ITINAGO NI Pyr ang ngiti niya nang pumayag si Dessert na matulog silang dalawa ni Vegas sa silid nito.
Kanina pa ito tinatanong ni Vegas at mukhang nakulitan na ito sa anak nila kaya pumayag na ito. Busangot ang mukha nito pero hindi niya parin maiwasang matuwa.
He'll just try to make her smile later before bed. How? Pyrmont doesn't really know, but he will try.
"Hon," tawag niya dito.
Lumingon ito mula sa panonood sa pagpa-puzzle ni Vegas. Nasa sala silang tatlo at dahil linggo ay walang trabaho si Dessert tulad kahapon. Siya naman ay ganoon din. Umalis naman ang mga kaibigan niya para bigyan silang buong pamilya ng oras para sa isa't isa.
"Ano na naman?" kunot noong tanong nito.
Nagsalubong ang kilay niya dahil sa yamot na pagtatanong nito. Di man lang lambingan. Tss. Pero ayos na rin kahit ganito ito. Kahit papaano ay hindi na siya nito iniiwasan at kinakausap na siya nito kahit silang dalawa lang.
"One of my friends will hold a birthday party at Ravage bar two weeks from now, will you be my date?" he asked.
Tumayo ito mula sa tabi ni Vegas na nakadapa sa carpet saka naupo sa tabi niya sa sofa.
"Wala ka bang ibang babae na mayaya? At ako talaga?" mahinang tanong nito para siguro hindi marinig ni Vegas.
"I only invite someone whom I want to be with."
"What about that woman in the parking lot? Where is she?" Hanap nito sa kung sinong babae na hindi niya maalala.
"Can't remember who are you referring to," he said, his brain busy trying to remember the woman she's talking about.
"The woman in the parking lot at the mall the day we first time see each other again."
"Oh," Pyrmont nodded then shrugged nonchalantly. "I don't know her. Didn't know you were around that time."
"Malamang wala kang mapapansin ng oras na iyon. Busy kang pakapa," she hissed.
Pyrmont's brows knitted into a lost frown then he remembers what happened that day.
Oh... fuck...
He swallowed and straightened in his seat. "It was n-nothing..." he nervously explained. "The woman was flirting and I just... pushed her away in," he cleared his throat, "you know... hon—"
"I don't know yet Pyr, you tell me?" she dryly cut him.
Pyrmont's jaw moved then leaned his head in the sofa and lay inert while looking at the chandelier.
"I have my rude way of pushing away women who tries to get me to fuck them." Ibinaling niya ang tingin kay Dessert na blangko lang na nakatingin sa ginagawa ni Vegas. "That's letting them know that they're not heating me by letting them touch me. Then I leave them alone."
"How unique," sarcastically she retorted. "But it doesn't really matter. Ayaw ko sumama—"
"Fine with me." Pyrmont move to lay down, with care so as not to put strain on his shoulder.
Ignoring her glare, he rested his head on Dessert's thighs. "I'm not going if you don't come with me."
Pumikit ito habang malalim na bumubunot ng hininga. It's noticeable that she's trying to calm herself from annoyance. Hindi siya nito maitulak dahil naroon si Vegas at may sugat siya na ito na mismo ang nag-aasikaso.
"Pyr, please leave me out of it. Hindi ko kilala ang mga kaibigan o kung sino man ang pupunta roon."
"I'll introduce you—"
"Sa mga kaibigan mo nga na nakatira dito di mo ako maipakilala, sa iba pa kaya?" umiling ito.
Napatitig siya kay Dessert. She has a point.
"I'm sorry but my friends are assholes you don't need to know them," he said.
Dessert pursed her lips, "That— or you guys have another reason?"
"Like?"
"Na baka landiin ko mga kaibigan mo." Umangat ang gilid ng isang labi nito. "Kaya nga ako iniiwasan ng mga kaibigan mo eh, takot ata isama ko sa body count ko."
