Chapter 7
2001 Words
"A challenge, perhaps?"
Harper became my weekly diary. Buo ang tiwala ko sa kanya kaya wala rin naman akong inililihim sa kanya. Ganoon din s'ya sa akin.
Napatigil ako sa pagtakbo sa treadmill. I glanced at my ipad, we're having a video call.
Her schedule is full, the reason why we only have the weekend to talk about what's happening on our lives. I just told her about the dinner I had with Ahia's friends. And of course, Alfonso's words.
"He knew what's happening," Harper added. Ang tungkol sa nangyayari kay Ahia ang tinutukoy n'ya. "And if your brother treated them as best friends, for sure, they also know about Luceanna. O kung hindi man, aware silang engage ang kapatid mo sa iba."
Naisip ko na iyon. I'm expecting them to stop my brother's madness. Mukhang wala nga lang akong aasahan sa mga kaibigan n'ya, even Alfonso.
"Is the girl flirting with him?"
I turned off the treadmill and wiped my forehead.
The dinner happened days ago. Malinaw pa sa akin ang mukha ng babaeng tinutukoy ni Harper. Her innocent face and actions.
"It's the other way around," I stated before heaving a sigh.
I heard Harper. Napapalatak s'ya. Naiiling na nagsalin ako ng tubig sa baso.
"The girl's ignorant of Ahia's feelings, I'm sure of that," dagdag ko pa habang inaalala kung paano pakitunguhan ng babae ang kapatid. "He's smitten but the girl is manhid. She's not even aware even the slightest."
Harper laughed. "Oh my God! What will happen to your brother, Corrine?"
I shrugged.
I saw how Harper checked her door. Nagmamadali s'yang bumalik sa kama nang masigurong naka-lock iyon. She even went to the farthest part of her room.
This is the reason why I'm confident of telling her almost everything. Alam n'yang hindi puwedeng malaman ng kahit sino ang pinag-uusapan namin at alam n'ya kung paano itago iyon.
"Aren't you worried?" tanong n'ya sa mahinang boses.
"I am."
Harper rolled her eyes. "You should be. But, you told me na masaya ang kapatid mo."
Tumango ako.
Sandaling napunta sa center table ang mga mata ko. Maraming flyers doon at saka ko lang naalalang kailangan ko nga palang pumili ng matitirhan. Hindi naman kasi puwedeng makitira ako rito sa condo ni Ahia. That's against Ahma's rules.
"He's happy... and lively."
"Then, let him be for the time being," ani Harper na ikinataas ng kilay ko. She raised her hand, trying to calm me. "Listen to me, Corrine. Bata pa ang kapatid mo, maybe what's happening to him is just a phase?"
"Phase?"
"Phase where a man is curious and trying to satisfy his curiosity? Your brother is fully aware of his responsibilities. Let him play for a bit."
I almost shook my head because of what she's implying.
"And use that as a reason when your Ahma ask you about him..." dagag pa n'ya nang hindi ako magsalita. "Gaano ka kasigurado na hindi pa alam ng Ahma n'yo ang nangyayari sa kapatid mo?"
Saglit akong napaisip.
Hinaharang ko ang lahat ng report ni Narie, tungkol man sa akin o kay Ahia. Fini-filter ko iyon at siguradong ganoon din ang ginagawa ni Mori. Nag-iingat ako.
But... posible ring alam na ni Ahma ang ginagawa ni Ahia.
"Imposibleng hindi, right?" pang-uusisa pa ni Harper. "And maybe, kaya hinahayaan n'ya because she's also thinking that it's just a phase. Lilipas lang din..."
Silence enveloped us.
"Where is the challenge you're talking about?"
Harper chuckled. "Oh, that! I was pertaining to your not so Chinese crush!"
Umirap ako. She's talking about Alfonso. Ilang beses ko nang sinabi hindi ko crush ang kaibigan ni Ahia but she's not buying it.
"They're still young but the four years gap, that make him older than the two of us. Older than you..." She smirked. "And that face and background, I'm sure, he's not innocent anymore!"
