Random Guy - LARO NG TADHANA

RG 10 - THE ACES

RANDOM GUY - EP. 10

I woke up because of the light tickles on my face. Pagmulat ng mata koy bumungad sakin ang malalalim na mga mata nitong tila inaalisa ang bawat sulok ng mukha ko.

"Hey..." marahan nitong bati sakin while removing some strands of hair on my face. He's now wearing a gray Vneck shirt while sitting at the edge of my bed.

His light brown hair is disheveled that made him look more hotter. The small rays of the sun from my window is showing some features on his face. He has a cute mole at the corner of his left eyes. He close his eyes a bit when I touched it.

"Hey." I answered staring back at him. I thought last night was just a dream, but seeing his handsome face in front of me made me feel more happier than ever. The sore feeling down there is also a big evidence of what happened. "You're early. Saan ka kumuha ng damit mo?" I said while sitting up.

"I have some spare in my car." He's smiling again while staring at my every movement that made me feel conscious. "You okay?" He held my hand and kiss the back of it.

"Y-Yeah." Nahihiya kong sagot rito na ikinapula ata ng mukha ko. He just laugh a bit with my reaction.

"I made us some breakfast." He said as he escort me to the comfort room.

"You can cook?" I said surprised.

"Yeah. I hope you don't mind me barging in to your kitchen." He answered while holding my waist.

"No. Of couse not." I said smiling back at him. He pulled me closer and gave a pick on my lips. I stare at him for a second while my hands are on his chest.

"Do you have some appointment today Attorney?" He asked as he brush his finger on my cheeks that made me close my eyes for a bit. It still sends some sparks on my skin.

"No. Its sunday. Why Attorney Ace? Are you asking me for a date." I said teasing him back. He just chuckled as he slowly push me inside my bathroom.

"It's more than a date." He said. He even winked at me before closing the door. Natawa ako ng dahil dito. I took a warm shower with a big smile plastered all over my face.

I went out of my room only wearing a bathrobe. Hindi nakatakas sa mata ko ang matagal niyang pagtitig bago umupo sa harap ng mesa. I bit my lower lip trying to hide my smile. Nilapag ko ang cellphone sa gilid ko as I sat beside him.

"Hindi ko alam na pwede pa lang maging ganito kasarap ang mga pagkain sa loob ng fridge ko. I barely even cook at home. Sa labas lang ako madalas kumain." I said as I tasted his foods. "You're an amazing cook Ace." Hindi ito sumagot. He just stare at me. Nagulat lang ako ng bigla itong lumapit.

He just licked the side of my lips!

"You have a sauce on your lips." Sabi nito bago lumayo ulit. Agad naman akong napahawak rito nang dahil sa sinabi niya at mayrun ngang dumi

"You're a very naughty for an Attorney Ace!" Naibulalas ko dahil na-conscious ako. Naguunahan na naman ang mga kabayo sa puso ko. Ikinatawa lang niya ito tsaka nagpatuloy kumain.

"You eat like a child for an Attorney Snow." He even answered back like its nothing.

I just rolled my eyes and continue eating my food when my phone vibrated from a call. Parehong nabaling ang atensyon namin dito.

"Excuse me." Sabi ko rito bago sagutin ang tawag ko. "Hello? Kuya Klause?" He continued eating after hearing that it was just my brother.

"Hi sis! I'm on the airport today with Miley. We're waiting for cousin Athena." Napatingin ako sa oras nang dahil doon. Alas-nuwebe na pala. Nasabi nga pala sa'kin ni Kuya kahapon na darating siya ngaun.

"Okay Kuya. Text mo lang ako pag nagkita na kayo." Sagot ko rito.

"Do you mind if I use your shower?" Biglang nabaling ang tingin ko kay Ace na patapos nang kumain.

"Yeah, sure. You can use the extra robe in my closet." Sagot ko rito tsaka muling binalik ang atensyon ko sa kausap ko sa phone. Nagawa pa nitong humalik sa noo ko bago tuluyang umalis para maligo. Para na akong baliw na ngumingiting magisa.

"Who was that?" bigla akong natauhan dahil sa tanong ni Kuya. Shoot! Nawala sa isip ko! Halata sa boses nito ang pagtataka. He knows me very well. Alam niyang hindi ako madalas may bisita o kasama sa condo ko lalo na pag weekends dahil pinagaaralan ko mga kaso ko.

