Imprint Keeper

Chapter 17

I looked around to see kung meron ba akong pwedeng gamitin para pamunas sa nabasa kong damit. I saw a door and I thought it may lead me to a comfort room. Naglakad ako papunta sa pintuan but the beautiful scenery outside the elegant veranda door caught my eye. The night was starry and the beauty of the woods below it sums up the view.

Humakbang ako ulit para pumunta sa pintuan but I almost slip dahil sa basa kong sapatos. I decided to take it off baka ika-aksidente ko pa kung hindi ko aalisin. As I look up, I saw a man standing outside the veranda door near me. My heart suddenly throb just by looking at his back. I put my hand on my chest trying to calm it down, but it won't. What is this feeling? Bakit ko ito nararamdaman?

I want to look away but my eyes kept coming back to see him. Hindi ko na namalayan na humahakbang na pala ako patungo sa glass door. The door was slightly opened, nangahas akong lumabas, iba kasi ang pakiramdam ko. I seems like. . .I know this man.

The man felt my presence paglabas ko ng pintuan. He tilted his head just to know somebody is there. "Bored ka rin ba sa party?" He started. My heart hammered by hearing his voice. I feel for certain that I know him. "Sana hindi na pala ako nag-crash sa party na ito. Do you want some?"

He lifted his right-hand para makita ko ang bote ng hard liquior na iniinom niya. Gusto kong tumanggi sa alok niya, pero hindi iyon ang lumabas na salita sa bibig ko.

"Do. .I know . .you?" I stutter.

Pagkatapos kong magsalita nakita ko bahagyang nanigas ang katawan niya. He then slowly moved his body to face me. Hindi ko maiwasang mapatingin sa saklay na gamit niya bago ako tumingin sa mukha niyang kalahati lang ang makikita.

I can see his surprised eyes. I was surprised myself.

". . .Althea?"

Did he just say my name?

". . am I imagining things again?" He smiled helplessly as he covers his teary eyes.

Why do I feel miserable?

"I'm. . Althea. . Do I know you?" I hold back the tears that wanted to be freed.

He stopped smiling at agad siyang tumingin sa 'kin. For some time, we just looked in each other's eyes. Without uttering a single word, this deep sadness inside of me fell like rushing water that I can't hold anymore. Tears fell down like river on my cheeks. Why am I even crying like this?

He moved his crutch which supports his weight towards me. Pero sagabal ang mga upuan at mesa na nasa pagitan namin. Sa sobrang pagmamadali niya muntikan pa siyang matumba nang sumabit ang saklay niya sa paa ng mesa. Tumakbo ako para matulungan ko siya na huwag tuluyang matumba.

"Okay lang ba kayo, sir?" Untag ko habang tinutulungan ko siyang makatayo ulit nang maayos.

Hindi ko maintindihan pero bigla na lamang siyang tumawa at tinapyos pa ang kamay ko na pinangtulong sa kanya. "It's useless. . . I'm useless." Bulong niya.

Pinipilit kong hanapin sa isip ko kung sino ba itong tao na nasa harapan ko. Nakita ko na siya noon, alam kong kilala ko siya. I know him, I might know his name. I just can't remember.

"Althea!"

Lumingon ako sa likuran ko. Si Sayer ang tumawag sa 'kin.

"Babe." Sabi ko. "I was just helping him." Tila galit na naman ang mukha ni Sayer.

Muli akong lumingon sa lalaking kanina lang ay kausap ko. But he was already walking away from us. Sandali siyang tinignan ni Sayer pero muli ring bumalik ng tingin sa 'kin.

"Malamig diyan sa labas, pumasok ka na." Aniya extending his hand waiting for me to take.

I took his hand and went in with him pero sa isip ko hindi pa rin mawala ang lalaking nakita ko.

Habang tinutulungan ako ni Sayer na patuyuin ang damit ko hindi ko man siya napapansin dahil sa kaiisip sa pangalan ng lalaki.

"Basa pa ng konti 'tong damit mo, pero hindi na masyadong halata. Shall we go down now?" Maamong wika sa 'kin ni Sayer. Tumanggo lang ako bilang sagot.

Sayer guided me downstairs at kahit anong ganda ng paligid hindi ko iyon ma-appreciate. Wala akong ibang inisip kung 'di ang lalaki. I looked around hoping to find him again. I wanted to talk to him, I really do.

But my husband kept me busy with a lot of things. Kumain kami at hindi niya ako iniwan. Kahit sa pagpunta sa ladies room sinamahan pa rin niya ako.

I want to ask him but whenever I ask about my past nag-iiba ang timpla ng mood niya. Kaya as much as I can, iniiwasan ko ang topic na iyon.

We were drinking wine at nakikipag-usap si Sayer sa iba niyang kasamahan nang muli siyang tinawag ng kanyang boss.

"Mister Orquia!"

