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Chapter 26
Necklace
"Your Kuya doesn't want to go home," Mom cried.
I've been waiting for them all night long. Si Mommy lang ang nakauwi at kasama niya sina Tita Paui at Tita Zoey.
I immediately hugged Mommy.
"Why, My? I don't understand..." I started crying too.
Bakit ayaw niyang umuwi? What was he thinking?
"Ikukulong nila si Kuya?" I added.
Lumapit sa akin si Tita Zoey. "Don't worry, Cali. Your Dad will do everything... Hindi mangyayari 'yan at saka wala namang masamang ginawa si Kairon."
"It's all over the news that he's on custody..." sabi ko nang maalala kung saan ko iyon nalaman.
Mas lalong naiyak ang Mommy doon.
"If it's all over the news, they will convict my son on something that he did not do! They will all malign him!"
Tita Paui went to us.
"I already pulled some strings to shut out all the news about Kairon and the case... 'Wag kang mag-alala, Frans, okay? We will help."
Tita Paui's family or the Sy Family owns a big tv network. They are big in both print and tv.
True to Tita Paui's words, wala ng news ang lumabas pa tungkol kay Kuya. Even in the internet, wala nang lumalabas pa na tungkol doon.
"The Santiagos are delaying the case," Dad said. I saw how he closed his fist. He looks really mad.
I have no idea about what's happening in the case because they never let me go with them.
"We are up against a big family name, Christan. If we have connections, they have it too," Tito Dominic said.
They are all here in the mansion and I'm just eavesdropping.
"But this isn't right! Bakit nila pinapatagal ang mga tests? They are just afraid because once it's out, lalabas na walang ginawang masama ang anak ko!" Mom was fumming mad.
Tita Paui and Tita Zoey are trying to calm her down.
"Maybe they already knew it... Kahihiyan ito sa kanila dahil sa ginawang pambibintang kaya pinapatagal," Tito Zimmer said.
Mas lalo lamang akong nagalit sa mga naririnig. They are delaying it due to embarrassment? How about my innocent brother who's staying in jail for weeks now?
It had been so stressful to our family. Kaya naman nang makauwi na si Kuya at napawalang sala na siya sa kaso, may party agad sa bahay.
All of our close family friends were invited. The Mercados and Fuentabellas were there.
When I saw him, bumalik ang tampo ko sa kanya.
"I hate you, Kuya!" Those were my first words upon seeing him.
He looks thinner than before. Mas lalo lang akong nalungkot.
I cried and hugged him as tight as I could. I am mad at him because he let them do this to him. He let that girl do this to him.
I went back to my room pagkatapos ng kainan. What had happened was too much for our family, but I believe that we will rise up from this. Kuya, will rise up from this. And I hope this time, he knows better.
I heard a knock on my door and when I saw Kuya entering the room, nagtalukbong ako ng kumot. I don't want to talk to him because I'll cry.
"Mag-usap tayo, bata-batuta..." Kuya called.
Marahas akong umiling sa ilalim ng kumot. "I don't want to!" I shouted.
Naramdaman kong umupo siya sa kama ko. Bakit hindi na lang iyong kambal ang guluhin niya?
"I'm sorry..." Kuya said. "I know you're mad at me."
"Yes, I am!" Agad akong napabangon at hindi na napigilan ang sarili. "I am so mad, Kuya, you have no idea!"
My tears started to roll down my cheeks.
"I don't understand what you did! Nagpakulong ka kahit wala ka namang ginagawang masama... And for who? For that girl who accused you!"
I would never ever understand.
Mom cried every night, Dad worked so hard for the case, we all worry every single day.
"There are things that are not meant to be understood." Kuya held my hand. "Hindi ko man maipaliwanag iyong naging desisyon ko, pero gusto kong malaman mo na wala akong pinagsisisihan. I stayed to clear my name. I stayed because I don't want to use our power for the case. Ayaw kong maging ganoon ang tingin ng mga tao sa pamilya natin dahil hindi tayo ganoon."
I cried harder. Alam ko naman iyon, pero alam ko rin na hindi lang iyon ang dahilan.
"You stayed for her, didn't you?" I asked.
He sacrificed himself for her... All of it, for someone who doesn't love him enough to believe that he could never do anything like that.
Unti-unti siyang tumango. He can lie to anyone, but never to his little sister. Dahil kilala ko siya.
"Paige is a good person, Cali. And I love her with all my heart. Hindi ko siya kailanman masisisi..."
I took a deep breath because I can't believe him. How can he still love her after all of it?
"How sure are you that you love her?"
