Chapter 7

"Hello, Serene!"

Napatingin ako sa tumawag sa'kin at agad na ngumiti at saka naglakad palapit dito ng hindi pinapansin si Javion.

"Hello, Doc Zephyr," nakangiting bati ko at saka ako tumingin sa iba pang kaibigan ni Javion.

My eyes widened when my eyes met Kuya Ethan's. Close na pinsan iyon ni Kazimir kaya naman kilala ko siya at naalala ko pa noon na siya lagi ang nagbabantay sa'min sa tuwing maglalaro kami ni Kazimir sa playground.

The older smiled and went towards me. Hindi na ako nagulat ng gawaran niya ako ng halik sa noo. It's normal in Germany, 'yong paghalik sa pisngi ng kaibigang lalaki sa babae pero mas hindi awkward kapag sa noo kaya naman ayon na ang nagawian namin ni Kuya Ethan.

"Long time no see, little girl," bati ni Kuya Ethan ng humiwalay siya sa'kin. His accent didn't change at all, British pa rin.

I laughed. "Well, I believe I am not a little girl anymore, Kuya."

"Damn, bro."

Sabay kaming napatingin ni Kuya Ethan sa lalaking nagsalita. Ito 'yong lalaking tumawag kay Doc Zephyr nung na sa seminar kami.

"You just kissed her in front of her fiance's eyes," the guy continued. He sounded awesome probably because of his British accent.

It's Doc Zephyr who replied. "It's an arranged marriage, bud. Javion won't take it seriously at saka we all know that Ethan never kiss someone just like that. Since he kissed her, that only means one thing... Serene is someone who's important to Ethan and let's respect that."

The guy in pilot uniform chuckled. "Naiinggit lang 'yan si Dawson, hindi kasi uso sa Australia 'yong ganoong way of greeting."

The guy in police uniform laughed together with the other. "Halatang babaero si Izaiah. Lawyer ka pa naman, dude. Act like one."

The guy named Izaiah rolled his eyes. "Kung mayroon mang babaero sa'ting dalawa, ikaw 'yon. You're a fucking lieutenant pero kung sino-sino kinakasama mo sa club."

"That's defamation, my man," natatawang aniya ng pulis.

Natuon ang atensyon ko sa isang lalaking tumayo. He was wearing a set of fitted navy blue amerikana and a genuine smile were pasted on his lips. Nilahad niya ang kamay niya sa'kin.

"William Gonzales, one of Javion's lunatic friends," he introduced his self. "It's nice meeting you, soon-to-be Mrs. Axfor."

Tinanggap ko 'yong kamay niyang nakalahad at saka ngumiti. "Serene na lang po itawag mo sa'kin. It's nice to meet you too, Sir William."

William chuckled. "Cut with the formality, Serene. Kaibigan naman ako ni Javion and since you'll be his wife that's basically means I'll be your friend too."

Parang may humaplos sa puso ko dahil sa sinabi ni William. "Thank you."

"I've seen you before, katabi ka ni Zephyr nung seminar sa Axfor Medical Center, right?" anang lalaki na tinawag na Izaiah ng pulis kanina.

Tumango ako. "Yep, I remembered you."

He smiled and offered his hand for a handshake. "Izaiah Dawson, a lawyer. Kapag sinaktan ka ni Javion, tell me and I'll process the lawsuit for you... free of charge."

I laughed and accepted his hand. "Cut with the formality na rin ba?"

Izaiah nodded. "Yep, magiging kaibigan mo na rin kami dahil ikakasal ka na kay Javion, but that doesn't mean na kapag natapos na kontrata niyo ay friends over na rin tayo."

The guy with a pilot uniform spoke. "Once you enter friendship with us, it'll be for a lifetime." He fixed his cap and offered his hand for a handshake too. "Benjamin Laxamana, by the way. A pilot."

The guy in police uniform raised his hand and bowed his head a little. "I'm Neiro Watanabe, a police lieutenant general."

Napatingin ako sa lalaking nakamasid lang sa amin at may suot itong headphones. Mukhang siya ang pinakatahimik sa kanilang lahat. Tinanguan niya ako. "Jethro Lee, a fifty Michelin star chef."

The woman smiled at me when I glanced at her. "I'm Heaven Gālvez, I'm a pediatrician."

I smiled. "It was so nice to meet you everyone. Thank you for accepting me for your friend."

Benjamin chuckled. "Oh no, it's actually thank you because you accepted Javion as your husband despite him being rude and heartless pero mabait naman talaga 'yan."

Tumango si Izaiah. "That's right. May bipolar kasi 'yan kaya ganiyan ugali niya."

Javion glared at him. "That's defamation, you know."

