BINITAWAN ni Silence ang hawak na paint brush at tinignan ang cellphone niyang kanina pa tunog ng tunog.
"Uhg... Why won't you stop!" Silence moaned in frustration when she saw it is her brother again.
Binalik niya ang tingin sa pinipinta niyang sunset na may lalaking paahon ng dagat. Konti na lang at mabubuo na ang mukha ng lalaki pero ginugulo siya ng kapatid niya.
Kuya Tyrone has been calling her since this morning. And of course, she's been ignoring his calls. Listening to his scolding early in the morning is a no-no.
Tumingin siya sa orasan at hinintay na saktong alas-dose para hindi na umaga. When the clock hits twelve she answered the phone. Slyly grimacing at the possible lengthy and angry scolding from her brother.
"Hello, brother, good afternoon," Silence greeted, voice sweet and jolly but her face couldn't be more straight.
There was heavy breathing before her brother speaks calmly, a sign that he had enough.
"Fuck your good afternoon, Silence."
Napaayos siya ng upo sa narinig saka napalabi. Mukhang...
"Where have you been last night?" he asked.
Gripping the hem of her dress, she replied, "Out. Wandering."
"Did Mirrow saw you?"
Binasa niya ang labi saka tumayo at lumapit sa bintana at tinanaw ang ibang gusali sa labas.
"He did. But he was drunk so I think he didn't recognize me," she lied.
"How could you be so sure?"
Napahaplos ng batok niya si Silence dahil sa kalma ng boses ng kapatid niya.
"Uhm... Because he didn't follow me--"
"He is fucking outside your doorstep, Silence!" Tyrone shouted making her pull away the phone from her ears.
Nakagat niya ang labi. Huhuhu galit na naman ang kuya ko.
"Don't fucking get out, you understand?" Tyrone orders. "You stay there like how you stayed in the attic in Illinois. Don't open you fucking open your door. I will send someone to buy you groceries to put it in the cupboards and fridge."
"You mean... I don't need to look for a job?"
"No." Huminga ito ng marahas saka nagmura. "Savannah and I will talk to Mirrow's parents to make him stay away from you," Tyrone informed.
"You don't have to, brother. I have no plan on seeing and talking to him again. He has his life now and I have mine." Silence made her voice sound nonchalant but inside she's mourning and just want to ask her brother to beat Mirrow to pulp.
Nahihirapan siyang maka move-on sa pagtawag nito ng sweetheart sa kanya tapos may kinakasama naman ito. Hmp!
"You don't know the Crown brothers, Silence. They are fucking persistent, headstrong assholes and just fucking annoying," anito saka pinatay ang tawag.
Tumalikod siya saka tinapon ang cellphone niya sa sofa at lumabas ng silid kung saan siya nagpipinta.
Dahil sa mahal na mahal siya ng kapatid niyang lalaki ay kahit na pagmamay-ari nito ang condo ay binigay parin nito sa kanya ang isang silid kung saan pwede siyang magpinta. Saka sa master bedroom siya pinatulog kasama si just L pero dahil wala ang kaibigan niya ay mag-isa lang siya.
Bumaba siya ng first-floor ng condo. Hinubad niya ang suot na pig home slippers saka nakapaang nilapitan ang pintuan.
Sumilip siya sa peephole at nakita niyang nasa labas nga si Mirrow at nakasandal sa kaharap na dingding ng pintuan.
His arms cross while intently looking at the door. He seems like he is wondering how to ruin the door.
Nagdoor bell ito kanina pero hindi niya pinagbuksan. Buti na lang nakaugalian niyang laging silipin lagi king sino ang nasa labas ng pintuan bago iyon buksan.
Silence bit her bottom lips when Mirrow straightened and step towards the door. She lost sight of him when he moved toward the bell. Moments later, the silence of the condo break.
Ilang beses nitong pinindot ang doorbell bago ito tumigil.
Nilapit ni Silence ang tenga sa pinto para pakinggan ang galaw nito pero wala siyang marinig--
"Huhmp!" Napalayo at natakip niya sa bibig ang kamay nang bigla nitong malakas na pinalo ang pinto.
Nanlaki ang mata niya dahil alam niyang narinig siya ng binata.
