The pain he now know (TPHNK Book 2)

#2

Chapter 2

"Halika zeph."

"Saan na naman?" Simangot ko sa aking katabi.

"Ipapakilala kita sa daddy ko."

"Anong pakilala? Hoy vasilius! Hindi tayo! Anong pakilala pinagsasabi mo diyan uy!" Sinamaan niya ako ng tingin pero hindi ko siya pinansin at humalukipkip lang. My head suddenly jerked to the front nang may tumamang kamay sa likod ng ulo ko.

"Ano baaaa!" Pagi-eskandalo ko nang hatakin niya na ako patayo. Tumawid pa kami sa dagat ng tao hanggang sa nakarating kami sa isang grupo ng mga matatanda.

Napaayos ako ng tayo nang makita ang mga pamilyar na mukha. Bahagya ko pang tinago ang mukha gamit ang buhok para hindi nila makita pero mukhang huli na.

"Hija"

"Po?" Nahihiya kong balik tingin.

"Zeph! Ikaw nga!" Nagulat ako nang hatakin niya ako at niyakap ng sobrang higpit. I can smell her expensive perfume because of her tight embrace. Dumako yung tingin ko sa table na pinanggalingan ko kanina, sa mommy ni charm at nakita kong nakaawang ang mga labi nila sa akin.

"T-tita..." naiiyak kong tawag.

"Bianca, let her breathe" sabi ng daddy ni kage. Napatingin ako sa kaniya nang bitawan na ako ng kaniyang asawa. Nahihiya akong tumango pero hindi siya tumango pabalik. He just looked at me with a stern face. Nahihiya kong binalik ang attensyon sa asawa at nagulat na lamang ako ng may naglahad sa akin ng kamay. Nang aakamng tingnan ko iyon, hinatak na ako ng nagmamay-ari ng kamay at niyakap. Tito alfonso tapped my back lightly.

"It's good to have you back. And in good shape" bitaw niya at tumabi sa asawa. Tiningnan ko silang dalawa na nagtataka at may kaunting kaba sa dibdib.

"H-hindi po kayo galit sa akin?" I breathed harshly.

"No! Goodness! Of course not sweetie, why would you think that?" Ani ni tita.

"Kasi po iniwan ko ang anak ninyo? And not mention, i ditched the wedding" i almost whispered.

Tita pouted and fondly brushed my hair. She excused ourselves from the other guests they were with at bahagyang lumayo kami doon.

"Matagal na yun zeph. At mabuti na din siguro yun. At least the both of you stood strong because of what happened. The pain taught you something. At pati na rin dito" she clung her arms on her husband.

"You see zeph? May naidulot din ng mabuti yung pag-alis mo. The day after you left, kage came to us. He confronted his dad asking for help. At unti-unti ding nagkaayos yung dalawa. After a year, they finally settled their differences"

"Kage did that?" He did? He really did? Akala ko ba sobrang galit siya sa dad niya?

"I was figuring you were gonna say that, but yes. Miraculously, he did" she chuckled and so did tito. I was even shocked to see him laugh.

"Alam naming nagkasakit ka hija. We even visited you on the U.S" ani tito.

"Po?" Nagulat ako sa nalaman. "Hindi ko naman po naalala na bumisita kayo?"

"We stayed there zeph. For three days. But unfortunately, tuwing bumibista kami ay palagi kang tulog. Maybe it was because of your shots?"

Yes, naalala ko. The first 5 months of my therapy, palagi akong tinuturukan ng pampapatulog, maybe because I wasn't fully used to the pain kaya sa kahit kaunting sakit lang na nararamdaman ay halos malagutan na ako ng hininga. Dad couldn't take it, that's why he answered my pleas for shots.

"After 5 months niyo pa po nalaman?"

"No! We knew beforehand, even after you left for U.S, the day after you knew about your cancer, pinaalam din kaagad ng daddy mo sa amin."

"Po?" My brain still couldn't process what they said. They knew? And they visited me? "Mabuti naman hindi niyo pinaalam kay kage?"

"That one was really difficult for us. Keeping something like that from our own son ay talagang nakakaguilty. Knowing na talagang dinibdib niya yung pag-alis mo. That was the first time na naghingi siya sa dad niya ng tulong. And we were guilty for leading him to the wrong leads."

Hinanap niya talaga ko? But i told him not to! Oh kage..

"Okay lang po ba kung susubukan kong kausapin siya?"

"You mean you will try to get back to him?" Taas kilay ni tito. Dahan-dahan akong tumango, tinatanya ang reaksyon nila. I didn't want to make a wrong move na magpapagalit sa kanila.

