Alluring The Fire [Under Revision]

IKA-APATNAPU'T APAT NA KABANATA (Unang Bahagi)

IKA-APATNAPU'T APAT NA KABANATA (Unang Bahagi)

Lorenzo stiffly dropped himself to sit on the couch. He heaved a sigh while his gaze was fixated on the pictures scattered on the floor. All of a sudden, he felt mixed emotions and mixed thoughts--- and these were causing pandemonium not only in his mind, but also in his heart. He doesn't trust Priscilla... he actually never did trust her, but on this one, Lorenzo doesn't have any idea how to react.

In any claim, there must be a proof to support it, and here it is. Priscilla gave him this thing she called proof, yet Lorenzo still doesn't know if he could trust it. Heck, he wasn't even sure if he can consider this attestation veracious. Was Priscilla providing to manifest her allegations of unfaithfulness against Cassandra or was she showing these to seed doubts in his head? Tila gusto na lang mapahilot ng alkalde sa samot saring katanungan sa kaniyang isipan.

Sarkastikong napangisi si Lorenzo habang tutok ang mga mata nito sa litrato nang maalala ang salitang binanggit sa utak niya. Unfaithfulness. Ano ba ang karapatan niya upang gamitin iyon gayo'ng wala naman silang malinaw na relasyon ni Cassandra. Oo, inaamin niya sa sariling may nararamdaman na siya sa dalaga, ngunit hindi naman niya ito maamin nang harap harapan kay Cassandra. Napabuga ng hangin ang alkalde at saka napakuyom ng kamao. He can't think of any valid reason as to why Cassandra should be faithful in their vague relationship.

Were feelings not enough to be dedicated on something? He couldn't help but sneer at the thought. What kind of a dumb fuck are you, Lorenzo? You were not even sure if Cassandra's feeling something for you; you were not even sure if everything's mutual, yet you are expecting her to stick with you despite the lack of clarification about the relationship. Anong klaseng kahibangan ito, Lorenzo?

"Fuck!" Marahas na napasabunot ng buhok ang binata. Muli siyang napamura at saka idinantay ang kaniyang mga siko sa magkabilang hita niya, habang mariin na minamasahe ng kaliwang palad niya ang kanang kamaong nakakuyom. Lubos na siyang naguguluhan. Sa kabila ng mga sinasabi ni Priscilla, gusto pa rin niyang paniwalaan ang kakaibang bagay na nararamdaman niya sa tuwing kasama si Cassandra. Everytime he's with her, he could feel that the desire and affection are being reciprocated; he could feel that the young lady feels the same as well. Lorenzo could clearly tell it based on the way how Cassandra answers his kisses and touches, ngunit sa kabila no'n ay may parte sa sarili niya ang nasasaktan dahil bahagya siyang napapaniwala ng mga litratong pinakita ng dating kasintahan. He doesn't know what to believe anymore. He doesn't who to believe.

Muling lumipad ang mga mata ni Lorenzo sa nakakalat na mga litrato. Saglit na napa-isip ang alkalde. Women must be talented when it comes to hiding their agenda, but who among them was the real deceiver? Is it Priscilla or is it Cassandra?

"Tapos ito pa, Sister. Ang chika niya sa'kin single raw siya at the moment and ready to mingle! Syempre ang lola mo, 'di na nag-inarte pa at talaga naman pong todo bigay with matching pa-open arms na tinanggap ang panghaharot ng butihin ninyong fafa. Palay na ang lumalapit, so ano ba ang dapat ginagawa ng mga inahing manok? Syempre tumutuka kaagad! Ganorn!" Napatawa si Cassandra sa winika ni Reginaldo habang si Rose naman ay naka-ismid habang naiiling ang ulo.

Lunch time. Kasalukuyan silang nasa canteen ng kumpanya kung saan sila nag te-training. Kanina pa sila natapos sa pagkain, ngunit dahil may ilang minuto pa bago magsimula muli ang oras sa opisina, napag-isipan muna ng tatlo na tumambay doon at ubusin sa pag chi-chismisan ang mga nalalabing oras nila para sa lunch break.

"Alam ko 'yang fez na 'yan. Hoy, 'Nak! Maka-judge ka riyan ha, por que ikaw stable na sa buhay love life. May fafang kyoti at yamanero, kaya buhay na buhay ang matres mo! Samantalang ako, nagbibitak bitak na ang mga lupa sa bahay-bata ko dahil wala na ngang pagmamahal na natatanggap, pati dilig ba naman ay ipagdadamot ko pa? Bawal judgmental ditey!"