Lost In His Arms

Lost 5

One week before Thalia's christening, Davidson couldn't visit Raye's family like usual. He flew to Greece when the news broke about Zacharias getting into an accident. Sa ngayon ay nasa hospital siya kung nasaan ang kanyang kapatid. Zacharias has been in the hospital for two weeks already. Late lang din nasabi sa kanya at lalong hindi rin ito alam ng mga magulang nila.

Davidson didn't know why Zacharias didn't tell their parents, but when he thought about it, maybe it's best for them not to know. Mas lalo silang mag-aalala at baka mas maging komplikado pa ang kalusugan nila.

Davidson was already outside Zacharias room and about to enter, but stopped himself when he heard another voice—it was a woman's voice.

"I already told you, didn't I?" the woman cried. "You will be in danger because of me, Zach. We both know that it wasn't-"

Zacharias stopped the woman. "Don't. Just stop talking about this."

"But, Zacharias!" The woman snapped. She couldn't stand it.

"Love, please," Zacharias begged.

Davidson was surprised to hear his brother beg for that woman. He had known his brother since they were kids. His brother's cold demeanor and how he talks—David couldn't grasp the things he was hearing.

Naalala niya muli ang kung paano siya magmakaawa kay Nesi na huwag siyang iwan noon. Davidson clenched his fist and was about to disrupt the two, but the woman said something that made him immobilized for a second.

"No, Zach. You can't stop me this time." She was determined as she looked at Zacharias.

"Love. No, you didn't mean that." Zacharias tried to stop her, but she's too stubborn and persistent.

"Zach, sinabi ko naman 'di ba? No one can hurt you. And if they do, ibabalik ko ng doble sa kanila," the woman said with determination, not knowing that Davidson on the other side of the door was stupefied and confused.

Zacharias tried to stop the woman from leaving. But when the woman opened the door, she was shocked to see Davidson just outside the room. Zacharias took a deep breath. Davidson doesn't have to know what happened to him. He's so sure that his brother will worry.

On the other hand, Davidson composed himself and pretended to hear nothing. Seeing those two shocking faces and what he heard earlier made him suspect something. Ngunit hindi naman niya masabi kung anuman iyon. The woman collected herself and smiled like nothing had happened between her and his brother.

"Hi, I guess you are Zacharias brother. I'm Alena-"

"Are you my brother's girlfriend?" David didn't finish Alena's words. He just asked her straight.

"No."

"Yes."

Napailing na lang si Davidson sa narinig mula sa dalawa.

"Seriously?" nasabi na lang ni Zacharias na siyang umamin.

Napairap naman ang babae at hindi pinansin ang pagmamaktol ni Zach. "I will deny it until you are released from this hospital."

"Love naman..." Hindi naman makapaniwala si Zacharias.

"Remember our deal? No flirting and making love if you hurt, so bare it." Parang balewala lang na sinabi ni Alena ang mga salitang iyon kahit nandito pa si Davidson.

Davidson was just speechless as he heard it. He didn't expect this.

"That's TMI," komento na lang ni Davidson.

Ngumiti lang ang babae sa kanya bago magpaalam at tuluyan ng umalis.

Napahinga na lang nang malalim si Davidson nang makapasok na siya sa pribadong kwarto ng kapatid. Inilagay na lang niya ang pagkain sa bedside table.

"That woman of yours sure is vulgar and feisty." Tiningnan niya ang kapatid na medyo namumula ang tenga dahil sa sinabi ni Alena kanina. Kapagkuwan ay natawa siya, saka kinantiyawan si Zacharias. "Are you blushing? Are you embarrassed when your girl announces you are making love or something?"

Zacharias tsked at his teasing. "Kung aasarin mo lang ako Kuya, makakalabas ka na." Zacharias lay down on the hospital bed and hid his face with his blanket.

Natawa nang malakas si Davidson sa inaasta ng kapatid. Napailing na lang ulit siya saka hinayaan na lang niya ang kung anumang meron sa kapatid niya at sa babaeng nangangalang Alena.

But it is still a mystery to him why Zacharias got hurt. Lalo na sa mga narinig niya kanina sa pag-uusap ng dalawa, siguradong may mas malalim pa na dahilan iyon.

"Hindi mo rin ba sasabihin sa'kin kung ano'ng nangyari sa'yo?" Davidson asked. Sandaling tumahimik. Naghihintay pa rin ng sagot si Davidson.

Maya-maya'y bumuntong-hininga si Zacharias. Slowly, he sat up and looked at Davidson.

