CHAPTER 3

Two weeks passed, and everything went smoothly. Magaling na din ako at nakakagalaw na ng maayos. Nag-iisa at malayo ang tingin. Andito ako ngayon sa kwarto ko, holding and reading some documents kahit alam kong hindi naman kailangan. I just want to do something habang naghihintay ng impormasyon tungkol sa lalaking pinapahanap ko. May mga inutusan na akong tauhan para hanapin at alamin kung saan matatagpuan ang lalaki. I was dying to know him. Hindi ko na kailangan maghintay ng matagal dahil alam kong mabilis at magaling ang mga tao ko. I just draw the face of the guy based on what I have remembered the night when we did something. Mabilis ko lang na ipininta ang mukha ng lalaki at binigay agad iyon sa imbistigador na kinuha ko. His face was painted in detail, from his square jaw to his black hair na masarap hawakan. I can still remember his face because damn he looks godly. Who would forget that face right? Especially his facial expression when he’s almost reaching his- never mind. Iniling-iling ko ang aking ulo bago pa man makaisip ng isang nakakapanindig balahibong alaala.

I am busy reading the documents when I heard my phone beep.

Inabot ko ito at tiningnan kung sino ang nag text. Only to find out that it’s my father asking what I am doing right now. Instead of replying to his text, I dialed his number and called him.

"Hello, mi amor," malalim na boses ni papa ang bumungad sa akin.

"Hi, papa, I missed you so much," nakangiti kong nilagay ang cellphone ko sa gilid ng tenga ko. I can feel that my father is smiling, too. Narinig ko ang buntong hininga ni papa bago siya muling nagsalita.

"I missed you, too. How are you, my love?" Madaldal kong ikinuwento ang mga nangyari sa akin sa ilang linggong pagtira dito sa mansion maliban na lamang sa gabing may nangyari sa akin. I don't know what he will do if he found out that his only daughter is doing something behind his back! While I am busy talking, I can sense his patience and happiness listening to my rants and stories.

"I heard what happen to you, love. Are you okay now?" Hindi nakaligtas sa akin ang pag-aalala niya. Sinabihan siguro siya ng mga tukmol. I hope they did not share everything.Tsismoso pa naman ang dalawang iyon!

"I am okay now, papa."

I secretly smiled when I remembered the exact reason why I am here right now in the Philippines. When I am a certified citizen of Russia.

I was given a year's vacation by my father Gavriel Romanov, a business tycoon. He owns hotels, casinos, tradings, automobiles, jewelry, and other big establishments all over the world. His empire is too wide not to be recognized. And as his only daughter, I was taught to manage our company at a young age. At fifteen I already graduated from school and started working in our company. From the lowest, I learned about the different types of jobs and understand every workload. Gifted with beauty and brain it was easy for me to graduate and work at a very young age. I was taught independence and influenced by the nature of work and power.

Buhay ko na ata nag pagtatrabaho na kahit ang mga simpleng bagay ay nakakalimutan ko na sa sobrang tutok sa trabaho. The reason why my father granted me a vacation: no work, no meetings, simply just to experience things I haven’t experienced before because of how busy my life was. Just to enjoy life with no worries. And of course kasama ko ang dalawang tukmol.

Pero iyon nga hindi ko pa rin maiwasang magbasa ng domumento kahit konti.

I turned my view to look at the beautiful scenery outside. From where I am located I can see the roses of different colors, the long man-made lake, the tall palm and pine trees, and green grasses. Everything is peaceful, simply breathtaking. Mapait akong ngumiti ng makita ko ang medyo malayong puting tuktok ng greenhouse, at napapalibutan ng nagtataasang kumpol ng puting rosas. Just like in the movie 'Beauty and the beast' the only difference is ours was white roses while in the movie was red as blood. A matagal na noong huli akong bumisita doon. Matagal na bago ko huling dalawin ang lugar kung saan matatagpuan ang libingan ng aking ina.

My mother died giving birth to me.