Inakbayan ako ng Kuya kaya naman sumandal ako sa balikat niya. I missed my brother so much.
"You forgive even if they didn't apologize... That's how you know you really love them," Kuya said.
I thought he's getting better, then I found out he went to a high end bar all alone. Pag nalaman ito nina Mommy at Daddy, lagot talaga siya!
He's not allowed to go out. It is too risky for him and then he's here drinking a tequila? Is he baliw?!
"Kuya, let's go home or we'll both be dead!"
Sinundan namin siya kasama sina Manong Robert at Manong Anton. May mga ibang body guards din na sumunod.
Palabas na kami ni Kuya nang parang bigla kong nakita si Jax. Napailing naman ako roon. Why would he be here anyway? Kung anu-ano na ang mga nakikita ko! Si Kuya naman ang lasing at hindi ako, ah!
Kuya was so drunk. How unbelievable!
Nauna na siyang bumaba sa kotse at inalalayan agad siya ng mga guards. Pababa na ako nang makita iyong picture na parang kinunan sa photo booth.
It was Kuya and... I looked at the photo closely. Ilang saglit bago ko napagtanto kung sino ang pamilyar na babaeng iyon. It was Jax's Paige! Wait. Kuya's ex-girlfriend and Jaxith's friend is the same?!
Hindi ko alam kung anong mararamdaman. I should've known! Jax transferred to Garnet Academy. He said that Paige needs him after the ambush happened. It all makes sense now.
I tried to put up Jaxith's social media accounts to check if it's really the same girl, only to find out that he deactivated all of his accounts.
Mas lalo akong nalungkot doon.
I just checked the Star Sapphire girls group chat and my friends are excited na sa pasukan. I was excited too, but knowing that Jax aren't there anymore lessens it.
"Cali!" si Xuri na napasigaw nang pumasok ako sa greenhouse.
Ngayon ang first day ng 2nd semester. Mas marami rin ang major subjects ngayon compared sa 1st sem.
"I miss you!" si Gelo naman ang yumakap.
I missed my friends. Hindi ako nakalabas sa buong sembreak dahil na rin sa trial ni Kuya. Hindi ako pinapasama, pero hindi rin ako pinapayagan na magpunta kahit saan dahil delikado.
Lumapit din si Cat at yumakap sa akin.
"How are you?" Cat said.
This kind of question really affects me every time. Okay naman ako, ah. I'm holding on. Pero bakit bigla akong nalungkot sa simpleng tanong?
I just smiled and stared on Jaxith's empty chair.
I already accepted everything, but why I still feel the pain?
I took a deep breath and went out for a while. It's still early and I need some time to throw away the sad vibes.
Nandito lang ako sa likod ng greenhouse. The air is very refreshing.
"Hindi ka ata umiiyak ngayon?"
I rolled my eyes the moment I heard that voice.
"Nagsasalita ka ata ngayon?" I shot back at Grant bato.
Naupo siya malayo sa akin na parang I have a virus or something! This brute! So kapal!
"Syempre, may bunganga ako, e..." masungit niyang sabi.
At siya pa ang may karapatan magsungit? Minsan talaga, I don't get him. Hindi ko mabasa ang ugali niya!
Binalot kami ng katahimikan at ang tanging ingay lang ay ang kumpas ng mga puno dahil sa malakas na hangin. It's like the air is trying to blow all the pain away.
Napatingin ako sa langit. The sky is so blue... Gaya ng nararadaman ko ngayon. It's all blue.
I took a deep breath.
"Do you ever feel that you were left behind?" I asked Grant. "I never thought that it could be this sad."
I looked at him and he was just staring at the blue sky.
"If they left you, then so what?" aniya at ang mga mata'y napunta sa akin. "You never lost anyone. They lost you."
Tumango ako at nagtaas noo dahil sa sinabi ni Grant. "You're right!" I said, trying so hard to convince myself. But the pain in my heart did not leave, regardless.
Napansin kong mahaba 'yong upuan at gusto kong mahiga bigla, kaya naman dali-dali akong nahiga sa binti ni Grant. He's actually comfortable to be with, we're like kumares! Gelo said that if you always make chika chika with someone, you're magkumare na!
Grant is my kumare.
"W-What the hell are you doing?!" reklamo ni kumare at tinutulak pa ang mukha ko palayo gamit ang isang daliri niya.
Is he germaphobic or something?
"It might be their lost... But it damn hurts," I told him.
I looked at Grant, pero nakaiwas siya ng tingin sa akin.
Ibinalik ko ang tingin sa asul na ulap. It's not always blue, you know. Sometimes, it's yellow. I can't wait for it to be yellow... When it was all sunshines and rainbows. But life is a combination of both, and that's something we have to keep in mind.
