"It's your birthday."
Nakangiting wika ni Pablo kay Fatima nang araw na iyon. Pinuntahan niya ito sa silid nito dahil tulad ng palagi nitong ginagawa ay hindi na naman ito lumabas ng kwarto. He found her lying on her bed wearing that lavender dress with its matching high heels. Naka-make up rin ito and somehow, he found that disturbing.
"Leave me alone..." Sabi nito sa kanya. He just sighed. Marahil ay malungkot pa rin ito sa pagkamatay ng kanilang ama pero kailangan na nitong tanggapin iyon. He sighed.
"Fatima, why are you acting like that? Are you still sad about Papa?" Tanong nito sa kanya. Fatima eyed him.
"No, I really think that Dad is happy na doon. I'm not sad about him leaving." Sabi nito sa kanya. Umupo siya sa tabi nito at saka humiga sa tabi nito.
"Then why are you acting like that? I missed the old Fatima.." Nginitian niya ito. "Next week, eighteen ka na, what do you want?" Nakangiti pa ring sabi niya. Fatima faced him.
"I don't want a celebration." Sabi nito sa kanya.
"Okay... what is it that you want?" Tanong muli niya ditp. Fatima smiled.
"I want to go to Paris."
"Iyon lang?" He asked her. Fatima nodded. Tumango na rin siya.
"Pwede?" Tanong nito sa kanya.
"Oo, pero next June mag-aaral ka na." Sabi niya sa kapatid. Fatima sighed. Tumango rin ito. "I guess we have a deal?" He asked.
"Deal..." Nakipag-kamay ito sa kanya, pagkatapos ay nahiga muli siya. Inilagay niya ang kanyang braso sa likod ng kanyang ulo at saka bumuntong hininga. Naramdaman niyang tumayo si Fatima, ngunit maya-maya ay bumalik rin ito. May hawak itong isang long bond paper at ibinigay iyon sa kanya.
It was an article she printed out - an article about Kristine. Ayaw man niyang tingnan iyon ay kinuha niya pa rin... The article's title was: Pinay beauty swept away UAE's catwalk.
Tapos ay may picture ni Kristine habang ngiting-ngiti ito. Oh, how he missed her. He missed her voice, the way she calls his name, her laughter, her warmth - everthing about her. He missed her. And it's killing him.
Wala na ang galit niya dito. Naroon na siya sa puntong alam niyang kailangan na niyang kalimutan ito. Many nights he had thought about flying to UAE and look for her pero hindi niya magawa. Nahihiya siya dito - the way he acted the last time he talked to her - he hated himself for being such a jerk.
"Do you miss her?" Tanong ni Fatima, Cause you know, I do miss her, kaya nga ako nagde-dress ng ganito because somehow, it reminds me of her."
"She doesn't belong to m y world anymore..." Nakangiting wika niya.
"Kuya, she's not like that..."
"Totoo naman, Kristine belongs to the world she's in right now - iyong mundo ng glamour. Doon siya bagay. Hindi siya pwede dito sa hacienda, maputik, mabaho, ma---"
"Pero nandito ka, mahal ka niya..."
"That's not the point... Mukha namang masaya siya." Sabi pa niya. Bumangon siya mula sa pagkakahiga. "Babalik na ako sa azukarera. You stay here, mamaya we'll talk about your birthday trip." Hinaplos niya ang buhok nito. "I love you..."
Fatima just looked at him. Hindi niya alam kung para saan ang tingin nito sa kanya but that bothered him somehow. Napapailing na tinalikuran niya ito...
Maybe he was right about his decision of not fighting for her kasi ngayon, mukha namang masaya na ito...
---------------------
"So what's next for you, Miss Kristine?"
Kristine just smiled as she sits in front of the camera. May interview siya sa press tungkol sa achievment niya with the UAE's fashion show. She was the first Fiipina tp ever grace the catwalk of the said venue and now everybody wants her.
"I don't know, maybe I am going back to the Philippines." She said. Iyon naman talaga abg balak niya. Babalik siya ng Pilipinas dahil gusto niya na ng tahimik na buhay. Hindi niya makukuha ang tahimik na buhay na gusto niya kung naroon siya sa UAE. Mas nais niya ng simple buhay kaysa s abuhay na meron siya ngayon. She realized that noon kasama pa niya si Pablo.
She sighed. Hanggang ngayon ay si Pablo pa rin ang hanap niya, pero wala naman na siyang magagawa dahil na rin sa pagkakataong ito, sigurado siyang kasal na ito kay Isabelle. She just couldn't really belive the fact that he married Isabelle after all the pain she brought to hos family.
