Kabanata 10: Movie

After I took a shower and got out of the shower room, I caught my phone alive. Mabilis na lumapit ako at mabilis na kinabahan ako nang makita ang pangalan ng Daddy ni Aara sa screen ng phone ko. Tito Elizar.

I sat at the egde of my bed as I swiped my phone to answer his call.

“Hey, Jude!” I heard him gave out a sigh of relief.

“Hey, Tito!” I cleared my throat. “How are you?”

“Not so fine. Andyan ba si Aara?”

Kumunot ang noo ko dahil sa tanong niya. “Ah, yes, of course, Tito. What’s going on?”

“Thank God!” Tumawa siya sa kabilang linya. “Hey, Hon! Aara is with Jude. You have nothing to worry about anymore.”

“Really? Oh, my god. I am so relieved,” I heard Tita Lineth’s voice, Aara’s mom.

“I’m sorry if I interrupted you, Jude.”

“No, Tito. It’s totally fine,” I smiled as if he could see me.

“It’s just…” He let out a heavy sigh. “She’s been declining my calls and my messages. I thought something bad happened to her.”

Napatango naman ako. Why would Arra avoid her parents?

“She’s with me, Tito. You have nothing to worry about,” I said.

Pinaglaruan ko ang unan na nahagip ng kamay ko habang naghihintay ng mga susunod pa niyang sasabihin.

“So, how was the wedding preparation so far?”

“The wedding preparation will just start after my graduation, Tito.”

Narinig ko ang mahing pagtawa ni Tito sa kabilang linya. Kahit na boses niya lang ang naririnig ko ay kinakabahan ako agad. He loves his daughter so much that I know he is willing to take her away from me if he finds out that I hurt her love many times.

“I was just kidding, Jude. No pressure.” He laughed.

“What? Wala pa silang nagawa kahit na ano?” dinig kong tanong ni Tita Lineth sa kabilang linya. “Let me talk to him…” Napapikit ako nang maging magulo ang tunog ng phone. “Hello?”

“Hello, Tita?”

“Wala pa kayong naayos sa wedding kahit na ano man lang? Hindi niyo pa napapag-usapan?”

“S-Sila Daddy at Mommy, I think, may balak na sila.”

“How about my daughter, Jude? She was so eager to come there--- for your wedding. I even caught her one night with her sketch of your suit. How was it? Hindi pa ba natahi?”

Hindi ako agad nakasagot dahil hindi ko rin alam kung ano ang sasabihin ko.

“Hon, calm down. Alam nila kung ano ang ginagawa nila.”

“No, they don’t, Mr. Limpio. I smell something… What’s going on there, Jude?”

I gulped. “What do you mean, Tita?”

“Kilala ko ang anak ko. Kung gusto niya ay mabilis niyang magagawan ng paraan. Pero, bakit? Bakit parang hindi umuusad?”

Shit! She knows her daughter so well and I have no idea right now what to say. Should I say that… That I asked her not to do anything but to wait? No! This is insane.

“Jude? Is my daughter okay? I want to talk to her.”

“Yes, Tita.”

“Can you tell her to answer my calls, please?” she sounded so desperate.

Damn it!

“Sure, Tita.”

“I’m counting on you.” Then she ended the call.

Nahilamos ko sa mukha ko ang palad ko. Kinalma ko ang sarili ko bago bumaba. Pumunta ako sa kwarto ni Aara ngunit wala siya roon. Kumunot ang nook o nang mapansin ang isang bagay na nakapatong sa ibabaw ng kanyang lamesa.

Above the table was a red rose… And I have no idea where did she get this.

Nadatnan ko sa likod sina Aara at Irene. Hindi ako agad nagpakita nang mapansin na busy silang dalawa. Aara was brushing Irene’s hair and I could hear unclear words coming out of their lips.

“You ready?” Arra asked Irene.

Lumayo ng konti si Aara mula sa bench na inuupuan ni Irene. Saka ko lang napagtanto na mukhang kukunan ng litrato ni Aara si Irene.

“Can you please uh, smile? I don’t want to draw a sad face because I find it even more difficult than drawing something from my imagination. Come on, Miss Brande!”

Gusto kong matawa nang lumapad ang ngiti ni Irene ngunit hindi naman ‘yon makita sa mata niya. Ibinaba ni Aara ang camera at halata namang nataranta si Irene.

“Give me your sweetest smile!”

“I am already smiling!”

“Well, not as genuine as what you always give to Jude.”

Irene was stunned in a moment. I showed myself. Nakatalikod sa akin si Aara kaya hindi niya ako napansin. Irene flashed a smile when she saw me.

“You got it right…” Arra clicked the button multiple times as Irene made different poses. “You’re doing good, honey…” Napalingon sa akin si Aara at mabilis na umikot ang kanyang mga mata. “Kaya naman pala…” Tumayo siya at lumapit kay Irene.

