[71.2] IT'S BACK
GAIL'S POV
"What took you so long?" bungad niya sa akin.
I expelled a deep breath and then tried myself to approach him coolly like nothing has happened back inside the utility room. Hinawakan ko ang kamay niya na siyang nagpalambot sa expression ng mukha niya. He must be surprised by my sudden gesture.
"S...sumama lang ang pakiramdam ko, pero ayos na ako ngayon," dahilan ko.
Fifth touched my cheek and thoughtfully studied my face. My heart was literally flipping inside me but I managed to look calm infront of him. Ayokong mahalata niyang may nangyari sa loob.
"Are you sure you're fine?"
I sighed and then pulled him away from the track. "Ayos lang ako. Tara na. Bilhin na natin ang dapat na bilhin para makauwi na agad tayo."
Kasunod ang mga bodyguards ay naglakad kami pabalik sa jewelry shop. I was about to pull away when he tightened his hold on mine. Pasikreto ko siyang tinignan habang naglalakad kami, at napansin ko ang maliit na ngiti sa labi niya.
I swallowed very hard as I turned to look at my back. There, I saw Kurt's figure staring straight at us. He pointed his lips at my hand with Fifth's and then, he moved his hands as though he's telling me to call him up.
"What are you looking at?"
Binawi ko ang tingin ko nang huminto si Fifth at luminga-linga sa direksyon ng tinitignan ko. Halos magwala na ang puso ko sa kaba nang mapatingin din dun. I sighed with relief when I saw no Kurt's figure anymore. He must have left. Ang bilis talaga niyang kumilos.
"Ano bang tinitignan mo dun? Do you wanna eat there?"
Umiling lang ako at hinila nang muli ang kamay niya. "Let's go inside before I change my mind."
How on earth can I call Kurt? I don't have a phone for God's sake! Ugh!
***
"Sleep well. Sweet dreams, Crystal." Fifth leaned on me to plant a soft kiss on my forehead. As usual, I felt nothing with the gesture.
Hinawakan niya ang ulo ko bago niya ako pinagbuksan ng pinto ng kwarto ko. Mabilis kong ni-lock ang pinto at tumakbo sa kama para humiga.
Bumuga ako ng hangin habang nakatitig sa kisame. Nakabili na kami ng wedding ring ni Fifth. The rings were nice yet it would be a lot nicer if I'll wear it with the one I really love, and that's definitely not Fifth or anyone else.
"Kurt..." bulong ko at ipinikit ang mga mata ko. I pasted a warm smile on my lips as I remember what happened awhile ago.
It was really unbelievable...
"I'm back... My memories got back, Crystal."
Walang nagsalita sa aming dalawa pagkatapos niyang sabihin 'yon. Tila ba nagpapakiramdaman kami. Sobrang lakas ng kabog ng dibdib ko habang nakayakap siya sa akin ng mahigpit. Dahan-dahan kong ginalaw ang ang mga braso ko mula sa jacket niya pataas sa likod niya.
Niyakap ko siya ng mahigpit.
"Crystal, I can remember everything now. I don't know how it happened but all I know is that I'm complete."
I nearly caught my own breath as he sniffed through my hair. Gusto kong magsalita pero ni hindi ko maibuka ang mga labi ko.
"Crystal..."
Hindi ko alam kung anong eksaktong nararamdaman ko sa mga oras na ito pero isa lang ang sinisigurado ko. Pakiramdam ko ay sasabog ang puso ko sa sobrang saya.
"How I fvcking missed you..." he whispered in gritted teeth as he drew me closer to him. "I missed you so much. Did you miss me too?"
"O...of course, I--- aww!"
Agad na napabitaw si Kurt sa akin. Ako naman ay napahawak sa ulo ko. Aish naman oh! May bumagsak ba namang mabigat na bagay sa ulo ko. Ang sakit!
