Real Chapter 12

I was having my breakfast when Fash was rushing towards the kitchen.

"Papa I'm ready!". Bungad nito habang malaki ang ngiti.

"Oh no!". Saad naman ni Aling Gracia. "You little boy is coming with me".

Fash eyed her with disapproval and look at me with his cute eyes.

"Papa?". He's asking me now to rescue him. Napailing ako.

"I have meetings today son, it is better if you visit grands today". Marahan kong saad.

Lumungkot ang mukha nito.

"I'm flying to Hongkong this evening and I won't be back until Saturday, I want you to pack and behave while you at grands place, okay?".

"Y-yes papa". In his pouty lips. 

"Good!". Without looking at him again. Baka magbago ang isip ko. 

Tahimik itong kumain. Nakanguso at tila malamim ang iniisip. Patingin tingin ito sakin habang kumakain. Napabuntong hininga ako. 

"Okay lil one, what do you want?". 

"A little minute with the lady, dad. Can I go with you before I go with Nana?". 

"Why is that? I have no time, please—can you wait till I get home? You can have her all day". 

His eyes brightened like I grant him his long time wish. 

"For real dad?". Lumaki ang ngisi nito. 

Tumango ako. "I'll arrange her schedule, she likes you? Are you sure?". Pagsisiguro ko dito. 

"I'm sure". 

"Why do you think so?". 

"She looks at me exactly how you looked at me Papa". Nabigla ako sa sinabi niya. I wonder if she looks at me like that too. Wait! What I am thinking?! 

My mind now drifting to the day I found my lost memories with Paige. Ang araw na kahit ako di ko makilala ang sarili ko. 

I was holding my old cell phone, when I opened it the image of Paige popped in. She's smiling widely while I am kissing her in her chicks, squeezing her. It's a picture of a perfect couple.. Sadly I can't remember when it happened. It's just like I am looking in my twin brother photos with her girlfriend. But my heart ache even thinking of that. 

It's full of our photos and videos. Photos while we were playing, skateboarding in the park, eating in the restaurant, shopping, pictures with Samuel and Jerome, picture of her in the field. Snaps pictures of her smiling, frowning, sad and crying. It's a lot of it. A lot of Paige. What catches my attention was the videos. 

"Baby, come on!". Dinig ko sa background ng video ang malambing na boses nito. 

"I'm taking pictures of you". Dinig ko naman ang boses ko sa background at maya-maya pa bumungad na sa video and mukha naming dalawa. She kisses me on chicks and run a way. 

"Habolin mo!". It's Jerome's voice while laughing. The camera was dropped, I guessed because the image showed was only the sky. Dinig ko ang tawanan. 

Then suddenly, I grab it and face the video to her, still playing. 

"You're happy". It's Samuel. 

"He is".  It's Jerome's voice now. 

"Alam niyo, you should start to think about yourself. Get a woman like Paige". Boses ko na ito ngayon. "Hindi yung tuwing date namin nakaaligid kayo!". Tawa lang ang isinagot ng dalawa. 

"Nag-iisa si boss". 

"Should I get her from you?". Ani Jerome. 

"The hell!". Madiin kung sabi. At sinundan ng tawanan. 

"Baby, come on! Stop running.. You're like a child". Dinig ko ulit ang boses ko. 

"Babe come on, play with me". Sigaw nito pabalik. 

"I'm tired, can I have some kiss instead?". 

"Yes of course!". Sagot nito. 

"Uwi na tayo, kawawa tayo dito". Dinig ko ang nang aasar na boses ni Samuel.

"Teka sino nag dala ng peanut? Samuel you rascal! She's allergic to this!" I heard my voice yelling to them.

"We just want to annoyed you!". Tawanan nanaman. The video has ended. We never bond that way. As long as I remember, even when we we're in high school not until now. 

Another video of her riding in a carousel. She's weaving and smiling sweetly. I transfered the video into slow motion, and it's perfect! 

Why did I forget about her? Kung titingnan ko lahat ng mga videos at photos masasabi kung were so inlove or should I say I was in love with her. 

All videos were full of happiness. 

