Chapter 27
"King..."
Hindi ko masyadong maaninag ang mukha niya. Medyo madilim sa parte ng parking lot na ito pero base sa mga mata niya alam ko na galit siya.
Nakumpirma kong si King ito nang lumapit siya sa akin. It's been five years since the last time I saw him. Damn... I missed him so much.
I wanted to hug him immediately. I wanted to tell to him everything I learned here in Manila. I badly wanted to tell him that I learned a lot of things and one of these is realizing that saying good bye isn't that bad after all. Parting ways isn't that bad as long as there's assurance to come back. There's assurance that someone is waiting for you. I badly wanted to tell him that he is the assurance I am talking about.
I wanted to hug him... Kiss him... But I managed to control myself because I know he is mad.
"What are you doing here?" Mas dumiin ang tingin niya sa akin. Malalim din ang boses na binibigay niya sa akin.
Napakurap-kurap ako at namamangha sa nakikita. Limang taon... ang daming nagbago sa akin... maging sa kanya. He became matured. Ang dating medyo magulo at medyo mahaba niyang buhok na palaging hinahangin, ngayon malinis na. Maayos na ang pagkakagupit nito. He's wearing white long sleeve polo and a black slacks. He's like in formal attire, naka-neck tie pa nga ito eh.
I bit my lower lip cuz I am really amazed seeing him right now.
"I said what are you doing here, Casper?!" his voice boomed. I was startled. I blinked twice.
"I-I...I was just h-having fun..." lutang kong sabi.
He closed his eyes and then he massaged his temple. He gritted his teeth and he is trying to calm his self by looking at the sky.
"Ikaw? A-anong ginagawa mo rito?" tanong ko pabalik.
Hindi niya ako pinakinggan. Agad niya akong hinigit at dinala sa isang parte ng parking lot. That's when I realized that we went beside his car. He leaned me on his car and then he caged me. Ang dalawa niyang kamay ay nakahilig sa kanyang sasakyan at tila kinukulong ako. Nakayuko siya ngayon samantalang ako ay nakatitig lang sa kanyang dibdib.
Slowly his right hand went to my jaw and then he guided my face to his face. The next thing I knew he is kissing me passionately. I can feel in his kisses the longing but it was too rough... He is really mad.
I tried to cope up with his kisses but I think I can't cope up anymore. I was too overwhelmed and shocked and I missed him. Ilang minuto nagtagal ang halikan namin.
Nakaawang ang labi ko nang matapos ang halikan. I wanted to kiss him more but he refused. Bigla akong nakaramdam ng inis sa kanya! What? Wait... Damn... What was that?! I felt dizzy.
"Nakainom ka pa." that is not a question.
"J-just a bottle of beer," I honestly said.
"At kailan ka pa natutong uminom?"
Hindi ako nagsalita. I licked my lips because I can still feel his lips on mine. His eyes darted to my lips then to my eyes then to my body. I am wearing a black off shoulder dress and that is hugging through my body.
"Hinayaan kita ng ilang taon dito tapos dito kita makikita?" he frustratedly asked.
"Huh? What did I do? I'm just having fun with my friends!" giit ko.
Wait... Why am I explaining to him anyway?! Sino ba siya? Wala na kami hindi ba? Wait... I let him kissed me!
"Yeah..."
Tinulak ko siya pero hindi naman siya nagpatinag.
"Ano ba?! Ang init! Lumayo ka nga!" reklamo ko.
"Talagang mainit kasi lasing ka."
"I'm not drunk! Uuwi na nga ako eh." I tried to escape but he didn't let me.
"Ano ba, King?! Ano ba ginagawa mo rito? Bakit nandito ka? Hindi ba break na tayo?" naiirita kong sabi.
His lips parted.
"Wow. So you're having fun now because we already broke up? Is that it, Casper?"
I looked away coz he is intimidating me. Since when did he become intimidating?
"Ano? May iba ka na kaya pinagtatabuyan—"
"What are you talking about? I said I am with my friends!" I cut him off.
"Sinu-sino sila? Babae ba sila? Kilala ko ba sila? Don't tell me lalaki sila, Casper," sunod-sunod niyang tanong.