"What the fvck?" he hissed and then caressed my head. He even blew my head as though I am a small kid. "Does it hurt? Pesteng mop 'yan. Nasaktan ka pa tuloy."
Hinaplos-haplos ko ang ulo ko dahil feeling ko, may bukol na agad ako. "Masakit, Kurt. Bakit ba kasi tayo nandito?"
"Ssshh... Lower your voice."
"Nasaan ba tayo?"
Imbes na sagutin niya ako ay mabilis niya akong hinila pababa ng sahig, saka niya tinakpan muli ang bibig ko gamit ang palad niya. After few seconds, he removed his hand over my lips.
"We're inside a utility room. So, you better lower your voice or else, they might hear us."
Silence reigned again for a few seconds and then he cupped my face.
"Namiss kita."
Napalunok ako sa sinambit niya. Hinaplos ko ang mukha niya at kasabay nun ay pagpunas niya ng luha sa mga pisngi ko. "I missed you too. Akala ko kung ano nang nangyari sa---"
He cut into my words quickly."Pinapahirapan ka ba nila?"
"Hindi naman. Kinukulong---"
"Kinukulong? Pinapakain ka ba nila ng maayos?"
I nodded my head eagerly. "Oo, pero wala akong gana---"
"Sh*t! That explains why you're getting slimmer. You look pale, Crystal."
"Pero---"
"Someday, I'll be the one taking care of you. For now, you must take very good care of yourself. 'Wag kang magpabaya."
Napakagat ako sa labi habang nakatitig sa kanya. Mabilis akong humalik sa pisngi niya't kinulong siya sa mga bisig ko. Ngayon, nararamdaman ko na ngang bumalik na ang dating siya.
"Bumalik na nga talaga ang mga alaala mo. Hindi mo na ulit ako pinapatapos magsalita eh," I whispered against his chest as I sobbed silently. "Ikaw ang mag-ingat, Kurt. Kaya ko ang sarili ko. Baka kung mapaano ka na naman."
Humiwalay siya sa akin ng bahagya, saka niya sinapo ang mukha ko't ginawaran ako ng magaang halik sa mga labi. It felt like I was back in the years that we still don't have anything in mind but only ourselves.
"I love you. Keep that in your mind," he whispered softly and gave me another peck on the lips. "I'll get everything fixed. Just trust me on this, alright?"
I smiled warmly and stared at him deeply despite the darkness inside the room.
"I'm the only one, aren't I? I wanna hear it from you."
I beamed more and snuggled onto him. "Ikaw lang, Kurt. It's always been you all along."
"Good." He pulled away and gave me another tight hug before pulling me to stand. "Bumalik ka na muna kay Fifth. You keep in touch with me, okay?"
That turned my alarm on. Babalik na ako kay Fifth? Paano na kami?
"Kurt, take me away from here. Isama mo na ako!"
"Ssshhh... Not now, baby love. Trust me on this. Kung kukunin kita, gusto ko wala ng bawian."
He then opened the door, pushed me carefully out of the room and then told me, "Tell that arsehole to take care of himself while he's still here in the Philippines. He might see himself inside a casket one day if he continues pissing me off," he threatened and smirked at me. "Goodnight, Crystal. Keep in touch."
Napamulat ako pagkaalala ko sa huli niyang sinabi. 'Keep in touch'? Bakit ba niya 'yon paulit-ulit na pinapaalala sa akin? Geez, hindi niya ba naisip na wala akong phone sa mga panahong ito? Grabe, bumalik na nga siya sa dati. Hindi nag-iisip eh. Tss.
It's already quarter to 10 in the evening so I decided to get up and cleaned myself up. Pagkahubad ko sa blazer ko ay may nakapa akong matigas na bagay sa bulsa nito. I took it out only to find out it's a...
"Cellphone?" I mumbled in surprise. Paano nagka-cellphone sa blazer ko?
