When the Beast Meets the Bitch (COMPLETED)

35: His Confession

When she entered his office, nagulat siya. Ric seemed loss. He seemed so confused.

Anu bang nangyari?

Bakit ito nagkakaganito?

Sino si Patrick sa buhay nito?

Gulong-gulo na siya.

“You came.” Mahinang sambit nito.

Tumango siya.

Nilapitan niya ito. “Anung nangyari?”

Tinitigan siya nito. “A man came and told me she saw my sister.”

Napanganga siya.

That man must be Patrick.

Pero hindi siya nagtanong. He needs a listener at yun ang balak niyang gawin ngayon.

“My sister died two years ago in a car accident.”

Tahimik lang siyang nakinig dito. Kahit gusto na niyang sabihing paulit-ulit na ito. Of course, that's a joke kahit pasiguro isangdaan nitong ikwento iyon sa kanya. She will always listen.

Hinawakan niya ang mga kamay nito.

He looked at her with that devastated face and confused look. “Impossible. I’ve seen her corpse. I’ve seen her dead but Patrick... I knew Patrick ever since young. He is not a liar.” Hinang-hinang sambit nito.

Alam niya iyon. Patrick was the most honest man na nakilala niya.

“Naguguluhan ako.” Napahawak ito sa ulo. “Hindi ko alam ang gagawin ko.”

Niyakap niya ito.

Siya man ay hindi rin alam ang sasabihin.

“My sister was the kindest woman I knew. She was a bestfriend. Lagi niya nga akong dinadalaw sa condo ko.”

“Why do you live separate from your family?” Wala sa sariling naitanong niya dito.

She bit her lip. Hindi niya napigilang magtanong. Nahiya naman siya sa naisip niya kanina— 'He needs a listener at yun ang balak niyang gawin ngayon.'

He exhaled. “Sa bahay. My dad was a workaholic. My mom only sees my sister and often times abala ang aking kapatid sa iba’t-ibang club activities nito.” He paused. “I always feel alone sa bahay. Kaya naman nakiusap ako sa kanila to live at a condo unit. To be free. Pumayag ang ama ako and my mom simply do not care.”

Bakit naman ganito ang nanay nito? Her mom was so different from her mom. Kaya siguro tuwang-tuwa ito sa nanay niya.

Naalala niya ang sinabi nito sa kanya dati: 

I envy you for having a mother like her.

“That condo unit was the place where you are staying today.” He added.

Nagulat siya.

“That’s why you’ve given me that as the first condition!” She exclaimed.

(First condition recap: You’ll take care of this condo unit at hinding hindi mo ito patitirhan sa ibang tao maliban sayo.)

Tumango ito. “The day I started living in that condo unit slowly I felt happy. Slowly, I learned how to make friends. Slowly, I realized na may pamilya din naman ako. My dad used to visit me in my place. And so was my sister na laging kasa-kasama ang ina namin. Nakakatawa na kung kailan ako lumipat ng tirahan ay saka ko naman naramdaman ang pagmamahal ng mga ito bilang isang pamilya. At that condo unit a lot of memories were formed.”

She looked at him. “Then bakit hindi mo siya tirahan? I’m willing to leave the place.”

Umiling ito. “Wala akong balak tumira doon. That condo unit reminded me so much of my happy memories with my sister kaya naman after my sister died, I asked my father to keep the condo unit away from anyone. It was a treasure I wanted to keep and a treasure I do not want to see.”

She bit her lip.

Kaya pala ganoon na lang ang pagkaasar nito noong unang araw silang nagkita. The house was a mess because of her. She tarnished the place where he and his sister had made great memories.

He sighed. “Ganun pa man, it was initially my plan, ang paalisin ka sa condo unit na yun.”

Naguluhan siya sa pagkakatanda niya she never felt na gusto siya nitong paalisin sa condo unit na tinitirhan ngayon. “What do you mean?”

Bumuntung hininga ito. “I was in England. I was working at our company there. I was stupidly trying to live my life after my sister’s death and my exgirlfriend and my mom leaving me. And then I was notified na may pinatirang estranghera si papa sa lumang condo unit ko. I was mad! I immediately went to the Philippines. When we first met, kagagaling ko lang ng airport from an almost 12-hour flight. I was so exhausted but I badly needed to know who was staying on my condo unit. The next day, binili ko ang katapat na condo unit para kausapin ka sa isang swap.”

Nagulat siya. “But you never did!”

“Because you entered my room with a robe on!” He abruptly replied.

Napanganga siya.

He cleared his throat. “I lost my thoughts!”

Maya-maya pa’y hindi na niya napigilan ang matawa. Somehow, mukhang he is slowly feeling better. Natatawa na din kasi ito.

“Okay. This is going to be fun.” Wala sa sariling nasabi niya.

It was like Ric’s confessing at her.

“Continue.” Ngiting-ngiting paghikayat niya dito.

Binigyan siya nito ng masamang tingin.

He exhaled sharply. “Hanggang sa I completely lost my goal. Tuwing nakikita kasi kita ay parang lagi na lang kitang gustong awayin or rather tuwing nakikipagkita ka sa akin ay lagi ka na lang galit. Then, napalitan yung feelings na yun ng desire. Everytime nakikita kita parang gusto na lang kitang halikan. Every movement of yours seemed like you were seducing me. And then, I defensively said to myself na kaibigan lang ang tingin ko sayo. Nothing more nothing less. Pero, meron bang kaibigan na pinagnanasaan? Meron bang kaibigan na laging ito at ito na lamang ang lagi mong gustong makita at makausap? Meron bang kaibigan na ayaw mong i-share sa iba dahil for some reason nagagalit ka? Meron bang kaibigan na siya at siya na lamang ang nilalaman ng iyong isipan? And then, one day narealize ko na hindi pala talaga kaibigan lang ang tingin ko sayo. Then, one day narealize ko na it’s fine. Ayos lang na ikaw ang tumira sa condo ko. Suddenly, narealize ko na ayos na ako. Na hindi na ako nalulungkot tuwing pumapasok ako sa condo unit na yon. Suddenly, narealize ko na…”

Tinitigan siya nito.

Napalunok siya.

His eyes were captivating hers.

“Na mahal na pala kita.” Ric said with his eyes full of love.

Natulala siya.

Finally.

He said it.

The words I badly wanted to hear.

“I love you too.” Mahina niyang sambit.

He kissed her. She kissed him back.

Finally! I can be happy!

Finally!