CHAPTER 39
PROTECT
Sab's POV
Pinigilan ko ang sarili ko sa pago-overthink. I wanted to be a matured and independent woman. I want to show the world, the universe rather, I am confidently beautiful with a heart---Charot! Hahaha Pang-Miss Universe pa nga ang sagutan.
Anyway, itinulog ko na lang muna ang pagaalala at nang magkita kami kinabukasan ni Russell ay agad ko siyang tinanong tungkol doon.
"May relasyon ba kayo ni Agatha? Kabit lang ba ako? Ha? Aminin mo na habang kaya ko pang intindihan ka!"
"Ha?" naguguluhang tanong niya. "Hindi ka na naman ba nakainom ng gamot mo?" natatawang biro niya bago niya kinuha ang sling bag ko at binuhat 'yon. Then he held my hand and we started walking away from the dormitory building.
I pouted and examined his face. Mukhang clueless talaga siya sa sinasabi ko. As usual, taong bundok nga pala itong jowa ko at hindi mahilig mag-social media. Sighing, I showed him the video that I watched from last night.
Nakakunot ang noo ni hubby habang pinapanuod 'yon. I stayed there, just looking at the students near us whom I think are gossiping about us. Some were even lowkey taking pictures and videos of us. Pinigilan ko ang sarili kong ngumiti at kumaway sa mga camera nila.
Russ caught my attention again when I heard him cursed. "What the f*ck? Ano na naman ba 'to?"
I nod in agreement. Palagi na nga lang may issue. "Lahat na nga ng plot twist, nasa love story na natin."
He gave me back my phone and continued walking. Masama ang timpla ng mukha niya at halatang nagiisip siya ng mabuti. I tiptoed to kiss his cheek.
"Penny for your thoughts?"
Bumuntong hininga siya at hinarap ako. "I need to end this once and for all. I can't let anyone say bad sh*t about you. A kiss or holding hands in public used to work, but it was never enough."
I gasped. "Hala siya! Anong gusto mo, magchukchakan na tayo dito? Hubby naman! Sige! Saan mo ba mismo gustong pumwesto?"
"What?!" Napanganga siya sa gulat.
I laughed loudly making Russell shake his head and pinch my cheeks. "Ikaw talaga!"
"Joke lang, ito naman! Masyado ka kasing seryoso!"
"Does this not bother you?"
Ngumiti ako. "'Di ba nga, ikaw na rin ang nagsabi? Hindi naman sila parte ng relasyon natin kaya hindi dapat ako nagpapaapekto sa mga kumento nila sa buhay ko. Tsaka pagkatapos nating maghiwalay at naramdaman ko na kung paano ka mawala sa akin, naisip ko lang na ang babaw na rason naman para pagdudahan ko ang pagmamahal mo dahil lang sa isang video na wala namang katuturan."
He slowly softened up while listening to me. Halatang kumalma na siya kahit papaano. Kanina kasi ay inis na inis na siya, parang uusok na ang ilong.
"Syempre nung una kong napanuod, inisip kong baka totoo nga talaga 'yon. Baka ginamit mo nga lang talaga ako para palihim kayong makapag-date ni Agatha. But then, I realized it's impossible. Nakitira pa nga sa bahay niyo ang parents niya kaya imposibleng hindi ka nila magugustuhan para sa anak nila. That cheerbitch is lying, it's so obvious."
He pulled me towards him to kiss my forehead.
"I love you. Only you Sab. Hindi kita ginamit kahit kailan. At mas lalong walang namamagitan sa amin ni Agatha."
"I know, and I trust you." I smiled widely. "Oh ha! Proud ka na ba sa'kin? Ako lang 'to!"
He chuckled a little and squeezed my hand before he walked me towards my room.
Russ was still quiet even though I already assured him that I believe him. Idi-distract ko sana siya sa iniisip niya nang mag-vibrate ang phone ko. Tiningnan ko kung sino ang nag-message.
From: Ron
Good morning, my childhood love!
I saw the vid. I hope you're okay.
If you need someone to talk to, I'm here.
