CHAPTER 50
DIAMOND
Iris' POV
I didn't want to be confused but somehow, Damian's words got into my head.
If I wasn't so in love with him, why would I rush to the hospital like that?
I stared at Dashiell's face as we walked side by side towards the entrance the hotel. Nandito kami ngayon for the Annual Elite Charity Night and Absolute Auction.
If the same thing happened to Dash, I would lose it too. I just know it. So what does that mean for me?
I have never been this undecided my entire life. Pag-take pa nga lang ng course for college, alam ko na ang gusto ko. When I look at all the clothes inside a store, one look and I'll already know what to pick. Pero pagdating sa puso ko, ang labo. Sobrang labo.
Pakiramdam ko nagiging masamang tao na ako dahil hindi ako makapili. Parehas ko silang nasasaktan hangga't dalawa silang nasa buhay ko.
I know I have to choose but I really couldn't. I'm afraid of what would happen if I did. I'm afraid I'll be with the wrong person. Paano mo ba kasi malalaman kung sino ang mas tamang tao para sa'yo? Kung kanino ka mas sasaya at mapapanatag?
Dashiell smiled when the media started taking pictures of us. When he looked at me, my thoughts slowly went blank. Wala akong ibang tiningnan kundi ang mga mata niya lang.
"You're so beautiful," He whispered into my ears. Napangiti ako dahil nakiliti ang tenga ko ng hininga niya. I giggled and he laughed lightly.
After that, we went inside the function room. Tinulungan pa ako ni Dash sa suot suot kong blue beaded long gown. I wanted to look good for tonight because I was hoping it would make me feel good.
Habang naglalakad, nahagip agad ng mga mata ko si Damian. He was surrounded by his friends. Halatang pinagti-trip-an nila Silva at Nigel ang cast ng braso nito. They were attempting to write on it.
I'm surprised he'll be here. Hindi ba dapat nagpapahinga siya? He just got out of the hospital today.
Pagkatapos namin magkita kahapon ay nanatili pa siya doon para sa ilang mga tests. Kailangan niya kasing makasiguradong walang internal bleeding o kahit na anong iba pang bali sa katawan niya. Plus the police officers also went there to get his testimony.
I heard Nova was safe too. Nasa balita na umuwi agad ng Pilipinas ang mga magulang niya nang marinig ang trahedsya. They were so worried because this is the second time that their only daughter got into a traffic accident. Ang isa ay nung nasa Australia pa ito.
"Our table's here," Dash muttered, pulling the chair so I can sit on it. Kahit lagpas isang taon na kaming nagde-date ay hindi pa rin talaga nawawala ang pagiging gentleman niya. He's so consistent, it amazes me.
I held his hand and rested my head on his shoulder while we were waiting for our friends to arrive. Pinikit ko ang mga mata ko at sa saglit na oras ay kumalma ako.
I can have a peaceful life with Dash if I want to. Itutuloy lang namin ang mga kinagawian namin. Any girl would want this kind of love. A relationship almost perfect.
"Nilalamig ka?" malambing na tanong niya.
"I'm good."
Later on, they served our dinner. Tahimik kong inubos ang nasa plato ko. Dash even helped me cut the steak.
Why would I complicate things if my life's already stable with Dashiell?
"I'm so excited!" Caylee told us the moment we were asked to go to the other function room para sa pagsisimula ng mismong event.
Pagkatapos kaming abutan ng kanya-kanyang auction paddle ay tumayo na kami malapit sa stage. There are no chairs here. Talagang lahat ay tatayo lang at iaangat ang paddle for bidding.
"Ibulong mo sa'kin kapag may napili ka na ha," Dash mumbled.
I smiled and nodded. Habang hindi pa nagsisimula ay tumingin ako sa paligid. My eyes stopped when I noticed Damian staring at me. Umiwas agad ako ng tingin at tinuon ang pansin sa host na nagre-ready na magsalita.