"The would be great! Yes sweetie! Of course you can! Oh goodness! I was supposed to persuade you but..what do you know!"

Napakawala ako ng buntong hininga dahil sa excited na reaksyon ng kaniyang ina.

"Ano namang nginingiti-ngiti mo diyan?" Hampas ni tita bianca sa kaniyang asawa sa dibdib. Nagkibit-balikat naman si tito. At oo nga, nakangiti nga ito.

"Well bianca, it is like hitting two birds with one stone. You will get your zyden couple together. And i will get my merging again" kindat niya sa akin.

"Zyden? Ano po yun?" Kunot noo ko.

"It's the combination of yours and our son's name together. She's quite an avid shipper of you two"

"Team zyden for the win! 'Cause let's be honest alfonso, I don't really like that charmaine girl. Plus, if you put my son's name with hers it will sound like a boring game, charage. Not bagay"

Hindi ko mapagilang mapatawa sa kaniyang sinabi. It looks like tita bianca is on my side. Poor charm. After a few minutes of chichat and catching up, they let me go dahil may tumawag na sa kanila. While me one the other hand, ay bumalik sa table na kung saan ay naghihintay si van. I can't help but chuckle nang makitang nakasimangot siya habang may isang babaeng nakatayo sa gilid niya. Tumabi ako sa kaniya at lumiwanang naman ang kaniyang mukha ng makita ako.

"What's up?" I said. Bigla niya na lang akong hinatak sa beywang at pinalapit sa kaniya. I was shocked by his aggressiveness kaya hindi ako kaagad nakatugon.

"Ano 'to?" Bulong ko na may pagbabanta.

"The usual" he simply said without looking at me. Napatango-tango naman ako at kinawit na din ang braso sa kaniya.

"Hello everyone. Good evening " i formally smiled.

"Dad, this is my girlfriend. Zephyrine" he caught the attention of the guests and his dad. Narinig ko naman ang pag-alis nung katabi niyang babae kanina.

"Hoy! Anong girlfriend? Nililigawan pa lang dapat!" Bulong ko.

Sa U.S kasi, maraming nurses ang nagkakagusto sa kaniya, kahit ordinaryong mamamayan. So bilang single din, he came up with a plan that could fool everyone, he would usually introduce me to those girls bilang nililigawan niya. And that girls, hindi na nagba bother na mag question pa. Walk out na kaagad. Kaya sa ilang taon naming magkakaibigan, nasasanay na din kami. Hindi na kami nagkakailangan.

"Wag kang maingay!" Bulong niya pabalik.

"Vasilius. What is the meaning of this? A girlfriend? I didn't know you have a girlfriend" ani ng ama niya sa striktong boses. Nagsimula na din akong kabahan dahil sa naiisip na baka mabuko kami.

"You've been setting me up to a random dates with a random girls too long already dad. Maybe it's time to tell you that it's not necessary anymore. I already have a girlfriend"

"Those are not just random girls vasilius. Lahat sila ay mga anak ng mga amigo ko. High class" He looked at me, like he was judging me from head to toe. Tinaasan niya ako ng kilay at kung hindi ko napigilan ang sarili baka nataasan ko din siya. He was about to turn his back at us when..

"She is zephyrine linnett nava dad" van informed with pure pride.

Natigilan naman ang kaniyang daddy at bumalik ulit ang tingin sa amin.

"Who?"

"The only daughter of Eduardo Nava. The heiress of N&T capital"

"A-ano? Talaga? I mean, where are my manners?" He gleefully offered his hand. Tinanggap ko naman. Kamuntikan pa kong mapairap at masabing, 'wala kang manners tito', mabuti na lang hindi ko naisabi.

"Hello there hija. Nice to meet you"

"Likewise po" tipid kong ngiti.

"So how long have you been going out with my son?" He seemed attentive now.

Nagkatinginan kami ni van. I secretly pinched his side as a cue.

"3 years"

"11 months"

Nagkatinginan kami ulit. Parehong kinabahan. Pinanlakihan ko siya ng mata.

"11 months sweet. Almost a year" ngiti ko ng peke.

"11 months?" Kunot noo niya. "Ah oo!" Sagot niya ng kurutin ko ulit siya sa tagiliran.

"Why do you seem unsure son? Nakalimutan mong ilang taon na kayo nagsasama?"

"No tito, van here has just mistaken. Actually yes, 3 years na kaming magkakilala, and in those 2 years, he persuaded me."

"So you're meaning to say that it took 2 long years and a month for this snail to receive your yes?" Taas kilay niya pero agad din namang tumawa.

