Requited

Chapter 5

Isa sa mga hindi makakalimutan ni Rhian ay pag-i-ensayo kung paano magtago ng mabuti sa mga kalaban. Para sa isang siyam na taong gulang ay tila naglalaro lamang ito. Taya ang mga tagabantay at silang mga bata naman ang nagtatago. She was hiding behind a bush when her peer, Franco, called out to her from a nearby Acacia tree. Kaya naman dahan-dahang pinuntahan ni Rhian ang kasama. Sabay silang nagtago and they were not caught.

But tonight is a different situation. Hindi sila nag-ti-training, walang Franco, at higit sa lahat- nahuli siya ng mga tagabantay.

"Anong ginagawa mo rito, Rhian? Alam ba 'to ni Heneral?"

Hindi maitatangging nanginginig ang dalaga sa mga oras na ito. Kinakabahan siya. The least person who should know that she's trying to escape at 1 am is her father. Siguradong papagalitan siya nito.

The old man tried to read what's on Rhian's mind because the girl won't answer. The other guy suggested na dalhin nalang si Rhian pauwi na siya namang itinango ng nauna.

"Halika, sumama ka sa amin."

At that very moment, Rhian was as if glued, just letting the men took her home. Bahala na.

Tiago greeted her daughter with a disappointed look next morning. The floor is uniquely neat this morning that it's more amusing to stare at than her father.

"Rhian," Tumayo ang ama sa pagkakaupo sa couch at lumapit sa anak na ngayo'y handa nang mapagalitan.

"May pupuntahan ka daw kagabi? Bakit hindi mo ko inaya, anak?"

The girl inhaled deeply before answering. "S-sa bayan po sana."

Tiago clicked his tongue. "At sino naman ang kasama mo? Bakit hindi mo sinabi sa akin?"

Rhian tried to stop her shaky hands by giving her shirt a soft massage. She thought of Franco and their supposed to be midnight stroll. She breathed heavily, trying to gain the courage to answer.

"S-sorry po, papa. 'Di ko na po uulitin."

"Rhian," his voice was calm yet there's this hint of authority. "Hindi mo pa sinasagot ang tanong ko. Tumingin ka sa'kin."

And as if on cue, Rhian lifted her head to face her father.

"Sino ang kasama mo." This time, she knows its not a question but rather a command. Kailangan niyang sabihin na si Franco at Ivan ang hinihintay niya pero hindi siya sinipot.

"W-wala po, papa." Rhian closed her eyes. The old man traced the uneasiness on Rhian's face.

"G-gusto ko po sanang pumunta sa p-perya," she continued lying.

"You can just tell me, anak."

Rhian blinked twice, hindi siya makapaniwala sa narinig.

"Alam ko po kasing hindi niyo ko papayagan," she responded in a lower tone.

The old man chuckled. "Papayagan naman kita anak. Pero hindi pa ngayon."

"Kailan po?" Rhian asked in a halfway happy voice.

"Kapag tapos na ang pagsasanay mo. Kapag magaling ka na talaga." He reached for her daughter's shoulders. "You know, anak, maraming masasamang tao sa labas. Baka mapano ka, lalo na't gabi."

"Bakit, Tiago? San ba niya gustong pumunta kagabi?" Both heard Amelia's approaching steps and irritated voice coming downstairs. Kinabahan ang dalaga sa presensya ng ina.

"Kaya 'yan sumusuway sa'yo kasi pinabayaan mo. Hindi mo pinapagalitan." Rhian's mom immediately called the helper and ordered for a coffee.

"S-sorry po, mama."

Tiago faced his wife and gently stopped her from being furious. Agad namang dumiretso si Rhian sa kusina para mag-almusal. She still got a long day of training at kailangan niyang makausap si Franco.

Pagkadating sa training site ay agad naman hinanap ni Rhian si Franco. It was during the middle of training when he came. His face is just blank. Obvious rin ang dark circles nito.

Rhian waited for Franco to talk to her during breaktime. Pero kahit pagtingin ay hindi magawa ng binata. She got various reasons on her mind. Baka nahihiya siya sa 'king lumapit kasi pinaghintay niya ko kagabi? But he needs to talk to her, atleast! Baka hindi niya talaga ako sinipot at natatakot siyang kausapin ako kasi alam niyang galit ako sa kanya? But she's not mad- oh, well, a little bit. Pero kailangan niya ng sagot. O baka naman pinagalitan siya ng tatay niya, kagaya ko? Pero he needs to explain himself!

The whole day, she can't focus on training. Sa tuwing lalapitan niya si Franco, 'yon naman ang pagtayo nito para lumipat sa ibang pwesto. Sumisikip ang dibdib niya. She can't explain what she's feeling. Mad is an understatement. Pero hinahaluan din ng lungkot ang kanyang puso. It's like Franco's walking away from her.

But this is not the time to show vulnerability. She can't show people that she's weak. She can forget what happened. Perhaps tomorrow, or the day after tomorrow, pero hindi muna ngayon.

While Rhian chose to stay mad at Franco, the latter is also infuriated. Galit si Franco, hindi kay Rhian, hindi sa tatay niya kundi sa sarili niya. Kung nagdoble ingat lang sana sila kagabi ni Ivan, hindi sana sila nahuli at pinagalitan. He can still remember the fire in his tatay's eyes and he can still hear his raging voice.

"Alam mo bang paiikutin ka lang ng Rhian na yan sa mga kamay niya dahil alam niyang kakumpetinsiya mo siya!" The older Segismundo banged the whole house with his anger upon hearing Rhian's name from the boy, Ivan's mouth. Nadulas kasi ang bata at nasabing pupunta silang tatlo sa perya kasama ang dalaga.

"Sa tingin mo ba kaibigan ang turing sa'yo ni Rhian? Franco, tandaan mo, sa mundong 'to, uso ang mga manloloko. Gagamitin ka nila at kapag nakuha na nila ang gusto nila, itatapon ka nalang nila basta-basta. Tandaan mo 'yan."

He closed his eyes to forget his tatay's face. He looked at Rhian na nakikipag-sparring sa ibang trainee. He convinced his self that his father's thoughts on Rhian were not true. That he's not just her rival. Because for him, Rhian is not his competitor but a friend. Ayaw niyang isipin at tanungin kung si Rhian ba ganoon din ang tingin sa kanya. Because the more he seek for the answer, the more he might get hurt.

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