Mamihlapinatapai

Chapter 7

Cray

I glance at my outstretched hand where I held the ring that Ember gave me on our wedding ceremony.

Something about it is making me feel unease. There's an eerie feeling that's been arousing within me sa tuwing mapapatingin ako doon. Para ka kasing hinihipnotismo niyon. Imbes na simpleng tingin lang ay mapapatitig ka talaga sa batong nakatampok doon. It feels indifferent.

"I didn't know you fancy jewelries now."

I kept staring at the ring I'm holding without lifting my gaze at the woman who just spoke. I know she's analyzing my every movement eversince I've walked inside this room few minutes ago. Kahit pa nga sabihin na nagpapanggap lang itong busy kanina habang may sinusulat sa hawak nitong notebook.

"It's normal as any other stones, right?" I asked, still mesmerized at how common this stone I'm holding.

Tumawa lang yung babaeng kasalukuyang nasa harapan ko na. Kinuha nito yung laser pen nito sa loob ng drawer na madalas nitong gamitin sa tuwing pumupunta ako dito para magsayang ng oras.

"You have no idea how much that stone cost, have you?" She then points her laser pen in the ring I'm holding.

I almost let out a sigh when the stone glittered like the shining star in the midst of bloody sky under the light coming from the laser pen. Kakaiba kasi yung kulay at disenyo niyon. Nakacut yung bato ng singsing na pahugis diamond. Sa paligid niyon ay maliliit na kumikinang na mga diamante. Pero yung pinakatampok na bato ay kulay red na may guhit na hugis star. Hindi iyon makinang kung titingnan pero ngayong nailawan, noon ko lang napagmasdan ng mabuti kung bakit kakaiba iyon.

The brilliant red hue is so vivid just how I imagined crystalline blood would appear if such a thing existed. Like a droplet of blood, caged inside a stone.

"Isn't it.."

Napaangat yung tingin ko sa babaeng kaharap ko ngayon. Gaya ko ay natutulala din ito sa singsing na hawak ko.

"..exquisite." I added.

"Rare." Halos magkasabay pa naming sabi. We are both still staring at the ring.

Una itong nakabawi. Pagkatapos ay tumikhim at saka tumango tango. "Quite exquisite indeed." Her perfect white teeth showed. "-rare and expensive. It might cost a fortune."

Huminga ako ng malalim at saka pasimpleng isinuot ulit iyon sa bulsa ng suot kong jeans. Ito naman ay itinabi yung laser pen nito.

The sudden change in my status is still a secret I'm keeping. Ewan ko na lang kay Ember kung ganoon din ang ginagawa nya.

Ate Leigh just gave me a knowing nod as if she can sense that I was in such a situation right now. Something I can't get out on my own.

"So how's your week?" Kaswal na tanong nito at saka tumitig sakin na para bang nakikipagkwentuhan.

I shook my head to ward off a part of my brain that suddenly hurts.

It might be the ring. Blood. Droplets of blood.

"Here." May inilapag na white chocolate bar sa mesa si Ate Leigh at itinulak iyon sa harap ko.

Without a word, I grab it. I hastily unwrap it and take a mouthful bite.

Ngumiti lang si Ate Leigh sa ginawa ko. Pero alam ko na lahat ng aksyon ko habang nandito sa loob ng kwarto ay nakarecord.

"I got married yesterday." I supplied to explain the chaos I'm in. Tinutunaw ko sa bibig ko yung tsokolate.

"A sudden decision?"

Mabilis akong umiling at saka kumagat ulit ng isa pa sa tsokolateng hawak ko.

"Just recently, I also had an injured ankle and my doctor says that I should take a break. No training, No practice, No game. And then someone showed up, framed me up for doing a crime I am not guilty of, but everyone accused me of being guilty though. So there, I end up marrying someone as my punishment. "