TBP Series: Alvaro Brothers; "Jerome Alvaro"

"CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN- Broken Hearts"

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Faye's POV.
'Are you sure this is what you want?' Tanong ni Conner sa akin pagkatapos niya akong ikuha ng maiinom.
'This is what I need to do.' I breathed out and prevent my tears from falling again.
'You should talk to him first.' He commented.
'For what? To hear more lies from him? No. I don't think I can bear hearing him lie right at my face.' I greeted my teeth.
There was a silence pass through us for a moment. I don't want to speak because I feel that if I say another word, I would break down and cry again. Tama na ang mga oras na iniiyak ko kanina habang nasa condo pa ako at nag-aayos ng gamit. Pagod na rin ako and I feel as if my energy is draining.
'If you think this is for the best of both of you, then do it. I'll support you.' He tap me at the back and flashed a soft smile at me.
Pinilit kong ngumiti din sa kanya kahit pa sa totoo lang ay gusto ko ulit maiyak.
'So what's next? Heading back to Philippines?'
Alam ko na itatanong niya rin iyan. Alam kong itatanong niya kung saan ako pupunta.
Marahan akong umiling. 'No. Everyone will surely ask me and I still don't have the energy to answer.'
Nangunot ang noo niya sa sinabi ko. 'What? So where are you going?' Naguguluhan niyang tanong.
Tinignan ko siya sa mga mata. I know I can trust Conner. He has been a good friend and I believe I can rely on him.
But for now I need some space from this world. Space from everything and everyone. Including him. I need time to be with my self, to find my self and to give my self the luxury of being alone.
Kung hahanapin ako ni Jerome o ng pamilya ko, I am sure si Conner o si Macy lang ang una nilang tatanungin.
If I want some time alone, I should not tell anyone about my destination. Panigurado kasi na kukulitin lang sila hanggang sa umamin sila kung nasan ako. I cannot risk that possibility.
'I am sorry I can't tell you, Conner. I mean, for now it is better if no one knows where I am.' Paliwanag ko sa kanya. Alam ko na mauunawaan ako ni Conner.
'But...'
'Please?' I cut him out.
He sigh and gave me that worried look.
'Okay. Just promise me you'll take care of your self.' Sinabi niya makaraan ang ilang sandaling pananahimik. I nodded and reach out to give him a hug.
'Are we still going to meet, or this is the last time? Is this goodbye already?' He asked before he leave the airport.
'This is not goodbye, Conner. You know one day we will see each other again and we'll laugh on the same old crazy things just like what we always do.' I assured him. I can see that he is not happy about the fact that I am leaving.
But this is reality. Not everyone stays forever. Sometimes, we have to go, we have to find ourselves and at least get lost for a while from this cruel world. One day we'll find a reason to get back to that old place where we use to be. Back to the people we once love... Back to our past self.
We chatted a little more before we decided to finally part ways.
'Will be missing you, Faye. Promise me you'll find a way to contact me.'
'Yes I will.' I answered firmly, trying to prevent my voice from choking. But when he hug me for the last time, I can't fight back my emotions anymore. And again, I cried.
'No goodbyes Conner. Its see you next time...' I said as I let go of him and watch him walk away from me.
I turn and head towards the ticketing area.
'Be brave Faye.' I repeated to my self. And finally, with lots of confidence, I face the receptionist with a big smile.....

