One Last Lie (SALS 1)

Chapter 11

Nagising si Esaac sa liwanag na nanggagaling sa bintana. Kinuskos niya ang mga mata at saka nagtakip ng unan. His head aches so he decided to go back to sleep.

Makailan pang segundo ang lumipas at bigla siyang napabalikwas sa kabila nang mapansing hindi ito ang kwarto niya. It was a peach painted all around. It has a sweet fruit scent creeping until the bedsheets. Pastel colors were all over the place. Its walls has beautiful paintings of flowers and surely, a woman owns this room. 

Tumayo siya at pumunta sa study table na malapit sa kama nito. It has bunch of paintbrushes and acrylic paints on it. It also has a rack of colored papers arranged by shade. He was amazed on how this room was organized.

Sa pangingialam sa table nito, may nakita siyang hardbound na notebook na kulay itim at may mga disenyong bulaklak dito. She must have painted this. Because of curiosity, kinuha niya ito at dahan-dahan pang binuksan. 

"Zachessia's story," basa niya sa nakasulat dito.

Gusto pa sana niyang basahin ang nilalaman nito pero nakarinig siya ng mga yabag ng paang papalapit sa pinto. Nagmadali siyang ibalik ito at agad na tumakbo papunta sa kama. He pretended to be waking up from sleep when the door opened.

"Jacobe," she said. That beautiful girl is wearing pastel colored sleeveless and black sweat pants, her hair fell freely on her shoulders and those round eyes of her were looking at him.

"Good morning," dagdag nito. She carefully took steps towards Esaac with the tray of food. "Come, eat up." She smiled.

She set the table and put his breakfast on it. Inisa-isa niyang nilapag ang mga pagkain sa harap ni Esaac at saka ito nginitian. "Hindi ka mabubusog kung tititigan mo lang ako." Her brown eyes smiled.

"Wait, why am I here?" tanong ni Esaac. She sat beside him before drinking from the cup of coffee.

"Why ask? Alam mo namang magkasama tayo kagabi because I was the one who invited you," she explained. Sinaluhan niya si Esaac sa hapagkainan.

"Then? I know I was with somebody else," sabi nito. She lend him a fork with a slice of pancake na siya namang tinanggap nito.

"That somebody else went away Esaac. You were left in the party, drunk, very drunk," she said. "Of course, I am the one who invited you kaya kargo kita. I am not that evil to leave you there so I brought you here."

"Why here? Sana inuwi mo na lang ako sa bahay ko." Patuloy silang kumakain habang nag-uusap. Flower scent fills the whole room, which makes him somewhat comfortable there.

"You, fool. Masyadong malayo ang bahay mo sa venue ng party. Marami pa tayong dadaanang highway, at pasuray-suray na nga ako mag-drive kagabi, baka makasuhan pa ako ng drunk driving." Natawa na lamang siya sa illogical statements niya.

"Oh so where is my vehicle?" he asked out of nowhere. Nasamid naman si Eniessia sa tanong nito at agad na uminom ng kape.

"Let us not talk about it, please." Dumipensa agad ito. "So how was your night?" she changed topic.

"No, Enie, nasaan muna yung motor ko?" he asked seriously.

"Fine, fine, it is in the parking lot," anito.

His heart pounded so hard. Fine, fine. It was Charity's expression for goodness sake. Hindi niya naman tinatanggalan ng karapatan si Enie na gamitin ang expression na iyon pero it reminds him of Charity. He misses her so much for goodness sake. Matagal na ring panahong mula nang makita niya ito. 

"Sino nagdala?" he innocently asked. 

Nagatol sa pagsagot si Eniessia. Hindi niya alam kung anong sasabihin sa kaibigan. He will surely curse him after if she's going to say that she called Ethan to do so. Magkaibigan si Ethan at Esaac but when it comes to Eniessia, Ez can forget about their friendship. 

She cleared her throat for a while. "Binalikan ko roon." She answered three words. She answered with a three-word lie. "So how was your night?" she diverted the topic.

He feels so guilty last night. Maling hinalikan niya ang isang estrangherong kagabi niya lang din nakilala. He is actually saving his first kiss for Charity but it is now ruined. Who was the woman last night?

Naiinis siya sa sarili dahil ang bilis niyang bumigay sa babaeng iyon. Parang nawala lahat ng pinaghirapan niya for years para lang makilala si Charity at ma-please ito. He even often visits her from a far for goodness sake.

