Chapter 6 - flirtings

VILLAMANOR

HABANG nagluluto ng hapunan ay sandaling tumigil si Safhire. Parang simoy ng hangin lang naman ang dumaan pero ibinubulong ang pangalan niya. Wala sa loob na napangiti ang dalaga at itinuloy ang ginagawa. Kung anu-anong pumapasok sa isip niya. 

Mabilis niyang nailuto ang hapunan. Nilagang manok, pritong isda at adobong baboy. Ang mga iyon ang madalas niyang ihanda para kay Ray noong nabubuhay pa ito. At ngayon ay tila mahirap paniwalaang ibang lalaki na ang kakain sa mga luto niya. Sinipat niya ang oras sa suot na relos. Quarter to six. Maaga pa. Kaya lang kumakalam na ang sikmura niya.

Lumabas siya ng kusina at umakyat sa itaas.Tinungo ang silid ni Vhendice. Hindi na siya nag-abalang kumatok.Pinihit niya ang doorknob at binuksan ang pinto. Ngunit napatili ang dalaga nang makita ang kababalaghan.

Bakit nga naman hindi?

Vhendice was lying naked on his bed like a celebrity god in a painting session. Wari'y kandelang itinulos sa kanyang kinatatayuan si Safhire. Tameme at namumula ang mga pisngi.

"Safhire." Hindi man lang nagulat ang lalaki. He got up, reached for the towel which was on the floor and wrapped it around his waist. It was then that she realized he just got out of the shower. His hair was still damped. "Ready na ang dinner?" tanong nito.

Tumango siya. Mainit na mainit pa rin ang mukha. She shouldn't have seen him naked! Why would she have to see him that way? It's just so embarrassing! Nakakainis!  

"Magbibihis lang ako," sabi ni Vhendice.

"I'm sorry. I'll wait for you downstairs," aniyang binirahan ng alis. 

Habang bumababa ng hagdanan ay paulit-ulit na sinisi niya ang sarili sa kanyang katangahan. Dapat kumatok muna siya. Tumakbo siya papuntang kusina at nagtuloy sa may lababo. Naghilamos. Ayaw niyang maalala kung anong nakita niya kaya lang tila linta naman iyon na dumikit sa kanyang utak at bumabalik sa kanyang balintataw tuwing ikukurap niya ang mga mata. 

"Ang tanga mo kasi!" kastigo niya sa sarili at akmang pupukpukin ang sariling ulo.

Ngunit may humawak sa kamay niya mula sa likod. She smelt Vhendice masculine scent. Gulantang siyang lumingon.

"Hurting yourself won't change anything." Nagsalita ang lalaki. "It's not your fault. I'm the one to blame. I should have informed you earlier about this bad habit of mine. Sleeping naked most of the time, I'm kind of used to it ever since I was a little kid." He explained.

"I'm so stupid. Dapat kumatok muna ako," naiinis niyang sabi.

"You've just seen a naked man, it's no big deal. Seeing me without anything on could neither be wrong nor right. It depends on how you deal with it. Adult ka na 'di ba?"

"Kasalanan ko iyon."

"Really? Alam mo ba kung anong kasalanan sa tingin ko? Kapag niyayakap kita nang ganito." He held her tightly from behind. "At nagustuhan mo."

Kinilabutan siya. Hindi nakakilos. She felt the heat from Vhendice's body coming right through her.

"Papayag ka bang magkasala kasama ko?" He whispered hoarsely.

Nag-ipon siya ng lakas at kumawala sa pagkakayakap nito. "Hindi tayo nandito para magkasala," aniya at lumayo rito.

His eyes sparkled in amusement. "I see. So, you're one of those hard to get women."

Hindi niya pinansin ang sinabi nito at sinikap ibalik ang poise. "Ihahain ko na ang dinner. Maupo ka na doon."

"Tutulungan na kita." 

Pinabayaan na rin niya.

Habang kumakain ay napansin niyang madalas siya nitong titigan. At naiilang siya.

"Kapag hindi ka tumigil dudukutin ko 'yang mga mata mo nitong tinidor." Babala niya.

Ngumiti ito. "I'm not flattering myself but I'm quite impressed. You are the first woman who saw me naked and yet didn't swoon."

"Mayabang! Bakit naman ako hihimatayin?" Tumayo siya. Lumapit sa fridge at nilabas ang slice apples para sa dessert.

Narinig niya ang mahinang tawa ng agent. Now he started making fun of her because of what happened earlier.

NABABAHALA na ng husto si Ghaile. Pasado alas-otso na at hindi pa rin nahahanap ang chairman. Napuntahan na nila halos lahat ng lugar na posibleng papasyalan nito.

"Athrun, please be safe," bulong ng doctor at huminto. Hinintay ang isa sa mga police na sumama sa paghahanap. Nagmamadali ito habang papalapit. "Anong balita, sergeant?" tanong niya.

"Nakausap ko po si hepe. Nakita na raw nila ang chairman. Naroon daw sa lighthouse, sa may pampang."

Sta.Rosa Channel. 

