Chapter 9

The Blind

"Floell."

I woke up lying on a flat surface. The tiled floor made my skin crawl so I slowly sat up. A throbbing pain made its way to my brain as if it waited for the perfect moment to appear.  I winced.

I began massaging my temples and slowly stood. The headache didn't go away and even became harder to bear.

"Fuck," I hissed as I tried to remember the last thing I could recall.

Wynfrost.

I groaned. I obviously drank so much that I ended up sleeping on the floor. I should have declined her offer to drink.

I shook my head. That woman didn't even wake me or tried to take me to my bed. She lacked consideration. Although, it's not like we're close for her to care for me when I'm drunk.

Pinakiramdaman ko ang paligid at humawak sa bandang kanan ko. Naramdaman ko roon ang pamilyar na tigas ng mahogany na mesa. Sumandal ako habang pinipilit na balewalain ang sakit ng aking ulo.

What time is it?

"Nasus, command. Current time," I murmured.

"Command received. Time, 4:42 AM," the wrist watch on my hand said with a familiar computer voice. It's a good thing I have this whenever I wake up feeling all groggy.

So it's 4:42 AM. My stomach grumbled so I instantly remembered that Wynfrost and I didn't eat dinner before drinking. I must have threw up so many times.

I sighed and shook my head. I should check if someone called me while I was out.

"Nasus, command. Notification update."

"Command received. Notifications. 14 Missed calls from Belmond. 10 Missed calls from Mom. 12 Missed calls from Boss Frank."

My brows arched in surprise. Is there an emergency? My Mom and Belmond wouldn't call these many times if it's just for nothing. And why did my boss call me as well?

I thought for a while and decided to call Belmond first. He'll be awake during this hour.

"Nasus, command. Call Belmond."

"Command received. Calling Belmond."

I heard a few rings before he finally picked up the call.

"Hello, Q? Buti napatawag ka!" I noticed that he was very much overjoyed because of my call. "Kung hindi ay baka papatayin na ako nina Ma'am at Sir! Lalong-lalo na si Lolo!"

I froze as if struck by lightning. Somehow, my headache became much more stronger. I already guessed what my grandfather needs.

"Sorry, Belmond. I was drunk."

Natahimik ang nasa kabilang linya bago hindi makapaniwalang nagtanong.

"Uminom ka? Nang mag-isa?"

"I did drink."  Hindi ko na sinabing kasama ko si Wynfrost sa pag-inom dahil baka ano pang isipin ni Belmond. "So what did my grandfather say?"

He became silent again. It was clear that he was pondering so hard about what he'll say.

"Malapit na raw kasi ang 75th birthday niya. Gusto niyang nandoon ka."

I frowned.

"Iyon lang?" He paused and I could clearly hear his teeth chattering from the other end. "Belmond, anong sinabi ni Lolo?"

I heard him gulp.

"It was an accident, Q. Hindi sinasadya ng pinsan mong mabanggit ang pagkabulag mo habang kumakain sila kasama si Lolo." I didn't know why but I have a bad feeling about what he's going to say. "Kailangan mo raw magpa-opera, Q. Gagawin niya raw ang lahat para mapilit ka. Kung ipapadukot ka niya para lang mapagamot ang mga mata mo, gagawin niya pero nakiusap si Ma'am Lizzie na kakausapin ka niya."

My jaw tightened as I tightly gripped the end of the table. Kung malakas lang ako ay baka nabalibag ko na iyon.

Ano na namang rason ang ibibigay nila sa akin?

I tried to calm myself. I don't want to get angry at anyone right now. My head still hurts like hell.

"I got it, Belmond."

"Pero Q—"

"Not now. Hangover."

"Wait—"

"Nasus, command. End call."

"Command received. Ending call."

I combed up my hair in irritation and thought about the situation I'm in. I immediately concluded that the reason why my boss called me for so many times is because of this.

Hah.

Lolo... I can't believe he's intervening now. I know how old people are going to be. They're hard to reason with since they'll only see what they want to see.

Noong una ay pinilit din niya akong magpa-opera pero dahil bago pa ang pagkawala ni Floell, hinayaan muna ako pero ngayon na ilang taon na ang lumipas, iniisip na naman niyang mangialam sa mga desisyon ko.

I don't even know how many times I've exhaled a mouthful of air just to stop myself from getting mad.

I decided to not call my Mom since I'm sure she's still sleeping. Plus, Belmond said Mom wanted to talk to me about it. I can still prolong it for a while so that they can't make an immediate decision.

"Nasus, command. Call Boss Frank."

Kailangan kong makausap ang Editor-in-Chief namin dahil klarong may ginawa na si Lolo.

"Command received. Calling Boss Frank."

Sa unang ring palang ay sumagot na ito.

"Quentin!" sigaw nito agad. Buti na lang at hindi phone ang gamit ko pero napangiwi pa rin ako sa lakas ng boses niya. "I'm so sorry, Quentin! Wala akong magawa! They threatened to shut down our publication!"

