One Last Lie (SALS 1)

Chapter 14

Nagulat si Charity nang tumunog ang knob ng pinto sa labas. She was actually in the bathroom para mag-retouch (she finally learned how to use make-up to keep her face pretty).

She slowly opened the bathroom door at doon niya nakita ang malaking bulto ng lalaking pumasok mula sa labas. Her heart extremely throbbed in shock when she saw the guy.

"Oh!" she exclaimed. Halos mabitiwan niya ang hawak na clutch bag at napakapit sa doorknob.

Pareho silang nagkagulatan at napabalikwas ng tingin sa isa't isa. Nagtama ang mga mata nila at doon tumibok ng malakas ang mga puso nila. Esaac and Charity are in the same room in the club. Napakapit sa dibdib ang dalaga nang makita ang binatang nakatayo sa tabi ng pintuan. 

Esaac tried to twist the doorknob but it would not work. He tried it once, twice, and many more times pero wala talaga. He even tapped every corner of the door to check if it will move.

"Eniessia!" he exclaimed. Hinampas-hampas niya ang pinto pero walang pa ring nangyari. It was locked from outside. They probably padlocked the door and surely, Anne and Enie had talked about this. "Kalokohan mo! Humanda ka sa akin!" He made a final knock on the door and hopelessly slid on the floor.

Hindi siya makatingin sa dalaga at napatingala na lamang. Minasahe niya ang kaniyang sentido habang walang pag-asang tinitigan ang kisame.

Charity, on the other hand, was just looking at him, with random thoughts inside her head. It was an awkward moment to be in a room with the one you love but had been in too many obstacles together. However, she likes it that way. Kasi pareho pa rin silang clueless tungkol sa feelings nilang dalawa. Ilang buwan din silang hindi nagkita at nagka-usap ng ayos.

The last time they met was a great mistake. Maling timing na nagkita sila lalo na at nasa ospital ang lolo ni Esaac.

They both sat near the doors and hopelessly stared at each other. Kitang-kita sa mga mata nila ang pananabik subalit puno ng katanungang bumabagabag sa isa't isa. 

They like each other. They love each other. They just cannot admit that they had really fallen in the abyss of love.

Maybe for them, to admit is to say that they had lost the battle. They were actually battling with each other's ego. Ayaw aminin ni Esaac na nahulog siya sa isang babae na siyang dahilan ng pagbagsak ng bandera ng mga De Sevilla. On the other hand, Charity cannot admit that she had fallen for someone she just met and lied to her, real quick.

Nasapo na lang ni Esaac ang puso at saka nagwika. "It hurts Charity." He sighed. "It hurts inside. Ang sakit lang na mayroon ka na palang boyfriend where in the first place, ako naman talaga ang unang nanuyo sayo. It hurts inside that I kept myself inhibited just for you. Hindi ko inilalabas ang tunay na ako kapag kasama kita kasi gusto kita. It may be unfair on your side but I am really, really into you."

She smirked. "Into me? Yet you find time to go with another girl? Late. Night. With another girl? For your information, if you are talking about Sidro, well, he is not my boyfriend. He was my companion in psychiatric therapy-"

"Psychiatric?" Bahagyang natawa si Esaac sa kaniyang sinabi. "Kaya ba biglang ang bait-bait mo ngayon?" he gritted.

Bumuntong-hininga ang dalaga. "Yeah, I tried therapies to control my emotions at hindi ko ikinakahiya iyon." She sarcastically sounded. "I really find it hard to inhibit myself but yeah, I did it. I did it for you, Esaac. I just thought that you would like it but no, I saw you with another woman. Now tell me, who is unfair now?" 

Nagsimulang bumugso ang damdamin ng dalaga. Agad siyang tumayo at dahan-dahang lumakad papalapit sa binata. Few tears rolled down her face as she took steps towards him. "Nasaktan din naman ako ah. I saw you happy with others. Tapos ngayon, para namang ikaw lang ang nasaktan. Partida, ipinapamukha mo pa sa akin ang lahat."

"I do not have any other woman, Charity," he said. "Maybe it was Eniessia. After all, ikaw lang naman ang mahal ko, ah." He also took steps towards her. "Nakakapagod ka nga lang mahalin Mia Charity." 

Biglang nahulog ang luhang kanina pa pinipigil ni Charity. Kasabay pagkahulog ng mga iyon ay ang pagkahulog din ng puso niya hanggang sa mabasag na ito ng tuluyan. Pinakatitigan niya muna ang binata at saka nag-iwas upang panatilihin ang pagkapit sa tibay ng kaniyang kalooban.

Hinawakan ni Esaac ang kaniyang pisngi at hinawi ang mga luhang pumapatak mula sa mga mata ng dalaga.

"But I will not stop loving you."

She sobbed harder than a while ago. "I wish you had read my email. I wish you had known how much I want to stay and love you and yes, you heard it right. I. Love. You. Jacob Esaac De Sevilla." 