I saw the ring that she given back to me in one of our photo. I was kissing her in her cheeks while she is showing her finger with the ring. We're engaged!Tama lahat ng sinasabi niya. Napapikit ako. Kumirot ang dibdib ko. Bakit nawala ko ito? Bakit sa lahat ng makakalimutan ko ito pa? I may forget about this, but my heart felt tge difference. 

I viewed the videos over and over again. I even searched her F******k account but she already deactivated it. I tried mine but no pictures or even stories, post about our relationship. Even F******k and I*******m account of Samuel. But I saw a photo of four of us in Jerome's I*******m. It was shared by a fan. We were having a picnic, it is just a snap shot but it is perfectly happy image of us. Naka akbay ako sa kanya habang inaabot ni Jerome ang isang bottled juice kay Paige at nakangiti naman si Samuel hawak ang cellphone nito na pinapakita sa akin. We were smiling widely like we won a lottery. I never imagined my self smiling that wide. I can even spot my gums! Jezz!

Same as Jerome and Samuel, I never see them as happy in the photograph. 

I wonder if she remembers all of these memories. 

I tried to ask my parents but according to them, they met Paige at the hospital when I meet an accident but before that I arranged a dinner for them to formally meet each other. 

Jerome and Samuel just laugh at me. 

"Papa?". 

"Huh?". Nagulat ako sa tawag ni Tyler. 

"Your phone is ringing!". Nabigla ako dahil hindi ko manlang ito naramdaman. 

"Yes?". Sagot ko. 

"Sir, good morning. I just want to say that your flight to Hong Kong was canceled due to the bad weather. The association also moved the event date because of this.". It's my secretary. 

"Right! Okay. Thank you! Do I have an important meeting today? 

" No particular sir, but miss Tuesday been calling sir". 

"Ahh... Right! I'll take care of her". 

"What's that papa?". Malambing na tanong ng anak ko. 

"Will.. May bagyong parating, the association canceled the event". 

"Yes!". Biglang lumiwanag ang mukha nito. 

"Yes?". Kunot nuo kung tanong. 

"Yes, I can be with you in your office and meet little lady". 

"It's raining outside, kiddo. You should stay. Next time okay? Besides, it's piano lessons today. ". 

Nagliwanag naman ang nakasimangot nitong mukha. 

"I got to see, brother Per today!" tuwang-tuwa natong sabi. 

"Brother Per?". Kunot nuo kung baling dito. "I thought Ms. Nona was your favorite tutor?". 

"Papa, you got to meet him today. He's nice and excellent in playing and teaching me". 

"Excuse me!". Napabaling kami kay Manang. "Dumating na siya Tyler". Nakangiti nitong baling sa anak ko. 

"Ilang weeks na din po siya ang nag tuturo kay Tyler, sir at napakabait na bata". Dagdag nito. Tumango lang ako at nag pasyang tumayo upang sundan ang patalon talon pang si Tyler. 

"Brother Per!". Masayang bati nito. 

"Hey there! Young man!". In his baritone voice. Nakita ko isang gwapo at maputing binata nag papagpag ng damit at malaki ang ngiti sa anak ko. 

"Papa come on!". Bumabing si Tyler sakin. Tumango naman ako bilang tugon. Nakita ko ang panlalaki ng mga mata ng binata. 

"G-Good Morning Sir!". Nakayukong sabi nito. Natawa naman ako ng bahagya. 

"He's your fan, papa!". Nakangiting saad ng anak ko. 

"Haha.. Fash Tyler's right sir, I've been your fan ever since I was in college". 

"I am not an actor". Biro ko dito habang inaabit ang kamay upang makamayan ito. "Wage—

" Wage Clark Eleazar, I'm Pierre Madrigal, sir!". Nakangiti nitong bawi." A business tycoon, this is an honor! I've never seen you in person Sir,kaya naman.. Wow! Speechless.. Nakangiti nitong sabi. 

"Wow! Thank you!". Yun lang ang naisagot ko. 

"How do you know me then?". I teased. 

"Will.. Magazines? Radio? Television? Social medias? Name it sir.. And.. Um.. My sister does your portrait way back 5 or seven years ago". 

"Portrait?". Kunot nuo kung tanong. 

"The one in your library, Papa. The big one smile". 

