“What makes a person looked more beautiful? It’s their smile. Genuine smile is one of the things that makes the world beautiful and magnificent” — Evander Vestager
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ILLYZA gaped seeing the beautiful city of New York in a broad daylight. Inayos niya ang headset na nasa kanyang ulo at ang mikropono na nakakabit dito. Unang beses niyang maranasan ang ganito at sa kakakilala pa niya.
She looked at him. Sobrang gwapo nito sa paningin niya, she never thought she could see someone that can match with Kevin.
Vaughn is now navigating the helicopter beside her. He is too serious, ni hindi man lang nito magawang tumingin kay Illyza.
She blinked when she felt her cheeks turned red. She changed her gaze at kinagat ang ibabang labi. Everytime she thinks and stare at him tumitibok ng mabilis ang puso niya na hindi niya maintindihan kung bakit niya nararamdaman ang ganitong bagay, he is just an acquaintance.
“Hey!” Tawag ni Vaughn, hindi siya lumingon kay Illyza.
He grinned while operating the helicopter pagkatapos ay lumingon siya sa babae.
Illyza looked back at him. Anong sabi nito?
“Ha?” Inayos niya muli ang mikropono na nakakabit sa headset.
“You’re staring at me for seconds,” mapanukso ang mga mata nitong nakatingin sa kanya. “Do you find me something huh?”
Para lamang nagsasalita ito sa tenga niya.
“Find you something what?”She changed her gaze. Namumula ang kanyang pisngi na nakatanaw sa magandang syudad ng New York.
He chuckled.
Rinig na rinig ni Illyza ang tawa nito and it’s so manly. She can’t deny the handsomeness in his voice. Huminga siya ng malalim.
“Where are we going?” She changed the topic.
“We're heading to the Air Force base in Washington DC. I need to pull out some things.”
Literal na nanlaki ang mga mata ni Illyza sa narinig. Mabilis siyang lumingon dito.
“With me?? Are you even serious?”
“Uh huh! Oh, how I miss flying.”
“Oh my! This is insane Vann! Why did you bring me?”
“Because I want to.”
“You’re absolutely ridiculous!”
“Uh huh, Miss Foreign.”
Luminga-linga si Illyza sa paligid. Kanina pa umalis si Vaughn, naiwan siya sa loob ng helicopter nito.
She stopped seeing a five-year-old kid wearing an Air Force uniform. Nakangiti ang mga taong nakapalibot nito habang kinakausap ito.
Nahinto siya sa pamamasid nang tumunog ang phone niya. She took it inside her sling bag.
Evander calling…
Agad na sumilay ang ngiti sa kanyang labi. This guy, noong isang araw palang niya ito nakilala pero palagay na ang loob niya dito that’s why she gave him her number.
“Hello?” Sagot niya.
She heard him sigh on the other line. Is he sad? Or it is just me?
“Hey!” Pinasigla niya ang boses; he’s being quiet for seconds.
(Can we have dinner tonight?) Biglang sabi nito.
Her brows arched.
“I’m sorry?”
(These days is quite stressing, can we out for a dinner?)
Kinagat ni Illyza ang ibabang labi, gusto sana niya ngunit may trabaho siya.
“You know I have a job here. I can’t Evander and I’m sorry.” Noong araw na nakilala niya ito sinabihan niya ito na may trabaho siya, but she never mentioned what it is and where it is.
(It’s fine, can come with you instead?)
“Uh, uh. It’ll bore you.”
(Nope, it’s fine. Ah... we’ll wait until you finish working.)
Her forehead creased. She was astound hearing one of his words. “We’ll?”
(Oh... yah, haha. I’m gonna bring my brother.)
“You mean, your older brother? Seriously?”
(Yup. Well, my brother is a boring one might as well bring him there. That is his favourite actually...) She remained silence. (Also, I want you to meet Vaughn.)
She shrugged it off. Well, gusto niya ding makita ang nakakatandang kapatid nito para malaman kung bakit patay na patay dito ang babaeng mahal ng lalaking ito.
“I doubt if—”
(What do you mean?)
“I work as a vocalist for the mean time...”
(Uh huh! So you sing.) He said in not a question.
“Hmm, that’s why I cannot come with you tonight.”
(Where is that?)
“Why?”
(Come on, lem’me hear how good you are. We don’t know, after that am gonna be your ardent admirer. Who knows? I wanna see you how you attract your audience with your golden voice.) Pagbibiro nito.
Natawa tuloy si Illyza. This guy brings humour, really. And she likes it. It blew her boredom away.
“Haha, golden voice, you serious?”