Napaupo ako sa upuan at chineck ang cellphone. Napansin ko kaagad ang 20 unread messages nito. Teka, para sa akin ba 'to? Let me check...
Kurt: Use the phone to keep in touch with me.
Kurt: Send me a msg when you arrive home.
Kurt: You home now?
Kurt: Baby love...
Kurt: Crystaaaaaaaaaaaaaaal
Yung iba paulit-ulit lang na message. Halos tumalbog na ang puso ko sa mga nabasa ko. God, Kurt! Kaya naman pala panay ang keep in touch mo sa akin. May nilagay ka palang phone sa damit ko nang hindi ko napapansin.
With a big smile on my face, I scrolled on the contacts. Number lang niya ang kaisa-isang naka-save sa phone contacts kaya mas lalo akong napangiti.
In just one ring, he picked up the call. He must have been expecting me to call him.
"I've been waiting for you to call me. What the heck happened?"
I pursed my lips and covered my mouth with my palm. Talaga bang nangyayari 'to? Parang nitong mga nagdaang araw lang ay lugmok na lugmok ako dito sa loob ng kwarto ko. Ngayon naman ay namimilipit ako sa boses ng lalaking nasa kabilang linya.
"Kurt..."
Tumahimik ang kabilang linya at narinig ko 'yong paghinga niya ng malalim. Napapikit ako ng mariin. Sheez, I'm already missing him.
"... Alam mo bang ngayon na lang ako ulit ngumiti? Nitong mga nakaraang araw, nawawalan na ako ng pag-asa sa buhay ko. Then, you came and everything seems to be fine now. Thank you."
"It's still not fine, Crystal. Unless, you're beside me right now."
I expelled a sigh and still couldn't erase the smile off my face. "But here I am talking to you. Please, can we just talk about something else, Kurt? Gusto kitang kamustahin. Anong ginagawa mo ngayon?"
Narinig ko ang minimal na paggalaw niya sa kabilang linya, kaya bumalik naman ako sa kama at humiga.
"I'm on bed already. You?"
"I am too."
I heard his soft chuckle that made me smile. "I wish you were here. 'Wag na 'wag kang tatabi sa pagtulog sa t*arant*dong 'yon ha?"
I giggled as I moved sideways. How I miss this side of him.
"What's funny? I'm serious here, Crystal. I was honestly fuming when I saw you holding his hand in the mall. What more if you sleep with him? Are you listening?"
Napangiti nalang ako habang iniisip ko ang expression niya habang kinakausap siya. Siguro nakakunot na naman ang noo niya.
"I will never sleep with him, Tristan." I said with a teasing tone and then opened my eyes as I stared at the ceiling. "Gusto ulit kitang makita at makausap ng matagal sa personal. Posible ba 'yon?"
"For you, anything's possible."
***
Whatever happened to 'For you, anything's possible' of Kurt? Nagka-phone nga 'ko, pero since that night ay hindi na naulit 'yung phone conversation namin. Yes, he would send me messages pero hanggang dun nalang yun. Ilang araw na ba ang nakalipas? Well, it's been just 2 days but here I am having hysteria about Kurt.
"Kamusta na kaya siya?"
Kausap ko si Kaye Anne ngayon. I requested her to come over my house since tonight's gonna be New Year's eve and we're gonna spend it at the hotel together with the business people.
"I think he's good, Gail. Nitong mga nakaraang araw kasi ay parating may lakad si Dustin. Nakuwento lang sa akin ni Chloe na laging nakikipagkita na naman ang asawa niya sa X10," she explained as she put on color to my lips. "They might cooking up something. What do you think?"
"I don't think so. Bakit walang nasasabi sa akin si Kurt?"
Nakuwento ko na sa kanya yung nangyari sa aming dal'wa ni Kurt. Tungkol sa paghila sa akin ni Kurt sa mall, at pagkakaroon ko ng phone.
"I don't know. Tara na sa baba? Kanina pa nila tayo hinihintay."