"And what do you intend to do there?" Tanong sa kanya ng reporter. "Are you thinking about settling down?"
"Not really, I just..." Natigilan siya, ano nga bang gagawin niya sa Pilipinas? Noon sigurado siyang oon na niya gustong tumanda dahil naroon si Pablo, ngayong wala na ito, ano nga ba ang gagawin niya sa Pilipinas?
"I'm not really sure but after this I'm going back." Nakangiti pa ring wika niya. Wala naman na siyang commitment sa ngayon. She already asked Rami to clear her schedule and when she was free, naisipan na niyang umuwi.
She was done wih all of these. Gusto na niya ng tahimik na buhay with or without Pablo. Kailangan na niyang makalimutan ito. Kung ito nga ay nakalimutan na siya ng ganoon kadali, siya rin. Dapat na siyang lumimot kahit ba napakasakit noon sa puso niya. She siged. She wanted to hold on to their memories, pero memories na lang iyon, hindi siya masasabihin ng "I love you, too." ng mga memories ni Pablo.
She sighed, she had never loved anyone as much as she loves him.
"Thank you, that's all I will answer now. See you.." Agad siyang tumayo para matapos na ang conference agad siyang sinalubong ni Rami at ng mga security They escorted her to her prvate SUV, nakasunod pa rin sa kanya ang mga reporters at pilit pa rin siyang tinatanong she just waved at them, matapos iyon ay sinabihan na ni Rami ang driver na paandarin na ang sasakyan. Noon lamang siya nakahinga ng maluwag.
"Sigurado ka na ba sa desisyon mo?" Tanong ni Rami.
"Oo. Gusto kong magsimula ulit, without all of these. I just wanna be me... the old and simple Kristine..." Ngumiti siya. Buo na ang desison niya. Ayaw na niya sa mundong ginagalawan niya. Marami siyang pangarap na tinalikuran noon pero ngayon, handa na niyang harapin iyon. Sayang nga lang, mas maganda sana kung kasama niya si Pablo roon...
-----------------------
Ninoy Aquino Internatiol Airport.
Friday, 12:51 midnight.
"Grabe, excited na ako! Frirst trip tapos Paris pa!"
Napapangiti si Pablo habang nakatingin kay Fatima. Birthday na nito at ngayong araw at ngayon rin naka-schedule ang flight nila papunta ng Paris. She was smiling pretty hard that time. Kahit paano naman ay maayos na muli sila, paminsan-minsan ay binabanggit pa rin ni Fatima si Kristine pero kapag hindi naman na siya kumibo ay hindi na ito nagsasalita.
"Kuya, punta tayo sa Eifell ha? Gusto ko doon! Saka sa Arc de Triomphe and the Champs-Elysées. I heard maganda doon kapag gabi!" She said.
"Oo. lahat iyon pupuntahan natin."
"Thank you!" Sa tuwa nito ay niyakap siya nito. "Pero alam mo? This trip will be much better if Ate Kristine is here." Nakangiti pa rin ito sa kanya. Napailing na lang siya.
"Anong oras ba ang boarding? Bakit hindi pa sila natatawag?"
"Two am pa naman iyong boarding natin, excited ka, iniiba mo na naman iyang usapan." Sabi nito.
"Hindi naman kasi." Pinilit niyang ngumiti. Inaamin niya, minsan ay nakakaramdam siya ng panghihinayang dahil na rin sa hinayaan niyang mawala ito sa kanya. Malinaw naman na ang isipan niya, maybe Fatima was right, maybe he should've given her a chance pero tapos na, nawala sa kanya ito nang dahil sa katangahan niya, and of he would be given a chance to repeat the things that happened between them, sisiguruhin na niyang hindi ito aalis sa tabi niya.
He missed her.
"Kuya, pwede gumala muna?" Tanong ni Fatima sa kanya. "Naiinip na ako."
"Okay, but be back before two okay?"
"Sus para namang pupunta ako sa mall, diyan lang ako sa may vendo machine."
"Gutom ka na naman." sabi niya dito. Fatima just made a face. Tumalikod na ito sa kanya. He stayed there at the waiting lounge, sitting, he took out his I-pod and played it. He listened to his playlist while he was looking around the area. Maraming tao sa waiting lounge... Maybe they would go to Paris too for a vacation.
He took out is aviators at saka isinuot iyon. After a while tinaggal niya ang earphones niya at saka muling nagpalinga-linga. Hinahanap niya si Fatima.
He took out his phone when he felt it vibrated. Si Fatima iyon.
