Perfect Two

Chapter 4

CALEB

I didn't know what was happening to me. I was getting obsessed with her, when I saw her alone celebrating her birthday, my heart stopped beating for a second. Doesn't she have any friends or family to celebrate with?

Every time I see her smile pakiramdam ko nasa alapaap ako ng mga oras na iyon. Even though that wasn't for me.

I keep on following her, wherever she was, lagi lang naman si Niccolo ang kasama niya, may tao rin akong kinuha para lang masundan siya. 

Why? Actually I really don't know. It felt like I used to know her. Ugh! The bond between us is so strong.

Tinungga ko ang bote ng whiskey na hawak ko. Saka tinawagan si Louie. It was exactly 11:00 pm.

"Where is she?"

"Pauwi na sir. Naglalakad sa eskinita papasok sa inuupahan nilang kwarto ng tyahin niya. Nakakatakot dito sa inuuwian niya sir, maraming tambay, marami ding area na sira ang ilaw sa poste."

I sighed. I can buy her a house and give her comfort. But f*ck! How can I do that? Sino ba namang babae ang magtitiwala sa bagong kakilala lang. I need to gain her trust. I can't let her live in a place like that.

"Bumalik ka dyan bukas makipagkita ka sa kapitan ng lugar na yan ipaayos mo lahat ng ilaw na sira."

"Yes sir."

"Good work Louie, make sure that she is inside her house before you go."

"Yes sir."

Sa mga susunod na araw busy na ako, magsisimula na akong magtrabaho. Pero pakiramdam ko mababaliw ako pag hindi ko siya nakikita.  Hindi ko ito nararamdaman sa mga naging karelasyon ko.

I've never been in a serious relationship before. Because every time I have one, it ends so fast. 

Hibang na kung hibang. Ganito na talaga ako, if I was attached to someone. Just like this cute little girl, hinaplos ko ang portrait ng isang cute na cute na batang babae na pinasadya ko pa sa isang sikat na pintor. I met her 10 years ago...

Iris. Iyon lang ang natatandaan kong tawag sa kanya ng mommy niya. 

Ding… My phone beep, I fished it outside my pocket. It's Tito Bryan.

{Caleb, please see me at the office tomorrow. I have some favor to ask.}

 Napakunot noo ako. It must be something really important. My Dad told me that Tito Bryan is not comfortable when it comes to 'utang na loob'. 

"Caleb, iho…"

"Hindi ko alam paano ito sisimulan… Kilala mo ako. Hindi talaga ako basta basta humihingi ng pabor." He paused for a while, his fingers tapping the table.

 "Matagal na naming balak magbakasyon na mag pamilya. Since walang pasok si Nicco, gusto naming ituloy ngayon."

"Pero may estudyante kasi ako na malapit sa amin, lalong lalo na sa Tita Myla mo at ngayon napapansin ko na napapalapit na rin siya sa anak ko."

"Dati gusto niyang kumuha ng nursing pero pinakiusapan ko siya na she will be taking BSBA and nursing at the same time, but BSBA will be the priority."

"Sa nursing naman I give her a special class once a week, and she is only present in the class during examinations. And luckily, pumayag naman siya. And I am proud to say na magaling siyang bata. Ngayon iho, pwede mo ba siyang alalayan habang wala kami?"

"It is an honor for me Tito na pinagkakatiwalaan mo ako lalo na sa taong mahalaga sa inyo. Just tell me what you want me to do."

"You take my part as her mentor. Hindi siya mahirap turuan. She also studies in advance."

"Hahaha Tito you are really eager to see me in the classrooms teaching rich spoiled brats huh?"

"Hindi naman sa ganun Caleb, pero sa tingin ko mas titino siguro ang mga estudyante natin kung ikaw ang prof nila." Nakangiti nitong sabi.

"Come, let's meet her. We're gonna use your car." 

We went straight to our village's convenience store. And there again I saw her! Her brown orbs look familiar. 

"IRIS." Hearing that name sends shivers to me. Pangalan na nakatatak na sa utak ko sa loob ng sampung taon.

Iris? Could it be possible that she and Iris that I met before are the same person? But they possess different eye colors.

"Oo nga pala, I want you to meet my nephew Caleb, iho this is Veronica, Niccolo's friend and she's  like a daughter to me and Myla."

I want to receive a smile from her but when I offer my hand for a hand shake…

"Nice meeting….."

