Behind Closed Doors

Chapter 36

Norman's Pov

Life is always full of mystery. Thirteen years ago i met a woman in San Diego. I was young is city full of life and possibilities and she was a sweet escape. It started as a hook up but as we continue our affairs something started to stir up inside me. I realized she's a wonderful woman. A sweet, loving woman with high ambition and a fierce will to achieve them. We were happy and in love. Or so i thought. For thirteen years i thought i was the only man on her life. Turned out i was wrong.

While she was with me there were four others as well. All rich married american men who showered her with all kinds of luxury. She did a great job hiding everything from me. Until she decided to marry my wickedly rich best friend who was about to inherit a multibillion business, a royal estate and a literal boatload of cash.

"Dr. Rosebush! Dr. Rosebush!" Little Anna came running down the hill.

"Anna, stop running! You could fall over!" Tumakbo ako para salubungin sya.

"Gusto ko po kasing ibigay sa inyo 'to. Ako po ang gumawa nyan. Pasasalamat po para sa lahat ng mga tulong nyo sa amin." Masaya nyang salubong sa akin sabay abot ng isang binurdang panyo.

"Wow! Ikaw talaga gumawa nito?" Kung titingnan parang matanda ang gumawa ng panyo.

"Opo. Pinag-aaralan ko ng paulit-ulit 'yong mga ginagawa ni Lola Felicia tapos sinubukan ko pong mag-isa." Nakangiti pa ring paliwanag nya.

"Ang galing mo naman Anna. Maraming salamat ha? Sobrang nagustuhan ko talaga 'tong binigay mo. Palagi ko talaga 'tong gagamitin." I hugged her back.

"Walang anuman po Dr. Rosebush. Ang swerte po namin kasi dumating kayo dito sa baryo namin. Ngayon natitingnan na po ng maayos ang kabaryo ko. Hindi na po sila palaging nagkakasakit." It's as if an angel touched my heart with what she said.

"At mananatili ako dito sa baryo hangga't kailangan nyo ako. Pangako ko sa'yo 'yan. Sige na umuwi ka na at malapit ng magdilim ha?" I patted her head lightly then she ran away cheerily.

Everything went south after i realized all her lies and deceit. I lost my job, got in to numerous bar fights and was thrown in jail for drunk driving, public scandal and damage to properties. It's as if i don't know myself anymore. Nawalan ng direksyon ang buhay ko. Kaya ko napagdesisyunan kong bumalik. Magsimula ulit ng panibagong buhay. But how can a man's life be ruined right? A woman of course.

A woman i met on my welcome party. A woman i scolded the very first night i met her. Who also turned out to be the mother of the young innocent girl who dies in my car together with my nephew. There i thought i hit rock bottom. Until i got too close to the woman who now holds the greatest power over my heart. So i decided to be transferred here. On a small barrio in the middle of nowhere trying to start over. Again.

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Narrator's Pov

How do we know if we're doing the right thing in our lives? Is it by following our hearts? Or by following our minds? Or maybe by following the standards others set forth? How do we really live life? Most importantly, how do we really love? How do we know we are in love? Life is filled so many questions that are most of the times left unanswered.

"Eva?! Ano pang ginagawa mo dito?! Di ba dapat nakaalis ka na para puntahan si Norma?!"

"Natatakot ako best friend. Paano kong hindi naman kami parehas ng nararamdaman?"

Takot. 'Yan ang madalas na humahadlang sa atin para magawa natin ang mga gusto o dapat nating gawin. Pero minsan naman tama rin ang sundin natin ang takot na nararamdaman natin. Kasi doon tayo nakakaiwas sa kapahamakan. Pero paano ba natin malalaman kung kailan dapat unahin ang takot?

"Dyos ko naman Eva! Ngayon ka pa ba matatakot?! Go! Chase the love of your life!"

Eva eventually went to her car and drive for nine hours. Nang makarating sya sa kinaroroonan ni Norman it was already nightfall. Bitbit ang kaba at kagustuhang malaman kung ano ang nararamdaman ni Norman para sa kanya, Eva asked the first person she saw at the barrio.

"Sobrang bait po ni Dr. Rosebush. Lahat kami dito tinutulungan nya. Kaibigan na nga sya ng lahat ng taga baryo." Nagpresinta ang binatang napagtanungan ni Eva na samahan sya kung saan tumutuloy si Norman.

"Bait talaga si Norman. Dahil nga doon kaya kami naging magkaibigan." Sang-ayon ni Eva.

"Tamang-tama po ang pagdating nyo. May salo-salo pong ginaganap sa may tabing-dagat ngayon. Malapit lang po 'yon sa tinutuluyan ni Dr. Norman. Kaarawan po kasi ng punong barangay namin." Kwento ng binata.

"Parang ang sarap tumira dito sa baryo nyo. Tahimik at payapa." Ani Eva.

"Ay opo. Lahat po ng tal dito magkakakilala at magkakaibigan. Ayon po sila oh! Parang ayon po si Dr. Norman." Masayang bulalas ng binata.

Habang papalapit sila sa mga taong nagkakasiyahan mas lalong lumalakas ang kabog ng dibdib ni Eva. Hindi nya alam kung paano uumpisahang kausapin si Norman. Ni wala syang ideya kung gusto pa ba syang makita nito. Kitang-kita rin ni Eva na masaya si Norman kasama ang mga taga-baryo. Maaliwas ang mukha nito at tila aliw-aliw sa salo-salo.

"Dr. Norman! Dr. Norman! May naghahanap po sa inyo!" Patakbong tinawag ng binata si Norman.

"Nako! Ang gandang babae naman ng naghahanap sa'yo dok!" Biro ng isang matandang lalaki.

Napatayo si Norman. Noong una pilit nitong inaaninag kung sino sya pero ng makalapit sya sa liwanag ng ilaw bigla itong ngumiti ng pagkalapad-lapad. Norman stood up and walk towards her.

"Eva? Anong ginagawa mo dito? Paano mo nalaman kung nasaan ako?" Bungad ni Norman na naguguluhan.

"Nagpunta ako sa hospital na pinagtatrabahuhan mo pero wala ka na daw doon. Binigay sa akin ng front desk personnel ang address nitong baryo kung saan ka nagpalipat." Eva explained.

"H-hinanap mo ko? B-bakit?" Norman asked, confused.

"I missed you. You left without even saying goodbye. So i searched for you." Eva smiled shyly.

"Y-you missed m-me?" Hindi makapaniwala si Norman sa narinig.

"Ipakilala mo naman sa amin 'yang kaibigan mo dok!"

"Oo nga naman dok!"

Eva joined the celebration. Doon palang nalaman na nya agad kung bakit mukhang masaya si Norman. These people are adorable, sweet and nice. Lahat sila mababait.  No wonder why he never thought about calling.