"Gosh, Harper!"
My best friend laughed like a crazy girl.
"Oh, don't act so naive, Corrine." Umirap pa s'ya. "Let's not sugarcoat that. Alam nating totoo ang sinasabi ko and we both know that you're attracted to that man!"
Kung sa iba, sisikapin kong magmukhang walang pakialam but with her, I just sighed.
Ni hindi ko nga maamin sa sarili ko, bakit pagdating dito kay Harper, parang ang bilis n'yang mag-conclude?
"I... I don't know."
"Of course, you don't! Paano mo malalaman when you're so focus with your trainings, the things you needed to do and dumagdag pa ang kapatid mo?"
Hindi pa nga lang tapos maglitanya si Harper.
"And do you really think that those friends of his is not aware of the tradition! Of course they are! But that's it. They're just aware but they have zero concern about it. The reason why they're not even doing anything even if your brother, their friend is losing his way!"
Bumalik na naman doon ang pinag-uusapan namin.
"Alam nila pero wala silang pakialam because anyone can be aware with whatnot without being concern with it. Ganoon din sila. Lalo pa at base sa kuwento mo, they all came from high society, right?"
Tumango lang ako, napapaisip sa sinabi n'ya. Actually, naisip ko na iyon but hearing it from Harper made me a bit confused...
"We can't blame them, though. Not their lives, malamang wala silang pakialam." The slang on her voice is evident.
That...
"Your Ahia's life, your Ahma's rules. How ironic."
A bit hurt with what she said, I combed my hair with my fingers.
"Oh! That was the reason why I said that!" aniya, mukhang may naalala.
I just looked at her. Nakalimutan ko na kung anong sinasabi n'ya kanina.
"His words!" Harper even flicked her finger. "That was a challenge."
"Huh?"
Nakalimutan ko na talaga kung anong tinutukoy n'ya. Ang dami na n'yang nasabi at hindi ko na alam kung alin doon.
"That love is more powerful than the tradition..."
Umirap ako nang sabihin n'ya iyon. The topic now is Alfonso.
"That's not a challenge, just his words."
"Why pakiramdam ko ay challenge iyon?" Her brow shot up. "Or maybe an insult?"
Napairap na lang ulit ako.
"Come to think of it, Corrine. He knows about the tradition," sabi pa n'ya na para bang unang beses n'yang sinabi iyon. "But... his definition of love is challenging the tradition, your family's tradition!"
I massaged the bridge of my nose as Harper continued on her pep talk. Paulit-ulit na lang ang sinasabi n'ya at hindi ko talaga maintindihan ang logic ng iba sa mga iyon.
"Hindi s'ya naniniwala sa paniniwalang iyon ng mga Liu. He's clearly questioning the legitimacy of the tradition without directly asking about it..."
Of course, Harper is far from dropping the subject.
"Because for him, love is more powerful, it can conquer all, everything!"
"And your conclusion is?" I cut her nonsense theory about Alfonso.
"Why don't you take his challenge?" Harper beamed. "To prove that he's wrong!"
Huh?
Paano kami napunta sa paksang ito? Saka, ano na bang pinag-uusapan namin?
Nakatanga lang ako sa kanya. Hindi ko naman kasi pinakikinggan ang mga sinasabi n'ya.
"He's your crush, too!"
"It's just a crush," putol ko. Wala na rin namang silbi kung ide-deny ko pa lalo na at 'yon na ang pinaniniwalaan n'ya. "No need to involve his words or the tradition."
"Are you not challenged? Insulted?"
Kaagad na tumikwas ang isa kong kilay. No one can insult a Liu, or even challenged someone from my family.
"Try to make him fall in love with you," ani Harper, mukhang natuwa nang makitang naapektuhan ako sa sinabi n'ya. "And when he's already on the ground, from falling hard, teach him that love in not that powerful at all—"
"You know that I can't date anyone—"
"That's what I'm talking about, Corrine!" She rolled her eyes. "If that man fell for you, you can then tell him that love is not that powerful as what he claims because in the end, you're bound with the tradition, you're still following it!"