"It was crazy, Eniessia, huwag mo akong kausapin tungkol doon," aniya. "My heart hurts a lot." Nasapo niya ang dibdib. He is definitely hurt though. 

"Stupid," she said. "Was it about my newly found friend?" He nodded with a pout. Natawa na lamang siya sa inakto ng kaibigan.

"Why are you laughing?" he asked.

"You look so stupid," anitong natatawa pa. "Hindi ko naman siya ipapakilala sayo kung hindi kayo bagay."

Napasabunot na lamang si Esaac at saka helpless na tumingala. "I do not want other woman. I want her, Enie."

"Esaac, sometimes, it is better to find a new person, the better one." She gave her the trickiest smile ever. He was helpless inside. Maybe Enie does not like Charity at all. Siguro kasi nakita siya ng kaibigan na sobrang lugmok matapos siyang iwanan nito buwan na ang nakalipas. 

He wants to get healed by somebody who hurted him a lot. Hindi naman siguro intensyon ni Charity na saktan siya pero nasaktan pa rin siya. He was drunk in love with her. Marami na siyang ginawa para rito. He almost gave up everything for this woman. Minsan mas ginusto niyang itakwil na lang siya ng pamilya niya kaysa malayo kay Charity.

Charity was the reason of their stay in that village. They actually planned to migrate to Canada to shun from the assassins who wants to kill his grandfather. Pinilit niya na lamang na magpaiwan sa Pilipinas para lang hindi siya malayo sa pinakamamahal niyang babae. Pero mahal nila si Esaac kaya nanatili sila ritong magkakasama.

"Bakit ayaw mo kay Charity?" he asked. "Why do you always make something to make me unlike her? Baka ayaw mo na lang mahalin ang mahalin ko?" he frankly asked her.

"De Sevilla, you will soon understand why I always keep you away from her. Hindi ko naman sinabing ayaw ko siya para sayo. All I am saying is, she is not for you, for now. You are too broke to fall in love again, real quick."

"So why control my emotions, Eniessia? Kaibigan lang naman kita ah." 

Hindi niya naisip kung anong epekto ng mga sinasabi niya sa kaibigan. Gaanoon na sila mag-usap noon palang. They are both getting blunt when talking seriously. Hindi nila pwedeng itago ang saloobin nila sa isa't isa. They must tell it in a harsh way or else, it will be kept and soon will burst out.

"I am not controlling your emotions Esaac. You are much older than me for years but you are still on your immaturity stage-"

"Immature? Pero bakit mo ako pinapakialaman? Why do you have to do that?"

"Because I have been there Esaac. I also saw how you cry a thousand liters of tears for women. You always end up crying, De Sevilla. Alam kong immature ka pa rin hanggang ngayon. You still end up crying and forgetting your faith whenever you encounter problems. And for your information, that is the thing called immaturity."

"Why sermon over me?"

"Uh-oh, see, that is immaturity. Ayaw mong napupuna ka ng ibang tao. Alam mo nang kailangan mong malaman ang nakikita ng ibang tao tungkol sayo but you always end up neglecting opinions of others about you."

Ugh, this feeling. Minsan lang siya mag-isip ng mura o magsabi nito pero kailangan niya. Iilang devotion at fasting na naman ang gagawin niya dahil sa isang murang naisip niya. He does not want to stain his faith for goodness sake. Gusto niyang maging puro ang pananampalataya niya.

"Fine, whatever, talo na ako." He surrendered with her blunt mouth. Kahit kailan talaga, walang nananalo sa bibig ng taong ito. She has a lot of intellectuality in her. Nakakaiyak makipag-usap ng seryoso sa taong ito. Kulang na lang siguro ay umiyak ka ng dugo para lang manalo sa kanya.

Ilang segundo rin silang nanahimik habang kumakain ng hinanda ni Eniessia. Esaac's phone rang from nowhere. Agad na tumayo si Eniessia at ibinigay ito sa kaibigan.

He read the name of the registered number on his phone. It was his father who calls him. He did not waste any second and immediately answered the call. "Yes, Pa? What happened?"

Kinakabahan niyang hinintay ang sasabihin ng ama. "Your Papi is in the hospital, again. Pumunta ka na rito ngayon Jacob, please." May pag-aalala sa boses nito. He is definitely not joking. Worry filled his eyes. He pinched the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes. 

