Las Cosas Series #1: Ashes From Our Past

Capitulo Diez

"Theo! I missed you so much!" Matinis na wika ng babae na ngayon ay nakakapit kay Arturo.

Nang hindi pa rin sumagot si Arturo ay inilayo ng babae ang kaniyang sarili at tiningnan si Arturo.

"H-hey... didn't you miss me?"

"Cathy..." Bulong na wika ni Arturo sa babae

Ang nag-aalalang mukha ng babae kanina ay napalitan ngayon ng kagalakan.

"Yes, it's me Theo."

Niyakap ulit nung babae si Arturo. I guess she missed him that much.

Nawala ang ngiti sa mukha noong babae nang biglang tanggalin ni Arturo ang pagkakayapos ng kamay ng babae sa kanya.

"What's wrong?"

Nagtatakang tiningnan ni Cathy si Arturo, at nang mapansin ako ng babae ay bigla nitong pinagkrus ang kamay sa dibdib. She suddenly looked so guarded and maldita.

Ngayon ko lang napansin ang suot nito. She's wearing a black sleeveless dress, maybe 4 inches above the knee and her cleavage is showing.

Her face is full of make-up with a full pouty lips shaded with a maroon matte lipstick. Her outfit was paired with a 5 inches black stilleto.

Overall, she looks good. Only that... It looks a little bit out of place? I mean, maybe she will go to a bar later but she came here at the mall first to buy something, maybe a gift?

But it's only ten in the morning... Nevertheless, it's her fashion. So I'm in no right to judge.

Matalim ang tingin na iginawad nito, itinaas pa nito ang kanang kilay at mapanghusgang tiningnan ako mula ulo hanggang paa at pabalik.

"And who is she, Theo?" She asked in the sassiest way.

He averted his eyes from her to me.

"Cathy, this is Deborah Beatris. Beatris, this is Cathy."

"Is she your new yaya?"

I just stood here unmovingly. Now I'm in a middle of an awkward situation. Great!

But how did I became a part of this again?

"No."

"Then who is she?" Birada pa ni Cathy.

"What are you doing here?" Biglang pag-iiba ni Arturo sa usapan.

He didn't answer her, thus, he changed the topic.

When the sales lady asked me earlier kung sino ang pagbibigyan ko ng regalo, I told her I'd give it to a friend. Was I wrong to say that? Did I assume that we're friends? Maybe he just treats me like a some sort of responsibility dahil sa pakiusap ni papá.

The lady eyed me for a moment before posing. She eyed her painted nails and shrugged. "Nothing much. Pinaayos ko lang ang kuko ko."

Inalis ni Cathy ang tingin sa kuko at ibinaling ulit ito kay Arturo.

"Anyways, it's ate's anniversary soon pupunta ka ba sa bahay?"

Nakita ko ang biglang pagkawala ng emosyon sa mukha ni Arturo. When Cathy said those words his face looked suddenly drained of any emotions and it became stoic.

"No." He said in a monotonous way.

Nawala naman ang pag-asang nakapaskil sa mukha ng babae at napalitan ito ng panghihinayang.

Lumapit ito kay Arturo at pinaikot ang parehong kamay sa braso ng lalaki.

"Please... Ang tagal mo nang hindi nakakadalaw sa bahay. Are you still that bitter--"

"I said no, Catherine!"

Pareho kaming nagulat ni Cathy sa biglang pagtaas ng boses ni Arturo. He looks so scary right now. Ramdam ko ang pagtitimpi nito.

"O-okay... I'll see you soon then... Theo. I'll go now."

Mukhang takot man ay lumapit pa rin ito kay Arturo at humalik sa pisngi nito. Hindi rin nito nalampasan ang paggawad ng matalim na tingin sa akin bago rumampa paalis.

"Did you buy something?"

Napabaling ako kay Arturo sa biglang pagsalita nito. His voice was cold though.

"O-oo."

"Do you still want to look around?"

Nararamdam kong gusto na nitong umalis kaya naman umiling nalang ako.

"Hindi na."

He just nodded at nauna nang naglakad papalayo.

Something's wrong with Arturo today. Tahimik din siya kaninang umaga pa at maiikli lamang ang sagot. And I'm curious about that Cathy, who is she? Is she his friend? Or girlfriend? But he didn't act like a real boyfriend to her a while ago, so I doubt.

Mabilis pinasibad ni Arturo ang kotse paalis ng mall at naunang lumabas ng kotse nang makarating sa bahay.

Nagbihis ako ng pambahay at nagpunta ng likod bahay dala-dala ang aking libro. May swing dito kaya doon ako nagstand-by at nagbasa.