"If they want to leave, let them..." he said and took a long pause.
I looked at him, only to find him looking at me, too...
"You are worth staying for, Naiam."
For a moment right there, it calmed my heart. In so many ways.
I smiled at him. "Talaga? Do you really think so?"
Mabilis siyang umiwas ng tingin.
"Syempre, hindi. Asa ka naman," aniya at agad na tumayo kaya naman tumama 'yong ulo ko sa matigas na upuan.
"Ouch! What the hell?!" sigaw ko pero naglalakad na siya palayo.
Napahawak agad ako sa ulo ko. Argh! I'm going to have a bukol!
"Para kang sphinx ugali mo'y napaka-sting!"
Nagulat ako nang biglang may kumakanta at palapit iyon. Nang makita si Theodore Galenn ay hindi na ako nagtaka.
"Girlie biddy bye bye don't tell a lie! Bakit mo ako laging dini-deny?"
Oh my goodness gracious. Mas lalo atang sumakit ang ulo ko!
"Cali, nandiyan ka pala! Kanina pa kita hinahanap. Na-deliver na ang breakfast natin. Tara na!" Theo shouted.
Tumayo na ako at hawak pa rin ang ulo. "Argh! I hate Grant!"
I'm going to kill him pag may tumubong bukol, I swear!
"Ha? Teka? The more you hate, the more you..." si Theo iyon at napahawak pa sa bibig niya na parang gulat na gulat.
What's his deal?!
"What?"
"Cali... Do you like Grant?!" malisyosong tanong niya.
I rolled my eyes at him.
"Are you serious? Grant? Really?" di makapaniwalang tanong ko. "Of course, not!"
Tumawa si Theo at para bang nakahinga ng maluwag. "Eh... Do you like Jax?"
Napahinto ako roon sa tanong ni Theo. Binangga niya pa ang balikat ko nang hindi ako sumagot.
Do I like him? No, I don't think so... Because it was more than that.
You know it's love when the feelings don't leave even if the person does.
I just shrugged and punched his arm a little. "Do you like Cat?" bawi ko.
Siya naman ngayon ang natahimik.
"What ha?" usisa ko pa hanggang sa makapasok na kami sa greenhouse.
"Gusto ko naman kayong lahat!" giit niya.
We went to the long table to eat our breakfast. Chance was already there too, so I sat beside him.
"Welcome back, man!" sabi ni Theo tapos ay nagkamayan sila.
"Thanks, man! Kantahan tayo mamaya! Hambog ng sagpo krew!"
Nagtawanan pa sila ni Theo. I suddenly remember back then on the orientation and on the first week, maingay at makulit talaga si Chance at Theo. Pakiramdam ko nga, trio sila dapat. Hindi ko lang maintidihan kung bakit iritado si Jax kay Chance... Ayan, naiisip ko na naman siya.
I shrugged my thoughts off.
"What can you say about the greenhouse?" I asked Chance.
It was really different from all of the plain classrooms. It's the best thing ever. Kaya naman ayaw ko nang malipat ng ibang class. I don't want to leave my friends too.
"It's nice here," Chance said and smiled. "Wala ka bang pa welcome bread?"
Kumunot ang noo ko. "Huh?"
Dumating si Grant na akala mo na nama'y kung sinong may sama ng loob. Iniirapan pa ako. So kapal kapal! Grabe! Akala mo siya itong tutubuan ng bukol! Kagigil much!
"Binigyan mo 'ko ng farewell gift, 'yong subway bread! Tanda mo?" Chance asked me and laughed.
Natawa rin ako nang maalala, dahil hindi naman talaga iyon para sa kanya. Pero unti-unting napawi ang tawa nang maalala ko kung para kanino talaga dapat iyon.
"Sige, I'll give you something as a welcome gift!" sabi ko rito.
This time, para sa kanya na talaga.
"Tss," Grant stood up and walked away.
He looks so annoyed. Anong problema no'n? Hindi na siya kakain? Maigi!
"Grant! Hindi ka na kakain?" sigaw ni Xuri pero hindi na ata narinig ni Grant dahil nakalabas na siya.
"Teka, tawagin ko..." Chance said and stood up.
He followed his cousin. Hindi ko lang sure kung magandang idea 'yon. Grant is just out of this world sometimes! Alien ang batong iyon!
"Okay naman si Chance para sa 'kin... Mabait naman siya," Xuri said and then took a bite on her bread.
"I don't think he's a bad person either," Cat said.
"Tropa na kami!" singit pa ni Theo.
