Where Secrets Lie (SOW #3)

28.

"Ayun nga, napadaan kami dito dahil matagal na rin mula nang makasama namin si Lorrie. Vanessa is here with us! Leisheen exclaimed then she kissed her daughter. Leisheen got her from Victorious kaya lumapit ako at napangiti.

"I've been looking for Jeon everywhere, nandito lang pala. Your clients are calling you for your designs but your phone's out of reach," Victorious said. Napalingon ako kay Jeon na nakatingin rin pala sa akin. Mabilis akong umiwas at uminom ng juice.

"I already told Alex that my designs are there in my table. Siya na ang bahalang ipakita 'yon sa kliyente ko. Wala pa naman akong natatanggap na tawag tungkol doon kaya nandito ako," sagot ng lalaki habang ang mata ay nasa akin pa rin.

Victorious chuckled. "If Parker is here, aasarin ka lang no'n."

Jeon shook his head. "Wala eh, himas rehas siya. Nabisita niyo na ba?"

I know what happened to Parker. Yanah once told me about what Parker did and how he is paying for the consequence of what he did.

"Bumisita kami kahapon tapos nakwento ko 'yung tungkol sa 'yo. Ang sabi niya, welcome to WMC daw," ani Victorious. Leisheen chuckled hearing what her husband said.

"WMC? Anong kalokohan na naman 'yang sinabi ni Parker?" Yanah asked.

"Whipped Men Club," Victorious answered making me choke on my juice. Napaubo ako at nakita ko ang mabilis na paglapit ni Jeoniel sa akin.

"Tangina talaga no'n!" Jeon exclaimed.

"Ayos ka lang?" Jeon asked and I saw him took out his handkerchief and wiped the side of my mouth and even my chin.

"Love, show him how you welcome him to your club," Leisheen stated. Victorious smirks and he stood up. Pinanood namin kung anong gagawin niya. He even stretched his arms and did some stretches with his fingers.

I was expecting something but then Victorious suddenly did something I never expected him to do.

"Watch me whipped..." he is even singing while dancing. "Watch me nae nae~"

"Fuck you, Victorious Khein!" Jeoniel exclaimed but Victorious pulled him up and kept dancing to the song.

"This is how we welcome you to WMC. Come on! Ganito ko inaakit si Sheen eh!" Victorious said. Leisheen almost cursed but stopped when she realized that Vanessa is here.

Vanessa giggled while watching her father dancing there. Mukhang ginanahan din ang dalawang lalaki doon nang marinig ang pagtawa ni Vanessa.

I found myself smiling while watching him. It feels good to see them here. Parang bumalik sa dati lahat. Masarap pala sa pakiramdam. Ganito pala maging masaya ulit. Ganito pala 'yung pakiramdam na tumatawa ulit ako. 'Yung totoong ngiti at tawa.

"You okay, girl?" Yanah went to me and cling in my arms. Sumandal siya sa balikat ko habang pinapanood namin silang sumasayaw at nagkukulitan. Victorious is now dancing in front of Leisheen.

"You're smiling now," puna ni Yanah kaya nilingon ko siya at namalayan ko na lang na tumatango ako.

"Yes, I'm... I'm smiling again," sagot ko.

"I wish he is here with me," Yanah suddenly said. I can feel her loneliness and it's obvious how she longs for him. I understand her. It really hurts losing someone you love.

"He doesn't want you to be sad for sure," sambit ko at sumandal sa sofa. Yanah sighed. Natahimik ako nang maramdaman ang pagkabasa ng balikat ko.

"That's why I'm trying me best to always smile. I'm trying to cheer myself up always. Kasi alam kong 'yun ang gusto niya. Alam kong malulungkot din siya kapag malungkot ako. I miss him, Lorrie. Walang gabing hindi ako umiiyak dahil sa sobrang pangungulila ko sa kaniya," Yanah sniffed. Mabilis akong tumagilid at niyakap siya. Hinayaan siyang iiyak lahat ng sakit at bigat na nararamdaman niya.

I always knew that Yanah is hurting deep inside. Kahit anong ngiti ang ipakita niya sa akin, alam ko na wasak din siya sa kaloob-looban niya. She's lonely. She's longing for him. But the thought of him wanting her to always her happy makes her keep the smile on her face. Ayaw niyang biguin si Ralph. Alam niyang gusto ni Ralph na masaya siya kaya 'yun ang ginagawa niya.