"Yes, he's that slowpoke"

"Oo nga naman. Hindi ko nga alam kung saan yan nagmana. He sometimes doesn't have the balls."

If you only knew tito. He prefer holes. Hindi ko mapigilang matawa dahil doon. Sinamaan niya naman ako ng tingin kaya napatigil din ako kaagad.

Ilang minuto na ang dumaan ay nag-uusap pa din sila ng kaniyang daddy. Kinakamusta siya dahil ilang taon din silang hindi nagkita. Samatantalang ako ay lutang at lumilipad yung isipan. I was thinking some ways on how to approach kage. Nililibot ko din yung tingin ko dahil baka bumalik na siya at biglang dumaan lang sa likod ko ng hindi ko namamalayan.

"Zeph. Kinakausap ka ng daddy" napatigil ako sa pag-iisip nang bulungan ako ni van.

"P-po? Nako sorry po. Ano nga ba ulit yun?"

His dad chuckled. He seemed friendly now. Unlike kanina.

"Ang sabi ko. Nagduty ka din ba sa hospital na pinagtatrabahuan ng anak ko?"

"Hindi po. Doon lang po talaga kami nagkakilala"

"Ahh.." tango-tangi niya. "Siguro naman alam mo na matigas ang ulo ng isang 'to? Mabuti naman at napagtiyagaan mo?"

"Dad! Ayan na naman tayo eh!"

"Hija, alam mo ba na lahat ng sinasabi ko at sinusuway nito? I told him not to engage on bands but he still did. And i told him to take up business management, but he still pursued his doctorate. And he even went to manila and for some reason, abroad!"

I chuckled with him. "He is indeed lousy"

I heard van beside me gasped. Tumawa din ang kaniyang dad na tila nagkasundo kami doon.

"Indeed lousy"

Van opened his mouth and was about to fire his counter argument when someone behind us bumped his shoulder on him. The bumping was strong that it caused van to take his arms off my waist. Van also accidentally bumped himself on my side kaya nawalan ako ng balanse at napaatras, it made me step on the person behind me and i heard a loud groan, bahagya ko pang naramdaman ang pag-apak ng takong ko sa kaniyang buto sa paa. I flinched on his behalf. Ako na ang ngumiwi para sa kaniya.

"Oh my goodness! I am so so sorry! Hindi ko sinasad—" napatigil ako sa paghingi ng paumanhin ng hawakan niya ako sa beywang at paalis sa kaniya. I felt something sparked between us as i recognized the touch and his smell.

Naihawi ko yung buhok ko na bahagyang tumabon sa mukha ko at napataas ng tingin only to see my man coldly looking at me. His lips slightly parted na tila may sasabihin pero hindi din tinuloy. He just looked at me intently with eyebrows furrowed at kung tama yung nakita ko, he glared at the person behind me after walking away. I looked at the people around us at nakita kong nakatingin silang lahat sa banda namin.

"f**k ang sakit! Sinadya niya ata yun eh!" Narinig ko pang reklamo ni van.

"Oh my god" I breathed out at tumingin sa dinaanan niya.

"Ano bang problema nun?"

"Hindi ko alam. Teka, susundan ko"

"Mabuti pa nga"

At naglakad na nga ako paalis doon. Luminga-linga ako para hanapin si kage. I checked the tables one by one to see kung nandoon siya pero wala. My eyes automatically landed on the long table on the corner na lahat ng nakalapag doon ay puro mga inumin, cocktails and expensive looking wines.

He was there. Looking fine and intimidating with his tuxedo. Nung una ay hindi ko pa ma recognize yung likod niya dahil bahagyang lumaki yung built niya. Kung noon ay maskulado na siya, ngayon parang nag level up pa iyon. Mas lalong lumaki yung pangangatawan niya.

Dahan-dahan ako lumapit doon at tumayo isang metro ang layo mula sa kaniya. I seem to look like someone who is interested on the fine cocktails but I wasn't, i was glaring sideways trying to see a clear view of his face. Kumuha ako ng isang inumin na kulay peach para mas lalong kumbinsido na hindi ako nandoon para sa kaniya.

Thinking it would taste like some random juice, tinungga ko iyon. Pasimple akong umubo pero sa loob-loob ko gusto ko nang iluwa iyon. It taste f*****g bitter! It was a wrong f*****g move! And i was silently praying na hindi ako nakita ni van o ni dad dahil nawala sa isip ko na bawal pala sa akin iyon.

"What are you doing here?"

I seemed to forgot how to breath when i heard him speak. His voice was low and..nostalgic.

"A-ako ba ang kinakausap...mo?" Wala sa sariling turo ko sa sarili.

