Jade
When Althea and I went down for breakfast I can see the sudden change of mood in the people around the dining table. But the funny thing was the look in Lolo and Dada's faces, hindi ko alam kung alangang seryoso na masaya or tuwang itinatago. Maybe because there's still the feeling of guilt for what they did but at the same time relieved and happy for what happened.
"You're right on time for breakfast, girls." bati ni Mama.
"Good morning po." magalang na bati ni Althea habang papalapit kami. She gestured me to sit next to mama and sat beside me after. I didn't say a word but smiled at Mama when I got down the table.
"It is really a good morning, isn't it?" mahinang tugon ni Lolo Pablo at ngumiti lang ako pansin kong ganon din si Althea. "Mga Apo, kailan ang balik niyo sa Maynila?" dugtong ni Lolo.
"After lunch, Lo. After we go to church and lunch biyahe na rin kami ni Jade. You can stay here pa po Ti-" biglang nahinto si Althea sa sasabihin na parang nahiya saka tumingin kay Mama at nginitian lang siya ni Mama at tumango. "You can stay here pa po M-mama and Pa..pa..." as she slowly shifted her gaze to Dada."...if you want po para may kasama si Lolo." I can see the sudden changed in Dada and Lolo's face. It's like they heard a good news that made their day.
"Oh...eh..bakit babalik naman agad kayo?" Si Lolo muli "Maanong magtagal muna tayo para magdiwang." masaya niyang sabi at lahat kami napatingin sa kanya.
"Ibig kong sabihin magdiwang ng magandang umaga...araw...ano bang okasyon ngayon?" bigla niyang sabi na parang nataranta.
"It's ok, Lo. I need to work na tomorrow and Jade has an appointment kaya we really need to go." putol ni Althea at mukhang sumuko na si Lolo Pablo sa apo.
"Siya sige, kayo ang bahala. Nawa ay lagi kayong lumuwas dito ng makapagpahinga dahil kailangan niyo yan lalo na kung magkakaapo na ako." Lolo said, his eyes not looking at us but his food. Nagkatinginan kami ni Althea, here we go again Lolo sabi ko sa isip ko. Walang nakaimik.
"Do you want to get married again?" basag ni Dada sa katahimikan, hindi ulit kami nakapag salita ni Althea "You know? I mean, the first wedding...I mean your wedding was not that..." hindi na tinuloy ni Dada dahil napako na sa kanya ang tingin namin ni Althea. "Just a suggestion..." ngiti niyang sabi sabay subo ng pagkain. What's with this two at biglang kung anuano ang sinasabi.
- - -
Pauwi na kami at si Mang Julio ang nagdrive sa amin dahil ang Althea ayaw umalis sa tabi ko. Clingy lang.
"Do you want us to get married again?" she suddenly asked.
"Why?" dko sinagot tanong niya.
"To make us official." sagot niya habang masuyong hinahaplos ang kamay ko.
"Isn't what we had already official?" tanong ko muli.
"We're married officially, Mahal." she called me and I saw Mang Julio glanced at us, smiling. "what I mean is, you can have a wedding that you dreamt of."
"It's ok Love, i couldn't have a church wedding anyways." simple kong sagot
"I...I'm sorry I can't give you that." she said almost a whisper.
"I mean no offense, Love." baling ko sabay hawak sa pisngi niya. "I'd rather have that quick and shotgun wedding and be with the person I want to spend the rest of my life." and i saw her smile.
"Ikaw gusto mo ba ikasal tayo ulit?" it's my turn to ask.
"Kung anong gusto mo..." she simply said.
"We'll see, but as of now, I don't think it's our priority since we're already married and as far as I know we're officially married, signed and sealed." I said smiling "And our wedding portrait isn't bad either, dba?" tanong ko she stared at me blankly and didn't say a word. "Why, Althea, haven't you even look at our wedding portrait?" I asked and she didn't answer. "Hindi mo pa nakikita? It was hanged in the living room." I continued but she remained silent. "Ooohkay. I'll have a copy of it and will put one in our bedroom and a wallet size so you can keep it in your purse." I said almost irritated
"Kailangan pa sa purse ko?" taka niyang tanong.
