Random Guy - LARO NG TADHANA

RG 12 - FOUL PLAY

RANDOM GUY - EP. 12

Hindi ako nakapagsalita. Natulala lang ako ng ilang saglit sa mga sinabi nito.

"I didn't like their dare because I have to risk my beloved sister and her best friend.." napahinto ito tsaka tumingin sakin ng deretso. Maging akoy hindi makapaniwalang ganun pla niya ako pinapahalagahan. His beloved sister. "The price was high. If you win, you're gonna have the chance to choose one car from the losers. But I did not join for that. I joined because Alfonso secretly blackmailed me. He's gonna hurt either you or Gab if I don't. And knowing his family background, it's not impossible to do so. It's either one of my sisters will get hurt or I'll do the dare and choose again between u and ur friend." Naikuyom ko ang mga palad ko nang dahil dito. That monster Alfonso! Buo na ang desisyon kong tanggalan siya ng kalayaan at mabulok sa kulungan.

"But why did the race happened anyway? I thought you said you don't want to choose between Syrah and me?" Nanginginig kong sabi dahil sa galit.

"Syrah volunteered." Natigilan ako. Bakit nagawa iyon ni Syrah? Alam naman siguro nitong delikado un.

"P-paano.. Why?" Hindi ko na alam ang iisipin ko. Pati ako ay nalilito.

"She was there and she heard everything. Alam niyang hindi ko kayang ilagay sa alanganin ang buhay mo kaya nagboluntaryo ito." Syrah, bakit mo iyon ginawa para sakin? Gaano ba ako kahalaga sayo at kaya mong itaya ang kaligtasan at buhay mo?

"B-bakit hindi mo siya pinigilan kuya?" Naiiyak kong sabi rito. Pilit kong pinigilang manginig ang boses ko.

"I did." Napaangat muli ang ulo ko sa kanya. "I told that she doesn't have to do it. I am willing to give up my car for that crappy race but she doesn't want me to lose my pride to everyone. I am not that dumb to notice how she likes me and how important you are to her as her friend." Wala na akong masabi sa mga narinig ko. Tuluyan nang lumuha ang mga luhang kanina ko pa pinpigilan.

"That dumb innocent girl... bakit kailangan niya iyong gawin sa isang walang kwentang kaibigang tulad ko? Bakit?" Hindi ko inaasahan ang pagtabi sa akin ni Kuya Warren. He pulled me up and hug me like the Kuya he was when we were a child. How I miss this feeling. How I miss this side of him. Hindi ko na napigilan ang mapahagulgol nang dahil dito.

"She maybe saw the great qualities that I always see in you. Fierce, smart, confident and true to herself." He said without breaking the hug.

"That was all just a facade. I am always fragile and weak. Ni hindi ko nga nagawang buksan ang kaso para bigyan siya ng tamang hustisya. Kailangan pang ibang tao ang gumawa para lang marealize ko kung gaano ako katanga at duwag." I said between my sobs. "Kung hindi ba kami nagpunta doon ay posibling hindi nangyari ang lahat ng iyon?" He pulled me away slowly tsaka tumungin sa akin. For the first time after all those years ay ngaun ko lng muli nakitaan ng emosyon ang mga mata nito.

"No Snow. Stop blaming yourself. Kahit hindi pa kayo nagpunta doon ay hahanap ng hahanap ng paraan si Alfonso para saktan ang mga taong malalapit sa akin." He erased the tears on my cheeks.

"He's always jealous about everyones attention to me. That's why I show to everyone how cold I am for them not to come closer to me. I don't want anyone to get hurt because of me. But its always been inevitable. Lumaban na sana ako at humanap ng kahinaan niya simula pa lang. Kailangan pa talagang mangyari ang lahat ng iyon para lang mapatahimik ang kagagohan ng lalaking iyon." Tumingin ito sa malayo as I saw the same frustrations in his eyes. Pumunta ito sa likod ng kanyang mesa at tumayo sa malawak na glass wall kung saan tanaw ang lawak ng syudad.

