Stonehearts 2: Amethyst

Thirty Eight

"Ah oo sige, sure. Tapos after nun daan tayo sa Love Line?"

He slowly peeked at me through his lashes. His eyes gauging my reaction. Nginitian ko siya. "Mahal sabi ko naman kasi sa iyo papakinggan ko ang explanation mo diba? Promise ko yun."

He cupped my cheeks, "God, I love you. I love you so much." He whispered before he brought his lips to meet mine. Paano naman kasi ako makakatanggi sa kanya diba? Titig niya palang.

Cynthia was already waiting for us in the restaurant when we arrived. Napatayo siya agad ng nakita niya kaming papalapit na. She trapped me on a tight embrace, "Ate Amy!" She croaked.

Napahagod ako sa likuran niya, "Cynthia, hello." Kumalas naman siya agad sa akap ng naramdaman ko na ang kamay ni Chance sa bewang ko.

Saka ko napansin ang malaking pasa sa gilid ng bibig ni Cynthia, makapal na ang concealer at foundation na pinangtakip niya pero halata pa rin.

"A-anong nangyari jan?" Tanong ko, running my fingers on the black mark on her lip. She smiled awkwardly. "U-upo muna tayo ate. Mahaba-haba ang kwento eh."

Chance pulled a chair for me, I winced. Yung amoy ng mga fried na pagkain nalalanghap ko lahat sa level na ito. "I-is everything alright mahal?" Mapagalalang tanong ni Chance ng nakaupo na siya sa tabi ko.

Tumango ako but crinkling my nose on the process. "Oo, ayoko lang yung amoy ng pritong pagkain."

Saka may dumaang waiter sa tabi ko na may dalang tray na may tatlong pan-fried Steak. Mas lalo akong napakunot ng ilong. "L-lipat na lang tayo. Umm..pasta house ate, okay lang sayo?" Aya ni Cynthia.

I was about to answer when Chance called for a waiter. "Yes sir, ready to order?" Agad na tanong nun sa kanya at naglabas ng notepad mula sa bulsa niya.

"No, actually I want to ask if you have a function room or a private area that can be rented?"

Halatang nagtaka ang waiter pero sumagot naman. "Meron naman po Sir. Are you going to book it?"

"Yes. Ngayon na." Napahawak ako sa braso ni Chance para pigilin siya. Kaya ko namang tiisin ang amoy.

Napalingon siya sa akin, pinatong niya ang kamay niya sa kamay ko na nakakapit sa braso niya. "Today? For a while lang po Sir. I will ask my manager kung may available ang rooms for today." The waiter said obediently before disappearing.

Chance turned to me, kissing me on my forehead before rubbing his nose on mine. "Sandali lang mahal ha. Lilipat na tayo ng pwesto." He said sweetly.

"That's not necessary, I can bear with the smell naman mahal." Hindi na siya sumagot, basta nginitian niya lang ako.  Doon palang alam kong hindi na niya ako pinakinggan.

The manager approached us moments later. Una ayaw nung manager na ipa-rent kay Chance yung pinakamaliit na function room dahil may gagamit daw mamayang mga 6. But Chance, being the businessman Chancellor, worked his way through kaya niya napapayag.

"Okay na ba mahal? Hindi na masakit sa pang-amoy?" Tanong ng magaling kong boyfriend when the waiter led us sa isang maliit na kwarto na may twelve seater. I nodded grinning, this guy is really unbelievable.

Kumakain na kami when Cynthia started to talk again, "Ate gusto ko munang manghingi ng sorry. Gusto ring malaman mo na walang nangyari na kahit ano nung nakita mo kami ni Kuya Cube na magkaakap. We were just hugging, walang malisya iyon. Alam mo naman talaga ang mga tipo ko diba? Ikaw ang unang nakaalam dun."

I stopped my fork in mid-air before I looked at my future husband who's enjoying his soup beside me. "A-alam mo na rin mahal? Ang orientation ni Cynthia?"

Huminto din siyang kumain bago tumango, "Yup. Nung gabing yun namin nalaman. Kami ng daddy niya."

"Oh God, don't tell me yang pasa na yan....." My voice trailed off. I don't want to welcome those thoughts.

She bobbed her head up and down, reading what's on my mind. Her face contorted to a sad smile. "Yup. Sinabi ko kay daddy na lesbian ako pagkatapos ng final contract signing para sa partnership sa hotel. Sabi ko na magagalit siya, nasapak niya ako ate before he walked out."

I held my chest before I looked at Chance who looks pained, siguro naaalala niya yung pangyayaring yun. He was there, he must've seen it first hand.

"Kuya Cube was just consoling me nung dumating ka. Please ate believe me. Hindi ko gustong sirain ang relasyon niyo. I'm so sorry." She blabbered, almost sobbing.

Saka ko naalala ung narinig kong sinabi ni Chance, "Don't worry about it. I got you Cynthia, don't cry. We'll get through this." Why did i let my emotions ride me that time?

"Ako ang dapat manghingi ng tawad sa inyong dalawa. I doubted you two at dapat hindi ko ginawa yun. Nakadagdag pa ako sa pasan mo Cynthia and almost left Chance. Siguro kung pinagpatuloy ko ang pagalis, pagsisisihan ko ito buong buhay ko." Sambit ko.

"But you didn't leave. You're here." Chance managed to utter after being silent. "Ang mahalaga nalinawan ka na sa nangyari. Salamat dahil nakinig ka mahal."

"Alam niyo namang hindi ko kayo matitiis dalawa." Biro ko, making them both smile. The heavy atmosphere disappearing little by little. Buti na lang talaga nakumbinsi ako ni dy. Buti na lang Chancellor didn't give up on me. Buti na lang mahal niya ako.