Chapter Twenty Seven

"What is it that you really need, Drake?"

Drake turned around to look at the woman, hawak sa isang kamay ang isang bote ng sparkling water. He decided to help himself into her fridge while she was getting dressed.

Hindi niya mapigilan ang sariling hagurin ng tingin ang babae sa kanyang harapan. She was wearing pajama bottoms and an oversized t-shirt, she was barefaced at nakayapak. Gaano man kasimple ang gayak nito, for him, she still looks like the same goddess that haunted his dreams countless times.

"...well?" Untag ni Cali. "And who told you that you can touch my stuff?" may iritasyon sa tinig nito, na ang tinutukoy ay ang pakikialam niya sa fridge.

"Oh this?" he chuckled, "you didn't even bother asking me if I wanted anything to drink, so..." itinaas niya ng bahagya ang boteng hawak sa kamay bago iyon buksan at lagukin.

"You are not welcome here. I am not sure why I have to spell it out for you, Mr. Lustre!"

Inilapag niya ang bote sa mesa bago muling tinitigan ang dalaga. "Why the hostility Calista? Hindi ko maintindihan? The way you treat me...it's not like wala tayong pinagsamahan, hindi ba?"

Drake heard her heave a sigh, na para bang pinipilit timpiin ang galit. "Look, kung wala ka namang makabuluhang sasabihin sa akin, makakaalis ka na." She pointed at the door.

Mahina siyang natawa sa nakikitang reaksyon ng dalaga.

Cali used to be a very patient person. Kahit pa nang halos ipagtabuyan ito ng kanyang ina noon ay wala siyang narinig na imik o galit sa dalaga. But looking at her now, she almost seems to be a different person. He was fascinated even more by these changes. Is it really possible for someone to change in a span of 5 years?

He casually sat on one of the dining chairs surrounding the small dining table. He grabbed the bottle of Perriere and without taking his gaze off her, brought the bottle to his mouth to sip.

"What happened to us... Cali?"

Nakita niya ang pagkabigla ng dalaga sa tanong na iyon. He's not sure if he was imagining things or there was really a flash of hurt that briefly crossed her eyes.

"Umalis ka na..."

"I need to hear it from you..." Tumayo siya sa kinauupuan at nilapitan ang dalaga. "...I need to hear it from you...exactly what happened to us."

Naging mailap ang mga mata ni Cali, as if deliberately avoiding his gaze. "Matagal na iyon, Drake...there's no use in crossing a bridge that has long collapsed," iniangat nito ang mukha at sinalubong ang kanyang mga mata. "I've moved on...and it was the best decision I ever did in my life," said she in a cold voice, emphasizing the word "best".

Her harsh words echoed in his ears, bago pa niya namalayan ay mabilis niyang nahawakan ang braso nito. "What did you say?"

Nagulat man ang babae sa naging reaksyon niya ay pinilit nito iyong itinago. Matapang nitong sinalubong ang mga mata niya. "Ang sabi ko, that was the BEST decision in my life. My life became so much better without you!"

He chuckled without humour, hawak pa rin ang braso nito. He must've held her arms tighter than he wanted because she flinched for a second.

"At bakit? Sino ba ang ipinagmamalaki mo? Si Matt? That assho-"

"Yes! Matt is the man you will never be Drake Lustre!" tila may asido ang dila nito.

Drake gritted his teeth, naningkit ang kanyang mga mata sa galit. Before he could clearly think, he pulled her closer to him in an instant and gave her a punishing kiss!

Naramdaman niya ang pagtutol ni Cali sa kanyang ginagawa, ngunit wala siyang pakialam! He was so consumed with anger that he was punishing her with a brutal kiss. Maya maya ay naramdaman niya ang unti-unting panghihina ng paglaban nito, hanggang sa unti-unti ay magpaubaya ito sa kanyang ginagawa.

Shit! He should stop! He should stop himself before he can no longer control how he's feeling at kung saan sila makarating!

Drake's kiss started to change a few moments after she stopped struggling to push him away. Naging mas maingat ang halik nito, as if savoring each little part of her lips. Cali was melting in his kiss! Gusto niyang dagukan ang sarili dahil sa panraraidor ng kanyang katawan!