"I will, but not this time," Zacharias paused. "Sorry, Kuya, but it's too complicated. I will tell you when the right time comes. Huwag mo na rin sabihin sa kanila."

Davidson knows that Zacharias is hiding something. But he chose to understand his brother.

"Alright. Just promise me that this will be the last time you'll get hurt. I will tolerate you this time," Davidson pleads. "Pero alalahanin mo naman sila Mom, lalo na kung malaman nilang may nangyaring ganito ulit sa'yo. Ayokong makatanggap muli ng ganitong balita, baka sa susunod sa morgue na kita makikita. Nagkakaintindihan ba tayo, Zacharias?"

Zacharias was guilty. Tama naman ang Kuya niya. Pero kapag kay Alena talaga hindi niya kayang makita itong nahihirapan. Lalo na sa mundong ginagalawan nito ngayon.

"I can't promise, but I understand."

"Zacharias."

Pero nanatiling ganoon pa rin ang desisyon ni Zacharias. If Davidson is persistent and stubborn, Zacharias is straightforward and thick-headed. Parang ito pa nga sa kanilang dalawa ang mas matigas ang ulo. Kung ano ang magiging desisyon nito, iyon na 'yon. Nothing can change Zacharias mind. His decision, his rules.

Mukhang hindi na nga niya makukumbinsi pa ang kapatid. Hinayaan niya na lamang muna sa ngayon ang desisyon nito. Davidson stayed with Zacharias for five days until he was finally released from the hospital. Sa halip na sumama ito sa kanya pauwi ng Pilipinas, ay kasama nito ang babae na nangangalang Alena.

Davidson was observing them. Alena seems to care for his brother, even though she acts the opposite sometimes. Marahil ay talagang nagugustuhan ng babae na asarin ang kapatid niya. It was his first time to see Zacharias being clingy to a woman. To easily smile and be warm with her.

He couldn't believe he was seeing the same brother as before. But Davidson knows that Zacharias is genuinely happy, and he was grateful for that. Aside from Raye's family, Zacharias is the other one he cares for and protects. Hindi niya rin makakayang masaktan ito katulad niya.

"Are you sure, you're alright? Pwede pa naman akong manatili rito hanggang bukas." Isa pang tanong ni Davidson sa kapatid na nasa wheel chair. Nasa likuran nito si Alena.

Talagang hinatid pa siya ng mga ito sa airport. Hindi niya alam kung talaga bang curtesy na lang ito ng kapatid o pinapaalis na siya.

Napakamot na lang sa ulo si Zacharias dahil sa muli na namang tanong ng Kuya niya. "Kuya, aabutin tayo ng syam-syam dito. Kanina ka pa tanong ng tanong, eh," inis na sabi ni Zacharias.

Davidson chuckled as he saw Zacharias annoyed face.

"I just want to be sure. I'm your Kuya, remember?" Pagpapaalala niya.

"I know, Kuya," Zacharias said. "Hindi ko naman nakakalimutan 'yon, eh. Isa pa, may mag-aalaga sa'kin dito. She may not look at it, but she's more strict than you."

"Ano?" Kaagad na nagbigay ng reaksyon si Alena, saka binatukan ito dahil sa sinabi ng kapatid niya.

Napaaray na lang si Zacharias mula sa pagkakabatok nito.

"Don't worry about him. I will make sure that this won't happen to him again." Davidson could sense Alena's determination.

Makikita sa mga mata nitong hindi lang nito aalagaan ang kapatid niya, nararamdaman niyang po-protektahan nito si Zacharias.

"Thank you; I'll hold on to that," pagpapasalamat niya kay Alena na ikinatango lamang nito.

Davidson gripped his luggage and then looked at his brother again. As they bid their farewell to him, hindi nagpahuli ng paalala si Zacharias sa kanya.

"Paki-kumusta mo na lang ako kay Thalia, ah. Give my gifts to her. Ikaw na lang ang bahala magpaliwanag kina Raye at Gia, kung bakit hindi ako makakadalo sa binyag tutal ikaw naman ang favorite niyang Tito." Bilin nito.

Tumango na lang siya. "Nakakatakot daw kasi pagmumukha mo. Palagi kang nakasimangot," dagdag pa niya.

Zacharias just showed his middle finger. His brother was annoyed. Pinapaalis na siya nito kaagad. Napailing na lang siya saka na tumungo sa boarding gate.

Davidson's flight back to the Philippines went well. Pagkauwi niya'y nagpahinga siya kaagad. Bukas na lang niya bibisitahin ang pamilya ng pinsan para sa nalalapit na binyag ng pamangkin niya sa makalawa.

