Faking Delays

65. Please?

Harris Luigi

  

THE FIRST time I was on my knees, was the time I hugged my mother's legs so that she couldn't walk away from us.

I held, so tight, that I ended up being dragged across the concrete floor. If she was saying something, I didn't catch any of it. Nor did I care.

The maids were pulling me, but I didn't budge. I kept shouting, crying my eyes out, and begging.

But did begging stopped her from walking away?

No. It did not.

Pinanuod ko siyang sumakay sa itim na sasakyan na para bang walang naririnig hanggang sa makalayo ito sa akin. At pagkatapos non ay hindi ko na siya nakita kailanman.

I told my self, that's it. That's the first and last time that I'd be that low just for a woman.

Until Kristeena.
 

"Please... don't go. Kristeena, please! Hear me out, love. I didn't mean to lie to you!"

"Shut up, Harris! Wala ka nang dapat ipaliwanag!"

Hawak niya ang maleta niya at nagbabalak nang umalis. Nalaman din ng lahat ang nangyayari kaya dali dali rin silang pumunta para pigilan si Kristeena.

"Teka, K, huminahon ka muna. Intindihin mo muna 'yung sitwasyon," Anjelou said, trying to calm her down.

"O-oo nga, Kris. Wala namang masamang intensyon si Sir Harris e," dagdag pa ni Gerard.

Mary walked over to her. "Ate, where would you go if you leave? Malayo po tayo sa Manila," mahinahong niyang sabi.

"Kahit saan. Basta makaalis lang ako rito hangga't hindi pa dumadating dito 'yung lalake na 'yon."

"Love," I called, still following her. Hinawakan ko ang kamay niya at pinipilit siyang paharapin sa akin. "Look at me, please."

Sinubukang alisin ni Kristeena ang pagkakahawak ko sa kaniyang kamay habang nagpipigil ng luha. And I did what I thought I'd never do again. I kneeled and begged.

"Tumayo ka nga d'yan! Nakakahiya ka, alam mo ba 'yon? Ang daming nakatingin sa 'tin!" She kept pulling, but I just held her tighter. "Ano ba kasi, Harris!"

"No," I said, firmly. My face wet because of my own tears. "I won't let go. Not until you listen."

"Napakinggan ko na lahat, 'di ba. Kaya wala ka nang dapat sabihin pa!"

"Narinig mo, but you didn't listen!" I can't help but shout. "You didn't understand! Kasi kung nakinig ka, hindi ka aalis! Dito ka lang!"

Biglang bumukas ang pinto. Devenan bowed and said, "nasa baba na po si Sir Henderson."

I looked at Kristeena once again. "Love, listen, I'll explain—"

"Hindi na..." pagputol niya sa sasabihin ko. Tumingala siya at huminga ng malalim. Nang tuluyan na siyang kumalma ay tumingin siya sa akin.

And never did she look at me the way she's looking at me now. With nothing, but coldness.

"My dad's waiting downstairs, Harris. Anong klaseng empleyado ang pinaghihintay ang boss niya." She chuckled and pulled me up. "Let's go. Finish your job."
 

And now she's here again. In front of me. After all these years, nagbalik siya. I couldn't contain my happiness.

It's as if my feet has a life on it's own. Before I could even think about it, they started to move towards her.