"Kuya, I'm stuck here, I don'[t know where to turn, ang dami kasing tao." Sabi nito. Agad siyang nakadama ng pag-aalala.
"What? Nasaan ka ba?"Agad siyang tumayo.
"Here, near the arrival area."
"What are you doing in the arrival area? Sabi mo sa vendo ka lang!"
"Sorry, nalibang ako. Please come and get me."
"Fine. Stay where you are. Don't move. I''ll come look for you."
Agad siyang lumabas sa waiting lounge at hinanap ang daan patungo sa waiting are. He was really worried about Fatima. Dalaga na ito, pero sa mga mata niya she will always be that eight year old little girl with pigtails and jumpers.
After a while nakarating na siya sa may arrival area. Tulad nga ng sinabi ni Fatima ay maraming tao doon. may mga press people at parang may pinagkakaguluhan sila but he didn't really care. He just wanted to find his sister and get the hell out of there.
He looked around again. Hindi niya makita si Fatima. He took out his phone and called her again. Nag-ring iyon at matapos ang ika-limang ring ay sumagot na ito.
"Where are you, nandito na ako?" Sabi niya pa.
"Nandito ako, I can see you. Maglakad ka kuya papunta sa may unahan."
"What?" He asked. "Why are you there in front?" He asked her.
"Basta, you need to come pick me kasi I can't move. Ang daming tao and they're like squeezing me."
"Fine! Pasalamat ka birthday mo ngayon." He hissed. Tinapos niya ang tawag at saka nakipagsiksikan sa mga tao.
"Excuse me, coming through, excuse, excuse..." Iyon ang namutawi sa kanyang bibig habang nakikipagsiksikan siya sa mga taong iyon. He was getting killer eyes from those people pero wala siyang pakialam. Finally, he saw Fatima standing near the barricade, ngingiti-ngiti ito habang may tinitingnan na kung ano.
"What are you doing here? Let's go back to the waiting lounge, " Sabi niya habang hinahatak ang braso nito.
"Teka kuya! Wait lang kasi." Sabi nito. Pinanood niya ito. She acted as if she was about to tie her shoes pero nanlaki ang mga mata niya nang sumampa ito sa barricade at nagsisigaw.
"Hey!"
"Fatima Diana Veronica Del Mundo Santillan, get back down here!" Hinahatak niya ito.
"Hey! Hey! Look at me! BARBIE DOLL!"
"What?" He whispered. Noon lamang niya napansin ang tinitingnan ang mga tao at tinitingnan ni Fatima. In the middle of the arrival area were a bunch of press people at sinusundan nila ang isang babaeng hindi niya pwedeng maipagkamali sa kahit na kanino.
It was Kristine.
She was wearing a knee lenght dress, nakaladlad ang buhok nito habang naglalakad pero nakatungo ito. Mabilis ang mga hakbang nito habang pilit na iniiwas ang tingin sa mga reporter na kasunod nito.
"Hey!!! BARBIE DOLL!"
Muli sigaw ni Fatima. He just stood there watching her.
"BARBIE DOLL! BARBIE DOLL! BARBIE DOLL!!!!!!!"
And that was when she stopped. Nagpalinga-linga ito. Nakadama siya ng kaba...
--------------------------------
"BARBIE DOLL!!!!!!!!"
Napahinto si Kristine nang marinig niya ang mga salitang iyon. Hindi siya pwedeng magkamali. She really did hear that. Nagpalinga-linga siya sa paligid. Imagination niya lang ba o talagang narinig niya ang boses ni Fatima? Kahit hindi siya sigurado ay alam niyang si Fatima iyon. Si Fatima lang naman ang tumatawag sa kanya ng Barbie doll.
"Tine, okay ka lang?" Rami asked her.
Nagpa-ikot-ikot pa siya. Nang ginawa niya iyon ay ginaya rin siya ng mga reporters. Nagpaikot-ikot rin ang mga ito na tila ba hinahanap ang hinahanap niya.
"I'M HERE! LOOK MY WAY! HERE!!! ON YOUR LEFT!"
Left?
She loooked at her left and there she found her, standing at the barricade waving at her like there was no tomorrow.
"Who's that girl, Kristine?!"
Narinig niya ang tanong nga mga reporter sa kanya. She couldn't answer. She was so amazed by the fact that Fatima was there. Anong ginagawa nito doon? Parang namamatandang lumapit siya dito. Miss na miss na niya ito at gusto na niya itong mayakap pero habang nakatitig siya kay Fatima ay may nahagip siyang pamilyar na bulto na nakatayo sa tabi nito.
