RHS 1 (WGB) : CHAPTER 13 - THE VISITOR

CHAPTER 13

CORA'S POV

I cried out in pain but no noise escaped my mouth. I wanted to look for my car so I can just continue weeping inside, but my knees were shaking so bad that I couldn't even stand up. A pair of familiar loafers appeared in front of my eyes. I looked up and saw him watching at me with sympathy written all over his face. He bent down to the ground on one knee to see me at eye level and he took hold of my shoulders with both hands.

I managed to say between my sobs, "I lose, Freiya, I lose on the second game."

"Shhh," he tried to comfort me, and I cried, even more, when he offered me his arm and embraced me kindly. "Ang ganda-ganda mo sa makeup mo at ang fierce mong tingnan sa red dress mo, tapos iiyak ka lang? Naku naman, Missy," he whispered and that actually made me smile for a moment. He released me from the hug, and before I could wipe my tears away from my own weak eyes, I already felt his warm hands wiping it off. "Prepared ka pala," he said, his voice teasing.

I looked a little bewildered as I asked, "Prepared?" And he nods his head straight away.

"Waterproof makeup mo," he said with a slight laugh, but I can't find any words to utter. I am just staring straight in his dark almond eyes while he has been so gentle as he's fixing my hair. "Hoy, kung makatitig parang in love," he even slapped me in my arm lightly.

"Baliw!" I said and attempted to get up, but my knees were still trembling! Why the hell I am so weak tonight? Tsk!

Freiya stood straight and forwarded his hand for me to grab. I am really fascinated by the offer! I immediately raised my arm and placed my hand into Freiya's, he then pulled me softly to get up. "Akayin na po kita, Madame, nakakapanghina kasi talaga kapag galing ka sa iyak," he said as he reached for me and his arm encircled my waist.

Alam kong he's just being sensitive. He knows that I am feeling like jelly now and I can't manage to walk properly, kaya niya ako tinutulungan. But, I don't know why I am feeling so embarrassed about what he's doing. Tsk, am I drunk?

"I-uuwi na kita," he said while we're in the middle of heading through my car.

But, I am startled by his sudden shift in mood. Kanina, parang binibiro niya pa ako, pero ngayon napakaseryoso niya nang tingnan. He kept on giving me assistance until I get inside the car.

"Kukunin ko lang 'yong box," he grimly said.

I wanted to stop him and just leave that sh*tty box there, but it's better to send it home and burn it afterward. Tss.

All of a sudden, Freiya expelled a heavy sigh as soon as he sat down in the driver's seat. Seriously, what's with him?

"I'm sorry," he apologized, looking straight ahead.

"What for?" I asked in a daze.

"K-Kung alam ko lang na iiyak ka nang gano'n at... masasaktan nang sobra dahil sa paghingi ng closure, edi sana 'di na kita pinilit." His voice cracks and there is that throat-crushing guilt. "Sorry, medyo naging bobo talaga ako sa part na 'yon, Corazon," he looked to be so pitiful and sincere in his apology to the point that not forgiving him seemed like a heartless thing to do. Gosh! Such a cutie!

I closed my eyes for a second as I chuckled softly and shook my head in disbelief. "Ano ba, wala kang kasalan, kasalan nito," and I pointed out my left chest, "Ito 'yong bobo, 'yong puso ko."

"Korni mo," he replied, attempting not to burst out in laughter, but he failed!

"I'm just telling the truth!" I yelled at him, but he just gave me a thumbs up. This gay, seriously!

"Aalis na ba tayo o magpapaalam ka muna sa mga kaibigan mo?" tanong niya, pero umiling lang ako agad.

"I will just give them a call or message them before the night ends," I said. He nods his head as a response and he started driving.

Buong byahe ay natulog lang ako. Grabe, nakakapagod ang araw na ito. I just want to sleep for a week, rest my mind, heart, and even my soul. Kaya lang ay kinakailangan talaga nating gumising para harapin ang panibagong pagsubok sa buhay. Just like what's happening at the moment. I can feel someone waking me up, but I can't open my eyes. I really am so exhausted!

"Corazon, gumising ka na, o baka gusto mong ipasok ko 'tong sasakyan sa loob ng kwarto mo?" Was that Freiya? Oh, right. I'm with him.

I woke up and saw him eyeing at me while his left eyebrow arched up. "Thank you for tonight... Jared," I said with sincerity.

A slow smile worked its way across his face and into his eyes, and in his real voice, he said, "You're always welcome, Bu," he then went out of the car to open the door for me, and continued speaking, "Pumasok ka na."

"You wanna come inside?"

"Bakit? Mag-mo-movie marathon pa ba tayo, Missy? Eh, pagod na pagod na nga 'yang itsura mo."

Bahagya naman akong natawa. "Yeah. So, bye, ingat pa-uwi."

I am about to go inside when he speaks again, "Wala man lang bang goodbye kiss?" His mischievous smile says it all! He's playing with me.

"Ulol," I replied and turned my back again.

"Don't forget to pray before you sleep. See you in dreamland!"

I stopped at the main door with a smile on my face. Muli ko siyang nilingon at saka ako kumaway sa kanya at ganoon din ang kanyang ginawa. And, I finally went inside my house afterward.

***

It's been a week and everyone became busier. I barely see Zella at home, madalas na siyang nag-o-overtime. Kapag ganyan siya ay mayroon siyang itinatago sa akin. Gosh! We've been living on the same roof since we were nineteen until now that we're both twenty-four, so five long years, malamang, alam na alam ko na ang mga pa-ganyan-ganyan niya. I know it's about Aaron, but I'll just wait for her to tell it with me when she gets ready.

