadisgusto o pagkairita habang tinatanaw ko silang masayang nag-uusap. They were even drinking a coconut wine, and that was so strong.

I'm not saying that I addressed my workers as low earners in the society but most successful men don't communicate as the way Russel's friends do. They were really enjoying and even laughing hard as they are striking a conversation. I judged them so easily and I felt so guilty about it.

I was walking unusually slowly, almost robotically, as if my brain was struggling to tell each foot to take the next step. Lumingon si Gabriel sa deriksiyon ko at binati kaagad ako. Natigil din ang usapan nila at lahat sila ay lumingon na din sa akin. I trembled a bit when I accidentally landed my vision to Nicholas eyes.

Napatigil lang ako sa paghakbang ng may humarang sa akin.

"Magandang gabi po, Ma'am Eli. Salamat po ulit sa handaan, masarap po ang naging kain namin ng pamilya ko." Masaya at magalang na saad ni Jonathan sa akin.

Isa siya sa mga binatang trabahante ko dito sa farm. Halos kasing edad ko lang din siya kaya mas naging komportable ang palagay ko sa kanya. Masipag siya at mapagkakatiwalaan kaya siya ang naging assistant ni Mang Kanor sa pagpapalago ng farm.

Nahihiya akong ngumiti. "Wala 'yon, Jonathan. Kayo namang lahat ang may dahilan kung bakit lumago ang farm kaya nagpapasalamat ako sa inyong lahat."

Umiling siya. "Kung hindi naman po kayo ang nagsimula wala naman po kaming trabaho dito, Ma'am. Kaya kami po ang may malaking utang na loob sa inyo."

Namula ako sa tinuran niya kaya napakamot siya sa kanyang batok. I really can't stand so much appreciation. Hindi ako naging sanay doon, pero hindi naman lingid sa aking kaalaman kung bakit lumalapit siya sa akin. I knew that he has a crush on me that's why I always maintained my formal attitude towards him so that he might not interpret it in the wrong way. Pero hindi ko ata na kayanan ang magandang sinabi niya sa akin ngayon. It was just so overwhelming kaya agad nag-init ang pakiramdam ko dahil sa saya.

"Salamat." Ang tanging nasabi ko na lang at ngumiti.

Bumaba ang mata niya sa dala ko kaya agad siyang nag-offer na kukunin niya ito pero napatigil siya ng may malamig na boses ang nagsalita sa likod niya.

"I can do it, boy." Even if I don't see him from the back , I already knew that cold and hot-tempered voice.

How fascinating it is that I am familiar with his voice already? It bothers me so much like I'm already stuck on his circles. I bite my lip nervously when at last I met his dark stares with such anger.

Namamanghang tumingin si Jonathan kay Nicholas na parang gulat na gulat.

Nahihiya itong ngumiti ng makabawi. "Okay lang po, Sir. Kaya ko naman po." Magalang na saad niya kay Nicholas.

Nang mailipat ko ang mata sa kamay ni Nicholas ay halos lumabas na ang mga ugat nito dahil sa mahigpit na pagpipigil.

"Nicholas?" I called him to get his attention.

He's darkly staring at Jonathan who was poorly looking at him with a scared look on the face. Nag-angat siya ng tingin sa akin at lumapit. Napaatras ako ng kaunti nang lumabas na agresibo ang bawat hakbang niya patungo sa akin. Hinuli niya ang beywang ko at iniyakap ang kamay dito. Just one hold from him, it makes my body temperature rise.

Naguguluhan man sa naging akto niya ngayon pero wala akong naging reaksiyon dahil sa gulat at kaba.

"I said I can do it. Leave us now."

His authoritative voice made me breathless that's why Jonathan made an awkward looks on me.

Agad akong natauhan sa hawak ni Nicholas kaya umusod ako palayo sa kanya pero hinabol lang niya ang katawan ko kaya wala akong lusot. His body was toned, muscular and big. If I were to be compared to him, I would only just be nothing. So fragile and so out of his intensity features!

"Okay na kami dito, Jonathan. You can go to your family now and enjoy the rest of the evening." I smiled.

Tumango siya at ngumiti sa akin bago umalis sa harapan namin.

Kinuha ni Nicholas ang kanin sa kamay ko at hinapit pa rin ako sa kanya. My eyes narrowed as he continued on staring at me. He was tall and handsome, but a pretty face wasn't going to get him out of this. I'm shocked and angry. I'm angry of how he treated Jonathan like that.

"Please take off your hands off me, Engr. Martinez." Nagpipigil kong saad. I really don't really like it when I'm angry.

I felt like I'm already out of my limits.

His eyes turned rigid, cold, and hard. Naiirita ako sa tuwing makikita ko ang walang buhay niyang matang iyon. It reminds me something. Something so lonely and I can't explain it. Natauhan siya sa sinabi ko. Umigting ang kanyang pangang binitawan ako.

He looked so offended for what I said and hurt at the same time. My heart hurts too.

Why? Why am I feeling like this?

He then let me go slowly. Tila natauhan siya sa kanyang ginawa.

"I'm sorry." Sabi niya at hinayaang mauna ako. "Let's go."

Tumitig siya sa akin kaya umiwas na lamang ako.

I smiled before I turned my back on him. Siya na ang nagdala sa kanin kaya hinayaan ko nalang, ayaw kong makipagtalo. Hindi ko ugali iyon, as much as I wanted to do things on my own, I will not if I just ended up having an argument with somebody. Plus, helping me is harmless so I never mind that thoughts off out of my mind.

