What Went Wrong (to the love that once was strong) [Caius & Celestine]

Kabanata 23

Much as I was not ready for this unexpected visit, I still found myself sitting on the one-seater couch across Gabriel, half of me did not want to hear more but the other half was still curious and wanting to know.

Matindi ang bugso ng damdamin ko at hindi na rin ako mapakali pa lalo na at nasa itaas lamang si Milo.

What would I do if he suddenly showed up here?

Paano na lang kung makita siya nitong si Gabriel?

I took a deep breath and straightened on my seat. At pakiramdam ko, sa isang iglap lamang ay muling sumariwa ‘yong akala kong naghilom ng sugat dito sa puso ko.

Hindi pa pala.

“Si Tita Gilda ba ang nagsabi sa ‘yo kung nasaan ako?” tanong ko.

But she would not do that to me!

She would never betray my trust!

Gabriel, with his eyes partially concealed beneath lowered lids and while giving me an apologetic look, responded with a subtle shake of his head.

“He has nothing to do with this,” he gently assured me.

Nakahinga ako nang maluwag sa sinabi niyang iyon pero sandali lamang iyon dahil nag-aalala pa rin talaga ako na baka makita niya si Milo.

“Then how did you know I am here?” kuryosong tanong ko.

Dahil kung hindi si Tita Gilda ang nagsabi sa kaniya, sino kung ganoon? Walang nakaaalam ng lokasyon ko maliban na lang sa mga taong pinagkakatiwalaan ko. And of course it was not Papa. He certainly would not do that to me. And though we only reunited just recently, I trusted Gottfred that he would not tell this to anyone, and I believed he would not betray me as well.

So, who was it, then?

Bahagyang tumungo si Gabriel at saka ipinatong ang magkabilang siko sa mga tuhod niya. He clasped his fingers together and looked down the floor, his eyes could not meet mine.

“I secretly followed Mama when she came here the last time. Alam kong may alam siya kung nasaan ka. I had been meaning to talk to you, Celestine,” aniya.

I took in another sharp breath. Pinagsalikop ko rin ang mga kamay dahil nanginginig na ang mga ito. Sari-saring emosyon na ang nararamdaman ko ngayon, and I did not know what to put first.

“Nakita ko,” biglang sabi niya kung saan kabadong nagpatingala naman sa akin sa kaniya.

Ano ang nakita niya?

“‘Yong batang lalaki, Celestine. Anak ni Kuya Caius, ‘di ba?” he said matter-of-factly.

I froze on my seat and suddenly felt like there was a bomb thrown right in front of me. Nanatili naman ang tingin niya sa akin, hindi kumukurap. His statement was not more of a question but instead a confirmation.