CHAPTER FIFTEEN | EX-BOYFRIEND

Bianchi

I MUST say that Ayen was right after all. I'm enjoying my stay here at Jaziel's town house. Parang lagi may piyesta at friendly ng mga tao lalo na yung mga dog walker sa beach. Gaya nang lagi ko ginagawa, maaga ako gumising para maglakad sa beach at mamulot ng seashells. Souvenirs din at pandagdag sa koleksyon na meron ako.

Hinawi ko ang aking buhok at inipit iyon pataas. I eyed those dog walkers nearby and smiled at them when they reached my spot. I pet their dogs and give them treats which the owner provides for us spectators. Maganda talaga dito at parang ayoko na umuwi. Today will be our last day and night here. Ang sabi ni Jaziel, gagala kami kasama ng mga kaibigan niya. He knows his friends well and they will gives us time alone.

"Bia?" Agad ako napalingon nang marinig na may tumawag sa pangalan ko. Ang buong akala ko ay si Jaziel na dahil iniwan ko siya na tulog pa. Naningkit pa ang mga mata ko dahil nakatayo ang tumawag sa akin patalikod sa araw. I have to cover the top of my eyes so I can distinguish who he was.

"Ryker?" Ngumiti siya at agad na lumapit sa akin. Dahan-dahan akong tumayo mula sa pagkakatalungko. I immediately gestured my hand to stop him from walking closer to me. "Don't you dare to come closer, moron!"

"Come on, Bia. Still at it? Can we fix everything and go home?"

"What are you doing here?" Sa halip na sumagot ay binato ko siya ng tanong.

"I'm visiting a cousin's family that you should meet."

"Why would I? We're not in a relationship anymore."

Nag-amnesia ba siya? Nakalimutan na niloko niya ako matapos ko siya sundan sa London. Bakasyon lang dapat pero sakit ng puso ang nakuha ko. I trusted him with all my heart. Inaaway ko pa si Kuya at Mama dahil pinagtanggol ko siya tapos sa bandang huli niloko lang niya. Hindi pa ako makauwi dahil sa takot sa sasabihin ng pamilya ko ngayon.

"Bianchi..." I don't want to hear him calling my full name. It's disgusting and excruciating at the same time. Tinalikuran ko siya at hindi na tinuloy ang pangunguha ng seashell sa tabing dagat.

Sa lahat nang makikita ko ngayong araw, bakit siya pa? Sabi niya may binisita siyang pinsan dito? Bakit ba ako concern? I'm not his girl and I will never be his again. Hindi na ako tanga na katulad ng babaeng nakilala niya noon. I learned my lessons and know my worth as a woman. All thanks to Jaziel who literally gave me the moon and the stars and now this ring.

Tiningnan ko iyon habang naglalakad papasok sa town house ni Jaziel. It's a promise ring he gave on our first night here. Sobrang memorable noon at kapag naaalala ko'y hindi ko maiwasang kiligin. Suddenly my mood shifts from being bad to good after remembering Jaziel's promise.

That I am his, and he's mine.

Pagkapasok ko sa town house, agad ako dumiretso sa kusina at dali-dali binukas ang refrigerator. Kinuha ko ang pitsel at sinara iyon saka inabot ang bago saka nagsalin ng konti para inumin. Nagpa-palpitate ang puso ko dahil narito lang sa paligid si Ryker. Alam ko na sinundan niya ako ng tingin kung saan ako nagpunta at ayoko 'man isipin, maaaring magkrus ulit ang landas naming dalawa.

"I was looking for you everywhere, Bia." Muntik na ako na masamid nang marinig ang boses ni Jaziel. I repeatedly coughed, which alarmed Jaziel, so he immediately came near me. My mind was so crowded, and I didn't notice him entering the kitchen. "Are you okay?" tanong niya saka marahan hinagod ang likod ko.

I cleared my throat before talking. "Yeah, I got shocked by your sudden appearance."

"I'm sorry. You're up early, and I got worried,"

"I went out to pick up some seashells but saw a ghost instead."

Jaziel's puzzled face is what I saw next.

"A literal ghost? The one whose feet didn't reach the ground?" Gusto ko matawa. Alam ko na matatakutin siya pero hindi ko naman in-expect na ganito. Sa aming dalawa ako lang ang nakakatagal manood ng mga gore movies like Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Kahit yata ilaban ako sa contest, mananalo ako dahil hilig ko talaga manood ng mga nakakatakot na palabas.

"It's more than that but nevermind it." Binaba ko ang baso na hawak saka matamang yumakap sa kanya. "Are you scared of ghost?" I tried to tease him.

Niyakap ako ni Jaziel pabalik. "Nope." Syempre magpapalusot siya pero ang totoo takot nga siya talaga.