Sasagot pa sana ako nang tumigil sa paglalakad si Russell. Iniangat ko ang tingin ko at doon ko lang napagtantong nasa harapan na pala kami ng pintuan ng classroom.
"Childhood love?" He asked, staring at my phone.
"Yeah. Kababata ko si Ron."
He frowned. "When was this?"
"Kababata nga 'di ba? Malamang nung bata pa kami!" paghalakhak ko.
"What year?" He demanded.
"Basta nasa daycare center pa kami no'n, bago siya mag-migrate dito sa US. Nakakatuwa nga e. Hindi ko in-expect na siya pala si RJ."
His mouth fell open slightly. Natawa ako at sinara ang bibig niya. "Small world, right?"
"How sure are you that he's your RJ?"
"Well, he said he is..."
"Sinabi niya lang, naniwala ka na?" Now he sounded a little mad. Nagtaka tuloy ako sa reaction niya.
"He showed me a picture of us when we were kids. Alam mo hubby, chika ko lang, siya talaga 'yung pinunta ko dito sa Brooklyn kasi plano kong maging syotain siya. Kaso nung nakita kita, end game na agad. Napukaw mo na ang puso ko!"
I thought he'd laugh at my cheesiness but he simply gave me a furrowed-browed stare.
Ngumuso tuloy ako. "Bakit ba? Nagseselos ka?"
"Tsss. No." Umiling siya at huminga ng malalim. "What an asshole."
"HA? AKO? ASSHOLE? Mukha na ba akong butas ng pwet sa paningin mo? Grabe ka naman."
Tumitig siya maigi sa akin. Napaisip tuloy ako baka nagmukhang pwet na nga ako. Hala!
"Sab, he's not your RJ."
"Siya nga kasi 'yon. Ron Jamescott ang name niya kaya naging RJ!"
"I'm also RJ! Russell Jay, remember?"
I giggled. "Luh, oo nga noh! Galing! But that doesn't mean you're my RJ. Isa lang ang RJ na kilala ko nung bata pa ako at si Ron 'yon. Anyway, tumigil ka na nga. Wala namang bearing kung magkababata kami. Ikaw naman ang love ko."
Parang buwiset niyang iniabot sa akin ang bag ko. Tumingin ako sa loob ng classroom upang i-check kung nandiyan na ang prof namin. Mabuti at wala pa naman. My eyes caught Marina watching us from her seat. Nauna siyang umalis kanina dahil nag-breakfast pa sila ng boyfriend niya.
"Not your RJ, huh?" I heard Russell muttered. Binalik ko ang tingin ko sa kanya. Nakasimangot siya. "I'll see you at lunch, NOT my Savannah."
My eyes widened at that. Ano bang problema niya? Laptrip.
"Aalis ka na agad?" I asked in shock. Medyo maaga pa naman. He can still stay here with me.
"Mas mabuti pang asikasuhin ko 'yung naninira sa'yo kaysa pakinggan ko mga sinasabi mong hindi ako ang RJ mo."
I chuckled loudly. Ayoko nang asarin siya, baka mapikon lalo. Inisip ko na lang ang sinabi niyang may aasikasuhin siya. "What are you going to do now?"
"What I should have done a long time."
Gusto ko pa sana siyang tanungin kung anong ibig sabihin niya doon pero hinayaan ko na lang siyang makaalis. Russell is a smart guy. Hindi niya naman ipapahamak ang sarili niya. Kung ano man 'yon, alam kong para sa ikabubuti ng relasyon namin 'yon.
Russell's POV
I called Agatha as soon as I left Sab's building. I just couldn't wait to fix this mess.
"Hi?" nagtatakang tanong niya pagkasagot niya ng tawag. "I didn't know we're still in good terms to talk...In case you didn't know, I struggled to find another actor for my film project. You gave me one hell of a fight."
I cleared my throat and took a deep breath to relax myself. "Where are you?"
"I'm currently pulling up at the parking lot. Why---"
"I'll meet you there."
I ended the call and went to see her. Dire-diretso ang lakad ko kahit na may narinig akong tumatawag sa pangalan ko. I can see Agatha's car from afar, kakababa niya lang ng sasakyan nang may lumapit sa kanyang kapwa cheerleader niya.
