Hinahanap - Hanap Ko Siya

Chapter 21

Flashback December2014:

Bamboo was on the phone talking to his ex wife, Cecil.

"Haynaku, ayan", Cecil told him in a scolding voice, "di parin tumitigil sa kakaiyak. Kaw naman kase, eh. Ba't mo kase pinaiyak yung bata?"

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry", Bamboo sighed. "I didn't expected it to be this way. Di ko sinasadya."

"Hay, kaw talaga Bams", Cecil said, "naiintindihan ko naman, sino ba magaakala na maaatach siya ng sobra sa kuwentong kutsero mo, hahaha."

Natawa narin si Bamboo. Earlier that week he got the chance to talk to his daughter once more. And as usual, he continued with his story telling:

Pandada and Biddie were happily playing in a field of flowers when suddenly it rained. They looked for shelter under the bamboo trees as he held Biddie in his palms to protect her.

There was thunder. And then lightning.

Biddie screamed in fear.

"Hush, my Biddie", Pandada said, softly. "I am here and nothing can harm you as long as you have me."

He stroked her feathers. "Soon the rain shall pass and the sun will rise again, you'll see."

The rain has stopped, alright. But it was already bedtime.

Pandada awoke with a start when he noticed that Biddie was not beside him.

He looked around for her, calling her name in the middle of the night.

"Biddie! Biddie!" But there was no answer. "Biddie!"

From a distance, he heard a faint sweet voice singing a song. It was a very sad song. But he recognized the voice. Biddie!

He ran as fast as he could and came to a stop when he saw her perched on a high rock, her back was to him, but he could tell she was crying while singing.

He decided not to disturb her and remained quiet while she finished singing.

Biddie suddenly spoke up. "I wanted to stay to make you happy", she said. She knew all along that he was just right behind her. "But I really have to go home. I am so sorry, Pandada."

Pandada felt sad. "If you must, then go. Just remember, Biddie. I love you and you will always have a place to come back to."

And without a backward glance, Biddie spread her blue wings wide.... And she flew away.

"Bams", Cecil cut through his reverie,"anu na nga ba nangyari sa inyo ni Sarah? Mukhang may mas alam pa ata tong mga anak mo kesa sakin, eh. La ka man lang update. Ang nabanggit lang ni Isa is iniwan daw ni tita Sara niya ang Daddy niya. Kita mo yun? Tapos the other night I heard her telling Lucio to pray to Papa God and lead tita Sarah back to you, daw. Sus, Bams, sa kanila pako nahagip ng tsismis tungkol sa inyo!"

"Wow, ah.... I don't know what to say exactly about that.... Owww! I never knew Isa was that smart! I only mentioned Sarah, maybe three or four times, hay, but I guess she knew I was referring to us in my stories, hahaha", he seemed to be at a loss for words. "Look, it's just that it's so complicated kase, eh", Bamboo sighed, "things didn't go as I planned. She needed time daw, to sort things out on her own. And in truth, Cil, it frustrates me!"

"Di pa ba sila hiwalay ng boyfriend niya?", Cecil asked. "Kase nakita ko sa mga news, nagbreak na daw sila."

"Nah, that ain't true", he chuckled without humor. "I mean if it were, hell, edi sana kame na.... I'll be the first to tell you the good news", he smiled. "When.... And IF that happens...."

"Just give her time, Bams", Cecil said. "She'll figure things her way. Just trust her."

A week later, Sunday, after Asap:

Lumapit si Pancho kay Bamboo sa dressing room nito, habang naghahanda na sila makaalis ng building.

"Did you opened your Twitter, yet?", tanong ni Pancho sa kaniya.

Nilingon niya ito. "Not yet. Why?", sabay patuloy na nagligpit ng kaniyang gamit.

"Eh, kase", Pancho replied, "daming nagtataka kung bakit di raw si Sarah ang kaduet mo ng Thinking Out Loud, ba't daw si KZ. Dapat daw reserved for ashboo yung prod na yun. Tuloy, dami nagtatampo."

Di naman umimik si Bamboo.

"Pare, anu ba talaga nangyari sa inyong dalawa ha?", Pancho asked."Kase pagkakaalam ko, nung day na tinape ninyo yung christmas special, diba may dinner date kayo sa condo unit mo? Nagpakahirap pa tayo magkalat ng petals sa buong floor, ang saya saya mo pa nun, tapos isang lingo na nakakaraan, di ka man lang nagkukuwento anu nangyari.... Ano ba talaga?"

"I'm sorry Panch", paghingi ng paumanhin ni Bamboo sa kaibigan. "I'll let you know in time. When I'm ready. Please understand."

Natango nalang si Pancho. Ngunit obvious naman na hindi maganda ang kinalabasan ng gabing iyun.  Di niya pa nakikitang magkasama muli ang dalawa at si Bamboo naman ay halatang di na masaya.

Dumaan ang pasko ng di nagparamdaman sina Bmboo at Sarah sa isa't isa. Pinagbigyan ni Bamboo ang kahilingan ng dalaga na dumistansya muna at hayaan itong makapagisip ng magisa.

Nagkikita sila sa TVOP S2 but they treat each other casually. As if nothing happened between them. Masakit yun para kay Bamboo pero tiniis niya. Like what Cecil had advised, he gave her space and time.

Bamboo spent the New Year with his family, who were all in the country. Pinilit niyang magpakasaya at kalimutan kahit sandali si Sarah.

Eh kaso nangulit tong si Pancho, few days later.

"Tol, tignan mo to", he said, shoving his phone under Bamboo's nose.

He looked at the photo on screen and read the caption on it.

"To the most beautiful person in the world, I love you! 2015, here we come!"

"Viral daw yan ngayun", sabi pa ni Pancho."Kala ko totoo ang tsismis na hiwalay na sila. Ano ba kase talaga nangyari sa inyo, ha? Hanggang ngayon, wala parin akong alam?"

But Bamboo was still staring at the photo. It was from Matteo's post in his IG acc on New Year's eve.

Hindi niya mapigilan ang pagdamdam ng kumirot ang puso niya sa nakitang litrato.

Eto ba yung sinasabi ni Sarah na "she'll work things out?" Akala niya ay uunti - untiin niyang ibreak si Matteo. Pero ano to? Bakit ang sweet nila sa litrato? And bakit may I love you pang nalalaman si Matteo? Di ba niya alam na siya, si Bamboo ang mahal ni Sarah? O siya nga ba? Baka naman nagkakamali lang si Bamboo. Baka naman mahal pala talaga ni Sarah si Matteo? Niloko lang ba siya ni Sarah?

Nagulat nalamang bigla si Pancho ng biglang magwalk out si Bamboo sa harap niya.