Kabanata 18
1287 Words
Zeus couldn't believe that after so long, his grandmother is finally allowing him to visit his Dad. He was blindfolded on the way to the location but Zeus counted and remembered every turn they made. How many stops and how many minutes the whole travel time was.
Tumigil ang sasakyan. The driver guided him out and led him to his father's room. Doon lamang din nito inalis ang blindfold niya gaya ng bilin ng kanyang lola. Even his hands were tied on the back as if he's some kind of a kidnapping victim. Sa isip-isip niya ay may problema yata talaga sa pag-iisip ang matandang babae para tratuhin siya nang ganoon.
"Thirty minutes lang daw po sabi ni Ma'am Ysandra, Sir," paalala ng driver.
Zeus blinked his eyes then nodded. Nang tuluyan siyang iwanan ng driver sa loob ay saka lumapit si Zeus sa walang malay na ama. Bumagsak na ang katawan nito. Sarado ang mga mata at may tubo sa bibig para sa oxygen. His body is connected to a lifeline machine to keep him breathing. Oras na hugutin iyon ay mawawala sa kanya nang tuluyan ang kanyang ama.
He swallowed the lump forming in his throat before he walked towards his father's bed. Naupo siya sa gilid at maingat na hinawakan ang kamay ng kanyang ama. Pigil na pigil niya ang kanyang mga luha kahit na labis nang naninikip ang kanyang dibdib.
"Hey, Dad . . ." he called. Trying his best not to sound raspy but it was hard. So hard that his words came out in a painful way. It even left a lump in his throat, making it difficult for him to breathe.
Mahal na mahal niya ang mga magulang niya. Binusog siya ng mga ito sa labis na pagmamahal ngunit ilang taon pa lamang siya ay inagaw na sa kanyang munting puso ang kaligayahang iyon.
He sighed. "Daddy, I know you're fighting for your life, at kung kaya mo lang, naniniwala akong gagawin mo ang lahat makaalis lang sa sitwasyong 'to. But if it's not too much to ask, I . . . I hope you'll wake up soon. I need your help to fix everything and to find mom. All of my investigations are leading nowhere. I don't wanna believe that mom is really gone. I know you wouldn't believe grandma either so I need your help, Dad." He sniffed. "Things are . . . getting way more complicated lately and I don't think I could face everything on my own." Basag siyang ngumiti. "I am not as strong as you and Tito Khalil . . ."
As if his dad could hear him, a lone tear trailed down the side of his father's face. Marahan naman niyang piniga ang kamay nito saka siya basag na ngumiting muli.
"I'll wait for you, Dad. I'm gonna endure everything until you're ready to open your eyes and walk out of this place." He filled his lungs with enough air. "Love you, Dad. Please live. You and mom had already wasted so much time . . ."
MATAMIS ang ngiting ibinigay ni Roxie kay Zeus nang dumating sila sa resto kung saan nito napiling gawin ang date nila. The place was really romantic. It has glass walls with a lot of indoor plants and electronic lamps to complete the vibe. Tumutugtog din ang isang classical piece sa paligid kaya naman lalong gumanda ang vibe ng lugar.
Zeus went out and opened the door for her. Tinanggap niya ang kamay nito, at nang makalabas siya ng sasakyan ay inangat ni Zeus ang kamay niya upang patakan iyon ng halik.
The butterflies in her stomach cheered. Hindi tuloy niya mapigilan ang ngumiti nang matamis sa nobyo habang inilalagay nito ang kamay niya sa braso nito.
"I have a gift for you," he said while they're walking towards their table.
Kunwaring umirap sa kawalan ang kanyang mga mata. "Sinabi ko na sa'yo, Zeus. Loyal na boyfriend ang kailangan ko, hindi sugar daddy."
"Well, I can be loyal and you can call me daddy in bed, too."
Mangani-ngani niya itong kinurot nang mamulang parang kamatis ang kanyang pisngi. Kung alam lang niyang may mga ganoon itong paandar ngayong gabi, hindi na sana siya nag-blush on!
"Behave, Zeus. May mga nakakarinig sa'yo," suway niya.
Zeus smirked before he pulled the chair for her. Nang makaupo siya ay sandali pa itong yumuko upang halikan siya sa kanyang pisngi.
Napangiti si Roxie habang pinanonood ang kanyang nobyong magtungo sa kabilang silya. What else could she ask for? This man in front of her is a total package.
Nag-order sila ng pagkain at nagsalo sa mamahaling bote ng red wine. They had a wonderful talk about their day. Nang matapos silang kumain ay kinuha nito ang regalo sa bulsa. He stood up, went behind her, and then put on her neck a necklace with a Z initial that's studded with real red diamonds. Halos hindi niya alam ang sasabihin dahil maganda ang necklace at siguradong mahal sa itsura pa lamang ng dyamanteng nakakabit doon.
"Zeus, ang mahal nito!" bulalas niya.
Zeus went back to his seat and held her hand. Tumutok ang mga mata nito sa kanyang leeg habang ang mga labi ay kumurba para sa makahulugang ngiti. "Mahal ko rin ang may suot," he said that made her blush.
Kunwari niya itong sinimangutan nang hindi nito mahalatang kinikilig siya. She then cleared her throat and was about to thank him for his gift when an unfamiliar man who looks twice her age came near them.
"Roxie? Anong ibig sabihin nito? Akala ko ba nag-usap na tayo na titigilan mo na ang pakikipagkita sa ibang lalake? Magpapakasal na tayo niloloko mo pa rin ako?" the man suddenly asked then clenched his jaw. "I didn't spend my fortune on you and your wants just for you to constantly cheat on me, Roxie."
Napakurap siya habang naestatwa naman si Zeus. Tila hindi alam ang gagawin dahil sa mga narinig.
"A-Anong sinasabi mo? Hindi nga kita kilala?" she responded.
"Now you don't know me again, huh?" The man scoffed. "Kapag nabubuking ka, puro na lang ganyan? Ano bang kailangan kong gawin sa'yo nang tigilan mo na ang panlalalake mo? Ibinigay ko na lahat sa'yo. What else do you still want?"
Her brows furrowed. At kahit wala naman siyang dapat ikabahala dahil hindi naman niya kilala ang lalake ay kinabahan pa rin siya lalo na nang makita ang madilim na ekspresyon ni Zeus.
She ended up asking Zeus for them to leave. Nag-eskandalo ang lalake kaya muntik nang makipagsuntukan si Zeus kung hindi lamang niya ito hinatak na palabas matapos nilang makuha ang card nito. She dragged him towards his car and forced him to get in. Ngunit nang makapasok sila ay pakiramdam ni Roxie ay sumikip ang dibdib niya.
Zeus started the car and drove fast. Nilunok niya ang namuong bara sa kanyang lalamunan dala ng takot sa nakikitang ekspresyon ni Zeus. She wanted to explain that she didn't know the man, but when she was about to put her hand on Zeus' arm, he clenched his jaw and held the steering wheel firmly.
"Zeus, I--"
"Let's talk about it some other time, Roxie." Sumandal ito sa upuan habang malamig na nakatitig sa daan. "My chest is too suffocated with all the emotions I don't wanna feel right now."
Lumunok siya't iniyuko na lamang ang kanyang ulo. Naging tahimik din siya buong byahe. PAgkarating nila sa bahay ay nauna na siyang lumabas. She thought Zeus would follow her. Ngunit ganoon na lamang ang gulat niya nang iniatras nito ang sasakyan saka muling pinaharurot paalis.
Uminit na lamang ang sulok ng mga mata ni Roxie. What the hell did just happen to their perfect night?
- Writer
