Chapter 17

"Salamat, Son."

It was my fifth acknowledgment to him. It's our one week in this world and every early in the morning Jason and Writan would meet and talk about the plan to take Sofia.

I was getting impatient as time goes by. Lalo na kapag ikinukuwento lang ni Jason sa akin ang mga pinag-uusapan nila. Binibigyan ko naman siya ng sulat para ibigay kay Writan pero hindi pa sapat 'yon. I miss Writan so much.

I always lock myself up in my bedroom so I would prevent myself from meeting him. It will never be enough, I wanted to see him badly.

In the middle of me writing on a piece of paper, I looked back at the time Writan and I could freely go outside, laugh without inhibitions, and talk all day long. It was a dream now.

May kumatok sa pinto ng kwarto ko. Bumaling ako ro'n. Pumasok si Jason.

"Tapos mo na? Agad?" hindi makapaniwalang tanong sa akin ni Jason.

I nodded proudly. "Read it. I put all my words and efforts into that."

I started writing and I must say, I've been loving it. Akala ko ay hindi ko kakayanin na makatapos ng isang kwento. But look at me now, I have five novels published in this world. I swear I've never been proud of myself. If Grandma's here, she will cheer for me every step of the way.

Ngumiti ako kay Jason. Inilagay niya sa ulo ko ang kamay niya.

"Proud si Writan sa 'yo. Nababasa raw niya ang mga gawa mo."

Nanlaki ang mata ko. Kinuha ko ang kamay niya sa ulo ko.

"Salamat talaga, Jason."

Umiling siya. Lagi na lang siyang nahihiya sa akin kapag pinapapasalamatan ko siya. Okay lang naman daw sa kanyang inaalipin ko siya. This guy...

"Simulan ko nang kilatisin ito. Hmm, Cherry Blossom Ka Ba? Interesting...Mukhang nakuha lang sa tabi-tabi, a."

Hinampas ko siya sa likod nang talikuran niya ako at lumabas nang tumatawa. Hinayaan ko na lang siya sa pang-aasar niya at bumalik sa pagliligpit ng gamit ko.

I was about to stand up when I saw a man in a hoodie outside. He was looking at my window, staring at my eyes particularly. I squinted and my jaw dropped. It's Writan!

He waved at me and I waved back. Before I could walk out of the room, I saw him turned his back on me and leave. I felt heartaches. Being left behind is sure painful. I can't live like this. I have to act and be with him.

Soon after that encounter with Writan, I wrote a couple of books in two days. I'm starting to be an established writer in weeks of hard work. I didn't put it in my head and write everything I got. My only hope is to be a publisher or a professor perhaps. I wanted to have a name in this world, not as Claudia Villareal but Penna San Pedro.

"I'm proud of you, Claudia. If I could just see you for seconds I would spare it by looking at you. I wish we could meet once. It would be enough for me," I read from Writan's letter for me.

I smiled again. Mas lumalakas ang loob ko na sa tuwing iniisip kong malapit ko na silang makita muli. I'm going to make the Council pay for their mistakes in arresting Bok, Writan, and Sofia.

"Claudia, tingnan mo 'to!" sigaw ni Jason sa labas.

Dali-dali kong iniwan ang isinusulat ko at pumunta sa labas. Nakita ko ro'n si Jason na nanonood ng T.V.

"Anong meron?" tanong ko.

Lumapit ako sa sofa at naupo. Nang tingnan ko ang pinapanood niya ay napatalon ako sa saya.

"Sabi na sa 'yo, mangyayari at mangyayari 'yan!" natutuwang sigaw niya.

I held his hand and jump in joy. Pinanood ko ang teleserye na in-adapt sa story ko. Lumawak ang ngisi ko nang mapakinggan ang pinakapaborito kong line sa isinulat kong When You Left.

"Sa buhay na ito, ang pinakamasakit ay ang magpaalam. Wala kang kasiguraduhan kung bukas wala ka na o mawawala na siya. Kaya hanggat maaga pa, piliin mo ang maging masaya," I repeated as the lead that's portraying the protagonist in my story said those words.

I didn't expect that it would make me cry.

"Uy, 'wag sabing iiyak. Mapapagalitan ako ni Writan n'yan."