Si Pablo.
He was looking at her. Wala siyang maaninag na emosyon sa mukha nito. Her heart beat again, pero may kasamang kalungkutan iyon, knowing that Pablo was already married to that bitch Isabelle.
"Come here!" Sigaw muli ni Fatima. Hindi siya nakagalaw. Nakatitig lamang siya dito, Fatima mouthed, "hay naku." Then she went down tapos ay pumunta sa likod ni Pablo, halos pagtulakan nito ang kapatid niya. The people gave way, binuksan rin ng iba ang barricade, napansin niyang umalma ang mga guards pero dahilsa dami ng press ay hindi makagalaw ng maayos ang mga ito.
Pablo looked funny nang sa wakas ay mapunta na ito sa gitna. Pinalibutan sla ng press, they were taking pictures and asking questions all at the same time.
"Sino siya Kristine?" Sigaw ng mga ito. She just stood there looking at him. Finally he said something.
"Hi..." He awkwardly waved at her. She relucntantly smiled. Hindi niya alam kung anong nangyayari o kung bakit ito nasa harapan niya ngayon. Paano si isabelle?
"H-hello..."
An awkward silence enveloped the distances between them. Hindi niya alam kung anong sasabihin niya. she just stood there habang ito naman ay nakatingin lang din sa kanya.
"How are you?" Tanong nito. Sasagot sana siya nang bigla na namang sumigaw si Fatima sa background.
"Ow c'mon! Stop those nonsense talk, Pablo Alavaro. Tell her you love her!"
"You l-love me?" Hindi makapaniwalang tanong niya. Pablo looked back at Fatima.
"Gusto mo ikaw na dito?" Sabi pa nito sa kapatid nito.
"Ano ba?" Hinampas niya ang balikat nito. Muli itong tumingin sa kanya.
"I was never good with words." Sabi nito sa kanya. "But let me just say this." He sighed. He looked at her intently and sighed again. "It will never be my wolrd without you in it."
She gasped. Agad na tumulo ang mga luha niya. Lumapit siya dito at saka pinagsusuntok ang dibdib nito. Wala na siyang pakialam kun g makunan ng press iyon. She was feeling so confused lang.
"You're saying that and yet you married that bitch!" She yelled. "You married that bitch!"
"I didn't marry anybody cause I was waiting for you. You still owe me an answer. How could I be married, wala ka naman?" He looked amused.
"You didn't marry Isabelle?" Natitigilang wika niya.
"No, where did you hear that news?" Nagtataka ito.
"Anong hear? Pinadalhan ako ng invitation sa UAE!" Sigaw niya dito.
"I didn't know that. I never even thought of her that way --"
"But you kissed her."
"Only because I was mad at you for not telling me about that bastard Jake."
"He's my past, your my present, bakit kailangan pa siyang pag-usapan?" Wika niya dito.
"I'm sorry. I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me. I spent the last four months of my life blaming myself for what happened to us. I love you still,"
Napangiti na siya.
Suddenly she remembered that time when she realized that her relationship with Jake lacks of romance. She broke up with him and she took her chance, she went to San Miguel not sure of what to find there, ni hindi niya naisip na doon sa maliit na bayang iyon niya makikita ang hinahanap niya.
Si Pablo.
The man who gave her what she wanted. The man she never thought would give her all she ever asked for. She stared at him, she was finally feeling the contentment she had been wanting to feel.
"Oo na, bati na tayo. Huwag ka na ulit magagalit sa akin ha?" Sabi niya kay Pablo. Pablo smiled.
"Sorry for being such a jerk, I was just blinded by anger..." Wika pa nito. Tumango siya. "We'll talk from now on, we'll tell each other everything."
"Yes... I like that..." Sabi niya.
"And yeah, maybe we could get married... " Biglang sabi nito.
"That offer still stands?" Nakangiti na siya.
"Like what I said, It's not my world without you in it."
And just like that her tears fell. Kinuwelyuhan niya si Pablo at saka hinalikan ito. She gave him that honest to goodness kiss he loved so much, a moment later it was Pablo who was dominating the kiss. She could see - even if her eyes were closed - the blinding flashes of the cameras around them. Pablo ended the kiss.
"Guess who'll be in the news tomorrow?" Nakangiting wika niya.
"I really don't care... I love you..." Sabi nito ay saka muli siyang hinagkan sa labi.
"I...love.. you.. too..." Wika niya sa pagitan ng mga halik nito. That moment she realized that, fairytales do come true. She just had hers and it's good so good it completed her.
Growing old with Pablo...
That sounded so good.