"Let the bidding begin!" Senyor shouted. "A votre santé!"
"A votre santé!" sagot ng lahat.
Maingay sa buong room nang magsimula na ang auction. Everyone's in a good mood right now. Talagang nagpapaligsahan ang lahat upang makuha ang mga items.
When the third item was introduced, my eyes widened at the sight of it. Sobrang ganda nito at talagang namangha ako. I gasped when the lights hit the diamond.
"Our third item for tonight is Heart shaped diamond necklace measuring 23 Carats."
"You want it?" Dash asked me.
Ngumisi ako at tumango. "Yeah..."
"Ten thousand pesos!" He immediately shouted. Tumingin sa amin ang mga tao kaya naman namula agad ang pisngi ko.
There were a complete silence after that. Mukhang walang gustong lumaban sa kanya.
"Twenty!" sigaw ni Damian. I looked at him and frowned.
What is he doing? Pang babae ang necklace na iyon. Bakit niya kailangang bilhin iyon?
Ngumisi siya sa akin kaya nanigas ako sa kinatatayuan ko.
Wait, is he doing this for me? Is this what he meant when he said he'll fight for me?
Talagang ipapakita na niya ngayon na gusto niya akong makuha.
"Twenty five!" hamon ni Dash.
"Thirty five thousand pesos!" Damian insisted.
Dashiell stared at his brother before he looked at me. Hindi ko alam kung anong tumatakbo sa isipan niya pero bigla na lang niya ibinaba ang paddle.
"Thirty five thousand pesos! Going once, going twice---SOLD TO MR. DAMIAN LEWIS!"
Nagpalakpakan ang mga tao at naghiyawan pa ang mga kaibigan ni Damian. Titig na titig naman ako kay Dash dahil hindi niya ugaling magpatalo.
"Sorry, I couldn't bid higher than that," He told me.
"O-okay lang. Hindi ko naman kailangan ang necklace na iyon. Besides may mga susunod pa namang items. I'll bid on my own."
He kissed my hand and continued watching the show as if nothing just happened. Parang balewala lang talaga sa kanyang nakuha ng kapatid niya ang necklace.
I peeked at Damian and was surprised to see him still looking at me. Parang gusto niya akong lapitan at kausapin.
He's playing with fire and he's not scared to.
It's obvious now that he's so eager to be with me.
He should stop or else, this night won't go without the two of them hurting each other.
"Are we going to the after party?" tanong ni Dash sa akin. I glanced at him and nodded.
"Yeah, of course."
In the end, I was able to get an earrings worth thirty thousand pesos. Nakalaban ko si Spencer sa bidding pero nanalo pa rin ako. I had to win atleast once or my Mom would throw a fit. Bilin na bilin niya na dapat ay sumali ako sa auction. Though I'm not sure she'll be happy with it. Mababa ang halagang ibinigay ko. She said if I had to bid for a million, I could. Pero anong magagawa ko? Tumigil na si Spencer nang mahalata niya ang pagkasabik ko sa earrings na iyon.
Pagkatapos ng event ay nagpunta na kaming lahat sa lobby. We were interviewed by a lot of people. May mga fans ding nagpa-picture sa amin.
"CR lang ako," Dash informed me.
"Okay," I simply answered.
Tumayo lang ako sa gilid at inabot na ang cheque sa staff ni Senyor. We were told that the items we bought were going to be delivered at our houses the moment they have verified that the cheques are all good. Pero kung cash ang ibibigay namin, maiuuwi na agad namin iyon. I didn't bother bringing cash tonight since I wasn't in a hurry to have the jewelry with me.
"Hey," Damian approached me. Sobrang daming mga tao dito kaya naman bigla akong kinabahan.
"Hmmm?"
"You look beautiful tonight..." Hindi ko siya matingnan sa mata dahil ang bilis talaga ng tibok ng puso ko. I feel like I'm doing something unacceptable. Na para bang may mali agad kahit na kinakausap lang naman niya ako.