It was painful not to see my mom growing up. Ni hindi ko nga siya nakita kahit isang beses bago siya nawala. After hearing my cries in the delivery room. After carrying me for a while. She suddenly closed her eyes at hindi na nagising pa. Mag-isa akong pinalaki ni papa, minsan ay dinadalaw ng mga kaibigan nila at binabantayan ay hindi pa rin nito matumbasan ang pangugulila ko sa haplos ng aking ina. May mga araw na nakikita ko si papa na nakatingin sa mga ulap, tulala at may mga luhang nakadaloy mula sa kanyang mga mata. My father loved my mom so much that even now he’s still looking for her presence. He still keeps on wishing to embrace her again and shower her with his love and affection. The greatest love, huh?

Lumaki man akong walang ina ay hindi ako pinabayaan ni papa. At ten years old he introduced to me Vito and Vini. Dugyot, mabaho, payat at nakasuot ng sira-sirang damit. Tinuring silang dalawa ni papa na parang sariling anak. Pinag-aral kasama ko at pinatira sa aming pamamahay. What I have I share with them.

Isang marahang katok ang pumukaw sa akin sa pagbabalik-tanaw. Tiningnan ko kung sino ang pumasok only to see the tukmol holding two white folders filled with documents. I smiled. Finally, I found you, baby.

Lumapit sila sa akin at binigay ang mga dala nila at binuksan iyon. A picture of a serious-looking guy ang bumungad sa akin. Nakasuot ng puting long sleeve uniform with a black tie on it, black pants and black leather shoes. Hawak hawak niya sa isang kamay ang itim na blazer ng uniform niya. Papasok sa isang kilalang unibersidad at nililingon ng ibang kababaihan. It’s him. It's really him. Sunod kung tiningnan ang kasunod na litrato kung saan nakaupo siya sa isang cafe at tulala sa harap ng kanyang kape. Malayo ang tingin at may iniisip. There's a lot of it but I'll look at it later. Isinara ko ang folder at muling tiningnan ang dalawa na nakaupo na ngayon sa harap ng aking mesa. Both grinned at me.

Inirapan ko sila.

Tumayo ako mula sa pagkakaupo hawak hawak ang dalawang folders na naglalaman ng impormasyon tungkol sa lalaking pinahanap ko. Ang isang folder ay naglalaman naman ng titulo sa pagkakabili ko sa kwartong pinangyarihan ng bagay na iyon. It’s mine now. Although the room was small what mattered is, that it holds a special meaning in my life.

Marahan kong hinawakan ang magkabilang balikat nila.

“Brace yourself for the next days dahil aakyat tayo ng bundok,” bulong ko sa kanila bago tuluyang lumabas sa kwartong iyon at pumunta sa balkonahe kung saan ako palaging tumatambay. Narinig ko pa ang mahina nilang protesta sa sinabi ko.

Malawak ang ngiti kong binasa ang pangalan ng lalaki.

Aizayah Izsrael Black. Ang guwapo ng pangalan halatang gwapo din ang nagmamay-ari. Amoy expensive hindi halatang walang karanasan sa pagbayo! He’s already 22 years old at nag-aaral ng architecture sa isang sikat na paaralan dito sa Maynila. Isang sem na lang at ga-graduate na siya. Well, I can apply as his client ha ipaggawa ko sa kanya ang magiging bahay namin soon. Haha.

Hmmm, I know this school.

He’s also a basketball player, huh? Well, I like sporty men.

Especially if it’s him.

Muli kong tiningnan ang larawan ng lalaki at hinaplos iyon. I cant wait to see him. Hindi ako makapaghintay na panindigan siya. My lips rose when I thought of something. Ready yourself babyboy.

I dialed someone’s number and tried to call it. Wala pang dalawang ring ay sinagot na nito ang aking tawag. Inilahad ko sa kanya ang aking plano at nagtanong kung payag ba siya sa aking gustong gawin. Wala naman siyang choice kung hindi pumayag. It’s a lifetime opportunity, okay. All he needs to do is to set a meeting with me.

