Stonehearts 3: Aquamarine

Twenty Six

"Explanation from what?" He ghastly said. Keeping the agonizing space between us.

"Sa lahat. Lahat lahat ng nangyayari." I whispered; my heart constricting tighter. He suddenly shifted uncomfortably on his feet. I waited and waited but he just kept his mouth shut. Mukhang wala siyang balak na magsabi ng kung ano sa akin, "Per l'amor di Dio Brinx, I need a goddamn explanation!"

He took a step backward before creasing his brow in contained anger. His face turning crimson again. "I thought we talked about not letting the past get to us?" He uttered under ragged breaths. He was trying so hard not to shout at me.

I slammed my hands on the table as I stood up. "I tried. God knows I tried! Pero paano ako matatahimik kung ganito na lang lagi ang nangyayari?"

"Natapos na ang natapos at hindi na dapat natin binabalikan." He firmly said. His voice was soft but also sharp; so sharp that it cut through my skin.

"Dapat pala hindi na kita binalikan." I finally said.

I saw his eyes inciting anguish and affliction from what I said. I stalked out of his office, leaving him.

Nakasalubong ko pa si Tito Ran sa labas na sinubukang kausapin ako pero iniwasan ko. Hindi ko na kaya pang makipag-usap sa kahit na kanino.

Why is he so selfish when it comes to that frightful night? Bakit ba ayaw niyang pag-usapan ang tungkol doon? Bakit ba lagi nalang siyang umiiwas? Ano bang nangyari talaga at tila pinipilit niyang maging ignorante ako patungkol sa gabing 'yun?

I told him that I would still choose to stay. Kahit ano pa ang dahilan niya. Kahit ano pa ang nagawa niya. But I can't do that if he kept on pushing me back to the dark.

I cried myself to sleep. I was in deeper pain and frustration when he didn't even bother to call me. Hindi niya rin ako sinundan. Just like the last time, he easily gave up on me. Wala lang ba sa kanya ang mga nangyari ng nakaraan? Nagsinungaling lang ba siya para mapaamo niya ako?

But his words felt so real. It soothed me; bone marrow deep.

Maga ang mata ko kinabukasan, minabuti ko na lang na wag munang lumabas. Napa-order na lang ako ng agahan kahit 11 o' clock na at kahit alam kong hindi ko naman magagawang kumain. Para akong tanga na naghihintay sa pagsulpot ni Brinx sa pinto ko gayong ako naman ang lumayo sa kanya.

I can't understand myself anymore.

Napatalon ako ng narinig kong tumunog ang cellphone ko. I was highly wishing that it was Brinx, but I got another person callingme instead. "Ate Gie?" I answered.

"Q, sinugod sa ospital si Aya. Papunta na kami ni Ate Amy." Hindi na ako nakapagtanong ng bakit dahil binabaan na niya ako.

Sandali kong nakalimutan ang tungkol sa amin ni Brinx at dali-daling nagbihis at nagtungo sa ospital.

When I got there, Manang Judy was sobbing while her husband was hugging her. Aya was on her hospital bed, unconscious, weak, and paler than the last time.

The preggo Ate Amy was talking to a doctor while Ate Gie was just beside Aya, holding her hand while she stroked her hair. This is the worst hospital scenario I've seen Aya in.

I gulped before I stride to approach them. "Anong nangyari sa iyo?" Ate Gie asked, squinting at my puffy eyes.

"Puyat lang." Palusot ko. "What happened?"

Ate Gie took a glance of our dear, sweet Aya before she looked back at me. "I still don't know. Ate Amy is still talking to the doctor. Hindi rin naman na namin makausap ang mag-asawa dahil pagkatapos silang kausapin nung doctor bigla na lang ngumawa ang mama ni Aya." She said before pointing to the whimpering Manang Judy.

Hindi ko na nahintay na marinig ang lagay ni Aya dahil tunog ng tunog ang cellphone ko. Ate Gie coaxed me to attend to it so I left the hospital early. It was Tito Ran and he was calling me non-stop.

"Miss Q?" He said when I gathered the courage of picking up the line.

"Yes, speaking."

"Can we meet today at the office?" He said, his voice packed with something I cannot comprehend.

"Yes, umm sure. I'm on my way. W-will umm Brinx be there?" I tired keeping it casual but my eagerness and need for him resurfaced.

I heard him sigh, "No, this meeting just concerns you and me." I out the line down, my heart raging. Ano naman ang kailangan naming pag-usapan?

He was never involved with the hacienda. Kung may dapat kumausap sa akin maliban kay Brinx si Alexa o si Lizzie lang, dahil sila lang naman ang  naka-ugnay ko.

I was dreading everything, my mind in a complete chaos. Sana business lang ang pag-uusapan namin. Sana 'yun lang. Sana wala ng iba.

Nakarating ako doon at mukhang inaabangan na ako ni Tito Ran. "Mr. Bardoquillo." I greeted formally when I breezed in. Hindi ko kasing magawang tawagin siya sa paraan na ginagawa ko noon.

He was staring at me seriously, "Miss Q, alam kong alam mo na kung bakit ko ninais na makipagkita sa iyo. Following what happened yesterday, I know we're thinking on the same wavelength."

"Enlighten me more." I uttered in cofidence, but my voice cracking in the end; selling me away.

"Brinx..Well, Brinx isn't the free man you thought he was when you came back.." Napapikit ako. What does he mean by that? "Hindi ko na alam ang tumatakbo sa isip ng batang 'yun ngayon.."

"I-I'm s-sorry I cannot follow." I stuttered. My tears burning the back of my eyes.

He took in a deep breath, "I think it's better if I show you Miss Godorecci." Tito Ran said. "Please follow me, we'll be taking a short trip to the hospital."

Ospital? Sinong nasa ospital? Si Brinx? May sakit ba si Brinx? Is he dying? Oh my god no.

My thoughts got worse and worse while I was inside the car with Tito Ran. I was in a pressured state of apprehension that I wasn't able to solicit anymore information as to why he wanted to bring me to the hospital.

Nanggaling lang ako sa kabilang ospital at nandito nanaman ako. We stopped by a door, a familiar last name and initials written beside it.

"Corpuz, C.N"

Tito Ran knocked softly before he turned the knob, creaking the door open. "T-tito.." A faint voice greeted us in debilitated enthusiasm.

"Tash, I have company with me." Tito Ran said, before he nodded at me.

I took one step on the left so I could reveal myself. "Rina?" Even in her weakest state, her voice still managed to pick up a pitch higher.

"Natasha..."