"We've already met Tito. Let's get straight to the point. Tungkol po saan pag-uusapan natin?"

 I can not blame her, because our first encounter wasn't that good.

I was out for a while. Seeing her face makes me happy. I can't take my eyes off her. But my day dream was cut off.

"Stop staring at me!" She's glaring at me. Tumawa naman si Tito Bryan.

"I'm sorry Tito, nakakailang po kasi." 

"Oo nga naman iho, kanina pa kita napapansin." 

"Hintayin nalang Kita sa sasakyan Tito." Umiwas na ako bago pa siya mag buga ng apoy sa pagmumukha ko. I looked at her eyes once more and left.

Natatawa ako sa sarili para akong binatilyo na kinindatan ng crush sa school campus. And she has these rare traits that I observe, her nose has beads of sweat when she's annoyed or uncomfortable.

What the f*ck pati yon napansin ko pa? I lit a cigarette while waiting. I'm not a smoker but this is one of my habit kapag nag iisip ako.

I am trying to get some info about her but I got nothing. No social media accounts. No family and friends, except for her one distant relative.

"Louie, are you still following them?"

"Yes boss."

"Nasaan sila?"

"Nasa isang fastfood chain along Quezon Ave."

"Ok, I'll be there in an hour." 

Pagpasok ko sa kainan pumuwesto ako sa hindi nila ako mapapansin. Mukhang masaya ang kanilang pinag-uusapan.

Nakakaramdam ako ng kurot sa dibdib.

Nagseselos ba ako?

Ng makita kong tumayo si Niccolo para yakapin siya. Lumabas na ako ng lugar na iyon. Confirmed! Nagseselos nga ako. F*CK this feeling!

Tinawagan ko si Daniela. I was so upset I needed to get rid of these s**t feelings. 

"Hello honey! I missed you! Bakit ngayon mo lang ako tinawagan? Balita ko ilang linggo ka ng nakauwi"

"I was loaded till yesterday.  Are you free?”

"Of course honey! For you I'm always free!" Maharot nitong sagot.

F*cking this woman with that girl on my mind is so satisfying! I need to release the heat, the negative energy. And thinking of her makes me more alive.

 Like that cute girl, every time when I am down, happy, annoyed, stressed I'll just stare at her portrait and boom! 

I chose to go to London for that little girl inside my room. When she kissed me she said…

'we're leaving for the U.K. I will finish my degree there and come back to marry you.'

My Mom and Dad thought that I am having some mental problems.. But when I told them the story, it was like I got a best friend. They would always ask me what I was planning to do. They helped me find that girl all over the U.K. But I don't know why I can't find her. My Dad used all his connections in business but I came back to square one.

Kapag may pinapakilala akong girlfriend ko sa kanila tataasan lang ako ng kilay ni Mommy and my Dad will smirk secretly. Because they know, they both know that I am obsessed with that little princess of mine.

Pero until unti ko siyang nakalimutan. Nang ma meet ko si Iris Veronica Salazar. They have the same first name. But they are totally different.  Maybe because she's grown up, that chubby little girl could possibly be like this skinny woman right now. 

I am using my money to dig some info about her but what I found is  s**t! No family background, the report says that her story starts when she is 9 years old. When she is with her Aunt. 

Today is the day. I have never been excited like this before. I already prepared my things last night. I went straight to the university without having any breakfast. Morning is her free time, she got work at noon.

"Good morning Dr. Alvarez!" Her mouth forms an O when she recognizes me.

"Where's Tito Bryan?”

"Well, good morning to you too! I am Dr. Sebastian Caleb Mallari Fuentebella. I will be your mentor for the time being." 

"Why?"

"Look, I'm just doing a favour here. I don't have much time for your interrogation." 

I show her my wrist watch to let her know that time is important for me.

"Hindi mo kailangan ipagmayabang sa akin ang Rolex mo! Kasi kahit tatlo isandaan lang ang relo ko pareho lang ang oras nito dyan sa suot mo!"

Natawa ako ng mapakla. 

"Have a set miss Salazar!" Sumunod naman siya.

"I'm not showing you my precious watch para magyabang. Gusto ko sana malaman mo na mahalaga rin sa akin ang oras ko. Hindi ko alam may pagka slow ka pala."

I know she was pissed off. Namamawis ang tungki ng ilong niya.