The Pristine

Ang Pang-Apatnapu't Anim

Beth looked at me with her innocent eyes. Umigting ang aking panga. Tama ang sinabi ni Ramona. Isa pa, unang proyekto ito ni Arjuna na inaprubahan talaga ng pamilya. Tuwang-tuwa siya at unang beses magpakita ng dedikasyon. He's usually being like an immature playboy unlike what he's trying to achieve now.

"You can always tell Tito Nick..." bulong ni Beth.

Nilingon ko ito at umiling. 

As if I hadn't thought of that these past few days. I want to do it so bad but I couldn't. My mouth will not move if I'd chose to do it. Alam kong susuportahan niya ako kahit pa matalo siya sa eleksyon ngunit hindi ko kayang sabihin.

I'm scared of what will be the outcome. Iyon ang totoo.

Natatakot ako dahil kapag sinabi ko kay Papa ay alam kong lalaban siya sa kahit na anong paraan. He would risk everything for me including his reputation, and somehow, that will make him, us, a threat to the family's dynasty. 

Ayaw kong maungkat pati ang kaniyang pinagdaanan at masabihang pareho kami ng sinapit. He's a conniving politician but he's also a father. I can't lose him in this process. 

"No one should know about this, Beth, Ramona, please..."

"Are you freaking kidding me right now, Chrissy? That man just made you a mistress and he's going for you again! Get a grip!"

"They will eventually know. Malalaman at malalaman din nila kaya mas mabuting sa iyo nanggaling."

Umiling ako, "I'm trusting myself to push him out of the picture as soon as possible. Before they can even catch a  glimpse of those Arjuna's business."

"Naririnig mo ba ang sarili mo, Chrissy?" Mukhang sasakalin ako ni Ramona ngunit ito na ang desisyon ko. This will not take long dahil kailangang unahan si Arjuna.

"This is my stand..." sabi ko. "I'm trusting myself, and so should the both of you."

Kalaunan ay umuwi na rin sina Beth at Ramona. Nag-iisa ako sa aking malaking kwarto at inaantay na matulog ang haring araw. Pagod na pagod ako kaya't naisipan munang matulog. Ang mga panaginip ko ay kasiguraduhan ngunit nang magising ako ay hindi ko iyon mahawakan.

I lay next to my pillows, watching the sheer canopy around me dance with the winds. I shivered when the fabric glided on my arms. 

Kinabukasan ay maaga akong nagising para makapaghanda. Ngayon ang araw na bibisitahin namin ang ilang mga site na pinag-uusapan.

I checked my phone and saw my inbox and messenger full of messages. Most are from Sean, others from friends. Nag-reply ako kaagad kay Sean dahil nangako ako sa kaniyang hindi na siya uutuin pagkatapos ng birthday.

We chatted for twenty minutes before I finally got up.  

I wore a casual white vneck shirt and baby blue denim shorts. Nagsuot ako ng baseball cap atsaka nagdala ng flannel shirt kung sakaling mainit. I was checking my phone when I heard Papa's booming voice from the living room.

 Nakasigaw ito sa kausap sa phone, namumula ang mga mata sa galit. Nang makita niya akong pababa ay bumuntong hininga ito. He gave clear instructions on the line while massaging his chest a bit.