XIBEL was left in the kitchen wondering about what the woman said. He wasn't able to respond. It never crossed his mind to see her performances live, and it was already fixed he would not be going to see it even once. But Jasia just popped off a deal and then left him.
"Pumunta ka, boss lord."
He gazed at Arator who sat next to him. "Are you ordering me?"
"Hindi, my lord. Nagsasabi lang. Nasa iyo naman 'yan kung susundin mo o hindi. Pero kung ako iyan ay pupunta ako."
"Then why don't you go instead?" walang gana niyang sagot.
"Hindi naman ako nakakakita kaya wala ring silbi kaya ikaw na lang, boss lord. Matutuwa rin si Imris kapag sumama ka."
The tip of his eyebrows moved as he mentioned Imris. He could already imagine the scenario later; Imris would look at him again with those pleading eyes, convincing him to come. And his answer? Of course, he wouldn't be able to say no again!
He groaned and crossed his legs. "This is annoying."
"Sumama ka na, my lord. Para naman makalimutan mo na rin si Celestialiana. Kung ako sa 'yo, si Jasia pipiliin ko."
Inis niya itong nilingon. Why did their conversation end up between them? "Stop bringing up her name. Do you want to die--"
"No, thank you, my lord." Tinaas nito ang dalawang kamay bilang pagsuko. "Pero ito, my lord. Seryosong usapan, pumunta ka."
"Why are you pushing me to go there? I don't want to get out." Tumayo siya.
"Sabi ni Jasia wala raw ibang mga tao ang manonood kundi kayo lang ni Imris. Hindi mo ba nararamdaman, my lord?"
"Ang alin?"
"Na gusto ka niyang manood. Kayong dalawa ni Imris." Tumayo rin si Arator at nagtungo sa niluluto nito. Binuksan muna nito ang nag-a-alburotong kaldero bago siya nilingon. Marahan siya nitong nginitian. "Subukan mo ring lumabas, my lord. Hindi naman ito ang House Spot. Wala tayo sa kuwento ngayon kaya hindi mo kailangang mag-alala na may hindi na naman magandang mangyari sa 'yo. Hindi ka kalaban sa mundong ito, my lord."
Xibel flinched. For a moment, his mind went silent. Indeed, he was overthinking about the possibility of things that may go wrong. He was afraid he would experience something unexpected again, just like how he failed in every single scene in the novel. And how he would always end up miserable whenever he tried to avenge himself from Celestialiana, the male lead, and from the humans.
But Arator was right. He wasn't in his House Spot. He wasn't controlled with words. He was free to do anything he wanted.
Hindi siya sumagot at naglakad na lang pabalik sa salas. He sat on his miserable-looking sofa. He couldn't believe he really is considering about going.
Thanks to his followers, there was a part of him convinced.
Lumipas ang oras at bumalik na si Jasia para sunduin si Imris. Tinanong siya nito kung ano ang kaniyang naging desisyon pero hindi muna siya sumagot kaya muli siya nitong binigyan ng oras mamaya pag-uwi ng dalawa galing eskwela.
Now, he was sitting on his bed. He took a piece of cigarette in his pocket hoping it could help him make up his mind. It was easier to say no. He could have said it to her so he wouldn't have to think about it now.
He didn't like seeing the stage either. Although it was one of his favorites before, it had now turned into a nightmare. The happiness he used to feel seeing someone on stage, especially her, had long been dead.
But still, he wanted to go.
He wanted to see if Arator was right, that there was nothing to worry about the events not going in the way he wanted.
"Papa!"
Napunta ang atensyon niya sa pinto nang may kumatok. Nakabalik na sila galing sa paaralan.
Mabilis niyang tinapon ang sigarilyo sa bintana bago binuksan ang pinto gamit ang mahika. Sinalubong naman kaagad siya ng tumatakbong Imris. Tumalon ito sa kaniyang kama bago siya binigyan ng isang mahigpit na yakap.
"How's school?"
"Imris got a star again!" Pinakita nito ang nakakuyom na kamao. May guhit na bituin ang nakaungkat doon. At first, he didn't understand what the stars were for but seeing how happy Imris looked, it may be a form of reward for kids in this dimension.
"Good. It seems you're doing really well." He patted Imris head.
Ngumiti naman ito. Her cheeks that used to be so famished looked healthier now. "Yes! We're going to see Mama perform now. Do you want to come, Papa?"
Natigilan naman siya. Iniwas niya ang tingin at tumikhim. "Well . . ."
"Well what?" Pinilig nito ang ulo, pilit na sinasalubong ang kaniyang tingin. "Do you want to come, Papa? Do you want to see Mama dance?"