***

Maagang nagising si Davidson. He exercises and jogs the whole neighborhood. Pagkabalik niya'y saka siya nagpahinga sandali saka nagluto ng simpleng agahan. Matapos naman kumain ay saka na siya naligo at nagbihis.

Pagkarating niya sa bahay ng pinsan ay naabutan niya sa sala ang mga inihahandang munting regalo para sa dadalo at mga ipangdedesenyo para sa gagawing handaan kapag matapos ang binyag ni Thalia. Dito lang sa labas ng bahay gaganapin ang nasabing party, kahit pa nagpumilit siyang sa hotel na lang gawin at siya naman ang bahala ay ayaw pa rin ng mag-asawa.

Hinanap niya ang pinsan, nakita naman niya itong tumutulong kay Gia sa pag-aayos ng mga lamesang gagamitin bukas. Hinanap niya rin ang pamangkin, pero hindi niya naman ito nakita. Lumapit siya sa dalawa. Kaagad naman siya binati ng mga ito.

"Where's Thalia?" tanong niya.

"Ah, baka kalaro na naman niya, 'yung Yaya niya," sagot naman ni Raye.

Bahagyang kumunot ang noo ni Davidson. "Yaya? May hinire na kayong mag-aalaga kay Thalia?"

Tumayo naman si Raye saka pinagpagan ang kamay saka tinapik si Davidson bago pumunta sa likuran niya para kunin ang ibang gagamitin bukas. "Yeah, don't worry. Kilala 'yon ni ate Cherry. Magkaprobinsya at magkapitbahay lang sila," wika naman ni Raye sa kanya.

Napailing naman ang mag-asawa sa kanya nang makita ng mga itong hindi pa rin siya kumbinsido.

"She's nice, David. May experience na siya sa pag-aalaga ng bata. At saka, gustong-gusto siya ni Thalia." Kapagkuwan ay sabi ni Gia.

Napabuntong-hininga na lang siya. Hindi naman sa wala siyang tiwala sa mga ito, pero nagdadalawang-isip pa rin siya sa nakuha nitong Yaya.

"How old is she?" tanong niya.

Nagkatinginan naman ang dalawa bago sumagot si Gia. "She's twenty-six."

"She's young," komento niya.

"Don't worry, couz. Sinigurado namin ni Gia na mapapagkatiwalaan siya saka nakikita ko rin naman siyang hindi gagawa ng masama." Pagpapalubag-loob naman ni Raye sa kanya.

She better be.

Mula sa pag-iisip ni Davidson ng malalim ay narinig niya ang matinis na tinig ng pamangkin. Malakas itong humagikgik, habang patakbo sa kinaroroonan nila. Davidson was ready to carry his niece but halted when Thalia hugged the one who was running with her instead—her Yaya.

"Yaya, habulin mo po ako ulit," nangingiting wika ng pamangkin niya sa babae.

"Thalia, anak kanina mo pa pinapahabol sa'yo si Yaya. Tama na 'yan." Suway naman agad ni Gia.

Napanguso naman si Thalia, pero sumunod naman. Nagpabuhat na lang ito sa Yaya nito na ginawa din naman ng babae.

Davidson, on the other hand, was speechless and somehow stunned at the Nanny who was carrying Thalia. Parang nawala kaagaad ang pagdududa niya kanina nang makita niya ang dalaga. Her skin was white, like snow. Her brown eyes lighten when sun rays' hit them. At kung titingnan, parang hindi galing sa probinsya ang dalaga bagkus ay parang anak mayaman sa mukha, kutis, at presensya nito.

Lumapit si Raye kay Thalia at ito na ang nagbuhat sa anak.

Kinuha naman ng pinsan niya ang atensyon ng babae, saka ito pinakilala sa kanya. "Katheryn, meet Davidson, my cousin," anito.

"Hello po, sir," magaan at nakangiting bati sa kanya ni Katheryn.

Lihim namang napalatak si Davidson nang marinig niya ang boses nito. May mali na sa nararamdaman niya. He complimented her in his thoughts, at para sa kanya'y masama nang pangitain iyon.

"Meet, Katheryn Fuentes," Raye introduced her. "She's our daughter's nanny."

Davidson clenched his fist when he felt something in his chest.

Nope. Not happening. He thought. He knew this feeling already. And he knows he will be captured again by this stupid feeling, and he doesn't want that. Davidson made a promise to himself not to be lost again. Dahil kapag nangyaring magpahuli ulit siya ay siguradong maiiwang sawi na naman ang puso niya. And he couldn't let that happen. Not now or never.