He was still facing sideways, he didn't bother to look at me. His eyes were still glued on the wine label he was holding. Baby..look at me. Please. I wanna see you looking at me.

"Why did you come back?"

"A-ano?"

This time, tumingin na siya sa akin. And i take back everything i just plead. He was intimidating. I was intimidated that i even took a step backward. There were no signs of pleasantries on his face. I thought..he would be happy to see me..back? Akala ko nga matutuwa siya na bumalik ako, na binalikan ko siya. I thought that my hard work and pains would be paid off by a single hug as a welcome present...

"You used to be so good at english ms nava. You usually even win an argument by utilizing it."

"M-ms Nava?" May kung anong kumurot sa puso ko dahil doon. What happened to baby? love?...my queen?

"Okay tatagalogin ko para mas maintindihan mo."

"I'm not dumb kage" bulong ko na may diin.

"Bakit ka pa bumalik? Sana nanatili ka na lang doon sa pinagtataguan mo diba?"

"Hindi ko alam ang sinasabi mo"

"Really?"

"Bakit ba ganiyan ka makatingin?" I looked in to his eyes and i can see no emotion. "Na parang hindi mo ko kilala? Na parang wala tayong pinagsamahan?"

"What do you expect from the man you left 5 years ago?"

"Love—"

"Don't call me that!" I flinched on his sudden snap. "Please don't underestimate my ability to forget about you and act like I never met you lady"

"Kage please, mag-usap tayo. Magpapaliwanag ako"

"Wala na tayong dapat pang pag-usapan"

"Baby, it's me...it's your zy" naiiyak kong paalam sa kaniya.It was almost a whisper.

He looked at me for a while at maya-maya pa ay unti-unting tumaas ang gilid ng kaniyang labi. Like he was mocking. Without a word, he turned his back on me at nagsimula nang maglakad paalis. Nataranta ako doon.

"Kage!" Malakas kong tawag at natigilan naman siya pero hindi na ako liningon. "I will find a f*****g a way. Mag-uusap tayo. In any possible ways, i will."

Sigurado akong narinig niya ang sinabi ko bago siya tuluyang umalis. His words stung, But this isn't the best time to be weak, I won't weep no more. I will get him back. Baka nakakalimutan niyang wala pa akong gusto na hindi ko nakukuha? I smirked at that.

"Zeph! Sweetie!" I flinched when someone tapped me on my shoulders.

"Tita bianca. Bakit po?" Walang gana kong tugon. Umupo siya sa silyang katabi ko.

"Are you okay? Nakita ko kayong nag-usap ng anak ko"

"Okay lang po ako." I smiled at her. She looked at me worriedly.

"Talaga ba? Hindi mo naman siya susukuan kaagad diba? Tell me na hindi ka susuko?"

"Hindi po ako sususuko" she sighed heavily, na tila ang sinabi ko ay nagtanggal ng napakabigat na nakadagan sa laniyang dibdib.

"Mabuti naman. For a minute i thought..siya nga pala! I came here to tell you that there will be a program later"

"Hindi pa po ba tapos ang party?" Inaantok na kasi ako. May jetlag pa.

"Of course not silly! Hindi pa nga nagsisimula! Why? Are you not feeling well?"

"Hindi naman po" nanghina lang siguro sa mga sinabi ng anak ninyo kanina.

"Mabuti naman. Anyways! I just wanna say that i got your back!" She exclaimed gleefully.

"Huh? Ano pong ibig niyong sabihin?"

"Zeph, There will be an auction later."

"And?" Taas kilay ko. "What does that have to do with me?"

She stressfully rolled her eyes at me. "Oh goodness gracious!" Iling niya, "hija, they will be offering eligible bachelors later. And that includes..."

"Kage." I realized.

"Exactly"

"Pumayag siyang mapabilang sa auction?"

"Well he doesn't have a choice! Ang malilikom na pera will be beneficial to the bidder's choice of charity. So kung mananalo ka, hindi lang si kage ang makukuha mo, you will also help those in need. So..what do you say?"

"What will i get from this auction?"

"A date with your man"

This is your chance zy! Hindi mo na kailangan maghirap para makausap si kage. This auction will provide it for you!

"I'm in then" it made the woman squeal.

"Great! It's settled then! At wag kang mag-alala zeph. This won't fail. Not with this..." aniya at may inilapag na papel sa lamesa. Shockingly, it was a cheque book.

"Tita! Kanino to?!"

"My husband of course, tinago ko dito" she smiled wickedly while showing me her purse. Oh goodness!

"Tita. Don't worry, it's all on me"

"Pero zeph..."

"Ako na po" i smiled. Quite unsure.