Isang linggo narin ang nakalipas at okay na ang mga pasa ko. It doesn't hurt that much anymore. I'm in my sister's cafe. Tambak ang gawain ko rito dahil isang linggo rin akong nawala. Gusto ko pa sanang pumasok habang nagpapagaling pero nasermonan lang ako ng propesora ko. She didn't like the idea of me working here with disabled body. Buti na lang ngayon ay pumayag na siya since nagpupumilit na ako. I don't want my sister to be disappointed with my performance.
Maraming financial statement akong binabasa. Sanay narin naman ako sa mga numero dahil sa Statistics lang talaga ako natutong hindi matakot sa numero kundi sa mga letters. I hate trigo that's why.
Napatigil lang ako sa pinaggagawa ko ng may tumawag sa cellphone ko. I immediately picked it up without looking at the caller ID.
"Rain Cyril, I need you here in the house before the day ends. We need to talk about something." Bago pa ako makasagot kay Papa ay pinatay niya na ang tawag. Linukob ako ng pag-aalala. Minsan lang itong mangyari na ipatawag niya ako. Ano na naman kaya ang maling nagawa ko? Napatigil ako sa pag-iisip ng dumating ang isang dyosa sa office.
"Hey, what's wrong?" Mukhang napansin niya na hindi ako mapakali. I tried my best to hide it. Pinasigla ko naman ang mukha ko.
"Nothing, I missed you." Saad ko at linapitan si Miss Cardell. I hugged her immediately and her warmth comforted me.
"You are such a baby, kanina lang tayo sa apartment nagkita and you are acting like this?" She said as she wrapped my body with her arms. I sniffed her neck and smelled her. Ang bango niya talaga. Amoy vanilla na marshmallow. I really like her perfume.
"Aalis ako mamaya." Pagpapaalam ko sa kaniya. She started tracing my back as she hummed as an answer.
"I'll be going back in the province."
"Is there any problem?" She asked worriedly at hinawakan pa ang balikat ko para makita niya ang mukha ko.
"No, may sasabihin lang si Papa sa akin." Even tho I know there is something wrong, I hid it from her. I don't want her to worry about it. Lalo na't kakasimula pa lang ng pagkakabutihan namin.
"Okay be careful when driving." Tumango naman ako na parang bata. She cupped my face and gave me a peck in the lips.
Gabi na ng makarating ako sa bahay namin sa probinsya. Dumiretso na ako sa opisina ni Papa. Kumatok muna ako bago ito binuksan. Nadatnan ko itong umiinom ng whiskey habang may tinitignang papel.
"Pa." Paunang bati ko sa kaniya. He raised his head to look at me and then disappointment filled his face. What's happening? Hindi ako mapakali kaya lumapit ako sa lamesa niya at tinignan din ang tinitignan niya. It shocked me although I expected it already.
"Wala akong problema kung babae ang nagugustuhan mo o kung professor mo man ito, but your aunts didn't like that idea. Madudungisan ang pangalan natin anak." Mahinahong saad ni Papa. Tinignan ko siya na nangingilid ang luha sa mga mata ko.
"Pa, mahal ko siya. Please Pa, kung ano man ang binabalik ng mga kapatid please pigilan niyo po ito." Naiiyak kong sabi pero umiling lang ito.
"Wala akong magagawa anak."
"Bullshit, anong wala kang magagawa? You are the head of the family Pa. Kaya mo akong protektahan sa kanila." Galit kong saad at tinapon ang mga litrato namin ni Miss. They were all photos na napakaintimate naming dalawa. Sa Il Corso, sa night market, at sa ibang lugar pa na kasama ko si Miss ay may litratong nakuha.
"I can protect you Rain but I cannot protect your professor from them." Ininom niya ang kalahating whiskey sa baso niya.
"Then I'll protect her. Just tell me what they are planning to do." Nanlulumo kong sabi at umupo na muna. My father looked at me intently.
"They want her license removed." My body froze when I heard it. Napatayo muli ako at hindi ko na alam anong gagawin ko kaya pabalik-balik ako sa paglalakad.
"What do they want from me?" I asked boldly, I'm desperate now.
"They want you to entertain my godchildren----Jester. You are in one University." Agad ko naman naalala ang pinakilala sa akin nang Tito ko noon. Hindi ko na nga maalala ang pangalan non.
"Fuck." Napamura ako sa narinig ko.