"What scares Jaziel Gideon Gridley the most?"

"Waking up a day without you by my side, Bia." Hindi ako prepared! Pabigla-bigla naman ang isang ito at hindi talaga siya naubusan ng mga ganitong salita kahit kailan.

Mas humigpit ang yakap ko sa kanya pagkarinig sa sinabi niya. Ako rin, hindi ko na yata kaya na magising isang araw na wala siya sa tabi ko. That somehow set my problem about seeing my ex-boyfriend around after almost nine months. It's festive time of the year and I miss home suddenly. Malapit na ang thanksgiving at may parte sa isipan ko na gusto ko na umuwi para makasama si Mama, Kuya at Venice.

But a massive part of it tells me to stay here with Jaziel. That's the question now. Should I stay here with Jaziel or go home and reconcile with my family?

"What an eyesore for a fifty yeara old divorcee woman..." Napatingin kami pareho kay Tita Jazmine. Hindi namin maiwasang matawa ni Jaziel. Finality na lang naman ang hinihintay ni Tita kaya sa tingin ko pwede na siyang makipag-date.

"You're allowed to date, Mom," Jaziel said to his mom.

"Am I?" Parang hindi naniniwala si Tita na payag si Jaziel na makipagdate siya.

"As long as he will never hurt or make you cry, it's okay with me." Nakaka-touch naman itong eksena na 'to. I heard Kuya once told Mama to date, but he remained faithful to Papa. Sabi ni Mama, si Papa na daw ang una at huli niyang mamahalin. "Go make an account on every dating app or launch an Instagram account,"

Ngumiti lang si Tita Jazmine at tinungo niya ang cup board para kuhain ang pancake box doon. "Your Auntie is in town today with your cousins. Let's meet them at the clubhouse so they can meet Bia."

"Uhm Mom, can we skip that part? It's not like we're getting married or what." Nabaling uli ang tingin ko kay Jaziel. Nagtama ang tingin namin pareho dahilan para ngumiti ako. "Besides, it's our last day and night here and Bia and I haven't stroll around alone."

"It's our last day and night, and the tradition is to meet your Auntie from Scotland." Jaziel has a relative in Scotland?

"It's a summer tradition, and it's not summer today. We're nearly touching the thanksgiving month. Come on, Mom, I want to spend the last day and night with Bia."

"You're always with Bia, Jaziel. These cousins of yours, you rarely meet them. Treat this day as an early celebration of thanksgiving."

"Not this again, Mom."

Gusto ko sumabat sa kanila kaso parang wala naman akong karapatan pa. As much as I want to spend the last day and night with Jaziel, there's a saying that family should come first. A phrase that I refuse to follow after following Ryker in London. I don't want him to make the same mistake that I did.

"Bia, is it okay with you to meet my sister and Jaziel's cousins tonight? I can let you guys play on the beach all day, but spend it with us tonight." Tita Jazmine said, trying to convince me to convince Jaziel to stay.

"It's okay with me." Binalingan ko si Jaziel agad. "Tita said we can bond on the beach all day with the gang. I think it's enough." I tried to convince Jaziel, just like what Tita Jazmine wanted.

"Fine. We have a whole day at the beach today." Ulit niya sa deal nilang mag-ina.

"Yes, you have, young man."

Natuwa ako dahil nagkasundo na sila at pinasalamatan ako ni Tita Jazmine sa pagkumbinsi sa anak niya. Madali naman mapapayag si Jaziel pero sa ilang buwan namin magkasama, family dinner or anything that involves a relative tire him so much. He's not into it and prefer to hangout with Owen and Simon always. I on the other side enjoys family dinner most especially when those relatives we have in Aberdeen come over. They always have a huge box of pasalubong always. That's how generous my mom's cousins to us and really love all of them.

I miss home already. Ugh, I should decide first for myself now.

***

I WATCHED JAZIEL play dodgeball with Owen and Simon not far from my spot. They're all happy and enjoying the whole day without Tita Jazmine breathing on their necks. Nagsabay-sabay lang kami mag-almusal kanina tapos umalis na si Tita para kitain ang kapatid niya sa clubhouse.

"They'd all like kids, and it's tiring to babysit them always. Good thing you're here for Jaziel." Humiga si Ayen sa lap ko pagkasabi noon. "Is there anything that bothers you, Bia?"

Umiling ako pero hindi ko siya nakumbinsi. "Fine. I'm thinking about two things, Ayen."

"And that is?"

"About going home and my ex." Ayen gaps loudly that catches the boys' attention. Sandali nila kami tiningnan bago nagpatuloy sa paglalaro.

"W-wait, Bia, you're not thinking of returning to that asshole, right?"

