Two Strangers

Chapter 12

SMILING JULIETTE OPENED her eyes when she felt Rhome’s presence next to her, she was in the hammock again while reading a book until she fell asleep again. She knew a few hours had passed, because after they had eaten together she rested here while Rhome said goodbye for a moment because he was going somewhere.

But Juliette lost her smile when she did not see Rhome but the man she had avoided last week.
He looked at her seriously, causing her to quickly leave the hammock and face him. I have no escape here anymore…

“K-Kuya Marvino…” Juliette tried to sound happily but she failed.

Marvino gave a loud sighed. “Miss Juliette…”
Juliette smiled nervously. “K-Kamusta po? A-ah…anong ginagawa nyo p-po dito?”

“Sinusundo ka, hija.”

Bumakas ang takot sa mata nya pagkatapos ay dali-daling umiling sa kausap. “Ayoko po! please let me stay here.” Pakikiusap nya.

Marvino smiled sadly. “Pero hindi narito ang buhay nyo, hindi ito ang buhay na gusto ng mommy nyo. Sobra syang dismayado sa ginawang mong pag-alis.”

“I don’t care, I don’t want to leave. I’m happy here, I am free, I can do whatever I want!” She pleased.

Marvino sighed. “You have a family, and that’s your mom who was waiting for you to get home every single day, she’s sad and disappointed to your actions. She was stressed with your businesses but she kept herself continue for her only daughter.”

Juliette eyes watered suddenly. “Is it wrong for me to do what I want without her permission? Is it bad sometimes I want to be free? Is it bad to think of myself at least once?!”

Marvino went silent then suddenly he hugged Juliette making her surprised. “Hija…walang masama sa isang taong gusto lang maging masaya. Kaso hindi sa ganoong paraan nakikita ng mommy mo ang mga bagay na iyon, dahil pakiramdam nya inilalayo ka ng mga nito sa kanya, tulad nalang ngayon.” Mahinahong sambit nito.

Juliette couldn’t think properly at the moment because of the flowing emotions she felt, she was about to speak when a terrible pain struck in her head and her eyes becomes blurry in a second causes her body to fell to the ground.

“Bitiwan mo sya!” That scream was the last thing Juliette heard before she completely lost consciousness.

RHOME ANGRILY LOOKED at the man who was with Juliette earlier who was now talking to a doctor here in their place only. His arms were folded as he remained staring at the man.

Akala nya hindi na ito babalik, ngunit tama nga ang nararamdaman nya noon. May posibilidad na mangyayari ulit ito, naiinis na napakamot sya sa ulo pagkatapos ay bumaling sa mahimbing na natutulog nasi Juliette.

Kapagkuwan, ay sandaling naging malambot ang ekspresyon sa mukha ni Rhome pagkatapos ay masuyong inabot ang kamay ng dalaga at hinalikan ito.

Totoong nangyari ang kinakatakutan nya, ang mangyari muli ang ganito ng wala sya. Mabuti na lang, umuwi sya agad pagkatapos bumili ng isang bouquet ng bulaklak sa kabilang bayan.

“Hijo…”

Bumaling si Rhome sa lalaki pagkatapos ay tumayo. Napansin nyang malungkot ang mga titig nito sa dalagang nakaratay sa kama, kapagkuwan ay kumunot ang noo nya.

“Mawalang-galang po, pero sino ho ba kayo? Hindi ba kayo yung lalaking naghahanap sa kanya nung nakaraang linggo? A-Anong kailangan nyo?” Malamig na sambit nya.

Marvino smiled. “Hindi mo na ako dapat pang makilala hijo, ang mahalaga rito ay si Juliette…” Bumaling muli ito sa dalaga, “ ang batang iyan, huwag mo syang iiwan dahil ayaw nyang iniiwan.” He glanced at Rhome and tapped his shoulder.

“Masakit hijo, ang pagkakasuntok mo sa akin kanina pero alam ko nadala ka lang ng takot…bakit? Dahil akala mo kukunin ko sya at iuuwi kung saan sya dapat?” Marvino chuckled.

Rhome eyes widened then suddenly blush a little and nervously gulped.

Bwiset, nakakahiya.