He downheartedly turned off the call. Agad niyang nilingon ang kaibigan. Worry filled her eyes too as what she had seen in him. Nilapitan siya ni Ez at hinalikan sa noo. 

"How was Papi?" she asked with their eyes on each other.

"He will be okay," he said. "I need to go to the hospital, Essiam," paalam nito.

"Mag-ingat ka, Jacobe," she said. Tumayo ito at agad na niyakap ang matalik na kaibigan.

He got his keys from the side table and wore his jacket on. Agad nilang tinungo ang pintuan at kaniya itong binuksan. "Papi will get well," paalala ng kaibigan.

He immediately stepped out of her room. Agad niyang tinungo ang elevator at hinintay itong bumaba. Ang lolo niya lang ang nasa isip niya ngayon. He does not want to lose his grandfather that easy. Masyado niya itong mahal para kalimutan na lang. This will take him a lot of time to grieve.

Hindi niya maisip na mawala ang mga taong pinakamamahal niya. On his case, si Charity pa nga lang na buhay at iniwan siya, hindi na niya kinakaya, paano pa kaya kung ang lolo niya na tuluyang nang mawawala.

The elevator reached the first floor. Isang baba na lang at basement na ang kasunod nito. Hindi na siya mapakali sa kinatatayuan niya.

Bumukas ang pinto ng elevator at nanlaki ang mga mata niya sa nakita. She is a beautiful girl who stepped in. She was busy with her phone so she continuously took steps inside.

"Charity?" 

His words alarmed Charity and forgot about what she is doing. Nanlaki rin ang mga mata ng dalaga nang makita ang lalaking ilang buwan niya na ring iniiwasan. It was a crazy scene for her to see him now, lalo na at broken siya ngayon.

She immediately took steps out of the elevator. Pasara na ito pero buti na lang nakalabas siya. Sinundan niya agad ito at hinawakan sa braso.

"Why do you have to leave me again?" he asked with those brows frowning.

"I-I have to go. May gagawin pa ako," nauutal na sagot ng dalaga.

"Ilang buwan kitang hindi nakita. For goodness sake, sagutin mo naman ako." Unti-unting humihigpit ang pagkakahawak niya sa dalaga.

"M-masakit Esaac. B-bitiwan mo ako."

"No, unless you answer me." His jaws were clenching with burning madness in his eyes. "Where have you been?"

"Y-you have changed Esaac." Bakas sa mga mata nito ang sakit ng damdamin niya. More than his grip on her arm, her heart also screams in pain.

"You too have changed. Do not look so weak and speak up, woman!" sigaw nito sa kanya. He was not the typical Jacob Esaac De Sevilla that she used to know. Nawala na ang kalmado at malumanay nitong mukha. Gayundin, nawala ang nakahuhumaling na tunog ng boses nito na naghehele sa kaniyang puso.

"Stop it," utos ng boses ng isang lalaking kakarating lamang. "Bitiwan mo ang girlfriend ko." 

Parehong nagulat si Esaac at Charity sa mga sinabi nito. More gloom filled Esaac's eyes when he heard that guy call his Charity, girlfriend.

"S-Sidro." Napatigalgal si Charity nang makita ito.

"Come here, girlfriend. Ayaw kong sinasaktan ka ng kahit sinong lalaki." 

Dahan-dahang lumuwag ang pagkakakapit ni Esaac sa braso ni Charity. Unti-unti ring sumisikip ang dibdib ng lalaki habang nakikitang hawak ng ibang lalaki si Charity. Nang mawala ang dalawa sa paningin niya, gigil niyang tinungo ang elevator.

Naiinis siyang hinintay ang pagbukas nito at agad na bumaba sa parking lot. Kinamla niya ang nagngangalit na damdamin niya dahil sa nakita. Hindi ito makakabuti sa kanya lalo na't kapag distracted siya, hindi siya nakakapagmaneho ng ayos.

"Girlfriend?" sabi niya. Jealousy tainted her eyes. "Bullshit," he cursed.

Inis na inis niyang pinuntahan ang kanyang motor. Masakit pa rin ang puso niya nang sumakay rito. Hindi niya alam kung bakit sobra-sobra na lamang ang epekto sa kaniya ng dalaga.