Just then, a knock at the door interrupted our talk. Tumayo ako at inayos ang black cocktail dress ko sa harapan ng full length mirror. Kaye Anne opened the door and eventually, a familiar voice sopke behind me.
"You ready?"
Nakita ko si Fifth sa reflection sa salamin. He looked dashing with his very formal black attire. He smiled to me and said, "You look beautiful as always. Shall we?"
All the way to the hotel, Fifth kept on telling me how beautiful I am tonight. Kung siguro wala kaming problema ngayon, I would feel flatter towards his words but I just couldn't. Afterall, he's Fifth and he's the one who put me into this jeopardy.
Pagdating sa hotel ay halos masilaw na ako sa mga camera flashes na sumalubong sa amin pagkalakad namin sa red carpet. Nasa likod namin ang mag-asawang Nathan at Kaye Anne, habang kami naman ni Fifth ay nangunguna.
New Year's Eve Company Celebration...
Paulit-ulit ko 'yong binabasa mula sa platform simula kanina nang makaupo ako sa pwesto namin. It's been half an hour since we came here and my mind was afloat while the party's going on.
"Gail, ayos ka lang?" Nathan asked and I just smiled as an answer. Hinawakan ni Fifth ang kamay ko pero mabilis ko 'tong iniiwas.
"Masama na naman ba ang pakiramdam mo?" Fifth asked and I just shook my head no. "Well then," he said as he got on his feet infront of me. "May I have this dance?"
Palipat-lipat ang tingin ko sa mukha niya't kamay na nakalahad sa akin. I'd rather say no but he held my hand and pulled me towards upfront.
The music changed into a sweet one as he wrapped his hands around my waist. I maintained a straight face when he placed my hand over his shoulders before he started swaying me.
Strumming my pain with his fingers
Singing my life with his words
Killing me softly with his song
Killing me softly with his song
Telling my whole life, with his words
Killing me softly with his song
"Crystal, I hope you can give me another chance. I swear, I'll prove to you that I am someone worth keeping for," he whispered.
My lips twitched sideways and I looked away. Ayokong makinig sa mga salita niya. Tanging si Kurt lang ang dapat kong paniwalaan.
I heard he sang a good song
I heard he had a style
And so I came to see him and listen for a while
And there he was this young boy
A stranger to my eyes
"I know you love me too. You're just confused..."
No, I don't and I'm sure of my feelings now...
Strumming my pain with his fingers
Singing my life with his words
Killing me softly with his song
He tightened his hold on my waist and drew my closer to him, making me rest on his chest. In the corner of my eye, I saw a very familiar figure... again.
Killing me softly with his song
Telling my whole life, with his words
Killing me softly with his song
He was staring straight at us, rather me while someone else's clinging onto his arm. My brow arched in irritation. Now I know what's keeping him busy these past two days.
He's been with his secretary all along...
"Excuse me," I pulled away from him and pretended I'm having a headache. "Upo na tayo, Fifth? Sumasakit ang ulo ko.
"Okay."
He thoughtfully assisted me to my seat. Fifth even took a glass water for me and started massaging the side of my head.
"Bakit, Gail? Anong nangyari?" Kaye Anne asked with full of concern. Miski si Nathan ay nakitabi na rin sa amin.
"Headache," Fifth answered. "Gusto mo bang umuwi na?"
"C.R lang ako," sagot ko.
"Samahan na kita," Kaye Anne offered.
"No, I'm fine."
Mabilis akong tumayo at naglakad na papunta sa powder room nang may humarang sa dadaanan ko. I looked up only to see it's Derrick.
"Hi, Princess," he greeted with a charming smile of his.
"Hi," I plainly greeted. "You're here."
"Business world," he smilingly said while holding a wine glass. "Saan ka pupunta?"
"C.R lang."
"Labas ka sa garden pagkatapos mo. Nandun sina Dustin at Arthur kasama ng mga chikiting nila."