"It's not like that. It's just--"
"You want to see Mama dance!" Tinuro nito ang kaniyang mukha. Lumakas ang boses nito kaya agad niyang tinakpan ang bibig dahil baka marinig sila sa baba.
"I don't. Don't say that again."
But Imris just giggled and removed his hand. "You want to see Mama dance. I'm going to tell Mama!"
"What? No!" Namilog ang kaniyang mga mata nang tumalon pababa si Imris at tumakbo palabas.
"Imris!" Ramdam niya ang sakit sa kaniyang lalamunan dahil sa lakas ng kaniyang pagsigaw. Sa ilang taon niyang namumuhay, iyon na yata ang pinakamalakas na tunog niyang nilikha.
Pero hindi man lang natakot ang bata at isang tawa lang ang sinagot nito.
Tumakbo rin siya palabas ng kuwarto. Tiningnan niya mula sa railing ang pababa na si Imris at gagamitin na sana ang mahika para lumipad subalit huli na dahil nakarating na ang bata kay Jasia.
Napairap siya dahil sa bilis nitong kumilos.
"Mama, Papa said he wants to see you dance."
Muli ulit siyang napairap nang magsumbong na nga.
Oh, heavens and curses. This is consuming my energy. I want to go back to my Personal Setting.
"Really?" Inangat naman nito ang tingin sa kaniya. Kaagad siyang napaiwas dahil ayaw niyang titigan ang mga mata nito. Masiyadong maamo, kagayang-kagaya kay Imris. Pakiramdam niya'y kapag tititigan niya ito ay mapapasunod siya sa kung ano mang hihilingin ng babae.
"So you'll be coming?" The excitement was vibrating all over her voice.
He glanced at her which he immediately regret because Imris was also looking at him with those hopeful eyes. Like it was telling him he had no choice but accept it.
He sighed. "I guess so."
Kaagad na nasundan ng pagdidiwang mula sa baba pagkatapos niyang binitiwan ang mga katagang iyon. Napasapo na lang siya sa kaniyang noo.
He was still busy ranting inside his head when the next thing he knew, he was already at Jasia's car, sitting beside Imris.
"Papa, I'm so excited!" bulong ni Imris sa kaniya.
"And I'm drained," sagot niya pabalik. He snapped his hand in order to cover his head with a cloak. He then closed his eyes and leaned back. "I'll sleep for a while. Tell me if we have arrived."
"Yes, my lord."
Napamulat naman siya sa sinagot ni Jasia. Did he mishear her?
Bago pa siya makapagsalita ay nasundan iyon ng tawa. Jasia looked at him from the rearview mirror. "Sorry, I was just kidding. Gusto ko lang i-try sabihin iyon. Panay kasi ganoon sina Arator sa 'yo."
"Silly woman," he mumbled and closed his eyes. Hindi na siya nagsalita pa nang paandarin na ni Jasia ang sasakyan.
Nakaidlip lang siya saglit bago sila tumigil sa isang kulay abo at matayog na gusali. They went inside the tunnel-like passage until they arrived at a place where other cars are parked. Lumabas na si Jasia at pinagbuksan sila.
Naunang bumaba si Imris sa kaniya. Nilibot muna niya ang tingin bago bumaba. Kinarga niya si Imris habang nakasunod lang kay Jasia. Umakyat sila sa isang makitid na hagdan.
They stopped in front of a door. Binuksan iyon ni Jasia at kaagad na bumungad sa kaniya ang malaking teatro. Nasa pinakaibabaw na parte sila. Naglakbay ang kaniyang tingin habang nagtatanong ang isipan kung bakit nakahilara ang mga upuan na parang hagdan. Hindi magkapantay ang libel nito subalit ang desinyong ito ang naging rason upang makita niya nang maayos ang entablado sa ibaba.
"See? Walang tao, 'di ba?"
Nilingon niya si Jasia na nakatayo ilang metro ang layo sa kaniya. Nasa likod ang dalawang kamay nito habang nakangiti sa kaniya. Nakasaklay sa balikat nito ang malaking bag. The pink ribbon in her hair was cheerful too.
"You may sit anywhere you want. Magbibihis lang ako." Tinuro nito ang gilid ng entablado.
Tumango lang siya bilang sagot. Bumaba na si Jasia habang naiwan silang dalawa ni Imris sa itaas na namimili ng mauupuan.
"Papa, let's sit there." Turo nito sa upuang nasa tuktok pa rin ngunit sentrong-sentro sa entablado.
Sumunod lang siya sa sinabi ng kaniyang anak at umupo. Tahimik lang sila habang isa-isang nagsidatingan ang ilan pang mga kasamahan ni Jasia sa play, ngunit doon na sila lumabas sa stage at hindi dumaan sa kung saan sila nanggaling kanina.
