"Siya ang girlfriend mo? You have to be kidding me Kuya. You denied Natasha for her? This is bullshit." Lizzie's voice was unamused and was in a state of balk. Para bang sinasabi na binigo siya ng nakakatanda niyang kapatid.
"Elizabeth, manners anak ko." His dad interrupted. Pero hindi nagpatalo si Lizzie. Binagsak niya ang kutsara niya bago niya hinarap ang daddy nila.
"What? You want me to freaking lie dad? Just look at her!" She exclaimed in disgust before pointing at me.
Napayuko na lang ako. I was playing with my fingers. I knew it. Masyado atang mataas ang pangarap ko at hinayaan ko ang sarili kong mahalin ang isang tulad ni Brinx.
He's heaven and I'm nothing.
"Lizzie, 'yang bibig mo. Itikom mo na lang bago ko pa sapalan 'yan ng kung ano para hindi mo na magamit." Brinx voice was choleric. It was cheesed with anger and fury.
Lizzie snickered a reply, "Really Kuya? We're really going to fight dahil sa babaeng 'yan? Saan mo ba siya napulot?"
Alexa put a hand on her sister's arm. "Ate naman, nasa hapag tayo." She pleaded. But Lizzie's face remained ballistic. She looked at me menacingly before she walked out of the dining area.
Brinx patted my hand making me looked up at him. I've been keeping my head down ever since I got to their mansion. Kapatid niya pa lang iyon, what if I meet his mom? Ano lang ang sasabihin niya sa akin?
My flashbacks were momentarily disturbed by Gio's chuckle. "Paano kapag nanghihinayang talaga siya sa parthnership na 'yun pero hindi niya lang masabi sa'yo?" Tikis niya sa akin. Gusto ko na siyang ipabugbog dahil sa paninikis niya. Hindi ko na talaga alam kung kakampi ko pa ba siya o ano.
"Amore, you're not helping!" Mangiyak-ngiyak na saad ko, napahalakhak lang ang loko.
We're going to meet Brinx today at lunch, para makilala niya na si Giovanni. So I could put to rest his undying jealousy with my cousin. Kahit hindi naman niya sabihin, alam kong namamatay pa rin siya sa selos sa tuwing katext o katawagan ko si Gio.
I told Gio what happened in Tagaytay. It's been eating me alive. It feels like I got suck in a time machine and I relieved every cruel part of my life. 'Yung pang-aapi, 'yung pangungutya, lahat-lahat.
All the wounds bleed fresh. Ang sakit, biglang ang sakit alalahanin ng lahat.
"I think I need some time away for him, just to contemplate." I said bitterly before emptying my glass of wine. Napailing na lang ang pinsan ko, "And this would do you good because?"
I shrugged my shoulders. "I don't know. Everything seemed unclear and scary. Though I promised him that I'll forget everything and just move on with him, pero hindi ko ata kaya Amore. Lalo na kung may mga bagay na bigla-bigla na lang susulpot at isasampal sa akin ang katotohanan na tinatakbuhan ko. Namin."
Gio sighed a smile. "Madali lang ang solusyon sa problema niyo amore. Ask him, so your anxiety about what happened four years ago be laid to rest. Jeez, you keep on complicating your supposedly easy life."
I stared at him. I wish it was that easy. I'm petrified of the things it may bring us. I'm terrified that if I inquire about his reasons for doing it, it may break as apart. And I don't know if I will be able to cope up with another heartbreak from him. No. I don't think I can ever let him go again.
"Hi, sorry. The meeting dragged longer that what I expected." Biglang sumulpot si Brinx sa likuran ko at humalik sa pisngi ko. He immediately checked his watch when he's settled beside me. "Oh, Italian. Tapos na ang craving mo sa Filipino cuisine baby?"