"Ang plastic mo, Theo! Sabi mo dati hindi mo tropa si Chance?!" nakapamaywang si Gelo sa kanya.
"Dati 'yon! Iniwan ako ni Jax, eh!"
Hindi lang naman ikaw ang iniwan...
Theo crossed his arms. "Okay naman si Chance. At saka mas nakakausap siya kaysa kay Grant. Dahon lang ata kinakausap no'ng isang 'yon!"
Grant isn't a talkative person at all, so I appreciate it when he talks. Kahit minsan, pambabara lang.
"Baka nakakalimutan mong nakipagbugbugan tayo sa mga 'yon!" ani Gelo.
Xuri immediately hold both of Gelo's cheeks. "Aw... Lalaking-lalaki naman ang Gelo ko! Ka-inlove!"
Mabilis na tinapik ni Gelo iyong mga kamay ni Xuri. "Yak!" sigaw niya na para bang diring-diri talaga.
Natawa naman kami ni Cathaline sa dalawang kaibigan.
"Iyong mga tiga Class B naman iyong mga nakabugbugan natin, hindi si Chance. Sila lang naman ni Grant iyong nagtalo," sabi pa ni Theo.
Prof. Somero oriented us a little regarding our subjects and also the upcoming activities of the academy.
Napaisip tuloy ako... Because Jax is gone now, who will be the Master Sergeant?
When it's time for the major classes, the sadness I'm feeling inside my heart grew... Knowing that Jax wouldn't be there to walk with me to go to the next class. I will miss his stupid jokes and his random comments. I will miss all of it.
Naupo ako sa bandang dulo dahil doon na lang ang may mga natitirang upuan. It was sad that I never gained any friends here. Sila iyong mga ka-course ko, but I feel like I'm an outcast. Maybe because I'm part of the Star Sapphire Class... Maybe they are intimidated? I don't know. I tried to reach out, but then Claire, Violet, and Jenny decided to sabotage me the first time. Kaya kinalimutan ko na lang ang pakikipagkaibigan sa ibang mga class.
I took out my pens when Grant suddenly entered the room. Agad ko namang nalaglag ang mga iyon dahil sa gulat ko. What is he doing here?! Nag-shift siya?
Everyone was surprised upon seeing 'the' Grant Saavedra... Upon seeing another Star Sapphire student.
Lumapit agad siya sa akin at tinulungan akong kunin ang mga pens ko.
"Pakarami naman kasi. Mag-nonotes ka ba o mag-cocoloring book?"
I was about to ask him why he shifted, but then I remembered that I was mad at him. Inirapan ko na lang siya at mabilis na inagaw pabalik iyong pens ko na hawak niya.
Bago pa ako makabalik ng maayos sa pagkakaupo ay si Chance naman ang pumasok. Huh? What's happening here? Nag-shift din siya?
"Oh... Tatlo pala tayo rito!" sabi ni Chance.
Masungit na umupo si Grant sa tabi ko at hindi pinansin iyong pinsan.
"Nag-shift ka?" I asked Chance the obvious.
Both of them are in the same course along with Xuri, Applied Corporate Management.
"Oo, eh. Mas dama ko ang Interdisciplinary Business Studies!" aniya.
Tumango-tango naman ako at malaking ngumiti. Masaya ako dahil may mga kasama na akong tiga Class A.
"Cali, I'm just curious..." Chance said.
First day of classes was over. It's a bit tiring, actually!
Nasa tapat na kami ng mga kwarto namin ngayon. Si Chance na ang katapat ko ng kwarto.
Naningkit ang mga mata ko. "What is it?"
"About your necklace? I mean... Yeah, I know it was written in Baybayin and I know what it says. Curious lang ako kung ano ang ibigsabihin nito para sa 'yo."
My heart skipped a beat. Agad akong napahawak sa suot na kwintas. It was Jaxith's gift.
"Y-You know what it says?" I asked him.
Simula no'ng umalis si Jax, hindi ko na sinubukan pang malaman kung ano ang ibigsabihin nito. I was too afraid to know... Because it might break my heart even more.
Paano kung "kaibigan" pala ang nakalagay?
Chance nodded slowly.
Mas lalong bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko, sabay din ng pag bigat nito.
"What it says, Chance?" I asked with a heavy heart.
Wala naman nang mawawala. Wala naman nang magbabago.
"Y-You don't know?" tanong niya, and he looked really confused. Napakamot pa siya sa kanyang ulo.
Tumango ako rito.
Chance tried to smile a little, like he was already defeated about something. "Pereira," aniya. "That's what it says."