Capitulo Cuarenta y cinco

Hindi pinansin ni Kallyra ang nanunuring titig mula sa lalaking katabi. Naroon pa rin sila sa party pero gusto na niyang umuwi upang makapagpahinga. Kahapon lang sila dumating at hindi pa siya nakakatulog ng maayos.

"Stop staring at me Maxwell." saway niya dito ng hindi makatiis. Subalit hindi nito iniwas ang mata at patuloy ang pagtitig sa kaniya. Kunot-noong nilingon niya ito. "Do I have something on my face? May sasabihin ka?"

"Do you like singing in the crowd? tulad ng sa mga kasiyahang ganito?" he seriously asked.

"No. I don't sing Maxwell. Why?"

"I thought I remember you singing. It's hilarious. I thought it really happened." mayroon ng munting ngiti sa labi nito na tila muling binabalikan sa isip ang ala-alang sinasabi nito.

"You wish. I won't embarrass myself like that." inirapan niya ito. Iniwas niya din ang mukha upang hindi nito mapansin ang bahagyang pamumula ng kaniyang pisngi. Because she really did embarrassed herself once, in another time but she won't tell anyone about it.

"Mahilig ka bang magsuot ng mga makalumang damit?" maya-maya ay muling tanong nito.

Napaawang ang kaniyang bibig at masamang tinapunan ng tingin ang kausap. "Excuse me?" Sinasabi ba nitong mukang makaluma ang mga sinusuot niya? He probably likes the way his girlfriend wear dresses, but he don't have the right to criticize the way she dress.

Mabilis niyang pinasadahan ang suot na damit. She was wearing a long designer gown na kulay beige, halos kakulay ng maputi niyang balat. This was one of Givenchy's most expensive evening sexy long gowns. Kanina ng siya ay dumating halos lahat ng mga naroon sa bulwagan ay napunta sa kaniya ang atensyon. Though she was used to it and she really don't pay attention to those trivial things but she can't deny that it makes her feel proud and beautiful sometimes.

Tila nahulaan naman nito ang kaniyang iniisip at mabilis na umiling na may kahalong kaunting tawa. "You look stunning sweetheart and that's not what I meant. Well it was just, in those weird dreams I had, you always wear dresses that are not commonly seen these days. I don't know... it's just really weird but I really felt like it was part of my memories." he shrugged his shoulders. "Never mind it." and he drunk the last drop of wine in the glass he was holding.

Kallyra felt her heart stop beating for a few seconds. "Anong sinabi mo?" hindi niya mapigilang itanong, mayroong mumunting hinalang nagsusumiksik sa kaniyang isipan. "Can you tell me more about your dreams?"

Sa maraming beses nitong paulit-ulit na nababanggit ang tungkol sa mga panaginip nito ay ngayon lamang siya naging interesado. Matagal siyang tinitigan ng kausap at tila inaarok ang kaniyang isipan.

"Please?" bahagyang may nginig sa kaniyang tinig. She bit her lip and avoided his stares.

"Okay." Lucas said when he realize that she was really serious. "Sa mga panaginip ko, madalas ay naroon ako sa isang burol, the place was really beautiful and mysterious, there are fireflies everywhere and lots of colorful wild flowers, meron ding maliit na lawa sa may paanan ng burol. You were there to and I was happy."

Sandaling huminto si Lucas at matamang pinagmasdan ang dalagang kausap. Nanatili itong tahimik subalit napapansin niya ang paninigas nito. She looked really tense and was about to break down at any moment.

"Hey, are you okay?" nag-aalalang tanong niya dito.

"I-I'm fine...ituloy mo please." nanginginig ang boses na pakiusap nito.

Akmang tatayo siya upang lapitan ito subalit agad siya nitong pinigilan.

"Gusto kong malaman ang mga panaginip mo." halatang pinipilit lamang nitong patatagin ang sarili.

He just stared at her and narrowed his eyes. Marahan niyang hinilot ang kaniyang sentido at napilitang magpatuloy.

"Paulit-ulit lang ang mga pangyayari sa panaginip ko but lately the dreams became more strange, parehong senaryo, naroon pa rin ako sa burol, mag-isa. I can feel the sadness in my heart while I was sitting there waiting for someone, and that someone was probably you.

And then... I remember I was in a ship, probably I had enough of waiting and tried looking for you to the place I have never been. But there was a huge storm, there are people shouting, crying and begging for their life in the background, the huge ship was sinking. I remember I was so scared that time, I was calling your name, I don't want to die but my hands slipped and I fall into the dark sea, but I still wished to see you for one last time... and then my heart stop beating..."

Muling napahinto si Lucas sa pagkukwento dahil sa malakas na pagsinghap ng kaniyang asawa. Nanlaki ang kaniyang mata ng malamang umiiyak ito na may kasamang paghikbi. Ang malungkot nitong mga mata ay tila karayom na tumusok sa kaniyang dibdib. Nakatakip ang kamay nito sa bibig at nanlalaki ang luhaang mga mata.

Kaagad siyang tumayo at lumapit dito. Hindi pa man siya tuluyang nakakalapit ay sinalubong na siya ng mahigpit nitong yakap. Gumanti siya ng yakap sa nangininig nitong katawan. "Shh... it's okay." he said sofly.

He kissed her head and embrace her tightly. Hindi niya alam kung anong dahilan ng bigla nitong pag-iyak. Mamaya na lamang niya ito tatanungin kapag tumahan na ito.

"It's okay.." malambing niyang alo. He don't want to admit but he like hugging her. He silently wished she would stay longer in his arms kaya nakaramdam siya ng panghihinayang ng bumitiw ito pagkatapos ng ilang minutong pag-iyak.

