Exchange of Hearts 2

Lahat nang lihim ay nabubunyag, lahat nang butas ay natatakpan, lahat nang humihinto ay dapat pa ring bumiyahe...

Chapter 2: Biyahe

12:00MN

“Looks like our plan has worked, Madame” sabi nang isang matipunong lalaki na naka suit na bisita din noong gabing iyon. Kausap niya ang isang babaeng naka red gown na may hawak na champagne glass.

“Wag kang kampante sa ngayon Lucio, hanggat hindi pa natin nakikita ang labi nang Carlsen Montenegro na yan” sabi nito nang pabalang. “Pero wala na siya sa ngayon at ako na ang magiging reyna nang Montenegro Group of Companies” sabi niya na may kasamang malakas na tawa.

[Carlsen]

9:20AM

Nagising nalang ako sa isang hindi pamilyar na kwarto, walang suot pang itaas at iba na ang suot pang ibaba. Inalala ko ang nangyari sa akin bago ako humantong sa ganitong kalagayan. May sumabog noon sa party, tumakbo kami nang nagligtas nang buhay ko, at tumalon sa ilog. Tumayo ako sa hinihigaan at lumabas nang kwarto, at saka bumaba sa sala nang bahay. Parang walang tao, wala siguro yung nagligtas sa akin.

Pumunta na lang ako nang kusina par makainom ang tubig, uhaw na uhaw na ako nang mga panahong ito. Kumukuha ako nang tubig sa dispenser nang makita ko ang mga litrato sa may refrigerator. Nanlaki ang mga mata ko sa nakita ko.

“Ako to ah”

“kelan nangyari to?”

“Hindi ko kilala ang mga ito”

Tanong na paulitulit na bumagabag sa sarili ko, hindi ko sukat matandaan kung kelan nangyari ang mga litratong iyon.

“oh gising ka na pala?” may nagsalita sa likod ko na isang pamilyar na boses.

Nang lumingon ako hindi ako makapaniwala sa nakikita ko, isang taong kamukha ko. Para kaming binyak na bato.

“It can’t be” sabi ko.

“di nga rin kapanipaniwala eh, pero lets face the fact na magkapareho tayo nang itsura.” He said.

“but how can this be? I don’t recall having a Brother or even having a Twin?” I insited.

“Hindi ko rin alam, at ang alam ko sa ngayon hindi natin pwedeng ipagkaila na magkapatid tayo, hindi ko alam kung papano o ano ang nangyari pero alam ko magkapatid tayo”

Bumagabag din ito sa sarili ko hinding hindi makapaniwala sa nakikita o naririnig ko, isa ba itong masamang panaginip o isang ilusyon na pwedeng takasan. Nang maalala ko si mommy.

“Can I borrow your Phone?” I said.

“Tatawagan mo ba mommy mo? Nasa Ospital siya ngayon.”

“What? Anong nangyari sa kanya?”

“Inatake sa puso nang nalaman niyang namatay ka na…” makikita ko sa mukha niya ang pagkadismaya na hindi ko maintindihan.

“E narito ako oh buhay na buhay ano bang pinagsasabi mo” galit kong kontradiksyon sa paratang niya.

“Alam mo naman siguro na may tumangkang pumatay sayo? Kaya pinalabas nila na patay ka na nga, may sunog silang katawan na iprinisenta kay mama mo. Nalaman ko sa kaibigan ko na nagtatrabaho noong gabi nang pagsabog e inatake ang mama mo sa puso at nagpasya sina tita Elenor mo na dalhin siya sa amerika para ipagamot pagkatapos nang libing mo sa makalawa”

Nanlumo ako sa narinig at napa-upo sa sofa nila, “Ilang araw na ba akong tulog?” tanong ko na patuloy ang tingin sa kawalan.

“Tatlong araw na, kung hindi ka pa nga nagigising kanina eh dadalhin na sana kita sa Ospital!” sabi nang lalaking kamukha ko. Pumunta siya sa kusina at may inihain. Habang ako ay nasa sofa parin at hindi umiimik. Binalikan niya ako sa may sala at pinatong yung pagkain sa harap ko.

“Kumain ka na muna tatlong araw ka nang hindi kumakain kailangan mo pa naman nang resistensya” tiningnan ko lang siya at nginitian. Nang inabot niya ang kamay niya “Lance… Lance Mercado.” Nagpakilala siya sa akin at naramdaman ko ang matinding lukso nang dugo, hindi ko maipagkakaila na magkapatid kaming dalawa.

10:00am

-Montenegro Group of Companies, Board Room-

Lahat nang board of trustees nang companya ay nandoon para sa isang board meeting na ipinatawag ni Criselda.

