Right after that week-long honeymoon in Baguio, Ken decided to talk to Iya. He needs to patch things up with his sister. Nami-miss na rin niya ito. Dadalawa na nga lang sila tapos hindi pa sila mag-iimikan.
Siblings should not drift apart like that. Gusto niyang magkaayos na sila, para na rin kay Ahn at sa mommy niya. But to get to Iya, he will need Hans's help. Matigas ang ulo ng kapatid niya. Ayaw nitong makipag-usap over the phone. Ayaw rin nitong makipagkita. She's avoiding him like plague.
Kailangan niya itong makausap within the week dahil next week ay lilipad na siya papuntang Canada for his quarterly business trip. Na-delay na nga siya ng ilang linggo dahil sa honeymoon.
Hans was more than willing to help. Tatawag na nga raw dapat ito sa kanya noong tumawag siya rito.
"Do you think she will talk to me?" nag-aalangan niyang tanong. They're standing outside Iya's office.
Tinapik siya nito sa balikat. "I don't know, but you should take your chance."
Tumango siya. Kumatok naman si Hans sa pinto at saka pumasok. Sumunod siya. The smile on Iya's face upon seeing Hans quickly faded when she saw him.
"What's he doing here?"
"You two need to talk," Hans said. The two of them exchanged looks bago ito lumabas ng opisina ni Iya. Naiwan siya na nakatayo, unsure of what to do next. Iya's scowling.
"I have nothing to say to you."
He groaned. "Come on, Iya, aren't we a little too old for this?"
Inirapan siya nito.
Lumapit siya at naupo sa edge ng lamesa. Kinuhit niya ang kapatid. Ito naman ay nanghahaba na ang leeg sa pag-iwas sa kanya.
Nang kuhitin niya itong muli ay tinapik nito ang kamay niya. Ewan ba niya kung bakit siya natawa bigla.
"Stop being a brat and talk to me," he said in a light tone.
Pinanlisikan siya nito ng mata. "Umalis ka na, Ken. I don't want to talk to you!"
He sighed. Hinawakan niya ang tigkabilang hawakan ng upuan nito para hindi ito makaiwas. "Iya, I know that what I did to Aubrey was wrong. I wasn't thinking clearly when I asked Ahn to marry me. But I didn't care for anything else back then." His face softened. "I love her so much. I just don't want to let her get away again."
"Kahit na. Mali pa rin yung ginawa mo. To think na kayo pa rin ni Aubrey at that time. You didn't even have the decency to break up with her first!" she said indignantly.
"Alam ko. Maling-mali talaga yung ginawa ko. There's nothing to justify my act. But I really wasn't thinking clearly. All I cared about was Ahn."
He didn't tell her na naging plano niya ang maghiganti. It will just make things more complicated. Ang bottomline naman ng lahat ay si Ahn. That's all that matters.
Iya's face softened. Mukhang naging concerned ito.
"Why do you love her so much? After everything she did to you, Ken, why?"
"You're in love. You know how it is," he said to her.
Her lips formed a grim line. "She does not deserve you."
"It doesn't matter who deserves who. She loves me and I love her. Why can't that be enough?"
"Dahil sa kanya kaya nasasaktan si Aubrey ngayon. It's because of her that we are fighting. She wrecks everything in her way, Ken."
Bumuntong-hininga siya at saka umiling. "Not everything. She fixed me."
--
Pagkauwi nila galing Baguio ay tinawagan kaagad niya ang mga magulang para iparating sa mga ito ang balita. Her mom was beyond happy. But it was her dad's reaction that overwhelmed her. Umiyak ito habang magkausap sila sa phone.