Pyrmont stared at her. She's not looking at him, rather, she's avoiding having eye contact with him but her voice couldn't conceal that she's hurt ang angry.
"It's not that—"
"Drop it Pyr," Dessert sigh. "Mismong kapatid mo ang nagtanong sa akin."
Nangunot ang noo niya. "What the fuck are you talking about?" mahina niyang tanong.
Nagkibit balikat lang ito at hindi sumagot.
"Did my brother Grant ask how many bedded you?" he asked, his being getting riled up and angry.
Nanatili itong tahimik.
His jaw tightens when he gets up.
Damn you, Grant!
"Saan ka pupunta?" tanong nito sa kanya nang hinalikan niya ng ulo ni Vegas at sinabing aalis lang siya sandali.
"I'll be back," he replied and sprinted towards the door.
Narinig niya ang pagtawag nito at pagsunod pero hindi niya ito hinayaan na maabutan siya.
He took his bike and took off. His destination? His brother's clinic in the Crown hospital.
Pagkarating niya ng Crown hospital ay ginamit niya ang pribadong elevator ng kapatid niya na maghahatid sa kanya sa mismong Clinic nito.
To Pyrmont's surprise, his brother Rosh is there when he arrived at Grant's clinic but he ignored their youngest brother and went to his unsuspecting brother that didn't even bother to check who arrived. Grant just continues to type something on his keyboard.
Kinuwelyuhan niya ito habang nakaupo ito sa swivel chair saka malakas na sinapak sa mukha na siyang ikinabagsak nito sa sahig.
"Tang'na mo Grant! Gago ka ba?! Why the fuck did you ask her that?! Do you know how rude and offensive it was?!" he lashed out, kicking the chair out of his way.
Ngumisi ang kapatid niya. "That was a question intended to see how much she knew about things when it comes to the world of fucking and goofing."
Lalapitan niya sana ang kapatid para bigyan ulit ito ng sapak ng pumagitna ang bunso sa kanilang magkakapatid.
"Inform me first what's the ruckus all about," anito. "Before I enjoy watching this fight," he added.
Natigil si Pyrmont at kunot noong napatitig sa bunso nilang kapatid.
"Fourth?" he asked.
"Yup," Fourth smirked. "Don't look for Rosh, I pushed him deep into my fucked-up brain," he looked at Grant then back to him. "So, what is this all about?"
Pyrmont hissed then went to Grant to help him get up when he didn't try to stand up from the floor.
"Idiot! Stand up!" he shouted, vexed.
"Gago, sasapakin mo ako tapos papatayuin mo ako mag-isa? Itapon kita sa bintana Pyr," yamot na saad nito saka dabog na binuksan ang drawer ng mesa nito at kumuha ng tissue.
"Ey, come on? Truce already? Bugbugan muna kayo, manonood ako."
Sabay nila ni Grant sinamaan ng tingin si Fourth.
"Ikaw bugbugin namin gusto mo?" hamon niya sa kapatid.
At dahil hindi si Rosh ang nasa harapan nila at si Fourth ito ay umayos lang ito ng tayo at nginisihan sila. They could see Fourth is ready for a fight. The eerie glint in his eyes wanted one. One that is bloody. If it was Rosh, their youngest will chuckle and makes a joke. Rosh is not someone that gets into brawl but Fourth love fracas. A deadly and bloody one.
"Don't even think I'll let the two of you beat me without a fight," Fourth said, smiling like a creep.
Damn this... why is this asshole out again?
Napatingin siya kay Grant nang may kinuha ito muli sa drawer. It was a syringe filled with liquid inside.
This idiot is always ready.
"Tranquilizer, you want Fourth?" Grant calmly asked, too calm he sounded bored.
Nagdilim ang mukha ni Fourth bago walang salitang bumalik sa kinauupuan nito kanina.
Okay... I should maybe have tranqs when having Fourth around.
"Sit Pyr." Tinulak siya ni Grant.