He does not want to admit it but he was wrong. Mali siya ng sabihing hindi siya matutulad sa ama o sa lolo niya. After all, he was always on the line of the beaten De Sevillas in terms of love. Nakakalungkot mang isipin pero hindi siya ang nakaputol ng sumpa ng apelyido nila.

Gayunpaman, hindi naman kasi talaga ito ang nagtagal sa isipan niya. Habang nagmamaneho, ang lolo niya pa rin ang nasa isip. He is preoccupied with his grandfather's situation. He does not care about her this time, he cares more about his grandfather. Hindi niya alam kung anong gagawin sa sarili kung mawawala ito sa kanya.

Curse to all curses but he will make sure to keep his grandfather alive.

Nakarating siya sa hospital at agad na nagtungo sa private room na para lamang sa angkan nila. It was owned by his friend so he will surely have that thing called special treatment in this establishment. 

He came almost running to his grandfather's room. Ni hindi na niya kailangang mag-log sa hospital na ito dahil kilala naman siya rito. After a sprint, he twisted the icy cold knob of the room. Laking gulat niya na lang nang makitang nakaupo sa kama ang kaniyang lola. Yes, it was his grandmother takes care of his grandfather.

"La?" kinumpirma niya rito.

"Apo." She came walking towards him and gave him a warm hug. Ngayon niya na lang ito nakita mula noong araw ng graduation niya sa elementary and that was eleven years ago. 

"Alam ba ni Papi na nandito ka?" tanong niya sa lola.

"Your Papi called me," the old woman said. "I told Lucio that I will visit Santiago. Mutikan pa nga akong hindi payagan." Lucio Lim was his grandmother's lover. His father introduced him to Lucio and he did not know that it was true.

"Why did Papi call you? Lola, alam mo namang hindi ka makakabuti para sa kanya." He bluntly talks to every people these days.

"Apo, I am sorry for everything I did in the past, I just want to reconcile with you before everything comes to an end." Siguro ito nga ang isang bagay na wala sa kanya. He cannot easily forgive people for something. Kahit pa saan umabot ito, he will not give his forgiveness even if she cries a sea of tears.

"Why now Lola? Ang tagal na naming hinintay na mag-sorry kayo sa amin. Pareho lang kayo ni Mama," he sarcastically said. Alam niyang masamang sagutin ng ganito ang nakatatanda pero hindi na niya kayang pigilan. He was longing for women's love but he never got anything from his family. Si Enie na lang siguro ang magbibigay sa kaniya ng pagmamahal na hindi niya makukuha sa pamilya niya. 

Napatungo ang matanda sa hiya. "It was not my fault, Esaac. Everything was not always because of me. Kasalanan din ng lolo mo." A certain feeling in him does not believe anything that his grandmother said. He cannot take that she is blaming the person who cried thousands of tears just to have her back. Nasaktan ang lolo niya ng sobra-sobra. That is why he cannot easily forgive his grandmother, nor let himself fall for someone without an ammo.

"Epipania." His grandfather called his grandmother. Bakas sa boses nito ang panghihina. "I told you to come here to reconcile." Nakahinga ng kaunti si Esaac nang marinig ang boses ng lolo niya. His prayer of making him talk again was answered immediately. Now, he is praying to make his grandfather's health even better.

He was shocked when his grandfather confirmed about letting his grandmother come in the hospital. Hindi niya naman akalaing ganoon na lang kabilis lilipas ang lahat ng galit nito sa kanya. He was in a real confusion with what is happening in there. "Sinabi ba sa iyo ng lolo mo na iniwan ko siya para sa ibang lalaki?" marahang tanong ng lola niya.

"Epipania, ano ba?" awat naman ng lolo niya.

"I really do not get both of you," aniya. "You are confusing me..."  Bigla siyang naguluhan sa nangyayari. 

"Want the truth apo?" paghamon ng lola niya. "I am sure you are always hungry for that. Let me tell you everything."

"Epipania!" sigaw ni Papi. Nasapo niya bigla ang puso niya at saka hinabol ang hininga. Agad na tumunog ang alarm sa tabi niya na konektado sa nurse's station na malapit sa kwarto nito. Sunod-sunod na nagsipasukan ang mga nurse at doktor at pinayuhan silang lumabas na muna ng kwarto.

Both of them were in a shock looking at Don Santiago. They cannot be moved from the ground. Nakikita ni Esaac ang pag-aasikaso ng lahat sa lolo niya. They were trying to do something to keep him alive.