“As we all know, Carlsen was the only heir of my abducted brother, Felix, and with his loss the company and all its assets have a fallen pilar. And Luisa is now suffering in Major Depression dahil sa nangyari, so as the immediate relative, I am willing to take over my nephew as the president and CEO of Montenegro Companies.”

Sabi ni Criselda na parang nanalo sa Lotto ang ngiti at hindi naluksa sa pagkamatay nang pamangkin.

“Hold your horses Criselda, hindi ganoon kadali yang pinagsasabi mo” pag interrupt ni Mr. Trinidad. Tumayo ito at nagpatuloy nang pagsasalita. “As we all know ako ang Major stockholder nang companying ito, I now own 40% of the company, and I as head of the board of trustees do not want you as CEO of this company…” Nagpaikotikot siya sa loob nang board room at makikita mo sa mukha ni Criselda ang galit at poot. “… you are not fit for the position, and anyone from the board who agrees with me please raise your hands” at agad na nagtaas nang kamay ang halos lahat nang tao doon, at mas namula sa galit si Criselda.

Bigla namang nagbukas ang pintuan nang boardroom “Ah, at dumating na ang bagong hahalili sa yumao nating presidente… Criselda I want you to meet mi Unico Hijo Kurt Oliver Trinidad” at napatingin ang lahat sa matipunong lalaki na pumasok sa pintuan nang kwarto, pormadong-pormado ito nara matching tux and pants na talagang nagpatikas pa nang kanyang dating, medyo chinito ang kanyang mata pero di nahahalata dahil sa kanyang glasses na sinusuot. Aminado ang lahat na nandoon na gwapo at malakas ang dating nang batang iyon maliban kay “… Criselda, siya ang papalit kay Carlsen habang nagpapagaling si Luisa, at yun ang desisyon ko, sino ang sumasang-ayon sa akin?” at lahat nang kamay sa board room ay nagsitaasan. Di na nakayanan ni Criselda ang mga nangyayari at umalis nang board room nang walang paalam.

[Lance]

07:00pm

“Marami pala tayong pagkatulad, tol! Pero bakit parang ang seryoso mo?” ngayon lang kami nagkilala nang kakambal ko pero parang matagal na panahon kaming magkasama, ang pinagkaiba lang siya namuhay nang marangya samantalang ako naman ay namuhay sa kahirapan.

“Lance, gusto pa kitang makilala nang lubos at gusto kong malaman kung bakit tayo nagkalayo… mapapahiram mo ba ako nang pera?” tanong niya sa akin.

“aanhin mo ang pera tol?”

“Isa lang ang lugar na ligtas tayong dalawa sa Villa Montenegro, kailangan kong makausap si Yaya Glorya.” At parang dismayado ang mukha niya sa kanyang binanggit.

Tinabihan ko siya at inakbayan, “Wag kang mag-alala pupuntahan natin ang Villa Montenegro sa lalong madaling panahon” ngumiti siya sa akin at ako naman ay napayakap sa akin.

Umalis kami nang bahay noong mga Oras na iyon.

10:00 pm

“Hindi ako papayag na isang baguhang enhinyero ang papalit sa pwestong matagal ko nang inaasam!” galit na sigaw ni Criselda habang binabato ang wine glass na hawak niya.

“Wag kang mag alala Criselda, matutulungan kitang kunin muli ang pwesto, magtiwala ka lang sa akin” sabi anng isang lalaking nakaupo sa lkikod nang desk nang kuya Felix niya sa Mansyon.

“Kelan? Ngayon na nakahanap na ako nang paakakataon dahil namatay ang bastardo kong pamangkin ngayon pa mawawala sa kamay ko ahng kapangyarihan?”

“Huminahon ka, may plano na ako!”

“Ano? Baka bulilyaso na naman ulit yan?”

“Ibabagsak natin ang Montenegro Group of Companies, habang unti-unti nating nanakawin ang pera nito, at kung bagsak na gagawin ka din nilang CEO at hahatid natin ulit ito sa Global market, oh diba. It’s just like hitting two birds with one stone”

“hahahahaha, brilliant idea, maasahan talaga kita” at tinawa lang nito ang nararamdaman buong gabi.

Lingid sa kaalaman ni Criselda ay bumabyahe na papuntang Villa Montenegro ang nooy inaakala niyang patay na pamangkin.

8:30 am

[Lance]

Last trip nung bus papuntang Isabela ang sinakyan namin kagabi at umaga na nang dumating kami sa Villa Montenegro. Pumasok kami sa ibang lagusan, isang kweba na tanging mga Montenegro lang ang may alam.

“Ito yung Escape tunnel na ginawa nang ama ko noon kasama nung bestfriend niya, tinuruan niya ako kung paano makalabas at paano makapasok nang walang may nakakaalam.”