Freiya, on the other hand, has been so busy as well. We've never seen each other for the whole week. I let him have his usual life. No contract, no fake relationship, no pretending to be Jared, my Bu, just the Freiya who loves to do 'harot' with guys, but he always wished me good morning, and at the end of the day, he never failed to tell me good night. Pakiramdam ko tuloy hindi ako single. Tsk, ayokong masanay.

Silver and Dahlia are now fine. I've seen their photos online, they're too clingy. Duh! Dalas-dalasan na nila iyang sweetness overload nila before I ruin it.

My thoughts were disrupted when I heard a knock on the door. The office door is glass made so I could clearly see the outside. My gay boyfriend is here and I am wondering why he dressed as Jared now and not the usual Freiya. He wore a black cap to hide his hair, no makeup at all, he's wearing a plain white tee with a bomber jacket, chinos, and fresh sneakers. Ito yata iyong mga binili namin sa mall. It suits him well.

"Why are you here?" I asked as he went inside, walked over to the couch, and sat down comfortably. Wow!

"Bago ko sagutin 'yan, gusto ko lang sabihin na ang ganda mo pala with your corporate attire," he said. And although he's using his gay voice, it still made me smile, it was genuine.

"Maganda ako kahit ano pa ang suot ko," sagot ko at nagkunwari naman siyang hindi makapaniwala sa sinabi ko. Tss! "Sagutin mo na nga 'yong tanong ko," asar kong sabi.

"Ahh, 'yon na nga, tinawagan ako ni Zella, hindi ka raw nag-breakfast. Tinanong niya kung okay lang ba raw na puntahan kita at pakainin, sabi ko oo," he stood up and placed the bento box in my table, and in his Jared's voice, he said, "Kaya ayan, I made you breakfast, Bu."

Nakakagwapo talaga ang ganyan niyang boses. Tsk, sayang talaga ang baklang ito! Pero, ano kayang nakain ni Zella para gawin ito? Gosh! Medyo nakakahiya.

"Do I have to pay you?" Tss, tinatanong pa ba iyan, Cora? Of course, you have to—

"Huwag na, it's my responsibility as your boyfriend, 'di ba?" he replied, grinning from ear to ear, and went back to the couch. Kahit na halatang pinagloloko niya ako ay palihim pa rin akong napangiti dahil himala, hindi siya mukhang pera ngayon. "Ay, shuta, Corazon, alam mo ba..."

Oh, ayan, nagbalik agad si Freiya. Ang bilis naman! Isa pa ngang Jared's voice diyan, isang Linggo ko rin siyang hindi narinig, eh.

"...bago ako nakarating dito, eh tinanong ako ng mga empleyado mo kung totoo ba raw na girlfriend kita," he continued.

"So, did you say yes?" I asked as I am preparing the food. Ugh! May bacon, my fave!

"Sa ganda mong 'yan, itatanggi kong girlfriend kita? Syempre, umu-o ako agad," aniya at may kasama pang kindat pagkatapos.

"Will you stop being like this when we're alone together?" I asked. Freiya now has a confused look on his face. "I might end up falling in love with you." I meant it as a joke only and he burst out in laughter.

"Havey, Corazon, havey ang joke mo!"

"I know, but I just want to remind you that you can only be Jared when there were other people around us, especially Silver and Dahlia, pero kung tayo lang, you can be Freiya," I said and started savoring my breakfast. Hmm, masarap! Gawa niya kaya ito? For sure hindi.

"So, totoo nga?"

"Ang alin?"

"Na kapag ipinagpatuloy kong ipakita si Jared sa'yo na tayo lang ang magkasama ay may posibilidad na ma-in love ka sa'kin?"

"Ye—no! I was just joking, don't take it seriously."

Sh*t! Mabuti na lang at hindi ako nabulunan! Kainis! Dapat kasi ay hindi na ako nagbiro, ayokong mag-expect siya. Tss!

"Mabuti kung gano'n, Corazon, dahil ang sabi sa contract, walang ma-i-in love at hindi tayo talo," he reminded. Tumango naman ako agad and continued eating.

And then, silence has already swallowed us. Freiya's busy on his phone, hindi pa siya umaalis dahil nakiki-wifi pa siya, at mukhang may ka-chat siyang lalaki dahil may kasamang kilig ang mga pasimple niyang tawa at ngiti. And, I am about to face my work again as soon as I have finished my breakfast, but I received a phone call from Tanya. What the hell?

"Expect me to be there, Cora," she said as I hit the answer button.

"What? Are you out of your mind?!" I asked with my brows knit together. I even got Freiya's attention when I yelled.

"Cora, am I prohibited to visit you?"

Damn! Ano na naman bang trip ng babaeng ito?!

"I'm gonna put a stop to this sh*t, Tanya, ayokong makipagplastikan sa'yo ngayon." I hung up the phone straight away. Ayoko nang makausap siya at mas lalong ayoko siyang makita. My day's too good to be ruined.

But the door suddenly opened! "Hi, Cora," Tanya greeted me with a smile beamed on her face. And, she was surprised when her eyes caught Freiya, who suddenly stood straight.

"What the hell are you doing here?" inis kong tanong, pero hindi man lang nabura ang ngiti sa labi niya.

"Visiting you, my dear youngest sister."

Sister, my a*s!!!