Photograph Of Yesterday

13

"Where is she?"

Naramdaman kong natigilan si zak dahil sa tanong na 'yon ni andrius. Kahit ako hindi ko alam kung ano ba dapat ang maging reaksyon ko dahil hindi ko alam kung sino ba ang tinutukoy niya. Sinusubukan kong hulihin ang mga mata ni andrius na nakatuon kay zak pero wala akong mabasa na emosyon mula doon.

"Where is she, Zak?" Andrius asked again. Zak froze.

"What are you talking about, Andrius?" Zak fired back, looking uneasy.

Andrius smirked.

"Alam kong kilala mo kung sino 'yong tinutukoy ko, Zak," ani andrius tsaka lumingon sa akin tapos ibinalik ulit ang tingin kay zak. "Kilalang-kilala," dagdag niya.

Zak smirked. I frowned at his reaction. What is happening? Who are they talking about?

"Why? You need someone to justify how stupid you are?" Zak asked. Andrius' hands clenched into a fist making his veins visible.

"Did you two plan all of these?"

"Plan what? There is nothing to plan about, Velarde. It is your stupidity that made this all happen. If only you just listened—"

"Stupid!" Andrius exclaimed.

"Truth hurts, hm?"

Hindi nakasagot si andrius. Nakatingin lang siya kay zak sa paraang mababanaag ang sakit at galit mula sa mga mata niya. Umatras ng ilang hakbang si zak para mag pantay kami at hinawakan ang kamay ko. Sinundan ng tingin 'yon ni andrius. Marahan akong hinila ni zak para sana umalis na sa lugar na kinatatayuan namin pero hindi ko maalis ang tingin ko kay andrius. Bago kami makarating sa entrance tsaka pa lang ulit siya nag salita.

"What did I do to you?" Andrius asked. Nilingon namin siya at halos madurog ang puso ko dahil sa itsura niya. Pinipilit niyang lumapit pero pinagtutulungan siyang harangin ng mga guards. Zak frowned but didn't say anything. Andrius spoke again.

"You were there, Zak. You saw how miserable I was. Alam mo kung gaano ko pinagsisihan ang nangyari nung gabi na 'yon. Nandoon ka, di ba? Inalalayan mo 'ko pero pati ikaw umalis rin. And now, you are back," he paused for a while. "But with my wife," he added.

"A—Andrius," I stammered. I am trying to hold back my tears.

"You already lost her, Andrius," Zak said. I held his arm with my trembling hand.

"Tama na, Zak."

"No, Cassandra. This man has to realize that!"

"You are already hurting him!"

"And, I am not hurting?!" Zak fired back and turned to Andrius.

"Stay away from my family," he said before grabbing my hand. "Let's go, Cassandra."

"Don't take her away!" Andrius desperately shouted. My tears began streaming at the sight of him struggling to reach us because of the bodyguards stopping him.

"Andrius, please, umuwi ka na muna," mahinahon kong sabi. Kung mag pupumilit pa siya baka magkasakitan na naman sila ni zak. Ayokong mangyari 'yon lalo na't natutulog lang sa sasakyan ang mga bata. Ayokong makita nila 'yong ganoong pangyayari.

"Let him be, Cassandra. Let's go," Zak said.

"She is not Cassandra! She is Sabrina! You fucking know that, Zak! She is my wife!" Andrius shouted again.