"Bakit ngayon mo lang sinabi sa akin ang lahat ng to kuya?" I said standing beside him as I look out the busy city as well.

"I was in a temporary amnesia when I woke up." Muling akong napatingin rito. His face is stoic but his is in pain. Hindi niya nagawang lumingon sakin. I felt a sharp pain in my chest because of what he said.

"I-Im s-sorry kuya. I-I didn't know."Muling tumulo ang panibagong luha sa aking mga mata.

"Stop blaming yourself Snow." He said as he face me. "I choose not to tell everyone. Si Mama lang ang nakakaalam ng kondisyon ko noon." Muli siyang tumingin sa bintana tila malalim ang iniisip. "She doesn't want me to look weak against the chaos. When Dad died, everyone was looking up to me. I was 24 years old when I became the CEO. I have to be on his shoes to save everyone and the company. Napilitan akong magmukhang ayos lang kahit ang lahat ay sobrang labo pa rin. Si Mama lang ang naging sandigan ko sa mga oras na yon." Wala pa ring emosyon ang mukha nito pero ramdam na ramdam ko ang sakit sa bawat pagbitaw niya ng mga salita niya. Wala akong magawa kundi ang bigyan lamang ito ng isang mahigpit na yakap. Yakap ng isang totoong kapatid. Naramdaman ko ang pangungulila namin sa isa't isa nang yumakap din ito pabalik sakin.

"I'm sorry kuya Warren if I doubted you." I said as the tears continue to flow out my eyes. "I am so sorry. Sa sobrang sakit ng mga naranasan ko noon, nakalimutan kong biktima ka rin pala ng lahat." I felt him tightening his hug.

"Nagsisi ako Snow..." lumayo ako tsaka tiningnan ang mukha nito. I can't believe that he's also tearing up. "When you came home begging me. I did not recognize you. You're a total stranger to me. I felt nothing when u came begging." He paused as he look back at those painful memories. "But after months of therapy and remembering everything. Sobrang nagsisisi ako na hindi kita nayakap at hinarap ng maayos, you lost a friend and I lost my memory for a while. Walang araw sa loob ng nakalipas na taon na hindi ako nasaktan kapag naaalala ko kung paano ka nagmakaawa noon para buksan ang kaso. Pero wala akong alam. Wala din akong nagawa. The deal between Dad and Mr. Garcia has been done. I was too late to realize that. Gusto kong kausapin ka at magpaliwanag but you already shut the door to ur heart. I let it be because I know how painful it is for u." Pareho ng ginawa niya sakin kanina ay pinunasan ko din ang luha sa kanyang pisngi. He's really Kuya Warren that I knoq back then when I was a child. Magagalit ito at sesermonan ako kapag nadadapa ako but he will eventually heal my wounds and buy me some candies and stuffs.

Ngunit natigil ako ng may naalala ako. Humawak ako sa kamay nito ng sumagi sa isip ko si Ace.

"No kuya! Nagkamali man tayo noon, but it's not too late yet. Si Ace ang susi natin para mabigyan ng hustisya ang lahat lalo na si Syrah. Technically, you did not break the deal dahil hindi ikaw ang muling nagbukas ng kaso." Tumingin ito sa direksyon ko na may pagtataka sa kaniyang mukha.

"Ace?" Kunot noo nitong tanong sakin.

"Yes! Ace Ivanov." I said with a strong hope on my face.

"Your boyfriend?" Natigilan ako sa sinabi nito at pakiramdam ko'y namula ang aking mukha. I saw a small playful smile on his face.

"Y-Yeah. I'm sorry I did not have the strength to introduce him properly to you back there in the party." Nasabi ko na lang. Kahit ang totoo niyan ay hindi ko pa tanggap ang pagpapanggap namin noon. Ayokong sabihin pa iyon kay kuya para hindi madagdag ang complications sa isip ko. Ang importanti ngayon ay totoo ang nararamdaman namin sa isa't isa.

"Ayos lang. Maging ako'y nagtataka na naging kasintahan mo ang taong iyon. How did an Ivanov know about Aiko Snow?" I saw a glint pf mystery in his eyes. I don't have a choice but to tell him a bit about the truth.

