Blazing Mirror

BM12

"FORGET what I said on the beach. From now on I'll be doing my duties… as your fiancé." I couldn't stop but to make face while drying my clothes.

So, he really fell in love with someone else? And now he's dumping that girl? Why the hell his words nagged me? Hindi naman para sa 'kin 'yon! Para 'yon kay Astrid!

Is he falling inlove with Astrid?

Napatikhim ako sa iniisip habang sinusuri ang mukha sa salamin. Whatever! Ano naman ngayon kung nahuhulog na siya kay Astrid? Kung nasaan man ngayon si Astrid, alam kong magugustuhan niya ito. Well, Sage, the love of her life, is now having feelings to her!

"WHAT are you doing?" Nagtatakang tanong ko sa kanya nang makitang may kinalikot siya sa aking cellphone.

Nakaupo siya ngayon sa aking swivel chair. He’s wearing a pink button-down shirt na bukas ang tatlong butones. His sleeves is rolled up to the elbows. Kumikinang sa paningin ko ang suot niyang gintong relo. Rolex.

Hindi siya natinag sa tanong ko, bagkus ay pinagpatuloy lang niya kung ano man ang ginagawa niya. I closed the door and run the distance between us. Baka ano pa ang mabasa niya roon!

Hinablot ko 'yon at kaagad tiningnan kung ano ang ginawa niya roon. My forehead creased when I saw him tracking my GPS.

"Why the hell you're tracking me?" maldita kong tanong sa kanya na ngayon ay prenteng nakaupo sa aking swivel chair.

There's a playfully grin in his lips. "Doing my duities, I guess…"

"Duties, my ass," I mocked.

Tumayo siya at kinuha ang suit niya sa na nasa likod ng swivel chair. Even his walk felt so intense in my eyes. I blinked twice when he put his suit on my shoulder at saka ako hinila palabas sa aking office habang ang kanyang mga kamay ay nasa aking beywang.

Like silently saying that I'm his territory.

Halos lahat ng nakakasalubong namin ay mga staff dito. Ang iba ay bumabati at ang iba ay yumuyuko. Walang masyadong estudyante sa main building dahil ang building na ito ay para lamang sa mga guro at staff ng paaralan.

Hanggang sa makarating kami sa meeting ay hinayaan kong pumirmi ang kanyang kamay sa aking beywang. I don't want him to feel that I was bothered by his sudden move nor touch.

Halos nandoon na lahat ng mga guro nang makarating kami. On a long table, I saw how Avil's eyes landed on his brother's hand in my waist. Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay at nang magtagpo ang mga mata namin ay siya ang unang bumawi dahil may tinanong ang kapwa guro niya sa kanya.

"Start the meeting," Sage commands with full of authority, after all the teacher bowed on us.

Ako ang nakaupo sa dulo ng mesa. Sage suit is still on my shoulder. Seriously, these two siblings adored this friggin school pero ni isa sa kanila ay hindi nakahawak.

May tumayong babae sa harap at nagpakilalang assistant ng head of sports which is no other than the mighty Sage.

"So, for the three other schools, let us set the date of Inter-high. There are four choices of dates that they want us to pick. It's August, September, October, and November. Tatlo d'yan ay mayroon tayong events—Important events to be exact. August is the only month that we’re vacant, but as you can see, if we pick the month of August ay maliit lang ang magiging oras natin para sa training ng ating mga athletes…"

Then she showed a PowerPoint Presentation. Nakalista doon kung ano ang mga event ng BIS sa bawat buwan. I slightly shook my head. Hindi ko alam kung bakit bigla akong inantok.

My phone beeped. It showed a notification that Daven sent me a message.

Daven:

Wait for my surprise. It will be epic.

My forehead formed folds. Anong pinagsasabi ng isang 'to? I was about to ask what the hell he's talking about when the woman in the front called me.

"Dean…?"

My lips pursed when there are many eyes looking at me, waiting for my response on what the hell their topic is.

Dahan-dahan kong ibinaba ang aking cellphone. In my peripheral vision, I can see how Sage’s eyes look at me intently.

"How insensitive," someone commented.

Parang kumulo ang dugo ko sa sinabi niya. Excuse me, I don't need her friggin' comment! I still showed to them my calm expression even though I know that they heard the witch's comments.

"Continue," ani Sage.

"As I was saying, Dean, which of these choices will we pick—"

"September," maikling sagot ko at hindi na pinag-isipan pa.

Avil's smirk echoed throughout the whole room. "September is the month of our foundation day, if you forgot, Dean—"

Ako naman ang tumikhim. I emphasized my smirk on them. "Uh, so you're listening, Ms. Castillo? I thought you're busy paying attention on me?" I fired back sarcastically.

Our eyes met, walang gustong bumitaw. The whole room was eaten by silence when I fired back. Alam kong hindi nila inakala ang biglaang pagsagot ko—ni Astrid.