Why?! Why does it still feel this good to be in his arms after everything's he's done?! Dapat ay pagkamuhi ang maramdaman niya sa bawat paglapat ng mga labi nito sa kanya! Dapat ay masuka siya sa ginagawa nito ngayon sa halip na tila siya kandilang nauupos!

She thought she would lose all sanity when she felt Drake's tongue delve into her mouth, teasing her to respond, which she wantonly did!

Malakas na ring ng cellphone niya ang tila nagpabalik sa kanya sa katinuan. Bigla ang naging pagmulat niya ng mga mata, na tila ba kagigising sa isang panaginip. Agad niyang itinulak si Drake palayo sa kanya! He is tall and well-built and she knows she wouldn't have swayed him even a little bit kung hindi nito hinayaang magpatulak.

With trembling fingers, she grabbed her cellphone from the table and answered. Matt was on the other line, just checking on her as he always does before the day ends.

Halos wala siyang maisagot sa kaibigang nasa kabilang linya. She was still flustered at what happened, at may palagay siyang tila kamatis ang mukha niya sa pula. Tinalikuran niya si Drake at nagtungo sa sala. Sa panginginig ng tuhod niya ay naipagdasal niyang huwag sanang bumigay ang mga iyon!

Drake followed her silently. Sumandig ito sa dingding hindi kalayuan at ipinagkrus ang mga kamay sa dibdib, waiting for her to finish.

"Please leave..." She said, matapos maibaba ang telepono, nanatili siyang nakatalikod sa binata, unsure of how to face him after her body and whole being betrayed her!

"We need to talk."

"No we don't!" marahas niyang nilingon ito, her eyes were huge like golf balls. "Leave!"

"Cali..." akma itong lalapit sa kanya ngunit mabilis siyang umurong.

"Leave my house Mr. Lustre! Alis!!!"

"You can't lie to yourself Calista! You don't love that guy and you know it!"

"Ha!" painsulto siyang tumawa. "Ang galing mo naman Drake! Mas alam mo pa ang nararamdaman ko!"

"Yes! Because I felt it in the way you responded to my kiss-"

Malakas na tumawa si Cali. She laughed histerically like an insane person. "Oh please Drake! Don't you think that's a normal response considering, like you said, we had a "past" right?"

Dinalawang hakbang nito ang pagitan nila at hinawakan siya sa magkabilang balikat, his eyes were ablaze. "Is that the only reason? I don't think you respond to any man the way you respond to me sweetheart-"

Iwinaksi ni Cali ang mga kamay nito sa kanyang balikat, stepping back, away from him. "Don't flatter yourself.... I respond to Matt more than I did to you and-"

Nagtagis ang mga bagang ng binata sa narinig, marahas na dinakma nito ang kanyang braso. Gusto niyang matakot sa nakikitang galit sa mukha nito.

"You better be lying sweetheart...." he hissed in a dangerous tone.

"If you don't remember... I'm not your wife anymore!" she retorted, nanghihina man ang kanyang mga tuhod ay pinilit niyang patatagin ang mga iyon. Matapang niyang tinitigan ito sa mga mata, with equal fire.

Muli niyang nakita ang pag-igting ng mga ugat sa leeg nito, gayon din ang pagtatagis ng mga bagang bago pinakawalan ang kanyang braso.

Drake turned his back at her and headed for the door without a word.

Nang makaalis ito ay noon pa lamang pinakawalan ni Cali ang pinipigil na mga luha. Napaupo siya sa kinatatayuan at hinayaang malayang umagos ang mga luha.

"Damn you...Drake!" she gritted her teeth and formed her fist into a ball before hitting her chest. "Damn you! Damn you! Bakit ka pa bumalik sa buhay ko?", malayang pumatak ang mga luha mula sa kanyang mga mata.

I won't let you fool me twice Drake....I won't ever let you hurt me again....

*******

Drake slammed his hands against the steering wheel.