"Excuse me, mister."
Kaagad siyang napalingon sa kaniyang likuran nang biglang may magsalita. Nakasuot ito ng itim na tuxedo at pants. At nakapuyod ang mahaba at itim nitong buhok.
"I am Miss Cecora's secretary, May. I just want to check out the man who made her request the instructor to put all reporters and journalists out today. Nice to meet you." Bahagya itong yumuko bilang pagbati. Iyon lang ang sinabi nito bago naglakad pababa papunta sa pinakababang upuan.
Kumunot naman ang kaniyang noo sa sinabi nito.
Jasia purposely made this theater empty?
Napabalik ang atensyon niya sa entablado nang may malakas na ugong ang sumakop sa buong teatro. Nagsimulang gumalaw ang mga mananayaw na kanina pa nakahanda sa stage.
Nang hindi niya makita si Jasia ay hindi niya rin muna pinansin ang sayaw. Kahit pa sobrang ganda ng kasuotan nila subalit hindi naman sila ang kaniyang pinunta ay hindi rin siya magsasayang ng oras para panoorin sila.
"Imris, wake me up when your mother is out," saad niya kay Imris na nakaupo sa kaniyang lap bago sumandal sa likod ng upuan at pumikit.
"Okay!" sagot nito habang naaaliw na sa mga sumasayaw.
He was fast asleep. The moment he closed his eyes, everything around him just shut. He didn't desire any pleasant dream, however, his mind showed him again the woman that left his heart a total ruin.
The smile of the woman he loved as his dream showed him how they met left his chest aching. He wanted to ask her a lot of things. He wanted to know why did she abandon him. After everything he did, why did she suddenly have a change of heart? Why was she with the prince of Fort Galron?
"Papa. Papa, wake up! Mama is here!" A warm and small hands touched his ruined cheek.
Dahan-dahan siyang napamulat. Sinundan ng inaantok niyang tingin ang nakaturong kamay patungo sa entablado.
The hum of the captivating song round around his ear as his eyes caught the woman dancing. Her white dress was sparkling yet it was even more than magnificent for it was her wearing it. It followed her moves, bouncing within her every turn. Her toes pointing straight down the ground as she glided with grace put Xibel into a feeling of confusion.
How could she move so beautiful?
Her headdress complimented the expression of her face--soft and full of passion. As how he couldn't take his eyes off of her, he also couldn't stop the ache piercing through his heart.
That look of passion reminded him of Celestialiana. How she worked hard to perform on stage mirrored the woman dancing.
"Mama is like a princess, right, Papa?" ngiting-ngiting saad ni Imris.
"Yes." A small smile formed over his lips as he continued watching her. "She's a princess."
Natapos ang rehearsal nila nang walang ibang taong dumating kundi sila lang. Hindi muna siya umalis sa kinauupuan hangga't hindi rin umalis ang ibang mga kasamahan nito.
Nang makita niyang paakyat na si Jasia sa direksyon nila at nakapagbihis na rin, saka lang siya tumayo. Bumaba si Imris at sinalubong ang ina.
"Mama! You're so good!" Hinalikan nito ang pisngi sa tuwa. "I want to dance like you someday!"
"You want me to teach you?" Pinisil nito ang pisngi.
Nagningning ang mga mata nito at mabilis na tumango. "Yes, please!"
Napailing na lang siya sa sinagot ng anak. Bigla niyang naalala ang sinabi ng sikretarya ng babae kaya tinanong niya ito.
"Did you purposely made this theater empty?"
"Ah, well." Napahagod naman ito sa batok. "Yeah. It's not a big deal though. Pumayag din naman si Monsieur Charlotte basta kasama raw si Imris."
"You don't need to do that." He sighed. It felt like he was indebted to her.
However, he did feel safe today. Watching her made him forget about his loud and anxious thoughts, and just focused on her.
"But still, thank you," dagdag niya.
Her lips parted with a smile. Naningkit ang mga mata nito. Inilagay nito ang isang kamay sa baywang. "So? What can you say about my dance? Did I portray Odette well?"
He could tell her a lot of good things until her heart would burst. She was more than good. She became a different person when she dances, but why on earth would he say all of it? Or in other words, he felt something stuck in his throat that he couldn't let out those words.
He cleared his throat. "It was impressive. You look like a drowning swan."
"What?!" Mabilis na nawala ang ngiti nito at napalitan ng kunot ng noo. "Are you insulting me?"
"It depends on how you take it." Tumalikod na siya at naglakad na papalapit sa pinto.
Hindi na siya sumagot pa nang marinig niya ang reklamo nito at ang maliliit na hagikhik ng anak. As he opened the door, a little chuckle slip out from his lips too.