Ears and Rhymes

Kabanata 2

Kabanata 2: Wrists

Wednesday.

Kakatapos ko lang makipag-meeting sa mga bagong investors nang in-inform ako ni Hestia, that someone wants to talk about business. She informed me that she was from Milan, wants to have a partnership to me for building her own music studio dito sa Corrales. I'm not that dedicated in music and Hestia does. Hestia was with me since our childhood. She is an average, cheerful and was once a boyish type of a gal. Graduating ako sa grade school nang lumipad sila ng pamilya niya patungong Amerika. I was a bit happy when I received a call from her.

"Hey, Cruxi! It's Hestia Sta. Cruz. Kamusta? It's been nineteen years right? Nineteen years na mula nung namaalam kami sa dati nating sitio kung saan tayo sabay na lumaki. Natatandaan pa naman, 'di ba?"

"Of course, I will never forget my first love. The first woman who made me believe in love since we were just kids." And I just smiled when I looked at her "So have you already made up your mind when and where we'll be starting the studio you're planning to work?"

Nakita ko siya habang palakad-lakad lang ako.

Nakatalikod siya at hindi man lang napansin na ang kinakausap ay nasa likod niya lang. That's the time I've stared at her from head to foot. Noticing the changes she went into after those years we've spent when we're younger.

Hestia went from being extreme and boyish type of a girl to being a hot, seductive, hard to resist kind of a gal. Pagkaharap ay kaagad niya akong niyakap, her embrace softened me. 

"Pasa ba 'yon?" Nang napansin ko na may namagang parte doon sa kaliwang wrist niya.

She stared to her wrist next, "This? Wala 'to, Xi. Baka may nasagi lang ako na kung anong matigas o 'di kaya'y magaspang that's why it's there." 

I acted that it was not something suspicious but I can feel something was wrong. "Are you sure? Come with me, gagamutin ko 'yan." Nang talikuran ko siya habang hawak-hawak ang kamay niyang iyon. "Xi! I said 'di na kailangan!" 

Sabay kalas niya pagkakahawak ko. "Uhm, Crux, sorry. I didn't mean na sigawan ka." Everyone inside the workplace was left in shock at pinagtinginan kaming dalawa. Then I interrupted them and told to go back to work.

It seems like she went through a hard fight or a big problem. Even if I don't care about what or how others' lives have been going through, but when it comes to her I always go back to the start.

"Hestia, do you already have a boyfriend?" Pagpigil-kaba kong tanong. I admit, kahit na lumipas na rin yung natitirang kong nararamdaman sa kanya ay napapadala niya pa rin ako sa ganitong emosyon.

"You didn't apologize for what you did to this? Did you?" Turo niya sa kaniyang pasa. "Namaga s'ya lalo oh!" Naiinis niyang tugon.

"Hestia, I've asked you a question first and I don't care about that." Paglilinaw ko. Napilitan na din naman siyang sumagot after three seconds,

"I did have..."

"You did have?" Will she figure out na tinatanong ko ito to know if I would have the chance to be hers?

"Oo. Nagbreak na kami a year ago. Bakit mo natanong? Manliligaw ka ba?"

"I'm here to talk about business. I guess you misinterpreted my question." Pagpapalusot ko.

"Anong misinterpreted? You've just asked me about it. Nevermind na nga lang." That almost caught me kaya buti nalang.

"Thank you. You may now go." Saktong pagdating ng iniuutos kong first aid kit kanina. Humarap naman ulit ako kay Hestia, "Okay, here I go. I'll be gentle, I promise."