Chapter 15
Magnus Santiago
Nanatili akong nakatayo dahil sa binanggit niya at tila ba'y parang nakadikit ang mga paa ko sa sahig at hindi ko man lang magawang gumalaw. I can't read his face, he looks like Kelly, but at the same time he is different. The aura—the energy he gives is not the same.
I'm dumbfounded.
This Kia. This girl. Who the fuck is she? Andaming ganap sa buhay niya. Daig pa ang nag-rejoice sa sobrang haba ng hair!
"You did not go see me for 2 nights and all I was informed is that you went to your ex's condo?" rinig ang yabag niya na papalapit pa lalo sa'kin ngunit tumigil siya nang makaharap na siya nang malapit sa'kin.
I thought Leo is her boyfriend! He even kissed me and did not mention any words about their break-up.
"Ex?" a questioning tone from me.
He just lowly laughed, but this time, he is not terrifying. It's like he is just amused of me being so confused. He just put his hands in the pocket of his black pants. Lumapit pa siya ng bahagya at umakbay sa'kin. He then patted my head.
Mainit pa ang pizza na inihapag niya sa mesa na katapat ng sofa kung saan kami nakaupo. Ramdam ko rin ang malamig na simoy ng hangin mula sa nakabukas na bintana.
This room is huge, painted with gray and black colors. There are also silver accents but minimal only. Amoy rin ang pabangong gamit niya dahil sobrang magkalapit lang namin ngayon.
"So, tell me, why did you go to his condo?" this time, he sounds kind. I want to hug him, I want to pretend he's Kelly—the man I miss so much. The voice, his handsome facial features, they are the same, but they are different person.
"I-I forgot something. I had to get it." napapadalas na ang pagsisinungaling ko at mukhang kailangan ko agad mangumpisal kauwi ko sa Earth.
"What is it?" he asked.
Nilunok ko muna ang pirasong pizza na kanina ko pa nginunguya. I have to always be careful on the words I give, I am only lying and it is the only way to fool them. I have to report this to NASA once I got the chance to come back.
If I can.
If the heaven allows me...to come back.
"I had to get this," kinuha ko ang puti na cellphone na 'binigay ni Leo sa'kin kagabi at inilapag ito sa mesa na gawa sa tinted na salamin. Buti na lang pala at dinala ko 'to dahil wala akong maibibigay na alibi kung sakali. "It's my old phone."
Saglit lang niya itong sinulyapan at tumayo mula sa pagkakaupo. Tumalikod siya sa'kin at dumeretso sa sobrang laking bintana na may view ng mga ulap at kalangitan. For a second, he was quiet. Seems like he has to say something.
Lumingon siya sa'kin at nagsalita, "Come here,"
Sinundan ko lang kung saan siya nakatayo at marahan na naglakad dahil ayokong magasgasan ang mga itim na tiles na kumikinang at nakakatakot magasgasan.
Kitang-kita mula rito ang view ng parking lot at ang iilan ay mayroon pang mga lalaking nakasuot ng tuxedo ang nagbubukas at nagdadala ng kanilang mga gamit.
"Then why did you use his car?" this is when I realized this one mistake I've made.
The sky blue car of Leo is parked and it's hundred percent visible even from here.
Humarap siya sa'kin at isinandal ang kanan niyang braso sa salamin. Lalo ko pang naamoy ang kanyang pabango ng lumapit siya ng dalawang hakbang sa'kin. His eyes makes me a fool. I want to believe he is Kelly, but he is fucking not and I know it.
"Ba't hindi ka makasagot?" he asked again.
"I had no choice but to drive h-his car." I could not control stuttering. I am afraid I will ruin this. I am scared of not saying what he wants to hear.
"Where's the car I gave to you?"
He gave a car to Kia?
Hindi ko makuhang makasagot at sumabay pa ang parang tila panlalambot ng mga tuhod ko. I could not help but touch them and force myself to stand straight. My eyes are blinking suddenly and I cannot control and stop them.
May likido rin akong nararamdaman na tumutulo mula sa'king noo.
This is crazy. I'm getting weaker.
Ang imahe ng lalaking nasa harapan ko ngayon ay palabo na ng palabo.