Nagpaalam si Sayer sa mga kausap niya at pinuntahan namin ang boss niya.

"I have some clients for you, big time ang mga ito. They are waiting at the private room. Come with me." Hinila niya si Sayer kaya naman hinila rin ako ng asawa ko. Napansin ng kanyang boss na kasama ako and I felt like she didn't want me there. Bumulong ito kay Sayer, I even saw my husband argued a little. But I guess he had no choice.

"Babe, may sudden close door meeting kami. Ayaw kong iwan ka rito but I have no choice."

"Okay lang babe. Hihintayin kita." He smacks a kiss on my cheek before letting go of my hand.

Iniwan niya ako sa isang table na kung saan wala ng nakaupo. Lahat kasi ng mga tao kung hindi umiinom, nasa dance floor. There were people passing by and smiling at me. Sila yung mga nakausap namin ni Sayer. Some of them asked me to join them pero tumanggi ako, baka kasi matapos ang meeting ni Sayer at magalit siya kapag wala ako rito.

The night went by flawlessy, inaliw ko ang sarili ko sa pagtingin sa mga tao na lasing na at nagsasayaw na parang mga baliw. Nawala sa isip ko ang lalaking nakita ko sa veranda. But then this image flashed into my eyes as I looked on  the dance floor.

I was dancing but I'm not alone. This song that is playing, I don't remember it's title. Alam kong sinayaw ko na ito. Ginulat ako ng sarili kong puso ng bigla nalang itong tumibok ng mabilis. Napatayo ako mula sa kinauupuan ko, I felt something pushed me to walk.

My eyes fooled me and brought me someplace else. I was inside a dance studio doing a solo but then this guy joined my routine. We went dancing perfectly, syncing every steps following the beat of the music. It Wont Stop , now I remember, that is the title of the song. The steps just flow out of my body as if it was already a part of my system.

I felt like I was being eaten by the memory and that it was not real anymore. I stopped dancing and blinked my eyes to be brought back to reality. I was in the middle of the dance floor, all of the people are watching me. Their eyes dazzles to what they were seeing.

It felt good, para akong bumalik sa nakaraang nakalimutan ko na. But as I looked around me, I learn that I wasn't alone. Kasama ko ang lalaki na hindi ko maalala ang pangalan. He was beside me and by the looks of it, we danced. Agad akong tumingin sa mga paa niya, I know there is something wrong with them.

"I've waited long enough to dance with you again, Althea. Hindi na kasing ganda tulad ng dati. But at least, nakasayaw pa rin ako kahit sa huling pagkakataon." Aniya.

"Sino ka ba talaga? What is this? Please, sabihin mo." I almost cried begging him.

"I was a part of your memory that no longer linger inside your head." He smiled at me before taking his crutch back to support him before walking away.

Hinabol ko siya pero natabunan ako ng mga taong muling bumalik sa dance floor. I found my way out of them eventually, but I can't find him.

Hindi ko pwedeng hayaan na makaalis nalang siya nang ganoon nalang. He confirmed that he was a part of my memory thus making him a part of my past. Marami akong tanong na tiyak masasagot niya. I searched all places that I could see pero hindi ko siya mahagilap.

I found myself in the the middle of the courtyard. Malamlam ang mga ilaw na nakasindi kaya hindi ko masyadong makita kung narito ba ang hinahanap ko. Good thing that the moon shines so bright that it lit the garden.

I looked around for the last time. Hingal na hingal na ako sa pagtakbo mahanap lang siya. I almost gave up. Kung hindi ko lang naaninag ang imahe ng isang lalake na nakatayo sa gitna ng daanan, umalis na sana ako. Agad kong nakilala ang lalaki kahit madilim dahil sa saklay na hawak niya. Lumapit ako but his words stopped me.

"Mas mabuti nang hindi mo alam ang nakaraan, Althea. Mas makakabuti kung magiging masaya ka nalang kasama si Sayer."

"Bakit mo ako kilala? Bakit mo kilala ang asawa ko?" I shouted.

"Asawa." He repeated. I felt bitterness under his breath.

Hinintay ko siya na magsalita ulit pero nakita ko nalang na unti-unti na naman siyang lumalayo. Tumakbo ako palapit sa kanya and for the second time he stopped me.

"Huwag mo na akong sundan. Huwag mo na akong hanapin. Seeing you for the last time makes all the days of waiting, worth it. It was nice to spend my last dance with you, Althea."

Nalungkot ako at nagalit sa mga salitang sinabi niya. Hindi ko man maintindihan, alam ko sa puso na hindi ito ang gusto kong marinig mula sa kanya. My heart sank and I was left filled with tears. I was sad, I was mad and for all I know, I am going crazy.

But then one name came to my mind.

". . .Cason." I whispered.

My hope spark like fireworks. Tumayo ako at hinabol siya but the darkness overpowered, left me in an empty void.

He was gone.