"Come in."
Anya was startled when she heard Jakob's voice. She wanted to run but couldn't and didn't. This could be her chance and knew that she couldn't blow this off. Wala na siyang ibang maisip na paraan kung hindi ang kausapin si Jakob nang masinsinan.
Nakahawak si Anya sa doorknob at paulit-ulit pa ring iniisip kung papasok ba siya. One deep breath, Anya turned the knob slowly.
Lampshade galing sa bedside table ang una niyang nakita. Sapat ang liwanag niyon para sa buong kuwarto. Nanatili siyang nakatayo sa labas ng pinto, nakatingin kay Jakob na nakatayo kabilang dulo ng kuwarto hawak ang vinyl.
"Anong meron?" Ibinaba ni Jakob ang vinyl sa lamesang puro papel. "It's three."
"K-Kararating mo lang daw sabi ni Kuya Rio," sagot ni Anya dahil hindi niya magawang sagutin ang tanong ni Jakob.
Jakob squinted and subtly tilted his head while looking at her. "Hindi 'yan ang sagot sa tanong ko."
Anya nodded and took one step forward. The moment she entered Jakob's room, she felt the coldness of the room, and it made her shiver. She was unsure if it was because of the room's temperature or nervousness; she didn't know.
"Ano'ng ginagawa mo rito, Anya?" Naupo si Jakob sa pang-isahang sofa habang nakatingin sa kaniya. "May kailangan ka?"
Tumango si Anya at hindi inaalis ang tingin kay Jakob. "M-Makikiusap sana ako."
"We can talk about that later. Hindi ako aalis mamaya. Nandito lang ako sa Escarra," sagot ni Jakob sa mababang boses. "Bukas na. Bumalik ka na sa residence. Pagod ako, Anya. Mamayang hapon na lang, pumunta ka rito."
"This can't wait." Anya tried so hard to stay strong, so her voice wouldn't quiver. "Ano ba talaga ang kailangan mo? Mahirap ibigay ang gusto mo."
Walang naging sagot si Jakob. Nakapatong ang dalawang siko nito sa makabilang armrest ng pang-isahang sofa at komportableng nakaupo na para bang wala lang ang sinasabi ni Anya.
"Hindi naman secret ang tungkol sa 'min ni Nicholas. Everyone inside Escarra knew about us. Hindi naman kami nagtago. Ilang beses mo na kaming nakitang magkasama, pinakilala niya ako sa 'yo." Mabigat ang dibdib ni Anya habang sinasabi iyon. "Pero bakit?"
Jakob's response was just a blink.
"B-Bakit ako?" Anya said in a low voice. "Bakit ako pa?"
Again, Jakob remained unmoving and was just staring at her.
"Boss, please," she begged. "Kung pinaglalaruan mo lang ako o kung gusto mong maglaro, 'wag naman ganito. I'll give you anything you want, just not this one. Please. Mahal ko si Kuya Austin and I don't want him to die. M-Mahal ko si Nicholas."
"And you'll do anything for him?" Jakob asked. "You'll do anything for Nicholas, right? Because you love him?"
Anya nodded without hesitation. "Yes."
"I will, too. I will do anything, everything . . . ."
"Pero selfish love ang gusto mo," Anya said without stuttering. "Selfish ka. What you want is toxic and selfish."
Jakob inhaled and exhaled hard. "Alam ko at wala akong pakialam."
Sa sinabi ni Jakob, nagmalabis ang luha ni Anya. Nanatili itong nakatitig sa kaniya, walang pakialam kung umiiyak ba siya o ano. Mukhang wala itong planong makinig sa pakiusap niya. Ni walang reaksyon ang mukha, nakatitig lang sa kaniya.
Anya looked down and shut her eyes. She saw a lot. From the very first time everything happened, how she met Nicholas, how they ran and hide, everything. Nakita rin niya ang sitwasyon nila noon na kung saan-saan sila nagpupunta, kung ano-ano ang kinakain nila. Sina Patrick at Faith. Si Austin.
