Through Secrets Unveiled

Chapter Thirty-Two - At the Zenith of the Day

NAKAUPO SI RENANTE SA GILID NG KANYANG DESK. His hair was damp, slicked back with stray strands falling over his left eyebrow. Light brown ang kanyang leather boat shoes.Naka-puting slacks siya at white vertical-striped na button-down short-sleeved orange polo. Naiwang nakabukas ang kanyang laptop habang iniisa-isa ang naka-metal ringbound na compilation ng mga invoices at shipment documents. He was reviewing and comparing the changes in fees, lalo na iyong mga dumadaan sa overseas na mga cargo.

Hindi pa tapos si Renante sa ginagawa pero tumigil siya para abutin ang smartphone malapit sa kanyang laptop. He checked for replies from Stacey. Lalong bumagsak ang kanyang mga balikat nang makitang wala pa.

He began to wonder. Kumusta kaya ang biyahe nito? Hindi pa ba ito nakararating sa Gallardo Wears? Masyado bang matindi ang traffic?

Nakapag-almusal kaya si Stacey? Hindi niya sigurado dahil wala siyang nakitang hugasin sa lababo. Walang nadagdag sa basurahan na anumang kalat. He figured, she had breakfast somewhere else. Bakit? Para hindi niya ito maabutan pagkagising niya.

She had every reason to be upset with him.

Tama nga namang naging unfair siya rito. All this time, he was helping her alleviate her fear of telling the truth. Pagkatapos, siya pa itong nagpakita sa kanya na takot din sabihin ang katotohanan dito. Renante knew that there was a difference between lying and keeping a secret. But once asked about it and one chose to keep their mouth shut... that's where it starts getting confusing. Is he lying to her at this rate? Or is this still considered as keeping a secret?

Ayaw niyang sabihin kay Stacey ang tungkol sa lamat sa pagitan ng kanilang mga ina-- ang buong istorya sa likod nito...

But after what happened last night, after hearing all the things Stacey said, Renante gained the confidence that knowing the truth won't make her leave him. But, the most suspenseful part of the revelation is not the revelation itself-- it's the questions that will come after it.

Siguradong tatanungin siya ni Stacey kung kailan pa niya alam ang tungkol sa kanilang mga nanay. Sa oras na malaman ng girlfriend niya na alam na niya ang tungkol doon noong college pa sila, tiyak na maraming ispekulasyon ang mabubuo sa isipan nito. Looking back to their past with this additional information would breed a doubt toward him in her heart and mind. That will make Stacey question his feelings more. And he didn't want their relationship to crumble to dust to the point of irredeemability. He didn't want to risk it too. Lalo na heto na sila. Mas malapit sa isa't isa. Kaunting hakbang na lang at pwede na silang lumagay sa tahimik...

Hinding-hindi niya kakayanin kapag iniwan na naman siya nito.

Hinding-hindi niya kakayanin kapag naghiwalay silang muli.

Renante's thoughts were interrupted when he heard a notification. Mabilis niyang sinilip ang notifaction. It was a text message from 'Boo.'

Sa notification pa lang, nasilip na ni Renante ang buong nilalaman ng reply ni Stacey sa text niya kaninang umaga.

Okay.

Napailing siya sa malamig at tipid nitong reply sa kanya.

Of course, masama pa rin ang loob niya sa akin.

Ibinalik ni Renante ang smartphone sa desk at ipinagpatuloy ang ginagawa.

But at least, she agreed to have lunch with me...

Natigilan siya bigla sa ginagawa.

Napaisip ng malalim.

Fuck it. I'll just tell her the truth... and hope she doesn't ask follow-up questions.