"Huh? You're related with sunshine?". Bigla kung saad dito. 

"Sunshine was my sister's signature but sunshine's not the name". 

Tumango-tango naman ako. 

"Is she still painting? Because I tried to look for her to have another portrait of Tyler, is she?" 

"Actually sir, kakauwi lang niya galing abroad para sa isang project". Nakangiwi nitong sagot. 

"Really? What's her name then, so that I can ask her personally". Tanong ko dito. 

"Papa!". 

"Yes son?". Baling ko dito. 

"Brother said that her sister cried so much when she finished your painting". 

"Huh?". Nagtataka kung baling dito at napatingin kay Per. 

"I'm sorry, I'm a little bet loquacious". Napakamot ito sa ulo. 

"Tell me about it". Bakit ako intrisado ng ganito?noon ko pa gustong makilala ang gumawa ng painting na nasa library. Because it was the lost me. 

"Ahh.. Nakakahiya.. Nauutal nitong sabi. Um.. I was curious when she started to paint a life-sized portrait, but before she started to paint she  often cries. I don't know what got into her, but when the face revealed I think I understand why she's crying.. I guessed it was her big break as a painter. Painted the most popular business tycoon—sorry my sister sometimes got to a touched with her hobby. "

" Wow! ". Hindi parin maalis ang kaba ko. 

"I called your painting 'Tears of Sunshine'. Hindi ko alam kung bakit ganoon ka buhay ang painting niyo samantalang seryoso kayo sa picture na ipinadala sa kanya" 

"Really?". What her name again? Tanong ko dito peru bago pa ito makasagot at bumungad na si Samuel sa entrance door. 

"Good morning everyone! Fash!". Mabilis nitong tawag sa anak ko. Tumayo naman ito agad at masayang sinalubong ang tito Samuel nito.

"What bring you here, doc?". Bati ko dito. "By the way, this is Pierre, Tyler's piano teacher. Pierre this is Samuel my old friend". Biro ko dito. 

"Hi! Nice to meet you!" at nag kamay ang dalawa. 

"What brought you here?". 

"Business!". Nakangiting saad nito. Matagal na nitong hinihilot ang sintido ko para may invest sa kanyang pharmaceutical company.  "Your not loaded today so, I canceled all my appointments too, Jerome is joining us through vcall. He's in Batangas for a shoot". 

"Okay then!". Bumaling ako sa dalawa. "You knew what to do, so if there is anything that you both need just call me in my study, Tyler? ". Tumango naman. 

"Thank you Sir". Saad naman ni Pierre bago giniya si Tyler patungong music room. 

"Come on! Baling ko naman kay Samuel. Let's do this!". 

It's almost 7 in the evening when we finished. 

"Should we go for a drink, outside?". Samuel asked. 

"Much better.. My dadaanan lang ako sa office na files, then we can go to the nearest bar". 

"Good!". 

Tinitigan ko ang portrait bago lumabas ng library. 

"The lost you!". Bulong ni Samuel. 

"Yeah". Buntong hininga kung tugon. 

"What's with the sigh? 

" Will.. Pierre told me that her sister does the work and cried every night until its done". Naiiling kung saad. 

"Huh? But you were so happy in that painting, how come she cried?". Nag tatakang tanong nito. Napakibit-balikat lang ako. 

Dahil hindi masydong madaming sasakyan sa labas mabilis kaming nakarating sa office. 

"Is that Paige?". Tanong ni Samuel at itinuro ang babaeng nakatayo sa bus stop malapit sa entrance ng kompanya. She's wearing old rose fitted dress with black cardigan and balck boots. Dahil naka side view ito samin hindi ko masyadong maaninag ang kanyang mukha. Her long walnut colored straight hair ay nililipad ng hangin. 

Hindi ako nakasagot. Napansin namin ang isang lalaking palapit dito na malaki ang ngiti. It's Pierre! Agad itong yumakap at humalik sa pisnge nito. May ibunulong ang binata nag nagpangiti dito. I felt a pitch in my heart. Why should I? 

"Opss..". Bulong ni Samuel at tuluyan na akong pumasok ng building. Hinabol ako nito ng malakas na halakhak.