Part

Chapter 29. Part

EVEN before Dice could follow Kanon, somebody blocked his view. Halos itulak niya ito sa pagkairita dahil sa daraanan pa talaga niya ito huminto.

"Get your shit right, Usui!"

Doon pa lang niya napansin na si Kieffer iyon. Base sa itsura nito ay halata na nagmadali itong makapunta sa restaurant ng hotel nito.

"We need to talk about the mission. We're changing plans—"

"I'll speak with you later. I've to go to the restroom."

Nagtaas ito ng kilay at pasimpleng pumihit at naglakad sa direksyon papuntang banyo.

"Shit!"

"Natatae ka na ba talaga?"

Minura niya si Kieffer at sinabing pupuntahan niya ang kanyang kasintahan. Sa sinabi njyang iyon ay mabilis itong tumigil sa paglalakad 'tsaka hinarap siya.

"That's the reason why I went down here, we need to talk right away."

Kung ganoon ay galing ito sa opisina nito sa hotel na iyon. Hindi siya matitinag kung hindi narinig ang nga susunod na kataga.

"Aren't you curious why Katerina del Rio doesn't like you?"

Naningkit ang nga mata niya. He never talked abiut that to anyone. "How did you know?"

"Let's come in my office. Parating na si Rexton."

Pero nagmatigas siya.

"Dice?"

Napatuwid siya ng tayo nang marinig ang malamyos na pagtawag sa kanya ni Kanon na kalalabas lang ng banyo.

"Y-you're here!" hindi makapaniwalang bulalas nito.

"Why are you surprised, sweetie?" malamig na tanong niya. Pasimpleng umeskapo si Kieffer at sumenyas na hihintayin siya sa opisina nito.

"Of course I am! You told me you're going home tomorrow, not today!" Nang makahuma ay ngumiti ito 'tsaka niyakap siya ng mahigpit. "I miss you..."

Why was he mad again? Why would he get mad on her sweet girlfriend? So he softly asked as he looked at her, "Have you eaten?"

Tumango ito. "Actually, I'm here with someone—" Natahimik ito saglit at nag-iba ang itsura. She looked worried. "B-but don't get it wrong, I just couldn't decline because mom said she needed to get something to Lemuel, iyong e-ex ko. Pinasundo ako ni Mama sa kanya at dito kami dumiretso. And, we're actually waiting for Mama—"

Kung nagkataong hindi niya nakita kanina at hindi talaga niya alam na si Lemuel Castillo ang kasama nito ay baka nabubulagan na siya ng selos ngayon. He composed his mind and decided to act clueless. "Sweetie, calm down, I don't understand what are you saying."

Lumayo ito ng isang hakbang at tumikhim. Dahil nasa tapat lang sila ng restroom ay nakaagaw na sila ng pansin sa mga nagpupunta sa restroom.

"Do you want to go home?" he asked.

Tumango ito. "But I'll just tell him I'd go and he can just wait for my mom." Lumunok ito. "Huwag kang mag-isip ng kung ano, ah? Si Mama ang kausap niya, hindi ako. We only met today, so..."

He pinched her nose and smiled as if he's conveying that it's just alright. Pero sa kaloob-looban niya ay hindi maiwasang magselos sa lalaking iyon. His girlfriend's mom never did that to him. For years, he was never asked to eat dinner outside together with Kanon. May hinala siyang ganoon ang binabalak ng mama nito at dahilan lang nito na may kailangan sa lalaking iyon. Pero hindi dapat siya mag-isip ng ganoon lalo pa't mama ng kasintahan niya ang pinag-iisipan niya ng hindi maganda.

"Don't worry, after this, I won't meet him again. Nahiya lang kasi ako ngayon kaya pumayag na akong sumabay sa kanya, nasa entrance na rin kasi siya ng village kanina kaya nahiya na rin akong paalisin siya."

He nodded once.

"So... let's go?"

"Hmm?"

"Or do you need to go to the bathroom first?" tanong nito. Mukhang iyon ang inakala nito dahil sa tapat ng restrooms siya nito nakita. "Go on. I'll wait for you here."

"No, I'm good."

"Okay, then, let's go."

Kung inakala niyang didiretso na sila ng uwi ay nagkamali siya dahil dumiretso sila sa mesa kung saan naghihintay si Lemuel Castillo. 'Kitang-kita niya kung paanong nabura ang ngiti sa labi nito at dumilim ang tingin sa banda ni Kanon nang mapansin siya sa tabi ng kanyang girlfriend. Idagdag pa na nakahawak sa kanyang kaliwang braso si Kanon na para ba'ng ipinagsisigawang may relasyon sila. And he felt lighter and proud that he was her boyfriend.

"Uh," it was Kanon's soft voice the moment they went closer to the table. "Sorry, Lemuel, but I have to go. You can wait for my mom, I just called her and she said she's on her way here. In fact, malapit na siya."