"Yes. Why?" balik ko sa kanyang pataray.
"Wala naman." balik na niyang sagot.
"And before I forget another one in your desk.Office desk.In your office." dugtong ko pa at tiningnan niya ako. "What?" pero umiling lang siya. "Just want to make sure that everyone knows who your wife is." I said as I look out the window and I saw a glimpse of Mang Julio's smile.
"Ok. You're my boss." mahina niyang sagot. Buti alam mo sagot ko lang sa loob loob ko, kung pwede nga pati sa desk ng Andrea na yon para ipaalala ko sa kanya na may asawa na ang boss niya.
"Are you ok?" kamusta niya sa pananahimik ko.
"Yes." I plainly answered. "If ever na ikasal tayo ulit, will it be alright kung may singer tayong invite?" bigla kong natanong.
"Oo naman." sagot niya and I just nodded. "So, who do you want to sing in our wedding if ever?"
"Ahm...si Kaye Cal?" I said and I felt her head swifty moved to face me but she didn't say a word. "What?"
"Why her?" she asked.
"Why not? I like her voice." I reasoned."Why?" I asked again but she didn't answer. "Are you jealous?"
"No." mariin niyang sagot.
"Then what's with the face?" tanong ko "I just like her voice. period. and I think she has a girlfriend."
"I don't know." sagot niya lang. Natatawa na ako, hindi naman obvious na nag iba ang mood niya.
"Ok what about Jake Zyrus?" tanong ko na lalong nagpalaki sa mga mata niya.
"Are you serious?" balik tanong niya.
"What? Althea I like their voices that's all."
"I can sing, too. If you want."banat na niya.
"It would be hard for you to sing and dance with me at the same time." rason ko at hindi na siya umimik."Ok.Ok. If you don't want Kaye Cal and Jake. How about Aiza Seguerra?" habol ko pa.
"Mahal nanadya ka ba?" sagot niya na parang gusto na akong patulan, pigil lang ako ng tawa.
"What now? Don't tell me you're gonna get jealous over Aiza? She's already married, fyi." depensa ko.
"Whatever." Pagsuko na niya at sinulyapan ko ng kindat si Mang Julio na alam kong natutuwa na sa kalokohan ko. I kissed Althea's shoulder before leaning my head on it. "Just kidding Love but honestly I like their voices." bulong ko but she didn't say a word. We're enjoying the silence while I was still leaning on her shoulder when her phone rang.
"Yes, Batch." seryoso niyang sagot, napa bangon ako. "Name?" mas lalong seryoso ang tono niya. "Nasaan siya?"kita ang galit sa mga mata niya. "I will see him. Now." my diin sa boses niya. "I said now. Can't wait till tomorrow." may utos sa boses niya. "Thank you. Bye." pagbaba niya ng phone ay tahimik siyang tumingin sa labas. I can see how she closed to fist her other hand that's not holding me.
"Althea." I called her but she didn't even moved her head towards me. "Hey." I said as I held her face to look at me. "Something wrong?" I asked.
"Pag uwi natin. Aalis din kami agad ni Mang Julio. May pupuntahan lang ako." was all she said.
"Where?" tanong ko.
"Sa CIDG Headquarters."
"Why?"
"I need to see someone."
"Who?" I asked next but she didn't answer. "Althea."
"How long have you known David Limjonco?"
"Why?Nasa custody siya ng CIDG?" I asked.
"Why look worried, Jade? How long have you known each other?" parang inis ng tanong ni Althea.
"He's a good friend of mine since college, Althea.And I'm just concern what happened to him? Was he arrested or what?" tanong ko na rin.
"If he really is your good friend. He wouldn't hurt you nor try to even lay a hand on you." she said with a look of anger. Is it true? David was the one who attacked me that night?
"A-althea...he will never do that." depensa ko kay David.
"He already did."
"That's not true, Althea."
