Lover

Kabanata 39

5 years later....

(Please don't be confuse to the time skip. We'll dwell on it as the chapters progress. It's a time skip for a reason. I will make sure you'll stare in spaces for days after you are done reading this).

***

Nothing is new in my life aside from I am getting better day by day. I got used to the idea that she is busy chasing her dreams overseas while I am waiting for my dream to achieve hers.

Ganito siguro kapag isinumpa ka para intayin ang taong walang kasiguraduhan kung babalik pa.

But I never blamed her for what happened and I cannot blame her. It was an accident. Pero wala naman akong magagawa kung nagkaroon ng sama ng loob si Riel at Red sa kaniya kasi sila lang naman ang nakakaalam kung anong nangyari talaga.

I am happy to know that my sister and other relatives have a communication with her. Okay na ako don.

And I heard after a year na nakarating siya ng Harvard na doon nagtatrabaho si Caspian. He is also a medicine professor there.

Busy din sina Hail at Zoel sa mga buhay nila. Zoel is busy practicing her degree. While Hail is doing great in her self-made business. I am also one of her investor. She didn't know. I invested under a name Raven Syquia.

I kept my communication with her family. I still visit them often and bond with them as much as possible. Hindi rin naman umuwi si Rev to celebrate any family occasions. I don't know why. I didn't bother to ask her mom and dad.

"Ma'am, bawal po talaga!" Narinig ko ang pag-apila ng secretary ko. Kanina kasi nagsabi ako na ayaw kong magpa-istorbo dahil nagpapahinga ako from doing lab reports review and signing different proposal to manage new formulation in our pharmaceutical company.

Agad naman akong lumabas ng pinto to only be greeted by the high and mighty in flesh Reystiel Deinn.

"You will just stand there? Hug me, Yichi." Masungit na ani nito. Habang natawa naman ako.

"Hindi mo kasi sinabi na ngayon ang uwi mo. At bago lang yung secretary ko tinakot mo naman agad." Natatawang ani ko habang umirap lang ito sa'kin.

"Can't you just be grateful na pinuntahan kita dito to have some lunch with you?" Mataray pa rin na asik nito.

"Then I am very much pleased to see you, love." I said sarcastically. Habang walang imik naman itong pumasok sa opisina ko dala ang pagkain na hindi ko napansin. Binangga niya talaga ang balikat ko na nagpa-iling lang sa'kin.

"Seriously, Love? Hindi ka na naman umuwi?" Naiinis na wika nito matapos makita ang unan at kumot sa couch. Dito nga ako sa opisina natulog. Dahil out of town nga siya ay wala akong kasama sa bahay. I will hear the voices in my head. Kaya mas inabala ko ang sarili ko sa trabaho dito sa office.

"I am sorry, okay? I was too tired to drive to Vasprielle and Batangas. And you are not home, so I decided to sleep here." I said in defeated tone. She looked at me gently and gave me a smile.

"I am sorry, love. It's okay, hmm? I am here now. Maaga tayong uuwi ngayon so you can rest." She whispered and engulfed me into a hug.

Kumain kami while catching up with each other. She went to Davao for an out of town meeting. Dalawang araw siyang wala sa bahay. At nung unang ayos lang kasi nandoon naman natulog si Riel pero kanina ay may pinuntahan overseas si Riel for her clothing line kaya naiwan ako mag-isa.

They don't usually let me be on my own after the incident. Ako din natakot na akong ako lang ang mag-isa sa isang lugar. Unlike, 7 years ago that I can handle being on my own.

Hindi na rin ako bumalik sa pagtugtog ng piano or anything related to music. I completely stopped. I even ordered someone to get rid of my instruments in my condo.

***
"I heard your ex will be back soon." Ani ni Red na ngayon ay naka-upo sa shotgun seat ng kotse. While we are driving home.

"And?" I replied while averting my eyes on her.

"And you are fucked. Your five years of moving on will be put into waste." Saad nito habang naka-tingin ng diretso sa'kin.

"I don't think so. She is affiliated with Caspian guy and I don't pegged myself as third party." I replied while smirking at her at hinampas lang ako nito sa balikat bago irapan.

"Ouch! Love, that hurts!" Reklamo ko dito. Literal na ang bigat ng kamay ng gaga. Akala mo ang gaan ng kamay kung maka-hampas sa'kin.

"Hindi pala tayo uuwi, love. Inaya tayo nila Zoel at Hail na mag-inom. Nasa Euphoria daw silang dalawa." Red said while smiling widely.

"Euphoria, copy. Text mo na lang sila na on the way na tayo." I replied. Nakita ko naman na naka-dress ito.

"Did you bring jacket? Malamig later mamaya sa bar, lamigin ka pa naman." I pointed out and she bit her lip and shook her head.

"I have my jacket in the backseat. Ikaw na gumamit." I said while she just rested her head on my shoulder during the drive.

***
Mabilis naman kaming nakarating sa Euphoria. Wala din namang traffic. Nagulat lang dahil ang daming reporter. I instinctively wrapped my arms around Red's waist to guide her in the midst of crowd. Sunod-sunod din ang flash hanggang sa makita namin sina Hail at Zoel sa VIP area.

"Lovebirds, ang tagal niyo." Mapang-asar na ani ni Hail. Habang inirapan ko lang ito. Red immediately kissed her cheeks and said hello to the two.

"Tagal mo nawala, Red. I miss you so much. Sana lagi kang in town para mabawasan ang kagarapalan ng ugali ng isa d'yan." Nagpapansin na ani Zoel habang umiinom ng kaniyang cocktail drink.

"Bakit hindi mo nalang ibulong sa'kin diba." Basag ko dito.

"Ilyich!" Mahinang banta ni Red kaya napa-irap na lang ako.

"Boo! Isa kang malaking under!" Si Hail naman ang nang-aasar pero hindi ko lang pinansin. Isipin mo may guardian angel sila na kasama na Reystiel Deinn ang pangalan. Anong magagawa ko diba?

Natapos naman ang pakikipag-kwentuhan nila at nag-inom na lang. I was casually sipping a tonic gin. Hindi ako uminom ng sobra kasi ako ang driver mamaya.

"Come on, Ilyich. Let's dance." Red said in her slurred tone. She is tipsy.

I immediately held her waist and dance with her. She is staring my eyes while wrapping her arms on my nape.

"I really wonder why she dumped you when you are this good. So good." She whispered while I ignored her comment. She is just drunk and we cannot go back to that.

I loved Red. I loved her so much. But I am not in love with her. I cannot try it with her even though our family and friends would be delighted if ever.

Mayamaya ay lasing na nga ang tatlo at nagpa-alalay ako sa guard ng bar na tulungan akong isakay sila sa sasakyan.

It was fun night pero hindi na namin uulitin dahil ako lang naman ang magiging kawawa. Driver na nga ako tapos ako pa ang taga-buhat ng mga ito.

I hope these idiots won't have a bad hangover. Pero kilala ko si Red laging may hangover ang babaeng 'yon. Tapos mas grumpy at parang anak ni satanas. Kaya masama talagang idea na umiinom siya, nagiging mas masama siyang tao e, hays.

Lord, ikaw na bahala sa'kin.