Ilang butas pa ang pinasok namin at nakapasok kami sa isang kwarto na parang bahay ko na kalaki. Dumaan kami sa sahig nito.

“Dito ka lang muna at hahanapin ko si Yaya Glorya. Nang lumabas si Calrsen nang kwarto papunta nang kabilang kwarto si Yaya Glorya na may dalang tray nang Juice, nang makita niya si Carlsen ay nabitawan niya ang tray at napanganga sa nakita.

“Ya, ako to si Carlsen!” sabi niya at agad namang napayakap si Yaya Glorya kay Carlsen. “Nako Hijo salamat sa Diyos at buhay ka, salamat sa puong maykapal at hindi ikaw yung inaakala naming patay na.”

“May nagligtas po nang buhay ko at gusto ko po siyang ipakilala sa inyo” at dinala niya si Yaya Glorya sa kwarto.

Nakaupo ako noon nang makita ako nang matandang babae ay napa nganga lang ito na parang nakakita nang multo, matagal din kaming nagtitigan nang tumayo ako dahil hindi na ako mapakali sa titig niya.

“Yaya, ito po pala si…”

“CLARENCE!”

_Abangan_

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Sakura (The Legend of the Cherry Blossom)

 

Akihiro sat underneath the apricot tree, enjoying all of the beauty and smells of spring time. It was a bright evening. The moon was hovering in the starless night sky, and its beams were passing through the gaps of the flowers of the apricots, washing everything in an enthralling and magical glow. Paper lanterns were hung on the branches of the trees to add elucidation to the ground of the Daigoji Temple.

Watching and marvelling the beauty of the flowers of the apricots was Akihiro’s favourite way of letting the time pass as inevitable as the flow of the water of the river to the sea. They never failed in making him caught his breath with awe and pleasure. He stood up and ran his fingers all over his kimono to tidy his appearance again. He closed his eyes and breathe in, loving the serene feeling he devours every time he was standing under the canopy of the apricot trees. He opened his eyes and released a fulfilling sigh.

Nothing could ever surpass the beauty of the apricots, he thought.

The newly blossomed apricots were swaying as the crisp wind of February blew in whirls. They were like long drapes hung over an open window. As the petals cascaded through the wind from the dancing trees, Akihiro reached his hand, palm up, and caught a single petal. It was the colour of the sky when the sun kisses the sea during sunset.

“Aren’t they just breathtakingly beautiful?” a voice of a lady behind Akihiro said and he almost jump in surprise for he did not notice somebody came behind him.

He turned to his back and held his breath as he stared of such beauty that instantaneously held his heart captive. Standing in front of him was a lady around his age. She got deep brown eyes, and as he stared at them, he feels like being lured. He felt like the world had seemed stopped running around him. Her lips were as rosy pink as her cheeks, like they were still in the grasps of the winter chill. Akihiro wanted more than anything to touch and caress them. She was wearing a kimono a pale hue of crimson. Her hair billowed with the wind, and Akihiro thought for a moment he might like to run his fingers in delight over her hair. She looked at him, and for a moment, he felt like his heart was going to jump out of his chest as she smiled at him a bewitching smile. Ethereal. He finally found something that surpassed the beauty of the apricots, only she wasn’t a thing.

“May I have the pleasure of knowing your name, my dear lady?” he said, and curtsied.

“Sakura.” She said, and handed him a beautiful pink flower. “My name is Sakura.”

Akihiro stared at the beautiful and velvety pink flower that was rested in the palm of his hand. Its petals were elliptical and as pink as her cheeks and lips. Never did he ever see that flower before. A flower that, like Sakura, was far more beautiful than the apricot’s. He looked up. His mouth gaped as he realized that Sakura was gone. He let his gaze travel around him, to the trees and to the bushes, but she was nowhere in sight.

Sakura. He kept on thinking about her as he lied that night to sleep. Sakura, he kept on muttering under his breath, loving the feeling of her name on his lips although it made nothing to fill the huge gaping hole of longing he felt for her in his heart. That was a night full of thoughts about her, and Akihiro was oblivious that the sleep was lurking around until it claimed him.

The next days after the night of their meeting, Akihiro had searched for Sakura. He’d gone back into the temple and onto the ground that was packed with people. But she’s nowhere to find. He had searched everywhere, high and low, but it seemed Sakura was refusing to reappear again. He’s hopeless, searching for a lady he barely knew. He almost give up until one day, he finally found her.

Akihiro was getting into a caving stone archway that led to the ground of the temple. In the distance, he could see the people were gathering on the grounds. Others were already settled underneath the apricot trees, eating and drinking, and children were running and playing. The apricots were in full bloom now, and its flowers were like flames decorated all over the tree. Despite the distress he was feeling, his lips curved into a weak and tired smile. But that smile was ephemeral, for it turned into a hopeful smile as his gaze darted into a single pink flower that lied peacefully on the grass. It was the same flower that Sakura had given him the night they met.

