Stonehearts 3: Aquamarine

Twenty Five

The four day vacay I planned with Gio was cut short. Because on the second day, I decided to go back to Manila; go back to my Brinx. Hindi ko na kasi kaya ang distansya sa pagitan naming dalawa. Wala rin naman akong mapapala, dahil kahit anong gawin ko siya at siya rin lang ang nasa isip ko.

I'm also pellucid on my decision of telling Daddy and Papa about me and Brinx. Hindi ko naman na kailangan itago. The earlier I tell them about us, mas magiging magaan na ang mga iniisip ko tungkol sa amin ni Brinx. Mas magiging madali na para sa akin ang lahat, para sa amin.

"BRINX!" I shouted when I pushed his door opened before I lunged myself at him. Nakatayo kasi siya sa harap ng mesa niya habang nagbabasa.

Nagulat pa nga siya pero hindi naman nagtagal dahil napalitan yun agad ng tuwa. "Baby!" He said in equal enthusiasm.

I showered him kisses all over his face. "I miss you! I miss you! I miss you!" I said. He chuckled, hugging me tighter and closer to him.

"I should be the one to say that." He said before he kissed me passionately. I even let my foot pop because of the fluttering feeling of his kisses.

I smiled before he trapped me again in an embrace. "Akala ko apat na araw ka doon? Nagpamiss ka lang yata eh." He kid, planting a soft kiss on my shoulder.

I shuddered before giggling. "Bakit effective ba?"

He grinned at me alluringly, his olive eyes taunting me. "Gusto mo malaman kung gaano ka-effective?"

Napapalo ako sa kanya bago ako napahagikgik. Mamaya na! Dahil marami akong gustong sabihin sa kanya. Kung gaano ko siya namiss, kung gaano ko siya kamahal, kung gaano ako kaatat kwentuhan sila Papa tungkol sa amin.

"But before that, I want to tell you something..." I said seriously. Napansin niya siguro kaya napawi ang ngiti niya at napatitig sa akin ng seryoso.

Hinawi niya ang buhok ko bago sumagot, "Okay, I'm listening." He said, his throat bobbing.

I know he's nervous. I am too! Gusto ko lang naman siyang papuntahin sa hotel room ko mamaya para sabay naming makausap sila Daddy at Papa. Para legal na kami sa magulang ko, kailangan ko na silang sabihan para mawala na ang galit nila sa mga Bardoquillo, lalong lalo na si Papa. They should be moving on with me, para mahinto na ang pait na dala ng nakaraan.

"Baby? C'mon, you can tell me anything." Brinx coaxed. I inhaled deeply before puffing the air back out.

"Okay, I-I want to-"

"Brinx Antheros we have a problem." Napalingon kami sa pinto at nakita namin ang daddy niya na may hawak na papeles. Hindi ko na natuloy ang sasabihin ko kasabay ng pagkagitla ng daddy niya nang nakita niya kami.

I was still tucked inside Brinx's embrace, making his dad gawk at us shamelessly. "Wh-hat is..Y-you two are b-back together?" Utal na tanong ng daddy niya.

Hindi ko nagawang sumagot. We were right? We are back together? Pero wala kaming label. Hindi ko alam. I'm afraid that if I picked the wrong words to utter, Brinx might leave me. Hanging. Again.

"Yes dad." Brinx said, firm. Making me slightly relieved.

"Brinx,-"

"No, dad. Stop." He immediately said. I took glances at the both of them, baffled because of their unclear conversation.

Napapikit ang daddy niya, "Conference room. Now." He said with authority before he left.

Napalingon ako kay Brinx na nakasimangot na. His lips pursed with irritation. Hindi ba niya gustong malaman ng magulang niya ang tungkol sa amin? Does he intend of keeping our relationship a secret?

"Wait for me here." He said dismissively before he stalked out of his office.

My heart was pounding vigourously on my chest, making me feel weak and sluggish. Dali-dali akong napaupo sa malaking shrivel chair ni Brinx.

Ano nanaman ba ang nangyayari? Gusto ko silang sundan, gusto ko maging parte ng masikretong usapan nila ng tatay niya. Pero hindi ko na magawang humakbang. Pakiramdam ko kasi kapag tumayo ako babagsak ako dahil sa pangangatog ng tuhod ko.

"Pinagnanakawan mo ako. I should have known from the very start."

"Pinagnanakawan mo ako. I should have known from the very start."

"Pinagnanakawan mo ako. I should have known from the very start."

"Pinagnanakawan mo ako. I should have known from the very start."

"Pinagnanakawan mo ako. I should have known from the very start."

"Pinagnanakawan mo ako. I should have known from the very start."

Brinx voice from that night echoed inside my head. The way he looked at me, the way he spoke, the way he made me feel like I was nothing to him. Nothing but a piece of trash he could just throw away.

Everything that happened came back with one hard blow. It consumed my energy and the air I was breathing. It suddenly became a struggle to pump oxygen back into to my lungs.

Were they still thinking that I will rob them given the knowledge of what I am now? Were they still thinking that way? But Tito Ran was the only one who stood by me during that emotionally upsetting night. Or was he already brainwashed?

I was shaking with I don't know. Fright? Pain? I don't know. I wanted to cry it out, but tears aren't near to express what I feel. It's a rough, dry kind of pain that creates too much friction while it constrains my heart.

Ang tagal nawala ni Brinx. Kung gaano kahaba ang oras na kasama niya ang daddy niya sa conference, siya rin ang hirap ko sa paghinga. No, I won't make the same mistake I did from the past. Hindi ako aalis, hindi ko siya pababayaang paalisin ako ng hindi nakakakuha ng paliwanag mula sa kanya.

"Brinx, makinig ka naman." I heard his daddy pleading before Brinx entered his office again. He was wearing an irked ugly frown when he zoomed in.

"Sorry about that baby. Tungkol lang sa-"

"I need explanations Brinx. I need it now or we aren't going anywhere with this relationship."