Ceaseless

4

Inayos ko ang sarili at sumunod kay Rita. Kinabahan ako bigla ng mapagtantong kami lang palang dalawa ang magkasama.

Nang makarating kami sa lawa ni Rita huminto siya sa may entrance nito ang nginitian ako. I smiled at her before looking for Darcel. I saw him facing me back while doing something. He was sitted in a picnic blanket at may pagkain pa doon. Napalingon siya sa akin ng maramadaman ang presensya ko. Wearing a white button dress down polo leaving three buttons unbuttoned and black slacks with his sandals. The food seems to be in my likings kaya na excite tuloy ako.

"Hi," bati ko sa kanya.

"Sit down." Sabi niya at tiniklop ang librong binabasa niya kanina. I gathered the hem of my silky day dress and sat on the blanket. We're facing each other.

Sandali palang kami magkakilala pero nawala agad ang pagka-ilang ko sa kanya. "Did you wait long?" tanong ko.

"Nope. Are you sure you only want to have a picnic?" tanong niya habang binubuhusan ng champagne ang aking wine glass.

"Oo naman tsaka I also want us to know each other." Nakangiti kong sabi. "Well, alam kong may amnesia ako pero pwede ko pa rin naman ipakilala ang sarili ko sa mga naalala ko."

Seryoso siyang nakatingin sa akin. "Are you sure?" tanong niya at nakangiti akong tumango sa kanya. "Okay." He raised his glass for a toast. I clang my glass with him and drank our wine together. Siya yung unang nagkwento tungkol sa buhay niya. His parents died when he was young and he's an only child. He ran his family's company all by himself kaya namangha ako. He started expanding it by building another business. Nakinig lang ako sa kanya.

"Wow. Nakakaproud." Sabi ko at bahagya siyang tumawa.

"Ikaw naman."

"Hmmm... I love painting ever since I was a kid. Namana ko kay daddy." Napangiti ako ng maalala ang yung nakaraan. I was happy I didn't forget that. "Palagi nila akong sinasamahan noon sa art studio. Actually, I made a piece before but nakalimutan ko na kung nasaan iyon. I remember bringing it with me after they died." Sabi ko habang nakatanaw lang sa lawa. "Their death was a shock to me. I never thought they would leave me alone at an early age. It was painful but I was happy that I was born to be their daughter." I looked back at him and his eyes are just focused on me. Tumingin ulit ako sa lawa "Yung ginawa kong painting ay para sa kanila so it was really important to me. I hope I could remember everything as soon as possible."

"I hope so too," Napatingin ulit ako sa kanya. Nag-usap pa kami don ng may naalala ako.

"Ahm, Darcel," tawag ko sa kanya. "You had a wife, right? I saw your wedding ring." I tried my best not to sound offensive. Natigilan siya at dahan-dahang tumingin sa akin. "Ah never mind I'm sorry for being so nos-"

"I have a wife." Diin niya. "I never thought of her as dead. She's alive." Bumaling na ang atensyon niya sa lawa at hinawakan ang kwentas na suot niya. I admire his braveness so much. I could never imagine the pain he went through when he lost his wife. "She is my whole life. She is my world." Even though his wife is no longer here, he really never thought of her as dead. Rosalie is alive in his heart and mind.

I gathered my legs and hugged it. "What is she like?"

He smiled as if he remembered something. "She's feisty. The first time I saw her, I knew from that moment that I want to spend the rest of my life with her." He sound so in love. "It was hard to get through her at first, but I didn't give up on pursuing her. My favorite endearment from her is, gago." Tumawa pa siya. "Sinagot niya ako at pumayag magpakasal sa akin. Kasal na kami pero di ko parin pala talaga siya kilala ng lubusan. Pero kahit ganoon mahal ko pa rin siya." Kahit nakatagilid siya sa akin kita ko ang lungkot sa mga mata niya. "Rosalie said she was pregnant and that made my heart in full bliss. I was ready... I was so ready to be a father, but unfortunate event happened 4 years ago dahilan kung bakit nawala sa akin ang mag-ina ko." Napayuko siya.

Napaayos ako ng upo. "I want to know what happened to my son." Mahina niyang sabi. "I want to know what happened to them." His voice broke. Nilapitan ko siya at yinakap. I felt him stiffened.

"It's okay." Tahan ko sa kanya. "You'll find out soon enough. Just wait, okay?" I caressed his hair ang played circles on his nape. Hindi ko alam kung bakit ramdam kong kailangan kong gawin iyon. "Makukuha mo rin ang hustisyang gusto mo." Humiwalay ako sa pagkakayakap sa kanya at hinarap siya. I saw tears falling from his eyes. I wiped his tears using the back of my hand. "I'm here." nagulat din ako sa sinabi ko kaya napalayo ako sa kanya.

Nakatingin lang siya sa akin. "I'm sorry." Sabi ko at bumalik an sa pwesto ko. "I got carried away." Napahawak ako sa braso ko at napaiwas ng tingin.

He sniffed and wiped his tears. "I'm sorry." Sabi niya at napailing ako agad.

"No. It's fine." Sabi ko. "Thank you for telling me. It must've been so hard for you to carry that all alone." He gave me a bittersweet smile.

"I'm here." he said and kissed my forehead. Nasa tabing dagat kaming dalawa. He was topless at naka minidress lang ako. Nakahiga kaming dalawa sa hammock habang pinapanood ang mga alon sa dagat.

"I know." I smiled and held him tightly. "I'm also here." sabi ko at umayos ng tayo para mahalikan siya. Humiwalay ako sa halik namin at kita sa mga mata niyang gusto niya pa pero lumayo ako ng balakin niyang halikan ako. Nairita siya at tumakbo ako. I giggled while running away from him. Tinawag niya ako pero hindi sa pangalan ko. Tumakbo ako para hindi niya mahuli.

"I'll get you!" parang bata niyang sabi at agad hinatak ako sa aking bewang. I chuckled and told him to stop. Inikot niya ako habang yakap-yakap ako mula sa likuran. Nagtawanan kaming dalawa. Huminto siya at ibinibaba ako. Humarap ako sa kanya at nilagay ang mga braso sa leeg niya he then snaked his arms on my waist and pulled closer to him. He looked at me with full adoration before kissing my forehead. "Mahal kita." Malumanay niyang sabi at Napangiti ako.

I tiptoed to kissed him gently on the lips. "Mahal din kita. Mahal na mahal." He leaned his forehead onto mine.

Napahawak ako sa ulo ko at napailing.

"Gia are you okay?" dinig ko ang boses ni Darcel.

"Pangako kong ilalayo kita dito, Gia." Malumanayng sabi ng isang lalaki sa akin. "Bigyan mo lang ako ng kunting panahon at iaalis kita sa impyernong ito." Lumapit siya sa akin at yinakap ako.

I sniffed ang hugged him back. "Pangako?" mahina kong sabi.

His hug tightened. "Pangako. Kaya magtiwala ka lang sa akin." He caressed my hair. "Mahal na mahal kita, Gia."

"Mahal din kita, Peter."

I clasped onto Darcel and looked at him in wide eyes. "Peter." Mahina kong sambit at nawalan na ng malay.