Chapter 9
Maisie
Right after my class, I immediately went to a coffee shop where we planned to meet. I missed Angelo so much. We were friends since pre-school years. Our parents were really good friends since then bago pa man kami ipinanganak.
I sipped my cup of coffee while I was reminiscing our past. I remember he saved me from those kids who were bullying me because of the red stain on my skirt. Eleven years old pa kami no'n, eh syempre di ko naman inaasahan na maaga akong magdadalaga. I wasn't aware that I had a red stain at my back and some kids were laughing and started throwing crumpled papers at me. Well, Angelo came to the rescue at sinumbong niya sa mga teachers ang pang bu-bully ng mga classmates namin.
Maraming pagkakataon na siya ang sumasagip sa akin from humiliation and any kind of embarrassment that can make me have low self-esteem. He was my hero.
Pero noong nag college na kami, nag ibang bansa siya para mag-aral. I thought he'll stay in U.S. until he graduates, but now he's back and I cannot really contain my happiness when he said on the phone that he's already here.
I glanced at my watch to check the time when someone blocked my view of it and I saw a stem of a pink tulip flower. No one gives me tulips except Angelo. Nag angat ako ng tingin.
"Angelo!" I screamed as I stood up to hug him.
"Whoah! Easy baby. Sinasakal mo naman ako." Angal niya.
"Wala akong pakealam. Na miss kita eh." I hugged him tighter and he reciprocated it.
Inaamoy niya ang buhok ko while he was hugging me tight. "Hmm...you never change. Ang kulit mo pa rin kaya tuloy bagay sayo tawaging baby." Kumawala ako sa pagkakayakap niya at sabay kaming na upo.
"So how are you Gelo? Mukhang mas naging tisoy ka ngayon ha? Ganyan ba talaga pag nasa U.S?" Tukso ko sa kanya. Grabe lang, mas pumuti siya ngayon. Not to mention, his body grew bigger and leaner.
"Oh well, eto gwapo pa rin."
"Tse! Jetlag ka pa ata?"
"Eto naman, di na mabiro. I'm perfectly fine Sie. We're on a school break so I decided to loosen up and stay here for the mean time. Nakaka stress kasi do'n eh. And of course, na miss kita kaya I'm back!" He beamed his perfect teeth at me. Aw, that was really thoughtful of him.
"I'm glad you came back. Buti ka pa nga may acad break, eh ako nangangapa pa sa mga requirements like my thesis."
"Really? Well I can help you with that. Since hindi ako busy, maybe I can drop by tomorrow at your place. Gusto ko rin makita sila Tito David and Tita Cecile." He suggested while sipping his own cup of coffee.
"Talaga? You'll help me? Oh here you are again, saving my ass again." See? He's my real life hero. But wait. Pupunta siya sa amin? As in do'n sa bahay namin nila Mommy at Daddy?
Oh no. Di niya nga pa pala alam na hindi na ako doon nakatira. Geez, kailan ba mag sisink in sa utak ko na kasal na ako?
"Uhm, Gelo. Actually there's something you need to know..." My friend deserves the truth. Hindi naman yata tama na maglihim ako sa kanya. I think he will understand at sa tinagal tagal ng pagkakaibigan namin, alam ko mapagkakatiwalaan ko siya.
"What is it Sie?"
"Bukas, bago mo ako tulungan sa thesis ko, may ipapakilala muna ako sayo."
"Alright!" He smiled at me before dropping the topic.
I arrived at home at 9 o'clock. Medyo mahaba-haba rin ang pag-uusap namin ni Angelo. We did a lot of catching up about his life and mine as well. Gelo insisted to take me home kasi may kotse siya, pero tinanggihan ko. Baka kasi ihatid niya ako doon sa bahay namin. I did not bother to contact my driver and just took a cab.
Isang katahimikan ang sumalubong sa akin nang makarating ako sa bahay namin ni Kyle. Nasaan ba ang mga tao dito? Aakyat na sana ako sa hagdan nang may nagsalita sa may madilim na sulok. "Where have you been?" Ani ng isang malalim na boses.
Oh, it's Kyle. "Uhm, I was with a friend. Kanina ka pa ba naka uwi?"
Naglakad siya papalapit sa akin. "Yes, I waited for you. I wanted to accompany you for dinner but it seems like you accompanied someone else."
Uh oh. Galit ba siya? "Oh I'm sorry. Akala ko kasi late kang uuwi."
"I texted you. Hindi mo ba tinitingnan ang phone mo?" Damn! Bakit ko ba laging nakakalimutang i-check 'yong phone ko?
"Pasensya na Kyle. Pero 'yong totoo di pa talaga ako nabusog do'n sa kinain ko sa labas. Tara, kain tayo?" Aya ko sa kanya.
His aura lightened up a bit. Hinila ko siya papunta sa dining table at inilagay ko ang bag ko sa isa sa mga upuan doon.
