Stonehearts 6: Alexandrite

Fifteen

Nakauwi ka kami pasado alas-siyete na ng gabi. Pagkatapos kasi naming kumain sa Jollibee ay idinaan pa namin si Clyde sa malapit palaruan sa mall. Gusto ko sanang sabihin 'wag na lang pero napangakuan na raw kasi siya ni Gio kaya wala na akong nagawa.

"Sa kwarto mo na lang siya idiretso, Gio. Hindi na magigising 'yan. Kukuha lang ako ng batya at bimpo para mapunasan ko siya at mabihisan." Sambit ko na siya namang sinunod niya.

Mabilis ko namang nakuha lahat ng sinabi kong bagay at sumunod sa kanila sa kwarto. Nadatnan ko si Gio na nakaupo sa kama habang humahagod maya't-maya sa buhok ni Clyde.

I gave him a few seconds of privacy before I cleared my throat and entered the bedroom. I suddenly felt my goosebumps when I realized that this is the first time all three of us are inside the bedroom. It's a strange but fulfilling feeling I can't understand.

'Yon lang ang tumatakbo sa isipan ko hanggang sa nakaupo at sa kabilang gilid ni Clyde. Ipinatong ko ang pambibihisan niya sa ulunan niya saka sinimulang hubarin ang suot niyang t-shirt, shorts at salawal.

"You're very good at this." Gio said making me look at him. He was staring at what I'm doing intently as if he is forcing himself to learn.

I chuckled, "Magwawalong taon ko na itong ginagawa. Dapat siguro magaling na ako rito." I joked but he didn't laugh with me.

Seryoso lang siyang nakatingin sa pagpupunas na ginagawa ko bago niya ako nagawang titigan sa mukha.

"Was it hard? Raising him alone?"

Sandali kaming nagkatitigan bago ko yumuko para masilayan ang nakangiting mukha ng anak ko. I ran my fingers on his hair before answering, "Noong una, mahirap. Sobrang hirap. Kasi estudyante pa lang ako noon. Nag-pa-part time para makapag-aral tapos dumating si Clyde sa buhay ko. Nangangapa ako kung saan ako kukuha ng pang-gatas at pang-diaper at the same time pang-tuition ko. But I made it eventually. Lagi ko na lang iniisip noon na kapag sumuko ako, hindi ko mabibigyan ng magandang buhay si Clyde."

I peeked at Gio under my lashes and saw how hard his expression was. "You know, I have this rooted anger to the man who left you when you got pregnant. Iba ang nararamdaman kong galit tuwing naiisip ko na iniwan ka na lang niya ng basta-basta pagkatapos ka niyang mabuntis. But the crazy part is, I am thanking him too. Because if he didn't walk away, this wouldn't be happening."

I have to gulp some air because suddenly it's hard to breath. Una, dahil hanggang ngayon hindi ko masabi na hindi totoong akin si Clyde at pangala, dahil hindi siya nahihiyang sabihin kung ano talaga ang pakay niya.

But before we can move forward, to let myself free of my guard when it comes to him. I want that night, our supposed to be date, be cleared. Gusto ko nang mabigyan ng closure ang gabing 'yon.

"Bakit hindi ka dumating alas-siyete ng gabing 'yon?" Lakas loob kong tanong habang binibihisan na si Clyde.

Hinintay niya muna akong matapos bago siya nagsalita, nawala na rin ang sama ng ekspresyon ng mukha niya at napalitan ng hindi ko mapaliwanag, "I did. I was there. Nakarating ako alas-nuebe na. I tried calling and texting you and realized later na maling number ang nabigay mo sa'kin o talagang sinadya mong maling number ang ibigay sa akin."

I shook my head, "No, I am sure I gave the right number."

"Nope. Kasi nang tinawagan ko ibang tao ang sumagot at hindi ikaw. So the next logical thing I thought of was to go to the dorm you're staying. But you weren't there. Walang may alam kung nasaan ka."

"Sumama ako kay Mitch sa bahay ng pinsan niya ng gabing 'yon."

He nodded his head as if finally understanding our unfortunate event. "I wasn't given enough time to look for you. My grandmother, my mom's mom, was diagnosed with stage-four colon cancer so they decided to take her to States for a better treatment. Hindi makasama si Dad dahil hindi maiwan ang business so I have to go with my mom. The day after our supposed to be date was the day of our flight. But before I left the Philippines, I tried messaging Mitch. Pero hindi niya ako binigyan ng chance magpaliwanag, unang mensahe ko palang ay minura na niya ako at pagkatapos ay blinock. Sinubukan ko ring manghingi ng tulong kay Greg kaso hindi pala sila naging okay ni Mitch after ng party. I can't think of anyone who's close to you so it left me to a dead end."