Chasing My Love [Completed]

Chapter 12

It was late morning when they arrived at the meet up place. Sari's heart has never beaten this loudly before. Pakiramdam niya ay naririnig iyon nina Celine at Atticus kahit na nasa front seat ang mga ito. 

The two went out of the car kaya sumunod na rin siya. She put on her overnight camping back pack at naglakad kasunod nina Atticus. She was staring at her sweaty palms ng marating ang area kung saan maraming taong nagkukumpol-kumpol. It was the starting point for the trek that morning pataas ng bundok kung saan itinayo ang school.

Nakatungo siya para hindi masyadong makita o mapansin ng mga ibang taong nandoon. She saw a huge banner welcoming Atticus and his company. Wow, he really is a big time now. Napangiti siya sa success ng kaibigan. 

But her smile disappeared ng makita ang katabing logo ng logo ng kumpanya nina Atticus - Tantoco Prime Holdings, Inc. (the holdings company of the Tantocos), Telecostar (the telecom company owned by the Tantocos) at United Bank of the Philippines (the bank owned by the Tantocos). Now, she knows she's fucked for sure.

"Look who the fuck you brought here, Atticus!!" hindi makapaniwalang sigaw ng isang lalaki. 

She looked up and saw an ash-blonde hair dude smiling at her. It was Aries! Hindi niya makakalimutan ang kakaibang ngiting iyon. "Hey, Aries!"

"Since when are you back?" tuwang-tuwang tanong nito at niyakap siya. 

"Well, just a few days," hiyang-hiyang sagot niya, trying to survey around kung nandoon ba ang taong kinakatakutan niya pero buti na lang at wala.

"Halos sabay kayong umuwi ni Atticus," Aries said. "Baka naman..."

Atticus just laughed. "Wala akong balak agawin siya kay-"

"Bakit ba ang bagal-bagal ninyo? Tara na!" sigaw ng bagong dating na binata in a baseball cap and white shirt.

She swiftly glanced at him and saw a taller, bulkier and more mature version of her husband. Correction! Ex, sigaw ng isipan niya. It was Yego at hindi man lamang siya pinansin nito. Dire-diretso ito at nagpatiuna dahil may iba ng mga grupong nauna sa pagtrek paitaas. 

Aries offered her his hand. "Tara? Sumama ka na lang sa group namin."

Tumango lamang siya at sumunod na dito. It was eerie how her ex husband did not even bother saying hi or hello. O baka naman hindi siya nakita nito? Pagtingin niya sa likod niya ay nagdidiskusyon pa sina Atticus at Celine so she just proceeded to follow Aries.

It was a steep trek at nang makaraan ang dalawampung minuto ng non stop trekking ay hindi siya nakatiis. Nang makakita siya ng malaking bato ay umupo na siya kagad doon.

"Can we stop for a while? Hindi ako sanay sa ganitong kataas na trek," she blurted out. Pinakanauuna sa kanilang lima si Yego. Si Aries ang nakasunod dito at siya ang nakasunod kay Aries. Nasa likod naman niya sina Celine at Atticus.

Yego and Aries stopped to look at her. 

"Same! Five-minute break please!" sang-ayon naman ni Celine.

Nagtinginan lamang ang tatlong lalaki.

"Okay," sagot ni Aries.

She breathed deeply and tried to relax for a bit. Nakita niyang inabutan ni Atticus ng tubig si Celine. So hinubad niya ang backpack niya para hanapin rin ang tumbler niya na nasa loob noon. While she was rummaging through her backpack, she saw a water bottle suddenly appearing in front of her. 

"Thanks," she said at kinuha iyon. Nang tingalain niya kung sino ang nag-abot ay natulala siya bigla.

"Aren't you gonna drink it?" tanong ni Yego sa kanya as he was staring down at her.

She internally slapped herself and opened the bottle to drink. Iniiwas niya ang tingin sa lalaki dahil parang mabibilaukan siya. But yes, the water was refreshing indeed.

Pagkainom na pagkainom niya ay kinuha na muli ni Yego ang tubig mula sa kanya. "Let's go, guys! Ayokong abutin ng hapon dito. I also want to see the kids."

Parang nagising bigla si Saritha sa sinabing ito ni Yego. Yes, iyon nga pala ang rason kung bakit siya nandito! Pero bakit ba parang nawawala siya sa sarili ngayong nandito si Yego at kasama niya - flesh and blood!

****

It was now dinner time. Mabilis lamang na dumaan ang buong maghapon dahil nakilala nila ang mga bata at nakita nila ang maliit na school na ipinatayo nina Yego sa bundok doon. Nagulat pa nga si Saritha na kilalang-kilala sina Yego ng mga bata doon. 

So now, they were gonna camp here for the night just to experience living in the mountains where the kids live.

For their dinner, may baong manok at mga de lata ang mga empleyado nina  Atticus. She was sitting now with Aries dahil pumasok na sa tent nila sina Atticus at Celine.

"You have a tent?" tanong ni Aries habang kumakain ng manok.

"Yup," she said and took a bite from her food. "I'll set it up in a bit."

"Mukhang 'di na kailangan," wika ni Aries.

"Ha?"

Tinuro ni Aries si Yego na kakatapos lamang magset up ng tent nito. "Naset-up na ni Yego 'yung tent ninyo oh!"

She stared at her ex-husband habang pawisan ito sa pase-setup ng tent nito. 

"It's big enough for two people," dagdag na pang-aasar ni Aries.

She just stared at him. Bakit nga pala siya inaasar nito? Ang alam nito ay magpinsan lamang sila... Unless...

"I know," pag-amin ni Aries. "Well,  Atticus and I know."

"Know what?" she asked in panic.

"Na hindi talaga kayo magpinsan. Umamin sa amin si Yego after you left him to go to Singapore."

"Oh," was all she said. 

"Five years din kayong 'di nagkita. Ano? Pumasok ka na sa tent."

"Gago," she said. 

"Yego!" tawag ni Aries sa kaibigan. 

Pinanlakihan niya ng mata si Aries but too late. Yego was walking towards them already.

"What?" seryosong tanong ni Yego, looking at them both.

"Can Sari stay with you in your tent? Sira kasi ang tent niya," Aries answered.

Her jaw dropped upon hearing what Aries just said. "N-no. What?! No. My tent is perfectly fine," she said, looking at Yego while shaking her head no.

Bumulong si Aries sa kanya. "Binutas ko 'yung tent mo kanina while you weren't looking."

Tinitigan niya si Aries ng masama. "What the fuck."

"Now, go with Yego or else, baka sakin mo gusto makitulog." Aries was almost laughing at his declaration.

Parang nagdilim lalo ang anyo ni Yego sa narinig. "You can stay with me," mabilis ni wika ni Yego at naglakad na ulit pabalik ng tent nito.

Hinampas niya sa balikat si Aries ng makalayo na si Yego sa kanila. "Ano bang problema mo?"

"Relax. I'm just giving you a chance to talk. Sari, you've hurt my friend big time."

"He's hurt me big time as well," mabilis na depensa niya.

"Fine, fine! But shouldn't you guys talk at least? Come on. It's been five fucking years. Hindi na kayo high school." And he winked at her.

****

Sinong excited na matutulog sina Sari at Yego sa iisang tent? Taas ang kamay!!!! HAHAHAHHAA vote, follow me and comment below!!!