"Do you know him personally by any chance?" Pagtataka ko rito. Hindi ko kasi nakakalimutan ang titigan nilang dalawa noong party.

"Who would not an Ace Ivanov? He's really popular. Don't tell me hindi mo lubusang kilala ang nobyo mo?" Binigyan ako ng isang makahulugang tingin. He's right about that. Hindi ko pa ito lubusang kilala. Pero napakabilis ng panahon at nahulog na agad ako sakanya.

"Can I invite you into a dinner tonight?" I said instead. I look at him directly in the eyes. "I am also inviting him. We have to tell you something about the case." Sandali itong nagisip. He cleared his throat before speaking to the intercom on histable. "Miss Sally?"

"Yes Mr. Miles?" sagot ng sekretarya nito sa kabilang linya.

"Do I have an appointment for tonight?"

"Your last appointment for today is on 5:00pm Sir. Nothing follows after that." He turn to me after hearing that to his secretary.

"Okay thank you. Set 7:00pm to be a dinner with my sister." Sabi naman niya rito na ikinatuwa ko.

"Looks like I'll be looking forward for that dinner dear sis." He said patting my head na ikinatawa lang naming dalawa. Natigilan kami at napalingon ng biglang nabukasan ang pinto ng opisina ni Kuya. Niluwa nito ang isang sopistikadang babae habang hinahabol ng secretary ni Kuya Warren.

"Miss Quinn, hindi pa po kay-" hindi pa natatapos ng sekretarya ang sasabihin nito nang sumenyas si Kuya Warren na ayos lang ang lahat. "S-Sorry po." Natigilan ito pero agad ding umalis.

"You need to stop barging in like that Quinn." I was surprised to hear Kuya dropping the 'Miss'. I smell something fishy. Nagwork na kaya ang operation ni Miss Quinn?

"Quinn huh? Kagabi lang umuungol ka pa habang tinatawag mo akong babe." I gasped nang marinig ang lumabas sa bibig nito. Napasapo naman sa ulo si Kuya habang nahihiyang tumingin sakin. Hindi ko maiwasang mapahawak sa bibig ko at matawa nang dahil dito.

"Snow? Andito ka pala?" I saw the smirk on her face. Alam niyang nandito ako kaya sinadya niyang sabihin iyon to tell me that her plan had worked. She even winked at me. This girl is really cool. Bagay na bagay talaga sila ni Kuya.

"I heard from your secretary that you have a dinner with Snow tonight. Can I join?" Wala din itong preno kung magsalita. Parang siya ang masusunod sa lahat.

"No." Malamig na tugon ni Kuya habang naupo sa mesa nito.

"Okay. Then I'll be very much happy to post our picture while kissing." Matapang sabi nito habang tinitinganan ang cellphone niya. I know she's just playing with Kuya. I'm really enjoying this convo. Popcorn na lang ang kulang.

"Ugh. Fine!" I heard the frustration on Kuya's voice na parang batang naagawan ng kalaro. Si Miss Quinn lang pala ang katapat nito. Kung ibang babae lang ang nagt-threat sa kanya ay baka lumalabas na itong luhaan ngayon.

"Okay then! Bye! See u later Snowy!" Masiglang paalam nito bago masiglang lumabas ng opisina ni Kuya.

"She even call u Snowy. Are you guys close already? O baka kasabwat ka sa mga kalokohan niya." Natigil ako sa pagngisi ng dahil sa sinabi nito. Tumabi lang ako rito tsaka hinawakan ang braso niya.

"Kuya, you need to loosen up a bit." Pagiiba ko sa tanong niya habang natatawa. "Tumatanda ka na wala ka pang asawa. Tingnan mo si Kuya Klause naunahan ka na. Magkakaanak na sila ni Ate Miley tapos ikakasal pa next week.'' Nakita ko sa mukha nito na parang napipikon na ito.

"That assh*le. Ang bilis ng mga galawan. I should have thrown him in the sea. Ang kapal na manguna." He even cussed pero imbis na matakot ay tuluyan na akong napatawa ng malakas.

