Chapter 63
"Hey, what's up?"
"Nothing. Why are you here?" i asked Josh.
Nandito ako sa CPark. Wala lang, boring kasi. Wala si Sara kasi busy sa exams hanggang ngayon! Come to think of it, three weeks na siyang busy sa exam ah? Ano yun, death wish? Tapos si Kim ayun, busy kay Clarence! Si Nof? Ewan ko sa babaeng yun, may ka date na naman. Si Dave naman sa training sa company nila. And si Cyriel? MIA lang sa Davao. Haaay, nakakamiss! Punta kaya akong Davao?
"Nothing, just collecting," sabi niya then he winked at me.
"Collecting? Hmmm," i said, playing innocent. I've dated many guys during my dark age and Josh is just like them, half British, pure flirt. I don't know but i've got fettish for British accent. Kahit yata curse ang sabihin nila, ang sexy pa din ng dating. I'm a sucker for British accent.
He chuckled and said, "ooh, innocent D. I'm turned on."
I shook my head, "flirty jerk. Come on, i'm bored as hell. So yeah, you can collect your hundred thousand date."
We stood up and walked towards his car. Hmm. Impressive yellow Lamborghini. But what can i expect? Henares eh, wealth runs in the blood.
"So, where are we going?" i asked him.
He winked at me. Again. What's with Josh and his winks?
"You'll see," he murmured.
I just sat comfortably in his car and waited. Better make it worth it, Josh. Hundred thousand ang sinayang mo dito.
**
Andy's Point of View
*___*
Blue eyes, blonde hair, cute na cute na bata. Anak ba talaga ni pouty 'to? Ang cute nung bata eh! Ang layo kay pouty! Baka naman ampon niya 'to??
"What, Louie? You're scaring me with your stares!!" she then pouted. Tsk. Pouty forever talaga.
Tinitigan ko siya at sinabi, "he's is your child?" sabi ko sa kanya sabay turo dun sa batang masayang nakikipaglaro kay Berdy.
She pouted, "yes, Louie! He's my child!!"
"Tss."
"Hey, you're offending me now, Louie!!"
I rolled my eyes. Leche! Nababading na ako sa kasasama sa Glorie na ito ha! "I offended you? In what way, mommy Glorie??"
She sighed. Aba bago 'to! Nagbuntong hininga si Ms. Sunshine! Improvement!!
"What's with the big sigh?" tanong ko sa kanya.
Ngumiti siya, "nothing. I'm just tired."
Tapos naging masaya na ulit yung mukha niya. Tignan mo 'to! Psychotic yata 'tong lagi kong kasama! Mamaya pagbalik ko ng Pinas, psychotic na din ako! Type ba ni Dana yung mga psycho? Hehe. De, joke lang po.
"Freak show," sabi ko sa kanya.
"Now, that's really offending me, Louie! You did not call me a freak show in front of my son!!" sabi niya. Hahaha! Nakakatawa talaga tong magalit, nanliliit yung mata niya!
I shrugged, "yeah, i think i just did. So, who's the father?" tanong ko sa kanya. Sino kaya ang tatay ni Andrei? Leche! Nalilito ako! Ako si Andrei, di ba? Tapos si Andrei din siya? Eh di si Andrei kaming dalawa? Ay, labo!
Natahimik siya.
Shit. Na offend ko ba siya??
"Sorry, i didn't mean to be so nosy," paliwanag ko. Ang insensitive ko din minsan. Bwisit!
Ngumiti siya. Sus. Praktisado niya na talaga yung pagngiti. Pero halata namang fake, sa isang buwan na magkasama kami, alam ko na yung fake sa totoo. Talino ko yata, gwapo pa! Lethal combination! Hahaha!
"That's fine, Louie. You're not Mr. Grumpy for nothing," sabi niya.
I gasped, leche parang bading lang, "now that's really offending, Glorie. You did not insult me in front of my girlfriend!" sabi ko. Hehehe. Ginaya ko lang yung sinabi niya. Hindi na ako makaisip ng matinong one liner. Hindi pa din masyadong na process ng utak ko na may anak na pala si pouty. Sabagay, isang buwan pa lang naman kaming magkakilala.
Tumawa siya. Eto totoong tawa. Ay, teka nga, Andy? Hobby nang pansinin ang kilos ni pouty?? Ano ko? In like sa kanya? Leche lang oh! Hindi pwede! One month pa lang kaming break ni Dana. Naniniwala yata ako sa three month rule! Si Dana lang hindi. One day pa lang eh. Hehe. De, joke lang, Dana. Mahal kaya kita, tignan mo lagi kitang naiisip.
Ayoko pa talaga. Three months muna. Para naman kasing hindi ko minahal si Dana kung papalitan ko siya agad agad. Respeto lang. Pero iba naman yung kay Dana kasi alam naman namin na si Cyriel talaga. Kumabaga, subsititute lang ako. Hotter subsitute nga lang. Hehe.
"It's a long story, Louie."