I felt a headache just by listening at her.
"You can't date anyone especially someone that's not Chinese but you can play with him! There's a difference with that!"
Oh, what a evil best friend I have here.
"Ahma won't stay still, you know." Hindi ko alam kung bakit parang gusto ko ngang i-consider itong sinasabi ni Harper.
I have zero interest to meddle with Alfonso. I mean, yes, there's this fascination about him but the truth that I have to follow Ahma's rules, having that interest about him is not even possible.
"I said, play with him! Hindi 'yong seseryosohin mo. Just like your Ahia. Your Ahma surely know that he's just playing, that's why he's still there!"
"Let's not talk about this, Harper. This is not my thing," I said with finality, trying to block the small voice on my head that's been telling me to do exactly what my best friend had said.
"Ugh! You're so boring, Corrine!"
I tried not to be swayed with her words. I know that I'm not the kindest person out there but playing with someone's emotion is not my thing. I am not heartless.
Or so I thought...
Kaya nagulat na lang ako na mas naging malapit ako kay Alfonso. I even saw his other side—the side except his smirking personality.
"What is it?" I asked after my eyes wandered. Bago at paligid at ito ang unang beses ko rito.
We met at the coffee shop, as always. I thought we're going to spend our day there, just like the usual. But he invited me here.
Nasa isa kaming firing range sa Taguig. I don't know the exact place. I just finished two sets of firing and I'm a bit tired.
I opened my palms and Narie immediately sprayed alcohol on them.
"So?" I crossed my arms on my chest, looking at the serious Alfonso.
Kanina pa s'ya bumabaril. Mabuti nga at hindi iyong outdoor ang pinili n'ya. Mukhang iyon ang gusto n'yang subukan kanina, umayaw nga lang ako.
Isang buntong-hininga ang pinakawalan n'ya bago tinanggap ang suot na ear plug. He did three sets, the first two, he didn't use the ear plug. I forced him to wear it for the last set.
"Personal," ngumisi s'ya.
My brow arched. We had random conversation, some were about us and our goal... kaya hindi ko alam kung anong klaseng personal iyon.
"What is it?" I probed. "Your graduation is just around the corner, two days after, hmm?"
He smirked. Humarap s'ya sa akin bago kinuha ang dalawang bottled water. Binuksan n'ya ang isa at ibinigay sa akin bago nagbukas ulit ng isa pa para naman sa kanya.
"Pupunta ka ba?"
"Maybe..." I shrugged.
Simula na ng klase ko sa mismong graduation nila. Importante ang oras sa mga Liu kaya hindi ko hihintayin ang normal na pagbubukas ng klase sa June.
Mauuna ako. I took advance classes lalo na at hindi lang iisang kurso ang gusto kong kunin. Matagal pa naman bago ko simulan ang isa pa pero ayaw kong magsayang ng oras.
"Are your family going?"
Nangunot na ang noo ko. S'ya na ang nagtatanong while my questions were left hanging.
"You don't have your books. Even your reading glasses."
Alfonso chuckled.
"My family's a mess."
I tilted my head. So, this is really a personal matter. I shouldn't ask for more.
"You see, my parents had a fight." Ipinakita n'ya ang kaliwang pisngi. "I'm used to it. Their fight us old news, really. But then, they became physical."
I gasped. Kaagad na tumaas ang kamay ko at bago ko pa mamalayan ang ginagawa, my hand caressed the bruise on his left cheek, almost on his chin.
"Why are they fighting?" So much for not asking more.
Nagkibit lang s'ya ng balikat, sandaling napatitig sa akin bago nag-iwas ng tingin.
"Are they okay na ba? Are your parents fine?"
"My father is fine, my mother? Not."
Alfonso sighed. Muli n'yang tinungga ang tubig. "Papa's planning to file an annulment case against my mother."
- Writer