"Ah," [Daisy] cried, "you look so cool."

Their eyes met, and they stared together at each other, alone in space. With an effort she glanced down at the table.

"You always look so cool," she repeated.

She had told him that she loved him, and Tom Buchanan saw. He was astounded. His mouth opened a little, and he looked at Gatsby, and then back at Daisy as if he had just recognized her as someone he knew a long time ago.

"You also read that book?"

Napahinto ako sa pagbabasa at napalingon ako sa nagsalita. He sat on the swing beside me.

I smiled at him and looked at the book again.

"You mean, The Great Gatsby? Well... I guess?" I sarcastically replied and flipped the book to look on its cover with its title printed on it. "--that's obvious."

He chuckled lowly. He spared to take a look at the book too but dragged his sight elsewhere not a second later.

Tinitigan ko ang mukha nito at mukhang nahihimasmasan na ito dahil nakakatawa na ulit at nagbigay ng emosyon. Hindi katulad kanina.

"Written by: F. Scott Fitzgerald. I also used to read," aniya.

Bigla namang lumiwanag ang aking mukha dahil sa sinabi nito, I just met a classic book reader! At last!

Wala sa hitsura ni Arturo na nagbabasa ito ng libro at classic pa. I guess the quote, "Don't judge the book by it's cover" is badly applied into this situation-- into Arturo specifically.

"Really?!"

Tumango-tango naman ito

"What else have you read?" Tanong ko dito. How many books have he read? Is his library full of classic books too?

"Pride and Prejudice by: Jane Austen, Wuthering Heights by: Emily Brontë, A Farewell to Arms by: Earnest Hemingway, and a lot more."

Nagniningning ang aking mga mata nang marinig ang mga librong sinasabi nito. I'm a sucker of classic books! Goodness!

"W-wow..." Namamanghang usal ko.

Tumitig naman ito sa akin at sinabi ang mga katagang lalong nagpamangha sa akin.

"And you're the only one who knows I'm reading classics."

"Talaga?!"

He nodded.

I scoffed and waved my hand like I'm dismissing something. "Oh, don't worry your secret is safe with me, Arturo." I tapped his shoulders and nodded like an automobile dog accessory.

"We're the classic buddies now," biro ko dito na ikina ani ko naman ng halakhak mula dito.

"Sure thing, Beatris."

I smiled at him and he gave it back.

--

Kasalukuyan akong nandito sa kuwarto listening to music. Sana pala bumili ako ng gitara kanina para may iba akong mapaglibangan.

Pagkatapos naming mag-usap ni Arturo kanina ay pumasok na kami ng bahay at naging abala sa kaniya-kaniya naming ginagawa. Bukas na ang simula ng trabaho ko.

I'm a bit nervous and excited at the same time.

I promised papá that I'll give my best on my job. This is for our company. I'll observe how a company runs and its flows. It's always better to start at the bottom before jumping on the top.

This way I can understand my future employee because I will become one starting tomorrow.

Dahil nabobored ako dito ay bumaba nalang ako sa sala para manood ng Tom and Jerry.

Naupo ako sa sofa at ini-on ang T.V.

Tawang-tawa ako sa panunuod nang biglang maputol dahil naramdaman kong may tumabi sa akin.

"Umabot sa opisina ang tawa mo. What are you watching?"

Nilingon ko si Arturo na tutok ang paningin sa palabas.

"Tom and Jerry."

"A cat and a mouse? What's funny with that?"

Tawang-tawa pa rin ako sa habulan ng pusa at daga. "Manood ka nalang Arturo."

Ilang sandali pa'y namalayan ko na lang na pareho na kaming tumatawa ng katabi ko sa palabas.

"This cat is seriously stupid!" Tumatawang wika ng aking katabi.

Kumunot ang noo ko at hindi makapaniwalang bumaling sa kanya. "Grabe ka kay Tom, Arturo. Mabait naman siya, minsan nga friends pa sila ni Jerry."

Tumawa ulit kami nang makita ang sinapit ni Tom dahil sa sarili nitong kagagawan. These guys completed my childhood. It feels nostalgic watching them and laughing this hard. Just like the old times.

"Ang saya-saya niyo riyan." Nakangiting tumingin si manang Tess sa amin.

"Itong si Arturo parang shunga, manang. Nilalait si Tom."

"Sino ba si Tom, hija?"

"That dumb cat on the screen, manang," si Arturo na ang sumagot.

Mahina ko naman itong hinampas. "Huwag mo namang insultohin ng ganiyan ang kawawang pusa."

"It's true," saad pa niya at inilahad ang dalawang kamay.

