23: Finding Clarkie
Leah’s Point of View
It has been a week since I was discharged from the hospital. Hanggang ngayon iniisip ko pa din siya. Ewan ko nga lang kung bakit.
Muli kong tinitigan ang singsing. It is a silver ring with blue gem stones engraved on it. Ang ganda lang. ‘Yun nga lang, hindi ko alam kung bakit may ganito ako at kung kanino galing ito.
“Tita, batet ba nila hanap Nemo?” tanong ng pamangkin kong si Riri.
Pinapabantay kasi siya nila kuya sa akin tapos nanonood siya ng Finding Nemo.
“Kasi, anak niya si Nemo. Hindi naman pwedeng pabayaan niya na lang siya lalo na’t nag-iisang anak na lang si Nemo.”
“Ikaw Tita, may anak na kayo?”
Nagulat naman ako sa tanong niya. “Ha? Ni wala ngang asawa ang tita eh.”
“Pero sabi ni tatay, asawa mo daw si Tito Clark.”
Nagtaka ako sa sagot niya. Pano ko naging asawa si Clark?
Sakto namang dumating sila kuya.
“Riri?”
Bumaba sa couch si Riri at sinalubong sila. “Tatay!”
Binuhat ni kuya si Riri. Sumunod naman ako sa kanya.
“Kuya, kung anu-ano naman sinasabi mo kay Riri.”
“Ha? Ano bang sinabi ko?”
“Sabi mo daw, asawa ko si Clark.”
Nanlaki ang mata niya. Tumingin siya kay Riri tapos sa akin. He laughed awkwardly. “Hehehe. Ikaw talaga Riri. Kung anu-ano sinasabi mo kay tita mo.”
Napataas ang kilay ko. Binalewala ko na lang iyon. “Sige, kuya. Akyat na ako sa kwarto ko.” paalam ko tapos umakyat na.
I plop down my bed with my phone in hand. I open my phonebook and looked for Maurice’s name.
Pero imbes na ang pangalan niya ang makita ko, isang contact na nagngangalang Clark ang nakakuha ng pansin ko.
Clark? Is this Clark Sanford? How come I have his number? When did I get his number?
Tinawagan ko ang number niya. It got connected immediately.
[H-Hello?]
Third Person’s Point of View
“Etto... Clark?”
[Y-Yes, this is Clark. Who are you?]
Walang nagawa si Clark kundi ganun ang sinagot. Dahil ang sabi ng doctor, “As much as possible, hayaan niyo lang na bumalik ang memories niya NATURALLY and VOLUNTARILY.” Inemphasize talaga niya ang mga salitang ‘yon. “Makakasama sa kanya kapag pilit kayong magpapaalala.”
“Leah.” maikling sagot niya.
[O-Oh? My cousin courted you before, right?]
Hindi agad sumagot si Leah. Mistulang nagdadalawang-isip pa siya kung sasagutin ba niya ang tanong. But in the end, tumango siya at sumagot. “Yes.”
“But anyway, Clark. Do you have any idea how I did I have your number?”
It is his turn to remain silent. He is wondering what his contact name is. [I-I don’t know.] Ngumisi si Clark. [Perhaps, you are just acting innocently but you are actually a secret admirer of mine.]
Ngumisi din si Leah at nagngisian sila all day. Deh joke lang. Charot charot lang.
So, ayun nga, nakangising sumagot si Leah. “Well, who knows?”
Nagulat si Clark sa sagot ni Leah. Ikaw ba naman sagutin ng ganun in a not-so-seductive tone ng fiance mong nakalimutan ka. Tignan natin kung ‘di ka magulat.
Bumabalik nanan ba siya sa pagiging ganun?
“Just kidding, Clark. Asa! We are just simple strangers whose ways got intersected by an accident. Pasalamat ka nga nakuha mo ang interes ng isang Leah Rodriguez.”
Stab straight to the heart just for you, Clark Sanford. Strangers daw oh! But, somehow he thought, “Even though I am a stranger to him for now, I am still in her interests.” Pero hindi talaga niya mapigilang mapaisip at magtaka ukol sa contact name niya.
[I ain’t surprised to hear that. Isang Clark Sanford kaya ang pinagkakainteresan mo.] Tumawa si Clark. [I really can’t believe someone doesn’t know who I am.]
Her brow arched. “Sino ka ba?” seryosong tanong niya.
Wala talagang ideya si Leah kung sino si Clark maliban sa pinsan siya ni Maurice. Ang saklap lang.
[Clark Sanford, vocalist of Lucky 7, at your service.]
Nanlaki ang mata ni Leah. “K-Kabanda mo pala ang dalawa kong kababata! Woah! Ang dami naman pala nating koneksiyon, bakit kaya ngayon lang tayo nagkita?”
“Matagal na tayong nagkita.” ang gustong isagot ni Clark. Subalit iba ang sinagot niya. “Dahil nakatakda tayong magkita ngayon.”
Napalingon si Leah nang marinig ang sagot mula sa likod. Nanlaki ang mata niya nang makita si Clark na nakatayo duon.
‘Oh my god! He is so goddamn handsome!’ she thought to herself.
“How did you know where I live?”
“Well, I didn’t know you do live here. My brother just asked me to tag along since he is visiting your brother, his best friend.”
She unconsciously frowns. And that put a smile to his face.
“May I?” he asked.
“Yeah, sure. Make yourself feel at home.”
He walked to her bed and sat beside her. “Don’t frown.” he teased.
“I am not frowning.”
He laughs. “Your face contradicts your answer, though.” he teased. She lightly punched his arm.
“Are we friends now?” she asked.
“Do you want to?”
“I would love to.”
His smile widens. He held out his hand and she gracefully accepted it.
***
“Chotto!” she hisses.
Pano ba naman kasi? Talo nanaman siya sa pangatlong round nila ni Clark sa Xbox.
Tinawanan siya ni Clark. “J-Just accept it, Leah. You would never win against me.”
She glared at him, making him laugh louder. He pinched her cheek.
“You’re cute when you’re upset.”
She groaned and stand up from her seat. “Let’s go eat.” she offers.
“Tara.”
He grabbed her hand and pulled her to the kitchen. They saw her brother and he high-fived Clark.
“Close kayo ni kuya?”
“Oo, dati pa.”
~~~
K. Walang konek yung title. Hahaha. Pero ang cute kasi eh. CLARKIE. Haha
BINABASA MO ANG
The Good Bitch
Teen Fiction"Sawa na akong masaktan, Clark." - Leah The Dare Book 2: The Good Bitch Genre: Romance Language: Taglish Date Started: July 28, 2016 *Thanks to @YanaJin21 for the cover :)