"Okaaaay. Sige, nice seeing you here."
Medyo nawirduhan ako sa ngiti ni Derrick kaya pagkatapos kong magpunta sa powder room ay lumabas ako sa garden out of curiousity. Why on earth would Derrick tell me to come here all of a sudden, right? Ano naman kung nandito sina Dustin, Arthur at ang mga anak nila?
"Naku naman," I mumbled when I saw no one outside the garden.
Dumiretso ako sa fountain, pero wala ni isa mang tao ang nandun. Pinagkrus ko ang mga braso ko at inilibot ang tingin ko sa paligid.
"Wala naman sila dito. Tch."
I was about to spin around when suddenly somebody pulled me from behind and covered my mouth with a hand.
"Ooo---mmp!" I struggled but he seemed to be tough.
"Ssshh... Ako lang 'to," a voice said as I felt myself lifted. Nabigla ako nang may umalalay pa sa dalawa kong paa.
I was turned upside down yet I could still recognize these two men who were carrying me. Mabilis ang mga galaw nila at nakita ko nalang ang sarili ko na ipinasok nila ako sa isang puting van pagkatapos ay pinaharurot ito paalis.
The man in a white suit offered me a drink and I gladly took it from him.
"Ayos ka lang ba, Princess?" Wayne asked.
Uminom muna ako bago ako sumagot. "Saan niyo ako dadalhin?"
"Pero ayos ka lang? Hindi ka naman nasaktan?" tanong naman ni Toffer.
Nagpalipat-lipat ako ng tingin sa kanila. They're complete. Derrick is the one driving. No, wait. Hindi pala sila kumpleto.
"We're only 9. One's missing," sabi ni Dustin.
Naalala ko bigla 'yung nakita ko kanina. Nakahawak si Crystal sa braso ni Kurt habang magkausap sila. For sure by now, they're dancing sweetly to the music. Umismid ako. Nakakasira ng mood.
"I don't care. Saan nyo ba ako dadalhin?"
Yung hinihintay kong sagot, hindi na nila ibinigay sa akin kahit na umabot na kami ng kalahating oras. Huminto kami sa isang pamilyar na lugar saka ako pinagbuksan ng sliding door ni Jake. Inalalayan naman akong lumabas ng van nina Kent and Brent saka sila bumalik ulit sa van. Nanlaki ang mga mata. Iiwan ba nila ako dito?
"Are you leaving me here alone?! Gabi na 'oy!"
Nagtawanan sila. Itong sina Wayne, Jake at Toffer naman ay nag-high five pa. Ang mga walanghiya!
"Enjoy nalang, Princess!" sabi ni Jake. "Ay, wait para sa inyo nga pala!" Sabay abot ng isang bote ng red wine.
Pipigilan ko sana sila kaso mabilis nilang pinaharurot paalis ang van. I stomped my foot on the ground in frustration.
"Grr! Wala akong pera. Paano ako uuwi nito?!" sigaw ko sa gitna ng parking lot. Umupo ako sa gutter at nagmukmok. "Tama ba namang kidnappin ako tapos iiwan lang ako dito? Nakakainis!"
And then, it struck me. Nasaan nga ba ako? Nilibot ko ang tingin sa paligid. Madilim, pero malinaw na malinaw kung nasaan ako.
East High University...
Tumayo ako at pinagmasdan ang gate. Bukas iyon. Teka, bakit nila ako dinala dito?
"Are you done whining?"
My heart skipped a beat when I heard that voice all over again. Nilingon ko ang nagmamay-ari ng boses at halos bumagsak na ang panga ko nang makita kong nakatayo sa madilim na waiting shed ang taong kanina ko pa kinaiinisan...
... Na ngayon ay tila naglaho ang inis ko nang makita siya.
"If you're done, then let's go inside. I'd rather welcome the new year with you than be with other sh*ts... Thanks to X9 for being in service."