Nagkatinginan kami ni Gio, "Nah, I wanted Italian." Sagot ng pinsan ko para sa akin. I saw Brinx pursing his lips making Gio cackle, "Dude, I'm her cousin. If you want me to bring all our legal documents just to prove it to you just say it."
I kicked Gio smartly at his ankle, "Amore." I said before giving him a sharp glare.
He shot me with a 'what' expression before he again laughed. "Here drink some wine, it might cool you off." Aya sa kanya ni Gio bago siya pinagbuhos ng red wine.
"You should be smelling it before drinking." Suway ko sa kanya ng akma niya ng iinumin ang alak. Napatigil siya at napalingon sa akin. I smiled at him, "This is Domaine de La Romanee-Conti 1990."
Tahimik lang si Brinx habang nakikinig sa sinasabi ko, ganoon din naman si Gio. "This is the world's finest Pinot Noir. We're lucky because they have it here. The production is limited due to the strict desire of capturing the luscious fruit flavours of the berries, plus the vines usually used to make them are over 50 years old."
Napakuha si Brinx sa bote at sinuri 'yun, "How much is this?"
"Approximately $21,000." Nanlaki ang mata niya ng tumitig sa akin. "That expensive for a bottle of wine?" Natawa ako sa naging reaksyon niya dahil para siyang bata, akala mo hindi businessman.
"Yes, I opted to buy Cheval Blanc but they don't have it here and it costs like $34,000." Sambit ko, enjoying his reaction.
His brows furrowed before putting the bottle down, "Cheva- what? English baby please."
Napatingin na rin si Gio sa baso ng alak na hawak niya, "Ngayon may kasama na akong walang kamuwang-muwang kapag alak na ang usapan."
Napansadal ako sa balikat niya ng hinawakan nanaman niya ang bote. Mukhang hindi talaga siya makapaniwala na ganoon kamahal 'yung alak na iniinom namin.
"First he studies Italian, and now he wants to learn about wine too. What's next?" He teased. Naramdaman kong pumula ang pisngi ko, si Brinx naman ngumisi lang.
Hindi ko tuloy alam kung saan ko ilulugar 'yung Brinx na nakausap ko nu'ng gabing 'yun. Because he was never my Brinx, ibang-iba kasi siya sa taong mahal ko. Pero itong nasa tabi ko ngayon, sigurado akong siya ang Brinx ko.
"Oh have you told him yet amore?" Gio suddenly asked. Biglang kong naalala 'yung mga prinoproblema ko. Napababa si Brinx sa bote ng alak at napatingin sa akin, 'yung kunot sa noo niya pansin na pansin na.
"Told me what?"
Ano nga bang sasabihin ko sa kanya? That I want space? Space? Will he buy that? At parang iba ang dating kapag 'yun ang hiningi ko.
"She wants to come with me to Ilocos. Sandali lang naman kami doon, three or four days max." Gio uttered, saving me from thinking an alibi.
"Ilocos? Why do you want to go there?" Brinx said, tension building in his voice. He's not minding my cousin anymore, his attention were fully focused on me.
"S-sandali lang n-naman kami doon baby." I answered, dodging his question.
"Then I'm coming with you." He said matter-o-factly. Napahinto ako sa paghinga, "'W-wag na. May hinahabol kayong partnership 'diba? It would be bothersome if you'll come with me and put that partnership on hold..j-just like the one in Tagaytay."
He opened his mouth to say something then closedit again. His lips forming a tight, straight line after. Umakap na lang ako sabraso niya dahil hindi ko na kayang tagalan ang itsura ng mukha niya ngayon, "It's for the best Brinx." I silentlymuttered, coating my words with another meaning.
BINABASA MO ANG
Stonehearts 3: Aquamarine
Romance| COMPLETED | 5 October 2016 - 21 November 2016 | Stonehearts Series #3 | A foundling ever since she can remember, Aqui (a-ki) Marina Godorecci, has known all the evils of the world. She has been in several orphanages before landing in a home ran by...
