Shattered Lanes [SPORTS SERIES #2]

Kabanata 51: ZLS

[Caleb's POV]

When I first saw Eve, she was the most clumsiest and insecure girl I ever met. Everytime she plays, she's bothered by the opinions of others, especially mine.

I said honest yet harsh things which is so like me. Wala akong pakialam sa nararamdaman ng iba dahil mas gusto ko na nasasampal ko sila ng katotohanan.

"Jacob is engaged," I truthfully told her. Tinawagan niya si Jacob dahil ayaw niyang maniwala sa akin. I was hoping to see her world shattered but her reaction got me so disappointed.

"So it doesn't matter that he's engaged to someone?" Singhal ko na magkasalubong ang mga kilay. Hindi ako makapaniwala na parang wala lang sa kanya ang nalaman. Jacob basically fooled her! Paano niya natatanggap iyun?

"As long as ako ang pinili." Sa totoo lang, halos matameme ako sa sagot niya. Gusto kong magwala at suntukin si Jacob. How can he take advantage of her innocence?

"So you'll be involve with him?" Nakakuyom ang mga palad na tanong ko.

"Yeah... we... we like each other."

"He's engaged and he'll marry soon." Pamimilit ko at hindi ko mapaliwanag pero gusto kong sumabog dahil sa frustration. I never met someone this naive! She should seek therapy.

"But he doesn't love her. It's just a marriage for business, nothing else! I have his heart." Pamimilit niya pa rin at gusto kong matawa sa inis.

"So you'll stay with him that way? Na kabit lang? Na walang karapatan? 'Di bale nang may kahati, basta sayo uuwi, ganoon ba 'yun? You would settle for a guy like that?"

You shouldn't settle for someone like that. You deserve more. You deserve someone else. Kasi kung ako ang kapatid ko, hihiwalayan ko si Almira at ikaw ang pipiliin ko. Ganoon ang totoong pagmamahal, isa lang ang pinipili.

"You don't have any rights to lecture me. Hindi mo ako kilala. Hindi mo alam ang pinagsamahan namin ni Jacob–"

"Pinagsamahan? Dalawang buwan pa lang kayo na magkakilala. Are you stupid?!" Napapikit at umigting ang panga ko nang maramdaman ang hapdi sa pisngi mula sa paglapat ng maliit at malambot niyang palad.

"You don't insult me like that." Halos hindi ako makahinga nang marinig ang paghikbi niya.

"I know that I'm not that good as you expected me to be. I-i know that I'm stiff... and awkward but you have... you have no rights to call me stupid! You are my coach, Sir Caleb, not my boss nor my Father. Before you, I have Jacob as my coach but he never said anything that can hurt me."

Tumingin ako sa kanya at napalunok habang patuloy pa rin sa pag-igting ang panga ko.

I've lived my life getting pleasure through the tears of others. I find others' suffering as mere entertainment but in that moment, it was agonizing to see her hurt.

"You hate me that much that you couldn't even look at me?" Nakakunot ang noong kompronta ko sa kanya. Ba't ayaw niya akong titigan? Hula ko ay tumitig siya palagi sa mga mata ni Jacob pero kapag sa 'kin ay hirap na hirap siya?

"No, Sir. I don't... hate you. I don't hate people." Napakurap ako sa kanyang sagot. A part of me is relieved for her answer.

"Then why... can't you look at me?"

"Naiilang nga kasi ako."

"Pero kaya mong titigan si Elcid, Alaric, at kahit si Jacob sa mata?"

"They're different– you are different. Your eyes are different."

"What kind of different?" I asked, so curious of what's running inside her cute little mind.

"Your eyes are piercing, serious, and cold, but also filled with passion, even quite fiery at the same time– I mean, there's a lot going on inside your eyes and it's just too much for me! Whenever I would look into your eyes, I could see embers flying around in a pitch black background."

Those words got me holding my breath for a while. Nakaramdam ako ng init sa may dibdib ko habang nakatitig sa kanya na pilit iniiwas sa akin ang kanyang mga mata.

"Hmm... so that's what you see," I said, almost a whisper.

"So, what should I do then? Para lang matitigan mo ako?"

"M-maybe, if you stop looking so... suplado," Napakagat ako ng labi nang otomatikong tumaas na lang bigla ang sulok ng labi ko.

"Fine, then. I'll stop looking so suplado," I laughed.

Tuwing pinapanood ko siya, lalo na kapag lumalapit siya sa akin ay hindi ko maipaliwanag ang nararamdaman ko.

She just intensify the emotions I have within, those unfamiliar feelings that kept me awake at night.

"Tss... is it that hard?!" I exploded like a bomb clock. Hindi ko maintindihan. Why can't she be like other people who doesn't give a damn about how others think?

"Sir, can I please talk to you for a minute?" Umigting ang panga ko bago ko nilapitan si Elcid.

"What is it?" Naiinis na singhal ko.

"I ask that you must learn to have patience, Sir. Hindi dahil madali para sayo ay madali na rin para sa iba. You might not–"

"Si Eve!"

"Habulin mo!"

Napalingon ako nang marinig ang natatarantang boses ng mga tauhan. Namilog ang mga mata ko nang mapagtantong umalis si Eve. Tumakbo ako papalabas at parang ginapos ako sa takot nang malapit na siyang mabangga kung 'di lang nakakapreno agad ang mga sasakyan.

"Fuck, what have I done?" Mura ko sa sarili at napasabunot.

.

"Have you heard of ZLS?" I asked Dad.

"Yeah, I heard their company is currently facing some issues."

"Why don't we set up a partnership with them?"

"Their sales has been declining, Caleb." Binaba ni Dad ang hawak na diyaryo para maharap ako nang maayos.

"Their business has potential, only if one of their children would like to inherit the company. Also, given the weather forecast and if we implement specific technologies into their farm, we can raise it again."

"You're the CEO, Cal. I trust you."

.

"What the fuck is wrong with you?!" He bursted in anger as he firmly held me on my collar. Hinayaan ko lang siya at nananatiling blangko ang aking ekspresyon.

"You wanted to get even with me, tama ba ako? Huh? Sumagot ka!" Sigaw niya. Kalmadong kinalas ko ang pagkakahawak niya sa aking kwelyo bago ko siya tinulak.

"Get even with you? I'm not a fool. Almira was nothing but a fling to me."

"Then, why do you want to marry Eve? She's clearly terrified of you!" Umigting ang panga ko sa kanyang sinabi.

"I'll change her mind."

"No, I want you to step away from this engagement."

"Why? Is it because you're in love with her?" Tumawa ako. "Don't be a fucking cunt, Jacob. You can't be in love with her and be married to another."

He's always threatening me but I didn't care. The real reason why I wanted to marry Eve, it's because I want her. I want her next to me, I want her in my arms. I want her for the rest of my life.