Nanatili naman ang madilim na tingin ng lalaki sa bandang braso nila. Nagmamayabang na nginisihan niya ito.

"By the way, if you remember, this is Daisuke Usui. He's my boyfriend." Ngumiti si Kanon nang ipakilala siya. And she added, "He just went home from the US that's why I want to go now. And I really want to say sorry about that article. Nagalit tuloy ang ibang fans mo. But don't worry, I'll make a vlog to deny those rumors. O kaya, magpapa-presscon ako. Nakakahiya, sikat na sikat ka pa naman sa pagiging bachelor model mo."

Damn, sweetie, sorry for being mad a while ago. I was blinded by jealousy...

Dahil ang article na nabasa niya, kung saan nakuhanan na parang masinsinang nag-uusap ang mama nito at si Lemuel, ay nagsasabing kaya pa rin single ang sikat na vlogger at influencer na si Kanon Grace del Rio ay dahil hindi pa rin ito naka-move on sa first boyfriend nito. At ngayo'y hinihingi na ng lalaking iyon ang kamay sa mama nito. Damn those writers, didn't they do their fact research first? Most people knew he was Kanon's boyfriend.

Despite of Lemuel's dark gazes, he still plastered a smile on his face and he wanted to punch him for smiling that way to his Kanon. Itsurang hindi pa rin susuko at may masamang binabalak. "Oh, yeah? But I thought you're single? I asked tita again and she said you are."

Ngumuso si Kanon at bahagyang tumikhim. "Only my civil status. But Dice and I will get married soon, so..."

He chuckled a bit. Goddammit! I want to kiss my girlfriend right now.

Binawi niya ang braso at humawak sa balakang ni Kanon. Hindi mapuknat ang ngisi niya nang bumaling sa lalaking parang may luslos kung makangiwi. Ang sama ng itsura nito na gusto na lang niyang humalakhak.

Tumiim ang bagang nito at hindi nagsalita.

"Sorry, dude, but we have to go. I really miss my fiancée so we must catch up."

Hanggang sa makarating sila sa parking ay namumula pa rin si Kanon at alam niya kung bakit. Nagbanggit ito ng kasal at paniguradong nahihiya ito dahil iniisip nitong inunahan siya sa pagsabi niyon nang hindi pa nila pinag-usapan.

"You didn't drive your sedan?"

She was wearing a dress so riding his motorbike would be a nuisance. "I didn't. Let's just hail a cab."

Tumango ito at may naalala. "By the way, why are you here? Bakit hindi ka sa bahay dumiretso?"

He side-glanced and noticed a familiar car in the parking. It was Rexton dela Costa's Mustang. Napansin din niya ang nagpa-park na sasakyan sa kabilang banda, at kung hindi siya nagkakamali ay sa mama ni Kanon iyon.

"Hmm?"

"Ah, may ka-meeting kasi ako rito..." he reasoned out because he couldn't just blurted out that he followed them here, and that he was fuming and jealous awhile ago.

"Oh! Was it done already?"

Nagpalusot ulit siya. "It's alright, I'll just reschedule it—"

Mabilis na tinampal ni Kanon ang braso niya. "Bakit hindi mo kaagad sinabi? Gosh, nakakahiya! Late ka na ba?"

Umiling siya. Dapat pala'y sinabi na lang niya na tapos na ang meeting. "It's fine. Let's just go already."

Umiling din ito. "You should go. I'll just wait for you in my—wait, sa bahay mo na lang ako didiretso. Nandoon sina Manang sa unit ko at nagge-general cleaning, hindi kasi natapos kahapon. Kasi naman akala ko talaga bukas ka pa makakauwi."

"Kanon? Why are you here? Where's Lem?" it was her mom. Hindi nga siya nagkamali na ito ang may-ari ng sasakyang napansin niya kanina.

Tumaas ang kilay nito nang bumaling sa kanya at walang ganang nagsalita. "Oh, you're here."

"Good day, Ma'am," bati niya.

"Tita!"

Tita?

Sabay-sabay silang napabaling sa nagsalita. Why was that fucker in the parking? He should've just stayed inside the restaurant.

"Lem, hijo! Sorry, I'm late. Naku, natapunan kasi ng kape ang suot ko kanina kaya kinailangan kong mag-ayos ulit."

Napapikit siya ng mariin at nang magmulat ay napabaling siya sa pulang sasakyan at napansing nakasandal lamang doon si Rexton at ngingisi-ngising pinapanood sila.

"Sige na, Dice, puntahan mo na iyong ka-meeting mo. Baka late ka na," Kanon whispered softly to him. Hindi pa rin pala nito nakalimutan ang tungkol doon.