*****
Jerome's POV.

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Hindi ako mapalagay. Para kasing may mali. Simula pa kanina ng umalis ako sa condo ay kinakabahan na ako.
This is the first time that I feel something like this. Extreme uneasiness. I can't even concentrate on the photoshoot.
'Cut! J-Em! What's the problem?!' Sigaw na sa akin ng commercial director.
Sumenyas ako at bumaba mula sa makeshift stage na kinalalagyan ko. Agad naman akong nilapitan ni Krisha.
'You look awfully distracted J-Em. What's wrong?' She sounded really worried.
Krisha known me for a long time so she also knows if there is something bothering me.
'I don't know Krish. But I have this strange feeling that there's something wrong that is going to happen.' I pace back and forth. 'I should call Faye.' Bago pa siya maka-sagot ay binunot ko na mula sa bulsa ko ang aking cellphone at sinimulang i-dial ang number ni Faye. Nag-hintay akong mag-ring ang phone niya, but to my disappointment, operator lang ang sumagot. Her number is unattended. Na ipinagtataka ko. Faye never turn off her phone, specially when I'm not at home. She always make sure na masasagot niya agad ang mga tawag at messages ko. Its her way of assuring me that she's in a safe condition while I'm away.
Mas kinabahan ako. Is it possible na may masamang nangyari sa asawa ko?
'Krish, Faye is not answering my call. Her phone is off.'
Krisha move her eyes upward. 'Hello, its 12:30 in the morning J-Em. Maybe she's sleeping soundly.'
But I know my wife. At hindi ako mapapakali hanggat hindi ako nakasisigurong ayos siya.
'No Krish. Faye never turn off her phone.'
'Oh for crying out loud J-Em! Maybe her phone got low bat!' Inis na si Krisha. She always wanted me to work professionally, ayaw niyang dinadala ko ang mga personal kong issue sa trabaho. Over the years of being a model, I manage to separate my own issues from work. Ayon na rin sa turo ni Krisha sa akin.
But today is different. Dahil hindi lang ako ang basta involve. Its my wife that we're talking about here.
I tried to ignore her outburst and dialed Faye's number once more. But again, I was greeted by the operator saying that the number I was calling is currently not available.
Napasabunot ako sa buhok ko. The frustration I was feeling was growing. Hindi pa rin nawawala ang kaba ko.
'Can you please calm down and go back to the shoot J-Em?' Utos sa kin ni Krisha.
I continue to ignore her and keep on pacing.
'Krish I can't do this. I need to go.' Hindi na ako maka-tiis.
Agad kong kinuha ang jacket ko at tumakbo palabas ng location. I don't care if I was acting unprofessionally. What's important for me right at this moment is to be with my wife and to make sure that nothing had harm her.
I cursed under my breath. Dapat talaga sinama ko na siya kanina at hindi iniwan mag-isa.
I can hear them shouting my name pero hindi ko na sila pinansin. I was very distracted by so many things in my mind right now.
Sumakay ako sa rented car na sinakyan namin kanina at nag-pahatid sa driver papuntang airport. Napamura pa ako ng maipit kami sa traffic for ten effin minutes! Pa-simple pa nga akong sinisilip ng driver dahil hindi talaga ako mapakali.
Hindi pa man nakakahinto ang kotse ay bumaba na agad ako ng marating namin ang airport. Sumigaw na lang ako ng pasasalamat sa driver habang tumatakbo papunta sa bilihan ng ticket. Good thing I have my wallet with me. Naiwan ko na kasi ang iba ko pang gamit sa pagmamadali ko kanina. I know Krish will take care of those.
Aligaga akong nakatayo sa pila ng biglang mag-ring ang cellphone ko. Pangalan ni Conner ang nakita ko sa caller I.D. I am not expecting him to call but I answered my phone.
'Hello.' Casual kong sagot sa kabila ng kabang nadarama ko.
'I told you not to hurt her you ass!!' Sigaw niya sa kabilang linya. Bahagya ko pang inilayo sa tenga ko ang phone dahil nabingi ako sa lakas ng boses niya.
'What?! I don't know what you're talking about!' Sigaw ko pabalik. Halos hindi nag-sink in sa utak ko ang sinabi niya dahil ako na ang sumunod sa pila. 'One ticket to Fort Lauderdale please.' Mabilis kong sabi sa babaeng nagbibigay ng ticket.
'Don't use that statement on me Alvaro. She won't leave if you hadn't done anything!' Sigaw niya pa rin.
'Leave?! Who?!' Hindi ko na talaga maintindihan ang sinasabi niya dahil napuputol ang linya.
'Look, if you gonna go and find her just to hurt her, I swear I will not just punch your balls. You'll be a dead man.' Pagbabanta niya tyaka namatay ang linya.
Wala ako sa focus kaya hinayaan ko na lamang iyon. I was really in a hurry na halos hindi ko nga narinig ang mga sinabi niya.

