Samuel & Olivia

CATORCE

Tatlong Taon

♔ Samuel

“Mommy! What’s the meaning of this?” matigas kung sabi, I am holding a bunch of letters na nakita ko sa drawers sa loob ng kwarto nila… It’s all from Livi. I was looking for something and I unexpectedly found the letters. Binagsak ko sa table dito sa Library ang mga sulat… kita ko ang gulat sa mga mata ni Mommy. I hate raising my voice to her but I can’t let this pass.

“Samuel, Let me explain” sabi niya, ng makuha na niyang magsalita

“Yeah, You better” matalim ang tingin ko sa kanya…

“I’m sorry, I did not tell soon… I thought it's not important anymore as you don't even want to talk about what happened to you... about Olivia” paliwanag niya

“Why was she writing? When was this? What’s this all about” sunod sunod kung tanong sa kanya

My Mom’s Story

She (Olivia) wrote to her the first month I went missing… "She told me where you are. I asked somebody to check the information she gave me and it came back positive… you are indeed in Hacienda Guevarra. When the investigator showed me the pictures he had taken, you looked so happy… I haven’t seen you smile like that for so long. I decided to leave you there for a while, I don’t have the heart to bring you home when you look so happy there."

"The next month she wrote again, then the next month too by then I wrote back, I asked her to take care of you until you regain your memories. She said you’re being stubborn to wait for your family to find you and pick you up from where you are. By the fourth month, I went to pick you up… but as I observed you with her I knew you were in a relationship already. So I left you there. You were so happy… you’re laughing your hearts out, you smiled genuinely, you looked content with your life there."

Sabi pa ni Mommy "Alam kong may mali ako, pero gusto ko lang namang makita kang masaya… at apaka saya ng mukha mo ng nandoon ka sa Hacienda. Hanggang sa isang araw… madaling araw tumawag siya, pinilit niya akong sunduin ka na… sabi niya dadalhin ka na niya sa pulis kung hindi kita kukunin ng araw na yun. That’s the day I picked you up, did not know then that you’ve regained your memories. Wala naman siyang sinabi."

- The night before my Mom came to the Hacienda was the night I crossed the line. I promised her many things that night, told her I’ll take responsibility for what happened… but regaining my memories made me forget everything I’ve said.

"Gustong gusto ko ng sabihin sayo ang tungkol sa mga sulat kaya lang natakot ako baka sa akin ka naman magalit kagaya ng ginawa mo kay Olivia." huling sinabi niya... Sh*t! lang talaga hindi nga ako nagalit sa kanya, si Olivia naman ang pinag initan ko...F*ck!

After niya mag kwento gusto ko siyang singhalan… gusto kung magalit sa kanya, pero para ano pa… God! It’s been what? Three… four more months already, how can I now apologize to that woman? I was so mad at her and blamed her for what happened… I even cursed her. Sh*t! I can’t blame her for not telling me about what Mom had told me now. She knew I would make a big fuss about it. I’m sure I wouldn’t have believed her if she told me then. God! I am such a jerk… a f*cking moron…

*Thinking about the last time I saw her….

Waking up after that beautiful nightmare… I can’t sleep anymore. It's early dawn… I went out of my room. I know the pool is open by now, I can swim all my frustrations there. But the sight that welcomed me in the pool just continued the nightmare I just had in my room. The Venus incarnate in the flesh is swimming all alone in her white two piece bikini… she’s so hot to look at, an alluring siren … f*cking sizzling, God! Makaka pambulag ako ng kapwa tao kapag may makakita sa kanyang iba. Muntik ko ng ipasara ang buong pool area, buti nalang umahon din siya agad.

- The temptress followed me even in the All Day Breakfast Resto…

I was looking from afar… I am near the entry of the Resto...

“Yeah! You better look from afar, you’ve said enough already and she’s so broken right now… Kaya please lang layuan mo na siya kung wala ka din namang balak balikan at panagutan siya. She deserves better and I know you know that” bulong ni Doc Zane sa tenga ko… I was looking at her and Belle eating breakfast.

“I’m so sorry Doc, for how it turned out… I promise to keep my distance, Keep her Safe Please” balik ko sa kanya, turned my back on him but...

“You sound concerned, I would have believed you… Kung hindi ko alam na galit ka sa kanya, you were so furious, infuriated even… that you had to kick her out of the bar last night. Never knew you were such a jerk” I can feel and hear sarcasm

“Believed it or not Doc, but I am… Again I’m so sorry it turned out this way” saka ko tinuloy ang pag alis

I am concerned… I’m just too stubborn to lower my pride… too afraid that I still can’t forget about her. So afraid to think that maybe she’s really the one made for me… that she’s my "ezer kenegdo", "a helper corresponding to him"... The woman from my side rib...