"Of course not!" sigaw ko. Nakuha noon muli ang atensyon nila kaya nagdesisyon kami ni Ayen na lumipat sa sun bleacher na mas malayo kaysa sa pwesto ng mga lalaking kasama namin.

"That's good. At least I know you're not going to hurt Jaziel, and you're not that girl."

Ngumiti ako. Hindi ko naman gagawin iyon dahil alam ko ang pakiramdam ng maloko. Ilang beses ko tinanong kung ano ba mali sa akin? Bakit hindi ako naging sapat? Until Jaziel made me realize my worth and brought back my confidence.

"So, what about your ex? I know your problem at home and Jaziel wants you to go back, too." Since nahuli ako ni Ayen at siya ang nauna-unahang nakaalam kung sino ako, na-kwento ko sa kanya lahat pati na ang tungkol kay Ryker. Sabi niya pamilyar sa kanya ang mukha ni Ryker pero hindi ko na masyadong pinagtuunan ng pansin. Ryker is popular in every town he visit. Baka nagkita sila somewhere since gala naman si Ayen.

"I don't feel comfortable that we're in the same place. I don't know where that asshole is, but knowing he's just in the corner irks me. Ryker was always telling me to go back home with him."

Huminga nang malalim si Ayen at hinawakan niya ang kamay ko. I never knew that she will become my ever reliable friend. Pinagtripan pa nga niya ako noong unang kita namin sa lion's den. Like I always say, she's easy to be with and sassy just like those two guys who's playing with Jaziel.

"Don't let it get into you. If you want to go home, do it alone or with Jaziel. It's better if Jaziel will send you home personally so he can talk to your parents." Tinapik-tapik niya ang kamay ko. "Stop thinking about your ex. That worm doesn't deserve to be remembered. Relax, okay? You have to prepare for the dinner tonight."

"How does Jaziel's Auntie treats you and the boys?"

"Hmm, far from how Tita Jazmine treats all of us. She's the villain and sometimes conceited just like her children."

"You met these cousins of Jaziel?"

"Twice." Tumango-tango ako. Pulos si Ayen lang talaga ang kasama nilang babae simula palang. Hindi ko naman kailangan mag-worry dahil kapatid ang turing sa kanila ni Ayen. "Don't worry, I got your back. We got you, Bia."

I smiled at Ayen. I think that's enough for me, knowing they got me no matter what happened. They're the real friends that I wanted to keep forever.

***

JAZIEL AND I arrived late. Pinilit ko pa kasi siya kaya natagalan kami dahil ayaw niya talaga magpunta. We made a promise to Tita Jazmine and we need to fulfill it.

"Let me fix that for you," I said as I proceed to fix his tie. Masyado kasi mahigpit iyon at baka mamaya hindi naman siya makahinga.

"Let's just tell Mom I had a bad stomach."

"White lies are still a lie." Coming from me who's hiding my identity. Balak ko na rin sabihin sa kanya kasi syempre nakokonsensya ako. "I forgot my phone in your car."

"Let's get it, then." Huminto ako at gano'n din siya.

"Go inside first and greet them. I follow you, hmm?" Hiningi ko sa kanya ang susi na hirap na hirap naman niya ibigay sa akin.

"Bia..."

"Jaziel," he groaned and turn his back off me. Ngunit wala pa ilang minuto ay lumingon siya ulit sa akin at mabilis ako nilapitan para halikan sa aking labi. Hindi pa sana kami hihinto kaso naalala ko na late na late na kaming dalawa. I have to push him away from me. "Go inside now. I'll be quick." I said as I caressed his cheek. Hinalikan niya ang kamay ko matapos iyon hawakan.

"I have to tell you something, Bia."

"Can you do it later? We're late, and I have to get my phone in your car."

"This can't wait and I'm almost nine months late." Kumunot ang noo ko bigla. Seryosong-seryoso ang mukha niya na para bang sobrang importante ng kanyang sasabihin sa akin. Ano ba ang dapat ko gawin? Late na kami at baka magalit si Tita Jazmine sa amin.

"Jaziel!" sigaw na nagpalingon sa aming dalawa.

A man who's same aged as Jaziel wave his hand on us before walking towards our spot. Masyadong malabo at unti-unti iyon lumilinaw habang palapit nang palapit ang tumawag kay Jaziel hanggang sa magawa ko na masino.

"Ryker..." I said, making him glance at me.

"Bianchi!" Napatingin ako kay Jaziel. Bakit tuwang-tuwa ang mokong na ito na makita ako? "You met him already? This is Jaziel Gideon Gridley, my cousin from London. The one I'm telling you earlier that I'm going to meet."

Cousin? They're cousins?!