My hunch was right.

"It's okay, Boss," sabi ko na lang. "Nasus, command. End call."

Nawalan na ako nang ganang kausapin siya. Umasa akong lalaban sila kahit kaunti pero wala. Nakakadismaya.

I liked my job of being a columnist. I thought that publication had a great vision but clearly, they're just like the others. They could easily succumb in the face of money and power.

But they did the right thing. That was the most rational thing to do. Hindi nila pwedeng galitin si Lolo.

Nahilot ko ang sintido dahil sa mga iniisip. I can't believe so much happened. I just had a few bottles and speaking of bottles, how was Wynfrost? She left, right? Or did she fall asleep somewhere?

Sinuyod ko ang buong bahay kasama ang cane ko para siguraduhing hindi na naman nakahandusay kung saan ang babaeng 'yon. Nakahinga lang ako nang maluwag nang mga botelya at case lang ang naabutan ko sa gazebo.

~

"Wait, what? Your family's so weird!" bulalas ni Wynfrost matapos marinig ang pagkukwento ko. Hindi ko nga alam kung bakit ko 'to nakuwento sa kanya gayong kakakilala lang namin. "I get that they want you to move on but ipadukot? Heck!" I didn't know why but I wanted to see her exasperated expression at that moment. I blinked a few times but of course, I was still blind. I chuckled darkly. "Hoy, okay ka lang?"

"Yeah," mabilis kong sagot at napangiwi. "Gusto ko pa ng burger."

Narinig ko ang paghalakhak ni Wynfrost bago ang pagtunog ng paghila ng plastik na bangko. I heard her footsteps and the next thing I know, she placed what smelled like burgers in front of me.

"Takte! Ayan oh!  Hahahahaha! Lima yan ah! Ang takaw mo pero ang payat-payat mo!" natatawang komento pa nito bago ko narinig ang tunog ulit ng plastik na upuan. "Okay, okay, mabalik tayo sa problema mo."

"Yung cane ko, ninakaw kanina ng kung sino. I think my grandfather is also behind that."

"What the heck for?" Curiosity was laced in her voice. "So that you'll realize how hard it is being blind?"

"Maybe," I muttered and began eating the new set of burgers. "He can't change my mind with that."

"It sounds so ridiculous!" Wynfrost said and I heard her munch hungrily. I couldn't help but chuckle at that. "And you, ba't tatawa-tawa ka lang diyan? Baka ipadukot ka ng Lolo mo tapos pagbalik mo hindi ka na bulag tapos mahuhulog ka na sa alindog ko!"

Sabay kaming napahagalpak ng tawa dahil sa naiisip.

"Never gonna happen. Hindi nga nainlove sa'yo si Rondel, ako pa kaya?"

"Excuse me! Hindi ah!" Pinigilan kong huwag matawa dahil nagtutunog defensive na siya. "Mas mataas ang standards ni Rondel kaysa sa'yo!"

"Kaya ba hindi ka niya pinili?"

Narinig ko itong nagmura.

"Kung hindi ka bulag ay baka binato ko na 'tong upuan sa'yo."

I grinned.

"Well, thank God for being blind."

Pareho ulit kaming natawa nang ilang segundo, pagkatapos ay unti-unti ring nanahimik.

"Lasing ka ba? Ba't tawang-tawa ka ngayon?" tanong ni Wynfrost. "Sabihin mo nga Q, nag-d-drugs ka ba?" Nakagat ko ang labi ko sa kakornihan ng joke niya pero hindi na rin napigilang humalakhak. "Hoy, noong nakaraang linggo pa tayo nag-inuman. Hanggang ngayon ba lasing ka p—"

Natigilan siya habang ako naman ay hindi mapigilang magsalita.

"Oh," I mumbled and winced upon remembering my hangover the next day. "I can't believe you just left me on the kitchen floor. Kung namatay ako sa pulmonya, mumultuhin kita."

Akala ko tatawa ulit siya pero nanatili itong tahimik kaya hindi ko mapigilang madismaya.

"Did you remember anything else?" she asked after a while.

My brows shot up after hearing that.

"Remember what?" I continued eating my burgers but still asked, "Did something happen?"

"Wala, wala," she said and laughed. It sounded strange since it wasn't the usual laugh from her. She sounded nervous. "Pahingi nga ng burger."

I stopped eating and put down the burger.

"Did I do something to you?"

"Forget it, Q."

"Tell me."

"No, huwag ka lang uminom nang may kasama."

Parang nabilaukan ako sa sariling laway nang may maalala.

Malambot, masarap, madiin ang pagkakakiskis sa namimintig kong katigasan.

"Shit," I mumbled and sat there slack-jawed. Wynfrost just remained silent. I combed up some loose strands of my hair and slapped myself. Narinig ko ang pagsinghap niya. "I kinda get what you mean even though I couldn't remember much. D-Did something happen between us?" I asked in uncertainty.

