Since Nine Book 3: Shattered

Misgivings

CHAPTER 34

RAMCEL

“Don’t waste time,” her grandmother said.

Eleanor didn’t have any idea what happened to her and Victoria. She refused to tell them. Nasaktan sya at ayaw nyang pati sila ay masaktan rin sa kinahinatnan nila ni Vi. Isa pa, naging mabuti si Victoria sa pamilya nya. Hindi na nya kailangan pang sabihin sa mga ito ang nangyari sa pagitan nilang dalawa. 

Hindi nya ikakailang mahal pa rin nya si Victoria ngunit hindi mawala-wala ang takot sa puso nya. Paano kung isang araw magising na naman itong hindi pala talaga sya nito mahal? Paano kung maulit ang nangyari noon? Hindi na nya kakayanin kung nagkataon. Natatakot syang sumugal.

I am doing this because I am choosing the one that I trully love. This is goodbye, Ram. Paulit- ulit pa ring bumabalik sa isip nya ang mga salita sa sulat ni Victoria.

But something inside her kept telling her this time it would be different. The way Victoria looked at her felt assuring. Then she heard Eleanor’s voice, “That girl went through a lot. I could tell from her eyes. Life is short, iha. Kung mahal mo sya. Kung mahal nyo ang isa’t- isa, don’t waste time.”

Kaya pa ba nyang magtiwalang muli? Ayaw nyang madaliin ang lahat. Ayaw nyang makipagbalikan kay Victoria nang may pag-aalinlangan sa puso nya. Lalasunin sya ng takot. Babalik na naman ang galit nya.

“Rayanne, you’re not listening.” Pinutol nang iritableng boses ni Olivia ang iniisip nya.

Pagtingin nya rito, sila na lamang ang nasa loob ng conference room. They were in a meeting earlier. Wala si Roman San Victores so it was Olivia who took over. Department Heads were all reporting and updating Olivia when Ramcel zoned out.

“I hope you remember agreeing that you will join me in London next month,” seryosong sabi ni Olivia at isinara ang laptop sa harapan nito.

Nanlaki ang mga mata nya. “I did?” Ganun ba kalala ang pags-space out nya? “Anong gagawin natin sa London?”

“We are meeting important investors,” Olivia said sternly.

Matagal nang plano ng Studio 11 na magkaroon ng branch sa London. Olivia’s father, had been working on it non-stop to make it possible. Pero anong kinalaman nya dun? Anong alam nya sa business para makipag-usap sa mga investors?

Then she heard Olivia’s soft laugh. “I’m kidding.” Sinamaan nya ito ng tingin. “You should thank Arianna by the way. She did the reporting while your mind was elsewhere. I just hope you were formulating creative ideas.” She smiled at Olivia guiltily. “Or not,” umiling nitong sabi.

“Let’s have lunch. I’m starving,” anyaya nya. Si Olivia naman ang tumingin nang masama sa kanya. “What? Nakakagutom kaya ang magdaydream,” natatawa nyang sabi.

“I can’t.” Namula ang pisngi ni Olivia.

“Oh right!” Tinapunan nya nang nanunuksong tingin si Olivia. “Ngayon ba ang date nyo ni Don Henrico?” Lalong namula ang pisngi ng kaibigan. “Bakit ang hilig mo sa lalaking kapangalan ng pizza?” Binato sya ni Olivia ng fountain pen pero nasalo nya ito.

“His name is Heinrich,” inis na sabi Olivia saka umirap. Nakilala ng kaibigan si Heinrich Francisco sa isang charity event na dinaluhan nito. Nasa late 30’s na ang gwapong abogado and Ramcel could tell Olivia likes him.

“It’s about time you know. It’s been a while, Liv.” Laging busy si Olivia sa trabaho. She dedicated her time and energy to Studio 11. Ang social life lang nito ay uminom ng kape with her, na puro work-related stuff din naman ang pinag-uusapan nila. “I want you to be happy.”

“Thanks, Rayanne.” Olivia smiled.

“I’m starting to think that you are a lesbian and that you are in love with me,”  she said with mock seriousness.

“You are so full of yourself,” natatawa at naiiling na sabi ni Olivia.

“Magkakaroon ka na ng sex life,” Ramcel pointed out.

Olivia looked like she wanted to strangle her. “Anyway, since you weren’t listening, The 11th Foundation is going to conduct a livelihood and feeding program in a remote area somewhere in Nueva Vizcaya three months from now. Bukod sa kailangan ng lugar ng sariling paaralan, most of the children there are malnourished. Feeding them for few days won’t suffice. So we need to teach them how to cook nutritious meals utilizing the resources they have. Victoria volunteered.”

Kahit may apprehension sya, hindi maiwasang tumibok nang malakas ang puso nya kapag nababanggit si Victoria. “Really?” Napangiti sya. Noong nasa New York pa sila nito, nagvo-volunteer din itong magluto sa Soup Kitchen.

“Yes. Her friend Travis, is a Nutritionist. They’ll be working hand in hand.”

Nawala ang ngiti nya. “Travis?”

“Yes.”

“As in Travis with the perfect abs?” Nakakunot na ang noo nya. May inis ring bumangon sa dibdib nya.

“How in the world would I know he got perfect abs?” Natatawang tanong ni Olivia. 

“Baka pagt-threadmill lang ang alam nun. Are you sure he’s a nutritionist?”