Tinulungan niya itong punasan ang basa nitong pisngi gamit ang kaniyang kamay. "Gusto mo bang umuwi na?" maliit lamang itong tumango. He gently place a kiss on her forehead and grab her hand. Dinampot din niya ang dala nitong purse at marahang hinila ang asawa paalis doon.

Nang makabalik sila sa hotel ay inihatid niya ito sa room kung saan ito nagi-stay. Parang robot itong sumusunod lamang sa kaniya. Siya na mismo ang kumuha ng key card sa pouch nito at tinap iyon upang automatic na bumukas ang pinto.

Tulala pa rin ito hanggang sa iupo niya ito sa malapad na sofa, dumeretso siya sa kitchen at kumuha ng isang baso ng tubig.

"Uminom ka muna." tinanggap naman nito iyon subalit hindi uminom. Mataman itong nakatitig lamang sa kaniya at parang maiiyak na naman.

Tinaas niya ang kamay at hinaplos ang makinis nitong pisngi. "Ayos ka na ba?" he asked softly.

"I'm sorry." she whispered. Tumungo ito at ibinaling ang mga titig sa basong hawak. "Pwede mo na kong iwan. Thank you."

"We need to talk." he said firmly.

Marahan itong umiling. "I can't talk right now Maxwell. Iwan mo muna ko, I'm fine."

"You can't expect me to leave you alone after what happened." aniya sa matigas na boses. "I'll stay here." napatingala ito sa kaniya at kumunot ang noo. "You're my wife Kallyra, I should stay with you."

Hindi niya pinansin ang masama nitong tingin, naupo siya sa tabi nito at tinanggal ang neck tie na tila sumasakal sa kaniya, he then removed his coat at isinampay iyon sa sandalan ng inuupuang sofa.

"Kaunti lang ang kinain mo kanina, nagugutom ka ba? I can cook something for you."

Akmang tatanggi ito ng makarinig sila ng pagkalam ng sikmura. Umiwas ito ng tingin sa kaniya at kinagat ang pang-ibabang labi. "I want spaghetti."

"Alright." he grinned. "Give me 15 minutes." Muli siyang lumapit at mabilis na pinatakan ito ng halik sa noo. Tumuloy na siya sa kusina bago pa marinig ang reklamo ng asawa.

He started preparing the ingredients available in the fridge. It's a good thing that the hotel took consideration to their guests who likes to cook.

Nang maisalang ang pasta ay sinilip niya ang asawa. Nanonood na ito ng TV pero duda siya kung naroon talaga ang atensyon nito.

Napabuntong-hininga siya ng maalala ang pag-iyak nito kanina. He felt like someone just grab his heart and squeezed it hard. He don't like seeing her sad or upset. Her tears is making him helpless.

'The intersellar collaboration of the most powerful countries including USA, Russia, China and Great Britain have come to reality. They are currently introducing the first ever spacecraft that can travel as fast as the speed of light. Tonight at 9 PM Eastern time, the team that will board the legendary spacecraft, Andromeda 3000, have gathered in the most luxurious hotel; The St. Regis in Washington DC.'

Maririnig ang tinig ng kilalang broadcaster ng CNN sa loob ng kanilang presidential suit sa nasabing hotel. Muling nilingon ni Maxwell ang dalaga, nanatili itong nakaupo sa pwestong pinag-iwanan niya dito kanina.

'We are very honoured to have an exclusive interview with one of the respected cosmologist and astrologer from Russia, and the only daughter of a well known Astrophysicist Professor Dimitri Romanov lll. Thank you , Professor Kallyra Romanov.'

Maxwell perked up and gave his attention to the reporter while cooking the pasta sauce.

'That's a proud way of introducing me, thanks!' Nakangisi at bahagyang tumagilid ang mukha ni Kallyra sa camera.

'Well, that is only a ratio, Professor Kallyra. I actually missed that you're very stunning as well as a genius. Being in the same frame with you is our pleasure.' The anchor smiled sheepishly. Sumilip ang mumunting guhit sa mukha nito.

'Thank you.' Kallyra square her shoulder and look at the camera with a slight smile. 'We have actually invited more people, to accompany and to celebrate the take off of the Andromeda 3000 after the infamous Andromeda.' He can see a unconcealed happiness in her eyes that he'd never seen before.

'Yes, and it is really inspiring just to have a glimpse of the ship. It's a very imposing sight, really. Now we need to know what will happen next after. ' He focused to what the anchor is saying, waiting for Kallyra to answer.

'When NASA, this last February 2017, had revealed 7 Earth-size planets in the TRAPPIST -1 system orbiting an ultra cool dwarf star 40 light years away from our solar system. The team have already bypass what the Spitzer Space Telescope have discovered. We have finished the mapping of the galaxy 70 light years away journey in system.' Kallyra started explaining. Seryorso at walang halong arte sa pagsasalita. The look that she have still remain as proud and smart.

'Some of these planets are firmly located in the habitual zone and the area around the parent star where rocky. Planet in this galaxy are most likely to have liquid water. But the goal of the team is to discover more of the details in this galaxy, Looking into the chances of more findings are highest with the habitual zone. It will be a long journey and a lot of discovery. So we are setting this path as no turning back.' Tumango tango ang anchor sa bawat salitang naririnig.

'Silent Kill will be sending the information from Andromeda 3000 back to Earth, basically that is what will happen.' Kallyra stared at the anchor while ending her statement.

'You mention no turning back, Professor?' He heard the anchor fleeting question but he remain looking at the woman.

'Yes, the study will take our lifetime. There is no promise of coming home. But we have no regrets, personally I am very happy about this, Mr. Kirilenko.'