Napatingin ako kay Doc Zephyr nang akbayan niya ako. "Are you okay?"

I smiled and nodded my head. "Yes, I'm good."

"Hindi ka ba nilalamig sa suot mo?" It's William who asked.

Tinanggal ni Kuya Ethan ang jacket niya pati ang braso ni Doc Zephyr na nakaakbay sa'kin at saka ipinatong sa balikat ko 'yong jacket niya para takpan ang likod ko.

"There, much better," aniya Kuya Ethan.

Papasalamatan ko sana si Kuya Ethan ng may humila ng jacket mula sa balikat ko at ibinalik iyon kay Kuya Ethan. Hindi makapaniwalang napatitig ako kay Javion habang ang mga kaibigan naman niya ay naririnig kong tumatawa.

"What do you think you're doing?" nagtatakang tanong ko.

Madilim ang mukha nito at nakatiim ang bagang niya. Is he mad or something?

"Leave, Zabawa."

Kumunot ang noo ko. "Ha? What do you mean?"

"Leave. Go back to your friends." He looked away. "I don't like seeing you here."

I scoffed. "Ipapaalala ko lang sa'yo, Javion. This is our event, not only yours at saka nakikipag-usap pa ako kay Doc Zephyr at Kuya Ethan. I'll leave when I want to and you're not the boss of me, remember that."

He glared at me. "Leave while I'm asking nicely."

"Oh? Ayan na ba ang bagong paraan ng 'asking nicely' ngayon? Well, news flash; it doesn't look like nice to me," naiinis na sambit ko.

"Let's go," he uttered as he grabbed my hand and pulled me away.

"Nice, we just pissed him off." Narinig kong natatawang sambit ni Doc Zephyr.

"He deserved to feel that," Kuya Ethan replied.

"Let me go," may diin na bulong ko.

"Not until you intuit the reason why you shouldn't mess with me."

Lalong kumunot ang noo ko sa sinagot niya. Naguguluhan man ako, sumunod lang ako kung saan ako dadalhin ni Javion. My heart is actually beating so darn fast dahil hawak ni Javion ang kamay ko. Damn, his hands were so soft and warm!

Pumunta kami sa kuwarto kung saan ako inayusan kanina at akmang magsasalita na ako para tanungin siya when he pinned me on the door. His body and face were just a few inches away from mine. His eyes were dark and his jaws were tightened. One thing for sure, he's mad and I don't know why.

"Ahm... w-what—"

"Do you know what are the types of people I hate the most, Zabawa?" His voice were cold as an ice and it's scaring the shit out of me.

Mabilis akong umiling. "H-hindi."

"Well, since you'll be my wife after tomorrow, I'll tell you the types of people I dislike." He licked his lips.

Napalunok naman ako ng maraming beses. Shit, nanghihina 'yong mga tuhod ko! Nanunuot pa sa ilong ko ang panlalaki niyang pabango at ang mabango niyang hininga. Oh please do help me keep my sanity, natetempt akong ilapit 'yong mukha ko. Those red thin kissable lips, I wonder how does it feel on my lips.

"Don't look on my lips, Zabawa. You're not helping," naiinis na sambit nito kaya agad akong nag-angat ng tingin.

Napansin pala nito ang pagtitig ko sa labi niya. Nakakahiya naman, bakit kasi harap-harapan kong ginawa 'yon?!

Tumango ako at pasimpleng huminga ng malalim. "H-hindi ba p-pwede mag-usap na malayo k-ka sa'kin? T-this is uncomfortable."

"I hate people who disobey me, the people who pretend to be nice, people who dictate what I should or should not do, and lastly, those people who judge me even before knowing me," he replied instead. "And I can't believe that lahat ng iyon ay na sa'yo. Why are you disobeying me? Why do you pretend to be nice? Why are you dictating the things I should and I shouldn't do? And why the fuck do you judge me like you already knew who I really am?"

Alam kong bumulatay ang sakit sa mukha ko. Hindi naman kasi ako masasaktan kung totoo lahat iyon. Oo nga at naja-judge ko siya pero hindi naman ako nagpapanggap na 'nice' sa kaniya. He's my idol, of course I should be nice with him, but it seems like opposite ang nakikita niya.

"Think what you want to think, Javion. Nangja-judge ka rin naman ah? At saka aren't you the one who pretends nice? Disobeying..." I scoffed. "Bakit naman ako susunod sa'yo? You're not the boss of me, Javion. Gagawin ko kung anong gusto ko kahit na contrast pa iyan sa gusto mo. I never dictated anything to you, ikaw nga ang nagdi-dictate kung ano dapat ko gawin eh. You're turning the table upside down, Javion. Lahat ng sinabi mo, ikaw ang gumagawa ng mga 'yon at hindi ako."

