Mula Noon Hanggang Ngayon

~18

And finally, they were face to face after 5 long years.

               Matagal silang nagtitigan at nakatayo lang doon bago may nagsalita sa kanila.

“Hello Doll…” he drawled in a voice that Ella hadn’t heard before but felt very familiar.

“Hello Yael…” She was prettier than his dreams. But her eyes were the same and stared back at him.

He took her hand and kissed it without taking his eyes off her face. Parang nakabara ang puso ni Ella sa kanyang lalamunan habang nakatingin siya kay Francis. Nothing changed. Mula noon hanggang ngayon, ganun pa rin ang epekto nito sa kanya. Pagkatapos tumuwid ng tayo ni Francis ay nagulat siya ng hinila siya nito sa isang napaka higpit na yakap. It was like coming home. Kung may naka pansin man sa kakaibang pagbati ng binata sa nakababatang kapatid ay walang umimik at patuloy lamang ang mga tao sa pag palakpak.

“I thought you’ll never come home,” bulong ni Ella.

“I have to come home. I’m expecting an answer.” So, he remembered.

Pero bago pa man makapagsalitang muli si Ella ay nagsalita ang kanilang lolo.

“Ngayong tapos ka na, handa ka ng pamahalaan ang kompanya Francis.”

Bumalik ang kabang dagliang nakalimutan ni Ella. Napalingon siya sa binata.

“Let’s talk about that later, Lolo. I’m starving,” he said.

With Mr dela Vega’s signal, dinner was served.

   They were together during the whole dinner. Parang bumalik ang dati na hindi sila mapaghiwalay. Francis served her like he used to. They talked about trivial things and laughed like they used to. People saw the siblings reconnecting katulad ng dati.

   Pero hindi na sila kagaya ng dati.

   Bumuntong hininga si Ella. Kailan ba matatapos ang paghihintay niya?

   “Malalim ka pa rin kung huminga. May sakit ka pa rin ba sa baga?” sabi ni Francis.

   Tumawa siya ng maalala niya ito. How happy they were. And how perfect it was for them.

   Ella sobered and stared emotionally into Francis’ eyes.

 Kung hindi niya naramdaman ang nararamdaman niya para dito, hindi magiging ganito  kakomplikado ang sitwasyon nila. They would stay as the perfect siblings. Hindi siya magkakaroon ng agam-agam at pangamba kung anong magiging bukas magkakaroon sila. Life would be perfect and happy for them.

   But her happiness could only be with him. Pilitin man niyang baguhin at ibaon sa limot, hindi niya magawa. God knows she tried.

   At paano kung nagbago na nararamdaman ni Francis para sa kanya? Limang taon silang hindi nagkita at sa loob ng panahong yun, ni minsan hindi nila napag-usapan ang tungkol sa kanilang damdamin para sa isa’t-isa. He kept his promise. Hindi siya tinanong nito ng kahit na ano patungkol doon. Paano siya magpapatuloy ng wala ito?

   Ngunit hindi niya rin yata kayang tanggalan ng karapatan si Francis sa kompanya. Kung mahal pa rin siya nito, siguradong mawawalan ito ng mamanahin. Kung meron man siyang sigurado ngayon, yun ay ang pagmamahal ni Francis para sa mga dela Vega.

Wala na yatang gugulo pa sitwasyon nila.

   Hindi alam ni Ella kung ano ang kanyang iisipin. She felt like crying in helplessness.

“Don’t.” Ginagap ni Francis and kanyang kamay and held it tight. “Please don’t cry. We badly need to talk.”

   Ella saw frustrations in his eyes. It somewhow reflected what she felt and it gave her

 hope that they still feel the same way.

“Yes, we do.” Tumayo si Ella at nagsimulang maglakad.

“May we call on stage, Francis?”

   The spotlight found Francis. He looked at her and then their parents, evidently torned. If he would turn to the stage, it would mean he choose to be the heir but if he would go to her, it would mean he choose her over riches and family.

He turned to the stage.

   Hindi na napigilan ni Ella ang pag iyak. So, it would be this way. She had always wondered what she would feel if he would reject her. Ganito pala kasakit. Parang hindi siya makahinga. Gusto niyang maglaho sa kinatatayuan niya.

   People started to notice her crying at syempre pa ay naguluhan ang mga ito. Dinaluhan siya ni Josephine and held her. Ito lamang ang nakaka intindi sa kanya sa panahong ito.