Chapter 30
Castielle and I were both born in the month of February. My birthday was February 12 while he was February 14. It's quite a coincidence and Castielle really made it a big deal. Ngunit palaisipan parin sakin kung paano kami napunta rito? Coincidence rin ba?
And today is February 14. His birthday. Today we're going to Tokyo's Love Festival and I know it will be filled with a lot of couples.
Couples. Were already a couple now. Sinagot ko na siya. Parang kailan lang nung ayaw ko sa kaniya at ngayon ganito na kami. And I love being with him.
Akala ko noon, masaya na at kontento ako sa amin ni Staven. Mahal niya ko, mahal ko rin siya. Hindi man kami, pero napapasaya niya ko. Iniisip ko noon na may tamang timing para sa aming dalawa. That I should learn to wait.
But, maybe, things aren't supposed to be like that. Kaming dalawa. Hindi kami ang para sa isa't-isa at mayro'n para sa amin at si Castielle ang para sa akin.
Maybe, it wouldn't last. Ayokong mag-isip na siya na kahit na gustuhin ko man. I need to face reality. But I would never regret giving myself to him. I love him. And even if that was a big risk I have ever done, I will remember it always because I gave it to the person I love.
Naramdaman ko ang mainit na bisig na pumulupot sakin mula sa likod. I was staring at the big city of Tokyo sa malaking glass wall dito sa aming suite.
Napangiti ako at sumandal sa likod niya at damhin ang kaniyang yakap. He buried his face into my neck as he sniffed my scent. Good thing I already took a bath.
"Where do you want to go before going to the festival?" I asked, enduring the tingling sensation his breath gave me on my neck.
"I just want to stay here and cuddle with you," he whispered teasing my earlobe making me tickled.
Iniwas ko ang aking ulo ng konte dahil sa kiliti. I smiled. "It's your birthday! We need to celebrate! Dapat nga ay nakabili ako ng cake kagabi but you wouldn't leave my side!" asik ko at natawa.
He chuckled. "I don't want you to leave my sight. Baka mawala ka."
"Sira! Marunong naman akong bumalik sa hotel."
His hugged tightened and kissed my cheeks. "You're oblivious. Laging nakahabol ang tingin sayo ng mga singkit dito. They should know that you already have a boyfriend!"
Natawa ako. "Singkit? Eh, singkit ka rin naman? Ongcuanco ka diba? Lahing chinese?"
"Then I should be the only singkit guy looking at you," he said possessively.
Napakagat labi ako. Gusto ko sana siyang asarin. Ask him kung ginagawa niya rin ba to sa mga babae niya noon but last time I asked him hindi na kami nakalabas ng suite. Ang nangyari? He just ate me out again.
Napagtanto kong ganito siya. His hobby was to eat me down there and I don't know if I'm going to love it or what! And his reason was... he never ever does that to her girls before. So that's her way of saying na iba ako sa kanila.
But then... a thought suddenly popped into my mind.
"Castielle..." I called.
"Hmmm?"
"How did you make Aebril fall for you? How did you do it?"
He didn't respond kaya tinignan ko siya. He was only looking out the glass wall. I called him again and he just buried his face in my neck.
"I'm just irresistible, baby. I'm overconfident as you can see..." he chuckled at that.
"Buti at alam mo!" I spat.
He chuckled again. "Sayo lang ako walang kumpyansa sa sarili." sagot nito kaya natigilan ako.
"I badly want to approach you before, baby. It's just that. I don't know if you're going to like me because I'm like this. People knew me as the Master of Flirt. The Casanova they say. And you... I put you as an exemption because when that time I was with you in a coffee shop years ago. I already cherished you." aniya at bumuntong hininga.
"Ikaw na nga ang nagsabi. I'm not the kind of guy who's going to spend the whole day reading inside a coffee shop. Because I was there to escape reality. My Dad... I accepted him again in our life even though Mom and he won't be together again. I accepted him again even though I don't want to but Mom wants it." he said with a lonely tone.
Hinarap ko siya at ipinatong ang dalawang kamay sa kaniyang balikat. "You just did the right thing, Castielle. Kahit anong mangyari, he's still your father. Hindi kita sisisihin kung magagalit ka sa kaniya, but if he's still there, wanting to be with you, still care for you even from afar, it's just right to accept him again."
He licked his lower lip while looking up before looking at me again. "I never really believe love will be permanent. Yes, there's love. I love my family. I felt love. But it would be only temporary." he said seriously.
Natigilan ako roon. I know he's saying a fact and the truth. There's no permanent in this world. It will always be temporary. And we... we could be temporarily...
Castielle lifted my chin up so our eyes could meet. "I tried avoiding you so I couldn't approach you before. To try to save you from me. The funny thing was, destiny kept bringing me to you. Why is it like that, I asked. Then I thought maybe it's another way around. That you could save me. And you did." aniya at pinatakan ng halik aking labi.
Kumabog ng mabilis ang aking puso.
"If this is temporary. I would fucking mess with destiny to make you mine permanently..."