If you don't remember, I am not your wife anymore... tila echo sa kanyang isip ang binitiwang salita ni Cali. What's gotten into him that made him act carelessly? Ano ba ang tingin niya? Na may karapatan pa rin siya sa buhay nito?

I respond to Matt more than I did to you!

"Argh!" malakas niyang hinampas ang manibela ng maisip ang sinabi nito.

Hindi rin niya malaman kung bakit naapektuhan pa rin siya ng ganito maisip pa lamang na nasa piling ng iba ang dalaga. When he imagines Matt placing his arms around Cali...kissing her, making love to her, he feels so mad he could kill someone!

Hindi na mabilang na mga gabi sa lumipas na limang taon ang palagian ay tila tuksong sumisingit sa kanyang imahinasyon ang kaisipang mayroong ibang lalaking kasama ito. Those thoughts nearly drove him mad at hindi niya alam kung paanong sa paglipas ng mga araw ay unti-unti niyang naturuan ang sariling ibaon sa limot ang mga ala-ala, if only to keep him sane. Ngunit heto at sa isang iglap ay tila nagbalik ang lahat ng mga bagay na pinilit niyang kinalimutan.

He cannot deny the fact that he is still very much attracted to his ex-wife, but he also cannot just forget the fact that Cali left him without saying a word...that she gave up on him and their love when things started to look awry.

His world fell apart when he came home that day and couldn't find her anywhere. For the next months, tila siya isang baliw na kung saan saan ito hinanap. He desperately looked for her, at nang hindi niya ito makita ay halos nagmakaawa siya sa mga magulang nito, at maging sa kaibigang si Lilet upang matunton lamang ito. But in the end, Cali disappeared without a word, without a trace. Para itong isang ulap na pinalis ng hangin mula sa kanyang buhay.

Lalong humigpit ang pagkakahawak niya sa manibela nang isa-isang mag flashback sa kanyang isip ang isang tagpo mula sa nakaraan...

********

"Let her go, Drake...it's for the best. This is what Cali wanted." ani Lilet sa kanya nang muli niya itong puntahan sa bahay ng huli.

He shook his head. "I can't fucking do that! She's my wife!" halos maglabasan ang mga ugat niya sa leeg. "How can she just leave me? Ano ba ang nangyari Lilet? You must know something!" inabot niya ang magkabilang balikat ng babae at niyugyog ito.

"Drake, ano ba?"

"Lilet please! Nagmamakaawa ako sa'yo..." he pleaded as he got down on his knees sa harap ng babae na ikinabigla nito.

"Drake please stand up. A-ano ba?" may bahid ng habag sa boses ni Lilet. Hinawakan nito ang kanyang kamay, pilit siyang pinatatayo.

Nasa labas sila ng bahay ni Lilet at nagsisimula na silang pagtinginan ng mga taong nagdaraan.

Ginagap niya ang kamay ng babae. "Please Lilet. I need to know where my wife is..." Naikuyom niya ang mga kamao ng maramdaman ang pag-iinit ng mga mata.

Isang malalim na buntong hininga ang pinakawalan ni Lilet bago may pag-aalinlangan siyang tinignan, na para bang tinitimbang kung tama ba ang gagawin.

"Cali is leaving the country. May nag alok sa kanya ng magandang oportunidad sa U.K. Today's her flight..."

Maang siyang napatingin sa babae. Nanatili lamang siyang nakaluhod sa harapan nitong tila gago.

"W-what?"

"Drake... just let her go. This is what she wants."

It took a while before his brain absorbed what Lilet said.

"N-no," he shook his head in denial. "Cali would never leave me. She loves me."

May binunot na papel sa bag si Lilet at iniabot sa kanya. "If you really want to go after her, you might have a few hours to catch her before she leaves."

Tinitigan niya ang papel na ibinigay ng babae. Naglalaman iyon ng mga detalye ng flight ni Calista.

"S-salamat....I owe you, Lilet. Salamat!" Pakiramdam niya ay nanginginig ang kanyang mga kalamnan habang nagmamadali niyang tinungo ang sasakyan upang paharurutin iyon patungong paliparan.

Wait for me sweetheart...

I'm coming, don't leave me...