Nasa harap ko ngayon ang isang babae na naka-black swimsuit cover up dress, neon orange triangl swimwear, aviator shades at nakapusod na buhok. She looks sexy by the way. And pretty. Really pretty.
Oh, wait, it’s just my reflection from the elevator’s door. Bumukas na ‘yung pinto at naglakad ako papunta sa outdoor pool.
The sun’s heat welcomed me as I walked out the door. There are no people in the pool. Walang batang naglalaro o mag-jowang naghaharutan. There’s no one- Oh, except for this one man puffing his cigarette while facing the pool.
Tinignan ko ang likod niya mula ulo hanggang paa. Black wavy hair, white shirt and white pants. If I’m not mistaken, this one’s the walking dead.
Nilagpasan ko siya at naglakad sa gilid ng pool palapit sa isang beach seat. I faced the pool then took off my shades and cover up. I put it on the seat then dived into the pool.
Lumangoy ako hanggang sa makaabot ako sa gitna. Kinuha ko ‘yung pool raft at umupo dito. Napatingin ako sa gawi ni Charles at nagsalubong ang tingin namin. A black eye on his right eye and small wound on his lower lip.
“A not so good morning… Chef,” I greeted him.
He puffed his cigarette then gave me a nod.
“Kahapon, alak ang almusal mo. Ngayon naman, yosi,” panimula ko. “Baka naman bukas drugs na almusalin mo,” biro ko. Pero alam naman nating lahat na jokes are half meant true.
He just stared at me. Walang reaksyon. Hilain ko kaya ‘to dito sa pool at lunurin. Tignan natin kung hindi ka sumigaw ng tulong.
Tinitigan ko ‘yung peklat sa mukha niya. Saan niya kaya nakuha ‘yun? O di kaya parte lang talaga ‘yun ng disguise niya?
Nailang ata siya kasi bigla siyang napayuko.
“Bakit may peklat ka sa mukha?” tanong ko.
Tinignan niya uli ako.
“Nakipag-basag ulo ka ba? O nasangkot ka sa isang aksidente? O talagang may ganyan ka na simula bata pa lang?” pangungulit ko.
Patuloy lang siya sa paninigarilyo.
“Mukha ka namang mayaman. Well, for sure malaki ang kinikita mo bilang Chef, bat di mo patanggal ‘yang peklat mo? Sayang, mukha ka pa namang gwapo,” patuloy ko.
He laughed. Pero syempre walang sound. Kasi nga pinapanindigan niya pagiging pipi niya. Aaaw, one thing na hindi niya napa-retoke eh ang kanyang dimples.
Well, ayaw niya talaga akong kausapin. Puro titig, buga ng usok ng sigarilyo, ngiti at tawa lang ang ginawa. Tsh. Humiga na ako sa raft. Pumikit ako at inenjoy na lang ang init ng araw. Vitamin D pa ‘to since seven pa lang ng umaga.
The plan for today is to get inside HY’s room. But, Chai will do it alone. Kailangan kong sumama sa training kung nandoon si Hye Soo. First, para bantayan siya. And second, baka maghinala siya.
Chai’s trying to search some records for the man named Stephen Devenecia. All these responsibilities and duties lessen my sleep time. My brain says sleep is for the weak and I have plenty of sleep time when I am dead. Sometimes I don’t want to be an adult anymore. Namimiss ko na ‘yung mga panahong tinatakasan ko lang ‘yung elementary teacher ko para matulog sa school clinic namin. Ugh. Okaya ‘yung dahilan lang kaya ako pagod ay dahil nakipag-showdown ako ng spaghetti sa corrido-
“Summer,” a familiar sexy beast voice called me. I opened my eyes and a hot guy in a suit is now standing beside Charles.
Oh. I straighten up and sit on the raft. “Good morning, Boss,” I greet him with a smile.
“I’ve been calling you,” he replied, no sign of good in his morning.
“I’m out for a swim, so I left my phone in my room.”
