Chapter 36
Minulat ko ang aking mga mata, naninibago ako dahil sa iba ang pakiramdam ng kama ko, doon ko napagtanto na wala pala ako sa kwarto ko. I'm in JM's guestroom, tumingin ako sa katabi kong tulog, si Vivi, sa baba naman ay sina Trisha at Ethan na magkayakap.
Tumingin ako sa couch-bed at nakita roon si Blue na humihilik. Ngumiti ako at tahimik na tumayo para pumunta sa veranda ng guestroom. Sino kaya ang bumuhat sa akin papunta dito habang tulog ako? Nakatulog ako kanina, alam ko. Medyo masakit ang ulo ko siguro dahil sa sobrang pag-iyak, na-drain na ata ang ulo ko.
Tinignan ko ang madilim na kalawakan, pinikit ko ang aking mga mata habang dinadama ang malamig na simoy ng hangin. Bigla kong naalala ang mga panahon na magkasama kami ni Travis habang pinapanood ang mga bitwin at buwan.
The night had been a memory between Travis and me.
Gabi noong una kaming magkita after how many years after our childhood days, on the night that I was almost raped, Travis came and saved me. On that night, I saw his tattoo.
It was night when we had our first date, naalala ko noong sinakay niya ako sa helicopter and I was so afraid of the heights but Travis' simple move to hold my hand calmed me down.
Gabi noong nasa talampas kami at pinapanood ang mga bitwin, gabi noong nagkasakit si Travis dahil sa ulan, gabi noong nasa private island kami at pinag-usapan namin ang mga bitwin.
The night became special to me because of Travis, but today... the beautiful night became scary, the night became sad and lonely, the night was suddenly alone. It became dark.
Hindi ko namalayan na may tumutulo na palang luha sa aking pisngi, I sighed and wiped the tears away. Everything that I see just keeps on reminding him.
"Can't sleep?" Nataranta ako dahil sa may biglang nagsalita sa likod ko, lumingon ako at nakita ko si Blue.
Nginitihan ko siya at tumango.
"Me too."
Tumango lang ako habang nakatingin pa rin sa madilim na kalawakan.
"You know, the stars are like us." Biglang sabi ni Blue, tumingala na rin siya para tignan ang kalawakan, "we can't shine without darkness, well what can I say? This is life."
"Hindi ka ba giniginaw? Ang lamig kaya." Tugon niya, hinubad ni Blue ang suot niyang jacket at pinatong ito sa balikat ko, "this should keep you warm. Babalik na ako sa loob. Matulog ka na rin at huwag magpuyat, ok?"
I smiled and nodded.
"Good night."
~*~
Kinaumagahan, Ethan and Trisha left since may appointment raw sila para sa extension bars ng Custody Booze, si Vivi naman ay isang teen model at may schedule siya na photo shooting sa araw na ito, si Blue naman ay umuwi muna para ihatid ang kapatid niya sa school.
"JM, punta lang ako sa Sapphira Tenshou, I'll just get Tatty."
"Tatty?"
"My doggie. Hindi ko pa siya napapakain simula kahapon e, baka nagugutom na iyon at malungkot. Ipapaalaga ko muna si Tatty kay Lola Dorora sa mansion." Sagot ko naman.
"Ok. You can borrow my car."
Umiling ako, "no thanks. Mag-commute na lang ako, anyways, may sasakyan naman ako sa S.T. parking lot e, yon na lang gamitin ko 'pag balik ko."
Tumango na lang siya. "If anything happens, call me. Ok?" Hinalikan ako ni JM sa noo, ngumiti ako at tumango.
"Bye, coz."
He nodded.
~*~
Tinitigan ko ang Sapphira Tenshou at lumunok, I know there might be a possibility that I may meet Travis, I know... but all I need to do is walk in and enter the elevator then press my floor button and voila!
Umiling ako, kinuha ko lahat ng lakas ng loob ko at naglakad papasok. Mabuti naman at walang kahirap hirap akong pumasok sa elevator, dali kong pinindot ang button 15.
Noong nasa floor ko na ako ay mabilis akong dumiretso sa unit ko, tahimik ang buong palapag dahil akin naman ang lahat ng units dito kahit na iisa lang ang ginagamit ko.
"Tatty?"
"Arf! Arf!"
I sighed in relief when I saw her doing good. I patted her head and took a dog food. Nilagay ko ang dog food sa kanyang plato.
I stopped on my tracks when I heard a footstep.
"Kai, where had you been all this time?"
Tumingala ako, it was Travis...
"A-Ano ang ginagawa mo dito?" I tried to act tough. I don't want to look weak again, ever.
"I was up the whole night waiting for you..." Mahinang sumbat niya, pansin ko iyon dahil sa dark rings na nakapalibot sa kanyang mga mata, he looked tired but still hot. Umiling ako.
"Hindi ko na iyon kasalanan, maaari ka nang umalis." Malamig na tugon ko.
"Kai..."
"Bakit?"
"About what happened... the kiss..."
Tumingin ako kay Travis, blinking the tears away, "did you had fun with the kiss?" Ngumiti ako, "it's ok Travis, I knew from the start that you're just playing around me... I knew that guys like you are all the similar in some ways."
Tumikhim ang bagang niya. "Let me explain. Stel is just the daughter of my Dad's bestfriend and she is just an acquaintance of mine!"
"I'm not really asking." Matigas na sagot ko, "kung nakakaintindi ka, lumayas ka sa unit ko, you're not welcomed here anymore."
"Ok, so that's really it, Kai? You're making decisions just because of a ten second kissing scene? I was shocked because of the kiss that Stel gave and was unable to push her away because my mind was thinking you! You're putting everything away just because of one single thing that happened? Ganoon ba talaga ako kadali sa iyo?"
Suminghap ako. "What do you mean?"
I saw Travis' tears fall on his cheeks, "ganoon mo na ba ako kadaling iwanan, Kai?"
I felt a string of my heart break into pieces.
"I can tell Stel loves you, Travis." Sabi ko, "and whoever she is, don't hide it. Alam ko naman na malapit kayo sa isa't isa e. Your facebook account's photos is enough to prove that."
"Kai, will you please just listen to me?"
"After all that happened? No."
"Kai, mahal kita!"
