Between Hate and Love

Chapter 27

I was dumbfounded by what happened. Hindi ako nakasagot agad kay Khal. I was just staring at him and wondering why he was so angry… Was he still affected? Did it mean that he still loves me? Why couldn’t he just tell me that directly?

Napupuno na naman ako ng pag-asa, pero lagi na lamang ako’ng nabibigo sa kanya. Ang hirap niya basahin at intindihin.

“Have you been drinking?” tanong niya. Kaagad niya ako’ng nilapitan at chineck ang itsura ko. Nakayuko lamang ako habang hindi nagsasalita. Kung anu-ano ang mga bagay na tumatakbo sa isip ko at lahat nang iyon ay hindi maganda.

“This is a business trip. Isinama kita rito so you can have a bit of rest and to help me dealing with work here. Not to get drunk,” panenermon niya.

“I’m sorry, Sir,” tanging naging tugon ko.

Khal walked towards the hotel, leaving me alone. He looked frustrated and dissapointed, and I swear that didn’t seem good! Mukhang ‘yung kabaitan niya sa’kin ay mababawasan na naman.

Why do I always mess things up?

Sarah was not in the room. Finally, I was able to experience a quiet night as I cried quietly. Meeting River was unexpected and he was the last human being that I was expecting to see dahil sa nangyari sa amin noon. I would actually appreciate it if we would never see each other again, dahil sa tuwing nagkikita kami ay nagugulo ang buhay ko at nagugulo ‘yung utak ko.

Nakatulog ako sa couch. I didn’t do that in purpose, o dahil sa sinabi ni Sarah. Sadyang sa couch lang talaga ako inabot nang matinding pagod at antok. Ni hindi nga ako nakapag-bihis.

Soon as I woke up, I went straight to the bathroom. Nag-prepare ako ng sarili ko dahil aalis kami mamayang hapon to personally see the lands that the Asuncions were selling. Khal told me to come; didiretso na rin kasi kami sa isang establishment named Kablat where we would have our dinner. Of course, Sarah was coming too.

I wore a simple navy blue tank top, a bit long and wide-leg flares pants that had a flowy fabric, and a comfy sandals. I put on my go to white blazers and then did a simple make up.

I made sure to bring everything that Khal would be needing before I went outside.

Sarah was already prepared nang makababa ako. She was at the cafeteria, wearing a summer dress as she was having breakfast. She was drinking something in a tea cup, and I guess I already know what it was — her favorite peppermint tea.

I haven’t seen Khal, so I heeded directly to where Sarah was. Kumuha ako ng pagkain at saka siya tinabihan. She immediately raised her eyebrows as I sat down in front of her.

“Go get another table, that seat’s for Khal, not yours,” pagtataray niya.

Hindi ako sumagot, kumain lamang ako at hindi pinansin ang pilit niyang pagpapaalis sa’kin.

I was contemplating on what to do for the rest of the day before our errand in the afternoon. So I guess, I would just be looking around the whole place and the other places nearby that were open for public.

“You know what, I don’t understand why Khal seems to treat you nicely,” Sarah muttered, sipping her tea. “You’re not even pretty and from what I know, you’re just his assistant,” then her eyes widened. “Don’t tell me you’re planning on seducing him so you’ll be rich?!”

I immediately choked on the waffle that I was eating. I drank my orange juice before I could finally laugh at her. “I’m not that kind of person,” depensa ko. Hindi ko naman talaga habol ang pera ni Khal, what I want was Khal himself. “And as you’ve said, I’m just his assistant.” I didn’t want to admit that, but that was the truth.

“Are you Mr. Ejercito’s girlfriend to be so concerned?” tanong ko. I just wanted to confirm mula sa kanya kung sila nga ba talaga.

Sarah rolled her eyes. I figured she had a bad temper and an attitude, but she sucks at lying.

“Y-yes. I mean, hindi pa. But I’m special for Khal, he told me that,” sagot niya sa’kin. Sinabayan niya ‘yon ng paglayo ng tingin at pagtanaw sa dagat.

Tumango ako.

So they didn’t really have a boyfriend-girlfriend relationship. Walang sila.

The information made me smile.

But Khal stated that she was special for him…

“You like him a lot?” I asked.

Sarah subtly nodded. “He was there when I needed someone,” mahinang tugon niya. “But what’s the essence of that if he’s not needing me the way I am with him?” pagtatanong niya.

Sarah shook her head. “Whatever.”

Hindi ako sumagot. Maya-maya pa, nahagip ng mga mata ko si River. He was still at the hotel. Our eyes met, but I quickly looked away.

Maya-maya pa dumating na si Khal.

He entered the cafeteria. Mukha siya’ng pagod at hindi nakatulog nang maayos. He was in a phone call as he walked towards the buffet table. But then, Sarah quickly stood up and kissed Khal’s cheek.

In my peripheral vision, I could tell that River saw everything and with that, he was already drawing conclusions in his mind.

Wala sa wisyong umalis ako ng cafeteria. I went outside and walked under the scorching heat of the sun. Nang makailang-minuto ay dinala ako ng mga paa ko sa poolside. I sat on one of the poolside lounge chairs.

Maya-maya pa ay dumating si River. He did not say anything, he sat down on the lounge chair beside mine.

“Bakit naandito ka?” pagbasag ko sa katahimikan.

“I don’t know, maybe you need someone?” sagot niya.

I chuckled… a mocking chuckle. “Really?”

Tumango si River.

“I saw what happened. And upon searching in the internet, mukhang hindi na kayo. I wonder what happened?”

Hindi ako sumagot.

River was pissing me off. ‘Yung ngisi niya pati ‘yung ekspresyon niya ay hindi nakakatuwa. Mukhang nasisiyahan siya dahil hindi na kami ni Khal.

“Come on, Angel. To be honest, I tried not to contact you again, had some flings and enter into some other relationships, but I guess you would never forget your first? I tried not to contact you again until I saw you at the airport and here you are. It’s like fate, what do you think?”

Para ako’ng kinilabutan sa sinabi ni River. I immediately stood up. But he stopped me.

“Did you already moved on from me? Or was I the reason why you left Khal five years ago?”