"Oh my god, King! Please! Of course hindi mo sila kilala kasi taga-rito sila at hindi mo pa sila nakikita and they were all females! For pete's sake King let me go! Uuwi na ako."
"You better go home or I'll drag you out of here. Ibabalik kita ng Pangasinan—"
"Why will you do that? And why are you here by the way?"
"It doesn't matter anymore. Umuwi ka na. Nasaan ang sasakyan mo? May sasakyan ka ba? Ihahatid—"
"May sasakyan ako!"
"Then I'll tail you. Come on. Umalis ka na rito baka kung anong magawa ko pa sa iyo rito. Alam mong sabik ako sa iyo," he warned.
That is my signal to go immediately to my car. Ano bang... ano bang sinasabi ng lalaking iyon ha?! My face turned red and I can feel it. Damn... what is he doing here? Bakit alam niya na nandito ako? It's not that I have some funny business here, kasama ko nga lang kasi mga kaibigan ko eh!
He is serious when he told me that he will tail me until I get to our building. Nasa basement na kami ng building kung saan ang condo ko. Bumaba na ako sa sasakyan ko at bumababa rin siya. Mabilis ang mga naging hakbang ko.
I heard his large and heavy footsteps. Sumakay na ako sa elevator. Magsasara na sana ang pinto ng elevator nang pigilan niya ito. I glared at him.
"Don't tell me susundan mo ako hanggang sa makarating ako sa condo ko?" tinaasan ko siya ng kilay.
"Bakit bawal?" he snapped back.
"Oo bawal! Break na tayo eh! Doon ka nga." Bahagya akong lumayo sa kanya at humalukipkip.
"Edi magbalikan na tayo kung ganoon," agap niya. Nanlaki ang mga mata ko. Sakto naman ang pagbukas ng elevator. Hindi ko na lang pinansin ang sinabi niya at agad-agad na iniwan siya rito pero ang loko sumusunod pa rin talaga!
Sakto rin ang bukas ng pintuan ng condo ni Thirdy.
"Oh!" he was startled when he saw me... us. Nagpabalik-balik ang tingin niya sa aming dalawa.
"Bro, you're here! Akala ko nasa Pangasinan ka?" manghang sabi niya kay King na nasa likuran ko. Ngumisi si Thirdy nang pagkaloko-loko.
"Yeah, thanks to you," sarkastikong sabi ni King. I rolled my eyes on Thirdy and started to walk towards my condo.
I was about to close my condo's door when King stopped it.
"Let's talk first," he said.
"Bukas na lang. I'm tired."
He stared at me for a very long time. Nakahawak lang siya sa pinto ng condo ko habang ako ay nawawalan na ng lakas sa pagtulak dito.
"Then let me stay here with you," malambing ngunit malungkot niyang sabi. I sighed in defeat... I can't lie to myself anymore. I missed him so much... I admit it.
Unti-unti niluwagan ko ang bukas ng pinto at pinatuloy siya. He stayed in the couch while I was in my room. Gusto ko rin naman na mag-usap kami pero gusto ko na mangyari iyon bukas. I know he's tired too for a very long drive from Pangasinan all the way coming here.
Hindi nga ako nagkamali nang makita si King na tahimik at payapang natutulog sa sofa sa aking living room. He's sleeping peacefully and I got the chance to stare at his beautiful face. How I missed staring his face. I missed... him... his smiles... and his laughs.
I put a blanket on him and then I gave him a peck on his forehead before I proceed to my bedroom.
The next morning, I went up early to buy a breakfast for us. Usually kasi nagpupunta na lang ako sa café para doon kumain bago magtrabaho. Now that King is here I want to cook something for us.
Habang nasa supermarket ako nakita ko si Thirdy na bumibili rin. Lumapit ako sa kanya at saka ko siya hinampas sa tiyan gamit ang likod ng palad ko.
He groaned in pain.
"What the hell, Casper?!" iritado niya akong binalingan.
"At sinumbong mo talaga ako! Tsismoso!" I gritted my teeth.
Agad siyang nakabawi sa hampas ko at saka siya ngumisi.
