Chasing Fire (Completed)

Chapter 25

Numb

Naglahad siya ng kamay ngunit hindi ko alam kung tatanggapin ko ba o hindi. There's something in her that I don't really like. I can't tell if it's because of her make up, her clothing, or the fact na halos magkamukha kami.

She laughed at my reaction, withdrew her hand then sat down in front of me. Then she smiled like we know each other.

"My reaction was exactly like that when I first saw you." She laughed.

Why do I feel that she already knew me long ago? At napabuntong hininga nalang ako nang tinganggal niya ang kanyang sun glasses at nakitang medyo singkit ang mata niya kaya't nawala na isip ko ang pagkakahawig naming dalawa.

Who is she? A relative?

"Do you know who I am?" Kalmado kong tanong.

"Bakit? Hindi mo ba ako kilala?" She asked back.

Does she think I'll ask her that kung kilala ko na siya? This girl is starting to get in my bones at nagsisimula na akong mairita.

"What do you want?" I asked with controlled anger.

She smiled menacingly. And even her smile makes me so annoyed.

"Nothing, I just want to talk with you."

"About what?"

Wala ako sa mood para makipag-usap ngayon lalo na sa hindi ko kilala. And what's with the color red? To compliment her name Valentina? The hell. But bitch I can say that it suits her well and I don't like it.

"Nothing much." She said then called the waiter to order.

Wag niyang sabihing makikishare siya ng table?

Bago ko pa sabihing ayaw kong makigshare ng table ay tumunog na yung phone ko dahil sa tawag ni Marco.

"Hello?"

"Good morning. Kakagising ko lang. Sorry." His voice was still husky. "Are you still there?" He then asked softly.

"Yes. But you don't have to come. Baka aalis na rin ako dito." I said as I stared at the girl in front.

Hindi ko alam kung mas matanda ba ako o siya ang mas matanda sa aming dalawa. But whatever.

"No, pupuntahan kita. I'll be quick."

"Okay."

Binaba ko ang tawag at agad na nagsalita si Valentina.

"Was that Marco?" She asked in a serious way.

I was a bit shocked when she asked that. How did she...

"H-How did you know?"

She knows me and now she knows Marco too? What's with this girl? Is she a stalker or what?

Sinerve na yung pagkain niya so she just smiled at me then started eating her food. I was silent the whole time. Ni wala na akong ganang tapusin yung kinakain ko.

When she was halfway in finishing her food, she stared at me for a while then spoke.

"Break up with him."

What? Break up with Marco? Sino siya para sabihan ako ng ganyan?

"Why would I do that? Are you going to give me money in exchange like in the movies or something bullshit like that?" I mananged to laugh kahit gusto ko ng manampal.

"Wala ka talagang pinagkaiba sa ama mo. Pero hindi ko rin masisisi si Marco. Our relationship is long distance kaya ka siguro pinatulan... Ang galing sa kama diba? And wow, is he that into me na kamukha ko pa talaga ang pinatulan?"

I didn't notice that my hands turned into fists. Kung kanina gusto kong manampal, ngayon gusto ko ng manuntok.

Galit na galit ako. At hindi ko alam kung saan ko itutuon ang galit ko. Kung maniniwala ba ako sa kanya o magagalit dahil sa pinagsasabi niya. O magagalit kay Marco dahil... fuck.

At anong pinagsasabi niyang magaling sa kama? Is she trying to say that Marco just used me? Dahil wala siya? Bullshit.

But then... I trust Marco.

"How dare you talk to me and my father like that. And incase hindi mo makita, I am way too better than you." I said firmly, not letting ny voice crack. "Kaya kung totoo mang may relasyon kayo ni Marco noon, I'm sorry to tell you na hindi ka na babalikan because someone like me?... is hard to let go. So fuck off."

At nagulat nalang ako nang tumayo siya at isinaboy sa akin ang wine na hawak niya. Napatingin ang ibang taong naroon sa amin and I can't even manage to speak.

"Can't you see that he just used you?! Ginamit ka lang niya dahil wala ako! And I know he'll surely come back to me kapag nalaman niyang nandito ako!" She said hysterically that made the other people look at us too.

Despite of the humiliation I felt that very moment, I tried to compose myself.

"Sabihin mo yan sa kanya at tingnan natin. Why would he find someone if he truly loves you?"

At baka nga nagsisinungaling lang ang babaeng to. Maybe she's one of Marco's girls that can't move on.

Pero may maliit na parte sa akin na naaawa sa kanya. Dahil nakikita ko ang sarili ko sa kanya. Ganyan rin ba ako ka desperada pagdating kay Marco noon?

At tinatanong ko talaga yan sa sarili ko ngayon? Gaga ka Vienna, oo!

"Marco loves me, you bitch!" Nagsimula na siyang maiyak at wala akong pakealam.

Naaawa man ako sa kanya ng kaunti ay nangingibabaw pa rin ang pagkakairita ko. Dahil sa mga pinagsasabi niya at dahil sa pagpapahiyang ginawa niya.

"Mommy!" Bago pa ako magtaray sa kanya ay napalingon ako sa batang babaeng tumakbo patungo kay Valentina followed by her babysitter.

"Sorry po Ma'am. Talagang gusto niyang puntahan ka eh kasi ang tagal mo raw." The babysitter said.

The little girl was about two or three years old. She resembles Valentina kaya natigilan ako nang malamang may anak na siya.

"What happened Mommy? Why are you crying? Let me hug you so you won't cry anymore." She said then hugged Valentina's right leg.

Umupo ulit si Valentina at pinahiran ang luha niya bago hinarap ang anak niya.

"No, baby. Mommy's not crying. Why are you here? I told you to stay with yaya diba?"

"I'm sorry Mommy." The little girl said then pouted.

Napatingin ako nang bumukas nang pinto ng resto dahil sa pamilyar na tindig at aura. The moment our eyes met, he surveyed me at nakita ko agad ang pag-aalala sa mata ni Marco.

"It's okay baby. Just don't do that again okay?"

Napatingin si Marco sa nagsalita at nakita ko ang gulat sa mga mata niya.

"Val..." Kahit mahina ang pagtawag niya ay rinig na rinig ko ang pagbigkas niya. It's like the world was muted and all I could hear was Marco's call for Valentina. Forgetting my situation right now, forgetting that I am here.

The little girl saw Marco and her eyes immediately brightened. Smiling, the girl ran fast towards Marco.

"Papa!" She excitedly said then hugged Marco's leg.

I feel numb. My hopes lit up the moment Marco entered the place but was immediately crushed by what I am seeing.

Lumuhod si Marco upang tanggapin ang yakap ng bata. He looked at me ngunit agad akong nag-iwas ng tingin at kinuha ang bag ko para lapitan siya at umalis na.

"What's this?" My voice cracked. "Please tell me it's not true... Tell me this is just nothing, please." I managed to ask him kahit parang dinudurog na ang puso ko sa sakit na nararamdaman.

"I'm sorry..." he said, almost a whisper with bloodshot eyes.