"I heard you gasped," Mirrow informed, enough for her to hear.
No...
"Come on, open the door, Silence or Tyrane," he said, voice calm.
Silence took a step back.
"Sweetheart... I know you're there..."
His voice is sweet-- no! He is a scum!
Tinalikuran niya ang pinto saka tumakbo ng hagdan. Pinulot niya ang pig slippers niya at muling umakyat ng second floor.
She went back to painting, resisting the urge to check if he is still there. Forgetting the tenderness of his voice when he called her sweetheart yet again.
MIRROW RAKED his hair when after that faint gasp he heard, the other side of the door is silent again.
"Damn, sweetheart... You're fucking making it really hard for me," he grumbled.
He leaned against the wall and knocked once again. Waited and nothing.
Sighing he turned to go back to his condo.
Naupo siya sa sofa at pinag-aralan kung paano makakapasok sa CCTV sa hallway para makita niya kung lalabas ba si Tyrane or Silence.
Nang matapos ang halos isang oras at hindi niya parin magawa iyon ay tinawagan niya ang kapatid niyang si Kronack na matalino sa bagay na iyon.
"Yeah, Mir?"
"How can I access the CCTV in the hallway of Rousseau condominium building?" Mirrow asked, leaning against the sofa while massaging his temple as he felt a slight headache from too little sleep and boozing from last night with his friends.
There was silence in the other line before his brother asked, drawling his words. "Why do you want to know?"
"I find the floor stunning and want to monitor it while working," Mirrow flatly replied.
Kronack groaned. "Oh, fuck you. Tch."
Sighing, he straightened in his seat. "Will you tell me how? Come on, I'm desperate here."
"Mir, we have to talk about that with Raskin. He will not like it if you just hack into his CCTV cameras. That's a breach of contract with his other resident."
"Fine, I'll talk to him," he said and hung up the phone without saying goodbye.
Sinara niya ang laptop niya saka kinuha ang susi ng sasakyan niya at lumabas ng condominium.
Habang pasakay ng kotse niya ay tinawagan niya ang kaibigan para tanungin kung nasaan ito.
"I'm in my company--"
"I'll be there in a bit. Don't go anywhere," Mirrow informed, turning his car on.
"I have a lot to do, Mir--"
"You think I care?"
"What the hell is wrong with you? Tang'na Mir, kagabi ka pa." Yamot nitong saad.
"You told me the reason last night, Rask. Don't hope I will stop at something until I don't get what I want," aniya saka pintay ang tawag at nagmaneho papunta sa kompanya ng kaibigan niya.
Nagmamadali siyang sumakay sa pribadong elevator pagkarating ng kompanya ni Raskin at dumiretso sa opisina nito.
And when he saw his friend, he is visibly annoyed but what surprises him was his father's presence in his office.
"Dad, what are you doing here?" Kunot ang noong tanong niya sa ama.
"Business." Dad replied with a nonchalant shrug. "How about you? I heard you took condominium in Raskin's building."
Sinulyapan niya ang kaibigan niya na tamad lang siyang tinignan.
"Yeah, last night." Mirrow sat down across from his father. "Got bored staying at my house in silence and alone," he reasoned.
"Really?" Tinaasan siya ng ama niya ng kilay. "Kron said you fall in love with the floor... Which is it?"
Raskin chuckled while he just hissed.
"You up to something, son?"
Tinitigan niya sa mata ang ama niya. "No."
Bahagya lang gumalaw ang kilay nito bago tumango. "Okay..." Dad trailed. "So, what were you doing in front of one of Raskin's residents?"
Mirrow slyly groaned. Here's again the parents that knows everything. Fuck!
Pinatong niya ang isang braso sa mesa ng kaibigan niya at tinignan ito para alamin kung may sinabi ba ito.
Raskin twitched his shoulder, slyly saying he didn't.
"Yeah, that woman there kicked my balls last night for no reason at all," aniya sa ama at nagbuga ng hangin.
Tumaas ang isang sulok ng labi ng ama niya. "You want her to comfort your testicles? Or there is nothing to comfort because it's beaten and crashed."
Humagalpak ng tawa ang kaibigan niya.
