Chapter Forty Four

"Tada!" Isang pumpon ng bulaklak ang bumulaga kay Cali pagbukas niya ng pintuan.

"Flowers for the most beautiful woman on the planet," si Drake. He was smiling at her widely.

Pinilit niyang tumawa. Inabot niya mula rito ang bouquet, "thank you."

"Are you unwell?" He asked. Kinintalan siya nito ng mabilis na halik sa mga labi bago nagtuloy pumasok. "Your voice sounds a little rough and your eyes look a little puffy," kumento ng binata, sinalat nito ng palad ang kanyang pisngi, checking if she has a fever.

"N-no. M-migraine lang."

"Uminom ka na ba ng gamot?"

Isang mahinang tango ang naging tugon ng dalaga. "Halika na, I cooked a special dinner."

Umikot si Drake sa kanyang likod at niyakap siya mula sa baywang. He buried his face on her hair, inhaling her scent. "Can't I have you first sweetheart? Hmmnn? I missed you so much..."

Please don't make this too hard for me, Drake... piping dalangin ng puso niya.

She inhaled and filled her lungs with air. Abot abot ang dalangin niya na sana ay huwag bumagsak ang mga luha niya. She bit her lower lip bago humarap dito at pilit pinasigla ang tinig. "Tikman mo muna ang mga niluto ko ha? I made lasagna, fillet mignon... and I bought a bottle  red wine too..." pinilit niyang ngumiti as she wrapped her arms around his neck.

"Wow special dinner? What's the occasion? Are you perhaps saying yes to me tonight?" Nanunukso ang tinig nito.

Nag-iwas ng mga mata si Cali. Hindi niya kayang titigan ang mga mata ng binata gayong sakit lamang ang masasalamin nito sa kanya. Yes, she is hurting right now more than words could say. She felt betrayed all over again. Gusto man niyang awayin ito, sumbatan, pero ano ba ang mababago ng mga iyon? Will that erase him from her heart? Will that ease the pain? For the last time tonight, she will let herself be the biggest fool, she will let herself love him one last time...

"Hay naku, lalamig na lahat ng niluto ko oh," pag-iiba niya ng usapan. Kumalas siya mula sa pagkakayakap nito at nagpatiuna sa hapag. She poured some red wine in their wine glasses bago muling tumingin kay Drake, "let's eat."

Habang kumakain ay nagkukuwento si Drake ng development sa Ambassador. Ayon dito ay on track naman ang project at mukhang makakapag launch ang hotel ayon sa schedule.

"I was thinking of quitting the CEO seat once the project is done," Drake said out of the blue. He raised his head and looked at her, inaantay ang kanyang reaksyon.

Cali reached for the glass of wine at bahagyang sumimsim mula roon. So, what Aimee told her was true. Alam niyang hindi kusang loob na magbibitaw si Drake, he is forced to do so and she knows the reason why.

"B-bakit?" She innocently asked.

Nagkibit ng balikat ang binata, "I guess I'm tired? Ilang taon na rin namang nasa akin ang posisyon. Maybe one of my cousins would be interested to take over," he paused and reached for her hand, marahang pinisil nito ang kanyang kamay na nakapatong sa lamesa, "I was thinking you and I could probably start our own little business once we're married... how about in the US or kahit dito sa Pilipinas?"

Tila may bumalalak sa lalamunan ni Cali, hindi na yata niya kayang pigilan ang mga luha niya. She abruptly stood up from her seat, "I-I'm just going to the washroom. E-excuse me..." mabilis siyang tumalikod at lumakad palayo. Naiwan si Drake na nakaguhit ang pagtataka sa mukha.

Isinara ni Cali ang pintuan ng banyo at sumandal doon. She bit her lip so hard to keep a sob that it almost bled. Tahimik siyang umiyak, clenching her fist near her chest. Saying goodbye the second time around is even  harder than the first one. Hindi niya alam kung paano malalagpasan ang gabing iyon na hindi bumibigay ang tunay na damdamin sa harap ni Drake.

You can do it Cali. You have to do it.

Nang gabing iyon ay ginawa nila ang karamihan ng mga bagay na matagal na nilang hindi nagawang magkasama. They had coffee after dinner, chitchatted and laughed together. They even watched a movie together. Drake wasn't much into love stories ngunit pinagbigyan nito ang nais niyang panooring ang 'The Notebook'.

"Hey, are you okay?" tanong ni Drake na kinabig siya palapit dito sa isang yakap. They were snuggled together on the couch.

Suminghot si Cali, her eyes were filled with tears. She gently nodded to Drake in response. "It's just so sad..." she answered. Kung alam lamang ni Drake na hindi ang pinanonood nila ang dahilan ng timba timbang luha niya ngayon.

Tumawa si Drake at hinalikan ang ibabaw ng kanyang ulo. "Stop crying, sweetheart."