Had I known my Mom’s story then, I could have corrected my faults… but what’s done is done and I can’t turn back time now, I can’t undo the things I’ve done. I need to see her and apologize, at the very least… kahit na kailangan ko siyang layuan talaga, she deserved an apology from all the hurtful words I’ve said. I know what I’ve done may be unforgivable… but still I have to try. Saka ko na iisipin kung kaya ko ba talagang tuluyang layuan siya. Alam kung mahihirapan ako… pero kailangan kung gawin. I can’t bring her to my chaotic world, she’s too innocent… wolves and bitches would eat her alive.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

By the weekend I find myself in Hacienda Guevarra, sa maliit na bahay ako unang pumunta… pero wala siya doon. Sabi ng dalawang matanda hindi na ito bumalik doon mula ng umalis ako. Yeah, too many memories in that house I would leave too if I were her. Tumuloy ako sa opisina, baka may mga nag overtime baka may makapag sabi kung nasaan siya.

“Good Morning po!” bati ko sa Kuya Guard

“Sir Roman, naligaw po kayo… Good Morning din po, anong maipaglilingkod ko sa inyo” balik niya sa akin

“Si Mam Olivia po ba nandyan? Pumasok?” mukhang nagulat yata si Kuya Guard… nanlaki mga mata niya, pero na ngiti naman…

“Naku Sir, mukhang huli kayo sa balita ah… ilang buwan na pong hindi pumapasok dito si Mam Oli” malungkot niyang sabi - What the? Hindi na siya nagpupunta sa bahay pati sa trabaho hindi na siya pumasok? Was staying here too much for her? Sh*t! Matagal akong naka titig kay Kuya Guard…

“Mukhang tama ang mga tsimis ah!” sabi niya, lalo lang nangunot ang noo ko

“Sabi kasi nila iniwan mo na si Mam Oli ng maka alala ka na… huwag ka magagalit sa akin Sir narinig ko lang yun sa mga kasamahan ko dito” paliwanag niya malungkot na ngumiti ito sa akin…

“Kelan pa po siya di pumasok?” halos pabulong kung tanong… Where could she be?

“Mga tatlo ba… hindi mag aapat na buwan na po yata, kasi after ng Holidays halos hindi na siya nagpapa pasok” Sh*t! That’s the last time I saw her in the Metro… Oh God!

“Pasensya na Kuya, kina-ilangan ko lang balikan ang buhay na naiwan ko ng nagkasakit ako.” paliwanag ko sa kanya…

“Yun din po ang sinabi ni Mam Oli sa amin ng sinabi niyang naka alala ka na. Medyo nalungkot lang ako kasi pati kayo naghiwalay din” natatawa niyang sabi… tinapik pa niya ako sa balikat

“Pasensya na Sir… nanghihinayang lang ako, pero alam ko namang aalis ka din talaga pag naka alala ka na.” sabay tawa niya ulit…

- Yeah lahat sila pina alalahanan ako dati na maghinay hinay pagdating kay Olivia dahil baka pag naka alala na ako iwan ko lang ito, pero dahil sa katigasan ng ulo ko hindi ako nakinig. I was savoring the moments with her then… my biggest mistake really was crossing the line and ending up leaving her.

“May buhay po akong sarili na naiwan talaga” sabi ko nalang.. A lame excuse but how can I let them understand that me and Olivia can never be.

Sa huli umalis akong bigo, hindi ko alam kung saan siya nakatira ngayon… pati ang bahay ni Teacher Ani hindi ko rin alam. Sila dati ang nagpupunta sa amin bukod pa sa paano ko sasabihin sa kanya kung bakit ko hinahanap si Livi. God! Ngayon ko napag tanto wala akong masyadong alam sa personal na buhay niya. Where do I find her now? I’ve already tried her old No. even before I came here… it’s out of coverage, maybe she changed her No.

