Carleigh Jade Revaz
"Thanks for today. Hindi na kita aayain pumasok dahil baka dito ka nanaman makatulog." Nahihiyang sabi ko sa kanya.
"Yeah maybe that's a good idea. Let's just see each other on monday. I'll see you okay?"
"My monday is all yours so don't worry." I said to him while laughing. He just nod at me before he spread his wide arms in front of me. Nagtataka naman akong tumingin sa kanya.
"What's that?"
"Come here." He just said so I walk towards him and let him hug me. I secretly sniff him again. Maybe his perfume will blown away my heavy thoughts.
"Don't overthink tonight okay? If you need someone to talk to I'm always here for you. If you feel bothered, dial my number and I'll pick up your call immediately. I'll be just one call away from you. Have a good night sleep and sweet dreams tonight. I'll send you my sweetest good night after I come home." Mahabang sabi nya sa akin kaya napangiti na lang ako. Yong mga iniisip ko biglang nawala. He is making sure that I will feel his presence and I will know that I have someone like him who can be with me anytime.
"You can say simple good night. Ang dami mo naman agad sinabi." I said nang kumalas ako sa yakap nya.
"Sige na, I should go now."
"Take care." I said before he hop on the car. Papasok na sana ako sa loob nang marinig ko pa ang tawag nya. Nakababa ang salamin ng kotse at nakatingin sya sa akin. He mouthed something.
"I love you too." I said and before he close the window, the last thing I saw is his smile. Pagkaalis nya ay pumasok na ako sa loob. Una kong hinanap sina Mom pero wala pa sila dahil hindi ko makita ang bakas man lang nila.
"Hindi pa ba umuuwi sina Dad?"
"Hindi pa po. Simula nong umalis po kayo hindi pa po sila bumabalik."
"Okay, just prepare a warm bath for me." I said at pabagsak akong naupo sa sofa. I get my phone and dialed Mom's number. She's not answering my calls so I call Dad instead but he's not also picking up. I let out a deep breath because of what happened earlier between Mom and Dad. And now, they are not picking up my calls. They always answer my calls kahit na anong busy nila at isa pa, kung hindi man sila ang nasagot ay nandoon ang secretary nila para sabihin kung gaano sila kabusy.
I just choose to go upstairs and straight to my room. Pagdating ko doon ay okay na ang bath tub ko. I think I need a warm bath to ease my thoughts. Ilang oras din akong nagbabad doon bago ko napagpasyahan na umahon. Pagkatapos ko magbihis ay bumaba ako. Hoping that I can see Mom and Dad.
"Nakauwi na ba sina Mom?" I said saka ako naupo sa may dinning area.
"Hindi pa po Miss Jade." The maid said at ipinaglagay na nya ako ng pagkain sa plato ko. Ni hindi ko nagawang hawakan ang kubyertos ko.
"I won't eat. Just tell me if Mom and Dad is already home. I'll be just on my room." I said to them at tumayo na ulit sa kinauupuan ko. Nawalan ako bigla ng gana. Kung dati nakakakain ako ng mag-isa ngayon ay hindi. I don't know why but I really have a bad feeling. Hindi ko alam kung saan 'to nanggagaling.
Maybe because of the text I received earlier? Or maybe because of what happened to Mom and Dad earlier?
I just forget my thoughts and lay on my bed.
Sebastian? How can I not overthink if I am experiencing unusual things?
Tomorrow morning, I look for Dad and Mom but I felt so disappointed when the maid said that they didn't come home last night.
I just call Grey and thank god he picked up my call.
"Hello? Grey? Nakausap mo ba sina Mom last night?"
[No. Why? Is there something wrong?]
"No. Nothing. It's just that, they didn't come home last night. I am worried about them. I think they are being too hard to their selves again when it comes to work."
[You're just missing them. But since you call me. Let me accompany you today. I know I did a lot of things against you this passed few days and I want to apologize. Can I go to your house?] Mahabang sabi nya. I let out a deep breath. Magagalit kaya si Sebastian?
[Come on Carleigh, hindi naman siguro ikakagalit 'to ni Sebastian. I thought ayaw mo ng dinidiktahan ka?]
"Hindi nya ako dinidiktahan."
[So let me go there.]
"As in ngayon na?"
[Why not? Unless you're letting Sebastian to control you? Come on, hindi ka ganito.]
"Okay fine! Just come here if you want." I just said at rinig na rinig ko ang tawa nya sa kabilang linya.
[Okay, I'm on my way.] I heard him said bago nya ibaba ang tawag. Nagpunta naman na ako doon sa garden. Siguro doon ko na lang sya hihintayin.
Naupo ako sa isang duyan na nandito sa gazebo at tinanaw ko ang tahimik na maliit na lake hindi kalayuan sa kinatatayuan ko. Sina Mom ang nagpagawa non dahil sinabi kong gusto ko non. Mayroon din doong mga swan na lumalangoy dahil 'yon din ang gusto ko. I don't know where they get that but they still find them for me. Napakadami ring orchids dito sa garden and it's also because this is what I want. Lalo kong namiss sina Mom. What if they are not here with me? Makukuha ko ba lahat ng gustuhin ko?
Itinaas ko ang mga paa ko sa duyan at saka ko tinuon ang pansin ko sa napakaaliwalas na langit. I can see it since the roof of this gazebo is transparent. The light of the sunrise is not yet painful on my skin and my eyes since it's still early in the morning.