"Dude!" I was forced to stop when Ron tapped my shoulder. "Wala ka naman palang airpods na suot. Kanina pa kita tinatawag, bakit hindi ka lumilingon?"
"Bakit ba?"
"Tungkol sa video---"
"I'm on it."
He pursed his lips. Halatang hindi siya satisfied sa sagot ko. He wants me to do more. "I hate seeing Sab get hurt. Pangilan na 'yan, hindi mo pa rin siya maprotektahan."
Iritable kong tinitigan si Ron. "Habang buhay ka na lang ba talagang magaabang kay Sab?" Natigilan siya at tila nabigla sa tanong ko. I didn't give him the opportunity to speak. "I'm not going to let go of her even if the whole world tells me to do so. Kahit mangielam ka ng ilang libong beses, ako pa rin ang pipiliin niya at gano'n din ako sa kanya. Try to accept the truth. You're only wasting your time doing dumb things like pretending to be her childhood friend, RJ."
Tutal nandito na rin naman, mukhang kailangan ko na ring i-confront siya sa panggagago niya.
"What?" He was taken aback at what I said.
"Oh come on. Kailan pa naging RJ ang nickname mo?"
Umayos siya ng tayo. He wanted to look tough but I can see right through him. Takot na siya dahil bistado na siya.
"Nung bata pa ako, 'yan ang palayaw ko."
"Okay, sure." I chuckled. "Pero bakit mo ninakaw ang nagiisang litrato namin ni Sab nung mga bata pa kami para magpanggap na ikaw nga ako?"
His jaw clenched. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"She told me about it. Are you saying she's a liar?"
Hindi nakaimik si Ron.
"Nasa bahay 'yon, sa kwarto ko. I forgot to take that photo with me when I moved to my apartment. Ang galing ah. Hinanap mo pa talaga para mapanindigan ang kasinungalingan mo."
"Will you stop accusing me of things that I never did?!"
Tiningnan ko siya ng seryoso. "I get that you're desperate to win Sab's heart. That's your only chance to sway her away from me but you must admit to yourself that it was a poor move on your part. Hindi ko inaasahang magagawa mo 'yon sa'kin."
Hindi na siya talaga nakapagsalita dahil doon. He looked away from me, ashamed of what he did.
Napailing na lang ako. "What's with my step brothers? One tried to steal my identity, the other tried to ruin my face. Kakaiba rin kayong dalawa."
Ron just frowned. Pakiramdam ko ay nagi-guilty na siya lalo na't pinaalala ko sa kanyang magkapatid kami. We may not have the same blood but we grew up together and we're good friends.
"Just give back the picture, please. It's important to me." Iniwan ko na si Ron doon at pinuntahan ko na si Agatha.
Palapit na ako sa kanya nang mapansin kong ang kausap niya ay ang cheerleader na nasa video. I'm one hundred percent sure of that. "What the hell?"
I took a detour instead of going straight to her. Doon ako sa likuran ng kotse niya dumaan upang mapakinggan muna ang usapan nila.
"You shouldn't have approached me! What if someone sees us?! Russell's about to meet me here!"
"I don't care, Agatha! I did what you told me to do! Now give me that damn money!"
"Ugh! You're so annoying!" Nagmamadaling inabutan ng cash ni Agatha ang babae at halos itulak palayo.
That's when it hit me. She paid that girl to spread lies about Sab! Sh*t!
Does that mean that she is also involved in keeping Sab locked up at the cheerleading base? Inutos niya rin ba 'yon sa isa sa mga ka-teammates niya? Hindi imposibleng gawin niya 'yon dahil nagawa niya ngang magbayad ng isang tao para magpakalat ng maling impormasyon.
Hindi agad ako nakagalaw agad dahil sa sobrang pagkagulat. I never expected this from Agatha. I'm aware she's against me dating Sab but to the extent of trying to ruin us? Wow! How naïve of me not to see the real her!
I've been defending her all this time. Ni minsan hindi ko siya pinagisipan ng masama dahil akala ko totoong kaibigan ko siya. Napakahirap talagang magtiwala.
Lumapit na ako sa kanya upang kausapin siya. When she saw me, her face immediately lightens up. She seems excited that I'm here to see her.