“She is here,” he said in a whisper, picking the flower from the embrace of the grass. He went half-running to the ground, unable to suppress his excitement of the thought that he had a chance of seeing Sakura again.

Akihiro found her sitting on the edge of the fountain, running her fingers in its water and humming a very enchanting lullaby.  She was staring at a tree that I’d never seen grow; bear fruits or leaves or flowers before. It was the only unattractive and distracting thing among all of the beauty there was in the temple’s ground.

“Isn’t it very distracting?” Akihiro said the moment he was standing beside her. Sakura didn’t even flinch or cringe in surprise. But instead, she gave him a puzzled look when she looked at him. “I mean the tree. It’s out of place here in this beautiful ground. How unfortunate. It should be cut down and make firewood.”

Sakura shook her head before turning to look at the tree. Then she stood up beside Akihiro.

“It’s beautiful. Just because it doesn’t have leaves and flowers and fruits doesn’t mean it’s unsightly.  We must look inside and deeper because sometimes, what we see with our eyes is deceiving. Some beauties are hidden. Just like this tree.” She said. She slowly walked towards the tree and Akihiro followed behind her. She stopped a few feet away from the tree’s trunk. She reached up her hand and pressed her palm on the trunk, and then closed her eyes. “Feel it.”

Akihiro did the same. He pressed his palm just beside Sakura’s, and reluctantly closed his eyes, feeling foolish. Akihiro was stunned, for he felt like the tree was shuddering by his palm. It seemed like it had its own heart and was pulsating and beating. They took their hands away, which left Akihiro in a bewildering moment.

“Did you feel it, Akihiro?” Sakura asked, smiling at him. Her hair was ornamented with those beautiful pink flowers. He reproduced the one he got from the grass and tucked it back on her hair, where it truly belonged.

“Yes. It was shuddering however that happened. Or maybe it was just my imagination.” He replied, shrugging his shoulders.

“Maybe,” she said and started walking off.

“Sakura, how did you know my name?”

“The people said you have searched for me. Have you?”

“Yes. I mean…uh … It’s just that…” he stammered.

He stopped struggling to find some words to say when Sakura held his hand, and entwined her fingers with his. “Then I will stay and never leave you again.”

That was the spring time when their love started growing in their hearts. Akihiro never dreamed that the day would come he’ll find a lady that would capture his heart. All of those days that he was just chasing down a daydream; all of those days that he was living in a blur have come to an end. For there came Sakura who made his life clearer than a crystal.

Summer time came, and the two became inseparable. The love they felt for each other had bloomed, emanating a fragrant that nothing could ever be compared. Autumn came, when the flowers were starting to wilt and leaves were starting to fell off from their branches, yet their love had never wilted nor fell off from their hearts. It was still entrenched in there, irremovable, for forever.

But when the snow of the winter had just started to fall, Sakura was tainted with a terrible sickness. She was constantly visited by a high fever, and sometimes she was retching blood if not through her nose. Akihiro was very anxious, for he didn’t know what to do. His heart was being tortured and tormented every time he heard Sakura groan in pain. He dreamed that if only he could take away her pain, he would ache herself just for her. But he can not. And he didn’t know what to do about her. He was sorrowful every time he played in his mind what Sakura had said to him one night that she’s destined to die on the time of the winter solstice. He knew she could be strange some times. But he chose not to believe her. He cannot lose her.

“I’m leaving,” Sakura said in a weak and tired voice.

“No. you are not leaving. You’re too weak to go out.” Akihiro said, squeezing her cold hands. He dried the perspiration that was forming on her forehead with a cloth, and then threw the blanket to keep her warm.

The snow was still falling lightly outside. The chill of the winter was grasping Akihiro’s heart, turning it into an ice, and he didn’t know what to do to give it warm again.

“It’s winter solstice. I’ll leave now,” Sakura rested her head on Akihiro’s chest, loving his smell and the warmth he was emanating.

Akihiro threw his arms around her and released a heavy sigh as he realized what she really meant about her leaving. “I thought you are staying with me forever.”  Akihiro struggled not to cry, but the tears were starting to form, stinging his eyes. “I thought you will never going to leave me.”

“Don’t worry. I will come back for you.” She looked on his face, and dried the tears that were now flowing to his cheeks with her fingers. “I will.”

“When?” he asked between sobs, although he knew she wasn’t coming back ever again once she’s gone.

“On spring. And every spring since. I will ”

Akihiro didn’t really understand what she was saying, but he agreed anyway, not wanting to wear her out. He hummed the lullaby she taught him until she fell asleep. She fell asleep in his arms. And she knew that she will never wake up forever. The winter chill that was grasping his grief-stricken heart thawed and its water flowed out through his eyes into something that he knew would never end cascading.