Nang makarating sa malaking mesa ay sina Russel, Alejandro, Gabriel at Nicholas nalang ang nandoon. The table was already set up with plates, glasses and other eating utensils. Binati nila kaagad ako nang makita nila akong papalapit. Tumango lang ako sa kanila at umupo sa tabi ni Russel.

Nicholas then sit in front of me and placed the rice at the center.

"Where did you go earlier?" Tanong ni Greg sa kanya.

Walang buhay na lumingon si Nicholas sa kanya. Pero hindi naman ito sumagot at binabalewala ang tanong kaibigan.

Gabriel chuckled. "He's in a bad mode. I can sense it."

Alejandro shifted on his seat attentively. "Why?"

Nagkibit-balikat si Gabriel.

"Too much jealousy will really kill you." Gabriel said teasingly at Nicholas.

Greg chuckled while Russel was silent.

Nicholas glared at Gabriel. "Always the noisy one, Zegarra." Malamig na saad sa kanya si Nicholas.

Napapansin ko talagang kanina pa tahimik si Russel kaya tinapik ko siya.

"What happened?" Malambing kong saad sa kanya ng lumingon siya sa akin.

Nanlambot ang tingin niya kaagad sa akin.

"Bakit ngayon ka lang?" Tanong niya sa akin.

"I was helping Nanay Ending in the preparations."

Tumango siya. "Have you eaten yet?"

"No."

He then lifted his hand to touch my hair and deposited it on my left ear. Hindi ako naiilang dahil ganito na talaga kami ka-close since five years ago. Malambing si Russel. Hindi ko iyon binibigyan ng malisya.

But we were halted when someone tap the table. It was Nicholas. He tapped the table like he's punching it, that's why some forks and spoon were bouncing loudly off the table. May iba pang nalaglag sa ibabang mesa dahil sa ginawa niya.

"f**k! He's angry now. Pigilan mo, Greg." Bulong ni Alejandro kay Greg pero rinig ko naman.

Russel then eyed him suspiciously. "Anong problema, Martinez?" Tanong niya dito.

My heart was beating rapidly when I saw how Nicholas stared at my closed distance to Russel. Umusog ako palayo kay Russel kaya napatingin ito sa akin.

He sighed heavily.

"Nicholas." Madiing tawag ni Greg sa kaniya.

From the four of them, Greg was seem the most responsible and calmed one. He knows all of his friend behavior that's why he knows how to handle his friend like a father. The relationship that they have was so amazing, I felt an envy.

Tumayo si Nicholas kaya bigla akong napatingin sa kanya.

"I'll just go and get some fresh air." Nicholas straightly said.

Tumango si Greg.

Naalarma ako. "But the foods were already about to serve?" Pigil ko sa kanya.

I don't want him to go! My God! What's happening to me?

Napatingin silang lahat sa akin. Nicholas lips was parted after I said that. Naumid naman din ang dila ko nang masabi 'yon.

"You don't want me to go?" He said with a hopeful voice but the coldness was still there.

Tumango ako. "Stay and eat first." Bisita siya dito. I should also take care of his health as well.

Seriously, alam ko ba ang sinasabi ko?

Agad siyang umupo.

He smirked triumphantly.

"Someone's happy..."Si Alejandro.

Hindi na lamang ako kumibo. Kahit pansinin ang mapanuring tingin ni Russel ay hindi ko na pinansin. Kumain na lang ako at hinayaan ang sariling mag-isip ng kung ano ano.

"Ate!" I stopped eating when I heard Lino's cheerful voice calling me.

He's bringing a tray carefully. When I saw what it was, I smiled.

"Thank you, Lino." Saad ko at hinalikan siya sa pisngi.

"Ano 'yan, Eli?" Takang tanong ni Gabriel.

"It's her medicine." Russel answered.

I smiled.

Tumingin ako kay Nicholas pero nakatitig lang siya sa gamut ko at hindi ko mabasa ang mga ekspresiyon niya.

Nagtaka ako ng lumapit si Lino sa kanya.

"Are you my Ate's boyfriend?" Nagulat ako sa tanong niya kay Nicholas.

Bumulinghit ng tawa si Gabriel. "I like this kid." Natatawa niyang saad.

Uminom ng tubig muna si Greg bago tumango at nahahalinang tumingin na rin kay Lino. Nangingiti si Nicholas na tumingin sa kanya.

"How can you say it, baby?"

Ngumiti si Lino sa kanya.

"Lino..." Tawag ko sa kanya.

"Hayaan mo na, Elizabeth. Bata naman 'yan." It was Alejandro.

They seems so happy because of Lino.

"Kung makatingin ka po kay Ate Eli ay pareho po kay Mang Kanor sa kay Nanay Soling." Inosenteng sagot ni Lino.

Nanay Soling was Mang Kanor's wife.

"Sino si Nanay Soling?" Nicholas asked.

I rolled my eyes. "She is Mang Kanor's wife." I said directly.

Natigilan siya sa sinabi ko.

"Come here, Lino." Utos ko sa bata na agad namang lumapit sa akin kaya kinarga ko siya paupo sa aking hita.

Inaya kong kumain si Lino kahit ang puso ko ay mabilis pa ring tumitibok. I never lifted my face at Nicholas because I don't think I could do it.