Jason hugged me tightly. He caressed my hair and kissed my forehead.

"I miss him, Son. I miss him so much."

Ramdam ko ang pagbuntong-hininga niya.

"Gusto mo bang sumama sa akin mamaya? Poprotektahan kita. Hindi kita hahayaang makita ng iba."

Kumalas ako sa yakap niya at tiningnan siya nang may pag-asa.

"Are you sure?"

Tumango siya. "Basta para sa 'yo." He winked and kissed my forehead again.

Pumasok ako sa kwarto ko at humiga sa kama. Natulog ko nang mas maaga. Hanggang sa naramdaman ko na lang na tinatapik na ni Jason ang pisngi ko. Naalimpungatan ako.

"Tara na, Claudia. Kaya mo ba?"

Nakasuot siya ng hoodie. Tumango ako. Inalis niya ng hoodie sa kanya at isinuot sa akin.

"Mas kailangan mo nito."

Lumabas kami ng kwarto namin. I started to panic when I saw maids walking.

"'Wag kang magpapahalata, Claudia," bulong niya bago kami pumasok sa elevator.

Hinawakan niya ang kamay ko. Ngumiti ako sa kanya.

"Hindi niya alam na isasama kita ngayon. Alam ko namang gustong-gusto ka na rin niyang makita. Kahapon nga lang nakita ko pa siyang tulala habang kinakausap ko. Lagi ka n'yang iniisip, Claudia."

Hinigpitan ko ang pagkakahawak niya sa akin. Huminga ako nang malalim nang lumabas kami sa elevator. Wala nang nagbabantay ro'n.

Nilanghap ko ang sariwang hangin sa labas. Malamig na at buti na lang ay may suot akong hoodie jacket.

"Hindi ka ba lalamigin?" I asked Jason.

Umiling lang siya bago kami nagpatuloy sa paglalakad sa kalsada.

"'Wag mo na 'kong alalahanin. Baka isipin ko pang pinapaasa mo 'ko. Paasa ka pa naman," he joked.

I chuckled. When I saw a shadow on the bench, I thought it was Writan. But it was a different figure.

"Bok?"

Tumayo si Bok at lumapit sa akin. Tahimik kaming nagyakap.

"Ang apo kong maganda. Hindi ko alam na ikaw ang kikitain ko ngayon. Akala ko ay itong si Son lang," mahinang tugon niya.

"I thought so too. I thought it was Writan."

Tumango si Bok. "If you knew, you will not push coming here, won't you?" biro niya.

"Yes."

He grinned. We sat on the bench.

"You should've saved Sofia," I began.

Naupo si Jason sa tabi ko.

"Huli na ang lahat. When I was arrested, there's nothing I can do. If I defy, they will put more damage on me. I fled and before I knew it, they took Sofia."

I let out a sigh. "Grandma was pregnant with my mother, your daughter when she left."

Nakita ko ang sakit at gulat sa mga mata ni Bok. He was moved in tears.

"You're my granddaughter. Bakit meron akong apo na halos kaedad ko?" may halong biro niyang sagot.

It made me laugh. I comforted him with a hug.

"Suck it in, Grandpa."

We laughed together.

"Until when you'll stay hidden?" I consulted him.

"At least a year. The Council will soon tell me the verdict. Writan has fewer charges, he could be free sooner or later. He'll help you get Sofia back. I'll stay hidden until then."

I nodded continually. "Grandma said she couldn't tell you that she's leaving because it will make you want to leave with her too. She wanted you to write here," I explained.

"I understand her now. Sa huli pa rin ay ako ang iniisip niya."

I smiled. "But I wish she didn't conceive my mother. I hate her so much."

"Claudia...."

I pouted. "She's so mean. She loves Sofia more. She doesn't care for me. I hate her."

I heard Bok sighed. It made me sigh too.

"I wish I was with them. With your grandmother. She's brave and I can't be prouder."

"Well, I think she knows that."

We hugged after our talk.

"I'm proud of you too, apo," he teased, emphasizing the word apo.

I'm glad that I got to talk to him. I missed him too. I wish everything would be done sooner. Makukuha ko na rin si Sofia at maibabalik ko na rin siya kay Mommy. Tapos, babalik ako rito?