"Uh- ano si.." hndi ko alam kung paano sasabihin sa kanya na may kasama ako at si Ace pa. Alam kung maglalakbay na naman ang isip nun kung saan.

"Baka si Ace yon!" Dinig kong sabi ni Ate Miley sa background na parang inagaw pa ang phone kay Kuya.

"Hoy Snow ha! Ibang level na yan! I know you, hindi ka madalas may bisita! Hindi ka rin nagpapasleep over!" Isa pa to si Ate Miley. Parang nararamdaman ko ang ngising aso sa mukha nito.

"Budd naman eh. Give me the phone. I'm still talking to her." Dinig ko pang angal ni Kuya Klause. I can feel that he's dying to know too. I know him, he wants to be very updated with my life.

"Let her be Thomas! Malaki na si Snow." Natatawang sabi pa ni Ate Miley tsaka tuluyan nitong pinatay ang tawag.

Napa face palm nalang ako dahil sa mga narinig ko. Alam kong hindi magtatagal ay mangungulit na naman yon.

"Anong ginagawa natin sa hospital?" I said habang tanaw ang malaking gusali sa labas. My mom is a shareholder to this hospital too. Dito rin na-ospital si kuya noon na dalawang buwan na na-comatose. Sa pagkakaalam ko'y dito rin dinala dati si Syrah at sa pagkakarinig ko'y isang araw lang ang tinagal nito bago idiklara ng mga doktor na hindi nakayanan ng ulo nito ang damage na siya ring ikinamatay nito.

Those days were my doomest hour. I was grounded for one week at hindi kailanman pinalabas sa mansyon. Walang phone o kung ano mang form of communication. Sa mga usap-usapan lang ng mga maid ako nakikibalita.

Until one day hindi nakayanan ni Papa ang pressure at stress na siya ring ikinamatay nito because of heart attack ng malamang fifty percent chance lang na magigising si kuya at patay na rin ang kasama nito sa crash na walang iba kundi si Syrah.

I almost went crazy that time. Wala akong nagawa kundi ang umiyak lang ng umiyak sa kwarto. I was traumatized at hindi makapagsalita. I tried explaining myself about the incident, kuya klause even supported me pero nakatanggap lang ako noon ng sampal at masasakit na salita. Ate Gab didn't tried to speak. She didn't speak because she's scared too. Kaya ako may tampo sa kanya dati. Minadali ang proseso ng kaso nasarado ito sa maling paraan dahil walang gustong magsalita tungkol rito.

My brother was proven innocent and they declared it as an accident. I was sent to states pagkatapos ng lamay ni Papa.

"Hey.. you okay?" I felt Ace's hand on my cheek tsaka pinunasan ang luhang tumulo rito. We're still in his car at hindi ako sigurado kung dito ba talaga kami bababa.

"After that incident, I was sent to states." Lumingon ako rito at nakita ko ang pagaalala sa mukha nito. "I was psychologically sick! I can't utter a word. Papa was gone and my best friend was gone as well. Hindi rin sigurado kung magigising si Kuya Warren ng mga panahong iyon. I was useless! Pero kahit ngaun na may kapangyarihan na ako bilang Attorney ay naduwag pa rin ako. Pilit tinatakasan ang sakit ng nakaraan." Lumapit ito sa akin. He gave me warm comforting hug. He just listen to me.

"I was slowly recovering after two months of medication sa states. Laking tuwa ko pa noong nalaman kong nagising na si Kuya Warren. But I was disappointed at the same time. No one dared to re-open the case to reveal the truth, even Kuya Warren never tried to kaya sobra akong nagtampo sa kanya dahil dito. They've thrown the case like its nothing." Napahikbi na ako ng tuluyan. "Dahil ba sa mahirap lang sina Syrah? Dahil wala silang laban?" My fist turned into balls. But he just hold it to relax me.

"I know how you feel Snow. And its not your fault." He said as he kiss my forehead.

"We're here." He said. I just look at him still confuse. Nasa harap kami ngaun ng isang room sa ospital.