"I have all the time," sabi ko tapos kinain ko yung ice cream. Nandito kasi kami sa park sa tabi ng beach. Nag uusap lang kami ni pouty habang nakikipaglaro si Andrei. Leche. Ang cute na bata! Gusto ko din gumawa ng anak-- este, gusto ko ng anak. Ang shrek na talaga oh!
She shrugged tapos naupo, "it's you know.. teeanage love affair gone wrong," sabi niya tapos ngumiti siya.
Tahimik lang ako. Ano bang sasabihin ko? Malay ko ba sa gone wrong eh taga suporta kaya ako ng RH Bill. Protektado ako.. dati. Hehehe.
"I met him at one of the places i used to worked. He's the son of the owner. He's nice and charming and good looking. The typical guy any girl would fall for," sabi niya. Teka, ako yata yung dinedescribe niya. Hehe. Ano bang nangyayari sa'kin??
"Then?" sabi ko. Nakapa cliff hanger naman kasi. Ayaw pang ituloy sa kung kailan ginawa si Andrei!!
"We dated. We dated for about three months when he.. got me well, into an accident. That's the term he used. Andrei was an accident," sabi niya tapos namumula yung mata niya.
Inabot ko sa kanya yung panyo ko, "here."
Inabot niya naman, "thanks, Louie."
Pinanood ko lang siya habang nagpupunas ng panyo. Tignan mo nga naman, may ganito pala sa buhay ni pouty. Akala ko plain vanilla lang ang buhay niya. Hindi pala. Tatalunin pa yata yung kumplikado naming buhay nila Dana eh. Tsk.
Hindi ko na siya tinanong. Bahala na siya kung gusto niyang ituloy. Naiintindihan ko naman na hindi madaling ikwento yung mga ganun na bagay..
"He left me after he found out i was pregnant.. It hurts, Louie. It hurts that he didn't want to be with me after he found out about that.. But it killed me that he didn't take Andrei as his own," sabi niya tapos umiyak na siya ng umiyak.
Lumapit ako sa kanya at niyakap siya, "ssh. Stop crying, Glorie.."
Iyak pa din siya ng iyak.
Haaay, ayoko ng babaeng umiiyak. Naiinis ako. Nakakainis na yung ibang lalaki walang ginawa kundi paiyakin sila. Nabbwisit ako sa ganun!
"It's his child, Louie.. It's his blood.. How could he not be his child? They look alike.. He's his perfect resemblance!"
"Ssssh," sabi ko as i caressed her back. Iyak ng iyak. Hindi na makahinga eh. Tsk! Mamaya kailanganin pa nito ng CPR eh! Eh di nakahalik siya sa akin ng libre. Tsk. Di pwede. 50,000 'to oy.
After a minute, natigil na din siya, "i'm sorry, Louie. I don't usually talk about him like that.."
Ngumiti na lang ako, "it's fine. I know you're crazy. Nothing new."
Hinampas niya ako. Ang sakit!
Tumawa na lang ako. Baliw talaga eh. Tsk.
Pero ngayon alam ko na kung bakit kahit binu bwisit niya ako araw araw, natutuwa pa din akong kasama siya. Si Lynne pala. Akalain mo, hindi lang siya kahawig ng first love ko, pareho pa sila ng buhay. Anak ng meant to be talaga!
**
Dana's Point of View
"Josh? Bar? Seriously? A hundred thousand all down the drain for a night out?" i asked him. We're her inside some high end club. Ewan ko ba sa Josh na 'to. Weirdo.
He hushed me, "sshh, D. It's great in here. Let's get drunk and dance. My dad's been getting on my nerves and i need to take it out."
I sighed, "fine. All drink's on you."
He shook his head, "sometimes i really want to ask your mom if she gives you money."
"Huh?"
"Because you're always making me libre you," he said.
I laughed. Really, really hard! You should have heard how he said libre! Hahaha! Trying hard masyado! Katuwa!
"There, there. You're really friends with Nof. You both like to laugh at me."
"Sorry," sabi ko habang sinusubukang pigilin yung tawa. Hahaha! Cute cute kasi ng salita niyang Tagalog na pilit!
"It's fine. Let's get you a drink?"
"Tonic," i said.
He rolled his eyes, "come on. Harder?"
"Fine, fine. Whatever you want."
He went to the bartender and ordered. I went and sat down and got my phone.
Hindi nagtetext si Cyriel. Busy siguro talaga? Hmmm. Sabagay, ang laki naman kasi ng business nila. Nagtaka pa ako. Sheez. Si Dave at Cyriel nagttrabaho na. Kami na nila Kim ang next. Nakakakaba!
"Here," sabi niya habang nilapag niya sa table yung mga kinuha niya mula dun sa bartender.
"What's that?"
He acted like he was thinking, "hmmm. Let me think.. It's Bourbon with a twist," he said then he gave me a glass where he poured some of his Bourbon "with a twist".
"So, cheers?" i asked him.
I was about to drink what he gave me when i stopped, halfway, "you didn't put any of your herbal stuffs in here, right?" i asked him. The last thing i want in my life right now is a totally uncalled for accident.