"I wasn't expecting this." She sounded amused. "Are you finally going to apologize for being an ass?"
Hinintay ko muna umalis ang ilang mga estudyanteng nanunuod sa amin bago ako nagsalita.
"Yeah, I'm sorry for that...and for what I'm about to say."
I ran a hand through my hair and sighed. I don't want to hurt Agatha's feelings, we've been friends for decades, but what kind of friendship is this when she's been betraying me all this time? A fake one, I guess.
"Agatha, I need you to stay away from me and my girlfriend from now on."
Ang kaninang sobrang sayang mukha niya ay napalitan ng pagkagulat. "W-what? Why?! Is this about that viral video online? Russ, I didn't have anything to do with that!"
How can she act so innocent when in reality, she has been deceiving everyone around her? She poses as a saint but behaves more like the devil behind our backs.
"Even if it's not your fault, I still want to cut ties with you."
Tears started to cloud her eyes. "I knew this day would come. I knew Sab will do whatever it takes to separate us from each other! Can't you see what she's doing, Russ? Obviously, this is all part of her plan!" Naluha na siya ng tuluyan. "Don't let her do this to us Russell! You're making a huge mistake!"
"It's over, Agatha. Stop the act. I saw you paid that girl a few minutes ago."
Unti-unting tumahan sa pagiyak si Agatha. Halatang gusto niyang ipagtanggol ang sarili niya pero hindi ko alam kung bakit tinitigan niya lang ako.
"Why'd you do it?" diretsang tanong ko. "You've never done things like that before. What changed?"
She wiped the tears on her cheeks and glared at me. 'Yung tingin niya parang sobrang sama ng loob niya dahil hindi ko alam ang sagot sa tanong ko.
"Are you really that clueless that I'm in love with you, Russell?" She sobbed. "I've always been in love with you. Ever since we were young, I only have my eyes set on you. But each time I try to express my real feelings for you, you walk away and reject me completely. You shut me down as soon as I do something unusual."
If I'm being completely honest with myself, I suppose I've always known Agatha likes me. I just don't think about it too much since she's my friend. I am to blame for allowing her affection for me go on for years. Umasa siya dahil hinayaan ko siya. Nakagawa pa tuloy siya ng kung ano-ano.
"I'm really sorry, Agatha..."
"Sorry isn't going to cut it! I want what you have for Sab! I want to experience how you are treating her, like your whole world only revolves around her! Do you know how much it pains me each time you smile around her? I've been here with you longer than she has but you've never looked at me the way you look at her!"
Umiwas na ako ng tingin dahil halos humagulgol na siya kakaiyak.
"I don't understand why you had to pick her and not me. What does she have that I don't have? What can she give you that I can't?"
Umayos na ako ng tayo at umiling na lang. I will only tear her heart into pieces if I answer that question.
"I'm sure there is someone out there who would love you the way you deserve to be loved. Unfortunately, that's not me Agatha. I am for Sab."
I gave her a tight smile. "I forgive you for the things that you did. It was an act of love, but it should end now. Please stop while I'm still being nice. I will no longer be kind to anyone who wants to harm my girl."
After that, I went to my class and participated at school. Our prof was just wrapping up his class when I decided to post a picture of Sab on my Instagram account. It was my way to stop all the nonsense gossips about our relationship.
Ngayon ko lang gagawin ito dahil napansin kong sa tuwing tumatahimik lang ako, ang girlfriend ko ang nagdudusa. Mabait lang talaga siya dahil hinahayaan niya na lang ang mga usap-usapan pero habang tumatagal, lumalala ang tingin sa kanya ng mga tao. Matagal ko na dapat ito nagawa. I shoud have shouted to the world how much I love her the moment I started liking her.
Out of all her pictures on my gallery, I chose the one where she was sleeping on my arms yesterday. Nang makatulog siya pagkatapos niyang umiyak dahil sa nanay niya, kinuhanan ko siya ng litrato. She looks so peaceful with her eyes closed and her head resting on my chest.
I'm sure she'd love the caption.
Russell Jay Valiente: My wife.
*End of Chapter 39*