He put his hands inside his pockets, let out a heavy sigh and stiffened his jaw. What have I done wrong now? “Get out of the pool,” he ordered.
What am I? Twelve? “I am jus-“
“I said get out of the pool, Summer. What part of that didn’t you understand?” a pang of anger in his voice.
I opened my mouth to say something. But then I choose to shut my mouth. I get off the raft then swim towards the pool stairs.
Sinuot ko na uli ‘yung cover up ko at kinuha ‘yung shades. I turn to look at Trevor. Wala na si Charles sa tabi niya. “What’s with the attitude, huh? Nga pala, good morning, huh,” I sarcastically said then began to walk.
“What the hell are you doing?” he asked with a creased forehead.
“Ano ba sa tingin mo? Ni-lelenchon ‘yung sarili ko sa ilalim ng araw? Malamang nag-susunbathing di ba?”
Nang malagpasan ko siya, hinawakan niya ako sa braso para pigilan maglakad. “Sunbathing while that man was staring at your half-naked body!?”
Hah, dyusme. “Ano ba ang sinusuot sa pagsusunbathing? Sige, ha, next time hindi ko na kakalimutan ‘yung jacket at jogging pants ko. Samahan na din natin ng helmet, ano po?”
He let out a deep sigh. “I don’t want you near that man.”
Napaikot ako ng mata. “I am in the pool, he’s smoking beside the pool. Our skin didn’t even touched. He’s the head chef of this hotel and he is the dietitian of the pageant’s candidates. Didn’t Hye Soo already introduced him to you?”
“I know. That’s why I don’t want you near him.”
“I am not flirting with him,” agad kong sagot.
“I am not accusing you of flirting with him.”
“But what you are acting now is accusing me of flirting with him.” I rolled my eyes again. “You act-“
“I am jealous, protective and possessive,” he cut me off. “Now I don’t want to see you near that man again.” Binaba niya ang pagkakahawak niya mula sa aking braso papunta sa aking kamay. “Go change your clothes and I’ll wait for you in the Diner.”
Teka nga, teka nga. Wait a minute. Pinaningkitan ko siya ng mata. Hmm… Mga ilang segundo ko pa siya tinitigan. “Ayun ba talaga dahilan mo?”
He looked at me with questioning eyes. “What do you mean?”
He doesn’t want me near Stephen or Charles. May alam ka na ba sa pagkatao ni Stephen? I remember Stephen’s name written on a tissue inside his passport. Instead of speaking my thoughts out, I shook my head. “Wala. Magpapalit na ako.” Tumalikod na ako at pumasok sa hotel.
I changed into a floral dress then went at Escolta Diner. I found Trevor in a two-seat table beside the table of Hye Soo and the candidates.
I sit in front of him. “Did you get enough sleep?”
“I guess five-hour sleep is enough.”
I nod and started to eat. Kakasubo ko pa lang ng mapansin ‘yung kamay ni Trevor habang naghihiwa siya ng ulam. A bruised knuckle. Natigil ako sa pagnguya at tinignan siya sa mata. Ngunit sa pagkain lang siya nakatingin. Bakit naman ‘to magkakaroon ng pasa diyan? Kanino naman ‘to makikipagbasag-ulo? Teka nga, may pasa kanina si Charles sa mukha, di ba? Agad kong nilunok ‘yung pagkain ko at uminom ng tubig. “Kailan ka pa nakipagsuntukan?” mataray kong tanong sakanya.
Natigil siya sa paghiwa at tumingin sa akin. Hindi niya ako sinagot at kumurap lang.
“Kailan pa?” tanong ko uli. Pero this time with matching taas na ng isang kilay.
“I tried to stop a brawl,” kalmado niyang sagot sabay balik sa pagkain.
“Brawl? Saan? Sa burol ni Tita? Bakit, saan ba nakaburol Mommy mo? Sa kalye?” sunod sunod kong tanong.
He raised an eyebrow. “Brawl doesn’t only happen in streets, Summer. Two business rivals who’s visiting Mom’s wake got into a fight and I just tried to stop them.”
