Say You Love Me

Chapter 9

PATULOY na nakatanaw si Kace sa lawak ng dagat. It was the most beautiful thing she saw today. The sea was blue and calm, tila nag-aanyaya sa mga tao para lumangoy. It was the perfect weather. The sun is out but it was not too hot on the skin. Ibinaba niya ang maliit na bag na dala at saka umupo. Gusto na naman niyang maiyak ngunit pinipigilan niya ang sarili.

Dalawang linggo na siyang nasa Palawan. Pagkatapos niyang magtungo sa opisina ni Zijhan para sana surpresahin ng lunch ay agad niyang tinawagan si Vik.

"I'm taking time off," bungad niya rito.

"Sure, take a day or two," wika nito.

"I'm talking weeks, Vik."

Hindi kaagad nakasagot si Vik sa kabilang linya at tila pinakikiramdaman siya. "What the damn hell did he do to you now, Kace?" There was a trace of anger in Vik's voice.

Kace wiped the tears falling off of her face. "N-nothing, I'll be in Palawan." Iyon lamang at saka niya pinutol ang linya.

Agad siyang nakauwi sa condo unit niya at nag-empake. Next thing, she was on a plane to Coron, Palawan. She spent the next few days crying herself to sleep. Kung kaya lang sana ng ganda ng kapaligiran na pawiin ang sakit na nararamdaman niya, naka-move on na siguro siya ngayon.

Noong nakaraang linggo, sinundan siya ni Vik. It was obvious that her friend was worried about her. Agad siya nitong niyakap. She told her everything.

"Have you tried to talk to him?"

Umiling siya. "Para ano pa, Vik? So he could see me like this? Alam ko naman na sa bandang huli ako ang talo sa larong ito. Tanga lang talaga ako kasi I fell for him despite knowing that. I became too hopeful that someday, we'll just end up together. We were good together, I guess. But it turns out the opposite way around. I just need this time off so I can get my shit together. He'll be out of my system in no time. Gusto ko siyang maharap nang wala na akong nararamdaman na kahit ano."

Parang may gusto pang sabihin si Vik ngunit tumango na lamang. Alam ni Vik na ang gusto lamang niya ngayon ay may mapaglabasan ng sama ng loob. Ni hindi rin ito nagpakita ng galit sa sitwasyon niya, naroon lamang ito, nakikinig sa kanya. Hindi na rin ito masyadong nagtanong. She decided to change the topic and asked about work. Nagku-kwento man si Vik ay alam niyang ang kalagayan pa rin niya ang naiisip ng kaibigan.

Nang sumunod na araw ay naga-almusal nang makaramdam si Kace ng pagkahilo. Inisip niyang gutom lamang iyon. She decided to order bread and eggs to go with coffee. Habang hinihintay nila ang in-order ay nagku-kuwento si Vik tungkol kay Glen. Habang nagku-kuwento ito ay nararamdaman pa din ni Kace ang hilo pero hindi niya iyon ipinapakita kay Vik. Pilit siyang ngumingiti para hindi ito makahalata. Kace was glad that Vik was finally being open about Glen. Huling naalala niya ay sumusubo pa si Vik ng mushroom soup nang tuluyan nang dumilim ang kanyang paningin.

"WHAT the fuck are you doing here?"

Nagulat si Zijhan sa reaksyon ni Vik nang tuluyan na siyang makapasok sa opisina nito. May galit sa ekspresyon ng mukha nito. She looked as if she can throw her laptop at him any minute now.

"W-where's Kace?" tanong niya rito.

She laughed sarcastically. "Where's Kace? Are you being serious right now?" padabog nitong ibinaba ang cellphone nito sa mesa. Mas lalong nanggigigil ang mukha nito. "You took three weeks of your sweet fucking time and now you're looking for Kace? Gago ka ba?"

Zijhan was desparate. It has been three weeks since he had any communication with Kace. Ang huli ay yung araw na sinabi niyang hindi siya makakapunta sa opisina nito para mag-lunch. He felt sorry for ever lying to her. Kaya hindi siya nakatupad sa pangako dito ay dahil biglang dumating si Mara sa kanyang opisina. What was shocking was that she was pregnant.