"Bakit? Pasalamat ka nga sa akin nakita mo na ulit 'yong ex mo—"
"Heh! Bahala ka diyan. Bwisit ka talaga kahit kailan!" iniwan ko na siya baka kung ano pa magawa ko sa tsismosong iyon.
When I got home, I saw King in the living area—sitting. He stood up immediately when he saw me.
"Saan ka pumunta? I was looking for you. Pagkagising ko wala ka na," sunod-sunod niyang sabi. Parang may kung anong kirot naman sa puso ko ang naramdaman ko.
"I went to supermarket to buy these." Pinakita ko sa kanya ang mga pinamili ko.
"Sana ginising mo na lang ako para sinamahan kita."
I wanted to roll my eyes on him but I walk towards to my kitchen instead.
"Pagod ka eh," sabi ko.
"Can we now talk, Casper?" he asked. I guess he can't wait now for any longer huh.
Inilapag ko sa counter top ang mga pinamili ko saka siya hinarap. Tumango ako.
He licked his lips first before he spoke...
"Are you now okay?" he asked first.
I moved my body and I am now leaning on the counter top. Ang dalawang siko ko ang kumukuha ng suporta sa counter top sa likod ko.
"What do you think?" I calmly asked him as well. He lowered his head sadly.
"You're doing fine... and you changed a lot..." he almost whispered.
"...and I am afraid," he added. My lips parted while my heart is aching terribly.
"Ako pa rin ba laman ng puso mo?" now his head lifted up on me. Bakas sa mukha niya ang takot... at lungkot. It's been five years but I know and still memorized every bit of him. I know that as of the moment he is really afraid.
"Natatakot ako na dahil sa tagal ng panahon, nakalimutan mo na ako," aniya.
Hindi ko na nakayanan ang sarili at agad siyang nilapitan at niyakap. Oh God, what did I do to have a man like him? Noon pa lang siya na itong napakapasensiyoso sa aming dalawa. He's very patient to me. He's very understanding... and I know that he really loves me. Wala siyang ibang ginawa kung hindi ang mahalin ako at wala rin akong ibang ginawa kung hindi ang itaboy siya.
But for this time and for the rest of my life, I will hold him like how he held me. I will love him like how he loved me. Form this day on... sa tabi mo na lang ako, King. Hindi na ako aalis. Hindi na ako lalayo... At hindi na kita itataboy pa.
"Ikaw pa rin. Wala nang iba," bulong ko.
I smiled to him... genuinely. This is what you want me to do right, King? From this day on, I will smile for you.
"Salamat sa paghihintay sa akin. Salamat sa pagmamahal mo. Salamat sa lahat-lahat, King. Pangako ko, hindi na ako aalis sa tabi mo."
"Hindi mo na ako itataboy?" para akong sinasaksak sa tanong niya. All these times that I am having a hard time isa sa mga nagiging desisyon ko ang layuan at ipagtabuyan siya.
Pumikit ako saka umiling.
"Hindi na. Hinding-hindi na. Sabay na nating haharapin ang problema. Tapos na akong harapin ang problema ko nang mag-isa, ngayon, kasama na kita."
"Ibig sabihin... tayo na ulit?" he asked suddenly.
"Ligawan mo muna ako," I teased.
"Kailangan pa ba iyon?" hinawakan niya ako sa beywang saka inilapit sa kanya. I wrapped my arms on his neck and buried my face there.
"Oo naman," I mumbled. "I want flowers. I want chocolates. I want normal dates with you. Oh! I forgot! Huwag na lang chocolate, libro na lang."
"Libro? You have lots of books here!" he said. I chuckled because he's right... wala nang ibang laman ang bahay na ito kung hindi mga libro.
"But I want more..." mas hinigpitan ko ang yakap sa kanya. "Books."
"Casper..." he called.
"Hmmm?" nakayakap pa rin ako sa kanya. Gosh, since when did I become clingy?
"Do you believe that no man is an island?" he asked.
"Nong una sa tingin ko isa akong isla, isang malungkot na isa. Pero habang tumatagal ayoko pala ng ganoon. Kaya oo naniniwala ako diyan."
"Kung ganoon, hayaan mo akong samahan kita sa buhay mo. Let's face the challenges in our relationship... together."
~~
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