Chapter 36: Her Promise
"Here." He tenderly wrapped the scarf around my neck. "Should I buy you a coffee?"
Ngumiti ako sa kanya. Kanina pa kasi siya aligaga sa'kin. Kahit kalian talaga 'tong bestfriend ko. Inabot ko ang kanyang braso, pinulupot ito sa'kin at pinisil ito. "I'm alright, Harvs. Bine-baby mo naman ako masyado."
Kinuha niya ang kamay ko mula sa kanyang braso at hinawakan lang ito. Whenever he holds my hand like that, I always feel so comfortable. Nawawala lahat ng problema ko at parang bumabalik lang kami sa dati noong mga bata pa lang kami.
"Little sister kita eh." he said in an endearing way.
I was about to lean on his shoulder just to take a short nap when a voice stiffened my body and made me pulled my hand back.
"We have to get going." Martin commanded.
I heard Harvey sighed on my side.
Hindi ko alam kung bakit ko 'yun ginawa. Instinct maybe? I don't know. I just feel guilty for how I reacted.
"I'm sorry, Harvey. Mali 'yung gi - "
Nakaramdam ako ng paggulo sa buhok ko. "Wala 'yun, ano ka ba." he whispered and yet I sense a hint of insincerity in his voice. I pushed the thought away and put a smile when he helped me to stand and presented to carry my luggage.
Nasa airport kami ngayon papuntang Batanes. And I hate to admit but I'm actually happy to be outside again. I shouldn't be happy coz I'm making people worried about me. Mapanganib kasi talaga ngayong nasa labas ako at wala sa headquarters dahil maaaring umatake si Carl. But truthfully, I'm not afraid. I know Carl. Hindi naman siguro niya ako makakayang patayin. What I'm afraid of is the people surrounding me.
"Chloe," Chief Verzosa's voice draws my attention. "We don't have anything to defend ourselves when we board on the airplane. So please, never leave my side."
"Okay." Narinig ko ang paghakbang niya palayo kaya inabot ko ang kanyang damit. When I pulled the hem of his sleeve, I gave him my most genuine smile. "Thank you, Chief."
"No problem, child."
Agad kaming nakasakay sa eroplano dahil may special treatment ang mga may kapansanan. Pinili ko ang silyang malapit sa bintana. Dati noong nakakakita pa ako, ito ang gustong - gusto kong pwesto dahil makikita ko ang mundo mula sa itaas - ang mga ulap, ang dagat, ang mga ibon at iba pa. Ngayon na lang ulit ako makakasakay ng eroplano simula nang mabulag ako.
"Harvey - "
" - he's at the back." Agad akong nakaramdam ng pagkabog ng dibdib ko. Isang mabilis ngunit mabigat na pagtalon galing sa puso ko. He's beside me.
Sa totoo lang, simula nang bumalik siya kahapon galing sa funeral ng papa niya, wala na siya sa kanyang sarili. He barely talked to me and he was quiet all the time. I want to ask him what happened but I just can't. I want to respect his grieving state.
This will be awkward.
I whispered a prayer when the plane started moving.
"Are you afraid?"
Napadako ang mata ko sa direksyon niya at marahang tumango. Kabado ako sa byahe namin, sa mga taong makakasalamuha namin, sa buhay ko, at sa mga taong mahal ko.
"Don't be." Warmth engulfed my hand as he slowly caressed it. "As long as I'm here, no one can touch you."
Pagkasabing - pagkasabi niya nun, naramdaman ko ang pag-angat namin. I started to tighten my grip on his hand pero pinalis niya ito bagkus, niyakap niya ako ng patagilid.
Hinawakan ko ang braso niyang nakapulupot sa'kin. "I'm also here for you, Martin."
"My father..." Rinig na rinig ko ang paghihirap sa boses niya. "even though he betrayed me and my mom, I still don't want him dead."
"I know."
"He's the only family I have."
I reached for his face and traced it. My thumb outlined his forehead up to its center, down to his nose and finally, to his lips.
"I am now." I kissed him lightly. "Alam kong naging matigas ako sa'yo dati. I always block you out because I thought I'm not worthy to be cared, to be loved. But you show me how worthy I am with those feelings. Ngayon, masaya akong ibabalik iyon sa'yo. Dahil mas kailangan mo 'yun ngayon. I will be with you, Martin. I promise"
"Thank you, Chloe. My life... It's yours. " his voice cracked. Then he kissed me fervently than before. It's like his clinging on to me.