She shook her head and laughed mockingly. "What? What are you talking about—"

Hindi niya natuloy kung ano man ang sasabihin nang marinig ang sabay-sabay na pagtunog ng mga telepono sa loob ng silid. Ang akin lamang ang hindi tumunog. Kumunot ang noo ko sa mga reaksyon nila pagkatapos buksan ang mga kanikanilang cellphone. They are all gasping and whispering.

Lahat kami ay napatigil nang makitang biglang sumigaw si Avil at napatayo. Her face is so pale and her hands are trembling. Bigla niyang hinila ang cellphone ni Dale at parang nabuhusan ito ng malamig na tubig pagkatapos makita kung ano man ang nakalagay sa cellphone.

I'm so f*****g confused right now.

Umiiling si Avil ngayon na para bang hindi makapaniwala. "No. No. No," she chanted and then walked out.

Dale immediately followed her, calling her name. Sumunod naman si Sage ngunit nagpaalam ito sa 'kin bago sumunod. We were all left in the room dumbfounded on Avil's sudden reaction.

"Anong nangyari?" naguguluhang tanong ko sa pinakamalapit na guro sa 'kin.

Bahagyang kumunot ang noo niya sa tanong ko bago ipinakita sa 'kin ang kanyang telepono.

Unknown Number:

The Besabella International School that is full of glory... is raising a murderer!

My lips slowly parted. Ito ba ang sinasabi ni Daven na sorpresa? Hindi ko mapigilang sulyapan ang upuan ni inupuan ni Avil kanina.

"Sino kaya 'to?"

"Iisa lang ang sender!" bulong ng kung sino.

"Uh, kung gano’n ay ikaw lang po ang hindi nakatanggap?"

Hindi ko pinansin ang tanong niya. "Meeting adjourned," annunsyo ko bago sila tinalikuran.

BAHAGYA akong tumakbo para hanapin sila. Daven is so really tricky. I wonder… iba kaya ang sinend niya kay Avil? Why did she look so scared kanina? Dahan-dahan akong huminto sa paglalakad nang marinig ang mga kalampag.

I stopped right in front of the door. Listening to Avil's trembling voice. Tinatapon niya lahat ng gamit sa loob! She’s gone wild!

"Dammit, Avilianna!" It's Sage in a high and rough voice.

"Av, please!" Dale said with a pleading voice.

Slowly, humupa ang mga kalampagan sa loob.

"Avil, ano bang nangyayari sa 'yo? You're so weird, Av!"

"Kuya, what if… what if binuko na ako ni Daddy? May nakakaalam na sa sekreto ko! I'm sure they will hunt me down!" nagkaunda-untal na wika ni Avil. "B-baka nahuli na ng mga pulis ang ginawa ni Daddy sa aksidente?! B-baka ano… baka may nakuha na ang mga pulis na ebidensya na tinatago ni Daddy!"

My feet glued in the floor and my hands turned into a fist.

So, their friggin' father is involved in my mother's case? At hindi lang 'yon! Siya ang nagtago ng mga ebidensya! And, lastly, he is the one who stopped Avil from going to jail!

My jaw clenched. Ano pa ang dapat kong malaman?! Daven is right. Isa sa kanila ay may kinalaman sa kaso ni Avil! Kung hindi pa ito ginawa ni Daven ay baka hindi ko nalaman ang pesteng katotohanan na 'to.

"Ano bang pinagsasabi mo, Av…" Halos pumiyok sa dulo ang boses ni Sage.

Bakit parang pakiramdam ko ay napakaliit ng mundo para sa aming lahat? I wonder… sino na naman ang involved sa kaso ng ina ko? Si Astrid? Ama ni Astrid?

Dahil kapag nalaman kong meron nga silang ginawa sa kaso… gaya ng sabi ko, no one has an exception if it’s about my mother's death.

When the door opens, pareho kaming napaigtad ni Sage. I immediately looked away. I'm the kind of woman whose visible in her feelings. Ayokong makita niya ang mga galit na sa aking mga mata.

"What are you doing here?" Lumapit siya at isang dipa na lamang ang layo ng mga katawan namin. I'm still avoiding his eyes. "Kanina ka pa ba dito?"

I pinched myself before I looked at him straigthly. Ayokong maramdaman niyang iniiwasan kong magtagpo ang mga mata namin.

Umiling ako. "Kakarating ko lang. How's Avil?"

I don't know where I get the audacity to act like I was worried on that friggin' woman.

"Kumakalma na siya." Sumulyap siya sa relong pambisig bago hinawakan ang beywang ko. "It's past 7. Let's eat."

Nagpatianod ako sa kanya. That's it? He won't explain the sudden reaction of his sister?

HABANG nasa byahe ay tahimik lang ako. Maraming iniisip. Bakit niya iniwan si Avil doon? Wala ba talaga siyang kinalaman sa kaso ng ina ko? And why the hell he's taking me into a dinner date?

"Feel something weird?" biglaang tanong ni Sage na siyang nagbasag ng katahimikan.

Nilingon ko siya, nagtataka.

"I mean, about the juice you drank kanina?" His attention is still on the road.

"I told you, kaunti lang ang nainom ko."

He nodded but still didn't buy my explanation.

