WILDHORN BAND mini series

A Love Bloomed In SY '99 - Part 19

GABI na ng matapos ang competition. Jeff won the first place. Magkahalong saya at lungkot ang nadama ni Ritzi ng manalo ito. Saya dahil nakita niya kung gaano ito ka proud sa napanalunan nito. Lungkot dahil hindi siya ang babaeng sumalubong rito nang manalo ito. ilang beses siyang kinumbinsi ni Ernest na lapitan si Jeff at tanungin ngunit tumanggi siya. Natatakot siya at nasasaktan dahil sa ginagawa nito.

Ngunit ngayon ay nakapagdesisyon na siya. She wanted to talk to him. She wanted to confront him. Bahala na kung ano ang isasagot nito.

Sa closing party ng surfing competition nagpunta si Ritzi. Nagbabakasakaling makita niya si Jeff doon. Sa totoo lang, katulad ng sinabi ni Ernest hindi siya ang tipo ng babaeng masokista. But still, she wanted to know. Gusto niyang itanong rito kung ano ang nangyari. Kung sino ang babaeng kasama nito. Kung bakit nag fiflirt ito sa maraming babae buong maghapon at ni hindi siya nito tinitingnan. At noong tiningnan naman ay kung bakit puno ng disgusto ang mukha nito. She wanted him to explain everything.

Ngunit hindi niya ito makita sa mga taong naroon kahit ilang beses na siyang nagpaikot-ikot doon. Nawawalan na siya ng pag-asa nang marinig niya ang malakas na halakhak nito. Nilingon niya direksyon kung saan niya iyon narinig. Sa bandang dulo ng buhanginan ay may natanaw siyang grupo. Doon niya naririnig ang boses ni Jeff. Saglit lamang siyang nag-alangan na lumapit. Sa huli ay nanalo rin ang kagustuhan niyang makita ito.

Kumabog ang dibdib niya nang makitang halos puro babae ang naroon. Nakatalikod si Jeff sa kanya. But she was sure it was him. Bahagyang nanlaki ang mga mata niya nang makita niyang yumakap dito ang babaeng nasa tabi nito.Iyon ang babaeng nakita niyang kasama nito kanina. Lalo na nang akbayan ito ni Jeff. Napako siya sa kinatatayuan niya. She could feel a stab of pain on her chest.

"Ikaw ha, hindi ka nagpakita sa amin kagabi, what were you doing last night?" maarteng sabi ng babae.

Tumawa si Jeff. "Well, you know it already. I was playing with someone last night. Besides, I'm with you the whole day." Playing.

"Sino ba ang kasama mo kagabi?"

"An old acquaintance," tipid na sagot nito.

"What? But you said you don't go for girls more than twice," reklamo ng babae.

Tumawa si Jeff. "That's right. I am not someone who will get back with someone from the past."

She felt a stab of pain in her heart when she heard that. Still she remained standing there. At mukhang walang kahit na sino sa mga ito ang nakakapansin sa kanya.

"Then why did you entertain her last night?"

"Because she owes me something. I just made her pay for it," sagot nito. hindi nakaligtas sa kanya ang pait sa tinig nito. "I'm not done yet actually. Dahil siya, ipinahiya niya ako sa harap ng maraming tao. I haven't done that to her yet."

"But you were able to get her body right. Please make me pay too Jeff!" maarteng sabi ng babaeng katabi nito.

Sa sinabi nito ay biglang pumasok sa isip niya ang nangyari sa kanila maraming taon na ang nakararaan. At ang ginawa niyang pakikipaghiwalay rito sa harap ng buong student body. Then everything became clear to her. Her heart suddenly felt like breaking.

She took one step towards him. "So, you mean, you did all that for revenge? Is that it?" kalamadong sabi niya.

Sabay-sabay na napalingon ang mga ito. Saglit lamang na bumakas ang pagkagulat sa mukha ni Jeff bago iyon naging seryoso. He doesn't look like her Jeff at all.

He smirked. "Why else would I still put up to you? At least now we are even. Now I am relieved. Now I can continue living my life perfectly like it was before I saw you again," malupit na sabi nito.

Ritzi just looked at him trying to hide all the pain she suddenly felt while hearing him say those words. Hinamig niya ang sarili. She should not show any weakness. Besides, it was all her fault. Siya ang nanakit dito. May karapatan itong maghiganti sa kanya. Now that she knew it, she realized it all made sense. His reaction when he saw her and all his actions till last night were too good to be true. Now she knew why.

She softly smiled and tried to hide her true feelings. "Well, I know I deserve that. So, are you satisfied now that you got your revenge?" magaang na tanong niya.

He seems to be caught off guard. Tila manghang nakatingin lamang ito sa kanya. She wish he could say something already so that she could go. But still no words from him.

She mantained her smile. "If you already said everything you want to say, I'll take my leave now. I hope that you could be happy now that you got even. Take care of yourself Jeff," she said just above wispher.

Tumalikod siya at lumakad palayo sa mga ito. Nang malayo na siya ay tuluyan nang napalis ang ngiti niya. She suddenly had a bitter taste in her mouth. So much of your wishful thinking Ritzi...it was just all for revenge. And you deserve it. Yet, why does her heart aching as if it is about to break? No, in truth, it's already broken.

HINIHINGAL pa si Ritzi nang makarating siya sa tapat ng cottage niya. She felt like crying. Pero ayaw niyang umiyak. Yet, she could not take the pain she was feeling at that moment. Lalo na tuwing naalala niya ang mga sinabi ni Jeff sa kanya.

"Ritzi, I've been looking for you," narinig niyang tawag sa kanya ni Ernest mula sa likuran niya.

Wala sa loob na nilingon niya ito. Napatitig ito sa mukha niya. "Hey, what happened?" anitong tuluyang lumapit sa kanya. She pursed her lips to resist the tears. "Hey Ritzi," untag ni Ernest sa kanya at bahagya pa siyang niyugyog.

Lumunok muna siya upang alisin ang bara sa lalamunan niya. "It was... just for revenge," mahinang sabi niya.

"What?"

Tiningala niya ang nagtatakang mukha ni Ernest. "All that he did was for revenge. The reason why he was ignoring me and why he was with other women was for revenge."

Kumunot ang noo nito. "Why would he do that?"

Napayuko siya. "Because I had hurt him before," she said just above whisper.