Chapter XV

Sampung minuto na ako naghihintay sa may parking area ngunit wala pa ring Eevie na lumalabas. I kept on pacing back and forth just to calm myself. Kanina pa nagngingitngit ang aking kalooban. Kung wala lang tao kanina ay hindi ako aalis doon.

Napatigil ako sa paglakad nang makita ko silang palabas na. Lakad-takbong nilapitan ko sila. Nang makita ako ni Marcus ay dumilim ang kanyang ekspresyon sa mukha. He doesn't really like me. The feeling is mutual though. Nag-iwas ng tingin si Eevie and I felt a little pang on my chest. I felt rejected. Ilang beses ko na yang naramdaman mula nang una ko siyang nakita sa Batangas.

"Monteverde. You don't really know when to stop, do you?" inis na anito.

I clenched my jaw and met his gaze. "Shut up. Hindi ikaw ang gusto kong makausap."

He quirked his eyebrow at me. "Ang tanong ay gusto ka ba niyang kausap, ha? Masyado ka ring bilib sa sarili mo," nakangising anito. I looked at Eevie. She's looking at the opposite direction. Para ngang wala siyang balak na kausapin ako.

"Hear me out. At kung sa tingin mo ay ayaw mo na akong kausapin after nun ay maiintindihan ko. Just listen to me," seryosong wika ko.

"Let's go, Eevie," yaya ni Marcus. They started to walk ngunit biglang siyang tumigil sa paglalakad.

"Mauna ka na. I will just talk to him. And don't worry, I'll be fine."

Mukhang aangal pa ito ngunit nginitian lang siya ni Eevie. "I can manage, Marcus."

He just shot me a death glare, threatening me. Sino ba ito sa buhay ni Eevie? "Umayos ka Monteverde. Kung umuwi yan na umiiyak ay magtago ka na."

Tumango na lang ako para makaalis na ito. Sagabal talaga yung Marcus na iyon.

Imbes na sa loob na kami ng restaurant mag-usap ay napagpasiyahan ni Eevie na sa aking kotse na lang. Kung saan siya komportable ay okay lang sa akin. Alam ko rin namang nahihiya sa komosyong nangyari kanina.

"How are you?" tanong ko sa kanya just the break the deafening silence. Alam kong hindi-hindi siya ang unang magsasalita sa aming dalawa.

"Fine," matipid niyang sagot habang nakatitig sa kawalan.

I sighed. Alam ko kung ano ang pinagsimulan ng problemang ito. "Is this about Brizz? Since that day naging malamig ka na sa akin."

Hindi siya sumagot. She just looked outside. Anong klaseng pag-uusap ito kung hindi naman siya magsasalita.

I tried to touch her and to my dismay, she flinched. "Talk to me," pakiusap ko. "Shout at my face if you like. Wag lang ganito, Eevie. It pains me to see you like this," patuloy ko.

Napansin ko ang paggalaw ng kanyang balikat. Is she crying? I pulled her to me and embraced her tightly. Marinig ko lang siyang umiiyak ay nasasaktan na ako. "I'm sorry about Brizz. She's only joking. Parang kapatid ko na yun. If we would be together, that would be incest."

She just cried silently. I know how she feels. Ganung-ganun din ang pakiramdam ko kapag kasama niya si Marcus.

"The first time I saw you-" after five years.. "I know my heart found it's home. Sinasabi ko lang yung totoo and losing you would be the death of me. Pasensiya na sa kakornihan ko, ha?" I chuckled to lighten the mood.

I handed her my handkerchief. Kinuha naman niya iyon at saka patagong nagpunas ng kanyang mga luha.

"Look at me, Eevie," utos ko kaya nag-angat siya ng mukha. Despite of her puffy red eyes and reddish nose, she's still beautiful. How could I be so blind not to see this five years ago?

"It will always be you."

Nag-iwas siya ng tingin. "H-how a-about that woman? You seem cozy with her."

"Who? Brizz?"

Umiling siya. "Y-yung k-kasama mo kanina."

Mrs. Zanders? "That woman? You're talking about Mrs. Zanders. She's only a client for me. And she's happily married with two kids. You don't have to be jealous. Ikaw lang, Eevie."

"S-sinong n-nagsabing nagseselos ako?"

I held her face. I smiled at her and tucked some strand hair behind her ear. "Hindi mo pa rin alam magsinungaling." Gusto ko siyang halikan ngunit pinigilan ko lang ang aking sarili. Ibinaba ko na ang aking kamay at inayos ang kanyang seatbelt. "Let me drive you home."

"You know where our house?" gulat niyang tanong. And I know a lot more, wife. Mula ulo hanggang paa ay kilalang-kilala kita.

"Connections?" natatawang sagot ko. "Just kidding. Saan nga ba?"

"Malapit lang kami rito. A few blocks, maybe? Don Paraiso Village, alam mo ba yun?"

I nodded and started to drive. After one hour of driving ay narating na namin ang nasabing village. When was the last time I visited here? Five years ago? Nung nagmakaawa ako sa kanyang mga magulang na ilabas nila si Eevie. How her father punched me because of anger. How her mother threw disappointed looks at me. Pinagkatiwalaan nila ako ngunit hindi ko iyon pinahalagahan.

"Sa pangalawa kami."

Iginilid ko na ang kotse sa may gate nila mismo. Makita man nila ako ay wala silang magagawa. I love her so much and I would do anything just to be with her again.

"So, goodnight?" mahinang anito. She opened the car door kaya agad kong hinigit ang kanyang kamay. She looked me quizzically and before I knew it, I already kissed her. I kissed her with so much longing.

Pinalalim ko ang aking halik at naramdaman ko namang tumugon siya. I caressed her face down to her neck. Nang marinig ko itong umungol ay doon na ako nabalik sa realidad. I immediately finished the kiss and adoringly stared at her face. Hanggang doon na lang muna. I need to take it slow.

"Goodnight, my princess," paalam ko at saka hinalikan ito sa noo.