I smiled and kissed him. I would mess with destiny too, Castielle. Sana totoo...
Ngingiti-ngiti ako habang pinagmamasdan ang suot kong yukata para sa festival mamaya. Although here in Japan, girls make a chocolate for the one they love. I want to make some but where will I do it? Siguro, pagkauwi nalang namin sa Pilipinas.
The Love Festival isn't Japan's tradition to celebrate dahil ang celebration nila sa mga couples ay bandang Hulyo pa. Swerte nalamang at natyempuhan namin ang event na ito.
I'm here inside a boutique where Castielle bought me a yukata. Sabi ko naman ay ako na dahil balak ko naman talagang bumili, but he bought us a gift kaya binilhan ko rin siya ng para sa kaniya.
He's in our suite right now because I want to meet him there like were some kind of a Japanese couple. I want us to be like those heroines in an anime story.
I really looked like a Japanese girl right now. I wonder what will Castielle look like wearing a yukata for men. I picked a denim yukata for him.
I rode a bus to go to the event. Nakakatuwang tignan ang mga japanese couple na kasakay ko sa bus. Masaya silang nagtatawanan. Excited na ako mamaya sa magandang fireworks display at gusto kong sumakay sa ferris wheel upang makita ang mga fireworks ng malapitan.
Sumabay ako sa mga kasamahan ko pababa. Were already here in the event. Kitang-kita ko na ang malaking ferris wheel at ang isang malaking bazaar sa ibaba nito.
The view stunned me. Never in my life, I thought I would experience Valentines here in Japan. Iginala ko ang aking mga mata. Maraming mga iba't-ibang palamuti ang nakapalibot sa event.
At nang makita ko ang isang pamilyar na bultong nakatayo sa bukana ng event ay napangiti ako ng malapad. He was wearing the yukata I bought for him. He's copper blonde hair was very defined in his yukata at napanguso ako ng makitang pinagtitinginan siya kahit ang mga babaeng may kasamang boyfriend.
Tsss. Why can't they be contented with their boyfriends?
I quickly came to Castielle. He turned to me and he looked quite stunned. Namula ako dahil sa mga titig niya. Nang makalapit ako'y may inabot siyang bulaklak kaya napakunot ang noo ko.
"Guys here. They don't give flowers to their girlfriends because the girls were the ones has to give something to us. Pero dahil, Pinoy tayo. Flowers for you, my beautiful baby." aniya at ngumiti ng malapad.
I rolled my eyes playfully bago tanggapin ang bigay niya. "Lover boy kana pala ngayon." biro ko at inamoy ang bulaklak na hindi pamilyar sakin.
He smirked. "I've always been a lover boy. But, right now. I'm a loving boyfriend. How's that?"
Nagkibit balikat ako. "Not bad. Magaling parin ang dila mo." biro ko. He's always full of sugar coated words.
Castielle smirked evilly. "Oh, yes, I know how good my tongue is, baby. You always scream I'm good..." he teased.
Pakiramdam ko ay namula ang buong pisnge ko sa ginawa niya. Shit! Bakit ko ba nakalimutang ang bastos talaga ng lalakeng to. Aish!
Sinapak ko ang dibdib niya. "Halika na nga! Tsss..." asik ko at nauna ng pumasok sa kaniya.
Hinabol niya ko at inakbayan at gigil na hinalik-halikan sa pisnge. Mas lalo akong namula. Clearly were such a PDA at napapatingin talaga samin ang mga tao. God! He really stand out.
Castielle and I tried the stick foods and some takoyaki and yakitori. It was very delicious, mayro'n sa Pilipinas pero masarap parin kung galing mismo dito sa Japan.
"Si Papa... I think he's in love with someone right now." kwento ko habang kumakain kami.
Seryoso niya kong tinignan. "Are you fine with it?" he asked contemplating what could be my reaction.
I smiled. "I'm fine with it. Matagal ng wala si Mama. I want him to feel love again and if he's happy with her, susuportahan ko siya. How 'bout you? What if your Mom would fall again?" tanong ko bago sumubo ng takoyaki.
He sighed. "Oh, I want her to fall in love again. But she's too in love with Dad," he said with disappointment.
I sighed at that. "Did your Dad love your Mom?" I asked without inhibition.
Nagkibit balikat siya. "Don't know. Because if you love someone, I believe you don't have the power to leave them." seryoso niyang sagot.
Napatango nalang ako. Wala akong masabi. I don't even expect him to say those kinds of words. He's a Casanova and I expect him to believe love isn't real but I was wrong.
Those are such clichè playboys. Castielle, on the other hand, believes in love and I will show him what it is.
9PM has finally arrived. Pumila na kami ni Castielle sa pilahan ng ferris wheel dahil malapit ng mag-umpisa ang fireworks display.
I was so excited ngunit ng mapuno ang ferris wheel na hindi kami nakakasakay ay halos manlumo ako. No way! No way!
I turned to Castielle. "Pano na'yan?" tanong ko at gusto ng maiyak. Kanina pa ko excited eh!