Ilang minuto pa siyang umiyak hanggang sa kumalma siya at pati ang mga kasama namin. Naupo na sila at nagkanya-kanyang punas ng pawis dahil sa kalokohan.

I turned to Yanah. "Ayos lang na umiyak ka. Hindi naman sa lahat ng oras dapat nakangiti ka. Walang masamang umiyak. Hindi masama ang umiyak kung nasasaktan ka na. Ikaw din ang mahihirapan kung kikimkimin mo 'yan. Sometimes, you need to let yourself be weak but of course, not for a long time. You can cry but not for a long time. I'm here for you, like how are there for me when I was the one vulnerable." Ngumiti ako at muli siyang niyakap.

"May naiinggit, oh! Payakap din daw!" Sheen exclaimed. Nang lingunin ko ay nagulat ako nang makita ang ngisi ng mag-asawa doon.

"Ewan ko sa inyo," Jeoniel said and turned to me.

They stayed here for another hour. Jeoniel and Victorious are in the kitchen, cooking. Kaming tatlo ay nilalaro si Vanessa dito sa sala.

"Kumusta kayo?" Sheen asked while we are sitting on the couch with Vanessa between us.

"Still trying to be fine," sagot ni Yanah. Leisheen gently pulls her daughter to make her sit on her lap.

"I feel bad, actually. Nandiyan kayo para sa akin nung hindi pa bumabalik si Victorious. You accompanied me back then but, I failed to do that with you. Hindi ko kayo nagawang samahan kaya pasensya na," she said while smiling sadly.

"We understand, Leisheen. Wala kaming sama ng loob dahil hindi mo kami nasamahan. You are slowly building your life with your own family. You are claiming the genuine happiness that was stolen from you because of the accident and you deserve to be happy. Don't feel bad if you chose yourself first before others," sabi ko.

"Ayos kami, Sheen. Lumalaban kami para makamit ang kasiyahang gusto naming makuha ulit. Proud ako sa 'yo dahil naipanalo mo ang laban mo. Proud na proud," I added. Sheen became teary and went to hug us. Vanessa giggled when she was included in the hug.

"And you are taking care of this adorable kid, don't feel bad," Yanah said. "Saka ka na makonsensya kapag hindi kami ang ginawa mong ninang ng bebe girl na ito!" she said.

"Ano ba! Siyempre, ninang kayo!"

We played with Vanessa and I admit, I can't stop smiling while playing with her. Ayoko man pero pumapasok sa isip ko kung ano kaya ang magiging itsura ng anak ko? Magkakaanak pa ba ako? Hindi ko alam.

Nag-stay pa sila dito hanggang alas dos ng hapon. Balak daw nilang dalawin si Selene at Patrisha oara kamustahin din. I promised to visit them if I have time and they said, they'll look forward to it. Yanah left an hour before the couple left. Kailangan daw kasi niyang mag-check ng activities ng student at gumawa ng report.

Jeon closed the door and walked to me but even before he went closer, his phone rang. Napatingin siya sa akin bago sagutin ang tawag.

"Yes, hello? Any problem, Alex?" Naglakad siya palapit at naupo sa tabi ko. I watch him talk to someone on the phone.

"Really? Kailangan bang ngayon na? He approves my design? All of it?" He seems shocked which made me smile.

Jeon's dream is to build a tattoo shop. Mahilig siya sa pagde-design and I can how his eyes sparks everytime he see his designs on people's skins.

I remember, we both have a matching tattoo. He designed it himself. It's a calligraphy of our name combination with roses as the background. He tattooed that on his chest and he puts mine on my waist.

I still have it. Hindi ko alam kung mayroon pa sa kaniya.

"Lorrie," he called me, making me snap out of my thoughts. I just raised my brows. "Can I use your room? I'll just take a bath and change my clothes. Alex called and he said that my client wants to talk to me regarding the tattoo design I made for him," walang pagdadalawang isip akong tumango bago umiwas ng tingin.

Jeon went to my room and I was left alone here in the living room. My phone beeps making me startled. I took a deep breath and swiped on my phone.

The text message made my lips parted.

From: Yanah

Lorrie, Lola Rufina... she's dead.