2 KABANATA 1

[Thomasito Marquez] PAST

MADALING ARAW pa lang ay maagang gumising si Thomasito Marquez upang mag-igib ng tubig sa pinakamalapit na balon sa kanilang lugar.

Pinagkasya niya iyon sa isang lalagyan na may iilang butas dahil sa katandaan. Pagkatapos ay pinanligo niya iyon para simulan na niya ang pagdadaro sa palayan.

Kasama niya ang ibang mga kalalakihan na taga-roon upang magtanim ng palay at mais.

Ito na kasi ang naging buhay niya simula nung pumanaw ang kaniyang mga magulang, limang taon na ang nakakalipas. Bumagsak din ang negosyong pinaghirapan ng kaniyang mga magulang pati na rin ang lahat ng kanilang mga ari-arian.

Dise-siyete palang siya noon kaya wala siyang magawa. Wala din naman siyang ibang mga kaanak na malapitan kaya't sumama nalang siya sa katiwala ng mga magulang niya na si Mang Rojelito.

Hindi sa kanila ang lupang tinataniman, kundi pag-aari iyon ni Don Felimon Graciano. Ang perang kinikita nila ay napupunta sa Don at tanging maliit na halaga lamang ang kanilang nakukuha. Pero kahit ganoon ay pinagsisikapan pa rin nila na makaani ng magagandang mga tanim dahil dito sila nabubuhay.

Kahit mahirap ang naging buhay ay nakakaya niya iyon na malampasan.

Tanghali na nung tumigil sila sa pagtatanim. Sama-sama silang kumain sa anino sa ilalim ng puno pagkatapos.

[Thomas Vasquez] PRESENT

FOR THE umpteenth time, Thomas Vasquez glanced at his Rolex watch, making sure that he would leave his office on perfect timing. He had been insistent about that.

May date siya ngayon sa kaniyang girlfriend kaya dapat mas maaga siya nitong dumating.

"Perfect!" he muttered, picking up the coat at his side and quickly stood up from his seat.

Nakarating siya sa isang Italian restaurant.

"Let's have a date later."

Thomas shuddered as he remembered his girlfriend's serious tone while inviting him on a date. It's not really Patricia's thing of inviting him for a date without any special occasions.

He's praying that she would come earlier than before and discuss with him the urgent topic, he assumed, she will say.

But his prayers were not answered when the sun already came down. He's been waiting there for two hours, enough to cause inconvenience to the staff.

His patience is running thinner! 'How dare she make me wait this long?!' he thought despairingly.

"A frowning man on his not-so-tidy suit."

A woman on her delicate red tube dress appeared, giving him a sly smile. She did the honor in sitting down at the chair in front of him, without his help.

"Hello Thomas." she studied the strained lines of Thomas' face with overt satisfaction.

"I assume you're enjoying the view of me running out of patience," he said.

Ngumiti ng matamis si Patricia. "I was just wondering, when will you get angry at me, you know..."

"I already told you that I can't be mad at my partner."

She chuckled. "You are really crazy over me."

"But of course, it will never remain that way Patricia," he cut her, kissing the back of Patricia's palm.

He remembered the time they bumped into each other and found themselves compatible with sex. The moment that relationship lasted for two months, they decided to give their relationship progress, not only sex but, as well as getting in their personal lives and issues.

Though, they are not a normal couple who would cling in public and say sugar-coated words. They prefer their company, privately, but intimately.

"It is so not like you to invite me on a date. So..." he paused. "Anong meron?" Thomas sipped through his wine glass and stored the wine in his mouth before swallowing it.

Patricia's serious face made him shiver for a moment. This is the second time for him to witness Patricia that intimidating.

She, later on, spoke, "I was reassigned into another place and I thought of asking your opinion about going to Brazil or remain here in Philippines." She tapped her fingers on the table, impatiently waiting for his response. She never told him the occupation she was into so, Thomas had no idea of how to decide.

Thomas sighed longly. "The choice is yours Patricia. I am Never that kind of guy who is possessive with girlfriends." He shrugged lightly.

"Then it's settled." She placed the glass in its original place. "Let's break up," she straightforwardly said.

Thomas stopped between his attempt on taking a sip of the wine.

"I thought you would say that," he gave her a meaningless smile.

As expected there's nothing more visible in Patricia's gorgeous face, except her cold smile.

She was always been the girlfriend who don't make the problems bigger.

Iyon din naman ang gusto ni Thomas but, sadly it has to end now.

"So this is goodbye?" he stated.

"Yeah."

A short stretch of silence enveloped them. His eyes were fixated on the empty plate while hers were glancing at Thomas lovingly.

She's afraid to tell him her feelings toward him. There are many dark secrets she meant to keep 'til deathbed. Before she could give a flash of sadness, she rises from her seat and casually said, "See you around Mr. Vasquez." Then she left.