I stared at him for seconds. “Of all the places, Trevor? Sa burol pa ni Tita? Talaga lang ha.”
“Kapag ikaw pwedeng masangkot sa gulo, ako hindi?”
“That’s not what I meant.”
“So you mean to say that I am lying?” he said in hard tone of voice.
“Hindi sa akin nanggaling ‘yan.”
“Because that’s what you are trying to imply, Summer!”
Calm yo self down, Summer. Calm yo self! I managed to look around, some of the candidates are now looking at us. Kalmado akong tumayo, “Let’s talk about this in private,” at saka tumalikod para maglakad palabas.
Lumabas ako papunta sa outdoor pool. Nang maramdaman kong nasa likod ko na siya, humarap ako sakanya at binigyan siya ng masamang tingin. “Ano bang ginawa ko para paggaspangan mo ako ng ugali, ha!?”
He looked at me with fierced eyes. “Why don’t you ask yourself first, huh?”
“Itatanong ko ba sayo kung alam ko naman!?”
“Okay, then why don’t we ask your Mr. Head Chef?”
Napahalukipkip ako sa sinabi niya. So this is all about Charles. “What are you talking about?”
“What am I talking about, Summer!? Ha!? What am I talking about!? You went out with that guy yesterday morning. What reaction do you want from me after knowing that, Summer!?”
I show no anger nor guilt. “Kanino mo nalaman ‘yan?”
“Importante pa ba ‘yun!? The thing here is-“
“No!” I raised my index to stop him. “Answer my question! ‘Wag mong ipaikot ang kwento!”
“At ako pa ngayon ang nagpapaikot ng kwen-“
“Answer my godda.mn question, Trevor! Kanino mo nalaman!?”
“It’s not what we are-“
“It’s either ako ang pinasusundan mo o si Stephen Devenecia! Now tell me, kanino mo nalaman!?”
A long silence embraced us. I stared at him as I wait for his answer. “Priscilla told me.”
Oh. Wow naman, kaya pala hindi nagpaparamdam ang babaeng hitad, may pinaplano pala. “Then?”
Nagsalubong ang kilay niya. “Then what?”
“Then naniwala ka sakanya? May ibang ebidensya?”
“She sent me a picture.”
Aaah. Ano ba ‘yan, hindi pa ako sikat may paparazzi na agad na sumusunod. “A picture? Nang ano? Nang naglalampungan kami? Nang naghahalikan kami? Nang nag-ses.ex kami? Nang ano Trevor? Nang ano para maging ganyan ka kagalit sa akin?” I said in a cracked voice.
His face softens.
Alam niyo ‘yung masakit? ‘Yung ikaw ‘yung girlfriend pero doon sa ex unang naniwala. “Nang ano Trevor!? Sagutin mo ko! Bakit sakanya ka naniwala!?” I yelled. I didn’t even noticed I was close to tears until one falls to my cheek. Alam kong wala akong ginawa para masaktan ko siya. Walang mali sa ginawa ko. And I know Trevor. He’s not immature para umabot ng ganito ‘tong away namin. “Ayun ba talaga ang dahilan mo?” I asked.
He tried to reach me to touch my face. Pero iniwas ko ang mukha ko at hinawi ang kamay niya.
“Ayun ba talaga ang dahilan mo!?” my voice raised again.
He just stared at me. No answer but silence. We’ve had this kind of conversation before. I clearly remembered it.
“Ayun ba talaga ang dahilan mo kung bakit ayaw mo akong mapalapit kay Stephen Devenecia? Dahil ba nagseselos ka lang?” I asked, my eyes locked on his. “O may iba kang dahilan kaya ayaw mo akong palapitin kay Stephen Devenecia?”
He’s trying to kill me with silence. Some things never change. Same as the way you beat me with silence to cover up your brother.
“Kilala mo ba talaga si Stephen Devenecia, Trevor?”
No answer. More silence.
I looked around. Still, we’re the only people in here. “Kilala mo siya, hindi ba? Sagutin mo ko, Trevor. Please lang.”
