Chapter 9
1288 Words
Kasalukuyang nagbabasa si Javier sa kaniyang silid nang maramdaman niya ang marahang pagbukas sa kaniyang pintuan.
"Mom," bigkas niya nang bumungad si Sylvia.
"Can we talk, son?" nakangiting tanong ni Sylvia.
"Alangan namang ipagtabuyan kita, Mom?" natatawang wika ni Javier.
"You, spoiled brat," ganting tawa ni Sylvia.
Tumayo si Javier at inalalayan ang inang makaupo sa upuang kaharapan ng kaniyang inuupuan.
"What made you come to see your one and only handsome son?" tanong ni Javier.
"Masyado ng lumaki ang ulo mo, Javier. Baka nakakalimutan mong mayroon pang Paulo Avelino na mas guwapo pa kaysa sa 'yo," iiling-iling na sambit ni Sylvia sa anak.
"Kaya nga sabi ko son. Paulo Avelino is not your son so you can't compare him to me," mabilis na sagot ni Javier.
"Palagi ka talagang may balang sagot. Hindi ko na matandaan ang huling pagkakataon na nanalo ako sa 'yo," muling pag-iling ni Sylvia.
"What is it, Mom? Gabi na at dapat ay nagpapahinga na kayo," pagtanong na ni Javier nang direkta tungkol sa ipinunta roon ng ina.
"Let me ask how's my son as Dr. Javier De Vera, first," nakangiting ani Sylvia.
"Well, to be honest, as a handsome—"
"Nevermind. Iyong ipinunta ko na lang dito ang itatanong ko pala," Sylvia waved her right hand on Javier's face trying to stop what he was about to tell.
"You hate me being handsome, Mom?" pakli ni pa rin ni Javier.
"Javier—"
"You can't accept the fact that I am more handsome than my father. And you can't—"
"Criselda," pagputol ni Sylvia sa anak.
Kaagad naman ngang napatahimik si Javier. "What about her?"
"Let's talk abot her."
"Sure, Mom. What about her?" ulit ni Javier sa kaniyang tanong.
"When are you going to tell her about everything?" umpisa na ni Sylvia sa tonong nababahala.
"We already told her what she needs to know, Mom," Javier answered.
"No, Javier. Not everything. And it's killing me everyday I look at her. Javier, your father will curse you on his grave if you keep doing these things!" mariing saad ni Sylvia.
"Mom, It helps her!" pagdepensa naman ni Javier kasabay ng pagtayo nito sa kinauupuan. Binuksan nito ang pintuan papunta sa maliit na balkonahe ng kuwarto niya. Inihawak niya ang kaniyang kamay sa gilid ng pintuan at tumanaw sa labas.
"How can you say that? Ano ang naitutulong nito sa kaniya? You are giving her a fake love, Javier!" pagalit na sambit ni Sylvia.
"I do love my sister, Mom!" pinakadiin-diinang sabi ni Javier at tuluyan itong lumabas sa balkonahe.
Tumayo naman si Sylvia at sinundan roon ang anak. "And I love her too. She's a family. And I can't take it anymore! It's been months, Javier, for christ sake!"
"Iyan mismo ang isa pang pinupunto ko, Mom! Sa tingin mo, hindi malulungkot si Criselda kung hindi natin ginawa ito? We gave her a family, a home, and love. That's all I know!" pakikipagtalo ni Javier sa ina.
"At ano na ang mangyayari kapag bumalik na ang mga alaala niya? What are we going to do?" galit pa rin ang boses na tanong ni Sylvia.
"We will apologize for everything..." simpleng sagot ni Javier.
"Are you hearing yourself?!" nagugulat na tanong ni Sylvia.
"All I know is it's for her best, too... Not only for Namkyun..." sighed Javier.
"I hope you're right. But I can't promise you na maitatago ko pa rin ang lahat. Lalo na kapag nakita kong nahuhulog na siya nang tuluyan kay Namkyun. If you only saw her this morning. She was very happy with Namkyun's actions, Javier... And seeing her happy with those lies makes me want to dig my own grave already," pagtatapos ni Sylvia at tuluyan na nitong iniwan ang anak.
Naiwan si Javier na napasabunot na lang sa sariling buhok.
