Who Do You Love?

DIECISIETE

CHAPTER 17

HECTOR FELIPE

I found myself inside a restaurant, sitting at this corner, face to face with the person who broke my heart big time. Why am I even here?!

She smiled at me, and I did not know what to feel. Can't mutter a single word. Para akong tanga lang na nandito, ang awkward din at the same time.

Yesterday when Glorienne called, iyak na siya ng iyak habang kausap ko. I actually had to excuse myself from Amar and went to the veranda para makausap ko ng maayos ang isang ito. Hindi ko siya masyadong matagal kausap pero para kay Amar ay million years na ang katumbas nun. Kaya pagpasok ko ay sa loob ng kwarto ko na siya nakita, nagmumukmok at itsurang inip na inip. Mabuti at napaliwanagan ko. Mahaba at madugong paliwanagan bago ako nakagpaalam na nagkasundo kami ni Glorienne na magkita today and have this lunch meet.

Tahimik si Amar, pumayag siya, kaya kinakabahan ako.

"You're looking great, Hector." I was snapped out from my thoughts when the lady in front of me spoke. I can see that Glorienne is trying to look fine, but I know very well that she's not. Ang laki ng ipinayat niya, malaki at maitim din ang eyebags nito at kahit na naka postura, mayroong mabigat na aura. I nodded at her and gave her a smile.

"Thanks, so are you…"  Gusto kong batukan ang sarili ko sa nasabi. She laughed and rolled her eyes.

"Silly! Alam kong nakikita mo ang itsura ko Hector." She even arched an eyebrow. "You don't have to lie just to make me feel good." Napailing-iling pa siya. I can see how much heaviness she's carrying in her chest.

"Then, you look like hell." I jokingly said. "Like, you got years older." I let out a modest laugh.

"And now you're savage!"  Natatawang aniya atsaka humalukipkip.

I scoffed. " Ang gulo talaga ng mga babae. Hindi na namin alam saan lulugar!"  Nagtatawanan kaming dalawa. Somehow we know we're both making the air between the two of us less tensing. Ang tagal nang panahon nung huli kaming nagkita. Mapait at masakit pa ang mga pangyayari noon.

"Hiwalay na kami." Out of nowhere, Glorienne blurted out. Her eyes were teary and I can see how the pain covered her face. Natigilan ako at hindi ko alam kung ano ang dapat kong sabihin. Should I comfort her? Before I could even do something, she spoke again.   "Kaya ikaw ang una kong naisip, Hector."  She was trying hard for her tears not to flow but she failed. She immediately grabbed the tissue next to her and wiped her damp cheeks.  "Naisip kita kasi…."  And she cried even more.  "Kasi Hex, nasaktan kita, kaya… ito na… ito na ang karma ko." Iyak siya ng iyak.

My forehead knot, What does she mean?   "What happened?" , I asked.

Suminghot-singhot pa siya bago nagsalita. "Well… iyong putâng ina kong asawa, ayun, nambabae! Sumama sa kabet!"  Tapos humagulgol na siya. I didn't know how to calm her down, ang lakas-lakas ng iyak ni Glorienne na nakatingin na sa amin ang ibang tao sa loob ng restaurant.

"Hey… hey.. "  I stood up and sat on the chair beside her. Tinapik-tapik ko ang balikat niya, umaasa na tatahan siya.  "Glorienne, don't think of your situation as such, hindi karma iyon…"  She looked at me.  "Ano… baka…" Napakamot ako sa batok. "..baka nagkataon lang."  Talaga ba Hector?!

Akala ko ay titigil na siya pero mas lalo siyang umiyak, then she hugged me on the side.

"Sorry… Hector… I'm so sorry."  Sumisigok na siya.  "Sorry talaga… Sor--ry… so--rry.. I'm Sorry." Yumakap lang ako sa kaniya ng mahigpit. Maybe…. sa ganitong paraan ay mababawasan ang sakit na nararamdaman niya. Ilang minuto pa siyang umiyak, na hinayaan ko lang, saka ko siya bahagyang inilayo mula sa akin.