Chapter 2 Aiah

2019.

WALANG PAG-AALINLANGANG dinala niya si Ethan sa kanilang bahay. Naging masaya ang gabi nilang dalawa dahil sa pagdiriwang na inihanda nila para sa kaniya. Isa ito sa mga araw na hinding-hindi niya malilimutan.

Pinakatitigan siya ni Ethan habang dahan-dahang inaalis ang kaniyang mga alahas. Nakakapagod man ang kanilang gabi subalit masyado pang maaga para tapusin ang kasiyahang dulot nito.

“Ethan, huwag mo akong titigan ng ganyan. Para ka namang ewan,” aniya nang maramdaman niya ang bigat ng mga titig nito.

Simula pa lamang nang kanilang pagkabata, palagi nang magkasama ang dalawa. Malimit din silang natutukso sa isa’t isa sapagkat hinding-hindi sila mapaghiwalay. Kahit na hindi gaanong boto ang magulang ng dalaga, tila ba alam naman na nila kung saan hahantong ang lahat.

“How will Auntie Jed react if she sees us in your room?” inosenteng tanong ng binata.

Napahagikhik naman ang dalaga at saka nilingon si Ethan. Inilapag niya ang huling piraso ng hikaw sa jewelry box.

“Momsie will not think anything out of it,” she pointed out. “Ikaw, kung anu-anong iniisip mo, Ethan.”

“We are already eighteen and this scene will creep anyone out.”

Napairap siya sa hangin. “If they are thinking malicious,” pagtatama ng dalaga sa sinabi nito. “At ikaw, hindi ka naman malisyosong mag-isip at hindi naman kabastusan ang dahilan kaya kita pinapunta rito.”

Natapos ang dalaga sa pagtatanggal ng mga sagabal sa kanilang gagawin. Agad niyang hinigit ang kamay ng binata at nagpatianod na lang din ito sa kaniya. Narating nila ang balkonahe ng kwarto ng dalaga at gulat ang tanging namayaning emosyon sa mukha ng binata.

“Ano na namang kalokohan ito?” pabiro niyang tanong sa dalaga.

“Tadah! Sorpresang regalo ko dahil birthday mo. We are going to watch the stars, drink and chitchat all night until the dawn.”

Napangiti na lang ang binata sa mga sinabi ng dalaga.

Nagpahabol pa siya ng bati. “Happy birthday, Ethan!”

Ngiti ang isinukli ng binata sa kaniya at nagwika, “Happy birthday, Enie.”

~ ~ ~

2031.

SHE STARED AT THE BARE walls of the huge gray colored room. Malaki na rin ang pinagbago ng kwartong iyon simula noon. Marahil, ito ang naging dahilan ng muling pananaginip niya ng alaala tungkol kay Enie.

Gaya ng sabi ni Ethan, nakikita ng lahat kay Aiah ang kaniyang namatay na asawa. Sa kilos nito, maging ang hubog ng mukha at bawat simpleng detalye sa pagkatao ni Enie, gayang-gaya niya. She haven’t seen Enie in person since then, but maybe if she will look at the mirror, malalaman niya kung anong itsura ni Enie.

Bumaling siya sa kinaroroonan ng lalaki na buong pagtataka pa rin ang nasa isip. Pinagmasdan niyang muli ang mukha nito hanggang sa hindi na maalis ang tingin sa binata. His mountainous nose perfectly matches his sharp jaw line. She never thought that a fiction-like man like him will exist in the real world.

Tunay bang mahal siya nito o ang katauhan lang na ipinapakita niya ngayon ang mahal nito? Being a spitting image of his wife will make everything easier for her – making him fall for her and even loving her boundless – but harder in a sense that she will just hurt herself, in case.

She got confused the moment he told her that he loves her so much. Hindi siya makapaniwala habang sinasabi ito ni Ethan na may lasing na mga mata. Sa kabilang banda, hindi niya mawari kung maniniwala ba siya rito o hindi.

Last night was not a great start but the dawn changed everything. Dinala siya ng bukang-liwayway sa isang paraisong minsan na niyang pinangarap. The moment their lips touched, the sparkle of flames suddenly lit up their mood. He delivered the earthly heaven to Aiah’s system that moment as his hand touched every inch of her body. Sariwa pa sa isip ni Aiah ang lahat. Hindi niya alam kung makalilimot pa ba siya sa kagandahang dulot ni Ethan.

She touched the tip of his nose that made him move a bit. Gumalaw ang pikit na talukap nito at napakunot ang noo. Nagising niya yata ang ‘asawa niya.’ Uncomfortable it may sound but she calls him ‘her husband’ because something tells that she should do that.

"Good morning, Agape," he greeted.

Nagulat na lang si Aiah nang pumulupot ang bisig nito sa kaniyang baywang. She lie stiffened in his brawny arms, trying to think what to do next. Ramdam niya ang init ng pagkakayapos nito sa kaniya sa gitna ng malamig na umaga.

"G-good m-morning din?" nag-aalangan niyang sabi.