“Hey…” I approached them.

“I wonder if I could see you smile this way if Jude didn’t show up…” Aara mumbled while scanning her camera. I also took a glimpse of it.

“Good…” I said.

“Because of Irene’s smile. Thanks.”

“Maybe? Or maybe because the photographer is good too?”

“Well… I’ll go for the latter one.”

Tumawa ako bago nilapitan si Irene at hinawi ang dumikit na dumi sa kanyang braso.

“You have an appointment with your doctor today, right?” I asked Irene.

“Uh, yeah.”

“Good. I’ll drive you.”

“No…” she mumbled. Umayos ako ng tayo. “I mean… I can go alone. Look, Jude! I’m doing better than I ever was. Isn’t it a good sign that I am now… You know?”

I looked straight into her eyes. Hindi ko naman maintanggi na tama siya, hindi na siya gaanong sinusumpong ng hika ngayon. Inamin na rin niyang maraming beses na rin siyang tumakas nang hindi namin alam at walang masamang nangyari sa kanya. I am happy for her but I am still worried.

“At hindi naman malayo ang clinic ni Mr. Andrews. Come on, Jude. Don’t you trust me?”

“Yes, of couse, I do!” I let out a heavy sigh. “But I don’t trust your condition. It could attack you anytime…”

“I can handle myself now, I am proud to say. Who knows, Jude?” She went near on me. Hinawakan niya ang balikat ko habang nakangiti. “Maybe tonight… tomorrow night… or the other night… I won’t be needing your accompany anymore.” She gave me a smile brighter than the light of sun.

“That you can already cut your promise of being my oxygen every night?”

Napatitig ako sa kanyang mga mata. Hindi ko alam kung bakit pero hindi ko makita ang totoong saya na hinahanap ko. Parang may kulang… Parang may takot. Mabilis na winaksi ko ang mga bumabagabag na ‘yon.

I nodded my head as sigh of defeat. “Okay, but whatever happens…. Just long press the number one on your contacts. Alright?”

Tumawa siya at yumakap sa akin. Narinig ko ang mahinang pagtikhim ni Aara.

“Oh, can I take a picture of both of you?” Irene asked Aara.

Aara was slightly stunned. “You sure?”

“Of course, Aara. Come on.” Ibinigay ni Aara ang camera kay Irene na mabilis namang tumakbo palayo sa amin.

I sat beside Aara and I put my arms around her shoulder. I felt how tensed she was. “This is awkward, Jude. Isn’t it?” Aara mumbled.

I chuckled as I shook my head. “I am looking forward to see you draw us, Aara.”

“Oh, I am so pressured.”

“Hey… Ready?” tawag ni Irene sa amin.

Mas lumapit pa ako kay Aara kasabay ng pagkislap ng ilaw mula sa camera na hawak ni Irene. Hindi ko alam kung ilang beses kaming binulag ng ilaw mula roon hanggang sa tumalikod bigla si Irene.

Tumayo ako at lumapit sa kanya. Hindi pa man ako tuluyang nakakalapit ay inabot niya agad sa akin ang camera habang nakayuko.

“Y-You okay?”

“You look good together… Perfect to each other. May gagawin pa pala ako.” Then she ran inside the house without looking back.

I was left dumbfounded. Naiwan akong nakatingin sa bakas niya hanggang sa bumagsak sa screen ng camera ang tingin ko. Mabilis na pinahid ko ang luha roon nang lumapit sa akin si Aara.

“I didn’t do anything but it felt like it was my fault…” Kinuha sa akin ni Aara ang camera at tinignan ang mga kuha namin. “Shit… This is so unfair.”

Nakagat ko ang labi ko nang mapagtanto na isa lang ang maayos sa kuha niya. Halos lahat ay si Aara ang ang nakuha at ang kamay kong nakaakbay sa kanya.

“At least there is one good shot,” I said.

Tumawa si Aara bago tumingin sa akin. “What’s with the errand?” nanunuyang tanong sa akin ni Aara. “Why did she turn her back like a jealous wife slamming the door?”

“Come on, Aara. Maybe because of her condition.”

“Oh, I won’t take that shallow reason you made up.” She grinned. “If I were you---“

“What?”

“You should talk to her and enlighten her that you are her brother…”

Natawa ako sa sinabi niya. “You are getting back to your old self, Aara.”

“If that is the only way to save us from the approaching storm, well, Jude… Let me show you how bitch I am and I can be.” She bit her bottom lip while looking straight into my eyes, her eyes were watery. “I won’t pity her… I don’t care about her condition.”

Napapikit ako nang talikuran na niya ako at pumasok na rin sa loob. Naiwan akong tulala lutang pa rin dahil sa nangyari. What just happened?