Buong pwersa ko siyang tinulak at saka lumabas ng silid. Great! engagement party pa lang nag-aaway na kami, paano pa kaya kapag kinasal na kami? Bukas na ang kasal pero dito lang sa cruise ship iyon dahil parehas kaming hindi sumang-ayon na sa simbahan. Bakit kami manunumpa sa harap ng Diyos kung hindi namin mahal ang isa't isa or should we say, hindi naman niya ako gusto.

************

The engagement party ended well at hindi na kami nag-usap ni Javion pagkatapos ng nangyaring paguusap sa silid na 'yon. I was avoiding him, baka hindi ko matimpla ang sarili ko at masampal ko siya. I am currently here at the cruise ship's deck at nakatitig lang sa tahimik na dagat.

Madilim na pero may liwanag pa rin naman dahil sa dami ng bituin sa kalangitan. Maselan ako sa lamig pero suot ko pa rin ang gown na backless habang sinasalubong ang malamig na simoy ng hangin. Well. namanhid na siguro ako, wala naman ng mas lalamig pa sa pakikitungo ni Javion sa'kin.

"Hey," narinig kong boses ng babae.

Habit na siguro ang pagiging chismosa ko kaya hinanap ko kaagad kung nasaan iyon. Napatitig ako sa gawing kaliwa ko. Malayo sila pero sakto lang para hindi nila ako makita at marinig ko ang boses nila. Na sa may pacurba kasi ako ng deck nakatayo.

"What?" Javion asked to the woman.

Ibang babae iyon, hindi 'yong Heaven na paborito niya.

"Namiss kita."

I blinked multiple times. May girlfriend ba ito? Kaya ganoon na lang niya kaayaw sa'kin?

"Do I looked like I missed you?" sarkastikong tanong ni Javion.

"Oo, 'di ba nag-text ka pa nga sa'kin na puntahan kita rito? Hindi bagay sa'yo magtampo at saka duh, I'm studying, hindi ako naglalaro doon," the woman replied.

Javion let out a deep sigh and hugged the woman back. "Yeah, I missed you."

Dude, para akong binuhusan ng malamig na tubig. So I was right after all. Magmumukha akong kabit nito at iniisip ko pa lang na mangyayari sa'kin 'yon, kinamumuhian ko na ang sarili ko. Nagmamartsa akong umalis doon sa kinatatayuan ko at hindi ko alam kung bakit ngayon pa sumapi si katangahan sa'kin, napatid ako at napaupo sa sahig. Gumawa iyon ng malakas na tunog dahil gawa sa kahoy ang inaapakan kong deck.

I hissed in pain as I carefully massage my lower back. Tumama kasi iyon sa baitang na mayroon doon. Hagdan pababa na pala 'yong dadaanan ko, although dalawang hakbang lang kaya lang kasi naka-heels at backless pa ang damit ko kaya panigurado akong may sugat iyon dahil nararamdaman ko ang hapdi kada dampi ng palad ko. Lintek talaga.

"Oh my gosh, what happened to you?" nag-aalalang tanong ng isang babae.

Napaangat ako ng tingin. Siya 'yong babaeng kausap ni Javion. Mukhang nauna itong makarating dahil naririnig ko ang mga yapak ng isa pang tao na paparating. The woman offered her hand to me.

"Let me help you," aniya.

Akmang hahawakan ko na ang kamay niya ng marinig ko ang boses ni Javion and that made me change my mind too. Ang kapal naman ng mukha ko humingi ng tulong sa babaeng masasaktan ko kapag kinasal kami ni Javion.

"Don't move for a minute," Javion uttered.

"Are you crazy? Hahayaan mo lang siya rito?" Hindi makapaniwalang wika nung babae.

"I did tell her not to move, but that doesn't mean I'm leaving her here, Reina. Hindi ba medical din ang inaaral mo? Haven't they taught you that you can't move your body immediately after falling? because there's a possibility that the bones might dislocate kapag binigla mong igalaw," naiinis na paliwanag ni Javion.

The woman's mouth formed an 'O'. "Sabi ko nga eh."

Nanigas ako ng bigla akong buhatin ni Javion. Nanlalaki ang mga matang napatitig ako sa kaniya pero hindi niya ako pinansin kapagkuwan ay nagsalita ito.

"Let's talk tomorrow, Reina. Huwag kang aalis, may kasalanan ka pa sa'kin," aniya Javion at nagsimula na maglakad.

"Copy, my dearest! Enjoy the night with your fiance!"

Is it just me or kinikilig talaga 'yong babae when she shouted the last phrase? And how did she knew?