Crimes and Punishments [SPG]

3: Damned

REALIOUS CASH'S POV

"So, was it true? You're now dating Dorothy?" I asked before looking away and drank my beer.

Ulysses and I are now inside my new apartment. Nasa iisang apartment building lang kami at yung apartment niya ay nasa kabilang dulo lang ng palapag na ‘to. We decided to spend the weekend putting things on my new place to stay.

At ngayong tapos na kami, bigla na lang pumasok ang sa utak ko ang tungkol sa bagay na ‘yon.

After the party, the news immediately spread like a wildfire throughout the whole business department. Marami ang nakakita nang pangyayari nong party tungkol sa kanilang dalawa, at isa na ako don.

"Well..." He started before rubbing his nape sheepishly. "I'm actually still courting her, Dorothy and I decided to take things slow." He continued before drinking his beer and look at me.

"A lot happened when you're gone, Real, at isa na don yung pakikitungo kay Dorothy. Alam kong minsan ko nang sinabi sa'yo na hindi ko siya magugustohan, pero wala eh, hindi siya mahirap gustohin, Real. Maybe because Dorothy is such a genuine person.”Mahaba nitong paliwanag habang nakatingin sa akin.

Yeah, I can see that.

He really used to say that he won't like someone like Dorothy. Ulysses already knew how Dorothy likes him way back then, pero pinagsawalang-bahala lang niya ito.

I also know how much Dorothy likes him, and just like Ulysses, I never care about it.

I don't care if she likes other guys, maybe because I thought it won't last long.

But I was actually wrong...

She still likes him after all these years. Even after that kiss.

"How about you?" Tanong nito na ikinakurap ko.

"What about me?"

"Come on, no girls?"

"Girls? Do you really think I'm that starving?" Napatawa ito sa aking sinabi atsaka napailing.

"Just kidding. Pero kung may meron ka mang magugustohan, alam mo na kung sino ang dapat maunang makakaalam ha?" Aniya atsaka ako kaagad na inakbayan bago ako napatango.

Of course, Ulysses Nate will always be the first one to know.

Inubos namin ang canned beer bago kami nagpasyang magpahinga muna saglit bago umalis para bisitahin ang fraternity na matagal ko nang hindi napupuntahan.

And then right there and then, I almost forgot the truth about Dorothy being there as well. Kaya nang makita ko ito doon ay halos hindi ko maihakbang ang aking mga paa sa gulat.

"Real!" Isang mahigpit na yakap ang kaagad na sumalubong sa akin pagkapasok at pagkapasok ko sa loob. Mas lalong lumaki at luminis ang tambayan namin noon.

"Vinny," sambit ko sa pangalan niya matapos itong yakapin pabalik.

Ulysses is not just the closest friend I have, there's Vinny as well. Sa frat kami nagkakilala at magka-iba ang paaralan na pinanggalingan niya.

He's half-Korean and half-Filipino.

Ulysses suddenly received a phone call from his father, so he immediately took it outside.

Nakita ko kung paano sundan ng tingin ni Dorothy si Ulysses sa labas na ikinakurap ko kaagad. Before her eyes could even land on mine, I immediately look away and decided to talk with Vinny.

Nagkamustahan lang kaming dalawa at ng iba kong mga kasamahan. Tulad ng aking inaasahan, may umalis at may nadagdag sa frat namin.

While talking to Vinny and others, I always kept on glancing Dorothy's direction to see what she's up to.

Nang makita ko itong napatayo sa oras na pumasok na ulit si Ulysses, she then approached him to say something. Ulysses is inaudible from my direction kaya hindi ko alam kung ano ang pinag-uusapan nilang dalawa.

I just found Ulysses rushing outside the place once again and suddenly left.

Napatayo ako sa aking kinauupuan at wala sa huwisyong nilapitan si Dorothy na ngayon ay nakatayo at nakasunod na lang ang tingin sa sasakyan ni Ulysses.

"First Quarrel as couples?" I asked with both of my hands slid inside my hoodie pocket.

"Ha? Hindi no." Kaswal nitong saad atsaka ito mabilis na nag-iwas ng tingin.

I kept on looking at her side profile and can't help but to remember that night on the party.

"Dorothy--"

"Alam ko na kung ano ang sasabihin mo." Biglang tumaas ang isa kong kilay sa sinabi niya dahilan upang mapangisi ako.

"Talaga? Kung ganon, ano ang sasabihin ko?"

"You're going to ask me what's wrong with me during that night. Sasabihin mo rin sa akin na sumuko na lang kay Ulysses dahil hindi kami bagay."

"What? No, silly." Hindi ko maiwasang mapatawa sa pinagsasabi nito.

That's actually absurd.

Well, I used to say her that way back then when we were still in high school, but it's just the childish side of mine.

"I want to apologize for what you've seen. About me and Unice." Nakita ko kung paano biglang pumula ang magkabila nitong pisngi na tila ba may biglang naalala bago mabilis na nag-iwas ng tingin.

"W-Wala lang 'yon! Ayos lang."

“Okay.” I stopped myself from explaining things when I realized what I was about to do.

I would sound so defensive if I’ll try to explain it to her and I don’t know, but I don’t want her to think it that way.

Muling natahimik ang buong paligid habang nanatili parin kaming nakatayo dito sa labas, parehong pinagmamasdan ang kahel na kalangitan.

“Pasok na muna ako, Real.” Rinig kong wika nito bago siya tuluyang tumalikod.