Natigil ang pagsasagutan namin ng pinatigil kami ni manang tess

"Tama na nga iyan, para kayong mga bata."

"Itong kasing si Arturo manang hindi nalang manahimik at manood. Lakas pa makapanlait. Look, despite Tom being a naughty cat, he makes the show more thrilling." I put my hand on the sides of my waist as I lectured the man. Pero parang wala lang dito ang sinabi ko.

Pinagdantay lang nito ang braso sa isa't-isa at tutok ang mga mata sa telebisyon. "Tss."

Napatampal nalang si manang sa kanyang ulo na nakapamewang at umiling-iling.

"Hay naku!"

"O, siya, mga bata! Matulog na kayo maya-maya ha?"

"Opo."

"Yes, manang."

Arturo and I said in unison. Nagkatinginan kami at masamang tinignan ang isa't-isa.

Benelatan ko naman ito na siyang ginawa niya rin sa akin.

Yeah, I guess I agree with manang. Para nga kaming nga bata.

While watching I sudden felt sleepy.

Inaantok na ako. My eyelids are getting heavy, and then I yawned. I guess our little quarrel drained my energy.

I slouched on the sofa to find a comfortable position to sleep.

Nandidito pa din si Arturo. He's still watching the cartoon. A-ayaw-ayaw sa pusa pero panay nood naman.

I yawned once more... Hindi ko na namalayan ang sunod na nangyari nang lamunin na ako ng dilim.

I was running... Running from something-- from someone... Bullets of sweats covered my eyes but I swept then and continued to run. I c-can't stop.

I woke up when I felt someone shaking me and calling my name over and over again.

"Beatris! Beatris wake up! Beatris!"

I was panting heavily and were sweating all over my body.

Tiningnan ko ang taong gumising sa akin at nakita ang nag-aalalang mukha ni Arturo. I looked around and saw that we're still in the living room.

He looked worried nang ispatan ko.

"Are you okay?"

Wala sa sarili akong tumango.

He stood up and left me in the living room alone.

Bigla akong napabuga ng makas na hininga. It's like heaving my nightmares out of my system. Ngunit kahit ilang beses ko pa akong bumuga ng hangin those nightmares kept on coming back. They just won't go.

Napahilamos ako ng mukha.

I was in that position when I felt a light tap on my back. I looked up and saw a handkerchief. My hands were a bit shaking but I was still able to take it.

"T-thank you. I thought you left," napapaos kong wika dito. I cleared my throat.

"Kumuha lang ako ng tubig. Here."

Inabot sa akin ni Arturo ang dala niyang baso ng tubig. He rubbed my back lightly as if he's calming me, and it worked.

"Are you fine now?"

Pinunasan ko ang aking labi at nilagay ang baso sa kalapit na lamesa. "Yes."

"Mind to tell me what happened?"

Tanong nito na nagpatigil sa akin inabot ko ulit ang tubig sa may mesa dahil biglang nanuyo ang lalamunan ko sa sinabi.

Sandali akong napaisip. Kaya ko bang sabihin dito ang bangungot ng nakaraan ko? Mapagkakatiwalaan ko ba siya?

When the incident happened I never got the strength to tell someone about the nightmares that kept on haunting me and killing me over and over again. I never got the chance to share this burden with anyone... not even to my own father.

I was scared alright! And I still am! I'm scared that he'll judge me and accuse me...

Like what the townspeople did, without even hearing the true story. They chose to believe him! That m*therf*cking asshole!

So I can't. I-I can't... not now, Arturo. I can't tell you now. I'm sorry.

Umiling nalang ako bilang sagot dito.

He nodded and I saw an understanding expression written on his face.

Ngumiti ito sa akin at bahagyang lumapit. He wiped something off my face. Only then, I realized, I was crying. I didn't notice that a tear fell down and traced a line on my face.

Magaan nitong hinaplos ang aking mukha. "It's okay... I understand."

Hinapit niya ako papalapit sa kaniya na ikinabigla ko. He kept me under the warmth of his arms encircled around my small figure.

I didn't move.

Naramdaman kong isinandal niya ang kaniyang likod sa upuan at ipinatong ang paa sa lamesa, habang ako nama'y nakasandal sa kanya.

"Sleep, Beatris. Im just here..."

He caressed my hair and said those whispers of comfort.

Suprisingly after years of suffering alone, I felt safe again...under Arturo's warm embrace.

I didn't think of anything as of the moment. My mind went blank. And all I could think of is the security that I felt now, the security that left me since my mamá passed away.

Nasa ganoong posisyon kami nakatulog na pinagkakasya ang mga sarili sa sofa habang magkayakap at nakita ni Manang Tess kinaumagahan.