Chances for a Bitter Writer (First Chance)

Chance (13)

Natigilan ako at napatingin sa kanilang lahat. Nakangiti sa direksyon ko si Akhiro at Shayla, except Miyu. Tumango na lang ako at tumahimik. I might be invading something that I shouldn't be.

"Why are you here, Otousan and with this brat?"

"Don't you want me here?"

Nagpalit-lipat ang tingin ko sa mag-ama at ganu'n din si Shayla.

"But why do you need to bring this brat with you?"

"Rio, be nice to your father."

Tiningnan lang ni Akihiro si Rio at nakipagsukatan naman siya sa titig dito.

"I am here for your mother. She went with me because she's worried about you. You've been in the news recently," pagkasabi niyon ay binaling nito ang tingin sa'kin.

"You're quite the topic of the news since you're having a vacation with your fiancé."

Nabilaukan ako bigla sa narinig ko. Nagpalipat-lipat ang tingin ko sa kanila pero pare-pareho kaming clueless.

"The reporters followed you here and they found the both of you in the Greenhouse Garden where Rio was kneeling in front of you," natutuwa pang kwento ni Akihiro.

Puno naman nang pagtataka ang mukha ni Shayla dahil wala rin siyang alam ng mga panahong iyon.

"It's just-"

"Did you sue those reporters? I don't like them invading my private life. You see, I am happy here," matalim ang titig nito kay Miyu.

Nagsalita si Miyu na tila nagpapaawa sa harap ni Rio. Hindi ko na naintindihan pa ang ilan nilang pinag-usapan dahil hindi naman ako kagalingan sa nihonggo ngunit bakas sa mga tono ng boses at mukha na may pinagtatalunan silang bagay. Hindi naman nakikialam si Shayla at Akihiro sa pinag-uusapan ng dalawa kaya nanahimik na lang din ako.

"You should go back to Japan. I won't leave my fiancé here," matigas na sabi ni Rio.

Nagulat ako sa sinabi niya pero bago pa man ako makapagsalita ay nagtanong na si Akihiro.

"So, the rumors are true, then? A fan of your band saw you the two of you in Tagaytay."

Rio smirk, "Maybe."

Inirapan ko siya. "Sorry, but I think your son is starting to get hallucinations. Imagining things that aren't real."

Tumawa naman si Shayla at ganu'n din si Akihiro.

Nalungkot ang mukha ni Rio pero alam kong sumasakay lang siya sa usapan.

"So, your love for me is not real? You used me?"

"Shut it, Rio." Mataray kong sagot habang pinipigilang matawa sa pagi-inarte niya.

"No. I thought we have this... connection. A spark." Kinabahan ako sa narinig ko. Halos mapaniwala niya akong gano'n nga ang tingin niya sa amin kung hindi ko lang nakita na pinipigilan niyang ngumiti.

"Kuryente lang ang my spark. Anyway, sorry for leaving so early. But I have things to attend to. I will also need to talk to Cortes."

"Sige, hija. Pakisabi na lang kay Cortes na miss ko na siya."

"I'll go with her," sabi naman ni Rio bago muling hinawakan ang kamay ko at naglakad palayo sa kanila.

Nang makalayo na kami ay hinawakan ko ang kamay niya at inalis sa'kin. Nagtaka naman siy sa inasal ko. Niyakap niya ako bigla nang mahigpit. It was like he was saying goodbye.

"Don't be mad. Miyu was just too clingy so I said you're really my fiancé. I am sorry if that makes you uncomfortable."

Nasaktan ako sa sinabi niya. Pakiramdam ko ay ginagamit niyalang ako dahil nandu'n si Miyu. But I can't blame him for doing that. I knew from the beginning that I am just a source of his entertainment.

"It's fine. I just need to rest," sabi ko at saka bumalik sa kwarto namin.

"Do you want a company or..."

"Being alone would be fine," sagot kong walang emosyon.

Nag-aayos na ako ng gamit sa kwarto dahil lilipat na ulit kami ng panibagong destinasyon. Pinakamalapit na sa lugar na ito ang bayan ng Candelaria, Quezon kaya doon ang sunod naming balak puntahan.

Pumasok si Rio sa kwarto at umupo sa kama habang tinitingnan ako sa pag-aayos.

Maya-maya pa ay nagsalita na siya, "Why are you ignoring me?"

"I'm not," maikli kong tugon at hindi ko man lang siya tiningnan.

He suddenly cupped my face and stared right into my eyes, "I'll tell you everything you want to know, just don't be mad. I don't want to be nothing in your sight again," mangiyak-ngiyak na sabi nito.

Naalala ko agad ang sinabi ni Shayla. Hindi ko ata magagawa ang hinihingi niyang pabor. Again, I'm shutting people out for no reason at all.

"Just go, Rio. Nag-aayos ako ng gamit. Paalis na rin naman tayo. At isa pa, I think hindi na kailangan ang presence ko dito. I can travel alone or just go back home. You helped me a lot. I'm ready to take Cortes' challenge now."

"No. No. Please. Don't leave me please," there's a sudden pang of guilt in my heart. Napatingin ako kay Rio at may luha na sa mga mata niya.

"Bakit ka umiiyak?" Nagtataka kong tanong sa kanya.

"Miyu's not my girlfriend anymore," bigla na lamang niyang pagkukwento. "We broke up a month before I even went here. She's one of the reason why I went with my Mom. But believe me, there's nothing going on between us," sabi niyang niyakap na ako.

So, I'm right she was the one...

"But I'm not as in love with her as with my first love..."

Natawa ako sa reaksyon niya dahilan para tumingin siya sa'kin na parang nababaliw na ako.

"You don't need to explain, Rio. It's not like we have something." And I regret the moment when those words left my mouth.

Nagbago ang mukha ni Rio. "Oh, yeah. Right. I'm sorry for being too defensive," then he laughed awkwardly.

We stayed in silent for a minute.

Gumaan ang pakiramdam ko sa sinabi niya pero pakiramdam konasaktan ko siya.

"Just don't go, okay? We're not yet done with our act," pagpapa-alala niya bago lumabas ng kwarto.

"And you're not just my soon-to-be-girlfreind now, 'cause you are my fiancé."

Hindi na niya ako pinagsalita dahil lumabas na siya ng kwarto. He seemed sad than mad. Besides, he don't have reason to be mad at me.

But why does my heart wants to follow you and embrace you?