One Last Lie (SALS 1)

Chapter 15

She was surprised to have all of her clothes on. She woke up with painful thighs and hips. Maybe their night was quick but that made her lower body parts somewhat weak.

"Aww, sweet," she thought. She just smiled and tried to stand up.

Nagising siya at wala na si Esaac sa tabi niya. May tunay na kumot na rin siya na nakabalot din sa katawan niya kanina. She had pillows on her head that makes her heart melt even more. Hindi siya makapaniwalang kinikilig siya kay Esaac.

She tried to walk and took steps from the couch to the door. Dahan-dahan niyang binuksan ang pinto at doon niya nakita sina Esaac, Eniessia, at Anne.

"Why did you include her in AL? Did I tell you to put her in our organization?" gigil na tanong ni Esaac kahit alam niya naman ang sagot.

"Look Ez, upon looking at your lover's profile, she is intelligent and capable to be one of us," ani Anne.

"And for your information De Sevilla, hindi naman namin kailangang hingin ang opinyon mo kung gusto naming ipasok si Locquias sa AL," matapang na sabi ni Enie. "In fact, siya mismo ang pumasok sa AL at naging qualified para maging isa sa atin."

"Bakit? You are the ones who pick recruits from that school. At sa pagkakaalam ko, pumayag si Charity kasi hindi niya alam ang tunay na dahilan ng paglapit niyo sa kanya. Gaya ng sinabi niyo sa akin noon, you want to give justice to the bullied, as simple as that, but for goodness sake, you want to give justice for the people who are killed. So now tell me, bakit hindi niyo dapat i-consider iyong sinasabi ko kahit mahal ko siya at isa akong miyembro ng AL?"

Nanatiling nakatingin si Anne kay Esaac at hinayaang sumagot muli si Eniessia. "See, De Sevilla, you are overreacting. Masyado kang kinakain ng pagiging makasarili mo. Sa halip na tulungan mo kaming maghanap ng capable, nagiging pabigat ka lang sa amin. Pinapairal mo rin iyang immaturity mo."

"Ez, we are here to protect students. We are here to protect lives. Kung magiging makasarili ka, maraming mawawala," ani Anne.

"And yeah, Esaac, I am going to tell you something," Eniessia said. She sounded so intellectual and gorgeous. "Matagal ko na nga palang alam kung nasaan si Charity. Matagal ko na ring alam kung anong nararamdaman mo para sa kanya. Matagal ko na rin siyang pinahanap kay Seth and believe me, Mr. Patroller kept that thing from you because he could also see how immature you are. Cannot blame me, Esaac, pero marami nang sumbong sa akin mula sa mga kabanda mo that you really got affected by her. Immature."

"Oh shut the immaturity, Eniessia–" sigaw nito nang may pagdadabog. 

"You are welcome, friend." Mataray siyang sinagot ni Eniessia.

"Bakit ngayon mo lang sinasabi ito sa akin? Bakit ang sama-sama niyo sa akin? May ginagawa ba akong masama sa inyo? Ginagawa ko naman yung trabaho ko dyan sa Alpha Lohikal ah. Ano pa bang pagkukulang ko? I even went to college again just to spy, ano pa–"

"Excuse me. You went to college again to follow the woman of your dreams." It was Anne who raised her voice at Esaac. "Look at yourself, kinakain ka na naman ng pag-ibig! Ano bang nakain mo? Ano bang ipinakain ni Charity sayo?"

"Anne," pag-awat ni Eniessia.

"No, Essia. Let me. Nagtitimpi lang ako rito sa immature na ito." Agad siyang bumaling kay Esaac. "Ikaw, pinagbigyan ka na namin na ipagpaliban ang duty mo at ilagay ka sa pagbabantay sa recruits tapos ngayon kung anu-anong sinasabi mo diyan!" parang bata nitong tono.

Unknowingly, halos dumausdos si Charity habang maingay ang biglaang pagbukas ng pintuang sinasandalan. Eyes were on her and she felt the strange feeling of nervousness and somewhat physical pain.