We shared a promise through a kiss. It ended just when our plane steadied on the sky.
***
Halos isang oras mahigit din ang byahe namin papuntang Batanes. And within that time in the plane, marami akong nalaman tungkol kay Martin particularly sa family niya.
Napag-alaman kong nanggaling pala sa abusive father ang nanay ni Martin. Nagkaroon ng insidente in which sa sobrang galit ng lolo niya napalakas ang palo ng stick ng walis tambo sa ulo ng kanyang nanay. The latter blocked out and was taken to the emergency room because of too much bleeding on the head. Fortunately, nagkaroon lang ng crack sa skull at hindi naapektuhan ang utak. The one affected by the blow is her mother's eyes. Nagkaroon ng retinal detachment dahil sa forehead tumama ang malakas na hampas.
Even if his mother was blind, his father fell in love with her. They met in college and the moment they graduated, they immediately got married. Masaya naman daw ang pamilya nila noong una. His father will unconditionally took care of her mother and Little Martin was the one who obligingly do the household chores while studying.
Mas lalong lumuwag ang buhay nila nang lumago ang business ng tatay niya. The price was his father's presence. Bihira na lang umuwi ang tatay niya dahil palaging busy. Uuwi daw ito ng gabing - gabi na at aalis ng sobrang aga. Nawalan na ito ng oras sa pamilya at napansin din niya na nawawala na ang lambing ng tatay niya sa kanyang ina.
He saw how his mother suffered. She missed her husband so much. The old husband who loves her so much. Naririnig niya itong umiiyak tuwing gabi sa tuwing wala pa ang tatay niya sa bahay. Nakikita niya ang mga pilit nitong ngiti sa tuwing kinakausap niya ito. And that's when something popped into his mind. That's when a plan formed in his head. He will cure her mother. He will bring back her eyes.
Ayaw man ng tatay niya sa desisyon niyang mag-doktor, nagpumilit pa rin siya. Mahirap daw ang naging desisyon niya dahil kailangan niyang umalis ng bahay para makapag-aral sa Manila. Hindi rin naging madali ang pag-aaral niya dahil mahal ang kursong medisina. Ang tanging naging sandigan niya lang ay ang kanyang ina na siyang nagpapadala sa kanya ng pera galing sa kaunti nitong kita sa pagmamasahe.
But when her mother died because of an accident? Doon na gumuho ang mundo niya.
Doon na siya nagsimulang humingi ng tulong sa tatay niya but got rejected.
Doon na nakipaghiwalay sa kanya ang una niyang pag - ibig, only to find out that she's his old man's woman.
Doon na siya nawalan ng purpose sa ginagawa niya.
Until he met me.
***
Galing sa airport, sumakay kami sa taxi at pumunta sa isang prisinto. May kaibigan pala doon si Chief Verzosa na agad - agad na nagbigay sa'min ng mga armas na kailangan namin. Mapapagkatiwalaan naman daw ang kaibigan niyang iyon dahil simula pagkabata ay magkakilala na sila.
After that, we ride in a tricycle. Noong huminto na kami, agad akong hinawakan ni Martin.
"Where are we?" tanong ko sa kanya pagkababa namin sa tricycle.
"Hindi ko rin alam. Si Chief Verzosa lang ang may contact sa mga taong iyon." he said in a serious tone.
I shifted my feet from one side to another, unable to control my nervousness. "Describe the place for me, please."
"Nasa harap tayo ng bundok. I think we'll climb to the top."
"That's right, Martin." Chief Verzosa agreed. "Simulan na natin ang pag-akyat. Iniiwasan nating abutan ng gabi dito."
Tumango ako habang hinigpitan naman ni Martin ang paghawak sa kamay ko, entertwining his fingers into the spaces of my hand.
I was about to step my foot when another hand grabbed mine. Napalingon ako sa lalaking humawak sa kabilang kamay ko. "Harvey..."
"Hindi lang si Martin ang nandyan para protektahan ka, Chloe. Don't forget me. I'm your Superman, remember?"
I smiled.
"Martin," I heard him say. "Don't own Chloe yet. Hindi lang ikaw ang handang magsakripisyo ng buhay para sa kanya."
Ano ba 'tong sinasabi ni Harvey? Sa paraan ng pagkakasabi niya parang... parang...
"Don't own her yet. Because she's been mine even before you met her."