Hindi ko mapigilang tumitig sa kanya habang nagmamaneho. I stared at him just like how I stared at the first time we met.

His thick arched eyebrows. Ang mapupulang labi. Ang kanyang panga na para bang personally na inukit ni God. His eyes that will immediately go dark if you'll say a word that will make him be annoyed or mad.

I and Astrid are completely way different. Ika nga ni Daven, were opposite. If the category is staring Sage while driving, mukhang magkakasundo kami ni Astrid na titigan na lang ito panghabang-buhay.

Sage while driving, is my favorite scenery of him. It's like he is focused on the road or path he's taking. 'Yung tipong kahit isang beses ay hindi niya tatapunan ng tingin ang bagay na alam niyang nagsasayang lang ng oras sa buhay niya.

Kaya ba hindi niya ako tinatapunan ng tingin dahil isa lang ako sa mga tao na nagsasayang sa oras niya?

Siguro ay naramdaman niya ang aking titig kaya nilingon niya ako. Bahagya lang kumunot ang noo niya bago inalis ang tingin sa 'kin. I took my eyes away on him when my eyes drifted on his ring finger.

He's wearing their engagement ring.

Hindi ko mapigilang maalala ang kwento ni Daven sa 'kin na siyang nabanggit ni Daddy sa kanya.

"Tito once mentioned what happened between Astrid and Ariella. Ariella is brokenhearted the time they meet in the bar. Alam mo naman kung ano ang pinagmulan ni Ariella kaya nang makita ang mamahaling engagement ring ni Astrid, Ariella snatched it. But Astrid fought back. Siguro, gano’n kalaki ang halaga ng singsing na 'yon para kay Astrid that she's willing to risk her own life para hindi lang manakaw ni Ariella ang engagement ring nina Sage."

That night made me realize that… hindi man ako ang pumatay sa aking ina ay ako ang dahilan kung bakit siya namatay. Gaya ng akin, hindi si Sage ang pumatay kay Astrid pero siya ang dahilan kung bakit namatay ito.

WHEN we arrived at the fancy restaurant ay isang classical na music ang sumalabong sa 'min. Bawat table ay may naghaharana ng violin. I don't know but I found it… cheesy?

Isang white spaghetti at garlic bread lang inorder ko at gano’n din kay Sage. Gaya-gaya ang isang 'to. Were just eating silently not until a group of men approached us with the instrument in their hand. Hindi ito kagaya ng mga taong naghaharana sa ibang table.

Nilingon ko si Sage and the fucktard just shrugged. Sa kaloob-looban ko, I know his sudden motives bothered me but I tried to ignore it all.

"Uh, I chose this corner for you," biglaan niyang wika, in a low rough voice.

I looked at him, still chewing my food. "Ano naman ngayon?"

"C-can't you appreciate the view, Astrid?"

"I'm not an appreciative person." I lied, but boy, I friggin’ appreciate it! Though not the word appreciate to be exact.

"What?!" bahagyang tumaas ang boses niya. Halatang iritado sa sinabi ko.

I just rolled my eyes and continued eating.

"You are, even small things—"

"Can you shut the f**k up and stop comparing me to her?" Ako naman ngayon ang irritado!

Iniisip ko pa lang ay naiirita na ako. Kung buhay si Astrid at nagtatampo siya, and then Sage takes her into the date, tiyak akong lumambot na ang puso no’n.

I saw how Sage's face turned into shock in my sudden curse. "What are you saying? Stop comparing? Isa ka lang—"

Padabog kong binasag ang mga utensils na hawak, making the groups that were serenading us stopped a bit. "What I f*****g mean is stop comparing me on the head-over-heels Astrid! Submissive Astrid to you! Smitten Astrid to you! Whipped Astrid to you! Because seriously, it disgusts me!" In the end, I emphasized the word "disgust".

What I mean is Astrid falling in love with the man who has a murderer sister, disgusts me. I am not disgusted with Astrid for being crazily in love. What disgusts me is... sa maling tao siya na in love!

Ano naman ngayon, Alexandra? It's her heart and you can’t do anything about it!

Pain and disappointment crossed his eyes but immediately faded. Napalitan kaagad iyon ng kahihiyan.

"Can we… can we stop fighting in front of our food?"

I tsked and continued eating. Even though I'm irritated and wanted to go home... I still have my etiquette.

ON OUR way home, hindi na nasundan pa ang pangungulit ni Sage. He was just humming on his stereo, habang ako naman ay tahimik lang.

He's listening to Friends by Marshmello and Anne-Marie.

He doesn't have that nice voice pero ayos na. Hindi rin naman siya gano’n kasintunado.

"Haven't I made it obvious? Haven't I made it clear?"

Guni-guni ko lang ba? Pero parang sinasadya niya talagang lakasan ang boses upang ma-emphasize ang lyrics. My eyes are still on the road, and in my peripheral vision para akong mahihimatay pagkatapos niyang kantahin ang lyrics na 'yon at nilingon niya ako.

He let out a deep sighed when I ignored his stares. Ibinalik na lamang niya ang tingin sa kalsada.

I should listen to that song later.