"Uhhhm, ahh, ano, kasi, ano, narinig ko kasi, ahh, sige," nauutal niyang sabi. "Alis na pala ako." She was ashamed as she walks out of the scene.

"Wait, Charity," pagpigil ni Esaac kay Charity habang hinahabol ito. He held her arm that made her stop. She closed her eyes to calm herself.

"Yeah, wait, you have to know everything," sabat ni Eniessia habang tumatayo mula sa kinauupuan. "Let us tell you all."

Sumabat si Esaac at sinabing, "No, Eniessia, aalis na kami-"

"No Ez, give me the chance to hear all of it. I think I have to know about it first, am I right Eniessia?" she calmly said.

Eniessia and Anne had told her everything. From the beginning to the reason of her recruitment, lahat nalaman niya. Walang kahit anong pinalagpas na detalye ang dalawa at lahat talaga sinabi nila. 

She was shocked with all of the revelations that she had heard. Hindi siya makapaniwalang may mga taong ganoon at may mga taong handa ring tumulong. She even found herself asking about her purpose in that group.

"So we formally welcome you to Alpha Lohikal as one of our Acumen." It was Eniessia.

"Acumen? Seryoso ka ba? I mean, she is intelligent but I want her to be near me," sabi ni Esaac. "Gawin niyo na lang siyang Emissary."

"Emissary? Anong gagawin niya? Tatakbo, aakyat sa kung anu-ano, magpapahabol sa aso?" It was Anne.

"Ez, kaya nga namin siya sinali para maging Acumen. Gaya nga ng sabi mo, she is intelligent. In that case, she could easily process the details and give it to the Onslaught," sabi ni Eniessia.

"Wait–"

"Ez, okay na. Tanggap ko na. I am an Acumen," ani Charity. "I accept my duty to be an Acumen." Bumaling siya kay Eniessia at saka inilahad ang kamay. Agad naman itong tinanggap ni Eniessia at gayundin kay Anne.

"Well, we had it this easy. Please tell your boyfriend not to put fence around you. Hindi ka naman lupain na dapat bakuran," sabi ni Anne.

Nakasimangot naman si Esaac habang tinatanggap ni Charity ang naatas sa kanyang gawain. Ilang segundo lang silang nagkatinginan at saka agad na umalis si Esaac at mukhang nagmamadali pa. Sinundan siya Charity at nakarating sila sa view deck ng café. He stopped near the railings and crossed his arms on his chest.

"Ez," panunuyo ni Charity. Niyakap niya ang binata mula sa likod. "Please, talk to me, el mio."

Pinatagal pa ni Esaac ang pagkakataong nakayakap si Charity sa kanya at saka nagsalita. "Charity, alam mo namang ayaw kong mapahamak ka." Hinarap niya ang dalaga. "I want you to be safe and always near me, ano bang mahirap doon?"

"El mio, let me find my mission," aniya. "I just want to gain friends and prove myself. Kaya ko naman ang gusto nilang mangyari. I will surely accomplish my mission."

"Charity, you do not have to join AL just to prove yourself. You are more than enough, la mia amor. Dahil sa pagsali mo sa AL, gabi-gabi akong hindi makakatulog nang ayos. Hindi ko alam kung ligtas ka ba o hindi. Being an Acumen, with intelligences and all, maraming gustong pumatay sa mga katulad niyo. They want to kill Acumens to amputate AL. Kung walang matalino, magaling mag-analyze, walang masisimulan, walang mabuting magagawa."

"Esaac, I get your point. Alam kong nag-aalala ka sa akin but the fact that you are also one of AL, at Emissary pa, with all the courage and skills to spy, mas natatakot ako para sayo. Now, I won't stop you because it's what you want. Now, please do not stop me from doing this. I want this, el mio," she said.

Iilang minuto silang nagyakapan at nag-isip. To go or not to go. To continue or not to try. They both want to be in AL but if they do, they will both put their lives into danger. To be in AL means to put one foot on your own grave. Once the enemies know about your membership, they will surely do something to erase your name from the world. 

