LOVED YOU FOR A THOUSAND YEARS

CHAPTER 14

Tanghali na siya nagising the next day dahil matagal siyang nakatulog kagabi. She decided to take a shower agad and had her lunch. Puntahan niya si Brix sa Baguio dahil weekend. Tatawagan niya muna kung hindi ba sila aalis ng katropa niya sa PMA at susurpresahin niya ito. Napakalayo at siya lang magda-drive, come what may, sabi niya. 

Ilang beses na palang tumawag si Clyde sa telephone nila sabi ng yaya. Maraming missed calls din sa phone niya pero hindi niya sinagot.

Mahigit tatlong oras ang byahe niya at pagod na siya. It was getting dark when she arrived and muntik na siyang hindi papasukin sa campus dahil magko-close na pero nakikiusap siya. Mabuti nalang at friend ni Brix 'yong nakausap niya at tinawagan si Brix. He was surprised to see her dahil medyo gabi na.

"Hey! What are you doing here?" Niyakap siya ni Brix. "Sino'ng kasama mo?"

"Let's talk in my car because I'm so damn tired." She quickly grabbed his hand at sumunod siya.

"Wait. You drove all the way here alone?" Nagulat si Brix. "Pucha! What if may nangyari sa 'yo sa daan at ikaw lang mag-isa ha? Ikaw talaga kahit kailan pasaway ka." Galit na sabi Brix.

"Huwag mo akong awayin dahil pagod na pagod ako." And she slouched in the driver's seat. She was holding her tears and silent for a moment.

"Si Clyde? Nag-away kayo?" Tanong ni Brix.

At hindi na niya matiis and she burst into tears. Niyakap siya ni Brix agad dahil ramdam niya ang sakit sa iyak niya. She was seeking for comfort since yesterday and then she was at his warm embrace again.

"Ano ba'ng ginawa niya sa 'yo ha? Babarilin ko 'yang Clyde na 'yan 'pag nakita ko talaga." He said as he rubbed her back. "Tarantadong tao 'yan at siya ang dahilan kung bakit bigla kang napasugod ditong mag-isa." Galit na galit si Brix sa mga sandaling iyon.

"Ang dami kong problema, Brix. I can't handle this anymore." Iyak pa rin siya ng iyak.

"Bakit, anong problema mo? Tell me, I'm always here and you know that." Sabi ni Brix.

She told him everything. About Clyde that she caught him with another woman in his condo unit, the child that could possibly be her half-sister from her Dad's mistress, and his Mommy who just left in their house. Natahimik si Brix. Ang dami-dami nga palang problema niya and he can't blame her for driving alone all the way here. He hugged her even tighter and kissed her forehead. He took the white hanky from his side pocket and wiped her tears.

"Let's eat muna dahil alam kong gutom ka. It's dinner time na rin. Saka nalang natin pag-uusapan ang lahat 'pag may laman na ang tyan mo, okay? Ako na ang mag-drive." Sabi ni Brix.

Kumain ulit sila doon sa restaurant where they usually dined when the whole family would come to visit him. He can see in her eyes na malungkot talaga siya and she needed him the most at that moment.

"Magpahinga ka nalang muna at bukas nalang tayo uli mag-uusap. You really looked so tired and stressed. Ihatid nalang kita sa hotel para makapagpahinga ka at bukas pupuntahan kita and let's talk, okay? Magtaxi nalang ako pabalik ng campus." Sabi ni Brix.

Pumayag na rin siya dahil talagang pagod na pagod siya at ang importante ay nagkita na sila at alam na ni Brix ang mga problema niya. She always felt at home sa piling ni Brix. Hinatid siya ni Brix sa hotel at niyakap niya ito bago umalis.

Nagkita uli sila the next day at allowed naman si Brix lumabas dahil weekend. They seriously talked about her problem while having lunch at the restaurant of the hotel.

"Brix, ipapa-DNA test ko 'yong bata at kukunin ko once ma-prove na anak talaga siya ni Daddy. Tama lang ba ang gagawin ko? Para naman may makakasama ako sa bahay dahil ako nalang mag-isa. I'll try to be a single parent na rin." Natawa siya dahil hindi siya sanay mag-alaga ng bata.

"You know, I like that idea. Kahit na anak siya ng mistress ng Daddy mo, wala naman siyang kasalanan. Tutulungan kitang alagaan 'yong half sister mo kung sakali. Lagi ko naman sinasabi sa 'yo andito lang ako palagi kahit nasa malayo ako. Kung ikagagalit ni Mommy, wala na tayong magawa. Alangan naman e-deny natin 'yong bata at kawawa naman." Sabi ni Brix.

"I'm sure matatanggap din 'yon ng Mommy mo someday. I understand her today, if I were on her shoes, magagalit din ako, pero kukupas din 'yon." Sabi niya.