The Art of Falling

21: Trouble in Paradise

Kaka-send ko lang nung text nang may umupo sa tabi ko. Pagkatingin ko si Xander pala. Umiwas ako ng tingin at pasimpleng pinunasan yung pisngi ko. "Uy. Nandito ka pa pala."

"The campus is closing soon."

"Oo nga." Tumayo ako mula sa bench. "Sige, uwi na ako."

"I'll take you home."

"Okay lang. Walking distance lang naman yung dorm."

"Jess."

Kahit na labag sa kalooban ko, hinatid pa rin ako ni Xander. Nagulat pa ako kasi nilagpasan namin yung dorm at dumiretso siya sa isang fast food para mag-drive thru. Inabot niya sa akin yung paper bag nang walang sinsabi. Dun ko lang naalala na hindi pa nga pala ako kumain ng dinner. Kakahintay at kakahanap kay Caeus, nalipasan na ako ng gutom. Nagpasalamat ako sa pagkain at sa paghatid. Si Xander may parting words na naman sa akin kaya nagulo na naman utak ko. Hindi ako kaagad na nakatulog kakaisip sa sinabi niya at sa pag-aalala kay Caeus.

"This is just the beginning, Jess. His world is more complicated than you think."

Halos 2 AM na nang maramdaman ko yung vibration ng phone ko. Sunud-sunod na dumating yung mga messages mula kay Caeus.

Jess, I'm so sorry.

I'll explain everything tomorrow.

I'm really sorry about tonight.

I love you, BG.

I'll see you tomorrow.

Relief rushed inside me. At least I know he's okay. Whatever happened to him tonight, I'm sure there was a valid explanation. Right then, I understood what Xander was trying to tell me.

*****

Hindi ko alam kung paano tamang i-describe yung itsura ni Caeus. Ngayon ko lang siya nakitang ganito. Mukha siyang pagod na pagod. Ang laki ng eye bags niya. Parang hindi siya natulog ng isang linggo. Kahit na bagong ligo siya, halata pa rin yung pagod at puyat sa mukha niya.

"Jess, I don't know where to begin." yan ang unang lumabas sa bibig niya.

Kasalukuyan kaming nasa loob ng sasakyan niya. Maaga siyang nagpunta dito dahil may pasok siya kahit Sabado. Nagdala siya ng almusal pero parang parehas kaming walang ganang kumain.

"Okay ka lang ba? Mukha kang pagod."

"I'm fine now that I saw you. I missed you so much."

"Anong nangyari kagabi?"

"I had to work overtime. I had to drive to Laguna and meet Amber's dad for an appointment with a client. I really thought I could make it so I promised to be with you. God, I wanted to see you so bad. The meeting took longer than expected then we had to take the clients to dinner. I thought I could skip it but Mr. Gray insisted. I had to stay. I was already on the road when I realised I left my phone at the factory. It was almost midnight when I got back in the city. I'm really sorry for ditching you."

"It's okay, Caeus. I understand. Wait. Amber's dad?"

"Yeah, I'm an intern in his company."

"With Amber."

"Of course. Where else would she work?"

Hindi ko alam kung may dapat ba akong maramdaman na hindi man lang niya nabanggit na sa daddy pala ni Amber siya nag-i-internship at kasama niya si Amber palagi.

"Kasama ba sa meeting niyo kagabi si Amber?"

"Yes." Caeus answered without hesitation. He saw the changed expression on my face. "BG, I know what you're thinking. Amber is her father's right hand. As soon as she graduates, most of their company operations will be managed by her. It was her job to be there."