He never knew why, but when spring came, he waited for her, convincing himself that she’s coming back. He knew that she was gone, but a tiny flame of hope was still flickering inside his heart. Everyday he was dreaming of having her again; caressing her rosy pink cheeks and kissing her little soft lips.

It was blooming season again, and this time, the apricots failed in making him happy. He wandered as lonely as a wind all over the ground of the temple, until he came into the flowerless, fruitless and leafless tree that Sakura had admired for a reason that was too bewildering for him to understand. The memories of them had come ringing through the air, and Akihiro sat down, and leaned his back on the tree’s trunk. He gazed around him, feeling like he was reunited with Sakura again. He could hear in the breeze the lullaby that Sakura loved to hum. Akihiro found himself smiling again since a long time that he wasn’t as he hummed along with the breeze, closing his eyes, hoping Sakura would appear when he opened them again.

When he opened his eyes, his mouth gaped in awe. Right before his eyes, a magical moment was happening. The beautiful pink flowers of Sakura were emerging one after another on the branches of the tree; from velvety buds until they dramatically open, revealing their surrealistic beauty. She had lived with her promise, and Akihiro can’t help himself not to smile. He stood up and kept his gaze onto the beautiful flowers above him. Then he reached his hand and pressed his palm on the trunk of the tree. Now, he will never be bewildered again. But he would believe that the tree was pulsating and beating Sakura’s heart.

The fruitless, leafless and flowerless tree was now the most beautiful thing in his eyes.

“Aishiteru, Sakura.”

For more stories, click http://daydreamore.wordpress.com/short-stories/

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Without You 8

I am so sorry po talaga kung hindi ako nakapagupdate for MONTHS! kasi I was so busy cause I just graduated with a BSN degree!! yehey for me!! oh well Im back and marami pang twist ang kwento kong to... at ang lahat nang ito ay para sa inyo kasi mahal ko ang followers ko!

Bati portion na, Thanks to Miss D. and sir Jayson P., sori po talaga kung hindi ako nakapagupdate :(, Jayfpina na parating nakaabang sa site ko, kina Russ, Rue, joseph, joed12, ramy from qatar, na walang sawang nagpapa-abot nang kagalakan sa kwento ko, andrei, dark_ken, Ross, Coffee Prince, Calle 'aso, Chris, Zirjay S. at sa mga anons at sa mga nag e-mail, type ko pa ulit yung scene na yun... soon you will be updated... thank you talaga mula sa kaibuturan nang puso ko.

Website: urikido.blogspot.com

Email: uri_kido10@yahoo.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/urikido10

8th Installment na and last nang first part at heto na ang theme song nito nasa video link sa baba :) and don't mind to leave a comment, i would highly appreciate it even if you do go Anon :)

is it truely a happy ending for Caleb and Enzo or will there be a new Name on the story board?

CHAPTER 8: The Sunrise

“Kaya mo ba?” tanong niya sa akin.

“Gusto ko toh, kaya kakayanin ko toh” sabi ko naman.

“Si Andrew yang kalaban mo, kaibigan natin siya baka magkasakitan lang kayo” pagpupumilit niya sa akin habang gumagawa ako nang campaign parafernalias sa boarding house nila. Samantalang siya ay nag eempake nang gamit.

Malapit na nun ang araw nang election sa campus, at marami na akong ginagawa para sa pagtakbo ko nang president nang student body, medyo nagiging busy pero heto pinupuno parin ang pagiging nobyo ni Enzo, parati na nga akong doon sa kanila.

“Di ka na ba magpapapigil diyan sa balak mo?” tanong ni Enzo sa akin.

“Ikaw nga din a mapipigilan ang pag lipat mo kina Mark…” sabi ko nang hindi siya tinitignan. Nang bigla niya akong niyakap mula sa likod.

“Mahal na mahal kita baby ko” sabay halik mula sa batok ko papunta sa likod nang tenga. Mainit ang sensasyong dumaloy sa kalamnan ko noon. Hindi maipaliwanag na kiliti at kuryente na dumadaloy sa katawan, hanggang maabot niya ang aking pisngi, alam ko na ang balak niyang abutin, ang mga labi ko. Pero pinigilan ko na siya sa balak niya, hindi aprin ako nagpapahalik sa kanya kahit kelan.

“Mahal na Mahal din naman kita Dady ko, at aalis na ako kailangan ko pang puntahan si Mr. Reyes sa school, mag-ingat ka sa pag lipat mamaya ha” sabi ko sabay halik sa noo niya. Tumayo mula sa kama niya at lumabas na nang kuwarto.