"What should I do Pa?" Nawawalan na ako ng pag-asa. Bakit ba ang daming hadlang sa kasiyahan ko?
"Anak, maybe this is not the right time for you and your professor." My father tapped my shoulder. Naramdaman ko na lang tumulo ang mga luha ko. I can't let her go.
"Pa, I can't." Para akong batang matigas ang ulo na hindi nakikinig sa magulang.
"Don't date her until you figure out what to do. For the meantime entertain that guy your Tito introduced to you. Nakasalalay ang license ng professor mo. Your university may allow your relationship but given with your aunt's connection they will surely find a way to strip her off being a professor."
Pagkatapos naming mag-usap ni Papa ay umalis na kaagad ako sa bahay. Kailangan ko pang umuwi sa apartment ko dahil doon natutulog si Calissa. Knowing that my time with her is limited, I don't want to waste any seconds anymore. Mabilis ang patakbo ko ng sasakyan ko kaya dalawa at kalahating oras lang ay nakarating na agad sa syudad.
Magmamadaling araw na at ramdam ko narin ang pagod at antok. Binuksan ko na ang apartment ko at tumumbad sa akin ang nakaon na TV at nanonood doon si Miss Cardell. Lumapit ako sa kaniya at agad itong dinamba ng yakap. For a short period of time being away from her, it feels like forever.
"How did your conversation with your father went?" She asked as she stroke my hair with her hand. Nararamdaman ko naman na nababasa ang mukha ko. I silently cried without her knowing dahil nakatago rin ang mukha ko sa leeg niya at patay pa ang ilaw. Tanging ilaw na nanggagaling sa TV ang liwanag sa apartment ko.
"It was fine." I lied and tried to hide the crack of my voice.
"Nandito lang ako." Oh her voice soothed my aching heart. How can I let go of this woman? Pero mas mabuti ng pakawalan ko ito kaysa madamay pa siya sa kasamaan ng pamilya ko. They have lots of connection and even I have a lot too but they are more powerful. Hindi ko kaya silang kalabanin. I need to lie low and think for a defense plan to prevent them from ruining my love.
"Calissa." I whispered her name with a smile in my lips. Her name sounds so divine and very sacred to mention.
"Yes baby?" Malambing niyang sagot at hinalikan ang noo ko. Hindi ko alam kung papaano ko sasabihin sa kaniya na balak kong lumayo na muna sa kaniya. I cannot bring myself to tell her na naduduwag ako sa pamilya ko at hindi ako makalaban dahil propesyon niya ang nakasalalay.
"Thank you for existing." Four words that I can only utter without breaking my voice.
"I'm the one who should thank your existence Cy. You change a lot of people's lives. If only you know." Again my soul was comforted by her. Oh damn she's my wings and I think letting her go will make me a powerless butterfly. I cannot fly without her. I can't soar without her support. Paano ko ba papakawalan ang babaeng naging mundo ko na sa ilang buwan?
"I really like you Miss Cardell." I said with full of sincerity. Naramdaman ko naman itong natatawa.
"I know that Miss Fuentes." May pagmamayabang niyang saad kaya napangiti ako roon.
"The first time I saw you sa University, I thought you were one of my seniors. Hindi ko alam na professor ka pala. If you weren't introduced that day as our professor I would really assume that you were a student. Ang ganda mo noon at palagi. Mas gumaganda ka lalo sa paningin ko. I thought you are too far to reach. Too near yet too far." I paused as I laugh.
"But I didn't expect destiny would lead us to this. Me, hugging you like there's no tomorrow. And you reciprocating the same energy as I have given you. I'm so lucky to have you Miss Cardell." I said with full of emotion at hinarap siya. Madilim man ay kita ko parin naman ang maganda niyang mukha.
"Cy." The only thing she can utter as she stared at me. Dahil sa halo-halong emosyon hindi ko na napigilan ang sarili ko at kinabig ko na ang batok niya. I crushed my lips to hers and again as she always do, she reciprocated it with the same intensity.
As we kissed my tears flow like a river. Because I know after this I need to let her go. A treasure that I can't treasure yet.
BINABASA MO ANG
Intersected Lines
RomanceA part time instructor with a major in Math. A student that aims to be a statistician. They were intersected by their faith in theorems and love in data. Will they be able to use the theorems that they've known and data that have been gathered to...
