Ambushed Heart

Seven

"WHAT TOOK you so long?" Hiro said, halata sa mukha nito na medyo iritado. At talagang susunduin niya pa ako? Sa restroom? 

"I was worried! Why didn't you answer your phone ?! Damn it!!" I was surprised when Hiro shouted at me and he cursed! He never cursed at me kahit pa nga sinunog ko ang paborito niyang pantalon, but I just shrugged it off I know Hiro was just worried about me. He always is.

"I'm sorry, I didn't answer the phone kasi pabalik na din naman na ako eh"

Hiro sighed

"I'm sorry I shouted at you. Im just worried you know? Please forgive me"

"No need to say sorry. I should be the one saying sorry. Lagi nalang kitang pinag aalala. Im sorry I should have answered the phone. I should have think that you'll be worried about me. I'm sorry"

"Hey, its okay. Let's just enjoy. Let's go. Chad is waiting for us in the car. Marami pa tayong pupuntahan."

I just smiled at Hiro and nodded and together we walked out of the restaurant to the parking lot where the car we used and Chad were already in the driver's seat.

We visited a lot of place here in Athens Greece. Kahit iyong malalayo nang parte ng Athens ay pinuntahan parin namin. At syempre hindi ko na din pinalagpas ang pagkakataon na mapuntahan ang Parthenon pati na rin ang mismong  kabuuan ng Acropolis na natatanaw ko lang sa Tudor Hall kanina habang kumakain ako with Chad and Hiro. Kaya naman gabi na nang maka uwi kami mula sa huli naming distinasyon.

"That was really really tiring" I said as I lazily deposited myself on the sofa. 

"But I really enjoyed it. Thanks to you both! I really appreciate it. I never thought that I would be this happy!"

"No worries Amélie. Were family after all. At syempre pa ang mahalaga ay masaya ka."

"Aww, my brother, I love you! Thank you" I said as I stood up and hugged Hiro.

"You're welcome, and I love you too" kung ibang tao ang makakarinig sa amin ni Hiro siguro iisipin na mag jowa kami. But I knew better.

"Babe, I need a hug too I'm tired of driving you know?" 

Chad said that made Hiro's face reddened as he stared to Chad angrily. I mean, yun bang kunyari galit pero di naman talaga hahaha. Pabebe boi pa itong kapatid ko! Tsk, tsk.

"f**k you!"

"Oh, I would love to. Come here lets go to our room nakakahiya naman kung mag live show tayo sa harap ni Amélie" Chad said playfully making Hiro walked out, while Chad and I just laughed so hard while looking behind Hiro who was going up to the second floor of the house and  his face is really red. Aww, my brother is shy and he's blushing! Hahaha.

Hiro was on the last step of the stairs when he looked back.

"What are you waiting for? Come on !!!" Hiro said a little bit annoyed.

"I'll eat first I'm hungry na kasi eh sunod nalang ako" Chad said still chuckling to himself at ganun din ako.

"I thought you want to --- argh never mind! Go to hell!" Hiro said and finally entered Chad's room and it was really slammed hard na parang  masisira na ito sa lakas ng pagkakasara niya Hahaha.

"Amélie, I'll go up first, okay? Lalambingin ko lang yung isa"

I responded with a meaningful smile.

"And here I think you're hungry?"

"Ibang gutom na yung nararamdaman ko ngayon hahaha, bye. Una na ako sayo ha? Once in a lifetime lang to" Chad said while wigling his brows. Once in a lifetime raw? Ay nako. Nunkang maniwala ako.

Then Chad immediately made his way upstairs. Tsk, tsk hay. So, I'm alone now.

Now that I'm alone, I sitted on the sofa and closed my eyes.

I always play okay in front of Hiro and Chad making them believe that its okay not remembering a year of my existence pero sinong niloko ko? Just myself. I just dont want Hiro to be worried about me and continue blaming himself. Alam ko namang hindi niya kasalanan at wala siyang kasalanan, he's just worried of me.

I immediately opened my eyes when my head hurts a bit. I was forcing myself to remember. I feel emptiness without a year of my memory. Para bang may malaking parte ng pagkatao ko ang nawala kasabay ng mga alaala ko na diko din maalala.

It's been a week since I woke up and there is nothing. I don't really remember.

But yesterday I saw flashes of images and thats the reason why I want to remember. Because I know that, that year of forgotten memory will fill the emptiness that I'm feeling right now.

I immediately pulled my cellphone out of the jeans na suot ko. Someone is calling me. Sino naman kaya ito? 

