II. The Realization

Finally, nakarating na rin si Marsden ng Pilipinas.  How he missed this place, his home.  Nang palabas na siya ng airport at hinahanap ang phone number ng personal secretary niya sa Engineering and Construction Company na kanyang pagmamay-ari ay may nabunggo siyang babae and rashly held her from falling face down to the floor.  Beautiful was not enough to describe her but gorgeous was most fitting.  He met more beautiful women and dated a lot of them yet there’s one thing that he can’t take his eyes of.  It’s her eyes.  Napakaitim nito laying under long and gracious lashes, with full sexy lips and a cute little pointed nose. He wanted to feel that seductive lips inviting him for a taste.

Then suddenly, he realized that the woman was flirting with him and swiftly pulled  his head lower for a kiss just like how he wanted to do a moment ago.  She tasted sweet and he wanted more, squeezing her body towards him and intensified the kiss but the woman stopped and  blushed like an innocent girl which made Marsden realized she’s not flirting at all.  Maybe a mistaken identity, perhaps her boyfriend looked like him? He tried to restrain his amusement but he can’t help it.  When a guy talked behind him, there he found out he’d been used.  Without letting her go, he looked at the couple kung saan nakafocus ang tingin ng babae habang unti-unting inilalayo ang katawan sa kanya.  Halos umusok na ang ilong sa mukha ng lalaki sa galit.  Kadarating pa lang niya ng Pilipinas eh gulo nanaman ata ang kakaharapin niya.  When words were uttered he understood the picture.   He hated scenes, dramatic scenes to be exact especially in the public.  He slightly looked around and found some people curiously staring at them, buti nalang at hinila na siya ng babae kasama ng kaibigan nito. 

Pailing-iling na lamang si Marsden habang nakatingin sa papaalis na magkaibigan.  ‘Di man lang nag-excuse o nag-thank you ang magandang babae.  Well women!  What can we expect?!

★★★

Umalis na si Chloe dahil may importante itong flight papunta ng Davao kasama ang boss nito at naiwan si Trisha’ng mag-isa sa kanyang apartment.  Ayaw sana siyang iwan nito in her state pero pinilit niya itong umalis at ipinangako that she will be fine.  Kumuha siya ng milk chocolate sa refrigerator at kumain sa sala.  Ganito siya pag depressed any milk chocolate ang nagpaparelax sa kanya.  Until now hindi niya mahinuha kung bakit ito nagawa ni Drake dahil ang akala niya mahal na mahal siya nito.  Actually noong umpisa hindi naman talaga love ang naramdaman niya para dito.  It’s just an infatuation which as time passed by became love.  Malambing ito, caring, thoughtful at higit sa lahat magkasundo sila sa maraming bagay.  Muntik pa silang mag-away ni Chloe ng e-insist nitong may kaduda-duda sa ikinikilos ng nobyo, hindi siya naniwala at ngayon nga ay heto siya crying while nursing her broken heart.

Nagulat siya ng biglang tumunog ang cellphone niya na nasa ibabaw ng lamesita.  Naiwan niya pala ito kanina nang nagmamadali silang pumunta ni Chloe sa airport.  Pinakalma niya muna ang sarili bago ito sagutin.  “Hello kuya?” lihim siyang nanalangin na sana hindi nito mapansin ang paos niyag boses dahil sa pag-iyak. 

“Are you okay? Busy ka? Kanina pa ako tumatawag ah.  Okay ka lang?” sunud-sunod nitong tanong.

“I’m so sorry!  Naiwan kasi ang phone ko dito sa apartment.  Don’t worry, I’m fine.”

“Really?  Ba’t ganyan ang boses mo? Is some–“

“Masama kasi ang pakiramdam ko ngayon.  Naulanan kasi ako kagabi hindi ko nadala yong payong, alam mo na man ngayon dahil sa climate change unpredictable na  ang panahon, napakainit tapos bigla na lang uulan ng pagkalakas-lakas tapos maya-maya iinit nanaman tapos–“ hindi na niya natapos ang paglilitanya nang marinig ang halakhak ng kanyang kuya.

“Okay, okay…kombinsido na akong okay ka lang, very alive and kicking, no need to educate me about climate change but make sure to take your medicine and drink plenty of water.  I don’t want my baby sister to continue being unwell, nag-iisa ka diyan walang mag-aalaga sa’yo kaya take good care of yourself okay?” pag-aalalang turan nito.

“Okay, I promise.  Bakit ka nga pala napatawag?”

“Kinukulit kasi ako ng mga bata kong dito ka magho-holiday? Miss na miss ka na daw nila at kung maaari ang nobyo mo na lang ang isama mo dito para makasama ka nila.”

Natigilan siya ng mabanggit ang nobyo.  Hindi niya alam kung anong sasabihin.  She was brought back to what happened just a while ago.

“Sis?  Still there?”

“D-Diyan ako magpapasko pero…hindi siya kasama.  Wala na– I mean wala pa kaming plano for the holiday. I’ll talk to him. Siyempre family first before someonelse,” she bitterly said.

Pilit ng kumakawala ang kanyang mga luha and she reminisced those times na magkasama sila ni Drake kapag may mga okasyon noon pero lately hindi na sila masyadong nagkakasama.  “Call you later, nasusunog na ang niluluto ko, bye. I love you.”

“Love you too little sis.”

She felt like crying again.  She was so excited to celebrate their 3^rd  Anniversary together.  She planned it all and this time she decided to give what Drake was asking for so long.  Akala niya ito na ‘yong right time because she love him so much already.  But fate intervened and she was defeated.  Gusto niya itong kausapin for her to understand why?  Somehow, they were friends even though he cheated and until now ayaw niyang tanggapin na sarili niyang pinsan mismo ang  pinatulan nito.

Sa mga panahong gaya nito, gustung-gusto niyang pumunta sa bahay ng kuya niya sa Cavite para lumanghap ng sariwang hangin na nakakapag-pagaan ng pakiramdam.  Nang bilhin ito ng kuya niya sa kaibigan nito na nagmigrate na ng London, isa itong maliit na inland resort na napilitang eclosed ng may-ari dahil hindi na productive.  But for Trisha the place is paradise…She stayed there whenever she got the chance to take on vacation. Doon rin siya nagcecelebrate ng Christmas and New Year except last year when she celebrated it with Drake sa bahay nito together with his mom and his siblings.  Trisha sighed and wiped her tears when she remembered last year’s Christmas Celebration.  Martha kept on hinting how she wanted Drake to marry and to start producing children so she can still see her grandchildren because she’s not getting any younger.  Trisha was so happy back then, silently waiting what would Drake say.    She remembered how Drake put his hand on her shoulder and gently squeezed…But he didn’t uttered a thing, just smiled at her as if silently promising her…soon!  Soon, he will propose?  She smiled back and sweetly hugged his waist. Trisha was happy because she wanted to have a family of her own too, children to dote on, a husband to take care of and she wanted it to be Drake.  But thinking about it now, maybe the reason why Drake didn’t say a thing was because he doesn’t feel the same…perhaps she’s not part of his plans for the future? With this realization, Trisha cried her heart out...