XII

CHAPTER 12

Ang nakalipas ay ibabalik natin

Ipapaalala ko sa'yo,

ang aking pangako na ang pag-ibig ko'y laging sa'yo

Kahit maputi na ang buhok ko.

Kahit Maputi na ang Buhok ko, Moira [version]

***

THE awarding ceremony already ended.

Nagsasayawan na ang mga tao sa paligid niya. Kanya kanyang kwentuhan na din ang mga tao sa paligid. Habang siya naman ay nanatiling nakatingin sa kawalan.

May isang kamay ang humarang sa kanyang muka. The hand is asking her to dance. Nang ingat niya ang tingin sa may ari ng kamay ay hindi na siya masyadong nagulat.

"Why are you asking me to dance, sir? Baka po magalit si ma'am." Tanong niya dito.

"Cut the sir out, Infinity. Para namang ngayon lang tayo nagkakilala. And Grace, as you can see." Tinuturo nito ang direksyon kung nasaan ang kadate na napapalibutan ng mga businessman. A real social butterfly, well her surename itself really ring a bell to any people included into the social circle.

"Hindi pa din po ata tama? Dapat siya lang ang sinasayaw mo."

He smiled at her as if she said something that amused him.

"Infinity? Where are we? In the 18th century? Come on, don't let me hanging here."

"Sigurado po kayo? Baka bigla na lang hatakin ni Ma'am Grace iyong buhok ko." Though Infinity's serious, she delivered the sentence as if it was a joke.

"Nope. Grace is not like that." He said as if kilalang kilala nito ang fiance and she is an angel descended from heaven.

Hindi pa din kasi nito inaalis ang nakalahad na kamay sa kanyang harapan. Tinignan niya ang kamay nito pagkatapos ay ang muka nito. He once again gather his million dollar smile.

She's hesitant at first, pero inabot din naman niya ito sa huli,.

Dinala siya nito sa gitna ng bulwagan. Hindi lang naman silang dalawa ang nagsasayaw pero pakiramdam niya ay lahat ng taong nandoon ngayon ay sa kanilang dalawa nakatingin.

Tila ba hinuhusgahan nila ang buong pagkatao niya. Gaya ng dati.

They are dancing to the tune of Lady in Red, one of the classic slow dance songs.

"Congratulations."

"T-Thank you."

They are not that close but she can still feel the heat from his body.

"Who is Zeus?" Napatingin siya sa muka nito ng itanong nito kung sino si Zeus. She don't want to name those emotions in his eyes. She should not, but she can't help.

"M-My angel." Simpleng sagot nya dito.

Hindi naman ito sumagot na pero naramdaman niya ang pag tango nito.

"They are so lucky to have you." Biglang sabi nito pagkatapos ng mahabang katahimikan sa pagitan nilang dalawa.

Hindi namn niya alam kung matatawa dahil sa sinabi nito.

"Yes indeed! They are so lucky to have me... But they already left me." Pinipigil padinniya ang pagpiyok ng boses dahil sa nagbabadyang mga luha. Nag-iinit nadin ang dulo ng kanyang mata.

"They left me too soon."

Mukang naiintindihan nito ang ibig niyang sabihin.

"I'm sure they are watching and protecting you. They are your angel."

Tumago lang siya bilag sagot dito.

Patapos nalang kanta at babalik na sana siya sa kanyang upuan. Pero hindi siya pinagbigyan ng ka sayaw.

"Let's continue dancing."

Hindi naman siya maka sagot sa sinabi nito. And she's afraid to look at him.

🎶 Kung tayo ay matanda na

Sana'y di tayo magbago

Kailan man, nasaan man

Ito ang pangarap ko 🎶

Kinagat niya ang labi bilang pagpigil sa kanyang mga hikbi.

Out of all the songs in the world, bakit ang kantang ito pa?

Dati ay gustong gusto niya ang kantang ito. But what happened 5 years ago, whenever she heard this song she can't help but cry. One of the bitter-sweet memories she wished to erase. But doesn't have enough powers to do it. Because this song also gives her strength to fight.

🎶 Nagtatanong lang sa'yo

Ako pa kaya'y ibigin mo?

Kung maputi na ang buhok ko? 🎶

Her shoulders are now shaking.

"H-Hey! Why are you crying? Did I do something?" Nagpa-panic na tanong nito.

He even put her at arm's length just to see her face. Only to see her tears train her face.

"Bakit? Anong problema? Na-Natapakan ba kita? " Kakikitaan ng pag pa-panic ang muka nito. As if seeing her crying face gives him panic attack.

To Paolo's curiosity hindi nagsalita si Infinity kung bakit ito biglang umiyak.

"Hey!" Paolo make her look at him in gentle way, hinawakan niya ang leeg nito at marahang pinaharap sa kanya."You could tell me. What's wrong? Bakit ka umiiyak? H-Huwag lang 'yong ganito. Hindi ka kumikibo."

He is persuading her to tell him what's wrong. Dahil hindi man siya manghuhula, ramdam na ramdam niya ang bigat ng bawat luhang pumapatak sa mga mata nito.

Bumuka ang bibig nito, tanda ng may gusto itong sabihin but she chooces to close it again. Nanatili ang titig nito sa kanyang muka. Her eyes is wondering into his face. As if memorizing every inch of it. And to Paolo's surprise Infinity hugged him and cried into his chest.

But not for too long because she runs away from him after. Leaving him dumbfounded.

~~

"You made someone cry, huh."

Paglingon niya ay papalapit sa kanya ang mga kaibigan. Jhezz is in his usual serious self, but Patrick's unusual. Wala ang pilyong ngiti nito sa mukha, he is also serious.

"I don't know. Kahit ako naguguluhan. Hindi ko alam kung bakit siya umiyak ng ganon."

"Did you ask?" Patrick asked in a serious tone.

"Yes! Pero hindi niya ako sinasagot. She keeps on crying."

"Anong nararamdaman mo while you see her crying?" Tanong nito ulit.

Napakunot naman siya ng noo. Did Patrick's implying something?

"I…I don't know. Hurt? But why should I? Hindi ko naman siya kaano ano. And for F* sake I am with Grace!"

Grace has to answer an important call right now.

"Bakit hindi mo hinabol?" Tanong ulit ni Patrick.

"Dude!" Jhezz nudge Patrick. Pero hindi naman nito ininda.

"Because it's wrong? I have Grace here, but I…I don't know why I am feeling something like this about someone I just met." He is frustrated with everything. Inisang lagok niya ang alak na nasa baso.