IX: The Night
Clyde Kramer's POV
It's been a long day. Nagda-drive na ako papunta sa The Happy Pets Veterinary Clinic. Susunduin ko si Nieve. Aayain ko siyang mag-dinner sa isang restaurant.
I was driving when my eyes caught a familiar figure. My eyes widen. I suddenly pushed the brakes. I stopped the car beside the sidewalk then I went out and ran towards the figure.
"Leona!" Sigaw ko habang tinutulak patagilid ang mga taong nakaharang sa daan ko papunta sa kanya.
Nang naabot ko siya ay hinawakan ko siya sa balikat.
"Leona," tawag ko sa ngalan niya. Unti-unti ay humarap siya sa akin kasabay ang pagtibok ng puso ko.
"Clyde," tawag niya sa pangalan ko tapos ay ngumiti siya sa akin. It's been a while since I last saw her smile.
"Long time no see," I said.
"Musta ka na? Huling kita natin ay noong graduation natin," sabi niya.
"Mabuti naman. Ikaw musta ka na?" Tanong ko while looking at her tawny eyes.
"I'm happy with my job as a housewife," she said then laughed.
Bigla akong nanlumo dahil sa sinabi niya. Housewife? She's married.
"Kailan ka kinasal?" Tanong ko.
"Last year lang," sabi niya.
May isang lalaki na tumawag sa kanya. Sa tingin ko, iyon ang asawa niya. Nagpaalam na si Leona tapos ay pumunta na siya sa direksyon ng asawa niya.
Leona's my ex-girlfriend. The woman who once made my heart beat erratically.
Binalikan ko na iyong kotse ko tapos ay nag-drive na papunta sa The Happy Pets Veterinary Clinic.
Pagkarating ko roon, nakita ko siyang nakatayo lang sa labas, sa tapat ng sarado nang clinic.
Lumabas na ako nang kotse tapos ay lumapit na sa kanya.
"How was your day?" I asked while trying to smile. She looked at my eyes.
Her gaze was breaking all my defenses.
"Don't pretend to be happy when you're not," she said. "Someone once told me the phrase." Then she tapped my shoulders.
I smiled. I was the one who told her what she just said.
I stealthily entered their house. Hindi na ako nasaktan sa tinik ng mga rosas nila. Sanay na ako dahil sa napadalas na ang pagpasok ko sa bahay nila. Dali-dali akong nagpunta sa tapat ng bintana niya.
Pagkarating ko roon, nandun na siya nakatingin sa may bintana niya. Mukhang inaabangan ako.
Nang nakita niya na ako ay agad siyang kumaway sa akin.
"Mamaw!" Bati niya.
"Na-miss mo ko?" Pabirong tanong ko.
"Oo," sabi niya. Against the light siya kaya hindi ko nakikita iyong mukha niya pero sigurado akong nakangiti siya. Dama ko eh. Napaka-honest talaga nitong batang 'to.
"So anong kwento mo ngayon?" Tanong ko. Bigla siyang tumalikod.
"Dad and I argued awhile ago," she said. "He won't allow me to be at a classmate's party."
"What happened?" I asked while I sat down.
"He told me that I'm ungrateful as their child. They were protecting me but I want to be free from their protection," she said. I suddenly felt her sadness.
"Their protection is strangling you, isn't it?" I said. I suddenly heard her sobs.
"I just want to attend to a party and maybe meet some friends, but they won't allow me," she said then she faked a laugh. "Let's not talk about mine. How about you? How was your day?"
"Mine's the same as always," I said even though I had a bad day. Bagsak ako sa isang subject which is Science kaya napagalitan ako ni papa.
"I really envy you," she said. "You're always happy."
Just a good pretender.
I want to tell her that everyone is a little bit sad inside.
I looked at the night sky. The stars look amazing tonight. They're shining, trying to match the moon's glow.
"Look at the stars,"I said.
"They're beautiful,"she said.
Natahimik ang buong paligid. You can feel the solemness between the two of us.
I called her name.
"Can you promise me one thing?"I said as I stood.
"What is it?" She asked.
"Don't pretend to be happy when you're not," I said then I smiled at her. "Ciao. Malalim na ang gabi. Kailangan ko na umuwi."
"Ingat ka. Babye," paalam niya sa akin.
When I got home, I cried inside my room. I disappointed, Dad. I was really down. Akala ko mapapansin niya at iko-comfort ako pero hindi eh. Hahahaha. Asa ka pa, self.
"Anong nangyari?" She asked me. I smiled at her then I held her hand.
"Wala naman," sabi ko tapos ay ini-sway ang kamay niyang hawak ko. "Nakakapagod lang talaga 'tong araw na 'to."
"May mali talaga sayo ngayon,"sabi ni Nieve tapos ay pinakawalan ang kamay niyang hawak ko. Nagulat ako nang bigla niya akong niyakap. "Hindi ako magaling mag-comfort. Kung iiyak ka, iiyak mo lang. I won't judge you."
Hinaplos ko ang buhok niya.
"This is something that I failed to do years ago," I heard her whisper.
Alam na niya kaya?
I cupped her face tapos ay iniharap ko iyon sa akin. Immediately, I kissed her.
Hindi ko alam kung anong pumasok sa isip ko at hinalikan ko siya.
The touch of my lips on hers feels so right. It was something that I craved for years. The touch of heaven on my lips.
I was savoring the moment when she pushed me.
She looked at my eyes, questioning.
"Why did you kissed me?" She said then she ran away.
Napahilamos ako sa mukha. What have you done, Clyde?
I ran after her.
May pagka-clumsy siya kaya ayun nadapa na naman. Dinalian ko pa ang pagtakbo tapos ay lumuhod sa harap niya. Nakita ko siyang umiiyak...
And it broke my heart.
"I'm sorry," I said then I hugged her.
"I'm sorry too," she said. "I wasn't expecting it and it shocked me."
"I'm such a jerk,"I said.
"Yes, you are," she said. "Now take me home."
