Ethan’s P.O.V.
Almost two years later (five years ago in the present)...
Almost two years, huh? Sa paglipas nang ganoon katagal na panahon, at sa hinaba-haba man din nang prosisyon… dito rin pala ang uwi nang dalawang ‘to… Ethan smiled sadly as he stared up at the altar. Sinadya talaga niyang maagang magpunta roon sa simbahan. He wanted to give himself time to take it all in… and to grasp the reality that Alessandro might not really be coming back to them… ever. Heto nga at inihahanda na niya ang sarili sa pamamaalam na gagawin mamaya.
Napalunok siya sa mga naisip habang pilit na tinatanggal ang namumuong bara sa lalamunan. Ethan glanced around the church, trying to blink back the tears and distract himself from the melancholy
Ethan’s P.O.V.Ethan’s eyes never strayed away from Miguel. Sino nga bang mag-aakalang sa kauna-unahan pagkakataong makikita niya itong nakasuot nang barong Tagalog ay sa mismong kasal pa man din pala nito? And he had to admit, for a first time wearer ay bagay na bagay iyon sa kaibigan. Lily would really fall in love with Miguel even more once she lays her eyes on him later…“He’s practically glowing you know.” Natatawang saad ni Spade.“Mhmm… I’ve never seen him like this before. Not as happy as he is now. He’s really changed… a good change.” Halos mapapiyok pa siya sa huling tinuran.Marahan siyang siniko ni Spade. “Keep it together, Ethan. He’s headin
Ethan’s P.O.V.Ngunit ang akala niyang panghabang-buhay na kaligayahang matatamasa nang pinakamatalik na kaibigan ay panandalian lang pala. At imbes na mukha nang asawa nito ang dapat sana’y mamumulatan araw-araw sa paggising, ngayon ay sapilitan na niya itong kukunin at ibabalik sa buhay na naiwan nito...Ethan did not really think this would happen, and at such an early stage of his marriage at that! Ang saya-saya pa man din nito noong araw nang kasal nito… pero hindi nga ba’t sadyang mapaglaro lang talaga ang tadahan? Fate does not really allow anyone to be totally happy… gagawa at gagawa talaga ito nang paraan para magkandaleche-leche ang buhay nang tao. At kung noon ay sarili lang niya ang maihahalimbawa, ngayon ay pati na sina Alessandro at Sky. The two are simply an example of having the right lov
Ethan’s P.O.V.“Take this. Ikaw na ang maglagay nito. Find a good spot where it won’t be easily seen.” He reached out to Spade to hand him the small black device.Nagtataka man ay tinanggap na iyon nang binata. “What’s this for?”“It’s a signal transmitter to hack into phones. We don’t have our laptops with us kaya ito na muna ang gagamitin natin. It will make the processes a whole lot easier and faster. Here, take my phone.” Inilahad na rin niya rito ang sariling telepono.“The transmitter is connected directly to my phone and will serve as the remote control to activate the device, at para madelete natin ang lahat nang files na may kinalaman kay Alessandro sa cellphone nina Sky
Ethan’s P.O.V.After the stunt he and Spade pulled earlier ay minabuti na muna niyang damayan sina Sky at ang mga kaibigan nito. Mga ilang oras din siyang nanatili sa cabin at nakipagdiskusyon sa mga ito bago nagsabing uuwi na. Maghahatinggabi na noong magdesisyon si Ethan na pansamantalang magpaalam na sa dalaga at sa iba nilang kasamahang naroon.He felt remorseful, and as of the moment, guilt was already starting to eat him alive. Kulang pa kung sasabihin niyang tila may dose-dosenang sako nang mga sementong nakadagan sa kanya nang mga oras na ‘yun. And though he was ready to face all of it, alam niya sa sariling panghabang-buhay niyang dadalhin sa alaala ang umiiyak na mukha ni Sky. Her anguish… her pain… and her love for Alessandro will continue to haunt him…
Ethan’s P.O.V.“Still nothing, huh?” Ethan asked as he proceeded to open up the curtains inside the room.Kararating lang niya nang ospital mula sa tinutuluyang villa. Hindi na niya hinintay pa ang kanyang Uncle Matt at Auntie Miranda na magising dahil alam niyang pagod ang mga ito sa maghapong ginagawang pagbabantay kay Alessandro. He went out ahead of them at hinayaan na lang muna niyang makapagpahinga pa ang mga ito.“Nope… nothing new. Still the same as last night.” Spade replied while squinting to the light that penetrated the windows.Pabagsak na siyang naupo sa single couch malapit doon sa bintana habang ang kaibigan naman ay bumangon na sa pagkakahiga. There was a spare bed inside the room Alessandro occupi
Ethan’s P.O.V.Ipinarada na muna ni Spade ang sasakyan bago siya hinarap. “And how exactly are you going to tell Sky about your connection with Alessandro?”Napakibit-balikat siya sa tanong nitong iyon. “Hmm… I was planning on inviting her out to dinner later pagkabalik natin nang Maynila. Tapos saka ko ikukwento sa kanya ang lahat.”It had already been a week since Alessandro arrived in Pennsylvania at patuloy na ang pagpapagaling nito roon. Ayon pa sa mga espesyalistang humahawak dito ay walang anumang makitang problema sa brain scans nito. Even his cognitive and motor functions are working alright. And although he’s still using the wheel chair to move around ay nagsisimula na itong mag-undergo nang physical therapy.
Ethan’s P.O.V.Ethan could feel the blood rushing inside his head and all he could see is red. Pakiramdam niya nang mga oras na iyon ay sasabog ang dibdib niya sa sobrang galit at animo may mga maliliit na langgam ang gumagapang sa kanyang balat. Kung hindi pa siguro dahil sa ginawang pagpigil sa kanya nang kaibigan ay baka sinugod na niya ang loob nang bahay at pinagbabaril ang mga taong may gawa niyon sa matanda. Gustong-gusto niyang magwala, but in the end, he knew he couldn’t just barge in there. He needed to be wiser and think about his next move dahil kung hindi ay sila naman ni Spade ang mapapahamak…I’m sorry, Tata Ambo… patawad at nadamay ka pa sa gulong ‘to. Guilt started settling in his gut as he stared at the old man. When the voices of the attackers
Sky’s P.O.V.The present…“Later that day, I called to set up an appointment with you. I clearly remember telling you to bring Jax and Julienne along.” Ani Ethan habang nakatingin pa sa labas nang bintana.The rain pelted hard against the glass window outside. Malakas din ang pagdagundong nang kulog mula sa kalangitan. It was a warm and humid night a little while ago ngunit ngayon ay sobrang lakas na nang ulan sa labas. Animo bumabagyo pa nga dahil na rin sa kalakasang hangin na umiihip at bumabayo sa bintana. But despite the storm that was raging outside, it did not seem to faze the three of them. Here they are, at Ethan’s condo, still trying to comprehend the last bit of information he is telling her and Jax…