Unraveling GIO MARFORI (COMPLETED)

*****

Clueless

*

"Calm down.." Aniya na parang sumusuyo ng isang batang hinahaplos ang pisngi ko.

Napakagat ako sa pang ibabang labi at hindi makapaniwalang kinuha ang kamay nya sa mukha ko.
"Why are you acting like that, huh? Ano ba ang gusto mong gawin ko? Sisihin nalang ang sarili ko dahil wala akong nagawa para sayo?"

"I told you I'm not blaming you for what happened." Kalmado pa rin ang boses nya. "That was entirely my fault. Una palang alam ko nang may gagawin sya pero tinanggap ko pa rin ang imbitasyon."

"What do you mean?" Kunot noong tanong ko.

"My father stole their stocks in our company. He's mad. I understand he wants to take a revenge and I let him do that."

Kung hindi ko nalaman ang totoo kay Ross baka isa pa iyon sa nagdulot sa akin ng galit at kay William Marfori ko ibaling ang lahat ng sisi.

"Hahayaan mo syang gawin ang gusto nya dahil lang galit sya sa daddy mo?" Inis na tanong ko. "Hinayaan mo syang gawin yun sayo dahil lang gusto mong makaganti sya sayo? Gio naman!" Inalis ko ang tingin sakanya at napahampas sa armrest ng sofa

"I just want to end his anger, that's all. Gagawin nya pa rin 'to kung hindi nya yun nagawa dito, do you understand me? This will not end if you don't put an end to it."

"What kind of principle is that? Someone hurt you! And you're saying you're just putting an end to his anger?!" Malakas na sabi ko saka sya mahigpit na hinila sa kwelyo.
"So what if I kill him right now? I'm also angry, I'm fucking angry! What are you going to do? Do you think they will just let it pass and forgive me because they also want to put an end to my anger?"

Hindi sya umimik at diretso lang na sinalubong ang tingin ko. Sa mga labi nya ay may kaunting ngiti na pinipigilan nyang lumabas.

"You don't understand me. Hindi mo naiintindihan kung bakit galit ako ngayon diba? You're laughing at me because I look unreasonably stupid!"

"You're right. I don't understand. You look stupid, so I want you to explain why." Aniya

Mariin kong naitikom ang bibig ko at nakipagsukatan sakanya ng tingin.

Gio Marfori, you're acting like a saint and making me look like a fucking demon trying to put you in hell.

Walang imik na itinulak ko sya sa dibdib at binitawan.

Walang nagsalita sa amin.
Sa loob ng ilang minuto ay tanging nakakabinging katahimikan lang ang pumuno sa loob ng kwarto.
Wala na akong gustong sabihin at gusto ko nalang manakit para maalis ang inis na nararamdaman ko o lumabas at iwan sya sandali para magpahangin para pagbalik ko ay pareho nang malamig ang mga ulo namin.

"Nothing is more important to me than to keep you safe. The pain, I can tolerate. But letting go of your hand that time...I almost can't endure it." Sabi nya pagtagal.

Ginagap nya ang kamay ko at pilit akong pinatingin sakanya.

At sa hindi mabilang na pagkakataon, ay sandali akong natigilan habang nakatingin sa mukha nya.

Sa mga mata nya ay nakikita ko ang labis na sinseridad na minsan ay ayaw ko nang makita dahil pakiramdam ko ay hindi ako karapat-dapat para doon.

"Kaya mo ba ako iniwan nang gabing yun dahil ayaw mong idamay ako ni Trey?" Tanong ko kahit alam ko na ang isasagot nya.

"Galit sya sakin. Sakin lang dapat. He lost a lot of money and almost lost his family's reputation. But suddenly, he invites me to attend his birthday. We're not even friends."

"Dad told me to come hoping for them to reconcile. But when he looked at you while I was holding your hand with so much intensity, I felt scared for no reason.."

"At first, I didn't know he put a drug in my drinks. I felt very drunk after drinking two bottles of beer and I passed out the moment we entered that room. I thought he's going to kill me, why not? Anyone can kill for money."

Mahina syang natawa at masuyong pinisil ang baba ko.
"But when I heard your voice, I was forced to open my eyes.."

"Anong nangyari matapos mong magising?"

Nang mga sandaling nakita ko syang dumilat ay ang pagkawala ng malay ko.

"May mga dumating na tao. I..I don't know who they are because I didn't see their faces. They helped us."

Unti unti akong kumalma at  marahang isinandal ang noo sa balikat nya.

"Did I scare you?"

Tumango ako.

"You're not mad anymore?"

Mahina syang natawa nang umiling ako saka hinaplos ang likod ng ulo ko.
"Kenzo, no one showed me so much care for a very long time like you do. I asked you to explain it to me because I was clueless why you're acting this way. But it's okay, I don't want to know anymore as long as you're with me.."

Malalim akong bumuntong hininga bago nag angat ng ulo at mabilis syang hinalikan sa mga labi.

That's right. Don't ask me anymore because even myself dont know how to explain it.

I care about you.

But those are the words I'm afraid to say..

Because I don't want to lose yet.

Being weak in your arms is enough.
Letting you see my weakness is enough.

Maybe we can live like this for awhile..

"Gio.." Bulong ko nang bahagyang maghiwalay ang mga labi namin.

Bahagya syang ngumiti,
"No one can hurt you. I will not allow anyone to hurt you, not even the tips of your fingers or the strands of your hair.."

*