Malawak ang pagkakangiti ko matapos kong ibaba ang tawag na iyon. I don’t mind spending money just to see you Aizayah. No amount can change my mind about not seeing you. Muli kong binuksan ang folder na naglalaman ng iba't ibang litrato niya. Some of it was taken outside school or him playing balls inside their gymnasium. He looks so hot on his black jersey. A number 01 was written on it. Why number 01? It was his birthdate, June 1. His hair was tied like pigtails. Cute. I remembered how I pulled his hair when he was eati-no! Blushing, I closed the folder and grab the glass of water, and drank it. Damn, boy. I remember everything about you and I can't stop thinking about you! Kahit sa pag-idlip ikaw ang nasa isip ko! What are you doing to me? Nakanguso, I opened my laptop and searched for something. I quietly maneuvered my laptop until I saw what I was looking for. Hindi ko maiwasang itaas ang kilay ko ng mabasa ang ibang impormasyon na aking nakalap. What the hell is this?

Nakahiga na ako ngayon sa aking kama at handa na para matulog. Actually, hindi ako makatulog. Hindi pa rin ma proseso ng utak ko ang aking mga nalaman. I know some people who are desperate for influence and power. They throw other people like trash if they don't like them or kung hindi ka nila kailangan. Ganid sa pera at yaman kaya nakalimutan na ang mabuting asal. Ano nga ba ang magagawa ng mabubuting tao kung wala naman silang pera? Talo ng mayaman ang mahirap lalong lalo na kapag tungkol sa larangan ng hustisya at karapatan. Sa mundong puno ng ganid at kasakiman, walang puwang ang may mabubuting puso dito. Itatakwil ka ng mundo kapag mahirap at uto-uto ka. Madaling gamitin at mabilis itapon. Pagtatawanan at aapihin. Tatapak-tapakan. Pamilya man o kadugo kapag usapang pera ay talo ka 'pag wala kang may ipagmamalaki. Aalipustahin at ituturing na basura. Pera na ang nagpapatakbo sa mundo ngayon. Kung wala ka nito kawawa ka.

That explains the sadness I saw in his eyes when I met him. He's smiling but in his eyes, I see something else.

I smiled when a thought flashes in my mind. I am beyond proud to know that he continues living despite the burden that he carries. Padayon gihapon. Padayon always. With that thought, I finally drifted to sleep.

Monday morning came and I am here inside the Quatro University parking lot. Matyagang naghihintay sa loob ng kotse, nag-aabang sa uwian ng mga architecture student. Kahit isang sulyap man lang at makita ko si Aizayah. Wearing my aviator and yellow puff sleeves dress and nude sandal ay pansin ko rin ang panaka-nakang tingin sa banda ko. I don't understand why they are looking but I don't care. Nasa tabi ng kotse ko ang puting BMW. His car. At bago siya pumasok sa sasakyan niya ay makikita niya ako. Nakabukas ang bintana sa pwesto ko. I'm with my driver today kaya nasa backseat ako nakaupo ngayon. Tinatamad akong mag drive. Medyo pagod pa din sa ginawa naming activity kahapon ng mga tukmol. Nag Mountain climbing kasi kami kahapon.

After a long time, I finally saw Aizayah, wearing his uniform and his specs. Naglalakad papunta sa gawi ko. Guwapong-gwapo! I never knew he could be this hot wearing his specs! Damn. Palapit ng papalapit ay hindi din matumbasan ang kaba na nararamdaman ko. This will be the first that we will see each other after that one steamy night. I don't even know if he still remembers me! Pinatunog niya ang kanyang sasakyan at nakita ko kung pano iyon umilaw. Sobrang lapit na niya to the point that I can now smell him. Ang bango sobra. He smells like lavender. Napaubo ako ng makita ko siyang dumaan sa gilid ko at lumapit sa sasakyan niya. Diretso ang tingin ko sa kanya kahit hindi halata dahil sa aviator na suot ko. Narinig niya siguro kaya napatingin siya sa direksyon ko. I don't know if namamalikmata lang ako but nakita kong nanlaki ang kanyang mata pagkakita sa akin. Nang matauhan ay dali-dali siyang pumasok sa kanyang sasakyan. What? Iyon lang? Hindi pa ako nakaka get over ay nakita ko na lang ang papalabas niyang sasakyan. Nagmamadali? May tinatakasan? I grinned mischievously.