AS 01: Agent Uno | Cathleen Valecerina

14

"LEAVE. NOW." I said and gathered all my strength to stand up and go back to my bed. Nanghihina pa ang katawan ko at pakiramdam ko lalo akong nanghina sa sinabi ko kay Zea. I can't even find a face to look at him because of what I uttered.

Dumaan ako sa gilid niya at akala ko makakaligtan ako pero hinawakan niya ang pulsuhan ko at pinaangat ng tingin sa kaniya. "Was he the reason for those cuts and blues?" I can see restrained anger in his eyes as he asked me.

"So what if he is? Will you have the shit to go against him? I've seen how you loved your father and how Tita Erva loved her husband. I know you can't do that even if you want to." Malamig na ani ko sa kaniya na siyang ikinabagsak ng panga niya sa akin.

"Cath." Iyon lang ang nasabi niya bago ako kumalas sa hawak niya.

"Leave. Just leave before I could utter something that might ruin everything between us." Ani kong muli at bumalik sa kama. Pinikit ko ang mga mata ko at umaktong bumalik sa pagkatulog pero ang totoo niyan, ayoko lang kausapin si Zea. My mind is still in a haywire and if I'll talk to him right now, I might say something I will really regret when my mind is clearer.

Pikit ang mga mata ko pero matalas parin ang pakikiramdam ko sa paligid. I immediately felt it when Zea moved around and went to my side. He fixed my blanket and leaned closer to me. At that moment, I wanted to open my eyes, hug him, and cry because of our miserable situation, but I couldn't do that. I can't do that because I feel really uncomfortable seeing him while the back of my mind is whispering things about how horrible a person his father is.

"Rest. I'll leave you alone for now, but please rest. Kailangan mo yan mahal ko. Mahal na mahal kita." He whispered before dropping a kiss that lasted for a while on my forehead and leaving the room.

Right, when the door closed, I opened my eyes, and fresh tears were again streaming down my face. Pinangako ko sa sarili kong hindi muna ako iiyak pero hindi ko kayang hindi muna iiyak lahat ng nararamdaman ko. My mind, my life, this situation and my relationship with Zealous is in a mess. All this shit is a mess and I don't know what should I really do.

"TITO CLSITHERIO." I respectfully greeted him when he answered the call.

"Oh, Zealous, why? Something happened?" he said, but my teeth gritted more as I heard enthusiasm and excitement in his voice. I can feel that he already knows what happened but always acts like he doesn't know anything about it.

"Papa, I need to know everything I have to know. I can't stand here calmly knowing that my father did something horrible to Cath recently and in the past." I said with the calmest tone I could say, but deep inside me, I wanted to crumble because of what Cath had just told me.

"Boy, let the truth reveal itself to you little by little." Ani nito na para bang isang taong nag-aabang sa sususnod na eksenang mangyayari sa isang pelikula.

"Tito, this is not a film or a movie! I beg you, Tito! Please, give me an idea of what is going on!" I answered back, knowing it was terrible because I couldn't control the tension I was feeling. It felt wrong to yell at Tito Clish, but I'm too tense and don't know how to let this all out.

"Okay, chill it out young man. I'm on my way there." Ani nito sa akin bago niya ibinaba ang tawag.

Aligaga akong naghintay sa loob ng opisina ko. I was pacing back and forth, brushing my hands on my white doctor's coat and messing with my hair from time to time. I was not calming down, which is why I also flinched when my phone suddenly rang.