But before she could even open the door, I spoke once again.

“Are you avoiding me?” I asked before turning my head on her direction. Nakita ko kung paano siya dahan-dahan napatingin ulit sa aking direksyon.

“It’s been more than a week, Dorothy, and I’m not dumb not to notice your actions towards me.” Deretsahan kong wika sa kanya habang nakatingin sa singkit nitong mga mata.

The golden hour hits perfectly on her brown eyes, making it look so magical to stare at. And her rosy cheeks blends the perfect warmth of sunset.

I hate how it took my breathe my away.

“Ha? Guni-guni mo lang ‘yon, Real,” aniya habang natatawa pero hindi ako madadala sa mga ganyang klaseng salita.

“Don’t deny it.”

“Nagsasabi ako ng totoo,” wika niya bago napakamot sa maputi niyang leeg.

“You always do that when you’re lying.” Naniningkit kong mga matang saad sa kanya kaya mabilis nitong ibinaba ang kanyang kamay.

I know how you lie, Dorothy, simply because my eyes are always on you.

“Nang dahil ba sa hinalikan kita nong gabing ‘yon kaya iniiwasan mo ako ngayon?” Deretsahan kong tanong sa kanya dahilan upang manlaki ang mga singkit na mata nito.

Dorothy suddenly snatch my hands and pulled me towards the side where no one can see us.

Salubong ang dalawang kilay niya nang tingalain niya ako.

“What the hell is wrong with you?!” She hissed and when I see the same reaction she used to give me years back then, I can’t help but to smile a little.

Ganyan nga, ganyan ang reaksyon na gusto kong gawin mo sa oras na magkaharap tayong dalawa.

“Nag-iisip ka ba? Ang laki-laki pa naman ng boses mo.” Buong diing sambit pa nito sa akin.

I relaxed my back before crossing my arms against my chest while looking at her.

“So, you keep the kiss to yourself? Wala kang sinabi na iba kahit na si Nate?” Seryoso kong tanong sa kanya na ikinakurap nito.

Mukhang alam ko na ang isasagot nito.

Obviously, no one else knew about it. That’s Dorothy.

“I don’t kiss and tell! T-Tsaka ikaw yung humalik! I didn’t even kissed you back!” Galit at inis nitong saad sa akin dahilan upang mas lalo akong mapangisi.

“Alam kong lasing ka nong gabing ‘yon tsaka halik lang ‘yon! W-Wala lang ‘yon!”

I didn’t bat an eye while she’s ranting right in front of me.

“It’s not a big deal at pwede ba? Huwag kang biglang magsasalita ng mga ganyang bagay kung nasa publiko ka. Ano na lang ang iisipin ng iba, hindi ka talaga nag-iisip kahit kailan! Ganon ka parin! Nakakainis kang tao.”

I laughed after hearing what she said.

“There, there, keep your nerves down, princess,” I said as I pat her head gently and fixed the collar of her shirt.

“That’s how I want you to treat me, I prefer that than you ignoring me.” Dagdag ko pa bago hinawakan ang mahaba nitong buhok.

Bigla niyang tinabig ang kamay ko pero hindi ako nadismaya don, bagkus mas lalo lang akong napangiti.

“Huwag mo nga akong tawaging ganyan, Real.” Kunot-noo nitong saad.

Princess is what I used to call her way back then.

Naiinis kasi ito sa tuwing tutuksohin ko siya gamit ang pangalan na ‘yan. And teasing her completes my day.

“Alright, princess.” She rolled her eyes on me before pushing my chest, making me stepped backward.

Kaagad niya akong nilagpasan atsaka muling naglakad pabalik sa loob ngunit kaagad ko rin itong sinundan.

I pulled the collar of her shirt from the back which made her shoot me some of her glares.

“Ano ba?! Wag ka ngang makulit!” Singhal nito atsaka ako muling tinalikuran.

My smile grew wider as I pulled her collar again. Mabilis niyang tinampal ang kamay kong paulit-ulit lang na hinihila ang kanyang damit habang papasok na kami sa loob.

“Realious Cash Dela Franca! Isa!” Galit na nitong saad kaya tumigil na ako.

Palihim akong napatawa matapos nitong tumakbo paalis para lang hindi ko ulit mahawakan ang damit niya.

Sinundan ko na lang ito ng tingin habang nakangisi, hindi pinapansin ang paglapit ni Vinny sa akin.

“Anyare don?” Saad nito sa akin habang pareho naming tinignan si Dorothy na ngayon ay nakaupo sa isang silya habang nagcecellphone.

“Nothing, we’re just catching up.” I said.

“Ganun?” Aniya bago ako nilagpasan atsaka lumabas.

Nang tuluyan na itong nakaalis, kaagad akong napatingin sa hawak-hawak ko nang panyo na pagmamay-ari ni Dorothy. I secretly took it from her pocket while teasing her earlier.

Hindi niya ito napansin kaya mabilis ko itong ibinulsa sa loob ng aking pantalon bago siya tinignan sa kanyang direksyon.

I stare at her side profile for a full minute using my usual expression, getting the most out of it.

Trying to pay back the years I haven’t seen her.

Naikuyom ko ang aking kamao at hindi maiwasang mapaigting ang aking panga nang maalala ko ang relasyon na meron sila ni Ulysses.

“Dammit, Dorothy…” I whispered under my breath before turning my back against her and decided to leave the place.

I am damned.