"Bakit pinagtatanggol mo pa siya?" tuluyan ng inis si Althea dahil binitawan na niya ang pagkakahawak sa kamay ko.
"I'm not defending him." seryoso ko na ring sagot. "I said I know he wouldn't do such a thing." patotoo kung sabi. Hindi na siya umimik but crossed her arms and stared outside."I will go with you." Mahina kong sabi.
"No!" halos pasigaw niyang sagot na bumaling sa akin.
"I want to, Althea. For me to know why he did what he did." may taas boses ko ng sabi.
"No, Jade. You'll be staying at home."
"How the he.ll will I know the reason if you won't let me talk to him!" sigaw ko at huli na para bawiin ko pa ang taas ng boses ko. Tiningnan lang ako ni Althea saka bumaling kay Mang Julio at sinabi kung saang lugar. The rest of the trip is silent with a space now between me and Althea. She never looked at my side the whole trip and when I looked at Mang Julio I can see in his eyes a look of concern.
- - -
Althea
I never expect that Jade will raise her voice at me just because of that guy. Siya na ang sinaktan pinagtatanggol pa niya. Who is he to be treated as such by Jade, she even doubted that he did it to her.
"Dito na tayo, Althea." gising ni Mang Julio sa malalim kong pag iisip. I got out of the car without even looking at Jade. I already saw Batchi coming towards us.
"Tsong, nasa loob siya." Bigla na siyang nagulat ng natanaw niya ang kasama mo. "Bakit andito siya?" bulong niyang tanong sa akin.
"She didn't believe me when I said that her friend was the suspect." I said irritated and walked straight not even looking back at Jade.
"Batchi. Hi" rinig kong bati niya kay Batchi ng lumapit sa kanya. Hindi ko na narinig ano pang pinaguusapan nila dahil malayo na ako. Pag pasok ko sa loob ng headquarters ay sinalubong ako ni Senior Supt. Samonte.
"Good afternoon, Ms. Althea." Bati niya sa akin.
"Good afternoon, Sir. How was it?"
"We studied the CCTV then we just asked him about it and he immediately admitted but defended that it was not intentional."
"Do you believe him?" duda kong tanong.
"He even submitted hinself to a lie detector test. Sabi niya he would eventually come out to your wife dahil hindi din siya mapakali." sabi ni Sir Samonte.
"I don't believe him. I will file a case." mariin kong sabi pero bago pa ako muling makapag salita ay narinig namin si Jade.
"What case, Althea? You haven't even talk to him."
"No need." sagot ko na hindi lumingon sa likod ko.
"Good morning, Ms. Jade." bati ni Samonte kay Jade.
"Good morning, Sir. Can I see David, please?" rinig kong pakiusap niya.
"No!" halos pasigaw kong pigil.
"Althea..." rinig kong mahinang tawag ni Kuya Al. Lumabas ang kanyang pagiging kuya sa akin. Tinuring na namin siyang pamilya dahil matagal din siyang inampon at pinagaral ni Lolo. Kumalma ako pero andon pa rin ang galit. "Kaso niya to." mahinahon niyang sabi habang marahang hinawakan ang dalwang braso ko. "Alam ko galit ka pero desisyon na ni Jade ito."
sabi niya saka bumaling kay Jade.
"This way, Ms. Jade." at naglakad na sila papasok. Lumingon lang si Kuya Al sa akin at sumenyas. Gusto ko ng umalis ng oras na yon pero ayaw kong iwanan si Jade.
Sumunod ako sa kanila at naramdaman ko si Batchi na sumabay sa akin, inakbayan niya lang ako ngunit hindi nagsalita.
"Jade!" mataas na boses naming rinig pagbukas sa isang kwarto. Si David. "Sorry, Jade hindi ko sinasadya." pakiusap niya. "Plano lang kitang gulatin non pero hindi kita gustong saktan...Please Jade maniwala ka. Lasing ako non Jade, please, pakiusap Please forgive me. It wasn't intentional. You know very well na hindi kita sasaktan Jade Alam mo yan." sunod sunod na pakiusap ni David.
"Then why did you run away?" tanong ni Jade.
