KABANATA 03

KABANATA 03

Naiinis na bumangon si Ultear sa mga sumunod na araw na iyon.

'My goodness!' hindi mapigilan na sigaw ng kaniyang isipan.

It's already five in the morning at ang aga-aga naman manbulabog ng taong nasa labas ng bahay. What's wrong with people nowadays?

Nilingon niya ang kaniya anak na nasa tabi niya lang na nakahiga habang mahimbing pa rin ang pagtulog na ginaaws. Kajic moved a little and turned his back at her.

Ultear shook her head, unbelievably. She started to got up as she shook her head, then made her way to the living room with an irritated look.

Hindi pa rin natitigil ang pag-doorbell ng pinto at mas lalo pa ngang binilisan ng taong nasa likod noon ang pag-press sa bottom.

Kung sino man ang taong iyon ay humanda talaga ito sa kaniya. Makakatikim talaga ang taong iyon ng masasakit na salita mula sa kaniya. Ready his butt!

Bumukas ang pinto at iniluwa nito ang babaing ilang araw na hindi nagparamdaman sa kaniya. Natatawa ang kaibigan habang nakatakip pa ang kamay nito sa bibig. Mukha tuwang-tuwa talaga ito sa ginawang pambubulabog sa kaniyang mahimbing na pagtulog.

Matalim na mga mata niya itong tinignan. Kylie just raised both arms and gave her a flying kiss. She wanted to shout at her friend, but she didn't do it. How can Ultear do that? She doesn't have to worry about her any more if Kylie is angry because she looks pretty happy about what she's doing.

Hindi pinansin ni Ultear ang ginawa ng kaibigan bagkus nakuha ng kaniyang buong atensyon sa ingay ng kabilang bahay.

Nilingon niya ang lalaki na nakatayo hindi kalayuan sa kanila at tulad nang ginawang pambubulabog ng kasintahan nito sa kaniyang pagtulog. Ginawa rin ni Vince sa taong nagmamay-ari sa kabilang bahay. Patuloy ito sa pag-press ng door bell.

"Where is Kajic?" she opened a topic. Nakuha na ni Kylie ang buo niyang atensyon.

"Sleepyhead after all," she answered. "What are you two doing here?" she asked her back. "It's early in the morning at may lakas talaga ng loob kayong dalawa na manbulabog ng mga taong gustong i-enjoy ang sarap nang pakiramdam sa pagtulog sa umaga?"

She turned to Vince again as the man who lived there opened the door finally.

"I'm sorry, my friend. Napag-isipan lang kasi namin ng sweetheart ko..."

Ultear eyes opened wider na para bang luluwa na ito sa pagkagulat. Hindi niya pa man nakikita ang buong bahagi ng mukha ng taong iyon ay kilala niya na kung sino ang taong nakatira sa kabilang bahay.

"Please, I am just imagining right now..." she said, whispering. Gladly, the woman in front of her did not hear about it.

Hindi niya alam kung bakit siya natatakot o kung bakit siya nakakaramdam ng ganito pakiramdam. Kinakabahan ang buong katawan niya ngunit bakit ang kaniyang puso ay tumitibok pa rin nang mabilis. Tulad ng ipinaparamdam sa kaniya ng lalaking iyon noon, hindi kaya? NO! Hindi mangyayari iyon, at hindi na mangyayari pa.

Nag-umpisa na rin mangatog ang kaniyang binti na naramdaman niya lang din noong magkita sila ng lalaking hindi niya inaasahan na makikita sa loob ng restaurant.

W-What are he doing there? Or namamalik mata lang ba siya? Masinsinan na binigyan diin ng kaniya mga mata ang binatang iyon, and no one could even try to keep her eyes away from him. Even her best friend continues to speak.

She is not mistaken. Sting is the person who's standing at the next door.

"Why not we make a reunion?  Jake and others wanted to meet Kajic as well. They miss you, and they have been waiting for you to come back for a long time. So, this is the best opportunity for this reunion to happen!" Kylie continued talking while her brow was raising up and down. "What do you think?"