Pagbagsak siyang naupo sa tabi ni Fourth sa harap ng mesa ni Grant.
"And why did you punch Grant?" tanong sa kanya ni Fourth na panay bunot ng magkakapatong na papel sa mesa ni Grant.
"Because that asshole asked Dessert how many body count she has. It is fucking rude." Inis niyang tugon at masamang sinulyapan si Grant na hinablot pabalik ang mga binunot na papel ni Fourth saka inilayo iyon sa kapatid nila.
"Dessert who?" tanong ulit ni Fourth na stationary holders naman ang pinakialaman.
"Damn it! Fourth! Fucking stop touching my things!" Nawawalan na ng pasensya na sigaw ni Grant.
Itinaas ni Fourth ang dalawang kamay pero pagkababa niyon ng kapatid niya ay sticky note naman pinakialaman nito na siyang ikinahilot sa gilid ng noo ni Grant.
Lihim siyang napailing.
Give it to Fourth to annoy everybody to every inch of their nerves.
Pyrmont flopped his head on his chair, lazy to even say a word so Fourth will know about Dessert and Vegas.
"Grant." Utos niya sa kapatid para ito ang magkuwento kay Fourth.
And Grant did and it took so much time.
"So, I have a nephew named Vegas. Cool," tuwang saad ni Fourth.
Pyr lazily drawled a yeah.
"And, how many men?" Fourth glance at him.
Pyrmont glared, not liking the question.
"I am sure, only Pyr," Grant answered. He's back again typing on his keyboard. A busy man.
Umayos ng upo si Pyrmont at interesado na tumingin kay Grant.
"How could you tell? Dessert didn't say anything."
"She's innocent about body count and c'mon, your woman is decent." Sinulyapan siya ng kapatid niya. "Why are you so blind Pyr?"
"No— I..." Pyrmont's sighed and slouched in his seat. "It's... her video kissing another man is constantly is in my mind."
Grant shook his head. "Forget about that damn video, brother. Look and observe her. She's not like someone that would cheat."
"You know what, maybe you should check the people who knows your relationship with her back then. Your case could be framed up so the two of you will break up. There was a woman that was so desperate to get you, back then, I remember," Fourth advised. "Who was that again?"
Pyrmont shrugged.
"His former pervert and creepy secretary," Grant replied, shaking his head.
Agad na nalukot at naglapat ang ngipin ni Pyrmont nang maalala ang dati niyang secretarya. Tang'nang babaeng 'yon.
He blows a loud breath and said, "No need. I already asked someone to find the man she was with—"
"Or maybe you ask Dessert," Grant suggested.
Pyr couldn't reply. He can't. He tried many times but... he didn't want to hear her confess. To admit to it. He would rather not talk about it with her. The pain of her admitting that she cheated on him could be unbearable. And he doesn't want to deal with it.
"Coward," Fourth whispered when he didn't said anything.
"Says the moron who's hiding from Katana," Grant retorted, glaring when Fourth started to tap the back of his laptop.
SUKBIT ANG shoulder bag niya ay tinungo ni Dessert ang main door ng bahay ni Pyr.
Ngunit bago pa man niya mabuksan ang pinto ay napahinto siya nang kinuha ni Pyr ang bag niya saka siya nito pinagbuksan ng pintuan.
"Ihahatid kita tapos uuwi rin ako para alagaan si Vegas," anito saka siya hinapit sa bewang at iginiya palabas.
Nagbuga siya ng hangin at hindi na sinubukan pang baklasin ang pagkakahawak sa kanya ng binata dahil alam niyang makikipagmatigasan lang ito.
"Nasa akin parin ang sasakyan ni Auri, Pyr. Hindi na kailangan," imporma niya.
"I asked someone this morning to get it."
Napahinto siya sa paglalakad at hindi makapaniwalang tumingin dito.
"Siraulo ka ba?!" Gigil niya itong kinurut sa tagiliran bago lumayo dito at sinapak ito sa braso.