It was an unregistered number but I still answered it. In my work as a Captain of a secret agency ang mga ganitong unregistered number ay kailangan na sinasagot kasi some of it were from a client or sometimes sa mga kalaban na nananakot lang naman.

"Hello?"

No response.

"Hello?" 

Still nothing.

"Alam mo?, kung mantitrip ka lang kasi bored ka na bakit di ka nalang kaya makipaghabulan sa utot mo? Siguradong mawawala yang boredom mo!!" I said and immediately turned off the call. So Annoying! Kala siguro nakikipagbiruan eh. Bwesit. Wala akong pakialam kung di niya maintindihan ang pinagsasabi ko, nakakabwesit sya! Bwesit!

A minute after that my cellphone rang again, when I look at it, it is an unregistered number again but it is a different one. Assuming it might just be another prank call, I just let my cell phone make a ring until the call ended. Kung importante naman yun ay magtitext naman yun.

Nang matapos ang pagiingay nang phone ko ay tumunog ito ulit but this time its a message alert tone.

Agad ko itong kinuha at inopen ang message galing sa isang unknown number.

'This is Valleus Good, Can we talk? Answer the phone please. Im with Vhirtues'

Ito ang laman ng message na natanggao ko. Turns out it is Valleus. 

When my cellphone rang again, I immediately answered it.

"Hey, how are you?"

"How are you?" Vhirtues and Valleus said from the other line at the same time.

"Im fine, well, kind of. How about you two? Its been ....... a while"

"Yeah, its really a while. Its been almost a year. Where have you been all these years? How have you been?"

Sunod sunod na tanong ni Vhirtues.

"I've been with Hiro and ----"

"With Hiro? Amélie I know that Hiro is your brother but you should be with your---"

"Ahm, when are you coming back?" Valleus interrupted what Vhirtues had to say. Whats with these two?

"Ahm, maybe a week after? We're still enjoyin ---"

"Enjoying !? What about ---"

I stare at my phone when the call ended. Vhirtues seems to be mad at me and I dont know why. His voice were full of dissapointment, but why? Is he disappointed in me?

The happy go lucky and go with the flow Vhirtues Good is mad and disappointed. That's weird. He's never been mad at me. But now, every word that comes out of his mouth ay may pinanggagalingan. I dont know where his anger and disappointment are coming from. 

I'm curious, what really happened in that year that I do not remember?

Out of curiousity, I called Valleus again.

"I'm sorry about my twin Amélie. But I understand him"

"I ahm, dont understa --- never mind ahm can we meet? Just want to ask somee things" I asked Valleus. By the look in his eyes when I saw him at Tudor Hall I knew na nagtatampo siya sa akin. He is just being himself. Calm and collected even at the weirdiest situation. And it confuses the hell out of me knowing that I dont understand their hatred and anger.

"Sure, where and when?"

Napatingin ako sa pambisig ko na relo at nakitang alas siete trenta y sais na pala ng gabi. But who cares? I need to remeber everything or I'll go insane. At mangyayari lang yun kung may makakatulong sa akin na makaalala. Ayaw ko namang sabihin ito kay Hiro dahil sisisihin niya lang ang sarili niya.

"Is it okay kung ngayon na? What about Botrini's Restaurant?"

"Sure, Botrini's restaurant it is. I'll be there in twenty or thirty"

"Thanks, I'll wait for you there."

I sighed as I ended the call. I have to know why they are acting like this. And since Bortini's restaurant is close to our house, I just walked it for maybe ten minutes and I am already there.

And true to Vallues' words after thirty minutes there's a tall handsome man with a slightly long brown hair na nakatali gamit ang sanrio. His hazel nut brown eyes were more intimidating, his nose are still pointed and he still has those red lips and he has whiskers! And his shoulders are broader than before. Bumabakat din ang mga muscle niya sa suot niyang puting t-shirt. He looks more manly.

Pero sa halip na si Valleus ay Si Clever ang nkaharap ko.

I put my hand on my chest when I feel breathless. My heart is beating so fast just by staring at his face. What the hell am I feeling?

"C-Clever" I said as I stand. Why the heck am I stammering?

His eyes were emotionless as he stared unto mine.

"Please take a seat"

I said as I tried to smile but failed. Nananaig ang kaba na nararamdaman ko. I'm never been this afraid in my whole life, not until today.

Hindi siya agad umupo at nanatili lang itong nakatitig diretso sa mga mga mata ko na para bang isa akong puzzle na maraming piece kaya mahirap buuin.