(Oh come on, I’m freaking serious here Jasmine.)
“Okay fine, I’ll send you the address.”
(K, bye. See yah later.)
Nang matapos ang tawag ay nakatitig lang si Illyza sa kanyang cellphone. Hindi siya makapaniwala na basta-basta nalang niya binigay ang personal number niya at nagtiwala kaagad. This is not her.
Huminga siya ng malalim at bumaling sa labas ang kanyang mga mata. Nilibot niya ang paningin, sobrang lawak ng lugar at namamangha siya sa mga nakikitang military aircrafts. Just by looking at them, she can say those were substantial.
-----
VAUGHN held his hands tighter. Nanginginig ang kanyang mga kamay na nasa gilid, ito ang panghuling tapak niya sa lugar. Gusto tuloy niyang suntukin ang mga taong dahilan ng pag-alis niya sa trabaho.
“Captain Vestager!”
He stopped when a friend called him. Nilingon niya ito.
The man eyed on a small box he was holding, ito ang kaisa-isang bagay na pinakaimportante sa kanya na naiwan niya dito. It’s an insignia of a GOAF o General of the Air Force na bigay sa kanya ng namayapang lolo na dating Air Force din. He dreamed to reach that rank pero pinutol lang ito ng mga taong kinamumuhian niya ngayon.
Lumingon sa kanya ang kaibigan, he’s Robert a Senior Master Sergeant. Awa ang nakikita niya sa mga mata nito. Tanging ito lang din ang nakakaalam ng kanyang sekreto, ang totoong dahilan kung bakit napilitan siyang umalis sa kanyang pinakapangarap na trabaho. The man smiled and stood firmly pagkatapos ay sumaludo ito sa kanya.
“I’m so proud of you, Captain.”
Vaughn smirked at dumiin ang pagkakahawak niya sa box na dala. Tumungo siya at umiling-iling. Hindi siya nagsalita dahil sa galit.
Naramdaman naman ito ng kaibigan niya kaya muli itong nagsalita.
“Uh... let’s have a shot soon.” Sumaludo itong muli bago umalis.
Napahinga siya ng malalim at muling tinapunan ng tingin ang lugar. This is the last time he’ll step this place. Ngumiti siya ng mapait, lahat ng taong nakikita niya ay abala sa kanya-kanya nilang trabaho.
Vaughn is on his way to the base when a call stopped him. He took his phone in his pocket and never bother to see who’s calling.
(Zup bro!)
So it's his brother.
“Hell yeah. Why you’re callin’?”
Lumingon siya sa malayo at bumalik sa ala-ala niya ang unang beses na nakapasok siya sa lugar. He was beyond grateful that time. Dito sa lugar na ito nabuo ang pangarap niya ngunit para lang itong bula na mabilis na naglaho dahil sa isang bagay na kahit kailan hindi niya pinangarap na pasukin.
(... and you're gonna meet my friend...)
He had girlfriends before pero hindi sumagi sa isip niya ang magpakasal sa kahit isa sa kanila dahil una palang, wala na siyang plano para rito. He only wants freedom, and that freedom gives him happiness. He wants to travel on his own, taste different women and die alone, ‘yan ang gusto niya. He didn’t see himself being married dahil ayaw niyang may komukontrol sa kanya at gastusin lahat ng perang pinaghirapan niya. He’s selfish, yeah. Ang gusto lang niya ay maging matandang binata. And when it comes to sex, pwede naman siyang pumunta sa bar at kumuha ng kahit na sinong babae. No one ignores his charm kaya mataas ang kompyansa niya sa sarili.
(... okay? So, what is your thought about it?)
What?
Napakurap-kurap siya. Salita ng salita ang kapatid niya pero hindi man lang siya nakinig.
He bit his lower lip at nagkamot sa batok.
“Ah... yah, yah. It’s okay...” Sagot niya. Hindi niya alam kung ano ang pinagsasabi ng kapatid niya kanina. Basta nalang siya sumagot.
(Okay?? Haha lol. Alright then! I’ll text you the address later.)
Muli siyang napahinga. Hindi niya alam kung anong ibig sabihin no’ng sinabi ng kapatid niya. Siguro makikipag-inuman na naman ito sa kanya at iiwan siya dahil nakakita na naman ito ng bagong ikakama.
He shook his head and smirked.
-----
KINUHANAN ni Illyza ng litrato ang lugar at napangiti. Unang beses siyang nakapasok sa airbase ng U.S Air Force at halos mapatanga siya sa lugar. She then thought the feeling of being an Air Force wife, pareho din kaya ng ekspresyon niya sila? Siguro ay masaya at sobra silang proud sa asawa nila.