But my Trevor became mute.
“Siya ba ‘yung dahilan ng business trip mo? Siya ba ‘yung dahilan bakit inatake ‘yung Mommy mo? Kaya mo ba ako pinapalayo sakanya kasi kilala mo kung sino siya? Kasi ayaw mong malaman ko kung sino talaga siya? Ayun ba ‘yung dahilan talaga at sumegway sa right timing lang ‘tong issue na brining up ni Priscilla, ha?” I know you, Trevor. I know even your silence.
I just nodded when he didn’t answer all of my question. “Alam mo ganitong ganito din tayo noon nung pinagtatakpan mo ‘yung kapatid mo eh. Ang pinagkaiba lang eh noon nasa loob tayo ng interrogation room ng detention dahil sa kagagawan ng kapatid mo.”
“You knew,” he finally speaks.
“Malalaman at malalaman ko, Trevor. Dahil alam kong sangkot pa din siya sa trabaho ko ngayon. Ang tunay na nakakagulat dito eh, bakit alam mo?”
And again, he just stared at me.
“Ano pang nalalaman mo sakanya, Trevor?”
He shook his head.
“May alam ba si Fatima dito?”
“Fatima has nothing to do with this.”
Naalala ko ‘yung sinabi sa akin ni Fatima noon na huling tulong na niyang gagawin kay Trevor para ipagtanggol si Charles ay ‘yung sa Hotel Valiant. My jaw stiffened. “Hanggang ngayon pa din ba ipagtatanggol mo ‘yung kapatid mo!?”
“Because that’s it, Summer. Kapatid ko siya.”
“Kapatid mo na sinira ‘yung buhay mo.”
“Kung meron mang nasira ang buhay sa amin dalawa, ayun ay ‘yung buhay niya. And he needs me-“
“Do you even hear yourself!? He needs you aft-“
“Of course he needs me! Kung meron mang totoong nakakakilala sakanya ako lang ‘yun, Summer! I am his brother! I am his family!” he muttered under his breath. “You, do you even hear yourself? Ilagay mo nga ang katayuan mo sa kalagayan ko. Hindi mo din ba gagawin ‘yun para sa kapatid mo?” namimilog mata niyang tanong.
“Trevor… Alam ko naman kung ano ang tama sa mali. Trevor, mali na. Mali na ‘tong-“
“Kasi ganun magmahal, Summer! Kahit alam mong mali na ipaglalaban mo kasi mahal mo nga eh, di ba? Summer, mahal ko ‘yung kapatid ko. Gusto kong iligtas siya. Gusto kong ipagpatuloy niya ‘yung buhay niya ng maayos kahit pa sa ibang katauhan.”
I don’t know what to say anymore. I closed my eyes and let out a heavy breath. “He didn’t care about you, Trevor. He only thinks about is himself. Kung mabuting tao siya, sumuko na siya noon pa sa batas. Kung mabuting tao siya, tatanggapin niya ‘yung parusang nararapat para sakanya. He doesn’t deserve your kindness, Trevor.”
He shook his head. “You don’t know what he’s been through or going through. You don’t know his reasons.”
“Reasons? What reasons? Irrational reasons? What he’s going through? So may alam ka sa kung anong meron sa buhay niya ngayon? Trevor, he’s a drug lord! What shtty reasons are you talking about?”
He brushed his hair and licked his dry lips as if trying to find the right answer to my questions. “There’s a reason behind everything, Summer. Same goes why the thief stole in a drug store to save his child’s life. There’s always a reason, and the reason is what really defines a person.”
- - -
Why, Trevor? Why? Just give me a reason. Just a little bit's enough. Just a second we're not broken just bent and we can learn to love again.
Charing! Napaagang update! Tayo'y magdiwang! Yeheeey!
Hindi kineri ng bugso ng damdamin ko at kahit na may lakad ako mamayang 10am gora lang sa pagsusulat 'til the sun rise.
Hope you guys enjoy this Chap. Tho there's no happy scenerio here... or just at least enjoy my early update. Lol.