A CATena of Kisses

29 Life

2 more chapters to go bago mag-end ang A CATena of Kisses.

29 Life

We live, we love, we let it go.
--Kevin Dalton

Ding! Bumukas ang elevator sa penthouse ni Gael. Lumabas si Sebastian. Naka-white polo sya, jeans at sneakers. As usual, he looked immaculate with his hair flowing on his back.

Pagpasok nya sa pinto ng penthouse, nakita nya ang nakangiting mukha ni Cat. "Cat!" sigaw nya.

Cat ran to Sebastian's open arms. "Sebastian!" They hugged.

Hinagkan ni Sebastian ang buhok ni Cat. "I missed you, Cat."

"I missed you too, kuya."

Naubo si Gael sa sinabi ni Cat. Napatingin si Sebastian sa kanya.

"Gael."

"Seb."

Sebastian released Cat from his arms. "Tell me, Cat. Is it true? Are you in a relationship with Gael?"

Napatingin si Cat kay Gael tapos sa kuya nya. She nodded. "Yes, kuya. Boyfriend ko na si Gael."

Nginitian nya si Cat. "I see." Tiningnan nga ng masama si Gael. "Can you prepare snacks for the three of us? We'll be at the balcony. Gael and I have something to talk about."

"Sure, kuya." nakangiting sabi ni Cat. Sebastian painfully smiled back.

Sa balcony, nakaupo lang ang dalawa at nakatingin sa labas.

"Why are you here, Seb?" tanong ni Gael.

"I miss her."

"You're not yet ready to face her."

"I will always love her, Gael."

"If you weren't her brother, I would have punched your face already."

"I should be the one giving you a beating. I could smell your scent all over her. What were you doing before I came over?" Mapanuri ang tingin ni Sebastian kay Gael.

Tinapatan din ng tingin ni Gael si Sebastian. "Watching 'Thor'. Did you know she has a huge crush on the lead actor?"

Tumaas ang isang kilay ni Sebastian. "That's all?"

Ngumisi si Gael. "What else do you want to hear? That we were making out?"

Sebastian ground his teeth. "She is underage, Gael."

"It did not stop you before."

"Are you sure you didn't just charm your way to her?"

"That's your style, not mine."

"It did not work on her."

"It will never work out anyway."

"Am I not even allowed to dream?"

"Need I remind you that she's my girlfriend now?"

"Ah...the source of my envy."

"And my bliss."

Huminga ng malalim si Sebastian. "Don't you dare hurt her, Gael."

"I won't, Seb."

Kumatok mula sa loob ng sliding door si Cat. Napatingin ang dalawa. May dalang tray ng juice at sandwich si Cat. Pinagbuksan sya ni Gael ng pinto. Inilapag ni Cat ang tray sa coffee table at umupo sya sa tabi ni Gael.

"Tara. Let's eat!"

"Sure." Nakangiting sabi ni Sebastian.

Nagkukwentuhan lang sila habang kumakain ng biglang nag-ring ang phone ni Cat.

<<Hello, papá.
>>Hija, you need to come to the hospital. Tatay is in critical condition.

Namutla si Cat.
<<Papá. What happened?
>>He was on his way to church when he was hit by a bus. The driver did not bother to stop.

Nabitawan ni Cat ang phone niya. Pinulot naman ito ni Sebastian at kinausap ang papá nila. Hinawakan ni Gael ang kamay ni Cat. "Cat?"

Pigil na pigil ni Cat ang mga luha nya. "Gael. Si tatay."

In-end ni Sebastian ang phone call. "We need to hurry. Gael, assist her."

Nagmamadaling umalis ang tatlo papunta sa hospital ng mga Valdez. Si Sebastian ang nagmaneho habang tahimik lang sa likod ang dalawa. Nakaakbay si Gael sa kay Cat. Hindi nagsasalita si Cat.

Pagdating sa hospital, sinalubong sila ng papá nila Cat at Sebastian. Niyakap nya si Cat. "I'm sorry, hija. We did everything we could."

Nagsimula nang humagulhol si Cat.

---

Nakatayo si Cat sa podium. Naka-itim sya na dress. Nakababa ang buhok nya pero nasuklay ito ng maayos. Suot nya ang kwintas na bigay ng nanay nya sa kanya.

"Tatay was the only family I'd known before I met my kuya, mamá, and papá. He was my father, mother, teacher, and bestfriend. He taught me how to talk, walk, sing, and play the piano. I will never forget the proud look on his face when I had my first recital. He loved it when I played for him. I hope he is listening right now." Tumingin sya sa paligid. "Tatay, I'll be playing your favorite song."

Pumuwesto si Cat sa piano sa gilid.

"You sheltered me from harm. Kept me warm..." Hindi pa sya natatapos sa unang stanza ay nangilid na ang luha nya at nabasag na ang boses nya.

Bago pa sya mawala sa concentration ay umupo si Gael sa tabi nya.

Binulungan nya si Cat. "Let me continue. You can cry on my shoulder."
Sinalo nya ang tinutugtog ni Cat. Kumanta rin sya habang si Cat naman ay umiiyak sa balikat nya.

--

It had been 3 weeks since the death of tatay. Wala pa ring nagbago. Parati pa ring tulala si Cat. Sinubukan syang kausapin ng parents nya at ni Sebastian pero ngingiti lang sya tapos tatahimik ulit. Araw-araw rin syang dinadalaw ni Gael para makipagkwentuhan at mawala ang isip nya sa nangyari.

Nakaupo lang ang magkasintahan sa swing.

"What do you want to do, angel?"

"I don't know, Gael. I want to finish my studies because tatay would have wanted that. But at the same time, I just want to disappear."

"Would you like to come with me?"

"Where?"

"I have a business trip to Macau. Maybe, you'd like to join me. It's a five-day trip. We'll get separate rooms."

Sumabat si Sebastian sa likod nila. "That sounds romantic but she will need a legal guardian. As her older brother, it's my duty to accompany her." Binelatan ni Sebastian si Gael. Nakita to ni Cat at napatawa sya.

"Great, Seb. This is going to be one fantastic week." sarcastic na sabi ni Gael.