Stonehearts 2: Amethyst

Twenty Five

I huffed then I sat on the the edge of the elevated front of my office building. Pass eight na hindi pa dumadating si Chance. I tried calling him like ten times pero laging answering machine ang sumasagot sa akin. Hindi ko naman memoryado ang phone number ng opisina niya.

Napakamot ako sa ulo ko, umiiling sa bawat taxi na humihinto sa harap ko. He said we are to go home together right? Ayoko namang magkasalisihan kami. Baka pag-awayan pa namin.

I started to go through my emails ng may biglang nagpark na itim na Ford Ranger sa harap ko. Bumubusina pa, "Amy sumabay ka na sa akin pauwi. Hahatid kita, kanina ka pa jan."

Nagtaas ako ng tingin sa kanya, he has his hands resting on the open window. "No thanks Cael. Susunduin ako ni Chance." I said as cold as I can. What's his problem? Kanina inaway niya lang ako tapos ngayon hihinto siya dito sa harap ko para ayain akong umuwi? And what does he mean na 'kanina ka pa jan'. Has he been stalking me?

I heard him sigh. "Kung darating siya, sana dumating na siya kanina pa. Lalamukin ka lang jan. Naka-skirt ka pa tapos nakasalampak ka jan sa sahig. Halika na." Muling aya niya.

I ignored him, trying hard to read my emails but I can't seem to understand them. He's right, kung darating si Chance kanina pa sana.

"Amy, look I'm sorry for this morning okay? Saka naghihintay na siguro si Tito Riq sa iyo. Anong oras na rin, alam mo namang hindi kumakain yun kapag hindi kayo sabay."

And that's all it took. Him using daddy to convince me. Napabuntong hininga ako at pumasok sa back seat. I saw a champion look on his face, almost looking smug. "At sa likod ka pa talaga umupo? You make me look like a freaking Grab driver."

Hindi ko na lang siya sinagot, I texted Chancellor na umuwi na ako. Para hindi na siya dadaan sa opisina mamaya. Baka may urgent meeting lang siya kaya hindi na niya ako nasundo at nasabihan. Kailangan ko lang siyang intindihin dahil ako naman ang mas mahaba ang pasensya.

"Nasaan ba kasi yung Tucson mo? Nasira ba?" He asked in attempt for a small talk. He was looking at me through the rear view mirror as he drives.

My initial reaction was to ignore him, but I will look like a total bitch if I did that. Inalukan na nga niya ako ng libreng hatid. "Hindi naman. Sabay kasi kami ni Chance pumasok kanina."

"Tapos sabi niya susunduin ka niya? Pero hindi niya ginawa. What an asshole."

"At least I know he's loyal to me." I countered. Suddenly irked by his attack on my boyfriend. I know he hates him that much, pero konting respeto naman.

Nagiwas siya ng tingin sa akin sa may rear view. "Ang saya nga nito Amy. The misery you're putting me through. I am making my way to you, willing to earn your forgiveness pero kahit na anong sabihin ko babalik at babalik tayo sa pagkakamali ko. Pwede kong sabihin na 'Ay wow! Amy ang ganda ng suot mo ngayon.' Then you will tell me, 'Pero mas maganda yung suot ng babaeng kinama mo sa condo natin.' Or I can say, 'This food is delicious.', sasabihin mong 'Eh siya masarap ba?.' Whatever I fucking do or fucking say, shots are going to fire at me." He said exasperated.

Ngayon ko lang na-realize na lagi ko ngang sinusumbat sa kanya ang ginawa niya sa akin. Dy said I should forgive him so I can live my life with a peaceful past, pero hindi ko rin kasi magawa ng ganun-ganun lang.

"You can't blame me, I almost married you."

"Will you believe me if I say na walang nangyari sa amin ni Candy?" He asked quietly, still avoiding my gaze in the rear view mirror.

I creased my eyebrow, letting his words sink in. Walang nangyari? Ano ako tanga? "How stupid do you think I am to believe you? Ano yun? Nadapa lang kayo sa kama ng nakahubad? Naglaro kayo ng bahay-bahayan tapos naisipan niyong magtanggal ng damit at natulog ng magkatabi sa kama? You got to be fucking kidding me Cael. That's the stupidest thing I have ever heard in my life."

His silenced went on for minutes, it was deafening. Napaisip ako. I did caught them sleeping naked on our bed, so I just assumed that they had sex. Pero hindi ko naman sila nahuli sa akto.

I shook my head to clear those thoughts. He's just appealing to your emotions again Amy. Wag mo siyang pakinggan. You know him better than anyone.

I was hurled back from my deep thinking when he stopped by our gate. "Goodnight Amy." That's all he said.

I got out, the atmosphere inside his car was strangling the life out of me. "Yeah, goodnight Cael. Thanks for the lift." I murmured before I shut his door closed. Nakapark pa rin siya sa harap ng bahay namin hanggang sa sinarado ko ang gate. I don't know if he left or not. Basta ayoko na muna siyang makita.

Nakatulog na si Dy sa recliner niya habang bukas ang T.V. It was pass nine. Hindi siya nakainom ng gamot niya. Napahilot ako sandal sa sentido ko. I shook him by his shoulder, "Dy, kain na muna tayo kailangan mong uminom ng gamot." Mahinang tugon ko.

His hooding eyes greated me, "Ah, nakauwi ka na pala. Nakaluto na ako ng pinakbet. Sige na, ihanda mo na ang lamesa, susunod ako."

I nodded my head and went to the kitchen, baka naman nakakain na rin si Chance kapag nakauwi siya. Hindi pa rin naman siya nagtitext o tumatawag.

I was busy preparing our dinner as I heard daddy's footsteps then suddenly a loud thud followed. Napatakbo ako sa sala and I saw him on the floor while clutching his chest. Agad akong napaluhod sa tabi niya, "DY!" But his eyes are tight shut, his whole body is tense too. I grabbed my phone and dialled emergency. Shit! Shit! Shit!

"Oh my God! Daddy hold on, shit!" I screamed as tears started burning at the back of my eyes.

Hindi ko na makita ang ginagawa ko dahil namuo na ang mga luha ko. I hugged daddy all the while crying, then our front door banged open. I saw Cael heaving, "What happened-Oh my god!" He exclaimed before he ran to where we are.

"Tito, hold on! We're going to get you to the hospital." He said in a soothing, calming voice.

He assisted dy who seemed to be fighting the pain on his chest. I was trembling when I stood and followed them out. Pakiramdam ko hindi na ako makakalakad ng malayo.

Cael went on full throttle, the scenery looking on fast forward play. I was holding daddy's hand tight. Hindi pa rin siya dumidilat o nagsasalita. "Daddy, don't leave me please. Don't leave me."