Ultear was just standing front of her. She does not even understand what does Kylie's talking about, her mind was already full of questions about the man who's  living next door from her.

D*mn! Bakit hindi sa akin sinabi ni Kylie na narito nag-stay ang lalaking iyan? Akala ko ba mayaman na siya at may sariling malaking bahay at doon nakatira? Mabuti na lang at hindi niya na gawang maisatinig iyon dahil natatakot siya na baka kung ano pa ang isipin ni Kylie. Sting still had effects on her.

Hindi mapigilan ni Ultear na hindi ma-curious sa buhay na mayroon ang binata. Nang magkaroon siya nang pagkakataon. She read some articles about Sting.

Sting is an unmarried man, and all articles about him in these six years had passed, are so admirable. The people who will read this article about him would be adored and will make him as their inspiration. She could not help but be amazed by him as well.

"You are in, right?" saad ni Kylie nang hindi inaalis ang mga mata sa kaniya at bakas pa rin sa kaniyang labi ang kasiyahan sa bagay na naisip.

Wala ang kaniya pansin sa kaibigan kung hindi sa mga bagay na tumatakbo sa kaniyang isipan.

Ngunit ang pinagtataka niya lang nang oras na iyon habang binabasa niya ang ilan pang mga articles. Ang taon kung kailan siya umalis ng bansa ay iyon din dapat ang taon na ganap na ni Sting natupad at matapos ang kursong kinukuha.

Ngunit ang sinasabi sa article na kaniyang binabasa ay three years ay saka niya lang natapos. What happened on four years before that? Sting was twenty-six years old at that time.

"Ultear, are you still on your mind?" Kylie waved her hands on her face. "Is there something bothering you?"

Her friend got her full attention, but it was not that long because she heard his voice.

"Shut up, bud!" Boses iyon ni Sting.

Muli niyang binalingan ng pansin ang kabilang bahay. Talagang hindi na siya maaari pang magkamali ngayon. Si Sting nga talaga ang taong nakatira sa kabilang bahay.

They heard Vince's loud laughs and even looked up at their place as he thumbs-up.

"What was he doing here?" she could not help but ask.

Lumingon si Kylie kung saan nakapako ang kaniyang mga mata at sumilay sa labi ng kaibigan ang nakaalokong ngiti.

"HMM. Hindi ko ba nasabi sa iyo? He is the one who built and owns this small villa. And those houses you will see here and this." Pointed where they are staying. "This was Sting presented with his bandmates, and others are for his business."

"WHAT?!" Mas lalo lang lumaki ang mata niya.

"What? Are you shock or you're  amazed?"

Hindi na nagawang pang sagutin ni Ultear ang kaibigan. Otherwise, marahas niya itong hinila sa loob ng bahay. Hindi niya na napigilan pa ang kaniyang sarili na padabog niya itong naisara.

"Why did you not tell me earlier?"

"About what?"

"Don't play innocent, Kylie. You knew what I mean," her voice thundered.

The woman chuckled.

"Bakit pa? Pumayag ka naman na noong nasa US pa kayo, right?" Kylie innocent answered ruin her day. It's look like wala lang sa kaniyang kaibigan itong inis na nararamdaman niya.

"Oo, pumayag ako kasi akala ko si Vince ang may-ari nito!" she yelled whispering.

"Vince is the real owner. We have proofs. If you wanna see the land title, then I will show you."

"Vince is the owner, but it's from Sting!" Pinipilit niya ang kaniyang sarili na hindi sumigaw para lang hindi marinig ng tao na nasa kabilang bahay. Ayaw niya rin magising ang kaniya anak dahil lang sa boses niya. Kung puwede lang saktan ang babaing nakatayo sa kaniyang harapan ay kanina niya pa ginawa.

"What's wrong if you stayed here? Are you still— ohh, my beloved handsome Kajic. You're awake now!" Tinalikuran siya ni Kylie at tinungo ang hagdan papunta sa kaniya anak. Nakatayo si Kajic sa hagdan habang kusot ang mga mata nito.

He woke up because of her voice! Ultear is sure of that.