Sunod-sunod na pumapatak ang mga luha mula sa mata niya. She cannot contain the happiness and contentment that she feels right now. Finally, nasabi na niya nang personal kay Esaac ang lahat ng nararamdaman niya.

Esaac cupped her face and made their heads on level. Naramdaman ni Charity ang kuryenteng unti-unting dumadaloy sa katawan niya nang dumampi ang labi ng binata sa kaniya sa pangalawang pagkakataon. She was not expecting this to be this contenting. She could feel his soft lips playing with hers. They were enjoying this moment until she slowly made it deeper and she let his tongue play with hers.

Happiness. It was all that they thought of. Masaya sila sa piling ng isa't isa. He intertwined their hands and let the moment heat them up. Unti-unti silang kinakain ng pagnanasa sa isa't isa. They slowly went near the sofa and soon land on it. Dahan-dahang inihiga ni Esaac si Charity at saka naghiwalay ng landas.

He may be tempted with the fact that his love is right in front him but he thought of one thing.

"Would you like to?" he innocently asked. "This feels so awkward you know."

Nag-aalala siya para sa kalagayan nila ng dalaga. He is just 23 years old while Charity is 21. Napakabata pa nila kung tutuusin para gawin ang bagay na ganito. Iisa lang naman ang concern ni Esaac, ang hindi pa sila kasal ni Charity.

She kissed him quick. "I am very much willing to get wedded to you."

Those words put a great smile on his lips. He was now triggered to continue this crazy romance. 

Sa wakas, mayroon nang ikakasal sa pamilya De Sevilla. Siya na siguro ang pinakamasuwerteng lalaking nagmula sa angkan nila. Maliban sa mahal siyang tunay ng mahal niya, payag pa itong magpakasal sa kanya.

He grabbed the opportunity to kiss her so hard. Harder than ever. Nag-init ang kanilang mga tagpo at nagsimula silang mapadpad sa ibang panahon. Pareho silang naligaw sa lugar kung saan pawang tunay na nag-iibigan lang ang nakararating. 

They both fell in the abyss of crazy passion and pure romance. 

Their blissful touches heat up the cold and airy night. The whole place was surrounded by silence except the rhythm of their love. The passion for love was melodious as they take the chance to reach the extent of romance.

Nakalalasing. Ang mga mata nilang tanging ang isa't isa lang ang nakikita ay tunay na gumagawa ng koneksyon at sumasalamin sa totoo nilang damdamin. 

All the chains were finally broken. All the flags were already surrendered. All the sentiments were said in just a quick touch of the lovers. Every grip, every kiss, every sweet talk, all were spilled in just a rush.

"I am sorry for hurting you," aniya at saka hinalikan ang dalaga sa noo. "And thank you for your genuine love." 

He allowed himself to touch the lips of hers. Muli nilang dinama ang labi ng isa't isa.

"Mahal kita, Esaac," annag dalaga nang sila ay maghiwalay. She sounded so innocent but convicting. "I wish you feel the same," she uttered as her voice turned into worried one. 

Maybe it was dumb of her to agree on this thing even though she does not know about his feelings yet. Ni hindi niya nga alam kung mahal ba talaga siya nito o sinasabi niya lang iyon para makuha ang gusto niya.

"Of course I do," sabi ni Esaac at saka hinawi ang buhok ng dalaga. "Huwag kang mag-alala sa nararamdaman ko para sayo. It's all legit and fair, la mia amor. Mahal na mahal kita." Sumiksik ang dalaga sa dibdib niya at saka siya niyakap ng mahigpit. A quick smirk tainted his lips. 

"Do not get too close, I am getting turned on again," biro ng binata.

"Ehh." 

Higit pa niyang niyakap ang mahal at hiigit pang isiniksik ang sarili papalapit rito.

He hugged her more and forgot about being 'turned on' and 'wild'. "Go ahead, sleep, la mia amor. Babantayan kita." 

Agad na tinignan siya nito sa mga mata na para bang gulat sa sinabi nito. "Wait, do not sleep yet," sabi niya at saka hinawakan ang pisngi ng lalaki. "We have got to talk about things, el mio."

"Uh, ang sarap pakinggan ng el mio..." Hinampas siya ng dalaga sa pisngi na siya namang ikinatuwa ng binata. "Go, tell me ask you want to know."

Makailang segundo pang pinag-isipan ng dalaga ng sasabihin niya hanggang sa makaisip siya ng katanungan. "How did you learn French?"

He chuckled. "Oh well, your love is born in Paris. I was a graduate in a school in that place so I learned to speak in French. On the sixth grade of my studying, something bad happened and our family drifted apart so we had to go here in the Philippines to continue our lives and forget every misery that we had back there. It was hard to adjust but luckily, I found people who made me feel like I am just like them."

"Oh, VESTIGE?" she said. He nodded with happiness. "Geez, you had a lot of years together. Kaya pala ganoon na lang ang samahan ninyo."

"Yeah, I am really lucky to have them all. Alien pa rin siguro ako hanggang ngayon kung hindi ko sila nakilala," pagbibiro nito.

"Oh wait, your Kuya Seth also did the same, am I right? Sabay ba kayong nag-aral? Late ba kayong nag-school?"

