Tall, Dark and Dead (Rewritten)

Vena Amoris

CHAPTER FIFTY

L e o n a

"Wait, you were in love with someone else aside from Calista?" Tinaasan pa ako ng kilay. "Grabe. Ang dami ko namang kaagaw, darling." Natalia is doing good in making me divert the hunger. "Baka meron pa? Aba'y lubus-lubosin na at ng minsanan ang sakit." Imagine, kaya niya akong patawanin sa state kong 'to? I don't know how she does this. This girl is really amazing.

"No, I mean, wala na... I think."

"You think?" She did a dismissing scoff, and I hate it when humans does that. Iba nga ba talaga ang nagagawa ng pag-ibig? Hindi naman ako nagdalawang isip na kumitil ng buhay kanina, pero kay Talia, ingat na ingat ako. Pigil na pigil. Uhaw na uhaw.

"Not sure if you could call that love or just pure friendship."

"Nag-kiss kayo?"

"I beg your pardon?"

Kumunot ang noo ko, pero napaatras ako ng kaunti, dahil mas tumaas ang kilay nito. "Hoy, babae, nag-kiss ba kayo, 'ka ko?"

"Kiss ang basehan ng pagmamahal? Eh, kiniss na kita, 'di ba?"

"'Wag mo 'kong pinapakilig habang nagagalit ako, Leona." I shook my head, looking back. "Ay, weh? Ang hina naman ni koyah." Sudden realization may have hit her kaya naman siguro ako sinabihan ng, "Pero keri lang. At least, 'di na madadagdagan yung selos ko." Akala ko nakalusot na, pero nang tignan niya ako sa mata at muling tinanong ng, "Are you sure you didn't?"

"Not that I can remember."

"Then, why do I get the feeling that you did?"

"Is this an interrogation?"

"It's a simple questioning, so no, this is rather an interview."

An image of him came into my mind. I don't remember kissing him but I can summon up on giving him a tight embrace. I can recall him telling me, "I left something on your desk." Currently reminiscing about the moment I saw what he had given me, I didn't hear a single word Talia said. "It'll keep you busy while I'm away." This part, I didn't tell her. Hindi naman selosa yung tao, I mean, if anything, nasa lugar naman. Gusto ko nang iwasan ang pananakit sa kanya.

I was busy looking back, when Natalia clicked her tongue, snapping her hands in front of my face. "Sorry, sorry."

"Daydreaming about our," She did this air quote, "...friend, are we?" Guilty, I didn't say anything. "Hmm, so, ano na?" Ngayon ko lang napansin na ang lapit na pala niya, hawak pa ang isa kong kamay. Itutuloy ko na sana ang kwento dahil may mga bagay akong naalala ngunit nagulat ako nang bigla siyang lumuhod sa aking harapan. "Kalma. Itatali ko lang ang sintas mo." It felt weird, 'cause when Natalia looked up to me, I saw him.

[QUICK FLASHBACK]

I was walking when I nearly tripped. Luckily, he was there to catch me. "Hey, careful there." With the Americans expanding their territories, including the country, their fashion sense made it to the Philippines as well. Men, like this one kneeling in front of me, was tying a brown Marilyn's that he gave me. It was a gift after he got back from his homeland. He was also promoted and I was really happy for him.

I had been acquianted with him for almost two years now. Most of the men likes to take their tour of duty in the Philippines because of the booze and the people's hospitality, but this guy wished to be stationed here, to where I am. There was a lottery on whose gonna be one of the lucky guys in each company to be sent home for a month. His name came up and he wasn't able to refuse. May kailangan daw kasi siyang kunin sa kanila. "Back so soon?"

"I just didn't want you to miss me."

"How thoughtful of you." He was right, I did miss him. "Did you get my letters?" He nodded and walked by me. Palinga-linga ako sa paligid dahil baka nariyan lang ang aking ina. Medyo ilag pa rin kasi ang mama sa kaibigan kong sundalo. She's okay about me having friends, in fact, she wants me to be close to this family - The Arzadons. Specifically, their youngest daughter. They're a powerful family and she says, they can either protect me or kill me. Question is, protect me from what?