Hindi ito makapaniwalang tumingin sa kanya.
"Hon, nakakarami ka na."
"Tang'gago mo kasi!" she snorted one that filled with irritation.
Malakas itong tumawa bago nito muling inabot ang kamay niya.
"Come on, let this one slip. I'll drive you to your work, brings you food for lunch and fetch you after work," he gave her an impish smile. "How about that?"
Napatitig si Dessert sa ngiti nito. Parang nakikita niya ang dating Pyr. Mula ng muli silang magkita ay hindi niya pa nakita ang binata na ngumiti na tulad noon. Ngiti na puno ng saya at pilyo.
"Ayusin mo Pyr. Ayoko maghintay sa hospital," wika niya na lang at binawi ang tingin.
Nakagat niya ang pang-ibabang labi nang hinalikan ni Pyrmont ang kamay niya.
"I'll be there on time, hon."
Tumango siya.
Tahimik ang naging biyahe nila papuntang hospital habang nakikinig sa balita.
Pagkatapat ng hospital ay pinaalalahanan niya ito. "Huwag mo hayaang magtatakbo at mapagod si Vegas, Pyr. Patulugin mo rin siya mamayang tanghali."
"Why is he not allowed to run and get tired?" salubong ang kilay na tanong nito. "I have also observed he gets tired so easily and doesn't play around like other children in my brother's orphanage."
Napayuko si Dessert saka malungkot na napatingin sa labas ng sasakyan.
"Vegas has congenital heart disease," she replied omitting one important piece of information.
Nilingon niya si Pyr na awang ang bibig habang hindi makapaniwalang nakatingin sa kanya.
"But don't worry," she assured when worry and fear filled his eyes.
Dessert reached for Pyr's hand to hold it tightly.
"He's fine. He's doing great base on the last check-up we had. When you were away we had an appointment with a cardiologist here in the Crown recommended by his old doctor from Manila and he assured us that Vegas is doing great."
"You and Vegas didn't... tell me about this," he trailed, hurt. Umiiling nitong binawi ang kamay sa tumingin sa labas ng sasakyan.
Bumigat ang puso ni Dessert habang nakatingin sa mukha nitong kababakasan ng sakit at pag-aalala. Hindi naman niya maikakaila na mabuting ama si Pyr. All the time she would stare at him while with Vegas, she could only see genuine happiness and love.
"I'm sorry," Dessert sighed. "It's not that easy for me to tell you about his condition. It took a toll on me and talking about it is still hard. Plano ko sanang isama sa check-up niya last week para doktor niya ang magkuwento sa kalagayan ni Vegas pero umalis ka," saad niya.
Sinuklay nito ang buhok gamit ang isang kamay saka napahilamos ng mukha. Bumaling ito sa kanya saka pilit na ngumiti.
"I understand, hon... I'll take care of him, I promise," wika nito bago lumabas ng sasakyan at umikot para pagbukasan siya ng pinto.
"I'll be here by lunchtime with Vegas so we could eat lunch together," anito pagkalabas niya.
"Hindi na—"
"Hon, come on. Lunch is better with you so we'll be here," putol nito sa kanya bago walang babala siya nitong hinapit sa bewang at hinalikan sa labi. "Take care, hon."
With her parted lips and stunned self, Dessert failed to respond. She just stood there utterly dumbfounded as a few employees gape at her.
Nang makahuma siya ay wala siyang nagawa kundi ang sundan ang papalayong sasakyan nito.
You're still that Pyr that doesn't hold back despite the crowd.
Pumasok na siya ng hospital nang mawala sa paningin niya ang sasakyan ng binata at inignora ang mga tingin sa kanya.
Tulad ng sinabi ni Pyr ay pinuntahan nga siya nito ng lunch kasama si Vegas. Naging dahilan iyon para malaman ng ilang katrabaho niya ang koneksyon niya sa binata. Pinagsawalang bahala na lang ni Dessert na maaring maging laman siya ng usapan ng mga katrabaho ng ilang araw.