“Hindi mo na kailangan sagutin, dahil alam ko na ang sagot base palang sa reaksyon mo at pamumula mo.” Seryosong pagkakabanggit ni Marvino pagkatapos ay dahan-dahang naglakad palayo papuntang pinto.

“Hijo, wala akong balak na gawin ang mga iniisip mo. Ang sa akin lang, ipangako mong aalagaan mo si Juliette at sana huwag mong iiwan tsaka sasaktan.” And then Marvino left.

“Opo…” Rhome whispered as he watched the man left the room. Sa sandaling lumisan ang lalaki, nakaramdam ng lungkot si Rhome para sa dalaga, hindi nya nga pala ito lubusan pang kilala. Base sa mga sinabi ng lalaki kanina, parang…parang hindi naging maganda ang naging buhay ng dalaga noon.

Hindi nya kailanman naitanong sa sarili, sino nga ba ang babaeng gusto nya? Ni apelyido hindi nya alam. Edad lang ang tanging nalalaman nya rito.

That’s when the questions he never asked Juliette, entered his mind. Who is she? Where she come from? What’s her surname? Why are you here in the first place, and was alone?

Those thoughts was wondering his mind, never realized that Juliette was now already woke up and was staring at Rhome already.

She got up in the bed and then poke Rhome’s shoulder to get his attention and it worked. She smiled.

“Nakabalik ka na pala, parang ang layo ng iniisip mo. Bakit?”

Rhome lips parted then cleared his throat. “W-Wala ito, tsaka maayos na ba ang pakiramdam mo? Wala na bang masakit sayo? T-Teka tatawag–.”

Juliette chuckled. “Ano bang pinagsasabi mo dyan? Anong masakit? Galing ako sa pagkakatulog habang nagbabasa kanina habang hinihintay ka. Wait? Dinala mo rito sa cabin?” Then she roamed her eyes around the cabin.

Rhome frowned and at the same time very confused. Anong nangyayari? Hindi nya maalala ang nangyari kanina?

Mahigit apat na oras na ang lumipas ng mawalan ng malay ang dalaga, kaya labis ang pagtataka ni Rhome sa inaasta nito.

“Bakit parang nagtataka ka? Ano bang nangyayari sayo?” Juliette asked then stood up to get some glass of water.

Sinundan ito ng tingin ng binata, hindi ito nakapagsalita dulot ng labis na pagtataka kapagkuwan ay seryosong pinanood nito ang bawat galaw ng dalaga. Wala naman nagbago, kung paano sya kumilos ganoon parin.

Pero bakit parang may mali?

Hindi nya muli namalayan na inaabutan na pala sya ng isang basong tubig ni Juliette, may ngiti ito sa labi dahilan upang mawala bigla ang mga iniisip nya.

He smiled back and accept the glass of water. “Salamat.” Nakangiting sabi nito.

Juliette smile widened then nod and finished her glass of water, kapagkuwan ay bumalik ito sa kusina para ibalik ang baso. Sinundan muli ito ng tingin ng binata, doon lamang nya naalala ang binili nyang bulaklak para sa dalaga.

Dali-dali syang lumabas ng cabin at kaagad kinuha ang bulaklak na nakapatong sa lamesa roon, pagkatapos ay pumasok muli sa loob.

Nadatnan nya si Juliette na nakatingin sa labas ng bintana, ilang segundo ang lumipas nang bumaling ito sa kanya.

“Para kanino yan?” She asked while pointing the bouquet.

Rhome smiled and handed the bouquet on Juliette who was surprised. “Huh?”

“Para s-sayo yan?” Nauutal na sambit ng binata.
Nangingiting tinanggap ni Juliette ang bouquet, napakaganda nito at saktong pula ang mga ito na paboritong kulay nya. Nagtatanong ang mga mata na bumaling sya kay Rhome na mamula-mamula ang magkabilang-pisngi habang nakatitig sa kanya.

“T-Thank you, pero para saan?”

“Pandagdag pogi points hehe.”

Juliette laughed. “You’re so sweet, thank you Rhome…” She walked towards him and gave a peck of a kiss on his cheek.

Rhome startled and he felt how his heart flutter so hard. Hoy, kumalma ka!

