CORDIVILLA: Breathless

Chapter 29

Chapter 29

"Ngayon ang flight ni Stan, 'di ba?" Tanong ni Kevin sa gitna ng aming pagpapahinga.

Nasa isang snack house kami sa baba lamang ng kaniyang gym. I sighed and nodded to answer his question. Stanford will be flying back to Oregon later today. Pagkatapos niya akong ihatid dito ay umalis din siya para ayusin ang mga gamit niya.

"Kaya pala nanlalata ka," mahina siyang tumawa.

I glared at him. Of course, I am not going to admit that!

It's just that he's not sure how long he will be gone. Napag-usapan na namin 'yon kagabi sa apartment at hanggang ngayon ay mabigat ang aking loob. I am surely going to miss him so much.

"Eh 'yong Terrance? Hindi ka na muling kinausap?" Tinitigan niya ako.

Pumikit ako sa kaniyang tanong. Dalawang araw na simula nang makabalik kami mula sa bakasyon sa probinsya nina Aron. I didn't know what exactly happened that night pero ang narinig ko ay sinuntok daw ni Stanford si Terrance. He was mad, I didn't see his full rage because he locked me inside our room that time.

What I know is he talked to Terrance. Iyon ang narinig ko kay Kevin dahil kahit siya ay hindi pinayagang pumasok sa dining area kung saan nag-usap sina Terrance, Stan at iba pa nilang lalaking kaibigan. But Kevin's so sure that Stanford punched Terrance in the face.

Napatunayan ko rin 'yon dahil sa pasang tinamo ni Terrance sa kaniyang mukha. We went home on our last day. Gusto kong mahiya sa nangyari dahil nasira ang bakasyon namin dahil doon pero mas inalala ko ang galit ni Stan.

Fortunately, he calmed down when we got back in Manila. Nag-uusap naman kami pero hindi iyon kasali. He's not opening it up so I'm not initiating anything either. Baka magalit ko pa.

"Hindi na." Tugon ko.

"Mabuti naman kung ganoon. Hindi ko talaga makalimutan ang galit na mukha ni Stanford." He giggled and shook his head.

Napabuga ako ng hangin at masamang tinitigan ang kaibigan. He keeps on saying that, I don't know if it's to tease me that I didn't see it or what.

"He's like a mad beast. Nakakanginig ang galit niyang mukha! You know what? I think he's getting sexier when he's livid. Galitin mo kaya araw araw?" Mahina siyang tumawa.

"Tumigil ka, Kevin. Ibabato ko sayo 'tong cake!" I glared even more.

Tumahimik naman siya pero nakangisi pa rin. I checked my phone to see if there's a message but none.

"And are you ready for tomorrow?" Nagtaas ng kilay si Kevin.

I was silent for a second. Ngumuso ako at tumingin sa labas ng snack house. Tumango ako at nanahimik saglit.

I dialed the number that's on the business card the other day. I'm expecting I'd talk to my brother pero ang lalaking sekretarya niya ang nakausap ko. I didn't know my brother has a secretary kahit na malaking pwesto ang hawak niya sa kompanya. I told his secretary I want to meet my brother and of course, I told him I am his sister.

Natanggap ko ang mensahe mula sa sekretarya niya kahapon lang. My brother wants to meet me in Taguig. Nagulat ako roon dahil narito pala siya. I thought he'd be in our province or anywhere but not here.

"I want to come! Nakakainis naman kasi si lola, ngayon pa dumating!" Maktol ni Kevin.

It's my turn to laugh. He wants to come with me because he wants to meet my brother pero dahil umuwi ang lola niya galing Brazil, kailangan siya sa bahay nila. Gusto ko rin sanang may kasama dahil pakiramdam ko bibigay ang mga tuhod ko sa pinaghalong kaba at pananabik para sa mangyayari.