"Attorney, someone's looking for you--- Sir!" Rinig kong usal ng sekretarya mula sa intercom bago mabilis na napa-angat ng tingin ng marinig ko ang pagbukas ng pintuan ng opisina ko.
It revealed Rebekah's friend. The guy that keeps on shouting at her on the elevator. After him was my secretary who tried to stop him.
"It's okay, Faye. I know him." Nag-aalangang tingin ang ibinigay ng sekretarya ko bago siya tumango at iniwan kami sa loob ng opisina ko.
I gestured for him to sit on the couch in the middle of my office as I stood up to walk over to where he is.
"Let's talk." bungad niya hindi pa man ako tuluyang nakakaupo sa harapan niya.
"About?" tanong ko makaraang makaupo sa kaharap na upuan ng kanya.
"About Arci,"
"Rebekah?" Paniniguro ko. I was actually very intrigued about these two. Were they ex-lovers or something?
I saw him pursed his lips upon hearing me mention Rebekah's name before he nodded.
"What about her?" kunot ang noo kong tanong.
"Are you serious with her?" diretsahan niyang tanong na nagpangisi sakin.
"I can't see how that concerns you,"
"It's Arci. Of course it's my business." he said as his eyes try to intimidate me.
I smirked at that.
"We're talking about my girlfriend here, right?" patuya kong tanong sa kanya.
"We're talking about my Arci here." matapang niyang sagot na bigla nalang nagpainit ng ulo ko.
"She's my girlfriend. She's my Rebekah."
"But she was my Arci, even before she became your Rebekah and it would always be like that. Now let's go back to my question, are you fucking serious with her?" Naiirita ako sa paraan ng pang-aangkin niya kay Rebekah. He's just a friend! How dare he use that possessive words to articulate her?
"You see? Arci may come out too strong but she's the most fragile and weakest woman I know. She may never admit that but she is. People tend to discriminate and underestimate her despite all her achievements and hardships. Why? Just because she was an illegitimate chid. Dahil anak siya sa kabit ng Daddy niya, people rarely see the good in her and just directly delves into that dark part of her life."
"Arci had always wanted a normal life. A family to go home to. A caring and proud father, an understanding mother, and a sister she can bond with." he said before he took a deep breath and released it exasperatedly.
"But unfortunately, she was given a father who only cares about her achievements, a mother who mooches off her hard-earned money, and a sister who did nothing but to plot evil things for her. She needed to stand on her own. To prove herself, she works harder than anyone would do. Ilang beses na naming dinala sa ospital 'yon dahil sumusuko ang katawan niya sa lahat ng pinaggagawa niya. But never did she let us call and tell her parents about it. Kami lang ang kasama niya eversince law school. I can't even imagine how she was like way back before we knew her."
I immediately felt remorse after hearing his words. I may have doubted it if I haven't seen Rebekah broke down or if I never heard any stories about their family but Fryje had already filled up the missing gaps on his stories.
Rebekah is a lonely girl.
My Rebekah is lonely.
Habang patuloy akong nakikinig sa mga kwento ni EJ tungkol kay Rebekah ay mas lumalakas ang kagustuhan kong puntahan siya para sugurin ng yakap.
I wanted to ask for forgiveness for believing her sister's words at first. For doubting her and for not being with her all those times.
Hindi ko namalayan kung kailan o paanong paalaman ang nangyari but I just found myself alone on my office at walang magawang maayos na trabaho. My mind was filled with thoughts about Rebekah.
Nafrufrustrate ako sa tuwing naimagine kong umiiyak siyang mag-isa pero mas nag-aalala ako sa tuwing maiisip na baka pinipigilan niya lang ang sariling umiyak lalo na kung kaharap ang pamilya niya.
Napabuntong hininga ako ng marealize na gabi na pala at wala man lang akong nagawang trabaho mula ng umalis si EJ dito.
Sandali kong tinitigan ang patong patong na mga papeles na kailangan kong aralin bago ako umiling at tumayo na.
I took my coat and my phone and dialled Rebekah's number as I walked out of my office. Hindi ko na pinansin ang gulat na mukha ng secretary ko na mukhang naghahanda na sa pag-uwi.
Pasakay na ako ng sasakyan ng sagutin niya ang tawag ko.
"B-brent, p-pwede mo ba kong puntahan?" Naiwang nakahawak sa door handle ng sasakyan ang kamay ko ng marinig ko ang basag niyang boses.
"What's wrong?" nag-aalala kong tanong ng makabawi at nagmamadaling sumakay sa sasakyan ko.
"I just... I just..." Napapikit ako ng mariin nang mapalitan ng mga hikbi ang pagbabalak niyang magsalita.
"Where are you?" tanong ko sakanya habang iniistart ang sasakyan.
"Just stay there! I'm coming babe, I'm coming. Wait for me." I told her before I ended the call.
"Iiwan mo rin naman ako eh," mabilis kong inalis ang pagkakapalibot ng braso ko sa bewang niya at inikot siya paharap sakin.
"Do you really think I'll leave you?" Kasi sa tingin ko ako pa nga ang iiwan mo.
"Everybody does. You're staying for now because you still need me. May kaya pa akong ibigay sayo. Pero kapag wala na? Iiwan mo rin ako tulad ng iba. Everyone wants me just because I have something to offer. Kasi napapakinabangan pa ako,"
"I'm not like them," pamimilit ko. Kasi gusto ko siya kahit wala siyang maibibigay pa. Gusto ko siya.
Yeah. Damn it, I like her!
"Ibahin mo ko, Rebekah. Ikaw ang gusto ko, ikaw. The hell with your achievements and abilities, I also have mine,"
"Ang yabang, ang yabang mo. Ang yabang yabang mo..." she said as she tried to laugh amidst the tears that keeps flowing from her eyes.
Huminga ako ng malalim bago ko muling binalik ang mga braso ko sa may bewang niya bago siya hinatak palapit at hinayaan siyang umiyak sa may dibdib ko.
"Ibabahay mo 'ko?" halos mapangiwi ako sa salitang pinili niyang gamitin.
"Pwede bang ayusin mo naman ang wording mo? It sounded like you're my kept mistress," puna ko sa kanya.
"Malay ko ba?" agad akong napasimangot dahil sa banat niyang iyon.
"I'm your boyfriend, Rebekah," paalala ko sa kanya.
"Hala siya, pinanindigan mo talaga yun?!" gulat niyang sabi na kinagulat ko naman.
Boyfriend niya ako, diba?
O akala ko lang ba?
Ako lang ba nag-assume na may relasyon nga kaming dalawa?
"Nahihiya ka?" tumatawa niyang tanong habang hawak ang magkabila kong pisngi.
"Hindi mo ko boyfriend?" tanong ko sa kanya.
Hindi pwede 'yon!
I'm her boyfriend! Kaya nga sakin lang siya lumalambot diba?
"I'm just kidding babe," lambing niya habang hinihilot pa ang kunot kong noo.
"Sa condo ka na,"
"Hahanap ako ng unit bukas," ani niya na agad na tinanggihan ng sistema ko.
"Wag na, doon ka na lang," pamimilit ko sakanya.
"Sige na... please?" malambing kong pakiusap sa kanya.
Nagulat ako ng akusahan niya akong nagpapacute! What the hell?! Bakit ako magpapacute?!
"Sige na, doon kana. Hmm?" balik ko sa topic. I slowly intertwined our hands together as I tried to persuade her more.
"Okay lang ba sayo?" agad akong nakahinga ng maluwag ng marinig ko ang tanong niyang iyon.
"Sobra pa sa okay," I answered smiling.
And from that night, my happiest days began.