The Villain's Untold Story

Part 4:

***

A Day After

Napag-usapan na namin ni Gilbert ang lahat and I'm very glad na naintindihan niya ako. Honestly, hindi niya ako kailangang intindihin dahil sa insidenteng nangyari pero kahit na ganon pinilit niya pa ring intindihin ako which is very generous of him.

"Thank you." I wrapped my arms between his waist. I hugged him as tightly as I can.

"I would do anything for you, hon." bulong niya na hindi ko dapat marinig pero narinig ko dahil malapit lang ako sa kanya.

Nanatili kaming ganoon ang pwesto. Nandito kami sa balcony. Pinagmamasdan ang paligid na maaliwalas at tahimik.

Isang araw nang nananatili sa bahay si Gilbert na I wish na tumagal pa kasi kailangan na kailangan ko siya. I'm very thankful for him for everything. I really don't know how to return his kindness.

"Please, dito ka na lang. Huwag ka nang umalis." bulong ko sa kanya habang nakatingin sa scenery.

"I won't and I'll never." tugon nito dahilan ng pagngiti ko.

Nagkaroon naman ng katahimikan sa pagitan namin pero naging komportable ako.

"I'll protect you even if it costs me my life." mahinang bulong nito.

***

Everyday was getting better. Thanks to Gilbert. 3 days has passed and I never even tried to go through social media just to see my name on the top of trending list. Gilbert told me not to because he said it hurts for him to see me getting hurt so I didn't.

Hindi pa rin kami lumalabas. Ang balita lang ay maraming humihingi ng statement ko tungkol sa scandal pero hanggang ngayon ay wala pa rin akong balak na harapin sila sapagkat alam kong masasaktan lang ako. I already knew that everyone will hate the truth so I'm not even gonna try.

These days I'd rather spend my whole day with Gilbert than anyone. I really don't know what are we but I think I'm starting to care and show some love to him more.

He's more dependent than my manager.

It's night actually. We're in bed cuddling. Gilbert kept caressing my hair while I kept on hugging him even thightly.

"What do you think will happen to me?" napag-isipan kong tanongin ito kay Gilbert dahil patuloy ako nitong binabagabag sa isip ko.

"Nothing bad will ever happen to you. Don't overthink things, okay?" kalmado niya namang sagot.

"I know. Pero what if naglabas ako ng statement tungkol sa side ko? First of all, none of this was my fault. I've been harrassed that time."

"Well.." napa-isip si Gilbert. "It's your choice but you had to make sure to me that you're gonna be okay whatever happens?"

Ngumiti ako, "I will."

"Do you want to eat? Order tayo?" mahinahong tanong niya.

Tumango na lamang ako ng may ngiti.

***

Lumabas kami ng kwarto at pumunta sa couch at doon tumambay. Naisipan ko namang buksan ang TV para malibang ang sarili ko habang nagoorder si Gilbert ng makakain namin.

Pagbukas na pagbukas ko ng TV hindi ko inaasahan ang bubungad sa 'kin.

"Naglabas na ng statement si Kevin Monseros sa scandal sa pagitan nila ni Dahlia Vargas. Ayon sa actor, mayroon na raw sila ni Dahlia bago pa maging sila ni Kate. Inaamin ng actor na siya ang nagtangkang halikan si Dahlia at na siya rin ang nagkasala sa relasyon nila ni Kate. Dagdag din ng actor na huwag nang i-bash si Dahlia Vargas dahil sumosobra na ito. Aniya pa niya na siya dapat ang managot at hindi ang actress. Ito ang chika minute ngayong gabi. Ako si Victorina Louise naghahandog ng totoong balita."

Hindi ko inaasahang gagawin 'yun ni Kevin. I don't even want him to do that. Powerful ang fans ni Kate at alam kong hindi nila 'yun matatanggap. Hindi sila titigil hangga't hindi nasisira ang career ng isang tao, and that might be me soon.

Nagkatinginan kami ni Gilbert.

"What do we do?" tanong ko.

Hanggang sa nakarinig kami ng malakas na katok mula sa pintuan. Tumingin agad ako sa cctv para makita kung sino 'yun.

Si Kevin!

Anong ginagawa niya dito!

"Dahlia, let's talk! Please! I need to talk to you!" rinig ko ang sigaw ni Gilbert mula sa labas.

Tumingin naman ako kay Gilbert para humingi ng sagot.

"I think you should." ani Gilbert.

He's right. I have to make things right.

Kaya naman pumunta ako sa pintuan upang buksan 'yon. Kasama ko si Gilbert. Nang buksan namin ang pinto bumungad sa amin si Kevin na may suot ng nagtatakang itsura ng makita si Gilbert sa tabi ko.

"What is he doing here?" walang emosyong tanong ni Kevin.

"He's gonna stay here for awhile." tugon ko naman. "What do you want to talk about?" pagbabago ko naman ng usapan.

"I need your help. I couldn't find Kate. I have to make things right. I'm sorry that you got involved in this." ani Kevin.

Nagkatinginan kami ni Gilbert.

"What do you want to do then?" tanong ko naman.

"Will you help me?" si Kevin.

***

It's half past 10 o'clock. We went out to help Kevin find Kate. Nasa Laguna kami. Kate's hometown. We look for her everywhere pero hindi pa rin namin siya makita hanggang ngayon.

Naisip ko na I wasn't the only one who is affected by this. I'm sure Kate is just hurt as I am.

It took me almost 2 hours finding her and right until now I still haven't found her.

Naubos na ang lakas ng katawan ko kaya panandalian muna akong umupo sa isang bench. Nakita kong may babaeng nakaupo doon pero binalewala ko lang siya at nakiupo sa tabi nito.

Hanggang sa makarinig ako ng hikbi. Napatingin ako sa babae na katabi ko.

"Are you okay?" mahinahong tanong ko sa kanya sa mababang tono.

"Hmm.." siya pero nagpatuloy pa rin itong umiiyak.

"What's wrong?" ako.

"It hurts.. so much.." nangingiyak na tugon nito.

"You know what? I'm hurt too, and it's all right. At the end of the day I promise you that you'll be alright. Mayroong taong mananatili sa 'yo kahit isa and that's enough.. kahit isa lang. It's still worth 8 billions of people.." saad ko. "Hindi man kita kilala pero I'll be that one for you.. the world has been so hard to us that's why i'm encouraging you to fight back.. sometimes it's alright to be a badass for a moment.. curse it all out! it's all fine!" dagdag ko. 

"fuck it." pagmumura niya naman.

"Go girl!" ako.

"fuck him! fuck it!!" pagpapatuloy nito. 

Hanggang sa tiningala niya ako at doon ko siya nakilala. She smiled at me at bigla niya akong niyakap nang sobrang higpit. Nagulat ako sa inasta niya kaya hindi ko alam ang gagawin ko pero sadyang natouch ang puso ko at niyakap din ito.

it's kate.. it's Kate all along..

"I'm sorry, I didn't meant to do that.. I just couldn't control myself kaya naisip ko 'yun. I was hurt so bad and I know you are too.. I should've think first before doing anything.. I hope you forgive me.."

"It's all fine as long as we're good now.."

"I'm really sorry.. hindi dapat ikaw ang nasasaktan ngayon.."

"it's all fine.. I learned something though.." nginitian ko siya. "And please huwag mong ibuhos ang galit mo kay Kevin. That man loves you, he's just confused.. pero alam na alam ko na mahal na mahal ka no'n.. he's looking for you everywhere.."

to be continued..