"Her condition is already fine. The breathing, and the heartbeat as well. She just collapse" dinig kong saad ng Papa ni Al sa Lola nito.
"But why?" Nag aalalang tanong ng lola ni Al.
"It's normal. Well in her case, it is. Don't worry Ma, magiging maayos din si Loui"sagot ng papa nya.
Nasa hospital kami ngayon. Al is inside the room. Hindi manlang nila ako pinapapasok. Jared and Damon are already there pero ako? Hindi nila ako pinapasok for helling sake!
"Sir! Please let me in!"pakiusap ko kay Mr.Arnold, ang papa ni Al.
"Iho, mabuti pa umuwi kana"sagot nito.
"Sir please. I need to see her. Is she okay? May sakit ba sya? Bakit sya nahimatay"I asked.
Mr. Arnold look at me for a second. He step forward kaya napaatras ako.
"Ikaw ba si Caspian?"tanong niya.
"Yes sir"
Nagkatinginan sila ng biyenan nya at pareho silang napasimangot.
"I don't want him to be here. Paalisin mo na sya" saad ng lola ni Al at pumasok na sa kwarto.
"You heard her. Please go home"ani ni Mr.Arnold.
"Sir please.. sabihin nyo sakin kung anong kalagayan ni Al. I am worried about her"
"You don't have to. Inaalagaan namin sya ng mabuti iho"
"B..but she collapsed"
"I know. And as I said, that's normal. That's how she reacted to your confession"
"W..what?"
"Iho, wag mo ng guluhin ang anak ko pakiusap"aniya.
"Guluhin? I want to fix everything between us"
"Not this time. Just go back home and wait for the right time"he said.
Napailing ako bilang pag kontra sa mga sinasabi nya.
"No. I've waited long enough! And I can't f*cking wait again !"inis na sabi ko. "Sir, I love your daughter! Alam kong nagkamali ako but now everything's clear to me! I love her and I don't want to loose her! Ilang buwan ko syang hinanap, and now that I am here I will make sure that I won't miss this chance. It is now or never"seryosong saad ko.
Natameme sya sa mga salitang sinambit ko. Bigla namang lumabas si Jared at mukhang gulat din sya, marahil ay narinig nya ang mga sinabi ko.
"Tito, she's awake"saad ni Jared.
Napapitlag ako at tinignan ang pintong nakabukas ng kaunti.
"You can't still enter the room" maawtoridad na saad ng tatay ni Al at pumasok na.
Naiwan naman si Jared at tinignan ako. He's just staring at me, emotionless.
"Bienvenue en France"(welcome to France) saad niya.
I also stared at him for a second, a challenging one.
"I am here to get what is mine, in case you don't know"sabi ko.
At dahil mukhang wala talaga silang balak papasukin ako ay tumalikod nalang ako at umalis na.
I need to get close to her in my own way. Masyadong maraming sagabal, I need to talk to her alone, pero hindi ko alam kung paano.
The next day, binisita ko ang family ni Harry dito sa France. They just asked how am I doing and my life there in the Philippines, they also asked about Harry and his lovelife there which I don't have any idea about it.
Right now, nasa mall ako. Bumibili ng pasalubong para sa family ko. Christmas is coming. 1 and a half week nalang at christmas na. My dad called me, tinanong nya kung uuwi ba ako bago mag christmas. Well probably yes, dahil 10 days lang ang pwede kong ilagi dito sa France, and today is my second. I still have more days.
"What about this Zach? It's pretty cool?" Ani Troy at tinuro ang damit na medyo revealing.
He's Harry's cousin. Kasama ko syang magmall, sound's gay a little bit pero yeah, dalawa kaming nag sh-shopping.
"Dude. Al is not like those slutty b*tch out there. She don't wear sh*ts like that"
"Okay? Then what?"
"She preferred this" kinuha ko ang isang simple shirt na may glittered g-clef design gilid.
"That's too simple"
"There's nothing simple if she wears it. She's beautiful and whatever she wears still make her gorgeous"
"Exaggerated"he rolled his eyes.
"Call it like that. But it's true"saad ko at inirapan din sya.