Humakbang siya palapit sa akin kaya napatingin na ako sa kanya. "W-what are you doing?"
"Nababaliw na ako kakaisip sa'yo. Hindi ako makapaghintay sa sagot mo, Iris."
Nanuyot ang lalamunan ko. Is he joking? Napakaraming tao ngayon! Someone could hear him!
"Damian!"
"Just go with me, please. Tara na." He offered his hand but I just stared at it.
"PRE! HUY! LET'S GO!" I heard Silva shouted from afar. Damian's eyes were stuck in me for a few seconds before he gave up. Hindi siya nagsalita, tumalikod na lang siya at nagpunta na sa mga kaibigan niya.
Napahawak naman ako sa pader dahil pakiramdam ko nanghina ako. Agad ko rin namang inayos ang sarili ko bago pa man may makapansin sa akin.
Wala pang ilang minuto ay bumalik na si Dashiell. Hinawakan ko ang kamay niya nang mahigpit. Ngumiti lang naman siya at naglakad na kami papunta sa labas.
Dito lang ako Dash. Hindi ako aalis sa tabi mo...
Damian's POV
I've never been selfish my whole life until now. Lumaki akong isang utos lang ng tatay ko, pumapayag agad ako ng walang tanong tanong. If he instructed me to study a typical sport, I'd enroll on that program right away. At hindi ko lang ginagawa iyon dahil napagutusan ako, sinisigurado ko ring magiging magaling ako doon.
I grew up never really knowing what I love. Everything's planned for me, until now.
Since I met Iris, I already knew she's the one for me. All of this — my name and wealth — won't matter if she's not beside me. All will only be worth it if I have her.
Masama na kung masama. Sakim na kung sakim. Pero ngayon ko lang inisip ang sarili ko. This time, I'm choosing my own happiness. I'm ready to fight all odds just to be with Iris.
"Mr. Damian Lewis?" One of Senyor's staff called me.
"Yeah?"
"Right this way, sir." Sumunod ako sa kanya papunta sa isang room. Pinapirma nila ako ng mga papeles bago nila iniharap sa akin ang necklace na nabili ko. Nagdala talaga ako ng cash upang makuha ko agad ito.
When I saw Iris' eyes sparkled, I knew instantly that this jewelry should belong to her. Kahit umabot pa ng milyon ang bidding, gagawin at gagawin ko ang lahat makuha lang ito. But for some reason, Dash allowed me to win easily.
"Thank you." I went outside and met with my friends. Doon kami sa limo nila Silva sumakay papunta sa after party.
"So pre, para kanino naman 'yan?" curious na tanong ni Gio sa akin.
I just smiled and drank my white wine.
"Kay Nova, malamang. Yieee!" loko lokong biro ni Art kaya naman nakisabay na silang lahat sa pangaasar. Napailing na lang ako at hindi sila pinansin.
"Kay Nova nga ba?" Nigel asked in a low voice. Kita ko sa itsura niya ang pagkadismaya.
"I'm in love."
"With the wrong person," He said.
I just looked away and kept my mouth shut till we arrived at the private club. Pagdating doon ay nagkagulo na ang lahat. Everyone's ready to get drunk and to party.
Nakaupo ako kasama ang mga kaibigan ko ngunit ang mga mata ko ay nakatingin kay Iris. Every now and then I'd watch her smile and laugh with her friends. Pero maya't-maya rin siya napapatingin sa akin.
I'm not sure if it's because she can feels my eyes on her or she just wants to look at me too.
"Hey Damian, why are you just sitting there? Tara, sayaw tayo!" paglapit sa akin ng isa sa mga Elite.
"Nah, I'm good."
"Borriiiingggg!" asar ni Nigel ngunit tumawa lang ako.
"Actually, nasi-CR kasi ako e. Sorry."
Tumayo ako at pumasok sa comfort room kaso natigil din agad ako nang makita ko ang kapatid ko doon. He's washing his hands.