He smirked, "you know me too well, D.. But no, i didn't put any herbal in there. I've been sober for months. Give this man some credit," he said.
"Fine. Credit it is," i said then i drank what he gave me.
"To something better," he said.
"To something better," i said then we clanked our glasses.
We're drinking casually. I mean, we're friends. Pero yung ibang tao naman kasi dito, grabe makatingin! Fine, fine. I get it, model si Josh kaya kung makatingin lalo na yung mga babae! Kainis! Parang wala ako sa high end club ah. Cheap ng mga babae dito eh.
I tried my best to ignore them and started a chitchat with Josh.
"So.." i said. Paano ko ba siya tatanungin tungkol kay Ynna? I mean, gustung gusto ko nang mawala siya sa buhay ko. For good. But i don't wish her harm. I think malaki naman ang Pilipinas para hindi kami magtagpo ng landas, right? "how's Ynna?"
Tinignan niya ako na parang nagulat sa sinabi ko, "where's that coming from?"
"Come on, Josh. Just want to hear some news," i replied.
"Well, for starter, i don't know where she is. I mean, we're not close, D. We're bloodrelated, there's where it ends."
I nodded, "i see. So, how about Cyriel? Do you still see him visiting? I mean, a week ago?" i said, fishing for information.
He shook his head, "no, i don't think so. Ynna's missing in action, and as for that boyfriend of yours, i have no freaking idea where he is."
I rolled my eyes, "just when i thought you have an amazing stalker skills," i joked. Lagi niya kasing alam kung saan ako hahanapin, malay ko ba kung talent niya yun?
"That only works on girls, D. I don't stalk boys. That's for you to do," he said, chuckling. I think alcohol is going in his system.
"Fine, fine."
He stood up.
"Why?" i asked.
"Come, i don't like it in here anymore. So many eyes on us," he said and started walking. I get him. Yung babae talaga nakatingin sa amin. Well, not that i can blame them. Josh is such a looker. Kung girlfriend lang ako nito, kanina pa ako na offend sa tingin nung mga babae. Eye rape at its finest.
We reached his yello Lamborghini and said, "you drive," then hinagis niya yung keys niya towards me.
"You sure?" i asked. Yosh! First time kong makakadrive nito!
"Yeah. Just don't put any scratch on it, D. I'm obsessed with my cars."
I started the ignition. Fast and sleek. I want this car!!
"So, where are we going?" i asked him.
Nakasandal siya sa sasakyan, hilo na yata tong kasama ko. Tsk. "can you drive me to my hotel? I forgot something."
Hotel?
"Why?" i asked.
"I'm staying there. I told you, dad's getting in my nerves so i opted to stay in a hotel. He's so bothersome, D. He'll kill me with his words."
Haay. I see myself in Josh. Ganyan din kami ng dad ko dati. Good thing we're on the right track now.
"Sure."
Then we drove towards his hotel.
**
Ynna's Point of View
"Ang ganda dito noh?" i slowly said as we were staring at the field of plantation in front of us.
He nodded, "yes. It's good for your recovery."
I shrugged. I still feel weak from all the drugs i've been taking.
He kneeled in front of me because i'm on my wheelchair. Yes, i can't walk. That's how weak i am. I feel pain most of the time. It's agonizing and it's slowly killing me.
"Bakit ayaw mong magpagamot?" he asked me for the nth time. Fort the past week na nandito kami, he's been bugging me about this. I gave up. Hindi ba nila maintindihan yun? Ano bang labas ko sa sakit ko? HIV and cancer? Sa tingin ba nila may pag asa pang mabuhay ako? I don't think so. There's no chance in hell that i'll survive.
"I'm a hopeless case."
He held my hand like he's been doing everytime, "kasi gusto mong maging ganyan. Come on, Ynna. You're better than this. Nagawa mo nga akong ilayo kay Dana ng isang taon! Nasan na yung mga diabolical plans na sinasabi mo? Wala na? Ganun na lang? Hihintayin mo na lang na mamatay ka??"
I smiled weakly and summoned all my strength to speak, "yes, Cyriel. I gave up. You asked for this, and i'm giving it to you. You're free."
I really meant it this time. I give up. Matagal na. The moment he walked out of my door, he already lost me for good. I know he wants this. He always wanted me gone and now has has it. I'll be gone soon. All i'm asking is for him to give this to me and let me die hating Dana. It's the only piece of consolation i could ever have. The liberty of hating her.
Why i hate her? She took everything away from me. How could i possibly not hate her for that?? Then i'm dying.. and my parents. I love them and i know how it would pain them to have both their children gone all because of her. Directly or indirectly, she caused all of this. She made my life a living hell so i made hers as well. She killed my sister. She killed her.
He smiled, "reverse psychology?"
I smiled, "perhaps."
He sat beside me, "no need, Ynna. I promised you i won't leave you. I don't break any promises."
"You broke one," i told him.
He looked puzzled.
"You promised you'll never love me but look, i think you did."