"Woah, woah, dude is too much inlove"he teased.
I twitch my mouth and sighed. Bakit kasi hindi ko sya pwedeng kausapin? Napakasama ko ba talagang tao at hindi ko na pwedeng lapitan ngayon?
"I miss her. Freaking badly dude"malungkot kong saad. "I saw her yesterday. It is her birthday. I sang for her then I confessed but she..."
"She what?"
"She collapsed"
"Collapse? sérieusement?" (Collapsed? Seriously?)
"But it's normal, that's what her dad said. I don't know. She maybe sick that day"
"Who is this girl by the way? She maybe so amazing that it makes you so insane"
"Altair"
"Altair?"
"Do you know her?"tanong ko.
"I don't know? But her name's rings the bell. May I ask for the full name?"
"Louisiana Altair Olivar"
"Loui?! As in Loui Olivar!?"
"You know her?"taas kilay kong saad.
"Of course I am! We're on the same class!! All of my friends crushing on her dude! Actually I'm included" ngiting ngiti nyang saad.
"What?"napangiwi ako sa sinabi nya.
"What? She's so smart and kind. Plus a beauty and a hot chick"
Sinamaan ko naman sya ng tingin.
"She's mine"sabi ko.
"Oh no. She's no one's"pagtutol nya.
"She.is.mine.Troy"pagdidiin ko sa kanya. "And whatever fantasies you and your friends made up about her, you still can't have her. She's already mine"
"Fine.fine.whatever"tinaas nya ang kamay nya tila parang sumusuko na sa pagtatalo namin. "So possessive"he smirked.
"Do me a favor Troy"
"What favor?"
"Let me in your class. I'll just seat in by"
"What?"napakunot sya ng noo.
"I wanna see her"ani ko.
"Dude, tu es désespéré!"(Dude, you're a desperate!)
"I know. Just let me in okay?!"
"That can't be happen"
"Then we'll make it happen" I said and grinned.
===
"Bizarre"(weird) ani Troy habang naglalakad kami sa hallway.
Nasa school nya ako ngayon para maki seat-in sa klase. I am excited to see her again, sana lang okay na sya.
"Bizarre, bizarre.."dinig kong bulong ni Troy.
"What is it?"tanong ko.
"There so many girls in this hallway, it's just so unusual"he said.
Napatingin naman ako sa paligid, I just realize that there really lots of girls here. Yung iba ay nahuli ko pang nakatingin sakin pero biglang umiwas at nag impit ng kilig.
"Dude lessen your charisma please"ani Troy.
"C'mon Troy, let's just get in your room!"
Hindi ko nalang pinansin ang paligid at pinabilisan sya ng lakad nang makabunggo kami ng babae.
"Pardon!" (Sorry) Nahulog ang mga gamit nya sa sahig.
Pinulot ko naman agad ito at tinulungan sya, ngunit ng mapaangat ang tingin nya sakin ay pareho kaming nagulat sa isa't isa.
"Al?" Happiness is all written on my face. Damn, I am so f*cking close to her right now.
Hindi naman sya nakapagsalita at mabilis na kinuha ang gamit nya mula sa mga kamay ko. Pero inagaw ko ulit yun at tumayo agad.
"Let me"sabi ko.
"Give it back"aniya na medyo pagalit.
Hindi ko parin binigay ang mga gamit nya. Alam ko kasing aalis agad sya pag nangyari yun.
"Are you fine now?" Nag aalalang tanong ko.
Tinignan nya ako sa mata, kinabahan ako sa mga titig nya, my chest is trembling so hard.
"I'm fine"she said plainly.
"Good. Uh.. pwede ba kitang ihatid sa klase mo?"
"No"kinuha nya agad ang mga libro nya at nilagpasan ako.
Pero dahil makulit ako ay hinabol ko sya at sinabayan.
"Makiki seat-in ako sa inyo. Kaya sabay na tayo"
Napakunot sya ng noo.
"What? Seat-in?"
Napangiti nalang ako at tinignan si Troy. Tinignan nya rin ang kaibigan ko na nakasunod samin, kumaway si Troy sa kanya kaya napailing si Al.