Naghintay pa ako ng ilang sandali bago nakasakay sa eroplano pabalik sa Hollywood. Makailang ulit ko ding sinubukang tawagan si Faye ngunit wala pa rin. Unattended pa rin ang phone niya.
I feel the panic now. I could really sense it that this is not just some small thing. Panay ang tingin ko sa wristwatch ko, hoping na sana bumilis ang takbo ng oras at makarating na ako agad.
The flight attendant comes back to me for the third time, offering me something to eat or drink. And for the third time, I said no.
Every second is killing me.

It's almost daybreak when the plane finally landed to Fort Lauderdale airport.
Huminga ako ng malalim. Mas lalo ata akong kinabahan.
Patakbo kong tinungo ang parking area para kunin ang kotse ko. Mabilis ko itong pinaandar at pinaharurot paalis ng parking.
The usual thirty minutes drive from airport to our condo became fifteen minutes to me. I drove off in maximum speed, not minding if the cops would chase me.
Ng makarating ay hindi na din ako nag-abalang i-park ang kotse. Inabot ko lang ang susi sa isa sa mga guard. He knows what to do.
Maswerte namang hindi busy ang elevator at bakante ang isa kaya mabilis din akong nakarating sa floor ng unit namin.
I can feel the heaviness on every step I take that leads me closer to our door. Para bang may pumipigil sa akin na pumasok.
But I have to face whatever it is that is waiting for me as soon as I get inside. I need to be brave.

Nakarating ako sa tapat ng pinto ng unit namin. I was holding the door knob so tight that my knuckles turned white.
Nanginginig ako, hindi ko alam kung bubuksan ko ba ang pinto o hindi.
My mind and my heart is fighting, but I really need to move.
At the count of three, I open the door and was greeted by total silence. I sigh.
'F-Faye?' Tawag ko sa kanya sa garalgal na tinig.
Walang sumagot.
Tuluyan na akong pumasok at nag-tuloy-tuloy sa silid namin.
'Faye this isn't a good joke!' I shouted when I found no one in the room.
I went straight to our make-shift dressing area.

And there I got all the answers I needed.
My feet was shaking so I let my self fall down on the floor.

'Don't use that statement on me Alvaro. She won't leave if you hadn't done anything!'

'Look, if you gonna go and find her just to hurt her, I swear I will not just punch your balls. You'll be a dead man.'

Nag-replay sa utak ko lahat ng sinabi sa akin ni Conner kanina.
So this is what he mean? This is why he was so mad at me?

But I don't understand it! Heck, I don't!
What have I done to deserve this again? What is it this time?!

I was so mad at the moment. To her, to my self, to everything.

Hindi ko namalayan na umiiyak na pala ako.
I screamed para lang mabawasan ang sakit na nararamdaman ko. Pero kahit yun ay hindi nakatulong. Pakiramdam ko, may ilang milyong karayom ang sabay-sabay na bumaon sa puso ko sa mga sandaling ito.
I keep on shouting while aiming a punch on the floor. I saw my knuckles bleed but I can't feel the physical pain that goes with it.
When I loose strength to continue from punching, I stopped.

What will I do now?

What will I do now.... That she's gone?

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A.N. hah! I hate writing sad parts! It's hurting me ya know? But even so I was deeply hurting for what was happening for my two characters, I know I have to put this.
I have to type this down while preventing my tears from falling, but have you held back your tears while reading this? Hope not ^_^
Thank you for reading again my readers! Gomawoyo!!!