"Claire." he uttered and the hoarse in his voice suddenly became audible. "Hey, are you okay?" mabilis siyang lumapit sa'kin at bago pa ako tuluyang matumba ay naramdaman ko na ang mainit niyang braso sa'king likuran.
I did not faint, but I can't manage standing up on my own.
"I-I'm okay." I lightly smiled and tried to stand again but I suddenly felt light as he carried me on his arms and place me on the sofa where we were earlier.
I did not faint. I was just weak. It's so sudden.
"I'm sorry," wika ko. Ramdam ko pa rin ang basa sa'king mukha na nagmumula sa noo ko. I became so weak after coming here. My knees are starting to feel better when I sat down.
He didn't seem to hear me and went on calling someone on the telephone near the flat screen television.
"Call Dr. Suarez to come into my room." utos niya sa kausap niya.
"But I'm okay! It's okay." I said as soon as I heard him commanding someone on the telephone. He just didn't listen to me.
"Now! Call him, if he's not here after 5 mins, you'll get fired!" he commanded with full authority and worries. Humarap siya ulit sa akin at nagpa-panic na hinawakan ang kamay ko...at kasunod ay naramdaman ko ang kabilang kamay niya sa akin tiyan. "Did something happen?" the worry in his voice is evident as he rub gently his hand on my stomach.
Seconds were silent and my heart pounding is all I can hear. This guy who looks exactly like Kelly is sweating, even though his whole living room is air conditioned.
Tumayo siya at rinig ang hakbang niya na pabalik-balik. He looks so tensed.
He picks up the telephone again and his voice echoed, "Where the fuck is he?!"
As soon as he yelled on someone he is talking, I felt dizzy again. Maybe because of his voice, or because I am not used to this planet I am in. I am so fucking confused.
The front door opened and a guy in a doctor uniform came in. Sinubukan kong umupo para batiin siya pero itinaas niya ang kanang kamay niya.
"Stop, Ms. Alvarez, sit down please," he signals his hand as he stops me from lifting my body up. As soon as he walks in and approach the couch I am laying, Kelly...or Gus, also came near me and put his both arms at the back of his head, still looking so tensed. "I will try to check your pulse." the doctor sat on the couch beside me and I felt the stethoscope touch the dress that covers my chest.
"So...what's the news?" Gus cannot wait for the doctor and bitten his bottom lip waiting for the news whatever news he is referring to. I am like a robot, I cannot say anything, I cannot say any words that might ruin the situation or a plan I have not really planned yet.
"I really can't tell the problem here, Mr. Santiago. Her heartbeat is normal," inalis na niya ang stethoscope mula sa dibdib ko at inilagay naman niya ito sa tiyan ko, "But the stethoscope cannot accurately hear the baby's heartbeat, so we might as well go to our hospital and ultrasound her."
This news.
I do not fucking know how to respond on this news.
Baby? What fucking baby is he talking about? I am a virgin, like hundred percent, since birth!
"W-What?" I sound shock, because I am. I am shock with all the news I am hearing since the moment I landed in this planet!
"You mean, you can't hear the baby's heartbeat?" Gus faced the doctor and rubs his both hands on his face.
Tumayo na ang doctor at humarap na rin kay Gus. Sakanilang dalawa lang nakalaan ngayon ang mga mata ko.
"Yes, but as I have mentioned, it is inaccurate. We have to go to the hospital and I will do an ultrasound to Ms. Alvarez."
The doctor walked out and said goodbye to us.
"Claire!" He yelled. As soon as the doctor left, this guy is panicking, walking back and forth. "What the fuck? I told you to just rest here and wait for me every night!" huminto siya sa paglalakad at lumapit sa'kin. He stays standing in front of me and holds my shoulder with his hand as he rests his chin above my head. "We have to go and check it." naging kalmado ang boses niya't lumuhod siya sa harapan ko at hinalikan ang aking tiyan. He is kissing an imaginary child! Nothing is in there.
"I'm sorry." I have to act. Just act properly. I whispered in my head and breathed a sigh out. "I swear I did not do anything." marahan kong hinawakan ang balikat niya at niyakap siya ng mahigpit.
He is sweating from panic. I can't figure out all this at once, but I have to.