Bakas sa mukha ng dalaga ang pag-aalinlangan sa paghawak ng lalaki. Naiilang pa rin siya hanggang ngayon. She is not used to men touching her, so clingy. She prefers meters of distance from any guy but in this case, she let him cover the big spaces between them. She is not a touchy person. She likes it more distant and never entering her safe zone. Gayunpaman, mukhang hindi na niya nasunod ang sariling batayan dahil sa mga nangyari kagabi.

"B-bakit, Enie?”

His question just drained all the heat in her body.

“You still don't feel comfortable?" nagtatakang tanong ng binata. Obvious or not, he still does not know why she is like that.

Awkwardly staring at him, Aiah does not know what to respond. First of all, she is still Aiah and not Enie. Second of all, she felt like Ethan may love her because she looks like Enie. Lastly, he repeatedly calls Enie's name last night though she does not care at all. It hurt her the moment she heard him said “Enie” in their love making but the pain is nothing when he felt his love as he slowly danced according to her rhythm last night.

What happened to their perfect night last night? Pati ba iyon ay nakalimutan na rin ng dalaga? Does not she remember how they enjoyed their moment last night? Hindi rin ba niya naaalala kung paano siyang sumaya sa kaunting oras na pinagsaluhan nila kagabi?

HE BLANKLY STARED at the woman in front of him. He is sure that she is his late wife, Enie. Kahit ilang beses nitong i-deny na hindi ito ang asawa niya, hindi siya naniniwala. This woman in front of him is his Agape, his wife, the mother of his child, she is Enie.

"Hindi ka pa rin ba sanay sa akin, Eniessia?" he asked once more. He wants confirmation. It sounds like he badly needs it. Tila punong-puno ng pag-aalinlangan ang puso ni Ethan ngayon. He felt every single love and passion that she had for him last night but now, it turns out that he is a stranger to her. A complete stranger in her eyes.

"P-pero hindi ako si Enie, Ethan. I am Aiah, why can't you understand that?" naiilang na sabi ng dalaga. “Lasing ka pa ba?”

Bumitiw ito mula sa pagkakayapos niya at banayad tumingin na lamang sa mga mata nito. Bakas sa mukha ng dalaga ang pagkalungkot, maging ang panghihinayang sa hindi malamang dahilan. It seems like she does not know what to do now.

"I believe that you are Enie. I just don't know why you are insistent that you are not. Halata sa bawat features mo," he insisted habang nililipol ang takas na buhok ni Aiah sa likod ng tainga nito. "Sa character mo, you are my honey, my Agape. Ikaw yung babaeng pinakasalan ko five years ago. Ikaw yung babaeng iniyakan ko dahil akala ko patay ka na. Then you are here! You are alive Enie, ikaw si Eniessia," he confusingly said.

She laughed as if his words were pure joke. Bitterness stained her beautiful smile. Tila ba may kutsilyong tumatarak sa puso nito habang dahan-dahang sinasabi ang mga katagang, "H-Hindi nga ako si Enie."

Naguguluhan maging si Ethan habang pinagmamasdan ang dalaga. She continued to deny everything. Probably because she is not really Enie but Aiah. Gayunpaman, patuloy niyang hindi paniniwalaan ni Aiah kahit pa halata namang hindi siya ang sinasabing asawa nito.

She sat up on the edge of the bed, still holding the blanket that covers her body. Nanatiling namang nakahiga si Ethan at napatihaya na lamang at napatitig sa kisame. May ilang tanong na biglang bumagabag sa isip ng binata.

"Why did you agree on me last night?" he asked, still looking at the ceiling of that room. He wants an answer, a definite one.

"I agreed on you simply because I want you. Period, no explanations," she nonchalantly said. Tila kaba ang nararamdaman ng dalaga habang sinasambit ang mga kataga.

Agad na bumaling si Ethan sa nakatalikod na si Aiah. He touched her tattoo of a rose on the upper left part of her back. It has veins and aesthetic details. If it was not of the fact that she has this same tattoo, he would not think that she is really Enie.

"But this one,” he said as he points on it. “Eniessia owns this tattoo. Hindi pa ba sapat na pruweba na sobrang pareho kayong dalawa para sabihin kong ikaw talaga siya?" Ethan hopelessly uttered.

She covered her whole body with the thin white sheet. Itinago nito ang tattoo na nakita sa kaniyang likod at nagwika, "Not enough reason for you to be sure that I am Enie." She smirked.

"Tandaan mo Ethan, ginagaya ko lang si Eniessia dahil gusto ko ang buhay na mayroon siya. Kaya kung ako sayo, ititigil ko muna ang pag-iilusyong ako ang namatay mong asawa. This leads to nowhere, Agape."

Napapikit nang mariin si Ethan at saka napasuklay. He is truly confused with this woman in front of him. She calls him Agape. She loves Uno like her own child. She cares for him. She shows the same kindness like what Enie does to everyone. Alam niya kung paano patakbuhin ang mga bagay-bagay. At dumating siya, anim na buwan matapos mamatay si Eniessia. What could be more confusing than that?