"He's my friend Troy, he helped me"wika ko.
Hindi naman sumagot si Altair, nagpatuloy lang sya sa paglalakad at hindi ako pinansin. Pinagmasdan ko syang maigi, kahit napakaraming maganda dito, her beauty still dominating all of these girls. Para sakin sya na ang pinaka maganda.
"Wag mo kong titigan"aniya.
Napaiwas ako at nagpigil nalang ng ngiti. Nang makarating kami sa classroom ay sinundan ko lang si Altair, umupo ako sa tabi nya. Napatingin sya sakin tila parang sisitahin pa ako, pero bumuntong hininga nalang sya at nilabas ang notebook nya.
"Excusez-moi. That's my seat"(Excuse me. That's my seat) umangat ang tingin ko kay Jared na mukhang gulat sakin.
"What are you——"
"Hey Jared! Seat beside me! I want some helo on the lesson!" Mabuti nalang at nakasunod si Troy, inakbayan nya agad si Jared at hinila papunta sa umupo nya. Kinindatan ako ni Troy, napangiti nalang ako sa ginawa nya. Nice one.
"So..." I face back Altair. Nakatutok sya sa libro nyang binabasa. "This is the school where you transferred"I said.
"Yeah" sagot nya.
Halatang wala sya sa mood makipag usap. Pero hindi ako papayag, I badly want to talk to her, miss na miss ko na ang boses nya.
"It's nice here."opinyon ko.
"Yeah"sagot nya ulit.
Halatang ayaw nya ako kausap. But sorry, I won't let her ignore me. I'll talk as long as I have this mouth.
"And people are also nice"sabi ko ulit.
"Yeah"
"Do you like it here?"tanong ko.
"Yeah"
"How about the weather?"
"Yeah"
"Do you love me?"
"Yeah——putain de bâtard!"(Yeah—you bastard!)
Natawa ako sa kanya.
"Marunong ka ng magmura ah"asar ko
"Stop talking Caspian!"inis nyang saad at muling tumutok sa libro nya.
Nakaramdam ako ng saya ng muli nya akong tawagin sa pangalan ko. It felt like, my dying system goes alive.
Nang magsimula ang klase ay nanahimik ako sa tabi ni Al, I am looking at her the whole period. I can't help it. Hindi ko lang talaga mapigilan ang saya ko, dahil kasama ko sya ngayon, katabi ko mismo.
Kagat-kagat nya ang ballpen nya, at hindi ko mapigilan mapangiti habang tinititigan sya. Napansin ko rin ang maiksing buhok nya, even though it suits her very well, mas gusto ko ang mahaba nyang buhok noon.
Unconciously, I look into her lips. Bigla akong napakagat sa labi ko. I kinda... miss it. Her soft lips. Noon, kapag hinahalikan ko sya, hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit hindi ko mapigilan ang sarili kong halikan sya, kung bakit naaadik ako sa labi nya. Yun pala, mahal ko na sya.
"Hey you on the back! What's your name?"
I snap out as Altair gently nudge me. Napatingin ako sa teacher na nasa harap. He's looking at me curiously.
"I know that I am old but I don't think I remember you in my class"he said.
"Uh.. yeah. I am..." napatingin ako kay Altair, at nagpintig ang puso ko ng mahuling nakatingin sya. "Actually I am here to make sure of my girlfriend's health. She's sick yesterday"sabi ko.
"Girlfriend?" Inayos nya ang eye glasses nya at tinignan si Altair. Pinanlakihan ako ni Al ng nata nya pero ngumisi lang ako.
"Yes sir. I am worried that she might collapse again. Sorry for being here. But I promise that I won't interrupt your discussion sir. Just let me in"magalang kong saad.
"Alright. You may sit. As long as you're not interrupting"
"Merci"(thank you) ani ko at umupo na. I look at Altair pero hindi nya ako matignan.
Nang magbell ay nagpaalam ako kay Troy na susundan ko si Altair, tumungo nalang sya at nag goodluck. Nagmadali si Al na lumabas, sinundan ko sya ngunit kasama na nya si Jared. They're both talking and smiling at each other, at aaminin ko nakaramdam ako ng matinding selos.