It's so quiet here. Maybe this is the reason why this is my favorite place here in our mansion.
I just let out a deep breath before I close my eyes. Pero hindi pa man ako nagtatagal sa pagkakapikit ko ay napamulat na ako nang maramdaman ko na may humalik sa noo ko. And I don't need to look who is that. Sya lang naman ang ganito sa akin.
"What was that for Grey?" Naiinis na sabi ko sa kanya saka ako napaayos ng tayo sa duyan.
"Why? I used to kiss you on your forehead since we were kids?" He said like I was just joking around.
"But we're not kids anymore. And I have a boyfriend now Grey. What do you think he will feel if he saw us like this?"
"You're scared of Sebastian? I thought you're the boss?" I rolled my eyes on him. Simula nong umuwi sya dito ay wala na syang ginawa kundi ang asarin ako. Ni hindi pa kami nakakapag-bonding ng maayos dahil mas madalas pa 'yong araw na may tampuhan kami.
"Pumunta ka ba dito para asarin ako?"
"Hindi kita inaasar. I'm damn serious Jade. You always do whatever you want. When did you start caring for other's feelings huh?"
"Don't bring back that attitude on me Grey. Hindi na ako ganon kasama."
"But how about Sebastian? Kelan lang kayo nagkakilala pero napasagot ka na agad nya? You didn't even know him that much? How can you say yes to him that easily?"
"What are you trying to say? That I'm easy to get?" Naiinis ko nang sabi sa kanya. Kung ito lang ang company na sinasabi nya, sana hindi na lang sya pumunta.
"You know that it's not what I mean."
"Since I met Sebastian, isa lang ang narealize ko. It doesn't matter how long I take to like him or even love him Grey."
"Don't you think your relationship with him is too fast?"
"Paulit ulit lang tayo dito Grey. What do you want to say? You should be the one I love dahil ikaw ang pinakamatagal kong kakilala?" Naiinis ko nang sabi sa kanya. My thoughts are flooded over my mind and he's here to make it worst.
"I didn't say anything like that." He said with his greeted teeth. So he's the one who's mad now?
"Then what do you mean? Listen to me Grey, I know what I am doing okay? I l-like Sebastian and I think I am starting to love him every day everytime I'm with him. At ang sa akin lang, I think you should give me some space since I already have a boyfriend. Not because I want to distance myself to you but, I just want to be fair with Sebastian." I said to him trying myself to be calm as possible. Ayoko rin naman na magtampo sya sa akin but this is the right thing to do right? Ayoko lang naman na may pag-awayan kami ni Sebastian.
"Did he tell you to distance yourself from me?" Napapikit ako sa tanong nyang 'yon kaya napatayo na ako sa duyan at lumapit ako sa kanya.
"I just know how to handle him. Sebastian is a type of territorial and possessive man. I just don't want a misunderstanding between us." Pagpapaliwanag ko sa kanya pero tinalikuran nya lang ako. Kitang kita ko kung paano nya ikuyom ang kamay nya.
He's really mad I guess.
"So you're really letting him to manipulate you?" I let out a deep breath and hug him from behind. Wala itong malisya, I just want him to know that I'm still the Jade he met before. Hindi naman porket nandito na si Sebastian ay kakalimutan ko na sya. I'm still his friend and I will be forever his friend.
"He's not manipulating me. How many times do I have to say that he's not that bad? Can't you understand that Sebastian is just that so special for me that's why I let myself to fall for him? I ate my own words and I let down the wall of my pride but still, you're bad mouthing him in front of me? Hindi mo ba sya kayang tanggapin dahil isa na sya sa pinakamahalagang tao para sa akin ngayon?" I said to him but I just heard his harsh deep breath.
"I don't know if I can accept him Jade. I know him and I don't want you to end up with him." He said at nakaharap na sya sa akin ngayon.
"Why?"
"I will ask you one thing Jade. What if he propose to you right away? Are you going to say yes to him?" Halos malaglag ang panga ko doon sa tanong nyang 'yon.
"Why are you asking me that question? We're both too young for that."
"Exactly! But what if? What if Jade?" Napalunok ako sa tanong nyang 'yon. Kung tanungin man ako ni Sebastian ng ganito kaaga ay hindi ko alam ang isasagot ko.
"I don't know. But I'm sure he's not going to ask me that question this early. I have a lot of goals and I'm not yet ready. I'm just turning 18 this year for pete sake?" I said to him saka ako umiwas ng tingin sa kanya.
"Good thing that you're still on your senses. If ever that he ask you that damn question, don't hesitate to say no. There's nothing wrong with that. Because if he truly loves you, he will understand." He seriously said so I just nod. He has a point.
"I'm sure he's not going to do that thing yet. I know him. Mukha namang hindi sya ang tipo ng tao na minamadali ang lahat ng bagay bagay." I said and let out a deep breath. Para syang si Dad, masyado silang advance mag-isip.
"I am always here for you Jade always remember that. Hindi ako nawala kahit kaylan sa tabi mo so trust me. I know what's best for you." I heard him said and I just felt his hands hold mine.
"I know. You're like a brother to me and I respect you a lot. And of course, I trust you the most." I sincerely said to him.