We're not exactly talking to each other lately. Pumunta siya sa hospital kagabi pero hindi niya ako kinausap. When he saw that I'm okay, he left.
Tumayo ako sa gilid niya at naghugas din ng kamay. Nakikiramdam ako kung galit ba siya o hindi. I'm also not sure if I should talk to him.
"I know Iris went to see you last night."
Hindi ako umimik at hindi ko rin siya tiningnan. Sinabi ba sa kanya ni Iris? Is he also aware of our conversation?
"I also know you bought that necklace for her." Kumuha siya ng tissue at humarap sa akin habang pinupunasan niya ang mga kamay niya. "So this is how you wanna do it, huh?"
"Dash---"
"Nah, I don't want to hear it. I'm done hearing all your lies."
I pursed my lips as I turned off the water faucet.
Gusto kong humingi ng tawad pero para naman akong hipokrito kung gagawin ko iyon. Walang magagawa ng sorry ko. Masasaktan at masasaktan ko pa rin siya.
I love my brother but I love Iris more.
"You won't have her, Damian." He sounded so confident that Iris won't end up with me. "Magkasira man tayo pero hindi mo pa rin siya makukuha."
I frowned. "She loves me, Dash. She said it herself. I heard her."
Umiling siya. "Kilala ko si Iris. I have memorized every little thing about her. I know her mind works. I know what's inside her heart."
"She'll take my hand," I assured him.
To my surprise, he smiled. "Let's see."
"Yeah. We'll see."
I left and walked towards the bar. I asked for some alcohol drinks before I approached the only person that I've been wanting to talk to the whole night.
"One for you and you and you." Sabay abot ko sa kanila ng mga alak na agad namang tinanggap ng mga kaibigan niya.
"Thanks," Iris said awkwardly.
She met my eyes and I did the same. I could feel that she wanted to say something but then she remembered we're not alone. Bigla siyang umiwas ng tingin.
"Where's Dash?" Caylee asked Iris.
"Umalis siya kanina no'ng may tumawag pero hindi pa siya bumabalik. I'll look for him."
Tumayo na siya at lumabas. I saw Dashiell just got out of the comfort room. Mukhang hindi niya napansin ang pagalis ni Iris.
I stood up, walked back to my friends to grab my gift before I went after Iris.
Even if the whole world ended up hating me, I'll still follow my heart.
"He's inside," I muttered when I saw her. Walang ibang tao dito kundi kami lang at ang receptionist na busy sa telepono.
"Oh. Okay. Thanks." Lalagpasan na sana niya ako nang hawakan ko ang kamay niya.
"Give me a minute, please?"
She immediately pulled her hand away and looked around. "Damian---"
"Isang minuto lang."
Iris bit her lower lip and stared at me. "What do you want?"
I smiled and handed her the box. Tumaas ang isang kilay niya at tinitigan lang iyon. I touched her hand again and placed it there.
"For you."
She hesitantly opened it, her eyes full of wonder.
Then I heard a low gasp. Napanganga pa siya nang kaunti nang matitigan ang necklace na kanina lang ay gustong gusto niyang makuha.
"You're like a diamond to me --- precious, beautiful and rare. And you always shine brighter than others, attracting me in all ways you could only imagine. So even if I tried so hard to look away, I just couldn't. I will keep coming back for you, to have you and be with you."
Her stare stayed on mine for a few minutes before she gazed down to the necklace again. She slowly closed it and I immediately knew what was going to happen next so I spoke first.
"I bought it for you so please don't say no."
"I can't accept this."
"All you have to do is make a choice."
Nilagay ko na ang mga kamay ko sa magkabilang bulsa ng pantalon ko at naglakad na pabalik sa loob. I was almost at the door when I glanced at her.
"I wish you'd wear it someday. I'll be the happiest when that day comes."
Iris' POV
Hindi ko magawang bumalik sa loob habang hawak hawak ang regalo ni Damian. I've been sitting here on one of the sofa chairs for about an hour now. Nakatitig sa kawalan, nagiisip nang mabuti.