I can only think of Doc Zane… I don’t know if he will talk to me but I have to try… kahit na alam kung galit siya sa akin. Well, deserved ko ang galit nila ni Doc Belle but I need to find Livi kaya kailangan ko sila makausap.

~~~~~~~~~~~

♕ Olivia

“Good Morning Olivia!” bati sa akin ni Athena, my housemate… aksidente lang ang pagkakilala namin. When I first came in I stayed in a school dormitory but after two months, I was able to land a part time job sa isa sa mga kaibigan ni Papa na may opisina dito. I was in a cafe when I overheard Athena talking with somebody on her phone about needing a new housemate as her current one ran away without telling her beforehand. She sounded desperate, as I was already planning to move out of the dormitory… It was perfect timing. - At nag click naman agad kami… months after besties na kami.

“Good Morning Thea” mukha na naman wala siyang tulog… nag overtime na naman yan kakagawa ng mga programs.

“You have plans for the day?” tanong niya… it’s the weekend wala akong class wala ring work.

“Tatakbo or mag swimming lang dyan sa Community Center” balik ko sa kanya, that’s my weekend routine… jog and/or swim, tapos bahay lang, then church sa hapon. Ayoko namang waldasin ang allowance na pinapadala ni Papa kahit na sobra sobra. Malaking tulong ang part time job ko, may pang grocery at pang kain ako.

“I can’t go with you, wala pa akong tulog may tinapos akong trabaho… gisingin mo ako pag uwi mo sabay tayo kumain.” sabi niya sa mababang boses…

“No problem Dear” balik ko sa kanya

“Feed me please, wala rin akong lakas magluto” lambing niya sa akin

“Sure, finish your breakfast and go sleep… no more working I’ll confiscate that laptop of yours ” balik ko sa kanya, hindi na bago sa akin na ako talaga nagluluto para sa aming dalawa… kawawa naman kasi kung hindi… puro instant ang kakainin niya.

“Thank you, your an Angel” saka niya nilantakan ang pagkain sa harap niya…

It’s been what?... Six months already since I left the country to go get my MBA. Mahirap sobra ang school lalo na at hindi naman talaga ako business course graduate pero kahit papano nakaka habol naman. Malaking tulong ang naging experience ko sa pag ma Manage sa Hacienda. And the part time job is a great help too, they’ve put me under the wing of the CEO himself, na kaibigan nga ni Papa. He has some business development team directly under him, that’s where he put me so I’m working side by side with some heavy guns… young analytical minds too. Lahat kami parang under him as an Intern sa business world.

Papa have been calling to guide me in so many ways, halos araw araw tinanong niya kung ano mga pinag aaralan namin and then he will give me insights and advises on the subject matter. Ngayon ko siya lalong nakikilala, he has a brilliant mind when it comes to business. He is well experienced in the field, kung sabagay halos nilibot na niya ang mundo para lang pag aralan ang business world. And I am one happy “Baby Girl” isang Oliver Guevarra ba naman ang tutor ko sa MBA ko kung hindi ako gagaling.

Kahit ung CEO ng opisina na pinapasukan ko, malaki ang paghanga sa kapasidad ni Papa. They were classmates in Cambridge and even during their MBA in UPenn under “The Finance School”. They are best buddies yet they are their best rivals too… but it only made them much better than anybody else. Their competitiveness with each other brought out the best in them. Magkakasama nilang tinayo yung Investment Company sa UK, sa ngayon ang kaibigan nilang Briton ang CEO doon. At sila nga may kanya kanya ng sariling negosyo.

The new environment helped me forget what I’ve left at home… Yeah! paminsan minsan, - Whatever gurl! anong paminsan minsan - kutya ng utak ko. Siya, madalas ko pa rin maalala ang lalaking yun… - Ano masaya ka na utak! But I know I’m getting there… moving on ba. Matagal pa naman akong mag aaral dito so I have the space and time to think. Marami ding distraction dito, if his memories is too much to bear, eh di aaliwin ko nalang ang sarili ko.

Hindi man madali I know in time makaka move on din ako sa kanya, kahit na lagi ko siyang na i-cocompare sa mga kaklase at katrabaho ko. Oh well! He is an exceptionally gifted genius… an expertly clever businessman, minsan nga na nagiging example pa siya sa mga lectures namin. - Gusto ko na nga minsan kaltukan mga professors ko kaka puri sa “One of the Youngest and Brightest CEO in Asia”. Bwisit! He is an a**hole kung alam niyo lang…

~~~~~~~~

Time flew swiftly…

Three Years have gone by so quickly…

Twelve months in the School, the other twenty four are working full time in the same office where I had my part time job. The CEO even sent me twice in a year to the UK for three months to gain more experience, Papa’s order.

As promised my parents and grandparents visited me every six months, salitan pa sila kaya may dalaw ako halos every three months… kaloka para akong bata. Tawang tawa si Athena, palibhasa siya mukhang stow-away wala man lang dumadalaw sa kanya. Sabi niya nag tatago siya sa pamilya, baliw na babae. Ang nakakagulat, professional hacker ang Diyosa… hindi lang yun she’s a trained agent. God! Amazona, kamag anak ni Wonder Woman but I can’t complain she taught me a lot. Hacking, Computer Programming… She even trained me in surveillance and martial arts.

Pati Character Development malaki ang naitulong niya sa akin, she helped me boost my self confidence… dapat daw hindi ako na i-intimidate sa mga lalaki kahit gaano pa ito ka makapangyarihan pati na rin sa mga babaeng ng mamata ng kapwa. - And I did, malayo na ako sa timid and shy na si Olivia Robles na umalis ng bansa, I am more confident now and sure of myself. The change in my social skills was one of the greatest help during my study… it got me to be one in the top of our class.

Time to go back… and face the arrogant man!

I’ve already bargained with Papa and Papi to give me three years to work outside the Hacienda and the company, they already obliged to my request. And there is a job offer already waiting for me in the country.

This should be fun… I already have the tools to face HIM head on!