Ngunit agad siyang namula at umiling. What is she thinking about? She’s not even an Air Force wife nor girlfriend, kaya napahinga siya ng malalim. She should stop thinking of this, hindi niya gusto ang mga tumatakbo sa isipan niya.
Pinaypayan niya ang sarili, hindi niya alam pero bigla siyang naiyak. Naiinis na siya sa sarili of why she became so emotional these days.
Pinahid niya ang luha at lumingon sa mga taong nakita niya kanina kasama ang isang black American na batang lalaki. She was too serious watching them kaya hindi niya naramdaman ang pagdating ng isang tao.
“Oh that...”
Napatda si Illyza nang may biglang nagsalita sa gilid niya, it was Vaughn. Nandito na pala ito ni hindi man lang niya naramdaman ang pagpasok nito.
“The child is a cancer patient, he was given the official order to be a pilot-for-the-day from Col. Gregory Green. That is with the help from the Pediatric Cancer Institution.”
Nilingon niya ito. Her brows rose so quickly. Ang mga mata nito ay nakatingin sa kanyang tinitignan kanina lang.
“That was his ultimate dream, to be a U.S Air Force pilot.”
Do’n na lumingon sa kanya ang lalaki with is usual pokerface.
“How did you know?”
“Seriously?” His forehead creased. “You really asking me that huh?”
Di makapaniwalang anang Vaughn. Tanungin ba daw kung bakit niya alam.
Ngumuso si Illyza at umayos ng upo; tumungo siya at pinaglaruan ang kamay. She can’t help but to feel weird, she’s now acting childish to an acquaintance. Wtf is happening to her?
“Nagtatanong lang eh...” Walang gana niyang sabi.
Nangunot padin ang noo ng lalaki. Obviously, he don’t understand her. Is this really the real her?
“We were informed with this beforehand, so there’s no reason to be unaware of this event.”
“Okay”
Napangiti si Illyza matapos makausap ang manager ng restaurant kung saan pansamantala siyang nagtatrabaho. She was given the chance to take a break for tonight, wala namang problema dahil nakahanap na din naman ang manager na papalit sa kanya kung sakaling babalik na siya ng Pilipinas. At ito ngayon ang papalit muna sa kanya.
She took her phone and texted Evander. Nakangiti siya habang tinatype kung saang restaurant siya nagtatrabaho. She’s excited, hindi niya alam pero gusto niyang makita ang lalaki lalo na ang nakatatandang kapatid nito.
She sighed and scroll over social media. Nakita niya ang mga litrato ng kapwa niya artista, they’re happy with their lives.
Agad siyang napakagat labi, gusto na niyang bumalik ng Pilipinas. She misses acting, performing on stage, the food, the people, and the environment. She misses everything especially... Kevin.
Kumusta na kaya ito? Iniisip din kaya siya nito?
Lots of thoughts on her mind but it stopped when a snap of fingers came in front of her face.
Mabilis na umangat ang kanyang ulo to see who’s the person.
It’s Evander, smiling widely.
“Hey!” Sabi nito. “Why so serious ha?” Then he sat across her.
“Ah...” Umiling-iling siya. “No-Nothing. It was just... something isn’t important.” She lied.
Tumango naman ang lalaki na parang wala lang din dito. “Uh, okay”
She smiled tightly.
“Oh by the way, I’m sorry I’m late.”
Umiling-iling si Illyza. “No, you’re just on time.”
“Oh! Ah... It’s almost seven, I’m ready to hear your golden voice.” Tumaas-baba pa ang kilay nito matapos sabihin ‘yon.
Natawa tuloy siya.
“Don’t bluff...”
“No, ah’m not. Ah’m serious, really.”
She smiled genuinely. There is something about him na nagpapagaan talaga ng loob niya. Huminga siya ng malalim at nangalumbaba. Tinitigan niya ng maigi ang mukha nito.
“You know, I’m really comfortable with you. I-I don’t know why but... I feel like, I’ve known you for a very long time,” kumurap-kurap siya. “Or... I am just exaggerating things. But I want you to know that you’re one of the most genuine person I knew.” She shrugged her shoulders. “Well, that’s what I felt. I may be wrong but... that’s how I see you.” She said with honesty.
Naningkit ang mga mata ng lalaki. He tilted his head and stare at her a little bit serious.
“Don’t just believe people Jasmine by how you’ve seen them externally.” Seryoso nitong sabi. “You knew me not too long ago. What if... I am just fooling you around? You know I’m after women. What if, being close to you is one of my strategy to get you? What if?”
Ngumisi si Illyza. “What if?”
