Of Dreams, Desserts, and Love's Second Chances (Completed)

CHAPTER 13

"WILL she be all right?" nag-aalalang tanong ni Icko kay Ivan.

Bahagya lang tumango si Ivan. He watched as his brother gently touched Rachel's sleeping face. Hindi pa niya nakitang umiyak si Rachel nang ganoon katindi.

Pero hinayaan niya ito. While she was crying, inside he was crying, too. Ilang beses siyang humingi ng tawad dito dahil pakiramdam niya ay siya ang may kagagawan sa lahat ng mga nangyari dito.

Nang makatulog si Rachel ay tinawagan niya ang kapatid niya. Alam niyang gugustuhin nito na malaman ang sitwasyon ni Rachel.

"She's grown stronger these past years. Nakatulong sa kanya ang mga nangyari noon para lalo siyang maging matatag ngayon. Iiyak lang 'yan pero paggising niyan, parang walang nangyari." Ivan's voice was laced with undeniable affection.

"Kuya, alam mo ba... I mean, did you know about her condition?"

Tumango si Ivan. "Maybe more than half a year ago."

"Paano?"

"Unlike you, I make it my business to know what's happening in her life."

Wala namang panunumbat sa tinig ni Ivan, pero na-guilty pa rin siya. Siya ang nagsabing sasamahan ito pero wala siyang kaalam-alam sa nangyayari sa buhay nito.

"Bakit hindi mo sinabi sa akin?"

"I figured if she wanted it to stay that way, ayaw kong makialam. It was stupid, I know, and very selfish. Pero ano'ng magagawa ko? I spoiled this brat rotten."

Kahit paano ay natawa siya. "Yeah. I can see that." Maya-maya ay sumeryoso siya. "Kuya, I'm sorry. Sa lahat-lahat. Alam kong hindi lang si Rachel ang nasaktan. Alam kong nasaktan ka rin."

Sa pagkakataong iyon ay tumingin si Ivan sa kanya. Despite the seriousness of the situation, he could see his eyes lit from amusement. "Despite what you think, I was the one who initiated the plan. Though I made her believe that it was hers." Nang kumunot ang noo niya ay nagpaliwanag agad ito. "She came to me one day. Hindi ko alam kung bakit sa akin. Siguro, iniisip niyang pagsasabihan kita. Umiiyak siya at galit na galit siya sa 'yo. You should have heard her curse. Tinalo pa ang mga bodyguard ni Don. Kapag narinig ni Mama, maeeskandalo 'yon. And her reputation as this beautiful and dainty fitness expert would have gone down the drain."

Hindi niya ma-imagine si Rachel na nagmumurang katulad ng sinasabi ni Ivan. Mukhang alam ni Ivan ang iniisip niya dahil tumawa ito nang malakas.

"I've never seen someone that crazy," dugtong ni Ivan. "And yet, she was the loveliest that evening. Back then, I was thinking I have to get to know her more. Palagi ko na siyang nakikitang nakabuntot sa 'yo noon and I treated her like a younger sister. But that night, something changed. Then I hinted that it would be better if she finds some other guy. Na dahil nasanay kang lagi siyang nakabuntot sa 'yo kaya hindi mo siya mapansin. She didn't know that when she started visiting me at the office a week later, I saw that coming from a mile away." Tumingin uli ito sa natutulog na pigura ni Rachel. "She's actually easy to read. Silly girl."

Dumukwang ito at marahang hinalikan si Rachel sa noo. Napangisi siya.

"Bakit hindi ka kumilos noon? Kahit ngayon. I don't know if to call you stupid or a masochist."

"Natatandaan mo ang tawag niya sa akin noong bata pa siya?"

Natawa siya. "'Ice-Man.'"

Ivan chuckled slightly. "'Tingin niya ay ako na ang may pinakamalamig na puso sa lahat ng nakilala niya." Kapagkuwan ay sumeryoso ito. "Totoo ang sinabi kong kailangan ka niya. She needed you for her to come to terms with herself. And when the time comes that she's finally ready..." Humugot ito ng paghinga. Tila kahit ito ay nagdududa sa sinasabi nito. "When she's ready, she'd know I'm just waiting here. It's best to leave it at that for now."

"With my charm and all, I doubt kung bumalik pa siya sa 'yo," pagbibiro niya para mawala ang tensiyon.

Tumawa uli ito. It actually felt good, talking and laughing the way they did when they were younger.

"Ano'ng plano mo? About Mara, I mean. I heard she'd be leaving soon."

Pagkabanggit sa pangalan ni Mara ay naramdaman niya tila taling nagbuhol sa dibdib niya. Kaninang nakita niyang umiiyak ito habang yakap-yakap ni Dylan, naisip niyang iba na nga ang sitwasyon noon at ngayon. He had lost three years of his time with her, time that he had no way of gaining back.

"I probably hurt her a lot, too. Okay na siguro 'yong ganito. I don't think the way I am right now deserve anyone."

Napapikit siya sa realisasyon na iyon. But he kept his emotions in check. Tiningnan niya si Rachel. "And I can't leave Rachel at a time like this. Marami akong utang sa kanya."

Tumingala siya at sinikap na alisin ang sakit sa dibdib. Si Ivan naman ay piniling hindi magkomento. They—who knew how it was to love someone and let them go—sat through the night in silence.