COUNTER PLAY
Chapter 17
Napaangat siya ng tingin nang marinig ang pagbubukas ng pinto ng kwarto ni Hannah.
“It’s late, bakit di ka pa natutulog?” Tanong ni Hannah at hinila ang upuan sa tabi niya.
“Pupunta akong trial court bukas, I’m just looking at the case again.”
“Hmm, do you want tea or coffee?” Tumayo ito at pumunta sa kitchen.
“Coffee, my lady.”
Siya na ang mismong kumuha ng kape at dinala iyon sa lamesa. Kumuha naman si Hannah ng libro at naupo sa tabi niya.
“So anong ginagawa mo pa?”
“Thinking of all the possible scenarios.”
“Oh, have you ever been nervous doing your job?” Tanong ni Hannah sa kanya.
“Yes. Noong una pero hindi na ngayon. I got used to it, the system, everything. Everything is scary at first. How about you?”
“Yes, pero gaya mo nasanay na rin ako.”
“Have you been scared of anything before? I know you hate bugs, insects. Palaka at ipis ang pinaka ayaw mo, pero hindi natin napag usapan ang ganito noon.”
May munting ngiti sa labi ni Hannah pero naglaho iyon at nagbuntong hininga ito.
“I was so scared when I gave birth to Jabril. I was all alone.”
Sa pagkakataong iyon ay siya naman ang tila nawalan ng hangin. Damn, hindi niya inasahan ang ganoon kabigat na sagot ni Hannah.
Mabilis niyang hinagip ang kamay nito at lumuhod siya sa harapan nito.
“Tom, what are you doing? Stand up.” Utos nito sa kanya pero hindi siya tumalima.
“I should’ve groveled a long time ago. I’m sorry, Hannah. I’ve been saying how much I loved you before yet I let a little lie tear us apart. I’m sorry, I’ll grovel more if you want. I don’t know what to do, Hannah but I want you, I need you, and I love you. Shit, I’m saying it again and I might sound insincere but it’s the truth.”
Ramdam niya ang paninikip ng lalamunan niya at ang paghapdi ng mga mata niya. Sa kanilang dalawa ni Hannah ay di hamak na mas emosyonal siya.
“Oh Thomas, please stand up. It’s okay.” Sabi ni Hannah at pinipilit siyang patayuin. Hinihila nito ang braso niya pero nanatili siyang nasa sahig.
“It is not. I will forever be apologizing, and will make it up to you until my temporal vessel permits me to do so.”
“Thomas, please tumayo ka na. It’s okay, nakaraan na ‘yon, I’m okay, we’re okay. Normal delivery ang nangyari at wala namang complication na kahit na ano.”
“Even so, I should have been there with you. I should have shared the pain with you. I should have been with you ... with you.”
Gumaralgal ang tinig niya pero hindi niya iyon alintana. He deserves this agony. This penance of repentance.
“Look, hindi kita sinusumbatan.”
“I know that. Lahat ng tao ay susumbatan ako sa nagawa ko sa’yo, pero ikaw ang kabukod tanging hindi. You’re way better than the best and yet I did that to you.”
“Thomas, please … I didn’t say that to make you feel bad or regret about what happened to us.”
“But I’m regretting it, Hannah. Every single day of my life, I will be regretting hurting you. I regret what I did, what I said, and I’m sorry it took me too long to contemplate on my mistakes.”