"I got scared when I heard someone shouting. Pero Jade hindi kita sasaktan. Natakot lang ako kasi nagulat ka at gusto mong sumigaw. Nagpanic na ako." halos maiyak na paliwanag ni David. "Plano ko ng kausapin ka pag magkita tayo, I can't sleep after what happened. I really planned to come out in the open, Jade. Please." pakiusap niya. Matama siyang pinagmasdan ni Jade habang nagaabang ako sa maaari niyang sabihin o gawin na kinakatakot ko. Hindi nga ako nagkamali.
" I believe you." marahan niyang sagot.
"What?!" hindi na ako makatiis. "Don't tell me you're just gonna let him go?" galit ko ng tanong kay Jade.
"Althea, please." pakiusap ni Jade.
"Please what, Jade? Hindi mo lang ba siya bibigyan ng leksiyon sa ginawa niya sa'yo. You're so scared to death that moment Jade because of what that bastard did to you. Now you're just gonna let him go just because he said sorry?!" mataas na boses ko ng kompronta kay Jade. Hindi umimik si Jade kaya mas lalo akong nagalit. Lumapit ako kay David. "If you think you're out of the hook, think again. I'll make sure pag babayaran mong ginawa mo kay Jade." sabi kong may diin sabay talikod at labas ng kwarto.
"Althea!" rinig kong tawag ni Jade pero hindi ako lumingon. "Althea, let's talk." habol ni Jade sa akin pero hindi ko siya nilingon hanggang maabutan niya ako at hawakan ang kamay ko. "Please Althea." pakiusap niya. " I know you're mad and I understand that. But if we put David in jail, his family ang career will suffer." mahinahon niyang sabi.
"He should've thought that before he hurt you." rason ko.
"He's drunk."
"That's a stupid excuse, Jade." matigas ko ng sagot.
"He will never hurt me."
"He already did, ano ka ba?" namumuo ng galit ko pati kay Jade.
"Althea, Dada treat him like his own son. He trust Dave. We all do."
"He deceived you. All of you." balik ko kay Jade.
"Can you be a little considerate, Althea?" pakiusap ni Jade. And that's it. I'm done with this.
"Bakit lumalabas ako pang masama?" balik kong tanong kay Jade. "Fine, Jade. Do what you want." sabi ko at waksi sa kamay niya saka ako naglakad palayo. Naramdaman kong tinatawag ako ni Batchi hanggang sa maka labas na ako sa parking lot.
"Tsong." lapit niya sa akin.
"Give me your key." lahad ko ng kamay pag harap ko kay Batchi.
"Ha?"
"Your car key!" halos pasigaw ko ng sabi at mukhang nataranta si Batchi dahil mabilis niyang inabot ang susi ng kotse niya sa akin. Walang lingon likod akong sumakay ng kotse at umalis na ako sa lugar na yon. Pakiramdam ko sasabog na ako sa galit.
- - -
Jade
I saw Batchi walking back to the entrance.
"Si Althea?" I immediately asked when I approached her.
"Umalis na Jade."
"What?"
"Ayon kinarnap niya kotse ko at umalis na." sabay kamot ng ulo ni Batchi. "Pagpasensiyahan mo ng asawa mo, Jade ha. Pwede bang makisabay sa inyo?"
"Sure, Batchi. Sorry ikaw tuloy napag initan." hinging paumanhin ko.
"No worries. Jade. Sanay na ako kay Tsong."
- - -
"Thank you, Mang Julio." as I get out of the car. I saw a different car parked outside our house and Mang Julio said it was Batchi's.
"Walang anuman, Jade. Pahinga ka na." he said smiling. Pag hatid namin kay Batchi ay tahimik lamang si Mang Julio, gusto kong magtanong at ganon din ang pakiramdam ko sa kanya pero nanatiling tahimik kami. I want to confront Althea but I don't know if this is the right time.
"Magandang hapon po, Ms. Jade." Jenny greeted me as I entered the house.
"Good afternoon, Jenny. Si Althea?"
" Nasa taas po, Ms. Jade."