"Sit there. Ako na mag re-ready sa pagkain." I smiled at him. Nakita ko naman na nawala 'yong kulubot na namumuo sa noo niya. He watched me as I moved in the kitchen. Kahit na nakatalikod ako, I can sense him eyeing me in every move I make.
Ininit ko ang mga pagkain na halatang kanina pa naluto ni Manang Lydia. I prepared our table. From time to time, I try to steal glances at Kyle. Ganoon pa rin siya. Kalmadong naka upo habang hinihintay akong matapos.
We ate the food heartily. Halatang gutom din si Kyle. Nakokonsensiya tuloy ako na pinaghintay ko siya. Ako na ang nag alok na maghuhugas ng pinagkainan namin. Pambawi ko na lang sa kanya.
Naramdaman ko na lang ang presensiya niya sa likod ko habang naghuhugas ako ng pinggan. I can feel his breath fanning the back of my neck. I stood up straight and focused on my task, not minding our proximity in this place.
"I'll go to the library. I'm just check my emails." He said while still standing at my back.
Bahagya ko siyang nilingon. "O sige. Tatapusin ko lang ito."
Mabuti naman at pinili niyang umalis pagkatapos no'n. Hindi ko alam na nagpipigil na pala ako ng hininga.
I went to my room, bringing my bag with me. I checked my phone and there were 3 missed calls, and 2 messages from Kyle. Next time, mag che-check na talaga ako ng phone ko. Baka kasi sa susunod ay hindi na makapagtimpi si Kyle. There was a message from Angelo too, asking me if I arrived home safely. I replied to his message at inilagay ko ang phone sa kama.
Hmm...saan ba ako matutulog? Sa kwarto pa rin ba ni Kyle? 'Di bale na nga. Doon na lang ulit ako matutulog. So far hindi naman siya malikot matulog at hindi siya humihilik so no problem.
I put on a silk night dress with a cotton black cardigan. Kumatok ako sa pinto ng kwarto niya and on the second knock, he opened it.
"Uhm, dito pa rin ba ako matutulog?" I asked him innocently.
He scanned my whole outfit and I saw his Adam's apple moved. Bakit? Pangit ba ang suot ko? Kagabi tinawanan niya ako kasi mukha akong suman. I don't want to face the same humiliation again.
He already changed from his office suit. And now, he's confidently exposing his torso on me. Not minding if an innocent girl can see his six pack abs and v line. Tanging malambot na tela ng jogger pants ang pantakip niya sa kabuuan ng kanyang katawan. Nag iwas na lang ako ng tingin at itinuon ang mga mata sa mukha niya.
"Come in." Pinatuloy niya ako sa loob. I heard him closing the door behind me.
I sat on my side of the bed, waiting for him. I'm not really good at this. "Who gave you the tulip?" He asked as he settled his back on the door, resting his weight on it.
"Oh that? Si Angelo, kababata ko. He was back from States kaya nagkita kami kanina." Napakagat ako sa labi ko. Napansin niya pala iyon. Maybe he saw it while I was preparing the food earlier.
"I see. Does he know?" He gave me an inquiring look.
"About what?"
"That you're already married to me."
"Actually, no." Pag-amin ko. "But he's coming here tomorrow after my class to help me with my thesis. Sabi ko may ipapakilala ako sa kanya and it's you." Hindi siya nagsalita at nanatiling nakatitig sa akin. "Is that okay with you Kyle?"
Naglakad siya papalapit sa'kin at tumigil sa paanan ng kama. "What time is he coming?"
"Uhm, maybe seven in the evening?"
Inilagay niya ang mga kamay sa bulsa habang nakayuko na parang may iniisip. "Alright. I'll be home at seven to meet your friend."
"Okay... Hmm. I'd better sleep now. Good night." Nahiga na ako at tumalikod sa kanya. At least he's open about the idea of meeting my friends. I'll let him meet Sophie soon.
Naramdaman kong umuga ang kama dahil sa bigat niya. I tried to find my position and closed my eyes. I felt his arm snaking my waist and pulling me closer to his side. Napadilat naman ako at nagpatinaod. I can feel his warmth on my back and I find it relaxing. Hindi na lang ako umangal pa.
"Sleep well now." And in a nanosecond, he kissed my cheek.
Hindi ako makagalaw dahil nasa ilalim ako ng bisig niya. He smells so good that I want to turn around to meet his hug. But I'm ashamed. Baka kasi anong isipin niya. I stayed awake in that position for a long time.
Di ko tuloy maiwasang isipin iyong nangyari sa sementeryo. Is he serious about his plan for revenge? I hope not. Because if it's a yes, maybe I can help him change his mind. I believe Kyle is a good person.
Maybe all he need is someone who can guide him to the light.
Someone who could save him from the pain of his ugly past.