"You have a nice watch darling." Pag-compliment sa suot nito habang nasa harap sila ng pagkain.
"Right, thanks for the gift Ma." Her Mom looks confused and so Anna.
"No, that's not from me." Napatigil si Zach and caught Anna's eyes.
She tried to read Zach and looks like wala talaga siyang matandaan sa lumipas na tatlong gabi. Naisip niya na siguro mabuti narin na wala itong maalala sa lahat ng nangyari.
"That's from me."Anna finally said it and from the looks of Zach's face he's trying to remember and save himself from a little embarassment.
."I-m sorry, I actually do not know who gave this I just guessed. Alcohol really hits me, I can't remember, sorry." He explained and that enlightened Anna. All the time she spent over thinking about that night really is a waste. She's relieve.
"It's okay." Unti-unti nitong niluwagan ang space na binubuo niya sa pagitan nila ni Zach. She's happy.
"That's a sign na you really enjoyed your birthday." Hirit ng kanyang Mama.
They had a nice lunch at one of the city's fanciest restaurant. A quick catch up with their mother bago ulit ito lumuwas ng ibang bansa at pagtuunan ng pansin ang iba pa nilang business. A very typical family bond but this day doesn't end here when they decided to go back home.
Mabilis napansin ni Anna ang bagong kotse na nasa malawak nilang parking lot. It has a ribbon on it convincing her that it's a surprise for her, she knew it.
"No." She heard her Mom chuckled and expected the reaction from Anna.
"I don't want an argument right now okay, go check your new car." She handed her the carkey.
Wala ng nasabi si Anna, niyakap nito si Jean at tinignan ang bago niyang kotse. Napakaganda, napakalinis at napakaputi. Tears of joy started to flow. She look at her Mom giving her signal to go inside her new car and try it. She is so careful to touch it.
She wanted to drive but she's sill unfamiliar with it and suddenly remembers Zach. Lumabas siya ng kotse at agad na nilapitan si Zach. Tuwang-tuwa ang puso ni Jean na makita ang dalawa, she's finally seeing her hardwork being a Mom of these two.
"Can you help me?" Inabot ni Anna kay Zach ang susi at hindi rin ito naghesitate na i-drive ang kotse ni Anna.
Their Mom wave her hand as they test drive. Hindi mawala-wala ang ngiti sa mga labi ni Anna. Napakasaya at hindi parin siya makapaniwala. Tinignan nito ang tahimik na si Zach at pinagmasdan ang seryoso nitong mukha sa pagtutok sa daan.
"Thank you." She said and tried to touch his hand but he unintentionally shove hers. Hindi nalang ito pinansin ni Anna at dahil malamang ay focus ito sa pagmamaneho.
It was so quiet until Zach ask something dahilan para hilahin muli siya sa nararamdamang kalungkutan.
"Is it your birthday?" He asked.
"Hindi." Seconds before it starts to sink in and Anna finally remember.
It isn't Anna's birthday,
but Erinn....
Alam niya kung paano gumawa ng paraan si Jean para makalimot ito sa salimuot ng kanyang nakaraan pero hindi parin nito kayang burahin ang lahat. Nawala ang mga ngiti nito at nanatiling tahimik sa loob ng kotse.
Bawat ala-alang pilit binabalik ng kanyang isip binubuhos nito ang lakas para tumigil at piliting burahin ito. Pinangako niya sa sarili na kahit kaunting pagkakataon hindi nito paglalaanan ang pag-alala sa nakaraan niyang buhay pero sa pagkakataong ito gusto niyang lumabag, puso at isip niya ay sumisigaw gustong magtanong at malaman kung sa araw ba na ito buhay at naaalala pa ba siya ng mga taong minahal niya? mga taong pinilit niyang ilayo sa kapahamakan.
Kahit minsan ba, sinubukan ba siyang hanapin ng mga ito?
Hindi namalayan ni Anna ang walang tigil nitong pag-iyak hanggang sa hawakan na ni Zach ang kamay nito. Doon na nagising sa reyalidad si Anna. Nasa harap narin sila ng kanilang bahay.
"Are you okay?" Pinagmasdan ni Anna ang nag-aalalang si Zach at hindi rin napigilan ang sariling yakapin ito.
"Thank you." Lumuwag ang pakiramdam ni Anna kasabay ang pagkalas nito sa yakap.
Hindi parin naputol ang tingin ni Zach sa kanya at halata sa mukha ang pag-aalala. Pakiramdam ni Anna nakakulong ito sa mga titig ni Zach, hindi rin siya makahugot ng salitang sasabihin at ayaw niyang nararamdaman ito. Pakiramdam niya'y pilit siyang pinipiga nito para magpaliwanag at sabihin ang tunay na nararamdaman. Hindi niya kaya, she will never say anything.
Anna kissed Zach's lips, two reasons, a way to escape the hot seat and can't help herself cause she miss it. Ramdam niya ang pagkagulat ni Zach at sa pinakamadalang na pagkakataon, hinawakan nito ang magkabilang balikat ni Anna binigyan ng kaunting pwersa para itulak ito at patigilin. Nagulat si Anna sa ginawa ni Zach hanggang sa unti-unti nitong naramdaman ang pagkahiya.
Zach looks irritated. Anna wanted to ask him what's wrong but she felt so embarass. Maybe the timing is wrong or he's worried that Jean might see them. What happened perfectly shifts her mind to over think about Zach's action.
She wanted to say sorry pero nakaurong ang dila nito sa kahihiyan. Zach is so quiet and after a minute he left Anna at the car without a word.
BINABASA MO ANG
ANNA (R18+)
Mystery / Thriller"Some secrets refuse to stay buried." Anna, who is residing in the US, was finally convinced by her art agency to fly back to the Philippines to receive the proper recognition and a bigger opportunity as an artist. This was also the best way to prov...
