The Candle of Love

Chapter 29: Suitor

I was able to sleep because of crying. Nagising ako nang maramdamang maliwanag na ang paligid.

Unti-unti akong bumangon. I scanned the whole house. Berlin's not here. Pero nandito pa naman ang gamit niya kaya baka lumabas lang iyon.

I sighed when I remembered what I saw last night. It's my name that's on his body. I couldn't be mistaken on that. Cursive ang font ng tattoo pero malinaw na malinaw ang letra ng mga pangalan ko.

"But... what did I hear that night?" I whispered.

I remember hearing Anie being shocked to see her name on his body. And that made me confirm that Berlin hasn't moved on yet from her. Pero kagabi, with my own eyes, I saw my name instead. Not Anie's.

Hindi naman pwedeng ipinabura niya ang pangalan ni Anie at pinalagay lang 'yung sa'kin. Malinis na malinis ang pagkakagawa ng tattoo. Also, it doesn't look like it was just covered with my name.

Ginulo-gulo ko ang buhok ko. I hate that a simple tattoo is what I'm thinking early in the morning.

Bigla akong umayos nang bumukas ang pinto.

"Good morning," bati ni Berlin pero hindi man lang ako nagawang tignan.

Napakunot ang noo ko. It doesn't look like it's a good morning for him. He seems annoyed.

"Morning."

"Someone's looking for you earlier," masungit niyang sabi.

"Sino?"

"Manliligaw mo raw."

"May manliligaw ako?!"

"Hindi ko nga rin alam na bukod sa'kin, may iba ka pa palang manliligaw." Mahina siyang natawa pero halata namang hindi siya natutuwa roon.

I coughed. Oo nga pala't manliligaw din pala ang isang 'to. Pero seryoso, hindi ko alam kung sino 'yung sinasabi niya. May nagpaalam ba sa'kin bukod sa kanya?

Oh shit.

Is my boss here?

Naligo muna ako sa may common bathroom bago nagpunta sa tent para makapag-breakfast. And I was right when I saw Dion.

"Ives," ngiting-ngiting bati niya.

"Mr. Clemente!"

He snorted. "I told you, just call me Dion."

Ngumiti lang ako roon. I want to ask him about what Berlin said. Na manliligaw ko raw siya. Kaya lang ay nahihiya akong magtanong.

"How's the documentary going?"

"Okay naman. It's an honor to cover the stories of the people here. Their healthcare system would really be an eye-opener to the government."

He nodded at me. "Ikaw? Kumusta ka? This is your first documentary, and being in the field for three days long. Hindi ka ba nahirapan?"

"Hindi naman. It's actually nice to be away in the city."

"Good." Tinignan niya ang hawak kong isang pirasong saging at carton milk. "Is that your breakfast?"

Tumango ako. "How 'bout you? Nakapag-breakfast ka na ba?"

"Yes. Bago ako pumunta dito at ay nag-breakfast na ako sa bahay."

Napasulyap ako sa lalaking dumaan sa gilid namin. It was Berlin. Nakakunot ang noo habang dala-dala ang isang box na hindi ko alam ang laman.

"That's the doctor I talked to earlier," sabi niya nang sinundan din ng tingin si Berlin. He smirked at me. "When I was asking for you, I introduced myself as your suitor. Is that okay?"