Di kalayuan ang boarding house nila sa eskwelahan namin kaya nilakad ko nalng ito. Di kalayuan sa eskwelahan may namukhaan ako sa may daanan, pero mas maikli ang buhok niya ngayon, sobrang ikli na hindi ko aakalaing gagawin niya… si SOPHIE.

“Hi!” pagbati ko sa kanya nang nagkalapit na kami. Pero hindi niya ako pinansin at dalidali rin siyang naglakad papalayo.

Late na ako nang maka-uwi sa bahay noong araw na iyon, nagmunimuni ako sa mga narinig ko na nangyari kay Sophie, di ko naman akalain na gagagohin lang pala siya ni Jay nang ganoon. Alam ko dapat kong sabihin na “buti nga sa kanya, niloko din naman niya ako ah” pero bakit parang mas umiiral ang natitira ko pang pagmamahal sa kanya, pero hindi ito pwede, hindi na dapat ako makikipagsapalaran sa mga walang kwentang bagay.

Pumasok ako sa pinto annag bahay namin, hindi ko na binuksan ang ilaw at aakyat n asana nang hagdan nang biglang bumukas ang ilaw, nang napalingon ako nakita ko si papa na nakaupo sa sala.

“Wèishéme xiànzài nǐ zhǐshì? (bakit ngayon ka lang?)”

“Wǒ zhǐshì yǔ péngyǒu wàichū (I was just out with friends)”

“Péngyǒu? Huò nín zhèngzài yùnxíng dì nàgè yúchǔn de xuǎnjǔ? (Friends? Or that stupid election you are running?)”

“Wǒ hái méiyǒu kāishǐ (I haven’t even started with it)”

“Zhè hěn hǎo, yīnwèi nǐ jiāng wúfǎ shǐyòng wǒ de qián, wéi yīxiē yúchǔn de xuǎnjǔ (that’s good, cuz you will not use my money for some stupid election)”

“Shénme? Dànshì, wèishéme bù ne? (What? But why not?)”

“Nǐ yīnggāi xuéxí, jiùshì tā, wǒ méiyǒu wéi nǐ de yúchǔn de wǔdǎo hé bèi dīgū de xuǎnjǔ, nǐ fāsòng nǐ nàgè xuéxiào (You should be studying and that is it, I didn’t send you to that school for your stupid Dance and that underrated election of yours)”

“Xiànzài nǐ yǒu yīgè wèntí yǔ wǒ de wǔdǎo (and now you have a problem with my dancing)” nagalit na ako at lumalakas na ang boses. Nakikita ko na sobrang galit na si papa sa akin, buti nalang at dumating si mama para pigilan kaming dalawa.

“Cóng xiànzài kāishǐ, rúguǒ nǐ réngrán huì tuīdòng, xuǎnjǔ tōngguò, wǒ jiāng zhànshí qiēduàn nín de zhànghù hé xiūjiǎn xiàlái de jīntiē (from now on, if you will still push through with that election, I will temporarily cut your accounts and trim down your allowance.)” his last words before going to his room.

Tears were now filling my eyes and I ran outside of the house and went to that Club that I usually go to para magpakalasing. I just sat in the the bar table and drank till drunk.

It was half past 1 in the morning when “kuya another glass of Bacardy” I said. “Make that two handsome” a familiar voice told the bartender. I looked at the guy blurry and unfamiliar. “Steven? Ikaw ba yan?” I asked.

“Yah it’s me silly, looks like your drunk! What does your sexy ass doing here?” he sat on the empty chair beside me.

“Ayokong umuwi sa amin, nag-away kami ni papa, he always makes me feel vulnerable, ayoko na. Anu nga pala ang ginagawa mo dito? Nasan si Mark?”

“Well he is not here darling lumipat na kasi yung friend niyo, si Enzo, e sasamahan ya daw muna para di ma OP sa mga kasamahan niya sa Boarding house, ewan ko nga ba dun. Mukhang mabigat ang dinadala mo sa ama mo ah” binigay nang bartender ang aming inorder, at kitang kita mo sa mukha ni Steven ang pakikipag flirt niya dito.

“Parati nalang kasi ako, ako na hindi marunong ako na ang walang pakialam sa magiging buhay ko, I was just doing all of this for his sake…”

“What? The Elections? Anu ba talaga ang problema mo?”

“Pera, saan ako kukuha nanag pera para sa lahat nang gastusin eh he will not give me allowance and he even closed my accounts”

“Pera lang ba? Pera lang problema mo? Masusulusyonan ko yan.”

“Talaga? Pahihiramin mo ako?”

“Sure, but I have my conditions… di pwedeng bigay lang nang bigay diba?” ayan na naman yung medyo flirt niyang pananalita.

“What conditions?”