"Why call me Agape in the first place?" Ethan said in a stern voice.

She smiled nonchalantly. "I call you Agape because that is what I want to call you," pagmamatigas ni Aiah sa kaniya.

Agad na tumayo ang dalaga at sinimulang ayusin ang sarili. Hindi pa man ito natatapos, nilapitan agad ito ni Ethan, iyong malapit na malapit at wala na siyang lugar pa para pagtakasan.

He started to romance her just like last night. Kisses were deep and passionate. Every touch was warm and electrifying. His hands traveled on her naked body. Every inch, he could clearly memorize. Every curve, he just can’t get enough of it.

Kung hindi lang si Aiah ang kaharap ni Ethan, walang siyang kasamang ibang babae ngayon. He is with Eniessia or probably just a mirror image of his wife.

He refrained himself from meeting other girls because he knows that Eniessia will come back soon. She will come back soon. Iyon ang pinaniniwalaan niya.

All through these years, he silently prayed for a peaceful life with his son and his wife. Ilang taon niyang tiniis ang magulong buhay kasama ito hanggang sa tinanggap niya na lang na ito ang nakatandhana para sa kaniya. He married a secret agent and what should he expect? Isa pa, hindi lang ito basta-bastang agent kundi konektado sa pinakamatinik na may-ari ng Alpha Lohikal.

He found no reason to believe that his wife is dead because he knows that she is not. Ramdam niya kapag nandito ang asawa niya o hindi. Ramdam niya kung sino ang kasiping niya kagabi. Whenever he closes his eyes, it is Enie that he thinks of. It is Eniessia Moriah Oliveria-Montellano whom he married back then, the mother of his child, the woman whom he promised a lifetime of love.

"Tama na," Aiah said when she parted herself from him. "I can't do this anymore."

Lumayo ang dalaga at muling nagsimulang ayusin ang sarili. Walang pag-aalinlangang isinuot nito ang damit na ginamit kahapon at saka sinuklay nang mabilis ang kanyang buhok. Pinulot nito ang kaniya pang natitirang mga gamit at inipon ito sa kaniyang kamay.

"Zendaiah Liezandra."

She stopped after she heard the sweet bedroom voice of Ethan–husky enough for her to get goose bumps. She gulped once for being stupid and twice for the regret. Sino bang makakahindi sa isnag Ethan Montellano?

"What?" anito nang may pagkainis matapos harapin ang lalaki.

Tila galit ang namayaning pakiramdam sa puso ni Aiah habang pinagmamasdan ang walang emosyong mga mata ni Ethan. Niluma na ng panahong paghihintay ang pag-ibig sa mga mata nitong asul. His eyes were bluer than blue. Hindi na ito masigla. Hindi na ito masaya.

"Hindi ako titigil hangga't hindi ko napapatunayang ikaw si Enie.”

SHE IMMEDIATELY ESCAPED the trap of falling into the same abyss again. He was left frozen and jaw dropped, seeing her lovely physique, slowly fading as the door closes. Pagod na siya malunod, mahulog sa kawalan habang hindi alam kung kailan siya makakatagpo ng hangganan.

Wala nang ibang nagawa si Aiah kundi ang umuwi na lang mag-isa. Sa kabila ng blangko at lumilipad na puso, okupado naman ang isip niya sa mga tanong na para bang may naghihintay ng mga sagot. She wants to find answers herself. Maybe investigating by her own will be a big help.

She drove herself back to her condominium from Ethan’s pad. Hindi niya tinanggap ang offer ni Ms. Jed na tumira siya sa bahay nila ni Enie sapagkat nakikita niya ang mga alaala nilang dalawa. It just creeps her out dreaming about Enie vividly. Maging siya, naiiyak at nasasaktan dahil sa mga panaginip na ito.

She breathed hard the moment she reached the building's parking lot. Nanginginig ang mga kamay niyang tinanggal ang susi ng kotse at napatulala na lang sa hangin. She took a deep breath. Bahagya niyang inuntog ang sarili sa manibela ng sasakyan at umaasang malilimot niyang saglit ang kahibangan.

She felt hopeless and regretful. She left him with a pain inside her chest, a burden in her mind, after that stupid move that she did last night. She just hopes to redeem herself after a disappointing moment with Ethan.

ETHAN WAS DUMB-FOUNDED while watching the door slammed close. Ngayon pa kung kailan tapos nang nagawa niyang ipagpalit ang asawa sa isang gabi kasama ang kawangis nito, doon pa niya pinagsisihan na hinayaan si Aiah na pumasok sa kaniyang sistema.

He knows himself. He is firm about his love for Enie and his faithfulness to her. Tila dinaya siya ng sarili sa saglit na naglapit ang kanilang labi at tila nagustuhan niya iyon. He felt so filthy, very far from a man that she promised to be in his wedding with Enie.

If only Enie is alive right now… siguradong susubukan niyang itama ang lahat ng pagkakamali. More so, hindi siya gagawa ng pagkakamaling ikapapahamak niya at ng pagsasama nilang mag-asawa.