Medyo nakahinga ako ng maluwag luwag nang makita ko siyang hinigit ang upuan na katapat ng sa akin at doon umupo tsaka lang din ako umupo ulit.

"Waite--"

"Why?" Nabitin ang pagtawag ko sa waiter nang magsalita si Clever.

His voice is more deeper and even more manly and its making my heart move and beat erratically.

"Huh?" I said, completely confused.

"Playing innocent huh?" His voice were full of pain, hatred and disappointment. Just like Vhirtues'. 

And I was more shocked when a lone tear suddenly came out of his eyes. Agad agad at marahas niya itong pinunasan gamit ang likod ng kanyang kamay.

And I was just there, sitting and confused as hell. It hurts me seeing him shed even just a single tear and I dont know why. In a different situation I would have laugh hard seeing the hard-headed Clever Wayys crying for the first time ever. But what I am seeing right now is extracting my heart making it painful.

"A-are you oka---" I was not able to complete my sentence when he harshly stood up and left me there hanging.

Parang pinilipit ang puso ko sa nakita kong pag iyak niya. I dont know why I am so affected with his tears that I cant even stand up to follow him. Nanghihina ang tuhod ko dahil sa sakit na nararamdaman ng puso ko. I cant understand why I'm feeling this way. 

I closed my eyes only to see flashes of blurred images.

Agad kong sinapo ang ulo ko at agad ding iminulat ang mga mata ko nang maramdaman kong may umupo sa kaharap kong upuan. Its Clever! He came back!

"C-Clever!" Hindi ko maunawaan kung bakit ganun nalang ang tuwa na naramdaman ko nang makitang bumalik si Clever, kahit pa nga walang emosyon at napakacold ng aura niya.

"Ahm, m-maybe we, ahm, s-should order first" pasimple kong sinisigawan ang sarili ko sa utak ko dahil nauutal ako. Bakit ba ako nauutal? Tsk.

Nang hindi man lang siya sumagot ay tinawag ko nalang ang waiter.

"Servitóros!" 

Sambit ko habang nakataas ang kamay upang tawagin ang atensyon ng waiter.

"Kaliméra kyría kai kýrie, edó eínai to menoú" Good day maam, sir here's the menu.

"efcharistó, tha kalésoume xaná gia tin parangelía mas" Thank you, we'll call again for our order.

Agad na bahagyang yumuko ang waiter bago ito umalis at inasikaso ang ibang mga customer.

"You speak Greek. I see, looks like you've been enjoying Greece. Its your favorite country after all."

Puno ng tampo at selos ang boses ni Clever habang sinasabi niya iyon sa malamig na boses.

"H-how did you kmow?"

Mapakla itong tumawa habang nakatingin padin sa mga mata ko.

"You told me. Looks like you've already forgotten everything"

Talagang nakalimutan ko na. Nilimos ng bombing accident ang one year memory ko.

"Oh" wala akong maisip na isagot kundi 'oh' I dont remember telling him that Greece is my favorite country.

"L-lets order" nasabi ko nalang. Tutuk na tutuk ako sa hawak kong menu pero wala dito ang focus ko. Naiilang ako sa titig ni Clever na parang binabasa ang pinakaloob loob ko.

"Ahm, nakapili ka na ba ng oorderin?"

Nang hindi siya sumagot at patuloy lang na tumitig sakin ay ako na ang tumawag sa waiter at sinabi dito ang order ko.

Nang matapos akong mag order lumipat ang tingin ko kay Clever na titig parin ng titig sa akin, His stares are  making me uncomfortable but I cant make myself to complain!

"You still eat a lot, you order for me"

"Okayz"

"Ahm, fillet steak, and cacio e pepe for dishes and for dessert he'll have mango sorbet and meringues and for drinks ahm, grapes juice that's his favorite" nakangiting sabi ko sa waiter.

"You still remember"

Natauhan ako sa huli kong sinabi dahil din sa sinabi ni Clever. 

'Grapes juice, that's his favprite'

'You still remember'

I feel like I froze the moment I realized it.

How the heck I said that grapes juice is his favprite?!

"Tsk, tsk" napatingin ako kay Clever.

"Tell me, am I right? I-Is grape juice your favorite drink?"

"So, its not me? You're thinking of someone else when you said that, is that it?" Tiim bagang niyang turan habang mariing nakatingin saakin.