"Hindi pa bumababa mula ng dumating kanina?" tanong ko muli.
"Hindi pa po." at magalang na siyang nagpaalam. Umakyat na ako and when I reached our room, she's not there. Nasa attic nanaman siguro yon, sa isip ko. I started walking up the stairs to the attic when I saw Yaya Caring.
"Nag away kayo, Anak?" tanong niya.
"Galit po siya."
"Mukha nga. Pag galit at malungkot siya at gusto niyang mapag isa diyan lang siya maghapon at magdamag." paliwanag ng matanda. "Palipasin mo lang muna, Anak. Mahirap ng salubingin ang galit niya." hindi na ako tumuloy and just decided not to go to her room.
Dinner passed and Althea's still in her room in the attic. Hindi pa siya nagdinner. After almost midnight there is still no sign of Althea. Hindi man lang niya iniisip na nagaalala ako sa kanya. No msg no nothing. After I freshen up I decided to go to her room. I knocked at the door.
"Althea" I called. No answer. "Althea, you haven't had dinner yet." katok ko muli.
"I'm not hungry." Hay salamat akala ko kung ano ng nangyari sa kanya.
"Of course you are, lalo na pag galit ka. Nakakagutom yon." sagot ko but she didn't answer."Can we talk?"
"There's nothing to talk about."
"There is. Can you just open the door. I don't want to talk to your door." naguumpisa na rin akong mainis.
"Then leave." Sagot niya. Aba!.
"How dare you say that to me!" sabay hampas ko ng pinto. Aray. Masakit pero mas masakit ang sabihan na umalis ako. "Open this damn door and talk to me!!" sigaw ko sabay hampas sa pinto ng paulit ulit. Wala siyang sagot pero hindi ako tumigil sa pag hampas ng pinto. "Open up, Althea!" sigaw ko muli. Masakit na ang kamay ko pero hindi ako tumitigil. Pakiramdam ko namamaga ng kamay ko pero ayaw kong tumigil dahil naiinis ako kay Althea. Naguumpisa na akong umiyak dahil sa sama ng loob at sa sakit ng kamay ko. Bakit ganito ako ngayon, kahit minsan hindi ako naghabol ng ganito, kung ayaw di ayaw bakit ngayon heto
ako pinipilit kong makausap ang babaeng ayaw akong kausapin. Tuluyan ng tumulo ang luha ko ngunit hinayaan ko lang. Manhid na ang kamay ko sa kakahampas ng pinto ng naramdaman ko na lang ang kamay ni Althea na sumalubong sa kamay kong humahampas sa pintuan. Hindi ko napansin bukas na pala at nakatayo na siya sa harap ko. Kita ko ang gulat at alala sa mukha niya ng makita ako.
"Jade." mahina niyang tawag at masuyong hinawakan ang kamay kong namumula na sa sakit. "What are you doing? Look at your hand." sabi niyang may pag alala.
"Why are you pushing me away, Althea? Why don't you talk to me? Buti pa itong pinto kanina pa ako hinaharap, ikaw nanahimik ka lang." sabi ko ng naiiyak. Bigla ko na lang siyang naramdaman yumakap sa akin
"How can you be so stupid, Jade. Paano kung napilay ang kamay mo?"
"Promise me we will talk things over, Althea and we will talk face to face. No walls and doors between us." sabi ko na habang umiiyak pa rin. Masuyo niyang hinagod ang likod ko.
"Sorry na. Nasaktan lang ako sa ginawa at sinabi mo kanina." while tenderly caressing my back and her other hand at the back of my head.
"That's why I want to talk to you but you're pushing me away." maktol ko na. She slowly move back to look at me held my face and kissed me gently. It was a long but sweet kiss that when we separate I can still feel the moment.
"I love you, Jade and I'm sorry. Pero I will do anything to protect you kahit kanino. Tandaan mo yan. All I want is to teach him a lesson." paliwanag niya.
"Al said David will stay away from me. And I talked to our manager and she decided that all projects we had together will be shelved for a moment...."
