Chapter 6

When I reached the comfort room, I tried to compose myself. I carefully wiped my tears so that my makeup wouldn't get smudged. I looked up to stop my tears from falling. I'm just thankful na walang tao ngayon.

I wanted to slap myself for reacting like that. I don't have any right to get jealous and feel hurt because I am no longer his girlfriend. I left him for my dreams. That's why I don't have the right to be acting this way, especially in front of him.

I let out a sigh to gather my strength before going out to get back to our table. Right after I exited the door, I stopped and immediately panicked when I saw Rancher outside the comfort room, as if waiting for someone. His arms were crossed on his chest and when he saw me, he immediately stepped towards me and grabbed my wrist. I couldn't even properly process what was happening. My body just let him drag me to wherever it was he was planning to take me.

"Let's talk here," he said, seriously. Nasa labas na kami ng club at medyo naglakad papalayo sa mga taong nag-uumpukan sa labas ng club. Hindi ko alam kung anong pag-uusapan namin. Hindi ko din alam kung paano mag-uumpisa. Hindi ako makatingin sa sobrang kaba at sobrang nakakapasong titig nito.

"O-okay," mahinang pagsang-ayon ko. Nakakatawa dahil pakiramdam ko ay nasa witness stand ako at siya ang abogadong magko-cross-examine sa akin para hulihin ang inconsistencies ng salaysay ko.

"Why did you leave?" I was taken aback by his question. Although I expected this question from him, I did not expect that this would be the first question that he'd throw at me. I can't help but to think that maybe he's asking me this because he needs closure, and I owe him that.

"I-I was so young back then. We both were," umpisa ko. "And when the opportunity came, I got confuse," hindi ko alam paano talaga ipapaliwanag dito bakit ko ito iniwan.

"You doubted us," he accused.

"Look, we're both so young. I was only 17 and you're just 19 back then," I finally looked at him and I gulped when I saw the anger in his eyes. "H-hindi ko alam kung mapapanindigan ba natin yong pangako natin sa isa't-isa noon," dagdag ko. "You knew how I wanted a family-"

"Yes and that's why I promised to create a family with you the moment that you leave the orphanage," putol nito sa sinasabi ko.

"Look, I am sorry for what I did back then. I was so young. I got afraid of the thought of choosing you without any certainty that we'll really end up with each other," I said honestly. He smiled bitterly upon hearing these words from my mouth.

"I knew you'd say that," ngumiti ito nang mapait.

"I am sorry," wala akong masabi kundi ang magsorry dito. "I don't know how to really prove how sorry I am pero pinagsisisihan ko hanggang ngayon ang ginawa ko," mahinang sabi ko.

"Right," he said sarcastically at umigting ang mga paa. Nagtaka ako sa reaksyon nito sa sinabi ko.

"Look, alam kong hindi kapani-paniwalang nagsisisi-"

"If you really regret your decision, how come you were able to replace me at sa kaibigan ko pa?" putol nito at kita ko ang pag-igting ng mga panga nito.

"W-what?" naguguluhang tanong ko pero bago pa ito makapagsalita, tumunog ang cellphone ko. Si Ayn ang tumatawag. Sumulyap ako dito at balik na ulit ito sa blangkong ekspresyon.

"You should get that," malamig nitong sabi.

"Where are you?" agad na bungad ni Ayn sa kabilang linya nang sagutin ko ang tawag nito. "Wala ka sa bathroom tulad ng sabi mong pupuntahan. Bumaba si Elijah para hanapin ka. Asan ka ba?" sunud-sunod na tanong nito.

"Uhm I'm going back. Lumabas lang ako para magpahangin," sabi ko dito. "I'll call Elijah," sabi ko dito at tinapos ang tawag.

"I-I have to go back," nautal kong sabi kay Rancher na mataman lang nakikinig sa akin kanina habang kausap ko si Ayn.

"Of course," malamig nitong sabi at nauna na itong maglakad. Tahimik ko itong sinundan. Nang makarating kami sa harap ng entrance/exit ng club, tumigil ito at napatingin sa kung sino mang palabas. Napagtanto kong si Elijah ang tinignan nito nang makalabas ang huli. "She's with me," bungad nito kaya lumagpas ang tingin ni Elijah kay Rancher kung nasaan ako. Bumalik ang tingin nito kay Rancher na may pagtataka.

"Uhm nakita niya ako habang nagpapahangin dito sa labas," palusot ko. Hindi ko tinitignan si Rancher dahil ayaw kong makita ang ekspresyon nito sa sinabi ko.

"Yeah," pagsang-ayon nito na medyo ikinagulat ko. "Magyoyosi sana ako nang makita ko siya dito," dagdag pa nito.

"It's a good thing that you saw her, bro," sagot ni Elijah. "You know how dangerous it is for a girl to be alone in the club." Lumapit si Elijah saken at inakbayan ako. Suot-suot ko pa rin ang leather jacket nito.

"Yeah," medyo bored na pagsang-ayon nito sa kaibigan ko at pinaglipat-lipat nito ang tingin sa aming dalawa. "Anyway bro, I have to go," paalam nito. Nagulat ako dahil kadarating lang naman namin pero magpapaalam na agad.

"Don't tell me it's work again?" natawa at napailing na tanong ni Elijah.

"Sinabi mo pa," natawang sagot nito at bumaling sa akin. "Happy birthday ulit bro," bati nito sa katabi ko bago inilapit muli ang tingin sa akin. "-and nice to meet you, Attorney Cattaleya," pormal nitong sabi.

"L-likewise," nautal kong sagot dahil hindi ko inexpect na maririnig ko ulit itong sabihin nito ang aking pangalan. Ang pangalan ko ay hindi na pinalitan ng adopted parents ko dahil daw bagay na bagay sa akin ito. Ang apelido lang ang pinalitan nila sa apelido ng mga ito dahil sila na ang magiging mga magulang ko.

"Ingat bro," sabi ni Elijah dito bago kami talikuran na dalawa. Parang sinasaksak ang puso ko habang sinusundan ko ng tingin ang pag-alis nito dahil hindi ko alam kung kailan ko ulit ito makikita. Base sa usapan namin, galit ito sa akin at alam kong kung ito ang masusunod, ayaw na ako nito ulit makita.