"Is that it?! You left for another man? Ganun ba yun? And we happen to have the same favorite drinks?!! Tell me, mas guwapo ba sya? Mas mayaman? At mahal ka ba niya mas magaling ba siyang mag alaga?!!"

Nagulat ako sa bigla nalang na pagtaas ng boses ni Clever. And there is it again. Kung kanina ay isang butil nang luha lang ngayon ay sunod sunod na itong tumutulo mula sa mga mata niya. The emotioless eyes that he had earlier is gone. I am now staring to an eye full of pain and disappointment.

Namalayan ko nalang na may tumutulo na ding luha mula sa mga mga mata ko.

I couldnt explain how I feel. Naninikip ang dibdib ko at di ako makahinga. Nararamdaman ko yung sakit na dinadala niya. Pero kahit ramdam ko iyon, hindi ko parin maintindihan kung bakit. I wish I know para alam ko kung ano ang gagawin ko sa sitwasyong ito.

Hindi ko napigilan ang sarili ko at inangat ko ang mga kamay ko para sana punasan ang mga luha ni Clever. Wala akong pakialam kung pinagtitinginan na kami ng mga tao.

But when I was about to touch him, agad siyang tumayo at tuluyan na ngang lumabas ng restaurant.

Naihilamos ko nalang ang mga palad ko sa mukha ko dahil sa frustrasiyon na nararamdaman ko.

Hinintay ko nalang ang order namin at nang dumating ito ay agad na akong umalis sa restaurant, I feel suffocated inside.

Nang makalabas ako ay nagulat ako na makita si Clever na nakasandal sa gilid ng itim na ashton martin habang nakatungo.

"C-clever"

Ani ko na nagpaangat ng tingin niya sa akin.

"Get in" sabi nito at agad na umikot sa sasakyan patungo sa driver's seat. Agad naman akong sumunod sa kaniya at umupo sa shotgun seat.

Nang makapwesto na ako nang maayos ay agad namang minaniobra ni Clever ang sasakyan.

"Where do you live?" Malamig na tanong nito.

"Ahm, medyo malapit lang. Isang liko lang jan sa unang kanto, but ahm, c-can you drive further? A-ayoko ko pa munang umuwi"

Hindi siya sumagot pero hindi niya iniliko ang sasakyan sa kantong sinabi ko.

"C-can I eat in y-your car?"

Tumingin lang ito saglit tsaka tumango.

Agad ko namang binuksan ang take out order namin at agad na sumubo.

"Here, eat while you drive" 

"I'm full" laglag ang balikat na isinubo ko nalang ang kutsarang puno ng pagkain na dapat ay isusubo ko kay Clever.

"I want Meringues" Clever said, making my heart beat fast. I felt happy. Kaya dali dali kong kinuha ang isang piraso ng Meringues at iniumang ito sa bibig niya na agad naman niyang kinain.

Ganun lang ang ginawa namin nsa buong byahe. Kakain ako tapos susubuan ko siya.

Nang maubos namin ang mga pagkain na tinake out ko ay agad na itinigil ni Clever ang sasakyan sa isang park. Gabi na kaya ang mga street light nalang ang nagsisilbing ilaw sa daan na nilalakaran namin hanggang sa makakita kami ng bench at doon umupo.

"Ahm, can I have your number?"

Kagaya nang lagi nitong ginagawa, tinitigan niya muna ako bago may kinuha sa wallet niya at ibinigay sa akin. Its a calling card.

"Salamat"

Isang mahabang katahimikan ang bumalot sa amin habang niyayakap kami pareho ng lamig ng hangin.

"Why did you leave?" Mahinahong tanong nito habang nakatingala sa langit na puno ng mga nagniningning na bituin. Pero hindi parin maitago ng mahinahong boses niya ang tampo.

"I-I dont know either"

Mapakla siyang natawa.

"I thought so"

"Can I see you tomorrow?" Diko alam kung bakit iyon ang lumabas sa bibig ko. All I know is that I want to see his face every minute.

"Why? What's the point?"

"I dont know, I just want to see you. Is it even possible? I dont know why I badly want to see you"

"You've changed"

"You do too"

"People changed, lalo na pag iniwan sila ng taong pinagkatiwalaan nila at sinira yung tiwala na binigay nila"

"Are you talking about me? You trust me?"

"Yeah, but that was before. I've already learned my lesson. Trusting you was a mistake" 

walang buhay nitong sabi. Bawat katagang pinapakawalan niya ay tumatagos sa pinakaibuturan ng puso ko. I dont know why it hurts knowing that he wont trust me anymore.