Arabella's Game

Chapter 2: The Years After

Casablanca, Morocco 3 years after…

“I need that Learjet 60XR by dawn tomorrow,” utos nito sa kausap sa telepono. Nicolo Salvo Cervantes looking authoritatively rugged in his faded jeans and racer back black t-shirt topped with opened button-down polo and matched with his Okley shades. Kakababa pa lang niya ng private yacht galing Madiera Island. Nagmamadaling binubuksan ang Ford Trekker nito para makapagpahinga sa hotel kung saan ito naka check in. Pero bago pa ito makapasok ng sasakyan, may nakaagaw na agad ng atensyon nito. He got intimidated with the silver Volvo drifted in the dust sa harap ng isang restaurant. It was one smooth move. Ngunit nang bumaba ang nagmamaneho dito, he felt dumbfounded – around 5’4-inches tall lady in her white button down polo and deep blue jeans. Well fitted at slender ang pangangatawan at may pagkamorena ito, yun ang una nitong napuna. He got curious with her D&G-shades covered eyes. Umandar nanaman ang pagiging chick magnet nito, na-challenge siya sa appeal ng babae. He was a well known playboy on his high school and college years at hanggang ngayon di pa rin ito nagbabago. Imbes napumasok ng sasaskyan at pumunta ng hotel, sinundan nito ang babae sa loob ng restaurant. Umorder na lang siya ng kape saka palihim na pinagmamasdan. “I’m acting nuts,” bulong pa nito sa sarili sabay buntong hininga.

“Sis!” sigaw ni Mariva, ang half Filipino half Brazilian WHO projects nurse volunteer. Isa din itong nurse at nagtatrabaho sa isang ospital sa New York. “I’ve been waiting for you, dear,”

“What for, Riva?” saka dignugtungan nito ng payak na tawa.

“For lunch of course,” sabay hila dito paupo sa isang mesa.

“I have the medicines needed. In a week time hopefully we could see improvements in the tribe,”

“Oh c’mon A, we’re here for lunch and not to discuss our duties,” saway ni Riva. That’s how Arabella’s co-workers call her. Adie is an exclusive name for her family and friends. “You never change,”

Ngiti lamang ang iginanti nito.

Sa kalagitnaan ng kanilang pakain, Nico finally dicided to approach. Saka niya namumukhaan ang isang babae. “Mariva?”

Sabay napatingin ang dalawa. “Oh my! Nicos! Hola, cómo estás? Come, join us” (hello, how are you?)

“Muy bien, I never thought I’d see you here,” (very well) wika nito pagkatapos ay tumingin kay Arabella. Nahimigan naman ni Riva ang pakahulugan ng binata.

“Oh, ilo siento! This is –” (I’m sorry)

“A,” putol ni Arabella sa pagpapakilala ng kaibigan. “I’m A. Hi,”

“Si. This is A, Nic. My co-participant in the congress,” (yes) pasakay nito. “And this is Nicos, my college lab partner in UCLA.”

“Hi,” sabay abot ng kamay Nico. “You drifted well a while ago,” puna nito.

“I’ll take that as a compliment,” saka binawi ang mga kamay.

“Bueno, let’s eat,” yaya ni Riva. Nailapag na ang pagkain habang sila’y nag-uusap. They had talked and talked the whole time they eat.

“Gracias, Nicos. I never thought the lunch would be your treat,” Riva acknowledged after their lunch. Palabas na sila ng restaurant.

“Right, thanks,” dagdag ni Arabella.

“De nada, señoritas. I had great time with you after a stressful day,” (you’re welcome) pangiti-ngiti nitong sinabi. “Mind if I give you a ride?”

“Not at all, mi amor,” (my darling) sagot ni Riva.

“I do mind. I’m with this Volvo, remember?  Gotta see you in the venue, Riva,” sabay tapik sa kaibigan. “Thanks again,” nginitian lang nito si Nico at dagliang naglakad at pinaharurot ang sasakyan. She has to hurry. There’s something wrong with the atmosphere. She can sense unknown aura from that guy. It confused her.

Inside Nicos’ Ford Trekker, “You’re into her, Nicos. Am I right?” Riva confronts. “Oh, ella es caliente! Admit it!” then she laughed. (she’s hot!)

“bien, si! A is really nice,” (alright, yes!)

“Dulce? Callarse! That’s not how you call your type of niñas,” (Sweet? Shut up! ...girls)

“I like her,”

“You know, niño, don’t harm this chick. I know yah, dude. Yah loco,” then she smirked. (you know, boy. . . You’re crazy)

“Oh c’mon, Latina, stop acting like you’re from Detroit,” he jested. “I’m harmless. Just wanna befriend with. Yah know, I like Latinas, except for you weirdo,” they both giggled.

“Oh boy, corrección! She’s Asian, you Spanish decent from America,” and laughed vehemently.

“Whoa! Really?” he was nosy about it. “I thought she was J.Lo!” sabay pa silang natawa. “Well, I’ll just visit you two then.”

“User! Don’t say ‘two’ when you only mean her,” nasa tapat na sila ng venue ng congress. “Adios, amigo. I’ll just see you around and… Buena suerte with your vida amorosa,” saka kinindatan nita ito at bumaba. (goodbye, friend. . . good luck with your love life)

Nicos delayed his flight back to San Diego to spend the day with Arabella. For a week congress in Moroco, he never gets tired of flying back and forth San Francisco and Moroco para lang kay Arabella. Spending time with her made him feel at rest. Walang halong katarantaduhan ang kanyang pakikipagkaibigan, di gaya ng mga nakaraan niyang dinidiskartehan. It was a one clean connection. Walang halong playboy strategies. He’s not sure but, she’s not worth being played around pero di niya rin kayang ligawan. He feels like if there’s something that will change in their relationship level, like she might fade away. He was too insecure. Tingin niya, she’s as fragile as a dove held in his hands na kung hihigpitan ang pagkakahawak masasakal at mamamatay, pero kung luluwagan naman eh lilipad at lalayo. Days were filled with fun hanggang sa huling araw ng WHO congress. He has to send her off the port to Spain.

Busy si Arabella sa pagkausap sa telepono, “Thanks for lending me the Volvo, Kuya Hayden. Sana din na makarating sa kapatid mo na nandito ako sa Moroco,”

“Don’t worry, Adie, nasa Pilipinas si Bunsoy doing business. And I don’t want to interfere with your business. Mabuti na rin siguro yung ganito, you two don’t jump into street races anymore,” sagot ng nasa kabilang linya.

“Oh how I miss those days,” sabay hagikhik.

“Arabella naman, just keep your promise and I’ll keep you away from him and your dad,”

“Kuya naman, alam ko yun.  That’s why I’m good. So pa’no, bye muna. I’ll call you again soon,”

Binaba niya ang telepono. Ang Kuya Hayden niya ang tumatayon guardian niya at ang kanyang takbuhan simula nung nagpakalayu-layo siya. Parang nakatatandang kapatid na niya ito. Siya ang naging gabay nito hanggan sa matapos niya ang kanyang kurso sa London but she’s keeping a little secret from him. She can’t tell him, di rin naman sila nagkikita. Hanggan telepono lang ang kanilang kumunikasyon kaya naitago niya ang kanyang sekreto hanggang sa ngayon.

“Got to go, I had a great time in Moroco,” wika ni Arabella kay Nicos after she talked over the phone.

“And so do I, you’re fun to be with, A,”

“Bye,” nginitian niya ito at tumalikod saka naglakad papalayo. Nasa loob na ng barko si Arabella para sa pag-alis nito papuntang Spain. Doon na siya sasakay ng eroplano papuntang London.