"Pupunta tayo. Call others," instruct niya.

"Ngayon din po, director." Maagap na talima ng police at tinawag ang ibang mga kasama.

Wala pang isang oras ay nasa Sta.Rosa Channel na sila at sa mismong lighthouse kungsaan natagpuan ang chairman. Pagbaba ni Ghaile ng sasakyan ay agad siyang sinalubong ng hepe. Si Victor.

"Where is he?"

"Nasa loob."

Nagmamadaling tinungo niya ang foot bridge at tumawid. Nahawi ang mga armies at police na nagbabantay sa may pintuan ng light house. Pumasok ang binata. 

Sa loob ay tumambad sa kanya si Athrun. Mistulang batang nakahilata sa malamig na tiles sa may paanan ng hagdan at mahimbing na natutulog. Ang isang braso'y dinaganan pa. Humihilik ng napakahina. 

Lumapit si Ghaile. Yumukod at sinalat ang noo ng chairman. Pinagpapawisan ito ng malamig.

"Chairman?" Marahang tinapik niya ang balikat nito. "Chairman..."

Nagising si Athrun. Dahan-dahang nagmulat ng mga mata. 

"Ghaile," mahina nitong sambit at bumangon. Ang asul na mga mata'y gumala sa paligid. "Did I messed up again?"

"You sure made us all worried. Hindi ka pa ganoon kalakas para lumakad mag-isa at manatili ng mahabang oras sa labas," paliwanag ng doctor.

"Hm, I'm sorry. Let's go home," anitong nagpatiuna palabas ng light house.

Bumuntot rito si Ghaile. Habang tumatawid sila sa foot bridge ay ini-stretch nito ang isang braso. Iyon ang dinaganan nito kanina habang natutulog. Nangangawit siguro.

"Good evening, chairman!" sabayang bati ng mga armies at mga police na naghihintay sa may bukana ng tulay.

"Ghaile, did you mobilize all our forces just to find me?" Baling nito sa kanya.

"I had to. Our chairman disappeared without informing anyone. On top of that, he's still on the process of recovering his health."

" I just thought this is a little...uhm, never mind." Tumingin ito sa mga nasasakupan. "Good evening, everyone! Sorry for the trouble. And Victor, thank you," wika nitong tinapik sa balikat si Victor nang napadaan sa tapat ng hepe.

"You're welcome, chairman."

"Men, we'll take it from here! Thank you for your help!" pahayag ni Ghaile sa malakas at maawtoridad na tono. Saka senenyasan ang driver para kunin ang sasakyan. Sinulyapan niya ang chairman. Panay ang hikab nito. Lumapit siya. "Antok pa rin ba 'yan o gutom?" pabiro niyang sabi.

Ngumiti si Athrun. "Both."

Huminto sa tapat nila ang sasakyan. Isang police ang mabilis na nakalapit at ipinagbukas ng pinto ang chairman. Sumakay na rin si Ghaile. Nasa highway na sila nang magsalita si Athrun at binasag ang naghaharing katahimikan.

"Please bear with me, Ghaile. I missed being outside again. It's been so long since I had this chance to go out on my own. I wanted to see the world apart from the one I've been living in. The outside world is so different. I saw every perfect little detail. The birds singing in the air, the mighty waves in the sea, the valleys and hills, spring and meadows, the trees and the flowers. Looking at those is relaxing. This city, I missed it...so much. I thought I won't be able to see everything around here again," paliwanag ng binata.

"You don't have to explain, chairman. Naiintindihan kita. It's just that we both know the risk could be fatal for you. This is a critical stage of stabilizing your health. Your vital system is still on the process of adjustment. We can't afford to get careless. One more thing, you're not taking your medicine."

So, that's why he came rushing here from Manila? He'll suppose to be arriving this coming Sunday. Naisip ni Athrun.

"The nurse told me."

"Three dosage lang iyon."

"That could be equal to the severe danger of complication and a lifetime treatment. Kung gusto mong gumaling agad, then you must listen to your doctor. I know what's best for you."

"Ghaile...are you gonna lock me up again at the mansion?" May bumalong na lungkot sa asul na mga mata ng chairman. "Don't do it."

"Forgive me but I have to. It is for your own good."

"That's mean," angal ni Athrun. "I've been in the hospital for so long and now...your being cruel."

"It's just for the meantime. Kapag magaling ka na, anumang oras ay pwede mong puntahan ang mga lugar na gusto mong puntahan, even outside the city. No one will stop you." But of course, it's a lie. Oras na gumaling ang chairman at kaya na nitong magtrabaho, wala na itong ibang aatupagin kundi ang mga tungkulin nito sa Andromida Conglomerate at Nephilims. Sa pagkakataong iyon hindi na ang mansion ang magiging kulungan nito kundi ang masalimuot na kapaligiran ng Edena at ang kaliwa't kanang responsibilidad na nakatali sa mga kamay nito. Hindi nakapagtatakang parang ayaw na nitong gumaling. Marahil pagod na pagod na hindi lamang ang katawan nito kundi higit sa lahat ay ang isip na malamang malapit na ring bumigay.

