The Song of the Wolf and the Moon (Published Under PHR)

Chapter 14: Ang Mga Alon

"Aim for the moon. If you miss, you may hit a star."

~W. Clement Stone

ALAM NI KRISTINE Marie na may mali sa kanyang asawa. Pag-uwi nila galing Batangas naging tahimik na ito. Parang bumalik na naman sila sa dati kung saan para siyang multo na hindi nito nakikita. At iisa lang ang rason ang nasa isip niya – ang pagtugtog niya ng piano.

            Matagal-tagal na rin siyang hindi tumutugtog ng piano. Hindi niya alam kung ano ang nangyari sa kanya nang araw na iyon at bigla na lamang siyang na-engganyo na tumugtog, lalo na nang malaman niya na pagmamay-ari iyon ng ama ni Paul na namayapa na. Ano ang meron sa pagtugtog niya at nagkaganoon ang kanyang asawa? Ano ang mga lihim nito? Bakit ito takot sa kidlat?

            Marami siyang katanungan ngunit hindi niya kayang sagutin. Nakahiyaan naman niyang tanungin si Mayan o si Lola Allysa at Lolo Dominic. Ayaw niyang sirain ang bagong relasyon na meron ang dalawa. Gusto niyang sisihin ang pagtugtog niya ngunit binigyan siya noon ng buhay para tumugtog ulit, para siyang nakuryente at dumaloy iyon sa kanyang ugat. Hanggang sa namalayan na lamang niya na tumitipa na siya.

            Ilang araw na siyang hindi kinikibo ng asawa. Daig pa niya ang Facebook na may 'seenzoned.' Hindi siya makakapayag na matabunan lamang ng lupa ang siyam na buwan niyang paghuhukay. He was so mysterious that thinking him about it made her fanatical and fixated.

Hindi naglaon ay bumaba ng hagdan si Paul. Nakabihis ito at may hawak na travelling bag.

"Saan ka pupunta?" tanong niya.

"I'll be gone for three days. May aayusin ako sa Isabela," sagot nito.

"Iniiwasan mo ba ako?" hindi nakapigil na tanong niya.

"Why should I?" he barked.

"Hindi ko alam sa'yo! Ang labo mo, Paul. Akala ko ba okay na tayo? Ipaparamdam mo sa akin ang mga yakap at halik mo pagkatapos hindi ka na lang mamamansin na parang wala ako sa bahay na ito. Ano ito, Paul?"

"Wala akong ipinangakong marangyang buhay sa iyo. Don't demand from me as if I promised something to you!"

"Let's stop this charade, Paul. Nakakapagod. Kung sana hindi mo ipinaramdam sa akin na pwede tayong maging masaya, sige tatanggapin ko ang lahat ng pagtrato mo sa akin. But it's not, we both know that there's something between us. And you can not deny it."

            "Stupid. I'm not denying it. I want you. But that's it. No more no less," he said in poker face.

            She thought he was lying so she was searching for a breach to his eyes but he didn't falter. Pain engulfed her. But she embraced it.

            "Then do not suppress it. I'll make that 'want' into hunger, hunger into love until you have no choice but to appreciate it," she said defiantly.

            "Good luck," he mocked.

            She took a hard breath and relaxed. She built the connection and gave him the expression she learned from him. She drew closer. His expression changed. The ice he built was melting. She touched his face and his muscles tensed. She was into him, closer... closer... closer... but he moved away.

            "You broke the rule! I am giving you the expression. How could you... h-how," she stammered. She was furious and hurt.

            "I am in hurry," he said, clutched his bag and turned away.

            "Maybe I'm not that good enough, not that good student. Maybe I need to find another teacher that will---"

            In a wisp of a second, he painfully grabbed her arms. Kung nakakamatay lamang ang tingin, nakabulagta na siguro siya. "Don't you dare!" he said in a low, dangerous voice.