Del Rico Triplets #2: Retracing The Steps

Kabanata 14

Dali-dali kong hinila ang kamay niya at hinatak siya patungo sa pinakadulo ng bookstore. Hindi ako nahirapan dahil mukhang alam niya na ang gusto kong mangyari. Malalaki ang mga hakbang ko.

"God, I miss this..." I heard him whispered.

Hindi ko na iyon pinagtuunan ng pansin.

Nang madala ko siya sa pinakadulong bahagi ay saka ko siya hinarap.

"Tell me about it, Tyron," I demanded.

Binasa ko ang labi ko at luminga-linga bago sumulyap uli sa kaniya.

"Tell me everything you can tell me," pag-uulit ko. Mas madiin na ang bawat banggit ng salita.

He nodded, inhaled before he speak.

"You went out of my contact for six months now, Rosalie. I didn't know if you went mad at me because I am demanding for label or what. You no longer go to work. Ang manager mo, walang alam kung bakit bigla ka na lamang nag-AWOL. Even your office mates. Lahat kami wala. Even your relatives in the province knows nothing about your whereabouts."

He bit his lips. I just watched him let go of his frustrations. Pinanonood ko kung nagsasabi ba siya ng totoo base sa reaksyon niya. Label? Then we must be really something!

"I did my best to find you. I found out something but this marriage of you with my brother? Wala akong nalaman tungkol dito. That's why I was rigid when I saw you with him. The woman I've been missing and looking for months is with my rival!" he almost hiss the last words.

I can hear him panting. Sunod-sunod ang naging paglunok ko.

He found out something except for my marriage with his brother? Why? Troi told me his family had met me before? Bakit si Tyron, hindi? How come no one knows that I am married to him? Sikreto ba ang naging kasal namin?

He introduced me to his cousins and they don't look like they are happy for us. Mukhang miski sila ay walang alam sa nangyaring kasal?

But the pictures he showed me... mukhang engrande iyon. I am smiling widely at that and so is he. Nandoon pa ang pamilya ni Troi sa litrato. Paanong...

"Rosalie, I know this is too much for you. Sabihin mo sa akin kung hanggang saan lang ang naalala mo?"

I gritted my teeth. I can remember my college memories and none of them were close to me. Ni hindi nga ako sinusulyapan ni Tyron at si Troi, he's just always in the clinic but we never interact with each other.

"P-paano mo ako nakilala?" Nanginginig ang boses ko nang magtanong.

"You told me you're courting me. Paano tayo nauwi sa pagliligawan?"

He held his breathe for a minute.

"I... I happened to date one of your officemate and then I... you caught my attention and I tried my luck. Although I know you're out of reach, I still tried my best," he wet his lips and continued. "You blocked me first, told me you don't want a manwhore in your life but I showed you how sincere I am and I melted your walls, babe. You ended up having feelings for me, too. It's just that you're afraid of commiting yourself to something you're not sure if it'll work."

My fist crumpled. So, Tyron and I...

"I've been courting you for almost a year, Rosalie. At kahit isang beses, hindi ka nagtanong tungkol kay Troi o kay Tross. I am the one who told you about them. Wala kang kilala sa kanila personally."

Tumango-tango ako. I'm trying my best to absorb all the information from him. He courted me and I went out of reached that no one could tell him where am I. Nag-AWOL sa trabaho at most importantly, kahit sila Tita walang alam sa nangyari sa akin?