Chapter 27

"REICHEN asked if I want to get serious with polo. After the ride off with Rolf a while ago, I could be a very promising polo player. At least here at the riding club," nangingiting sabi ni Romanov habang nagdi-dinner sila sa villa nito. "Do you think he is serious about it?"

Isa sa mga popular na laro sa riding club ang polo. It even has its own annual open tournament. And the Stallion Riding Club provides well for its players.

"Mga babae lang ang binobola ni Kuya Reichen. But when it comes to horse sports, he is serious. But it's better to consider it as a hobby."

"Bakit naman? Malaki ang sweldo ng polo stars?" pabiro nitong sabi.

"Here," nasabi lang niya at inabot dito ang envelope.

"Are these your sketches?"

"No. They are yours."

Binuksan nito ang envelope at natigagal sa nabasa. "Sundance Film Festival?" Dumilim ang mukha nito. "Who gave this to you?"

"Jewel Toralde. She told me that she is your bestfriend. Nilapitan niya ako sa Rider's Verandah kaninang nagtatrabaho ako. Sabi niya ibigay ko iyan sa iyo."

Tumayo ito at sinambilat ang braso niya. "Anong sabi niya sa iyo?"

Nagulat siya sa matinding galit sa mukha nito. "Sabi niya nag-aalala siya sa iyo. Sana daw bumalik ka na sa trabaho mo. Tatlong buwan na lang bago ang festival. Everyone's wants to have you back."

"Don't talk to that woman again. And this is what she could do with that film festival," he stated then threw the envelope away. Kumalat ang sulat sa sahig. "Wala akong balak na bumalik sa kanila."

Nahigit niya ang hininga at pinulot isa-isa ang sulat. "What's wrong with you, Romanov? Nasasayang ang opportunity na ibinibigay sa iyo. Maraming director ang nag-a-aspire na makapasok sa prestigious film festival na iyon. Don't let it go. And besides, why are you so cold to Jewel. She is your bestfriend."

"Bestfriend?" He laughed with scorn in his voice. "So she has the guts to call me her bestfriend after what she did to me."

"Bakit? Ano bang ginawa niya sa iyo?" lakas-loob niyang tanong.

"For a long time, I thought the sun rises and sets on her. She used to be the most important person to me. We met when we were in college. Parehong film ang kinuha namin. Siya ang tumulong sa akin para maging apprentice sa film outfit ng Uncle niya na producer. Nagkasama pa kaming mag-aral sa New York. And I promised my self that I would marry her someday."

Nahigit niya ang hininga. Subalit nang mga oras na iyon, parang ayaw na lang niyang huminga. "E-Jewel is the woman you love. A-And she betrayed you? How could it be possible?"

Jewel was so nice. Concern na concern ito kay Romanov. Kung iisipin nga niya, mahal ni Jewel ang binata. Bakit nito sasaktan si Romanov?

Mariing nagdikit ang labi nito. And his eyes burned in contempt. "During her twenty-ninth birthday, I asked her to marry me. And she said yes. Pero hindi pa daw namin pwedeng ipaalam sa public hangga't di pumapayag ang Uncle niya."

"You were engaged?" She talked as if she was only talking to her self.

Idiniin nito ang palad sa dining table. "Pumayag ang Uncle niya. Pero sa halip na matuwa, nag-iiyak siya. Then she revealed everything to me. She is in love with someone else. She is in love with her Uncle."

"What?" bulalas niya. "I… I don't get it."

Naniningkit ang mata siya nitong nilingon. "That producer is not her real uncle, Illyze. She became his mistress since she was seventeen. That man is twice her age. May totoo nang asawa si Mr. Lorenzo. But maybe he really likes Jewel that's why he kept her. At ginamit lang ako ni Jewel para pagtakpan ang relasyon nila. Who knows? Maybe she still wants to continue their affair even if we were already married. I was betrayed by my bestfriend and I was betrayed by the man I considered as my second father. And I am a stupid fool, am I?"

"It was horrible," nausal niya at nanlalambot na napaupo. Parang namamanhid ang buong katawan niya. Ang traidurin ng dalawa sa pinaka-importanteng tao sa buhay nito ay malaking sampal para dito.

Umuklo ito sa harap niya. "Now you know why I don't want to go back."

Hinaplos niya ang mukha nito. He had been enduring so much pain all this time. Kaya itinataboy nito ang lahat ng tao palayo dito. "Romanov, I am sorry. Hindi ko alam na ganito ang ginawa nila sa iyo. But you know what? You don't have to give up the things you love to do just because of them."

Kumunot ang noo nito. "What do you mean?"

"You love creating beautiful movies to inspire other's, right? Papayag ka bang masira iyon dahil lang sa kanila? There is no use if you'll sulk here inside the riding club. Hindi ito ang mundo mo, Romanov!"

"Are you trying to teach me how to live my life?"

"No. Ang sinasabi ko lang…"

"It is my problem, Illyze! Not yours!"

Napipilan siya. Parang tinamaan siya ng kidlat nang direkta sa dibdib. She couldn't breathe. As if her whole system just stopped functioning. "So that how it is. You are telling me to butt out of your business. When all this time, I thought you are my business. Akala ko kasi importante ako sa iyo."

"Hindi ko sinasabi na hindi ka importante sa akin."

"But what? Your anger is still more important to you? Masaya ka ba na sinisira mo ang sarili mo?" Naramdaman niyang tumulo ang luha sa pisngi niya. She didn't want to cry. Not when she needed all the strength she could get. "I thought I was sent by destiny to pull you out of this miserable state. Naisip ko kasi na baka makatulong ako sa iyo. I stayed by your side even if the whole world sees you as Count Dracula. I cared for you even if you didn't want anybody to take care of you. You told me to patiently wait until you are ready to love me." Pinahid niya ang luha at direkta itong tiningnan. "But it looks like I am waiting in vain for nothing. You won't change. You just want to stay here and sulk. Kung gusto mo magalit sa mundo, go ahead. And I am butting out of your life so that you can mind your own business from now on! I hope you are happier now!"