Siya naman ay sinamaan ng tingin ang ama niya na ngumisi lang pabalik.
Damn it! Parents are annoying sometimes.
"Look, I just want to talk to that woman who lives in that unit. Nothing more, nothing less," he lied, crossing his legs.
"'Kay." Binalingan nito si Raskin. "You know what I told you," anito bago tumayo.
Gumalaw ang kilay niya sa sinabi ng ama. "May I know what is it?"
"You tell me first what are you doing here when you're supposed to be working your ass." Dad raised his brow.
Mirrow pursed his lips. "I want to know more about the security of his condominium building, that's why."
Dad smirked. "Mir, son, don't lie too much, you are making me want to punch you in the gut. Hard."
Umiling siya at hindi nagkomento hanggang sa makaalis ang ama niya.
Hangga't sa maari ay ayaw niyang may makaalam sa ngayon na nahanap niya na ang dalaga. He has to talk to her first.
"And what do you want?" Raskin asked, eyes on his laptop.
"I want to have access to your CCTV camera in the hallway where I live."
"Mir, that is something I can not grant you."
Mirrow pressed his lips as he suddenly felt at edge. "The heck why?"
Raskin smirked. "Would you let me have access to your CCTV cameras at your house?"
Natigilan siya. He gritted his teeth before getting on his feet and left his friend without a word.
There is no way on earth will he let anybody in his security cameras.
Mirrow sighed. If he couldn't get what he wants there is no other way than put his own camera. One way or another, he will get what he wants and that's monitor the woman until he's able to talk to her.
If after this, it wouldn't work there are still hundreds of ways to talk to her. He is willing to even broke that damn door if his patience runs out.
"KUMUSTA?"
Silence breathed an exhausted sigh. The last thing she wants to hear from anybody right now is the question of how is she.
"Tyrane? Tinatanong kita sumagot ka at baka umuwi ako diyan at sabunutan kita." Masungit na saad ni Jinky Elle nang hindi siya sumagot.
Grunting, she replied, "Fine, but bored. I have lost my love for painting in the meantime so I'm left with nothing to do than watching."
"Bakit hindi ka lumalabas? 'Wag mong sabihin winala mo yung card?" May bahid na inis na tanong ng kaibigan niya.
Napakamot ng pisngi niya si Silence. "Ano, eh... Kinuha ni kuya Tyrone."
Natahimik ang kaibigan niya at tanging mga sigaw at ingay mula sa motor ang naririnig niya sa kabilang linya.
"Just L?.."
"Gago talaga 'yang kapatid mo 'no? Sarap lampahin," anito. Bakas sa boses nito ang inis.
Naningkit ang mata ni Silence sa narinig. "You... Saw him?"
"Hindi!" Yamot nitong singhal. "Pagnakita ko 'yang kapatid mo, tang'na Tyrane, batutain ko 'yan."
"Okay..." Silence shrugged and lay down on the sofa.
"Okay lang sayo?"
"Hmm..." Pinaglaruan niya ang kuku niya. "Alam ko naman kayang-kaya ka ng kuya ko. Baka nga ikaw ang mabatuta."
Muli ay natahimik si L at nang magsalita ito ay nagsalubong ang kilay niya.
"Bhe, SPG ba yan?"
"Huh? What do you mean?"
Jinky Elle laugh dryly. "Wala, bhe. Insosente ka pala." Pero nakakaloka ka talaga minsan... Rinig niyang bulong ng kaibigan niya bago ito nagtanong. "Oh, bhe, bored ka na? Himala iyan. Three years ka sa attic diba?"
"Mm-hmm."
Silence looked at the door when he hears knocking.
"Bakit 'di ka lumabas. Kahit naman wala kang card pwede ka parin naman mamasyal," anito.
Napalabi siya at tumayo saka walang sapin sa paa na lumapit sa pinto.
"Tyrane?"
"Shh! Wait, someone is knocking at the door," she said in a hush.
"Ay nako, kuya mo lang 'yan." Pumaswit ito.
Siya maman ay sumilip sa peephole at wala siyang makitang tao sa labas malibaban sa bagong painting ng babae na naka-display sa harapan pintuan niya.
"Ano? Sino andiyan?" L asked.