"Good morning, my pretty Auntie," Kajic answered in a sleepy voice. "You're so early and very noisy. What's up?"

"I wanna tell you something, and I'm sure this will make your day bright. You wanna hear, do you?"

"Come on, tell me! Do not make a handsome like me wait!"

"Okay. We have a party at our house. And you and your mommy are invited as well. You wanna join, do you?" She smiled at him.

Hindi magawang makasingit ni Ultear sa usapan dahil sa wala tumatakbo sa kaniyang isipan maliban sa inis na nararamdaman niya sa kaibigan.

"Party?" The drowsiness disappeared from Kajic's face immediately, and he looked at Kylie with a smile. "Ohh, I love  party!" Kajic turned his vision on Ultear. "Mommy, we're in, right?"

"Baby..." Hindi na siya pinatapos pa ng anak ang isasagot niya at nagtatakbo na patungo sa kuwarto nito. She was about to refused!

Hindi pa nito alam kung sino ang mga taong makakasama niya sa party na iyon at nasisiguro niya maglalaho ang ngiti nito.

"It's a pool party, Kajic! Do not forget to bring extra shirts!"

"Noted!" sigaw ni Kajic na nag-echo pa sa loob ng kanilang silid.

Nagbalik siya sa kaniyang sariling kaisipan at seryosong ang mga matang tinignan ang kaniyang kaibigan.

"We're not going." Pagkuha niya ng atensyon ni Kylie.

"And why?" Kylie's brow raised. "Mind telling me your valid reasons?"

"Sting is there. I'm sure of."

"Then? What's the problem with that?"

"Nauntog ba iyang ulo mo at wala kang maalala?" nanggigilaiti niyang tanong sa kaibigan. "Kahit na katiting man lang?"

"There's nothing to worry about, Ultear. I remembered it, all of it. What was the matter?"

Yeah. What's the matter? Kylie is right. It was the perfect time para makapag-usap sila at mapalaya niya na ang nararamdaman niyang ito. Ngunit naglalarawan pa lang sa kaniyang isipan na nakatayo si Sting sa kaniyang harapan habang kausap siya ay nakakaramdam na siya ng kaduwagan. Kusa nang humihiwalay ang kaluluwa niya sa sarili katawan.

Akala niya okay na ang lahat ng lakas na naipon niya sa ilang taon sa pagkakataon na maghaharap sila tulad na lang nito. Ngunit kulang pa pala ito, kulang na kulang pa. Ang sakit na ibinigay at ipinaramdam ni Sting sa kaniya ay bumalik na naman na para bang kahapon lang nangyari.

Ultear looked down. She was scared to make these feelings had voices.

"I-I do not know if I can take it anymore just seeing his face," she confessed. "I'm just like a mouse, who's running away to save her life from a cat who is Sting."

Maramdaman niya pa lang ang presensiya ng binata ay halu-halo na ang bagay na kaniyang nararamdaman at naiisip.

Nang magtama ang kanilang mga mata. Alam niya sa kaniyang sarili na mayroon pa rin na puwang si Sting sa kaniyang puso at hindi iyon ganoon kadaling mawawala kahit na ano pa ang sakit na ibinigay sa kaniya ng binata. And it makes her frustrated.

Her bear eyes witness the smiled curved on the woman's lips. She was happy to hear those words came out from her lips. And those words made Kylie realized that Sting is still an important person to her.

"Hindi ka nagpunta sa party para lang sa kaniya, Ultear. Nagpunta ka para makita sila Jake," she reminded. "Or you could cover your eyes if you saw each other or puwede mo siyang kausapin at sabihin magtalukbong siya ng buong katawan niya para hindi na kayo magkita pa." Kylie can not stop herself but laugh.

"Hindi ako nakikipagbiruan, Kylie. So stop saying nonsense ."

"Did I?"

Ultear rolled her eyes. "What about Kajic? He will get mad and will not be able to enjoy the party if their—"

"Cut that off, Ultear. Kajic is a smart kid, you can talk to him, and I will help you."

"But..."