Olivia looked at her strangely. “Are you jealous?”

“Of course not!”

“Yes, you are,” Olivia teased. Tumingin ito sa wristwatch nito. “I have to go. Ayokong paghintayin nang matagal si Heinrich.”

After almost an hour, Ramcel found herself infront of Victoria’s gate. Si Monica ang lumabas para pagbuksan sya. Natitigilan talaga sya everytime na makikita nya ang nasa mid thirties na babae. Malaki ang hawig nito kay Victoria. Akala nya magpinsan ang mga ito noong una nya itong makilala.

“Hi!” Nakangiting bati nito habang binubuksan ang gate. Kahit may pilat ito sa pisngi, hindi maipagkakailang maganda pa rin ito. Ramcel was curious about Monica’s scar. She asked Victoria about it before but she was hesitant to tell her so she dropped the subject. “Natutulog pa si Victoria.”

“Napuyat ba sya kagabi?” She asked while following Monica inside the house. “Maraming orders?”

Monica looked cautious. “Puntahan mo na lang sa kwarto. I’m sure she won’t mind you waking her up. Baka matuwa pa yun,” sabi na lang nito. “Doon lang ako  sa kitchen. Tatapusin ko yung niluluto ko.”

Iniwan na sya nito sa living room. Ramcel liked Victoria’s home. Hindi ganun kalakihan ang bahay pero hindi rin maliit. It looked cozy too. Malalaki ang glass window ng sala kaya naman kahit natural light lang, maliwanag at maaliwalas ang paligid.

May garden sa harap na natatamnan ng ibat’ibang halaman at bulaklak kaya masarap magmiryenda o magkwentuhan sa veranda nito dahil masarap sa mata ang kulay berdeng trimmed grass at relaxing tignan ang flow ng tubig ng mini fountain sa gitna niyon.

Halatang ginastusan ni Victoria ang pangarap nitong malaking fully equipped kitchen, kung saan nito niluluto ang masasarap na dishes na dinideliver sa mga clients nito.

Malawak pa ang lote sa likod- bahay at pinaplano nitong magpagawa ng pool para daw makapagswimming si Ramcel.

Napangiti tuloy sya habang umaakyat sa wooden staircase ng bahay. She opened Victoria’s room using the spare key she gave her. “You can do whatever you want with me,” may pagkapilyang sabi pa nito nang ibigay sa kanya nito ang susi.

“Tempting,” Ramcel thought when she saw Victoria peacefully sleeping. She was wearing a very seductive black lingerie.

Bago pa sya mag-give in sa kanyang improper thoughts, nilapitan nya ito at tinakpan ang katawan nito gamit ang natanggal na kumot. She took off her shoes and carefully joined Victoria on bed. Wala syang gagawin the whole afternoon at dito sya dinala ng mga paa nya.

Victoria’s bed was comfortable and it felt like home too. Her vanilla scent gave her solace that it sent her to a deep slumber only to be awakened by Victoria’s screamed.

Napabalikwas sya nang bangon and found Victoria tossing in her sleep.

“Hector, don’t!” She muttered. “No…”

“Vi…” Dahan-dahan nyang ginising ito but Victoria kept tossing. Her face seemed to be contorted in pain. She shook her hard this time until Victoria woke up. Takot na takot ito at pawis na pawis. Their eyes locked but Victoria was still confused. “I’m here, Vi. You’re safe.” It took a while for Victoria to relax and realize she was just dreaming.

“Ram…” Mahigpit na yumakap sa kanya si Victoria. Nanginginig ang katawan nito kaya niyakap rin nya ito nang mahigpit hanggang sa humupa ang takot nito.
Marahan nyang hinaplos ang pisngi nito nang bumitaw na ito sa kanya. Victoria finally calmed down.

“What happened to you?” She wanted to ask Victoria. “Let’s go back to sleep. I’ll stay beside you,” she said instead.

Pinaunan nya ito sa balikat nya saka niyakap nang mahigpit hanggang sa makatulog itong muli. Maya-maya’s nakatulog na rin sya. Nagising na lang syang wala na ito sa tabi nya. It was 3PM according to her wristwatch.

Babangon na sana sya nang pumasok si Victoria dala-dala ang isang tray ng pagkain. “Miryenda in bed,” masiglang sabi nito.

Napatulala na naman sya sa kagandahan nito. Nakaponytail ang mahabang buhok nito kaya kitang mas maaliwalas na ang mukha nito. Napagpalit na ito ng white camisole at maikling shorts.

Inilapag nya sa bed ang tray na may lamang baked spaghetti, french bread, malamig na orange juice at ang paborito nyang ensaymada.

Victoria asked how was her day while eating. Sinabi din nitong doon na rin sya magdinner. Nagshare din si Victoria tungkol sa preparation ng restaurant nito sa Antipolo. Dadalhin daw sya nito doon sa susunod na magkatime sya.

“Was he abusive?” Hindi na nya napigilang tanungin si Victoria, na natigilan. “Sinaktan ka ba nya?” Hindi ito sumagot.

“I…I don’t want to talk about him. Parte na sya ng nakaraan, ayoko na syang pag-usapan pa,” Victoria said with finality.

Hindi na nya ito napilit pa lalo at nakatanggap sya ng message mula kay Lauren. Nastroke ulit ang Daddy ni Liezle at dead on arrival ito.