"Ace, please give me a heads up. Ayokong atakihin sa puso." Nanlalamig ang kamay ko. Hindi ko alam kung anong naghihintay sakin sa loob.

"She survived. After 10 years she's finally wide awake." He said as he slowly pull me inside the room. Nanginginig ang kamay ko ng buksan nito ang pinto ng tuluyan.

My eyes automatically shed a tears as if everything went slow. The room is full of her paintings. High school pa lamang kami ay mahilig na talaga itong magpinta. Nakatalikot ito mula sa amin at tanging paggalaw lang ng mga braso nito at buhok ang nakikita ko habang payapa itong nakaupo sa kaniyang wheelchair. Pero alam kung siya ito. She's busy making another of her masterpiece.

Kumalabog ng tuluyan ang puso ko ng sandali itong tumigil at dahan-dahang humarap sa direksyon namin. Nakita ko muli ang saya at ngiti sa kanyang mukha na akala koy matagal ng naglaho sa mundong ito.

"S-Syrah?" I said as I slowly walk towards her. Pero muli akong hinila ni Ace. He stopped me for a second to talk.

"I need u to take it slow babe. Hindi pa masyadong bumabalik ang mga alaala niya. She barely even remember me nang magising ito last month. The doctor said it will take time for her to remember everything. Let me talk to her for a sec." Natulala lang ako tsaka tumango rito. Marami pa akong gustong itanong sa kanya but I chose to keep it and reserve it for later. Right now, what I want is to hug and talk to Syrah. I've missed her so much.

"Alas? Who's with you?" I heard her asked nang makapalapit na sa kanya ng tuluyan si Ace. I saw curiosity in her eyes. Her voice and her face are still the same. She just grow like us. Pero hindi pa rin nawawala ang Syrah na nakilala ko. She has a full of enthusiasm and excitement as she listens to him.

Nakatagilid ako mula sa kanila habang hinihintay na matapos ang paguusap nila. I feel like my mind and heart is going to blow from everything.

"Come here." Napaigtad ako ng hindi namalayan ang pagdating ni Ace. He pulled me closer to him as he explained a bit about Syrah's condition.

"Ang tanging naaalala pa lang niya sa ngayon ay noong mga elementarya pa lang kami. That's why she calls me Alas. She used to tease me that name noong mga bata pa kami. Kaya wala pa itong ideya sa mga nangyari noon." I just nod at his explanation. Di pa rin nawawala ang mga mata ko kay Syrah na ngayon ay nagliligpit ng gamit. He gave me a hug bago niya ako tuluyang pinalapit rito

"Hi Snow!" Masiglang bungad sakn nito. "Sinabi sa akn ni Alas na high school best friends daw tayo? Im sorry I haven't recover my full memories yet. Nagulat nga ako na posibli pa lang makatulog ng sampong taon. Para akong si Snow white! Like ur name!" I can still hear the childishness on her voice. She may had grown up but her mind as a teenager is still there.

Tuluyan na akong napahagulgol. Hindi ako nagsalita but instead I hugged her so tight. Nagulat pa nga ito pero natawa rin ng kalaunan tsaka yumakap din sakin pabalik. Iyak lang ako ng iyaka sa harap niya.

"You know what Snow, I love your name! I like to see a real snow and I also love watching snow white when I was a little." She excitedly said nang nakaupo na ito sa kama niya. Nasa tabi lang niya ako habang masayang nakikinig sa kanya. Ace went outside to talk to the doctors.

Under therapy pa ang ilang bahagi ng katawan nito dahil sa matagal na pagakakaratay sa higaan kaya hindi pa ito tuluyang nakakalakad ng maayos.

"I know Sy, palagi mo sa aking sinasabi yan noon. Pareho pa nga nating pangarap na maka experience ng winter christmas." I said still holding her hands. Hindi ko maipaliwanag ang saya na nararamdaman ko. "We have two other Bff's as well. They are Zyla and my cousin Athena. Pangarap sana nating na sabay-sabay makakita ng Snow."

Nakita ko ang saya at kaunting lungkot sa mga mata nito. Masakit para sakin ang makita siyang ganito. But still I can't do anythibg but to wait as well.

"Hindi tayo naghihiwalay na apat." Bigla akong nalungkot dahil na rin sa sinabi ko.