I shouldn't have accepted this from Damian. Accepting this is like encouraging him to continue loving me. But I just couldn't get myself to stop him either. When I saw the necklace, my breathing stopped. I had never seen anything so beautiful than these diamonds. And his words? It made my heart jumped.
"Iris?" Agad kong ipinatong sa gilid ko ang box nang marinig ko ang boses ni Dashiell. He sat beside me. "Why are you here?"
I looked down. "Thinking."
"About me and Damian?"
That caught me off guard.
Bigla niyang kinuha ang box sa gilid ko at binuksan iyon. I thought anger would wash over him but he just stared at it.
"It'll look good on you."
Huminga siya nang malalim at ibinalik sa akin iyon. Pagkatapos ay pinagmasdan niya ang mukha ko.
"Why'd you run to him last night?"
I stopped breathing. Hindi nagtanong si Dash kung bakit bigla na lang ako nawala sa field kahapon. He just showed up this afternoon to fetch me for the party.
"You love me, Iris. I can feel that. But why can't you let go of Damian?"
Gusto kong sagutin ang tanong niya pero maski ako ay hindi ko alam ang sagot doon.
"I just can't understand it," He mumbled.
I can't understand myself too...
He exhaled and ran a hand through his hair.
Naiiyak ako dahil gulong gulo na rin kasi talaga ang isipan ko at alam kong mahirap para sa kanya ito.
"Let's just go home. It's late anyway." Hinawakan niya ang kamay ko at hinila ako patayo.
Nagulat ako nang pihitin niya ang bewang ko palapit sa kanya pagkatapos ay hinalikan niya nang madiin ang noo ko. Napapikit ako habang naaalala ko ang unang beses na umamin siya sa aking may gusto siya sa akin.
He's still the same guy. Ako lang ang nagbago sa aming dalawa.
"Mamahalin kita hangga't kaya ko."
I opened my eyes. "Dash..."
"But I can't do this forever."
He touched my cheek and caressed it. Ang lungkot lungkot ng mga mata niya.
"Malapit na akong maubos, Iris."
Dashiell's POV
"Sinadya kong manalo si Damian sa bidding. Gusto ko kasing makita kung kay Iris ba talaga niya ibibigay ang necklace. And I was right. I saw it with my two eyes. I watched as he handed my girlfriend the jewelry." I smiled sadly. "He promised me he'll leave Iris alone to save our family but look what he's doing now."
"Yeah, that's f*cked up," Charmaine commented after I told her everything.
Pagkatapos kong ihatid si Iris sa bahay nito ay umuwi ako at naisipang dumaan sa court ng village namin upang mag-basketball.
I couldn't think properly so I went outside to tire myself out. Pauwi na ako nang makita ko si Charmaine sa park. Nakaupo lang siya sa swing at nagse-cellphone. She said she went by to look at their old house for the last time that's why she's here.
Hindi niya inaasahang makita ako dahil alam niyang may event ngayong gabi. But I guess we were really meant to see each other. Kasi ang laking tulong na nakita ko siya.
I sat beside her and listened to her talk. Ganito naman kami noon. Palakwento talaga siya. When she stopped, that's the time I shared my problems with her.
Wala na e. Hindi ko na kayang itago na lang sa sarili ko.
"So anong plano mo?" tanong niya.
"I'll wait. That's the only thing I could do."
"You love her that much?"
Tumingin ako sa kanya at tumango. "Ang tanga ko noh?"
Ngumiti siya. "Lahat tayo nagiging tanga sa pagmamahal. It's not love if it doesn't make you a fool at one point."
I chuckled. "Do you think she'll choose me?"
"Do you want her to choose you?" pagiiba niya ng tanong.
I looked at the sky and thought about it.
"Honestly? I'm not sure anymore," I whispered, feeling a heavy weight on my chest.
*Chapter 50*