"Look, Ultear, you know Sting very well. He won't do something without reason, and no one would hurt someone if they are normal. Those people have problems," Kylie explained. "If Sting punched Ginno's face, there is a reason behind it." She rolled her eyes. "And he deserved that punch." she whispered, thinking that Ultear won't hear it.

Walang salitang lumabas sa kaniya bibig. Kylie is right. Ito ang bagay na gusto niyang malaman ngunit kahit ano ang gawin niya na pagtatanong kay Ginno, he always changed the topic.

"And don't you dare run away from your past. You're here, may chance ka nang sabihin ang lahat ng bagay na gusto mong sabihin kay Sting at matagal nang kimkimin ng puso mo. You are the only person who told me, that there's no need to run away from your past, accept it and face it. That is the only way for you to move on." She touch her hand. "Kylie touches her hand. "There's a lot of things you need to know about him, at maaaring makakapagpabago iyon nang takbo ng isipan mo."

Ultear looked at her friend's eyes, seriously. What did Kylie mean?

She wanted to speak, but she stopped. Kylie spoke again.

"I'm not in the right place to say this thing but at least hear him out," added Kylie.

Humigpit ang pagkakahawak nito sa kaniya kamay. Pinapahiwatig na kailangan niyang makinig sa susunod na sasabihin ni Kylie dahil importante ang mga ito.

"Sting wanted to meet his son, and Kajic needs to know about him." Short message, but it makes her body boiling.

"NO!" She flinched and thrown her arms. She could not believe what the woman said. "He is not interested in my son. Do you still remember, Kylie? He pushed him away— us. He pushed both of us away like a thing he does not want to see again."

"Hear his side, then. Sting changed a lot."

Umiling-iling ang kaniyang ulo. Bakit ganoon na lang kadali para sa kaibigan na mapatawad ang lalaking sumira at nagwasak sa puso niya?

Hindi na napigilan pa ng kaniyang labi ang pagngiwi. Oo nga pala, hindi naman ito ang nasaktan at hindi naman siya ang taong ginamit at itinapon lang. Pakiramdam niya sa ilang taon niya itong hindi nakasama sa personal ay hindi niya na ito kilala pa.

"I'm done!" Kajic shouted as going down the stairs excitedly. "Go fix yourself, Mommy. My Pretty Auntie, can we take our breakfast at your home?"

"Sure, Kajic. Vince cooked pasta, your favorite."

Kajic shouted happily while jumping. He was happy with what he heard.

"Mommy, what's up with you? Aren't you coming?" Kajic's hand gripped the hem of her dress as his brow raised.

Sasagot na sana si Ultear nang bigla na lang siyang inunahan ni Kylie at magkatama ang kanilang mga mata habang nagsasalita ito.

"Your mommy will join us. Kindly accompany her?" Kylie looked at her. "Hurry up, Ultear, do not let Kajic wait."

Hindi niya na hinayaan pa na hilahin siya ng kaniyang anak patungong kuwarto. Inutusan niya na lang ito na mag-stay sa tabi ni Kylie.

Wala siya sa kaniyang sariling isipan habang inaayos ang sarili. Kahit na ang pagsuklay sa sariling buhok ay hindi niya ganoon nagagawa nang maayos.

Nakatingin lang siya sa salamin nang ilang minute na para bang walang buhay. Walang kahit na anong bagay ang pumapasok sa kaniya isipan. Her mind was blank.

Ultear tweaked her head. If she could make it, she could pull apart the things she had heard earlier. Did Kylie mean to keep the matter a secret from her?

She carried a bag of clothes for her son and then she made her way to the living room.

Ang inaasahan niyang kapayapaan sa susunod na sandaling mangyayari ay nagkakamali siya. She hurriedly ran through where her son was.

Kajic was mad while shouting at someone.

When she saw who he is. Her legs walked faster , and using her own body, she blocked herself between her son and the man as much as possibly as she can. He had hurt him like a flash of thunder lightning.

Ultear made her body like a wall between of them to stop Kajic from hurting Sting. This thing is what she means off.