"Cancel them totally..." mariing utos ni Althea.
"B-but Althea..." gusto ko pang magdahilan pero kita sa mga mata ni Althea ang galit. "O-ok...but..."
"I will arrange everything and assure you that you're contract with all agencies that involves David will be settled. Mas mapapanatag ang loob kong umayos ng damages kesa makita kitang kasama siya." sagot niya at hindi na ako makapagsalita. Naramdaman ko na lang ang pananakit ng kamay ko. Now I can feel the pain and Althea noticed it. She took my hand and held it to her lips. "Silly girl. Look. you're hand's sore. I'll get an ice bag. Wait for me here." she said, before I can say another word she's out of the door. I roamed my eyes around her room, it's a nice place. It's like a tree house with all the memories of her childhood all written in her walls. I saw a guitar at one corner near her double size bed. Mas magandang higaan lalo na kung dalawa kayo, lalo kayong magkakalapit. Hay Jade ang likot ng isip mo gising ko sa sarili ko. I continuously roam my eyes around the room while slowly walking to sit on the bed when my eyes caught something. Just across her bed in the wall was a poster so familiar with me. My centerfold picture in one of the magazines that featured me. In this pic I was almost naked and this was taken more than a year ago. Nilapitan ko pa para makasigurado na ako nga yon.
"Isn't she beautiful?" I heard Althea, nakabalik na pala siya at bigla akong napatayo.
"So you've been fantazising me since when Ms. Guevarra?" taas kilay kong tanong. She just wear that seductive smile again as she walked towards me. She held my hand that's sore and carefully put the icebag on it.
"I told myself everytime I look at that picture na if ever you'll be mine, everyone can see your face and that body but only me can hold and see the whole of your being." sabi niya.
"Hindi ka naman possessive?"I asked and she let out a small laugh.
"Of course I am. Who wouldn't. Sabi ko nga pag ako ang mapapangasawa mo wala ng ganyang pictorials."
"Oh no, it'll be the end of my career." I cried jokingly.
"Not really, Mahal. You're sexy Jade naked or clothed..." she said with all sincerity.
"So you preferred me clothed or naked?" pilya kong namang tanong. I saw her smirked. Oh no wrong question Jade warning ko sa sarili ko.
"It depends..." sagot niya.
"It depends what?"
"It depends on the situation or occasion." she said in an almost seductive voice.
"Like?" tanong ko muli, pagurong ko ay dingding na pala ang nasa likod ko.
"Like...I want to see you naked...now?" lapit at bulong niya sa akin habang masuyo niyang hinahalikan ang tenga ko.
"A-althea." mahina kong tawag, nararamadaman ko ang init na namumuo sa pagkatao ko kahit malamig ang ac at ang icebag na nasa palad ko.
"I miss you, Jade." bulong na niya habang bumababa na ang halik niya mula tenga pababa at ang kamay niyang unti unting gumagapang sa tagiliran ko.
"A-althea..." I almost moaned calling her. I can't imagine how my body react with her every touch. No one makes me feel this way.
"I like how you call me, Jade. I like to hear you calling me that way." bulong niya at tumapat sa akin. I can see passion and desire but full of love. She took the icebag and dropped it down then held my sore hand and shower it with kisses. From my finger her kisses travelled to my hand up to my arm then to my shoulder. I'm lost and I'm dying for more. My soft moans is asking for more and made her more passionate. I felt her cupped my face and kissed me hungrily and I reciprocate it with the same passion and hunger. I felt her hands slowly undressing me and I need to feel her skin next to mine so I tried to undress her too but my sore hand won't let me.
"Easy, Mahal. I will do all the works I just want to hear how you call my name." she whispered and kissed me again. True enough, I can't remember how many times I called her but I remember how much she made me feel so loved. It was a long night but making love with the person you love is timeless and tireless.
- - - -
A/N:
Sorry for the long wait ✌️😊. Hope nakabawi ako sa chapter na to. I'll try to make another chapter this week.
Thank you thank you muli sa inyo. 🙏Namiss ko din kayo. Pardon for the errors.
🤓