“Pangalawang beses…” He uttered.

“Huh?”

He looked at Juliette’s eyes intently. “…mo na akong hinalikan sa pisngi.”

Juliette blushed suddenly and then averted her gaze. “H-Huh? H-Hind––.”

“Wala ba sa labi?” Rhome puckered his lips making Juliette blushed more and hide behind her behind the bouquet.

“Silly boy!” She exclaimed.

Rhome chuckled. “Biro lang hehe.”

Natigilan ang dalawa ng makarinig ng katok mula sa pinto. Wala naman ibang inaasahan ang mga ito, si Juliette ang naglakad sa papuntang pinto nanatili lang sa likuran si Rhome.

Agad na pinihit pabukas ni Juliette ang pinto, may ngiti sya labi ngunit nawala muli ito bigla ng makita kung sino ang nasa labas.

“Sino yan?” Rhome asked her.

Juliette did not answer due to shocked, he frowned and was about to approached Juliette when he heard a male voice.

“Juliette! Kamusta?” Masayang pagkababati nito pagkatapos ay iniabot ang isang bouquet na may mamahaling bulaklak.

“P-Paul?!”

Rhome felt rage and was furiously approached the newcomer, but then he stopped when he saw how the newcomer hugged his precious Juliette and also handed the expensive bouquet, he couldn’t deny that it much better than his bouquet.

Pain acrossed his eyes on what he’s seeing, but then it suddenly lessen when Juliette didn’t accept the bouquet and distance herself.

“Paul, please leave.” Mahinahong pakikiusap ng dalaga.

Paul didn’t listen instead he entered the cabin and was stunned to see Rhome. Nagtatanong ang mga mata na bumaling ito kay Juliette na napasapo na lamang sa noo.

“Who is this bastard?”

Rhome who heard it, smirk smugly. “Boyfriend.”

Paul frowned but then chuckled ridiculously. “Boyfriend? Paano sya magkakaroon, manliligaw nya ako.” Pagkatapos ay bumaling ito kay Juliette na natahimik.

“Is that true? O nangangarap lang ang isang ito?” Nangiinsultong sambit nito.

Juliette sighed heavily and glared at Paul. “I said leave, thank you for coming here but you know what? That person you’re insulting to is the owner of this resort.”

Paul lips parted then glanced at Rhome who’s still smirking smugly. He looked at Rhome from head to foot in an insulting way, Rhome was wearing a simple white shirt but it was sleeveless and a black shorts.

Paul can tell it was all cheap, compare to him who was wearing an expensive brand clothes. This guy, owner of this resort?

“Huwag mo akong titigan, nakakadiri ka.” Rhome said.

Paul eyebrows rose. “Pasensya na, hindi ko akalain na isang tulad mo ay may pag-aaring isang resort.”

“Paul, ano ba? Umalis ka na sabi!” Juliette pushed him away until he was out of the door. Paul remained his eyes at Rhome who’s still there looking at him seriously.

May araw ka rin sakin – Paul thought. He glanced at Juliette who’s still glaring at him.

“Get out! Please.”

Paul sighed heavily. “Alright, but please accept this flowe––.”

“No, thank you. I’m done with you.” Juliette said before she turned back to the cabin and when she saw Rhome, she approached him and hugged him.

“Pasensya na, pasensya na sa mga sinabi nya.” Pakikiusap nito at kumalas sa yakap pagkatapos ay pinakatitigan ang binata na titig na titig lamang sa kanya.

“Huy, magsalita ka naman.”

“Yung lalaking yon, bakit hindi ka sumama sa kanya? Bakit hindi mo tinanggap ang magandang bouquet na bigay nya? Bakit nilayo mo ang sarili mo?”

Juliette was confused. “Huh? Bakit ko naman gagawin yun, eh meron na akong bouquet tapos paborito ko pa ang kulay kaysa sa kanya na purong puti na ayaw ko, bakit naman ako sasama sa kanya? Ayaw kitang iwan tsaka bakit ko inilalayo ang sarili? Dahil meron na akong ikaw.” She smiled and pinched his both cheeks.

Rhome fell silent.

Juliette smiled sweetly. “Rhome, you’re my new home now.”