His jaw clenched. Tumingala siya sa itaas at ginala ang kaniyang mata. Napatungo ako at bigong sinandal ang noo sa dibdib niya.
I was excited for nothing! Kung alam ko lang sana ay hindi nako umasa. This is so heartbreaking!
Naramdaman kong hinawakan ni Castielle ang kamay ko kaya inangat ko ang ulo ko. Kaagad niya kong hinila at mabilis na naglakad palabas sa pilang nawawala na.
"S-Saan tayo p-pupunta?" hinihingal kong tanong habang hila-hila niya.
He was walking fast. More like running while we past all the people in the opposite direction. Uuwi naba kami? Pwede pa namang manood kahit wala sa ferris wheel pero syempre mas maganda kung nasa loob nito at nasa tuktok kayo.
"Castielle pwede naman tayong manood sa iba—"
Pumasok kami sa isang mataas na building. Nakuha ko ang gusto niya kaya mabilis akong kumilos paakyat sa hagdan. We couldn't use the elevator.
We were running fast when Castielle just murmured a lot of cussing.
"Fuck this yukata. Damn it!" aniya dahil hindi siya makatakbo.
Natawa ako at patuloy kaming umakyat sa pinakataas na magkahawak ang kamay. When we got to the rooftop kasabay ng pagsabog ng iba't-ibang kulay sa langit.
Napasinghap ako sa ganda. This spot is just right to watch the fireworks. It's like were to close to the fireworks. Naglabas ako ng cellphone at kinuhanan ito. I heard a camera sound kaya napalingon ako kay Castielle na nakatutok ang camera sakin.
Napangiti ako at tumingala sa langit. Sumabog nanaman ang panibagong fireworks sa langit. Napaawang ang bibig ko ng naging puso ang fireworks. This is why I like about here in Japan.
I felt a warm arms embraced me from the back. Naibaba ko ang aking cellphone at napangiti. "Let's take a picture..." aniya at itinaas ang kaniyang isang kamay upang kuhanan kami ng picture.
I smiled widely, Castielle was leaning his head on mine with a smug smile. When he was done he embraced me tightly while we watch the fireworks display.
"I don't wanna go home yet..." he whispered.
I leaned on his chest, "May pasok pa tayo." sagot ko.
I felt him sniff me. "I still want to be with you alone here..." lambing niya.
I smiled. "We'll be together when we get back. Just promise to fix things, alright?"
I felt him nodded. "Yes, baby." sagot niya at hinalikan ako sa pisnge.
I smirked. "Very good."
"This is the best birthday, hmm..." he whispered again burying his face in my neck.
Time flies so fast whenever you're having fun. Kagaya ni Castielle, parang gusto ko pang magtagal upang makasama pa siya. But we need to face reality. When we boarded to the plane hanggang sa makalapag ang eroplano sa Pilipinas ay nakayakap lang siya sakin.
"Nagpasundo ako sa pinsan ko..." ani Castielle habang bitbit ang mga gamit namin palabas ng NAIA Terminal 1 habang hawak ang kaniyang phone.
Nagulat ako ng biglang tumilapon ang cellphone ni Castielle sa sahig at kasabay nun ang pagbagsak ng mga bag namin dahil may sumantok kay Castielle. Nanlaki ang mata ko ng makita kung sino ang sumuntok sa kaniya.
"Staven!" di makapaniwalang sabi ko at napatakip ng bibig.
"Tangina mo, Ongcuanco!" galit na sigaw ni Staven at muli niyang sinuntok si Castielle ngunit nakailag ito at sinuntok pabalik si Staven.
"Tama na!" kaagad kong sabi at sinubukang tigilan sila pero hindi sila umawat.
"Alam na alam mo kung paano ako higantihan, ano!?" sabi ni Staven at kwinelyuhan si Castielle at sinuntok.
Natigilan ako sa sinabi ni Staven. Higanti? Nilingon ako ni Staven na galit ang mukha. "Niloloko ka lang ng gagong to!"
"Fuck off, Guidaben! She's mine!" singhal pabalik ni Castielle at sinuntok ito pabalik.
Agad rumesponde ang mga guards at isang pamilyar na lalake ang pumagitna sa kanilang dalawa at inawat si Castielle at ang guards naman ang umawat kay Staven.
Kumabog ng mabilis ang puso ko. Niloloko? Higanti?
Lumapit sakin si Staven at hinila ako. "Sumama ka sakin." mariin niyang sinabi.
Ngunit kaagad akong inagaw ni Castielle. "Hindi siya sasama sayo." mariin din nitong sinabi.
Staven smirked. "Stop fucking off, Ongcuanco. Tigilan mo na si Nari. Nari, binibilog ka lang ng lalakeng to at nagpadala ka. Sumama ka pa sa Japan, ha?"
"We both won a ticket, Staven!" yun lamang ang depensa ko.
Hinila ako ni Castielle kasama ang kasamang lalake. It was Sheun his cousin.
"And you believe it? This is his plan to avenge me, Nari! Fuck it!" huling sigaw niya bago ako nakapasok sa sasakyan.