"What could assure you that I will always keep myself safe?" tanong ni Charity.

He thought of something else. "Well, I just want you to be near me." He smirked as if he thought of a very bright idea. 

"Marry me."

Halos manigas sa kinatatayuan niya ang dalaga matapos marinig ang mga sinabi nito. She cannot even breathe properly. Her heartbeats in a lost melody. 

"S-seryoso?"

"Why not?" tanong ni Esaac. "Seryoso ako sayo Charity. Hindi ko kukunin ang p********e mo kung hindi kita pakakasalan."

She immediately removed his arms wrapped around her. Gulat niya itong tinignan at saka tumakbo sa kabilang parte ng view deck. Tumingin siya sa langit at bumuntong-hininga. 

'My heart. I hate this feeling.

'Imagine the few months that they had together. Imagine those months. Months lang yon tapos gusto na niyang pakasalan si Charity. He must be crazy though.

"Kung iniisip mong nababaliw ako, no, I am not." Nagulat na lang si Charity nang sumulpot si Esaac. "This feeling that I have for you is real. Legit ang feelings ko para sayo. Corny mang pakinggan but loving you is my vice."

She could feel him behind her. She could feel his whole presence surrounding her. Nararamdaman niya ang t***k ng puso nitong tila normal naman subalit iba sa pakiramdam. She could lay beside him with her head on his chest. His heartbeat is a lullaby to her ears. She could even makes this her top song on her playlist. She could even play this all over again. 

But she must not. She must never do that.

"Tell me when you are ready, Charity," he calmly said as he caressed her shoulder.

Ready. Marahil ay hindi pa siya handa. Kasabay ng pagsagot niya ng 'oo' kay Esaac ay ang pagtanggap niya sa katotohanang kailangan niyang sabihin dito ang lahat ng tungkol sa kaniya. 

Being his wife means telling no lies nor keeping no secrets.

Napakalaking problema nito para kay Charity lalo na at marami siyang sikretong itinatago ngayon pa lang. Sa pamilya, sa kaibigan o maging sa sarili niyang pagkakakilanlan, lahat ng iyon ay may tinatago siyang hindi pa dapat malaman ng kahit sino. She will just put them in danger if ever she accidentally spill something about her identity and group where she belongs.

Seconds of silence have passed. 

They do not know what to respond. To say yes to his proposal is to say yes to his everything. To say no to his proposal means to say no to his love. It was a real clamor in her body. Between her heart and brain, her brain definitely wins.

"What do you want us to do?" he asked.

Unti-unting sumisikip ang dibdib ni Esaac sa paghihintay sa sagot ng dalaga. Every second of waiting is equal to a cell slowly dehydrating. Dahan-dahan siyang pinapatay ng oras habang hinihintay si Charity.

"Let us not pursue this."

"What-"

"You heard it right, Esaac. Let us not pursue this." She sighed. "Ayaw kong magkaroon ng conflict sa kahit anong parte ng buhay mo. Lahat ng mayroon ka ngayon ay mayroon ka na noon kahit wala pa ako. Let us not complicate things and move on."

She slowly freed herself from his arms. Kapag ayaw niya, ayaw niya. She has been jailed for years now because of insecurities and she will not let anything to jail her again.

"Wait, Cha." He held her arms once again. "L-let, let me adjust myself for you."

She admits that her heart melted. But if Esaac loving her, means forgetting things about himself, she will choose not to pursue this joke.

"Ayaw ko. Ikaw na iyan noong wala pa ako, so please, continue your life without me." Agad niyang inalis ang kamay ng binata sa braso niya. "Forget about last night." She sighed. 

"Forget about me."

He was dragged by the pain that he felt when he slowly saw how she left him. Sa bawat pagtunog ng takong niya at paghikbi ng dalaga, nasasaktan din siya. 

Alam niya namang dapat siyang masanay na palagi siyang iiwan ng mga babae sa buhay niya. What is new about it? The curse runs in their blood. Ang bago lang siguro, somebody left a memory on him. A night. Just a night.