ON HIS way towards the condominium he was staying in, he received a text from his best friend, saying to pick her up in front of a hotel.

Wala naman siyang magagawa dahil kapag tinanggihan niya iyon ay paniguradong hindi ito titigil kakaputak sa susunod na araw.

He wants to have peace for once. Lalo na at galing pa siya sa isang breakup. He isn't affected but, he thought that the next days wouldn't be the same without Patricia, warming his bed.

Nimaniobra niya ang sasakyan at dumeretso sa hotel kung saan naghihintay ang kaniyang kaibigan.

Naghihintay siya sa labas ng hotel na pinagtatrabahuan ni Cyrill, ang kaniyang kaibigan. Kanina pa siya naghihintay na lumabas ito.

Kung hindi lang talaga siya pagod ay kanina pa niya ito iniwan.

"Kanina ka pa?" bungad ni Cyrill pagkalabas sa pinagtatrabahuan.

"Si tingin mo?" Balik na tanong ni Thomas.

"Parang kanina pa hehe," humagikgik siya at napakamot sa ulo.

"Get in," he ordered and opened the door.

"teka teka," gulat kunwari na Singhal ni Cyrill. "Kailan ka pa nagging gentleman?" she teased him.

Thomas seems not in the mood so he just disregarded the teasing part.

"He was about to close the door when he heard a soft cry of an animal. "Meow!"

Napatingin sila cyrill at Thomas sa isa't isa.

"Meow!" The cat sounds helpless and was seeking help. Kahit hindi halata, Thomas has soft spot with cats.

"Parang galing sa ilalim ng kotse Thomy."

He glared at her when he heard the stupid nickname that should have expired during their high school years.

Cyrill just smiled and got out of the car.

This time, Thomas kneeled and peeked underneath the car.

Wala siyang maaninag kaya nanghiram muna siya ng cellphone ni cyrill.

In-on muna ni Cyrill ang flashlight bago inilahad sa kaibigan.

The moment he saw what's under the car, his eyes widened. There is a pair of black glaring eyes looking at him.

"What the heck!" he silently cursed.

Almost instinctively, he stretched his hands to reach the cat and as soon as he felt its soft fur, he carefully carried it out under the car.

It was a black famish with a pair of dark eyes. The pupils weren't on their wild shape, its showing on their round ones.

He doesn't know but, the cat's eyes were expressive that other cats doesn't have. Even his heart skipped a beat the moment he clearly saw those eyes.

"Thomas. Thomas." Cyrill nudges him.

He was completely not into himself a while ago.

"Should we take this cat? Tignan mo may bali ang paa niya. Hindi naman mukhang wild yan."

Totoong may bali ang pusa dahil nung sinubukan nitong tumayo ay nahirapan ito.

"You carry it," he purposedly said that to disguise himself as a not cat lover guy.

"Sureness!" she beamed and carefully carried the cat and placed it on her lap the moment she sat on the passenger seat.

"I can't bring this at my unit since my allergic mother will come visit tomorrow. Ayaw nun sa mga pusa kaya ikaw muna ang mag—aalaga ha?"

Kasalukuyan na silang naglalakad palabas ng elevator .

"Okay," sabi niya at kinuha ang pusa.

Cyrill on the other hand looked at him, confused. This man doesn't agree that easily. Kapag may pinag-uusapan sila ay palaging may follow-up wuestion ito.

But that's okay! Mas mabuting na iyong hindi ito mmagtatanong para hindi na dudugo utak niya kakagoogle ng sagot.

Cyrill and Thomas are neighbors. Pinagusapan nila ito para kapag nangangailangan ng tulong ang isa sa kanila ay madali lang nila itong matutugunan.

Thomas walked toward his unit and swiped his card. The cat is comfortably resting in his arms.

It's been a long day for him but, he still need to tend the cat.

"I'll bring you to the vet tomorrow. So you should rest now," he spoke to the cat as he placed it on the pillow on the floor. The cat walked towards him, ignoring the soft pillow intended for her.

"Meooow!" the cat meowed as if it was talking to him.

"No you can't. you sleep here tonight."

"meow."

"you're hungry?"

"meow," it meowed as if it agreed.

Thomas saw how her eyes plead so he has no choice but to carry and feed it.

"meow!"

"busog ka na niyan Alexia. Your tummy is bloated already," his laughter echoed in the corners of the room. He thought of the name 'Alexia' out of nowhere. Mukha naming stray cat ito at walang nagmamay-ari kaya sa kaniya nalang ang pusa.

Alexia is a good name for a cat. He thought.

Thomas saw her napping on the chair. Hinayaan nalang lamang niya iyon at humiga na sa kama.

Then there was silence, Thomas allowed himself to rest and wait for a good day ahead.

~*~

end of chapter 1

Story to be continued

Thanks for reading!

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