Sa Loob ng Pitong Araw (Calyx's Story)

Kabanata XXII

In-on ko ang ilaw sa balcony. Sakto naman na may coffee table at dalawang upuan dito.

Umihip ang hangin nang makaupo ako. Kahit naka-aircon sa loob, mas malamig dito sa labas. Nakalimutan kong nasa Tagaytay nga pala kami.

I wonder kung anong itsura ng view sa balcony na 'to. Alam kong overlooking ang Taal Volcano, pero hindi na namin nasilip mula kanina at gabi na rin kami dumating dito.

Wala pang limang minuto ang lumipas nang sumunod sa balcony si Calyx.

Umupo siya at tumingin din sa madilim na view. May mga ilaw man kasi mula sa mga buildings at establishments, hindi pa rin sapat 'to para mabigyang liwanag ang buong paligid. Hindi naman ito kagaya sa Metro Manila.

Ilang minuto pang nanatili ang katahimikan sa'min habang pareho kaming umiinom ng beer bago siya tuluyang nagsalita.

"You know what I hate the most?"

Tumingin siya sa'kin.

"Those people who can't stand up for their loved ones. I always believe na kapag mahal mo, dapat ipinaglalaban mo."

Pinigilan ko ang sarili kong mag-react. For now, I just want to hear everything he has to say. Uminom na lang muna ulit ako.

"That's why the thing between Jade, my brother and I happened. I first met Jade in a mall bookstore, and yes, I was attracted to her at first sight. Kaya inagaw ko 'yung librong gusto niya sanang bilhin para makuha ko 'yung atensyon niya at para mayaya ko siyang kumain. I know, it was a lame way, but that was my reckless younger self. She was mad at me, kaya sumama siya para bawian lang ako. She introduced herself as Augusta and she ordered lots of food before leaving me to eat everything alone."

Hindi ko alam kung bakit niya sinasabi sa'kin lahat 'to ngayon. Is this his way of telling me "I am still not over with her?" 

Also, ito pala 'yung pinaggalingan ng inside joke nilang "Augusta" na narinig ko noong unang beses naming magkita ni Jade.

I remained silent. Tuloy lang ako sa pag-inom ng beer na malapit na ngayong maubos. Sana pala dinamihan ko 'yung kuha ko sa ref. Pvta, mukhang mapaparami pa ako ng inom eh.

"Our second meet up was in a pool resort. Coincidentally, I was there with my friends and she was there with her family. Nung makita ko siya, I was eager to get back at her for what she did. But she pushed me to the pool at hindi ako tinantanan ng asar ng mga kaibigan ko."

Kumunot ang noo ko.

"Ang mature huh?" sarkastikong komento ko.

"I know." tumawa naman siya nang bahagya.

"Then I transferred to my brother's university." pagtuloy niya. "Turns out na doon siya nag-aaral, same course at kilala pa ng kapatid ko. So to get back at her, I convinced my brother to not tell her na magkapatid kami. Hindi niya malalaman kasi magka-iba kami ng apilyido. Gerome is my half-brother and he's still carrying his late dad's surname. Wala rin kaming masyadong resemblance physically dahil kamukhang-kamuha siya ng dad niya."

Napanganga ako sandali. I didn't expect that kaya hindi ko alam ang sasabihin ko.

"I will tell you more about my family next time. But the point is, imbes na week lang 'yung prank, nagtagal nang nagtagal, because I fell in love with Jade in the process at nalaman ko rin na in love siya sa kapatid ko. Suddenly, I just don't know how would I tell her na magkapatid kami ni Gerome. Alam kong magagalit siya, and I couldn't imagine losing her that way. I also knew na gusto siya ng kapatid ko and I never stopped Gerome in admitting his feelings to Jade. Pero dahil naniniwala ako na dapat ipaglaban mo kapag mahal mo, I told him na knowing he likes Jade wouldn't stop me from liking her either. It's for Jade to decide. May the best man win."