Arabella's Game

Chapter 22: No Simple Slip Of A Tongue

Florida, US

“Hi Busoy!” it was Ciara.

“Ate, thank you for coming. This time tuloy na talaga to,” Curtis explained.

“Great then, wait, did you come to see Adie – “ putol na wika ni Ciara.

“Ate, I don’t want to talk to her nor talk about her. Let’s just talk about my wedding,”

“No, that’s not what I mean. I mean last year, after the incident? Did you go and see her on Ate Bea’s place?”

“Does it matter?”

“I don’t know, maybe it doesn’t matter at all,”

“Let’s stop taking about it,”

“All right, all right,”

Bea and Jeda are already in Curtis’s place. They were in the living room finalizing the wedding plans. Mga nakatatandang babaeng kapatid nito ang nagpapakasasa sa pagplano mula sa motif, boquet, venue, at pagkaing ihahanda.

“Ciara, good thing you are here. Hali ka nga tulungan mo ako,” saka tumayo ang Ate Bea nila at tinungo ang kusina. Nakasunod naman dito ang kakarating lang na si Ciara.

Curtis sat beside Jeda to see their revised plans and liquidated expenses. It was his sisters who are making the plans for their youngest brother. It’s ladies’ line of expertise.

Tumungo si Curtis sa kusina para kumuha ng maiinom nang madinig niya ang bangayan ng dalawa. Parehong maiinit ang ulo ng dalawa.

“You don’t dare discussing that matter, Ciara. This is not the right time. Alam mo yun,” galit na wika ng Ate Bea nito.

“He has all the rights,”

“No. He’s not a part of Aja’s life. That issue doesn’t matter to CS anymore,”

“So there’s no need for you to reprimand my act, Ate. Dapat pa nga malaya kong nasasabi ‘yon even he’s there. Di ba? After all it doesn’t matter to him,” sarkastikong sagot ni Ciara.

“Ayo kong pag-awayan natin ‘to. So please, Ciara, stop it. Wag mo nang sariwain,”

Hinayaan lang ni Curtis ang bangayan ng dalawa. It’s Aja and their pass relationship maybe is what they’re talking about. It none of his business anymore. Masaydo nang luma ang ganoong usapin para pag-awayan pa. Aja belongs to the past and tomorrow will change everything. He turned his back, nasa harap na niya si Jeda. Nabigla siya sa pagsulpot ng kapatid sa likuran nito.

“CS, does it matter to you? Kung malaman mong wala na si Nico sa buhay ni Aja,” pasimpleng wika ni Jeda habang kumukuha ng tubig sa ref.

“It doesn’t matter Ate. He’ll still take his full responsibility with them,”

“Aw yeah right, kahit na wala na siya. He’s money can still do that,” she took the pitcher and a glass to the living room. Hinabol siya ni Curtis, “even his dead,” dagdag pa ni Jeda.

Dinig na dinig ni Curtis ang sinabi ng Ate Jeda niya, “Whoa, pinapatay mo ‘yung tao Ate. Let’s stop talking about them,”

 “He died last year in San Francisco,” paliwanag ni Jeda. “And that same day Ate Bea called you, the next day you went to SF and see Aja on Ate Bei’s condo. She was grieving that time you saw her Curtis,” walang pigil na sinabi ni Jeda sa kapatid.

Curtis doesn’t have any idea what happened that day. All he knew was she was crying.

 “Where’s Aja?”

“I don’t know. I guess this is enough. So, how’s your bride?”

“Is my son with her?”

“For cryin out loud Curtis! Buntis pa lang si Natalie, syempre oo. What’s wrong with you?”

“Si Yñigo ang hinahanap ko Ate,”

“Is he your son? Akala ko ba di mo siya kinikilalang anak,”

“I want to see Aja!” unconciously it made him emotional. It called is two sister’s attention.

“Anong nangyayari dito Curtis?” tanong ng Ate Bea niya.

“The day before your wedding? No,” sagot ni Jeda at pagsawalang bahala sa tanong ng nakatatandang kapatid nila.

“Shit! I’m leaving,” saka lumabas ng bahay nito. He went on Hayden’s office. He was in sort of rush. He never thought of anything whom he could ask about his Aja. Dire-diretso siyang pumasok sa office ng kanyang Kuya.

“Sir, di po pwedeng pumasok sa office ni Sir Hayden. Your brother is still in the middle of a business deal,” pigil ng sekretarya nito.

Tuloy-tuloy pa rin ang kanyang pagpasok. Isa lang ang ka meeting nito, isang babae na nakatalikod sa kanya kaya walang pigil na kunumpronta ang kapatid. “Where’s Aja? Tell me where Aja is!”

“Curtis, I’m in the middle of talk right now.Please,”

“I need to see my son, Kuya!”

“Curtis, calm down,”

“I need Aja. Kailangan ko ang mag-ina ko,”

“Will you please think about Natalie instead. You two are expecting a baby. Sila ang mag-ina mo Bunso. Stop bugging Adie,”

Natahimik si Curtis. He’ll soon be a father with Natalie’s. That made everything worse. “I’ll find Aja myself!”  pagdedeklara nito saka lumabas.

“I am sorry Natalie,”

It was Natalie Hayden was talking to. Dinig na dinig niya ang lahat. “I think the wedding is off. Excuse me. I have to leave,”

Hayden called Curtis over the phone. His phone call is being forwarded in his voice mailbox, “Listen CS, don’t look for Aja. Masasaktan ka lang,” Balisa na si Hayden sa mga nangyayari. Sa tuwing gumugulo ang isipan ni Curtis wala na ito sa sarili. He’ll do everything. Even risk his life just to suppress depression and anger.