Pagkapasok ko sa loob ay katahimikan ang bumungad sa akin. Lumapit ako sa mga speakers at binuksan ang mga ‘yon. I put my playlist on and played it in a max volume.

Lumabas ng kusina si Aling Soreng na nagtataka. Nagkibit-balikat ako at sumandal sa sofa. Hinilot ko ang ulo ko dahil sumasakit ito.

I understand Aara and her words. But I also understand Irene. I just knew that she has a brother and how he treats her. He didn’t care about Irene as much as I did. Irene still wants attention, my attention. And she was hurt that even with me, she still needs to have space because I have a fiancé. She was jealous about Aara and that’s how I see it.

“Damn it…” I threw a soft cursed.

Mabilis na tumayo ako para hinaan ang volume ng speaker nang makita si Irene. She was dressed with her shoulder bag on.

“You sure you don’t want me to go with you?”

“I changed my mind,” she smiled. “Can you give me a ride?”

“Of course, we can.” Napatingin kami kay Aara na nakabihis din. She was wearing a mysterious smile.

I gulped hard and excused myself to get the key inside my room. Napatitig ako sa salamin. I didn’t see we would be this damn hot. I could feel the tension.

Umupo sa tabi ko si Aara at si Irene ay sa likod. Kumunot ang noo ko nang makita ang namumulang labi ni Irene. I wanted to ask to but I stopped myself. She used liptint.

“Jude, there was a ghost inside my room…” said Aara. “My liptint had been gone when I got back in my room and it suddenly appeared on Irene’s hand. This is so scary.”

“I also felt that ghost,” Irene said. “I heard mumbles inside Aara’s room last night. I heard chuckles. Sweet voices. And I even saw red rose on her table. Scary, right?”

Mas binilisan ko ang pagmamaneho. Pagkarating namin sa clinic ay naghintay kami sa lounge at si Irene lang ang pumasok. Umupo kami ni Aara sa bench na nakalaan.

“What was that?” I faced Aara with a blank expression.

“What?” She shrugged her shoulder.

“May kausap ka ba nung gabing ‘yon? What’s with the red rose?”

“Yes and I don’t know.”

“Zac?” I laughed. “It’s funny how you can answer calls from your friends and decline your parents.”

She frowned. “They called you?”

“They were sick worried, Aara. Hindi mo raw sinasagot ang mga tawag nila.”

“Dahil magtatanong sila tungkol sa kasal natin, Jude. Wala akong maisasagot!”

May mga napatingin sa aming tao nang mapataas ang boses ni Aara. Hinila ko siya sa labas para roon kami mag-usap. Sinabayan niya ang mga malalalim kong titig.

“They would ask me when will be the wedding or what we have been doing for preparations. You know my mom, Jude!”

Napabuntong-hininga na lang ako. “At least you should have answered their calls.”

“Okay, fine! Once they call me again, I will tell them the truth.”

“What truth?” I asked, confused.

She gave me a smile. “Nothing…”

“Come on…”

She shook her head.

“Aara… Anong katotohanan ang sinasabi mo?”

“Ang katotohanan na naguguluhan ka kung sino ang gusto mong pakasalan. Ako o ang kapatid mo…”

“Bullshit! Do you fucking hear yourself?” I brushed my hair in frustration. “I can’t believe it…”

“I also can’t believe that I have to suffer like this because of you…” Pumiyok ang kanyang boses. “I also can’t believe that I am letting myself to suffer alone.”

“Alone?” Natawa ako sa sinabi niya. “Do you think you are the only one who is suffering here?”

“Jude?” Napatingin kami kay Irene. “What’s going on?”

I shook my head. “You done? Ano’ng sabi ng doktor?”

She gave me a smile and it felt different. I haven’t see her smile that way.

“Whoa. Good news ba ‘yan?”

“It seem like the doctor had said that you don’t need accompany anymore and you can already be alone. That you don’t need my fiancé anymore. Am I right?” Aara asked.

Nagulat ako nang yakapin ako ni Irene. “Jude… I am scared. My condition is getting worse.”

“What?” I faced her.

“But, why?”

“Wait… I am just going to talk to your doctor?” said Aara.

She was about to get back in when Irene grabbed her arm. “I-I am tired.” Then she looked at me. “Can we go home?”

I looked at her for a second before nodding my head.

Mabilis na pumasok si Irene sa tabi ng driver’s seat kaya walang nagawa si Aara kung hindi ang pumasok sa likod. Narinig ko ang mahinang pagtawa ni Aara nang isandal ni Irene ang ulo niya sa balikat ko.

“Uh wait… Did you also see the title of the movie I just saw?” Aara asked us. “I think… Soon on cinemas pa lang ‘yon.” Tumawa siya nang malakas.

“What is the title of the movie?” Irene asked.

“Three words, twelve letters… This means war.”