Kain at Abel

Kabanata Tatlo (ii)

Nagdiretso naman sa kwarto si Paolo. Bagamat inis na inis ito kay Wesley, iniisip pa rin nya kung bakit pamiliar ang mukha ng lalaking ito. Biglang bumilis ang tibok ng puso nito. Sobra ang kabang nararamdaman nya. Madali nitong dinampot ang cellphone at tumawag kay Zaria.

Nagpapawis ang kanyang noo, "Hello Ria." Garalgal na bati ni Paolo.

"Pao?" Nag-aalalang tanong ni Mia mula sa kabilang linya. "Is there something wrong?" Dugtong nito, ramdam ni Zaria ang pangamba ni Paolo.

"I have a big problem. For real." Seryosong sagot ni Paolo na tila hindi mapakali.

"If it's about Seth, just relax. Maaayos din yan." Payo ni Zaria.

"No Ria. My problem is bigger than Seth."

"Really? Ano naman yan." Muling pag-aalala ni Zaria.

"Do you still remember my family tree? My step brother is back. For good." Dismayadong sagot ni Paolo.

"And the problem is? Don't tell me it has something to do with mana." Pabirong tanong ni Zaria upang mabawasan ang kaba ni Paolo.

"Sira! This is not a joke. Do you still remember Cain? The bet? He's my brother." Tarantang wika ni Paolo.

"My God! Is that for real. Wow, we're almost screwed. Buti na lang at least natanggi mo that time na you're gay and most importantly hindi kayo nagkiss that night. Kung hindi that's so incest. My God, I really can't believe this."

Lalong bumilis ang kabog ng dibdib ni Paolo, "Actually, Ria." Kinakabahang wika nito. "We did." Tanging nasabi ni Paolo.

"We did what?" Bakas ang pagkabigla sa boses ni Zaria.

"We actually kissed that night. I Lied." Pag-amin ni Paolo.

"What!" Biglang wika ni Zaria. "O my. Meaning to say talo ako sa pustahan?" Palihis na dugtong nito.

"Ria! Focus. Can't you see the bigger picture. Mas malaki pa don ang problema ko."

"Yes I got it. I'm just trying to rationalize. Hello Paolo, hindi madaling i-digest ang mga revealation mo." Sagot ni Zaria. Sandaling natahimik ang dalawa. "So... Did he recognize you?" Usisa nito.

Napa-isip naman si Paolo, "Hmmmm... We didn't really get the chance to talk yet. Introduce lang. He has some serious attitude problem. Halos mag-away na nga sila ni daddy kanina. Aside from his rudeness, wala naman akong napansin na parang he recognized me." Sagot nito.

"That's good for now. My God, nakakastress ang event ng buhay mo ha." Tugon ni Zaria.

"By the way Ria. Since napagusapan na lang din naman. Wala na kami ni Seth. We broke up that night. That's why I'm extraordinarily upset that night." Kwento ni Paolo.

"After the dare? Maybe he saw you." Nag-iisip na sagot ni Zaria. "Maybe that's the reason why he's insisting that something happened that night. Remember?"

"No! We broke up before the dare. Ano bang sinasabi mong he saw me." Nagtatakang tanong ni Paolo, kinabahan sya.

"Kasi when we separate ways after the dance, pagbalik ko sa table nandun na si Karl at Seth. Hinanap ka ni Seth. Umalis sya tapos nung bumalik sabi ko na nga ba upset sya. Pero when I asked him kung nakita ka nya sabi nya nag cr lang naman daw sya. I don't know. Baka lang naman." Paliwanag ni Zaria.

Halos di na makasagot si Paolo sa panlulumo sa narinig nya, "Now I understand. That's why he kept on telling me that I'm a bad liar. This is really a disaster in the making." Gulong-gulo na wika ni Paolo.