"Hey. Take it slow. Baka malaglag ngipin mo." He even joked na mas lalo kong ikinatawa. He was a bit surprised when I hugged him.

"I missed this kind of moments. I missed u kuya." I said. Natawa nalang ito at niyakap ako pabalik.

"I missed u too. How about a family dinner tonight instead of a double date?" He thought after breaking the hug.

"Sure." I said with a big wide smile.

"Now go. I know your boyfriend is been waiting for you." Hindi na ako magugulat kung bakit niya alam na kasama ko si Ace. This is his buildinh after all. "Tell him to get ready. I'll beat him to the bones until his pulp comes out." Biro pa nito pero sinamaan ko lang siya ng tingin. "Just kidding. Now go! Before I change my mind."

"Bye Kuya. See you later!" I said as I bid him good bye. He smiled at me in return.

Lumabas ako sa opisina ni Kuya na may malaking ngisi sa aking mukha. Hindi na ako makapaghintay sa magiging dinner namin mamaya.

"Hey!" sinalubong ko si Ace ng isang mahigpit na yakap. He was even surprised when I gave him a peck on his lips.

"Hi. You seem very happy." He said as he put his arms arround my waist while mine is wrapped on his neck.Nasa parking lot kami ngayon sa labas ng kaniyang sasakyan habang nag uusap.

"Your coming with me on a family dinner." I said with a big smile. He was surprised but eventually smiled back at me.

"That was slow. Akala koy pumapayag na silang magpakasal tayo." Natawa ako sarkasmo sa boses nito kaya hinampas ko ito sa braso.

"Shut up Attorney Ace." I told him between my laughs.

"Your mouth is the only thing that could make me shut up." He said as he gave me a long and deep kiss. I almost lost my balance because of that. Buti nalang ay hawak niya ako. It still makes me weak and drunk like an alcohol.

We stared at each other for a moment before I could find my words to speak.

"So are you in or out?" I said jokingly na ikinatawa lang niya.

"What do u think?" He said giving me another peck on the lips.

"It's a yes then." I said as we both get into his car.

We are driving back to my condo as I saw the orange in the sky. It's so beautiful and majestic. What they said is true; mas naa-appreciate mo ang isang bagay kapag masaya ka at magaan ang loob mo. This day is one of the happiest day of my life.

Ibinaba ko ang bintana ng sasakyan ni Ace tsaka nilabas ang kabilang kamay ko. Feeling the wind on my hand. Nagulat ako ng biglang gumalaw ang bobong ng sasakyan.

I look at Ace I saw him smiling back at me. He pressed something on his car as he wore his sunglasses. The car slowly reveals the clear orange sky because of the afternoon sun. Its a sports car indeed. The wind came directly to my face as it free some strands of my hair as it also sway with it. I look at Ace and appreciated how also handsome he is right now.

"Stop staring at me with that smile babe or I might make this car fly back to your place to pin you down." Natawa ako sa sinabi nito tsaka tuluyang napaiwas ang tingin ko sa direksyon niya. Feeling koy na naman ang mukha ko.

"I'll pick u at 6:00." Sabi nito habang nasa pinto kami ng condo ko. I saw something in his eyes pero alam kung pinipigilan niya ito.

"Okay. I'll wait for u here." He gave me kiss before bidding his good bye. Nakatingin lang ako sa likod nito habang naglalakad papalayo sa akin.

He stopped and look back at me for a moment. Ngumiti muli ito bago patuloy na naglakad. Hinintay ko monang makapasok ito sa elevator bago ako pumasok ng condo ko.

Natigil ako sandali nang may masipa akong bagay sa tabi ng pinto ko sa labas. Napatingin ako sa baba. Nagulat ako ng makita ang isang chess piece. I bend down to pick it up.

"A Queen piece?" I murmured to myself. Sino naman sa mga tao rito ang magkakamaling ilaglag ang isa sa pinaka importanting piece ng isang chess game?

I just shrug it out as I went inside my place. I'll just ask the maintenance crew about it some other time. I wonder who owns this Chess piece.

- END OF EP. 12