He wanted to say no, but he didn't want to leave another bad impression to her mom so he agreed. Nagpaalam siya sa mga ito at bago pa man umalis at hinalikan siya sa pisngi ni Kanon. Nanlaki ang mga mata niya dahil ramdam na ramdam niya ang paglobo ng damdamin. Eversince they both became busier, she became more and more clingy, and sweeter than before. And he's loving her even more because of how she was willing to change because of him. She's shy on showing off her feelings before but now, she's confident on doing so. But if he'd be asked, he's contented with the way she knew her before. Bonus na lang ang kaunting mga pagbabago nito.

"I'll see you later," she mouthed. Ngumiti siya at tumalikod na.

"Kung ganoon naman pala, babalik na kami sa C'est La Vie," sabad ng mama nito na nagpatigil sa pag-alis niya. She's pertaining to the name of the hotel restaurant.

Burado ang ngiti niya. He clenched his jaw and immediately calmed himself before he pivoted to face them.

"I hope you won't mind, hijo. Matagal rin kasi nang huli naming makita itong si Lemuel—"

"'Ma," mahinang saway ni Kanon at nahihiyang tumingin sa kanya, humihingi ng dispensa.

He smiled fakely but he tried to be natural. "Okay, Ma'am. I'll join you if I finish my meeting earlier."

Umirap ang ginang pero nagsabi ng "oo".

Umalis na siya bago pa makalimot at suntukin ang ngingisi-ngising Castillo na iyon. Gusto niyang pingasin ang bibig nito dahil inaakala nitong mababawi nito si Kanon sa kanya.

Nang lulan na siya ng elevator at pasara na iyon ay may pumigil. A smirking Rexton dela Costa went in.

"Hahayaan mo na lang ba silang tatlo roon? They look like they're going to have a family dinner," pang-aasar nito.

Nagtagis ang bagang niya at hindi ito pinansin.

Nang makarating sa opisina ni Kieffer ay hindi na siya nagpaliguy-ligoy pa. "Tell me everything I need to know. I must go right away."

"Mambabakod ng girlfriend," sabad ng kasabay niya't tumawa lamang ang dalawa.

"I heard everything," bulalas ni Kieffer nang tumigil sa pagtawa, pero nakangisi pa rin.

Nangunot naman ang noo niya.

"We put listening device to Katerina del Rio's clothes. Ang pagtapon ng kape sa damit niya'y sinadya ni Maricar."

"Who's Maricar?"

"He still doesn't know?" takang-tanong ni Rexton kay Kieffer. Ngayo'y seryoso na ang mga ito.

"What do I have to know?" He's thinking it might concerned their mission right now.

"Maupo muna kayo."

They did. Napansin niya ang nakasinding laptop sa mesita na nakaharap kay Kieffer at may pinindot ito roon.

"Maricar is our undercover agent and she's in the del Rios. Namamasukan siya roon."

"Why would you send someone to my in-law's place?"

Ngumisi si Rexton, gustong manukso pero piniling huwag na dahil kailangan nilang magseryoso sa usapan.

"Because we did a contract tracing and we found out that Lemuel Castillo intentionally approached Kanon del Rio few years ago."

Nangunot ang noo niya. Ano ba'ng pinagsasabi nito? The way he spoke their names hunched him if why were they talking about it.

"Why do you think Romano introduced Phoenix to you?"

Tumiim ang bagang niya.

"How do you think you met Ms. del Rio at Montreal Agency before?"

Nanatili siyang tahimik.

"Do you think that Monami Quiroz tried to get closer to you only by chance? That she injured herself the same moment her bestfriend went to Montreal Agency?"

Naningkit ang mga mata niyang tumitig ng diretso kay Kieffer, pagkuwa'y kay Rexton.

"That was your last day in the company, do you remember?"

"What are you trying to say? Kanon and I met that day coincidentally." The tone of his voice was so cold. Kahit may kutob na ay pilit pa rin niyang iniisip na baka mali iyon.

"Don't tell me someone of your caliber believes in coincidence?" seryosong bulalas ni Rexton, nawala na ang mapang-asar na ngisi.

Tumiim ang bagang niya't saglit na natigilang muli. Nang napagtantong seryoso ang dalawa ay malutong siyang napamura. "Why don't you just get fucking straight to the point?"

Rexton dela Costa just sighed. "Everything's part of the plan. It's part of a mission from that old mission we failed to do so."

It's exactly as he thought a few moments ago. His mind immediately clouded with anger as he clenched his fists and stood up. "What do you think of me? Of us? Puppets that you could easily manipulate!?"

"Calm down and listen first. Kung iniisip mong parte lang din ng misyon mo si Ms. del Rio ay nagkakamali ka. We know that your intentions to her and your feelings to her were all true, that's why we chose to hide everything from you and went on with the plan."

Pumikit siya ng mariin para kahit paano'y pakalmahin ang sarili. He needn't to go on rage right now. He must know every fucking single thing about everything.