Tumango ang lalaki. “Yeah, what if?”
“Those were just what if’s, Evander. You know, everything didn’t really matter of how long have you been together as a friend, as a lover, or what. What matters most is, how genuine you are as a person. Yeah, I just knew you recently but you showed me the real you. You shared me about your secret, your family, and the name of the woman you love knowing I am a total stranger. I could've judge you. Well, to be honest I judge people, really... What if I knew your family, or worst, I’ll find them? I could tell something to them so they could push through the wedding of your brother. And you? End up broken.” Umayos siya ng upo. “I could be like that but I opted not to.” Then she smiled. “Same to you, you don’t know me too.”
Napatanga si Evander. Goodness! This girl is different. How could she believed me this fast?
Ngunit sa huli napailing nalang si Evander. Masasabi niyang ibang klase itong babae. His brother must know her dahil pakiramdam niya ito ang dapat itapat sa nakatatandang kapatid.
Napahilamos ang isang kamay niya sa mukha at umupo ng maayos, napahinga siya ng malalim. Tinignan niya ito ng mariin. Illyza still smiling kaya napangiti nadin siya. Nakakahawa ang ngiti nito.
“What makes a person looked more beautiful? It’s their smile. Genuine smile is one of the things that makes the world beautiful and magnificent.” Pag-iiba ni Evander ng usapan.
Dumako ang mga mata niya sa maliit na stage ng restaurant at agad na nangunot ang noo nang magsimulang kumanta ang isang babae. He thought it’s her whose gonna sing.
Mabilis na lumingon siya kay Illyza.
“Hey! I thought you’re the singer?”
Hindi agad ito sinagot ni Illyza. Umangat ang kanyang kamay para umorder. Pagkatapos kunin ng waiter ang kanilang order ay saka niya ito binalingan. Good thing nasa malayo ang kanilang table, nakapwesto ito sa masyadong tago na lugar.
“I took a break”
Tumango ang lalaki at binalingan ang phone na tumunog.
“Hey! Where’s your brother?”
Hindi siya nito sinagot at nagtipa ito sa kanyang cellphone. After a minute ay binalingan siya nito.
“Oh that, I’m sorry. He’ll be late for minutes. He needs to rush someone to the hospital.”
Nangalumbaba si Illyza.
“So, he’s a good man huh...”
“Haha funny, he isn’t. Maybe someone asked him a favour and he had no choice.”
“However he’s a good man...”
“Nope. He isn’t, really.”
Ngumiti nalang si Illyza at tumayo. She excuses herself to go to the toilet.
Nang makabalik siya sa kanilang table ay agad niyang namataan ang likod ng isang lalaki na nakatayo, siguro ito na ang kapatid ni Evander na tantya niya ay kadarating lang.
Agad siyang sinakop ng kaba, hindi niya maintindihan ang sarili pakiramdam niya kilala niya ang lalaking ito.
“Oh, there she is!”
Anang Evander at tumayo. Lumingon naman sa kanya ang lalaki.
Agad na umawang ang bibig ni Illyza nang makita ito ng buo.
It’s Vann! She exclaimed in her mind. Dumiin ang hawak niya sa kanyang sling bag.
“Oh, Vaughn. She's the girl I’m talking about. She’s, Jasmine.” Nilingon ni Evander ang babae at ngumiti. “Jasmine, meet my brother, Vaughn.”
Vaughn was taken aback. Hindi man halata na nabigla siya pero tudo na ang kabang sumanib sa kanya sa loob.
He couldn’t talk, hanggang tingin lang siya kay Illyza. He stood firmly in front of her as what he’d been doing when he’s still in the Air Force. Pakiramdam niya binuhusan siya ng isang baldi ng tubig.
“Vaughn?” Anang Illyza sa malamig na tuno. Tumaas ang sulok ng labi niya, did he just lied to her?
“So you’re Vaughn, Vann?”
“Vann?? Who’s Vann? He’s Vaughn.”
Nilingon ni Illyza si Evander at pinigilan ang sarili na lumuha. “He’s Vann...”
Nangunot ang noo ni Evander sa sinabi niya.
“He’s Vaughn, my brother. And no, he’s not Vann.”
Do’n na umakyat lahat ng dugo ni Illyza. He just lied to her, big time! He’s one hell of a liar!
Hanggang ngayon tikom parin ang bibig ni Vaughn sa nangyari. He didn’t see this coming.
“Wait... You knew each other?”
A lone tear fell from her eye. Huminga siya ng malalim at nilingon si Vaughn sa galit na ekspresyon.
“He just lied to me”
To be continued...
✴ever_minah✴