Please say no. Please say no.

"Muntik na," aniya.

"M-Muntik na?" my voice shook. "P-Paanong muntik na? S-Saan tayo umabot?"

"2nd base, shit. Huwag mo ngang ipaalala!"

Halos takasan ako nang ulirat dahil doon.

"Paanong umabot sa 2nd base?!" I asked in indignance. Kung siguro hindi ako bulag ay mapapatay ko na si Wynfrost dahil sa tingin. "Nasa wisyo ka pa naman, di ba?"

"Eh ang galing mo kasing humalik kaya nadala ako."

Uminit ang pisngi ko pero mas lalo ring uminit ang aking ulo.

"Kating-kati ka na ba at gusto mong magpakamot kahit kanino?" I asked seriously.

"Oo!" sigaw naman nito.

Walanghiyang babae. Napakaprangka talaga.

Unti-unti kong kinalma ang sarili ko dahil ayoko namang magmalinis. Siguradong ako ang nag-initiate. Naalala kong sinabihan na nila ako noong dapat wala akong kasamang uminom pero binalewala ko lang.

"Why did we stop?" I asked. "If you were turned on, why did we stop?"

"Umiiyak ka kasi tapos sabi mo pa 'Floell, make love to me'." Natahimik na ako at nawalan ng ganang kumain. "I'm sorry," aniya matapos ang ilang segundo.

"Hindi na ako iinom ng alak," I declared."Buti na lang at hindi kita na-rape."

"Di naman 'yon magiging rape dahil willing naman ako."

Hindi ko alam kung matatawa ba ako o maaawa dahil paniguradong naghahanap lang siya ng mag-c-comfort sa kanya. Napakadesperada. Nakakaawa nga.

"I'll help you with your lovelife as long as there's no killing involved," I said. "Kung ayaw mo na kay Rondel, ihahanap pa kita ng mga pwedeng maging boyfriend."

"Yay!" masaya niyang sigaw habang napapalakpak. "Pero patikim din ng junjun, Q. Ang taba eh." Muntik ko nang ibato sa kanya ang burger nang sabihin niyang "Joke lang. I mean burger. Patikim ng burger."

~

Katabi ko sa loob ng kotse si Wynfrost habang nagmamaneho naman si Belmond. The lady just can't stop talking.

"Alam mo Q, pansin ko dumadaldal ka na. Sign na ba 'to Q?"

My brows met in irritation. I can't believe she could go on babbling without any sense. A while ago she was talking about her plans to stop Rondel's wedding which included the sex positions she's planning to use to lure him in. She even talked about how she can't paint well these days and that she wanted to make me her muse. I declined for a thousand times yet she just won't stop. I didn't even know why she got into this topic.

"Madaldal naman talaga 'yan si, Q. Madalas lang talagang magmukmok," ani Belmond habang tumatawa.

"Weh?" Sinandal ko na lang sa backrest ang ulo ko at hindi na siya pinansin. "Oh yeah. He was laughing his ass off when we were eating a while ago."

I just want to strangle this talkative woman. I'm not a violent person but she just doesn't know when to stop talking.

"Huh? Q laughed?" Kahit hindi ko nakikita si Belmond, pakiramdam ko nakatitig na siya sa akin sa salamin. "Tumawa ka, Q?"

Hindi ko na lang ito sinagot.

I also felt like I was so out of character with Wynfrost. It's like she had me wrapped around her fingers. I crossed my arms and tried to drift to sleep. I haven't slept well for days since I was busy applying for jobs. Mahirap lang talagang mag-apply lalo na't bulag pa ako at klarong nangingialam si Lolo sa mga application ko.

Hindi ko alam kung paano pero ang mga kompanyang nilagyan ko ng investments ay unti-unting nagkakaproblema. Sa ilang araw lang ay bankruptcy na ang kakaharapin ng mga ito kaya nag-pull out na ako ng shares. I don't want other people to suffer, especially when they're not part of the picture. I also handled some of my bank accounts for future security. I distributed my savings into different banks in case my grandfather decides to attack some banks just to get to me.

"Q."

I flinched when I heard Wynfrost's gentle voice. I was taken aback by the change of tone.

"What?"

"We're already friends, right?" she asked but it was as if she was pleading it from me.

I sighed. She didn't even have friends. Napaayos ako ng upo.

"Fine."

"I love you Q, as a friend."

Pfft—

Hindi ko na napigilang humagalpak nang tawa, hindi na alintanang kasama namin ngayon si Belmond.

"That's the cringiest thing I've ever heard in my life!" natatawa kong sabi habang hinahampas ang hita ko. "Fuck hahahahaha!"

"See Belmond. He thinks I'm a clown but I don't mind. Ang gwapo niya kasing tumawa."

Natigilan ako at napaubo.

"Ang dami mong sinasabi."

"Kinilig ka?"

Napangiwi ako sa kabaliwan niya.

"Hindi."