*********************
"It is working, huh?"
Napatigil sa paglakad si Namkyun at napalingon kay Javier na may hawak na bote ng Blue Label sa kaliwang kamay at baso sa kanang kamay.
"You're drinking again, Javier..." ipinamulsa ni Namkyun ang mga kamay at naglakad palapit kay Javier. Wala sila sa bahay. Katunayan ay nagising lang siya nang umagang iyon sa tawag nito. Pinapunta siya roon ni Javier. Isa pang bahay ni Javier ang pinuntahan niyang iyon.
"Come on, it's no big deal. In fact, you are going to join me," sabi ni Javier at kaagad itong kumuha ng isa pang baso sa bar counter.
Sumunod na lamang si Namkyun kay Javier at naupo na kaagad. Javier chuckled as he puts down the bottle. Inilagay niya sa harapan ni Namkyun ang bagong basong kuha at saka niya binuhusan din ng alak.
"Drink," ani Javier kasabay ng pagtungga niya sa kaniyang baso.
Napatitig naman si Namkyun sa basong nasa kaniyang harapan.
"Just one, Namkyun. I know you hate alcoholic people and I'm not turning you into one and you know that I am not, too," nakangiting ani Javier.
Napabuntonghininga si Namkyun. "I'm sorry I put you into this mess..."
Napalis naman ang ngiti sa mga labi ni Javier. Sandali siyang natigilan pagkuwa'y naglagay na lamang siyang muli ng alak sa kaniyang baso. Napatingin pa siya nang lagukin na ni Namkyun ang alak na inilagay niya sa baso nito.
"I... Y-you're not at fault..." hindi malaman ni Javier ang eksaktong sasabihin.
"Yes, I am... You just can't say it to my face because you keep on saying that you owe me your life..." Namkyun said in low voice.
"I-I don't know what to think anymore... All I know is... I am doing this for you both. I just can't stop thinking about what mom said the other night," muling tinungga ni Javier ang alak sa kaniyang baso.
"Anong sinabi niya?" Namkyun asked.
Natawa nang pagak si Javier. "I'm not Criselda. It's okay not to use that language you're not used to."
"Well, I'm used to it now. Isa pa, I love your dialect," nakangiting sabi ni Namkyun.
"Oh, Lee Namkyun... I can't believe that the person I'm with is Lee Namkyun," natatawa at iiling-iling na saad ni Javier.
"Your best buddy?" chuckled Namkyun.
"For now," ganting tawa naman ni Javier.
"So, what's with the call?" pagkuwa'y tanong ni Namkyun na inilapit pa ang baso kay Javier upang salinan iyon.
"It's about Mom. Tingin ko ay naaawa at nag-aalala na siya kay Criselda," seryosong sagot ni Javier.
"She's worrying?"
"About you and Criselda," Javier stated.
"A-about... What? About... Us? What about us?" nagugulumihang tanong ni Namkyun.
"She's worrying that Criselda might fall in love with you," walang preno ng sabi ni Javier.
Muntik ng maibuga ni Namkyun ang alak na kaiinom niya lamang dahil sa narinig.
"It can happen, Namkyun..." wika ni Javier.
"Y-yes... B-but you told me before that I need to make her fall in love with me..."
"Hindi ko na kasi alam kung tama pa ba ang ginagawa natin. She's my sister. And I can't believe that I'm doing this to her..." napayuko pa si Javier at napahilot sa kaniyang sentido.
"We can stop it now..."
Napatingin si Javier kay Namkyun.
"It's not too late to stop this, Javier. I'm not gonna hurt someone just to save my ass'," tumayo si Namkyun mula sa pagkakaupo.
"It's too late... She already believed you..."
"We can tell her the truth now," pagharap ni Namkyun kay Javier.
"With her condition? No... She'll turn her back to us. To Mom... And there's no one to take care of her. Mas lalong magiging mahirap ang lahat sa kaniya kapag nagkataon," pagtanggi ni Javier.
"Okay. But we'll have a new deal," ani Namkyun na pinakatitigan pa si Javier.
"Tell me."
"Let me help her remember the truth. Everything. Let her memories decide whether I deserve to be saved," matatag na sabi ni Namkyun.
- Writer