“You will know that later, now lets Drink, Dance and Enjoy” at yun nga sabay na kaming uminom.

Mas lumalim ang gabi at tumama na ang kalasingan ko, umiinit na ang katawan ko at di na ako makakakita nang diretso. Nilabas ako ni Steven sa bar at sinakay sa taxi, di ko na alam kung saan niya ako dadalhin sa mga panahong iyon ang alam ko hindi na ako makabangon sa kalasingan.

The next thing I knew I woke up in a hotel room alone and walang saplot sa katawan, and I was thinking that time on what may have happened the night before when I saw a note on the TV in front of me.

“Thanks I had fun, play mu naman yung CD sa taas nang player- thanks –Steve” yun yung nakalagay sa note. And I played it, at laking gulat ko nang makita ko ang ginagawa ko ang laman nang CD, video anng pinag gagagawa ko the night before, pinasayaw niya ako nang malaswa (galling ko parin sumayaw kahit lasing, isip-isip ko nun) at bigla nalang akong naghubad, striptease at na cut yung video, tapos lumabas si steven sa Vid. “hindi ko naman sinagad ang pagsasamantala kasi hanggang subo lang ang ginawa ko, thanks for the night BTW nandyan ang pera sa side drawer at goodluck na lang sa election” sbi niya sa video na yun. May tiwala ako sa kanya kaya hindi na ako nangamba noong mga panahong yun at umalis na sa hotel at pumunta nanang school para mag finalize nung mga kailangan kung tapusin.

Hindi nagging madali ang election dahil na rin na isa sa mga matagal ko nang kaibigan ang kalaban kong si Andrew, High School palang ay nagging magkaklase na kami pero napilit ko parin siyang kumontra sa akin, oo ako ang pumilit sa kanya dahil mas mapapanatag ako kung hindi man ako ang mananalo dhil siya ang magiging president. Pero di ko sukat akalaing masisira ang pagkakaibigan namin nang dahil kay Jim, kaibigan siya ni Andrew, bakla si Jim pero di kaaya-aya sa inyong paningin.

Sineryoso niya talaga ang election and made situations worst, he started spreading rumors about me and he made me believe that Andrew was the one spreading the rumor and vise versa, sinisiraan ko rin daw si Andrew at pinapalabas ko na bakla siya. Simula noon din a ako kinakausap ni Andrew at dahil kaibigan siya ni Enzo, napaniwala niya din ito na kinakalaban ko ang kaibigan niya.

Dumating si Enzo sa bahay, Wednesday afternoon noon gaya nang ginagawa niya parati. Nang sinalubong ko siya hindi niya ako kinibo. Nang pumasok kami nang kuwarto doon na niya ako kinonfront.

“Talaga bang ganyan ka na ka baba? Para makuha mo ang gusto mo gagawa ka na lang nang kwentong hindi totoo?” paumpisa niya na parang sumisigaw.

“Teka, bakit parang ako ang may kasalanan dito, sila kaya tong naninira sa akin, wala nga akong ginagawa sa kanilang masama at ako pa tong pagbubuntungan mo nang galit?” galit ko ring tugon.

“Sinabihan na kita! Sinabihan na kitang huwag mo nang ituloy to. Dahil masisira lang ang pagsasamahan nating magkakaibigan pero tinuloy mu pa rin, ano klase kang kaibigan”

“Ganoon na lang ba? Mas pipiliin mo pa na kampihan sila kesa sa akin na nobyo mo? Sige ikaw ang bahala, paglabas mo nang bahay ko, isipin mo nalang na wala nang tayo!”

Nagkatinginan lang kaming dalawa, walang imikan, agad din naman siyang umalis nang walang isang salita. Alam ko hindi tama na pagtaasan din siya nang boses, pero lalaki ako, hindi ako marunong umintindi nang madalian, umiiral ang pride bago pa ang lahat.

Hindi ako umiyak di tulad nang dati, pinapasok ko nalang sa kokote ko, panakip butas ko lang siya, panakip butas sa isang relasyong d rin naman nangyari. Nang biglang may tumawag, inuha ko ang cellphone ko, nagmamadli at baka si Enzo yun hihingi nang tawad pero iba ang narinig o sa kabilang linya.

“Hello?” sabi nang lalaki sa kabilang linya.

“hello sino to?”

“Pare ha, matagal lang tayong hindi nagkikita kinakalimutan mo nalang ako”

“Putangina, FELIX!!!! Oh napatawag ka Aya(Kuya)?”

“Im free tonight pwede ka bah? Bonding naman tayo kailangan ko lang nang bestfriend ngayon”

“Sure pare ikaw pa, swerte ko talaga I really need this right now.”

“Sige see you sa bagong Club malapit sa avenue, SoPalace ba name nun?”