"Can't see anybody," she replied quietly.
"Multo yan--"
"Sweetie, come on, open your door and get the fucking out already. You've been inside your damn condo for so many days. Aren't you bored?" Mirrow spoke.
"Sino 'yon?" tanong ni L.
"Si Mirrow..." Bulong niya.
"Crown? Yung may sex scandal?"
Silence huffed. "Do you really have to mention the scandal?"
Tumawa si L. "What's wrong with that?"
"A lot. Especially when both who was in that scandal has pleaded all the saints for it to disappear," Silence said, pursing her lips as she really did pray that it never existed.
That despite all the paradise it brought to her that night, she is willing to trade every possession she has for it not to happen so no scandal will ever happen.
"Well, I don't know about that, bhe. Baka nga yung babae hanggang ngayon pinapanaginipan pa rin yung sex, gising man o tulog--"
"Hindi ah!" Silence denied but... She does, sometimes...
"Defensive, bhe? Ikaw yung babae? Ikaw?" Jinky Elle tsked. "Tatanda lang birhen Tyrane dahil sa kakatago mo. Hanggang pangarap mo na lang iyang isa sa mga Korona."
Umirap siya sa sinabi nito saka nagpaalam sa kaibigan niya. Hindi nito alam baka ito pa ang tumandang birhen, tsk!
Muli siyang sumilip at napangiti siya ng makita si Mir na nakasandal sa dingding. Sa tabi ng bagong painting.
His forehead is creased as he stared at her door. With his hand buried inside his pocket, his hair dishevelled and a few of his white long sleeves buttons are open.
All in all, Mirrow is stunningly handsome despite looking annoyed and displeased.
Pinanood niya ito hanggag sa muli itong lumapit bago muling nawala sa peephole.
Silence jumped away from the door when Mirrow slipped a paper under the door before he speaks.
"Love letter for you, sweetheart. Hopefully, you opens your door when I get back. I'll be busy this coming days and will be not home." Bumuntong-hininga ito. "I will miss your door." Kumatok ito. "This has been my constant listener as I don't really know if you're always there but I know this time you are there listening and being a heartless sweetheart."
"I could already take this door home as it already hears a lot that it shouldn't. Luckily for me, doors don't talk." Tumawa ito ng walang sigla. "You open your door when I get back, sweetheart, okay? I'm on the verge of falling in love with this damn door as it has been really sweet and nice to me."
Nakagat ni Silence ang labi pero hindi niya napigilan ang mahinang tawa na kumawala.
"I heard you giggling..." Mirrow informed then tsked.
With a grin on her face, Silence applied her ears to the door to hear his voice even louder and clear.
"If you decided to get out sweetheart, take care, okay? Don't let a man hug or touch you. I tell you, I'm a jealous man. It will not sit well with me if that happens." Mirrow sighed and knocked again.
Nagsalubong ang kilay ni Silence dahil sa paraan ng pagkatok nito. Matagal iyon. It seems like he is sending a message through it.
Nang matapos ito ay narinig niya ang yabag nito papalayo.
"Ingat, Mir..." Silence whispered with a soft smile.
Pinulot niya ang papel na ibinigay nito saka binuksan iyon.
New day has come
Surprising me with someone
Never thought I'd like you to be mine
Oh, baby, come here and be mine
New night has come
With you in my bed
Scorching your skin with my palms,
Tasting your skin with my lips and tongue,
Breaking your innocence and claiming you as mine,
Hush, now
'Cause baby tonight and hereafter you will be mine
Moan my name, grunt on my thrust
Claw me when you're in pain, cuss me when you're tired
Hold on to me if you have fears
But baby, remember you are already mine to claim
New day has come and you were gone
Taking with you my heart
Baby, be back 'cause I promised you last night
You are mine to keep.
Ps. I paid for this poem for you. Big. But even if something costs me half of my wealth I don't care as long as I imply my thoughts. You are mine, sweetheart. Keep that in mind.
- Mir
Ngumuso siya.
Makaangkin naman 'to si Mir 'kala mo single. Gawin pa akong kabit. Umiling-iling siya saka tinupi ang liham.
"I'm no ones else to keep but myself, sweetheart," Silence whispered.
Clfern