Isiniksik ni Cali ang mukha sa dibdib ng binata. She closed her eyes and inhaled his natural male scent. She took time to listen to his heartbeat...to feel his warmth...

I love you, Drake....

********

Drake opened his eyes. Maliwanag na ang buong silid. Bumiling siya upang yakapin ang dalaga ngunit wala ito sa kanyang tabi. She must have gotten up early to prepare breakfast. He smiled. It feels so good to be with her again, to be like a married couple again like they were 5 years ago.

A huge smile broke on his face when he remembered how they made love last night. Sa maraming pagkakataong nagniig sila ni Cali ay masasabi niyang kakaiba ang pinagsaluhan nila kagabi. It's as if he could almost take Cali's soul with it. They made love as if they never made love before, na para bang iyon na ang huling pagkakataon.

He reached for his watch on the nightstand - 8:30 AM, ayon sa relo. Gaano kaagang bumangon si Cali? Kadalasan ay hindi rin ito makabangon ng maaga dahil parehas silang puyat at pagod sa nagdaang gabi. Maybe she wanted to surprise him with a hearty breakfast? Marahan siyang tumawa sa naisip, she is beginning to be like a real wife again. Hindi na siya makapag hintay na muli itong iharap sa dambana at muling pakasalan.

Tumayo si Drake at dinampot mula sa sahig ang mga damit at isa isa iyong isinuot. Palabas na siya ng silid ng marinig na tumunog ang cellphone. Kinuha niya iyon at patamad na tinignan. 10 messages, 8 missed calls. He sighed, kahit hindi pa niya tignan ay nasisiguro niyang sa ina nagmula ang mga texts at tawag.

Pabato niyang ihinagis ang cellphone sa kama, wala siyang balak sirain ang umaga dahil sa mga texts ng ina. Nasabi na niya rito ng paulit-ulit na hindi siya nito mapipilit na pakasalan si Aimee. Buo na ang kanyang isip na mag resign bilang CEO ng kumpanya, he would also give up his shares if need be. May pinag aralan naman siya at natitiyak niyang makakaya niyang buhayin si Cali at ang magiging pamilya nila kahit pa hindi siya CEO. Nasisiguro niyang makakahanap siya ng trabaho o di kaya naman ay magsimula sila ni Cali ng isang maliit na negosyo kagaya ng nabanggit niya rito kagabi. Sa totoo lang ay hindi niya alintana kahit pa siguro magsaka siya sa bukid basta't magkasama sila ng dalaga.

"Good mor-" his eyes searched for Cali in the kitchen but he didn't find her. "Cali?"

Naglakad siya patungong sala ngunit wala rin doon ang dalaga. Maybe she's in the washroom?

"Sweetheart?" He called again, pinihit pabukas ang seradura ng banyo. Wala rin doon ang dalaga.

Where could she be? Lumabas ba ito at may binili sa grocery?

"Cali?" He called again, louder this time. Binalikan niya ang cellphone na iniwan sa kwarto at idinial ang numero nito.

The party you are trying to reach is not available. Please try again later.

Nagsalubong ang makakapal na kilay ni Drake. Her phone is off. Wala ring senyales na ginalaw nito ang kusina. He dialled her number again, but like earlier, her phone couldn't be reached.

Saan nagpunta si Cali ng ganito kaaga? Hindi niya maipaliwanag ngunit may kakaibang kaba na lumukob sa kanya ng mga sandaling iyon, na para bang may nakaambang panganib na magaganap.

Mabilis siyang naghilamos at pagkatapos ay hinanap ang susi ng sasakyan. He doesn't know where to look for her but he knows he will find her somehow. He is probably overreacting, but he couldn't shake off the feeling that something is off and that he needs to find her right away. Palabas na siya ng pintuan nang mapuna ang isang puting sobreng nakalapag sa console table na malapit sa pinto, his name was on it. Mas lalong sinakmal ng hindi maipaliwanag na ligalig ang pagkatao niya. He reached out for the envelope and slowly opened it.

Dear Drake,

If you're reading this letter, that means I am out of your life. I realized that we are never really meant for each other. My heart belongs to someone else. I'm sorry if I'd led you on...

Don't look for me and just treat all of the times we spent together as a dream.

I wish you and Aimee happiness.

Cali

Nagtagis ang mga bagang ni Drake sa galit! Nalamukos niya ang piraso ng papel na hawak. His chest heaved up and down, and mga kamay niya ay halos maisabunot niya sa kanyang buhok!

No! No! She's lying! How can she be with me last night and tell me today that her heart belongs to someone else?! It doesn't make sense!

"Argh!" He exlaimed in exasperation. His thinks his head is about to explode! There's no way he's losing her again!

Sa malalaking hakbang ay nagmamadali niyang nilisan ang bahay na iyon. He will find her and bring her back by hook or by crook!