"Ghaile, thank you...for covering up my limitations until now."

Bahagyang ngumiti ang doctor. "Being taken as your brother even if we're not related by blood is really an honor. You've given us a family in spite of our tainted past and that alone is enough for me. I swore that I'll protect you. Whatever happens, I will never abandon you. I'll follow you even if it means I have to choose a wrong turn in life."

Humilig sa headrest si Athrun at pumikit. "It's tough being alive. But I would never let you choose wrong turns just for my sake. All of you in Nephilims are precious treasures that I must protect with my life. I don't have much power to change your past but I can make it pale in comparison to your future. One day everyone can surely accept their fate with a smile and that includes me."

"Yeah, you're right...surely...someday." Ipinukol ni Ghaile sa labas ng bintana ng sasakyan ang paningin. Isang alaala ng kahapon ang pilit na bumabalik sa kanyang isip.

A teenager on a motorized wheelchair came in from the wide-open door. Athrun Andromida. It was the first time they meet him. Siya, si Haydees, si Leih at Sheruh. Athrun was smiling at them. And then reached out his hand.

"Come with me, boys. I'll protect you." His exact words which they find so hard to believe. Protect them? How? A teenager who can't even pull himself up and walk straight will protect them? Ridiculous! "Come with me and I'll give you your wings back." But those lines struck them.

Athrun called them the falling angels, gathered them in one place and founded an organization then make them his precious brothers. He gave them back their life. Help them seized their dreams and proved their worth to the world. He believed in them and never weaver in spite of their ugly past. He listened and dealt patiently with their weaknesses and shortcomings. He gave them the longest chain of chances to regain their lost pride and identity over the enormous challenges of a fragile society.

It was him. It's Athrun Andromida and no other. That's why all of them in Nephilims swore to protect him and lay down their lives if needed for his sake.

"By the way, about that woman, you wish to see. Si Safhire Magdalene? I'm sorry, I've done my best but I couldn't find her anywhere. I have checked out her records at the hospital but I didn't find anything. That day she left, she dropped by at the hospital and submitted her resignation letter. I had it as well but still no traces of any possible location. I have also visited her apartment, her landlady told me that she left the following day after quitting her job and didn't say anything either. I thought I would get Rajive for this and continue the search operation."

Umiling si Athrun. "No. You've given your best shot and that's enough. No need to push yourself. I'm relieved to know that she is real and not just an illusion. Someday, I'll go by myself and look for her. But right now, Nephilims and the Andromida Conglomerate are  my only priority. Until then, you can remain easy."

Tumango si Ghaile. Ang totoo'y parang hindi siya pabor sa ideyang magkikita ang chairman at si Safhire Magdalene. Kung anong dahilan, hindi niya alam. But that woman made him feel insecure. Her resistance to his charms crashed his pride and confidence into pieces. She's bold and honest...and...a real looker.

VILLAMANOR

INIWAN ni Vhendice ang ginagawa sa laptop at saglit na lumabas ng terrace para magpahangin. Natanaw ng lalaki si Safhire na naglalakad sa dalampasigan sa ibaba. Kagabi bago sila natulog ay kinulit na naman siya nitong balikan ang lugar ng aksidente. Matapang ang dalaga at pursigido. Walang pakialam kung anong panganib ang papasukin. 

In fairness, the beauty of her strength and recklessness captivated him. She's one courageous woman who won't compromise business over pleasure. She's honest, candid and reliable. Yet, he knew he was way too far from knowing her more. Safire's origin is full of mystery. Though, he hoped somehow to find anything by tracking down her fiance's secrets. 

Mabilis na pumihit si Vhendice nang tumingala sa gawi niya ang dalaga. Bumalik sa loob ng silid ang lalaki at itinuloy ang ginagawa.

Binawi ni Safhire ang paningin at nagpatuloy sa paglalakad patungong batuhan. Pinagmasdan niya ang mga alon na humahampas sa naglalakihang mga bato. 

Ang mga along iyon ay hindi marunong sumuko. Kahit paulit-ulit na nababasag paghampas sa dalampasigan. Bumabalik lamang ang mga iyon sa laot at bumubuo ng panibagong alon na higit na mas malaki at mas malakas para muling sagupain ang hindi natitinag na mga bato.

Kung sana ay magagawa niyang tularan ang mga alon. Ang siyudad na iyon at si Hheven Andromida ay tila matibay at matayog na bundok na hindi makakayang tibagin kahit ng pinakamalakas na tsunami. Pero kung malalaman niya ang kahinaan nito, siguradong may paraan para manalo siya kahit paulit-ulit siyang babagsak at mababasag.

"Ray, hindi ako susuko. Pagbabayarin ko sila. Lahat ng may kagagawan sa pagkawala mo ay sisingilin ko," bulong niya sa hangin. Hindi siya maghihiganti. 

Hahanapin lamang niya ang katarungan na ibinabaon sa ilalim ng makapangyarihang batas ni Hheven Andromida.