Kanina hindi manlang nya ako magawang tignan o ngitian, samantalang ang lalaking 'to? Psh.
"Altair!" Pareho silang napalingon sakin. Lumapit ako ng nakangiti kay Al. Pansin ko naman ang pagseryoso ng mukha ni Jared.
"Al, lend me your books"saad ko.
"Zach, what are you doing here?" May pagkainis ang tono ng boses ni Jared sakin. Hindi ko sya pinansin at nanatiling nakatingin kay Altair. Damn, I don't f*cking care about him.
"Let's go Al, I'll treat you lunch——"
"Stay away from her!" Hahawakan ko sana si Al ng itulak ako ni Jared. Hindi naman kalakasan pero sapat na para mapaatras ako.
"What is your f*cking problem?"nagtitimping saad ko.
"Ikaw ang may problema Zach, diba sinabi na ni Tito Arnold na hindi mo sya pwedeng lapitan?!"inis na sabi ni Jared.
"You don't f*cking care Wilson. Wag mo akong pakikielaman"seryosong saad ko.
"Wala ka ba talagang hiya ha? Matapos mong saktan sya——"
"Enough Jared" pumagitna na si Altair sa aming dalawa.
Mabuti. Dahil konti nalang masasapak ko na sya.
"Jared, iwan mo muna kami"
"What?!"
"It's okay. I'm fine"saad ni Al at tinitigan si Jared.
They look at each other for a second, and it annoys me a lot. Hindi nalang ako kumibo, Jared gaze at me and rolled his eyes before he left. Yeah, leave and don't come back.
Nilingon naman ako ni Al at bumuntong hininga.
"Follow me"aniya at nilagpasan ako.
Napangiti ako at sinundan sya. Napakunot ang noo ko ng makarating kami sa gate ng school, huminto sya at hinarap ako.
"Umuwi kana"wika niya.
"Al.." hinawakan ko ang braso nya ngunit tinabing nya lang iyon.
"Please Caspian, umuwi kana sa Pilipinas"pakiusap nya.
Kirot sa dibdib ang naramdaman ko ng sabihin nya yun. Why is she like this? Ayaw nya ba talaga akong makita? Alam ko namang nasaktan ko talaga sya, pero handa naman akong bumawi, handa akong pasayahin sya.
"Altair, I came here for you, just to see you and make everything with you. Can we talk somewhere else? Marami akong gustong sabihin"I said.
Umiling iling naman sya at nagpumilit ng ngiti.
"Umuwi kana please"yan nalang ang sinabi nya bago ako talikuran. Pero muli ko syang iniharap sakin at niyakap ko sya ng mahigpit.
Matagal ko ng gustong gawin yun, ang muli syang mayakap.
"Alam mo bang matagal kitang hinanap? Miss na miss na kita Al"bulong ko.
Itinulak nya ako ng mahina at dumistansya sakin ng konti. Tila hindi nya nagustuhan ang pagyakap ko sa kanya.
"Caspian, you know why I left right? Sana maintindihan mo kung bakit pinapaalis kita ngayon din"mahinahon nyang saad.
"P..pero.."
"Alam mo bang hindi pa ako handang makita ka? Kaya please, umalis kana"pakiusap nya.
"No" matigas kong saad. "I understand why you're acting like this, I know that I've hurt you a lot. But you heard me yesterday right? I lov——"
"Please stop. I don't want to hear anything from you. Just go back to Philippines as soon as possible"
Hindi ko na sya napigilan ng tumalikod sya at naglakad palayo. At that moment, my heart literally aching.
"I won't give up on you! You hear me?! Kahit itaboy mo pa ako Altair! I'll chase you everyday!"sigaw ko sa kanya dahil nasa malayo na sya.
"Go home!!" Yan nalang ang naging sagot nya.
Nasaktan ako sa mga sinabi nya, yung pagtataboy nya sakin. But damn, even how many times she try to push me away, I'll still chase for her. I still have 7, 7 days before I fly back to Philippines. Hindi ako susuko.
✴✴✴
To be continue...