Buong linggo ay naging ganoon ang araw niya. Hatid sundo siya ni Pyr at pagtanghali ay kasalo niya ito at si Vegas. Nagagawa rin iyon ng lalaki dahil sa bahay lang din ito nagtatrabaho dahil sa sugat nito at bumabawi ito kay Vegas.
Pagdating ng Biyernes ay busy naman siya sa pag-aayos ng gamit ni Vegas matapos silang kumain ng hapunan para sa ilang araw na bakasyon ng mag-ama.
"Hon, sama ka na sa amin."
For the nth time this week, Dessert heard again that persistent invitation from Pyr.
"No Pyr. Sa ibang pagkakataon na lang kung may pera na ako—"
"It's free—"
"Ayoko at huwag mong ipilit Pyr kung ayaw mong nag-away tayo," tingnan niya ito ng may pagbabanta sa mata.
Bumuntong hininga siya nang makita ang paggalaw at pag-igting ng panga nito. Ngunit wala na itong sinabi.
"Naayos mo na ba ang gamit mo?" usisa niya.
Hinila niya sa tabi ng kama ni Vegas ng isang travelling bag saka naupo sa kama kung saan natutulog na si Vegas, katabi ni Pyr na nakaupo sa gilid ng anak nila.
"I have clothes and whatever necessary stuff I need in the cruise ship. I have my own suit there," imporma nito.
Ikaw na mayaman.
"Tandaan mo iyong sinabi ko sayo Pyr, huh. Pag nakita mo siyang pagod pagpahingahin mo at yung mga gamit niya wag mong kakalimutan," paalala niya dito. "'Wag mo rin kakalimutan ang gamot niya."
Tumango ito saka mula sa pagkakatitingin kay Vegas ay ibinaling nito ang tingin sa kanya.
"Let's sleep?" yaya nito na ikinatikyas ng kilay niya.
"Pyr, andito si Vegas sa silid niya. Matulog kang mag-isa mo," she said, eyes averting to hide whatever emotion that could flash in her eyes.
"But, I want to sleep with you—"
"Huwag ka feeling close Pyr. Pumayag lang akong matulog tayo sa iisang kama dahil kasama natin si Vegas," maikling niyang saad saka tumayo at lumapit sa ulunan ni Vegas para patakan ito ng halik sa noo.
"Matulog ka na, maaga pa kayong aalis," saad niya sa binata na makasunod lang ng tingin sa kanya. "Good night Pyr."
"Yeah..." he drawled boredly.
Nagkibit siya ng balikat saka ito iniwan at lumipat sa silid niya. Naglinis lang siya ng katawan at nag toothbrush saka siya nagpalit ng pantulog at nahiga sa malaking kama na kasya ata ang limang katao.
Dessert sighed when she felt the emptiness of the bed. The cold. Mukhang nasanay siya na katabi si Vegas at... ang ama nito na hindi natutulog na hindi hawak ang kamay niya habang si Vegas naman ay napapagitnaan nilang dalawa.
But despite that, she forced herself to sleep. She has to have a goodnight sleep for her long trip tomorrow to Sundust. Kailangan niya rin ng pahinga. Nakakapagod ang buong maghapon na trabaho at Biyernes pa ngayon.
Unti unti siyang nakatulog pero merong pagkakataon ng gabing iyon na hindi niya alam kung panaginip ba o totoo.
Naramdaman niyang may yumakap sa kanya mula sa likuran niya. Ang pagpatak ng halik nito sa likod ng ulo niya at ang bulong nito ng pagmamahal para sa kanya.
Pagmulat niya naman kinaumagahan ay mag-isa lang naman siya pero sobrang sarap ng tulog niya buong magdamag. Parang iyong dati noong wala pang lamat ang relasyon nila ni Pyr.
Clfern