“Oo. Alam ko kung saan yun sige kita tayo 8”

Masayang kwentuhan nanaman ang nangyari sa aming dalawa at panay puna namin sa mga babaeng nasa club nang may nakita akong isang pamilyar na mukha sa may bar nang club, nagpaalam ako kay Felix na umalis lang muna para puntahan yung babaeng yun. Kinakabahan akong malaman kung siya nga yun at tama nga ako.

“Sophie?” tanong ko sa babaeng nakaupo na may T-Ice sa kamay, nakita ko nanaman ng napakaamo niyang mukha, the way she looks at me as if I was the last guy on earth and out of the blue she smiled. And I smiled back.

Sophie’s POV

He smiled, oh how I miss seeing those sweet innocent smiles. And everything flashed back in an instant bakit ko ba siya pinakawalan, ako na nga siguro ang pinaka stupid na tao sa buong mundo. At hindi na ako umaasa na may feelings pa siya sakin pagkatapos nang mga nangyari.

“Wow, it’s a coincidence seeing you here…” sabi niya nahiya naman ako.

“Sa kapatid ko yung place at pumupunta ako dito tuwing Wednesday since…” nag aalanganin pa akong pag usapan ang topic pero baka akalain niyang hindi pa ako nakapag move on. “… since the break-up, lam mo naman siguro yun.”

“I’ve heard, wow nice place you have heve at may karaoke stand pa kayo, may kumakanta ba diyan?” at nagtawanan lang kaming dalawa na parang naka bawal na gamot. Namiss ko din na marinig ang tawa niya, at yung mga mata niya parang nakakatunaw parin, di ko akalaing nakatulala nnaaman ako.

“Sophie!” kinuha niya ng attention ko sa pagkakatulala. “Why don’t you join us? Kasama ko best friend ko sigurado ako magkakasundo kayong dalawa” nakakahiya naman na tumangi kaya tumayo narin ako at sumama sa kanya.

“Felix, si Sophie nga pala, yung palagi kong kinikento sayo, sophie si Felix” at biglang tumayo yung lalakeng nakaupo sa may lounge area na kasama ni Caleb.

“NICE to finally meet youy, grabe isang taon nay an ha at di pa kita kilala…” grabe ang tawa niya habang kinakamayan ako. “Akin ka nalang Sophie!” at binatukan siya ni Caleb, “ulol…. Wag ka ngang ganyan pare” sabi pa ni Caleb. Tawa naman nang malakas si Felix, “Sabi ko na nga ba mayt gusto ka pa sa kanya eh” nabigla ako sa sinabi ni Felix at napatingin kay Caleb. Kung d ako nagkakamali namula ang pisnhgi niya, di kasi halata sa madilim na lugar.

Lumalim ang gabi at naging maganda ang takbo nang lahat except kung mahuhuli ko si Caleb na tumitingin sa akin. “Pare kumanta ka naman doon ang sasagwa nang mga kumakanta eh please naman pare!!!” sabi ni Felix habang may hawak na tinidor na tinutok kay Caleb “oh sige na pare” napabuntong hininga si Caleb at mukhang hindi na pipilitan sa kanyang ginagawa.

Nang umupo na siya sa harap at kumuha nang guitara biglang bumilis ang tibok nang puso ko, hindi ko gusto ang nangyayari dahil sa huling beses na narinig ko siyang kumanta nahulog ang puso ko para sa kanya at ngayon ayaw kong mangyari yung muli.

“This song is dedicated to what should have and should be…”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBtMQ4bt3bI

at pagkatapos nang mga oras na yun naramdaman ko nang tumulo ang luhang namuo sa aking mga mata tumayo ako at tumakbo papalayo, hindi ko na alam kung ano ang gagawin ko oh saan ako pupunta anng mga oras na iyon. At napadpad lang ako sa rooftop nang building na inuupahan nang bar.

Nakatayo lang ako at pinapanood ang mga bituin sa langit. At hindi parin humuhupa ang agos nang mga luha na nang gagaling sa aking mga mata. “Bakit pa ba kita niloko!” napasigaw ako. “Mahal parin kita CALEB TAN” napasigaw ako ulit nang biglng naramdaman kong may biglang yumakap sa akin mula sa likod narinig kong umiiyak din siyang kagaya ko, “I… I’m… so..sorry” utal utal nitong binangit habang nakayakap sa akin. At hinarap ko siya dahil alam kong si Caleb yun.

Nagkatitigan lang kami at sinuol ko siya nang halik bagay na matagal-tagal ko narin gusting maramdaman ang halik nang isang tunay na pag-ibig. At lumiwanag ang paligid dulot nang araw na lumabas mula sa silangan.

-END-

_nang part 1 lang_

ABANGAN

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