My Sweet Pianist

Chapter 16: Curiouser and curiouser

"I TOLD YOU NOT TO TOUCH ANYTHING!"

AY ANAK KA NG PATING! 

I gulped and I feel like I've been transformed into a statue. Napalingon ako sa pinanggalingan ng boses. He is sneering at me.OH DEAR!  He's just wearing plain black shirt & plain jeans at mukha siyang modern demon na nakatago ang maitim na pakpak at mahabang sungay at buntot. Dali-dali siyang lumapit sa akin at hinablot ang hardcase.

"DID YOU OPEN THIS?! DID YOU SEE WHAT'S INSIDE?!"

"Can you not chill? I did not open that case, okay? I was just about to open it when you caught me." I shrugged. Ano bang nasa loob ng hardcase na iyon?

"Buti naman. Sa susunod, makikinig ka sa sasabihin ko. At kapag sinabi kong makinig, GAWIN MO NG MAAYOS."

"Opo..." I said na parang batang pinagalitan ng magulang. "I was just curious."

"Your curiosity will be the death of you so avoid doing that."

"It's not that easy, you know. Para sa isang katulad ko na may amnesia, mas malala pa ako sa curious na bata. Ano ba kasing laman niyan?"

"Nothing that concerns the likes of you, Simpleton."

WHY THE HELL ARE YOU SO PEEVISH?!? I almost said that.

"Really? What happened to your back then? Does not that concerns me?"

I am concerned about him... Can he not see that?

Natahimik siya at naging blanko ang expression ng mukha niya...

"Where did you get that scar on your back?" Tanong ko ulit.

Tinalikuran niya ako at naglakad papunta doon sa isang picture frame. Inangat niya ito na parang pinto lang. There is a vault behind the picture frame, then he placed the hard case inside and closed it.

"It was from an accident a long time ago." He said after closing the vault.

"What accident?"

Humarap siya sakin at lumapit. Hinawakan niya ang magkabilang balikat ko at seryoso ang mukha niya na may dala ring pagaalinlangan at walang kasiguraduhan.

"Seychelle, it doesn't matter anymore. What matters to me now is you. Us to be exact."

My heart is throbbing so fast like it's gonna explode. I can see in his eyes that every word he delivered is sincere... So genuine and true. Pero mas lalo lang akong napuno ng mga tanong na gumugulo sa buong sistema ko. 

Why won't he tell me if he has moved on from his past? Will it hurt him again if he told me the reason on why he as a scar on his back?

"C-Chris... You cannot fully deal this 'us' if you're not yet done dealing with your past. Paano mo nasasabing naka-move on ka na kung hindi mo kayang sabihin sa akin kung anong nangyari sa likod mo?"

Binitiwan niya ako at umalikod siya saka nagsalita.

"Why Seychelle? Why does it matter to you?"

I sighed and lengthen my patience, "I know sagad na ang linyang 'to." I took a deep breath before continuing my answer. "But you matter to me. It is also the reason why I agreed on your deal na maging tayo. And I just wanted to return the favor. Gusto kitang matulungan tulad ng pagtulong mo sa akin."

Natahimik na naman siya.

"I appreciate your help." He lamented, "But, thank you."

One moment he's gone demented and now, he's acting tranquil.

"Maybe I am being haunted by my past. Maybe part of it was my fault. And now, they're coming back."

"And your point is?"

"You came back."

"Because you think I'm Karisse?"

"I've always hope you're her but it's not just that. That thing inside the vault is also part of my past."

"I'm confused, Chris. Why won't you just tell me? "

"Because I don't want you to and as much as you want to understand, you won't. Because you were never placed in my situation."

Nakita kong may pumatak na luha sa mata niya. Somehow, I can feel the pain he has right now. Hindi ko man alam pero alam kong masaklap ang naging nakaraan niya. But all this time na magkasama kami ay hindi ko nahalata na may mabigat siyang pinagdaraanan. Inaamin kong masaya siyang kasama kahit may mga oras na sinusungitan niya ako pero ito ang side na hindi ko pa nakikita sa kanya. 

Lumapit ako sa kanya at tinitigan siya mata sa mata. Alam kong wala akong ni isang ideya sa naging nakaraan niya bukod sa pagkawala ni Karisse, pero gusto kong mabawasan ang pighating dinulot sa kanya ng kahapon. Ramdam kong masakit ito para sa kanya.

"Hindi ko man alam ang buong nakaraan mo, tandaan mo na kahit saang anggulo, ang sugat ay sugat. Pero gumagaling ito kahit mag-iwan man ng peklat. Hindi man ngayon, bukas o kahit sa mga dadaan pang panahon pero alam ko na balang araw mahanap mo sa pagkatao mo ang salitang patawad. Learn to forgive and accept. Kasama yan sa pagmo-move on. Dahil ang taong hindi marunong magpatawad, mananatiling nakakulong sa kanyang nakaraan."

Nagpatuloy ang daloy ng mga luha niya. I've never seen a man cry especially this close.  I tiptoed to reach his head and lay a kiss on his forehead. 

"What was that for?"

"That's how I show my affection and. It's a comfort kiss..."

"In short, it's a kisspirin then?"

"Uh, yeah. kinda." I smiled..

"See? Pinagsamantalahan mo na namang ako.  "

"Hindi kaya. Sobrang assuming mo." 

"I was just joking. Here."

Then niyakap niya ako na medyo ikinagulat ko. It was warm and caring. 

"Thank you for making me feel better."