What if maalala nga niya ang lahat ng nangyari noon? Ano kaya ang magiging reaksyon niya at ang mga taong nasa paligid niya, lalo na ang pamilya niya na ang pagkakaalam ay patay na siya? Would it still be the same for Syrah?

"Snowy, are u okay?" I saw the worries in her eyes nang sandaling matulala ako.

"Y-Yeah. Im fine. I just can't believe it na makikita kitang muli." Napangiti naman ito dahil sa sinabi ko. Naputol ang aming paguusap ng bigalang dumating ang doktor kasama si Ace. Tumayo naman ako para hayaan ang nga doktor na tingnan ang kalagayan niya.

"I know you have a lot of question." Ace said while hugging me behind habang pareho kaming nakatingin sa direksyon ni Syrah di kalayuan. Abala itong sagutin ang mga tanong sa kanya ng mga doktor nito.

"Yes. A lot of explaining Ace Ivanov." I answered while holding his hand on my stomach. Hinalikan lang ako nito sa ulo bilang tugon. I saw Syrah taking a glimpse to us.

Hindi nakatakas sa mga mata ko ang saya at kilig sa mukha nito habang nakatingin sa posisyon naming dalawa ni Ace. Naginit ang mukha ko ng kaunti while I smile back at her. She's still as quirky as before and I'm happy for that.

We said our good byes to Syrah nang tuluyan nang mag lunch. Gusto ko pa sanang kausapin ito ng matagal ngunit kailangan na din nitong magapahinga dahil may mga therapy session din ito mamaya. Hindi din hinahayaan ni Ace na magisa ito sa kwarto. He even hired a personal maid and nurse for her. Pati na rin security sa pinto nito sa tuwing wala siya. Hindi pa rin ako makapaniwalang nagawa niya itong itago sa loob ng sampong taon. Napakahirap siguro nun, ang maghintay kung magigising ba talaga ito ng tuluyan.

.

"I admire your courage and strength in waiting for her to awake." I started nang makaupo na kami ng tuluyan sa isang private restaurant.

"Thank you." He answered nang maupo ito sa tabi ko habang hawak ang kamay ko. He's really sweet and clingy, with or without people watching us. Iyon ang unang napansin ko sa kanya pagkatapos ng nangyari samin kagabi, and I really like him that way.

"Ilang beses na ding sumagi sa isip ko ang sukuan siya. But I'm glad I didn't." I saw how happiness reflects in his eyes.

"What did really happened?" There I finally asked. He look back at me and I saw darkness in his eyes again. Muntik ko nang bawiin ang tanong ko pero nang halikan niya ang likod ng kamay ko tsaka nagsalita ay gumaan ang pakiramdam ko.

"Mr. Ivanov, my adopted father took care of everything." He said as his other hand plays with my finger. Parang batang nagsusumbong sa kaniyang nanay. I smiled at the back of my mind.

"When I was a child when Mrs. Ivanov was still alive. Papa was one of the Four Kings in the business industry." He paused for a moment while looking back at the past.

"The Four Kings?" I asked. Ngayon ko lang iyon narinig. Bata pa lang ay wala na akong pakialam sa negosyo ng pamilya namin kaya siguro hindi ko ito alam.

"Yes. People call him the King of Spade." He look at me straight in the eyes. Nagulat ako at naalala ang card na ibinigay niya sakin noon. Ang Ace of Spade. "Madami siyang koneksyon sa lahat. Hindi man halata pero marami itong yaman sa ilalim ng batas pero hindi niya nilalagay sa pangalan niya. That's why madali lang din sakin ang makakuha ng impormasyon kung gusto ko."

Naalala ko kung paano nga siya nakapag imbistiga tungkol samin.

"They call the perfect heirs for him. I am his Ace of Spade that eventually be his the next King he said jokingly one time. I love him as a father. He's maybe the dark lord they say but he's really a good father." He continued while he puts some strands of my hair at the back of my ear. Napansin ko ring mahilig niya iyong gawin sakin. "..and soon you'll be my Queen." Naisingit niya pa ang cornyng joke nayon. Napatawa na lang ako dahil rito.

"Your Father was one of the King." Natigil ako sa sinabi nito. "They call him the King of Diamonds."

- END OF EP. 10