Stonehearts 2: Amethyst

Five

Nadatnan ko si daddy na nakaupo sa may sala habang nagbabasa ng libro. Agad naman siyang napatingin sa mga bulaklak na bitbit ko, "Flowers? May manliligaw ka anak?" I can see him panicking though he kept his voice calm ang quiet. Lumapit ako at humalik sa noo niya. "Dy naman, may bulaklak lang na dala may manliligaw agad? Galing ito d'on sa kliyente ko. Kay Cube Calderazzo." Sagot ko habang inilalagay ang mga violet na roses sa vase sa sala.

"Bakit ka raw niya binigyan ng bulaklak?" Napahinto ako at napalingon muli sa tatay ko. Reporter na reporter ang datingan kung makatanong. Napangiti ako sabay iling saka pinagpatuloy ang ginagawa ko. "Ah, peace offering daw para kahapon."

Akala ko ng magtatanong pa siya ulit pero dumekwatro siya at napangiti bago niya binuksan ulit ang libro na hawak niya. "Hindi magbibigay ng bulaklak ang isang lalake sa babae kung hindi niya gusto Love."

Napakunot noo na lang ako sa naging conclusion ni daddy. He doesn't know Cube Calderazzo like I do. He hasn't met the man. Jusko, ang taong katulad niya alam ang mga gusto niya. He knows how and when he wants things. That guy is very unpredictable too. Kaninang tanghali tumawag sa akin ang accountant ko dahil nag-deposit daw siya ng 250 thousand sa kompanya ko. So I called him again, ang sagot niya iyon daw ang bayad niya sa mga ginagawa ko these past few days. We only charge 50-200 thousand at iyon na ang maximum. Dipende sa length ng service at kung gaano ka-extensive ang gagawin. And in his case, I only ate with Cynthia and visited her at her office twice for the past four days. I don't know if he's rubbing his riches on my face on purpose or what. I was persistent of returning the money but he refused. That guy really loves his ego and he doesn't want it to be bruised.

"Ate Amy, bakit wala kang boyfriend?" Bigla akong nabulunan sa itinanong sa akin ni Cynthia habang kumakain kami ng sumunod na araw. She offered me some napkin. "Sorry personal question ba?" She again asked.

Umiling ako, "Hindi naman. Well, nagka-boyfriend din naman ako. I had three boyfriends actually. Isa nang high school ako, tapos isa ulit nang college. Tapos 'yong pinakahuli, Sa kanya talaga ako nasaktan ng sobra." She was all ears as she leans on the table. Eager to know more. "Cael was a very charming man, trust me. Mabait, maginoo, gwapo. The good guy type. You can even imagine him riding a white horse and calling him prince charming."

Sabay kaming napatawa, saka ko naalala lahat-lahat ng alaala naming dalawa ni Cael. How he used to hug me in the middle of the night, how he leaves soft kisses on my lips, how he whispers he loves me. Everything.

"So ayon, our relationship went on for three years. Akala nga namin kami na talaga. We bought a lot in Tagaytay kasi magpapatayo na kami ng bahay, right after we get married. Nagplaplano na kasi kami." Then I went quiet for awhile. All those bitter memories drench me like a storm. Para akong uminom ng kape na nasa ilalim lahat ng pait. "Then what happened Ate?" Cynthia asked.

I smiled at her, "He cheated on me. Days before our actual wedding. I caught him bedding another woman." Her mouth agape when I dropped her the bomb. Hindi siya nakasalita. "Shocking isn't it? I called everything off. Wala ng kasal, wala nang magsusuot ng trahe de boda, wala nang mag-aabay, wala nang maglalakad sa aisle, wala na. Dahil wala ng kami. Ang masakit sa lahat ay hindi siya lumaban, hindi niya inilaban ang mayroon kami. I was willing enough to forgive h,im, because that's what people do for the ones they love. He said he was getting cold feet about the wedding that's why he did it. But he could have talked to me, ilang beses ko siyang tinanong kung sure na siya sa akin when he proposed. He said yes, that's why I don't understand his logic."

Nagulat ako nang biglang ipinatong ni Cynthia ang kamay niya sa kamay ko, "In love there's no logic Ate Amy. It's either you love him or you don't, 'yon lang. Walang logic kung bakit, kung paano, basta mahal mo."

Napainom ako sa shake na in-order niya para sa akin. "Dapat pala kinukuha kita as adviser sa kompanya ko." I kid. She giggled, her cheeks turning crimson, "Ate naman! Ikaw ang pinakamagaling basta pag-ibig ang usapan."

"So ikaw? Anong kwentong pag-ibig ng isang Cynthia Geron?"

She blew her unruly bangs off of her forehead making it jump but still landed on the same spot. "Not that interesting ate, I tell you. Daddy wants me to find a man to marry that's why he keeps on arranging me with assholes. I said he needs to stop doing it dahil wala naman akong nagugustuhan sa mga ipinapares niya sa akin. He thought the same technique will work on me, dahil ganoon din ang ginawa niya sa mga kuya ko." I nodded my head. Daddy niya ang nagpakilala sa kanya kay Cube. His dad is an hotelier; while Cube is a business man too. One common denominator, maybe Cube wants her for business purposes? "And guess what ate, I just met the biggest jerk who ever walked on this planet in an auction I attended with my parents. You know that business magnate Cube Calderazzo?" She asked, her eyes flickering in anger. Boy-oh-boy. Galit siya kay Cube, mukhang hindi magiging madali ang trabaho ko dito. "Well he's a douche bag to begin with. But he's hella gorgeous from the moment I met him. Gentleman, the one that can send your panties ba-bye. Yep, that's him. But five days into dating him, saka niya sinabi ang motibo niya. He said he was willing to date me while in process ang partnership nila ni daddy sa isang hotel na ipapatayo sa Brazil. But once na natapos na, we can say goodbye to each other. Because I wasn't his type and he can't be stuck for me for the rest of his life. Imagine him saying that straight to my face." Halos umusok na ang ilong ni Cynthia habang nagkukwento sa akin. Gago talaga ang isang iyon! Parang gusto ko siyang suntukin sa inis ko, may 'you won't understand my reasons' pa siyang nalalaman ito lang pala 'yon. Sino namang tanga ang hindi makakaintindi na gagamitin niya lang si Cynthia?

"I slapped him hard on the face before I left him. Ito pa ang matindi ate. Two days after that, he set up a surprise for me. Musical kasi mahilig ako sa theatre. Akala ko kung sino may pakana, when I saw him making his way to me my blood boiled to 100C. Kaya nasampal ko nanaman siya. Hindi mo naman ako masisisi kung bakit bwisit na bwisit ako sa kanya 'diba?"

Trust me, kung ako 'yon, baka hindi lang sampal ang naabot niya sa akin. "No, you did the right thing sweetie. He's deserved that slap, sana nga tinadyakan mo pa sa pagkalalake niya ng matuto talaga." Sambit ko. Lagot talaga sa akin ang Calderazzo na 'yon!

"I will try to remember that Ate next time na magkita kami. Masama pa doon, daddy still likes him for me kahit na sinabi ko na ang motibo niya. Men." She said as if exhausted of the things that's been happening to her lately. She even rolled her eyes. But I can't help to agree, "I'll toast to that." I replied as I raised my glass for a toss. She smirked at me as our drink made clinking noises. After this, I will wipe that disarming smile Cube always has on his attractive face. That charming asshole.