"He was ahead of me. Tamang edad lang naman kami nag-aral-"

"But you are my batch mate yet your age is already 23. How come-"

"Charity, I went to school for the second time kasi gusto kong mag-graduate kasabay-" Nagulat si Esaac sa sarili niya. He almost slipped a toungue. "Ah, oh no, no, nevermind. Yeah, basta nag-aral ako ulit tapos-"

"Sinong gusto mong makasabay?" The authoritative voice of Mia Charity Locquias is coming back again. "Do not you dare lie to me. You do not know me yet, De Sevilla."

Tinitigan siya ni Charity nang mata sa mata hanggang sa unti-unti na rin siyang matunaw. "Fine," pagsuko ni Esaac. "I actually want to get to know you, and meet you. Gusto ko lang ding mapansin mo ako. Palagi na lang akong nagpapapansin sayo pero ni hi o hello, o murahin mo ako, wala talaga, eh."

"Eh, do not remind me about how blunt I am in the past. Ayaw ko nang balikan iyon. I just want to focus on the good side of your statement, saying that you want to get to know me, et cetera, et cetera, blah, blah, blah-" He give her a quick kiss on the lips making her mouth shut.

She innocently covered her lips with those hands of her. "I will kiss you more," he said. "Oh yeah, it does not make any sense, you love kissing me, don't you?" Aalma sana si Charity hanggang sa naalala niya ang 'kondisyon' ni Esaac. 

"Good. Anyway, why did you leave me huh?"

"Leaving you the most painful part on falling for you," she said. "Hindi ko alam kung dapat ko bang ituloy ang naisip kong solusyon sa sakit ko pero ginawa ko pa rin. It was not just for myself but for you. Ginawa ko iyon para maging karapat-dapat ako para sayo, para magustuhan mo naman ako. It was hard for me to think of you while my doctor says 'do not think about your stressors.' Then yes, Esaac, you stressed me a lot."

"Masyadong naging mabilis ang mga nangyari sa ating dalawa. I was easily caught by your charm and generosity. Sayo lang ako nakaramdam ng tunay na pagmamahal na hindi ko naman alam kung tunay o hindi dahil nga, iyon ang unang beses na may nagmahal sa akin. All along, I thought that loving somebody is something that can kill but when I found you, I found loving makes me feel alive," dagdag pa niya.

"Oh." He found himself elated. "I hate you for being so lovely. How can I resist you, woman?" Ito na lamang ang nasabi ni Esaac matapos marinig ang mahabang speech ni Charity.

"Why resist me if you could love me all the way?"

Hinawakan na lamang ni Esaac ang dibdib at nag-wika, "Aw, my heart melts."

"Do not make drama on me, huwag kang madaya, tell me how did you feel the same, el mio?"

"Well, hindi naman tayo pareho ng nararamdaman," pagmamayabang nito.

Napaawang ang bibig ni Charity. "What-"

He covered her lips with his thumb. "I love you more, la mia amor." Inalis nito ang hinlalaki sa labi ng dalaga. "I know I do. I have been loving you for years now."

He smirked and continued his speech. "I knew you eight years ago. You were a freshman when I attended high school. I was on my third year when I saw a silent girl sitting under the acacia tree, alone. I found you weird," he cleared his throat. "Then I saw how perfect you are. I fell for your shotgun mouth. I fell on how you show yourself, no inhibition, non-stop. Then I have got a chance to know you more because I asked Miss Teri to pick me as her staffer. Good thing, Jillian agreed on resigning as AL spy so I did her job."

"Oh, so you are a member of AL?"

Halos hindi makasalita si Esaac nang di niya mapansin ang mga nasabi. He was not supposed to tell her about his 'secret'. Maling malaman niya ang tungkol sa Alpha Lohikal dahil baka madamay pa siya sa mga gulong inaayos ng grupo nila.

"Y-you know, AL?"

She chuckled a bit. "Yeah, and I find it great to be one. So tell me, are you a member?"

Gulat na gulat ang binata dahil mukhang masaya pa ang dalaga na kasama siya sa grupong iyon. Alam niya ba ang tungkol sa mga ginagawa nila rito? "Y-yeah. Where do you belong?"

"What do you mean? I do not get you, Ez." She sounded clueless. "What are you talking about?"

Hindi niya nga alam. "Ahh, it is nothing, la mia amor. I just want to welcome you to our organization." He hugged her. Senseless. "Who put you in AL, by the way?"

"Enie."

His mouth dropped open upon hearing her name. "That Eniessia Moriah Oliveria," he said with a certain fire inside.

Bumibigat na ang talukap ng mga mata ni Charity. However, she managed to say some words to Esaac. "You know her?" She did the sigh of sleepiness.

"Of course I do," he said. Fury was left in his chest as he hugged for the nth time. Hinaplos-haplos niya and pisngi ng dalaga. "Oh sige na, la mia amor. Mukhang napagod ka yata. Let yourself take a rest. Marami pa tayong aasikasuhin bukas."