Kabanata 23: Screamed

I watched how Aara hugged my Mom. Nakasandal ako sa sasakyan habang hinihintay na matapos ang pagpapaalam niya. Ngumiti ako kay Aling Soreng nang kumaway siya sa akin.

"Irene is your sister, Jude. You have to protect her no matter what," Dad whispered. He was staring at me intently. "Please, Jude... I want my daughter safe."

I nodded my head. "I will, Dad."

"I am sorry but if you happen to bring her back here, I will immediately send her back to her Mom."

I gulped as I nodded my head again. That's my plan too. Mas mapapalagay ang loob ko kung mawawala man siya sa amin ay nasa kanyang pamilya naman siya.

"About her family..." I said. Nanatiling nakatingin sa akin si Daddy, naghihintay ng kasunod. "About her brother, specifically... Irene told us he is not her real brother. How?"

Tumingin sa malayo si Daddy na animo ay may malalim na inisiip. Ilang segundo ang lumipas bago siya nagpakawala ng isang mabigat na hininga at muling bumalin sa akin ng tingin.

"Alex is not blood-related to Irene. Anak siya ng asawa ng mommy ni Irene sa ibang babae."

"You mean... Walang anak ang Mommy ni Irene at ang bago niyang asawa ngayon?" tanong ko pa.

Umiling si Daddy. "Sa pagkakaalam ko ay wala... But Alex is still Irene's brother. Kahit na hindi nito ito kadugo ay magkapatid pa rin sila sa mata ng kanilang mga magulang."

I bit my bottom lip as realization hit me. Hindi nila alam ang nangyari kay Irene at ang namagitan sa kanila ni Alex. Umiwas ako ng tingin. Ilang minuto pa bago kami tuluyang nagpaalam sa kanila.

"You ready?" I asked Aara.

She looked at me and gently nodded her head. "How about you?"

I put the car in ignition and maneuvered it in a mild way. Muli pang kumaway si Aara sa mga magulang ko bago kami tuluyang nakalayo. Sumandal ako at ipinahinga ang balikat ko.

It's been a day since Irene got missing but I know, this day won't end without seeing her. Napatingin ako sa kamay ni Aara na nakahawak sa kanan kong kamay sa manibela.

"Don't hurt yourself again," she whispered.

"I am sorry for this but I can't promise not to hurt your friend when I see his face again," I muttered.

Umayos ng upo si Aara at binalingan na lang din ng atensyon ang kalsada.

"I'm not going to stop you anymore..." she whispered back.

Tinapunan ko siya ng tingin, malalim ang kanyang iniisip base sa walang kurap niyang mata. Muli akong tumingin sa kalsada. Bahagyang humigpit ang hawak ko sa manibela.

"Wala ka bang sasabihin sa akin?" tanong ko.

I saw in my peripheral her sudden shifting of attention to me. "About Zac?" she asked.

"May namagitan ba sa inyong dalawa?" tanong ko. Hindi umimik si Aara. Gustuhin ko mang makita ang reaksyon niya ay hindi ko ginawa. Pinanatili ko sa kalsada ang mata ko.

Ilang sandali pa bago siya nagsalita. "H-He was once my suitor. A guy who was so in love with me that he would do anything I ask him to."

I chuckled. "Tell me more about him..."

"You know how bitch I am, right?" she asked.

"More than anyone else..." I snatched a glimpse of her, she was smiling.

"Oh, yeah. How about how in love I am to you?" Bahagya siyang natawa. "That's why I couldn't give the love he had been coveting on me. I am occupied."

I just nodded my head as a sign that I was listening. I heard how she let out heavy sighs.

"I-I used the opportunity... I made a promise that I would give him a chance if he would do anything for me..."

"And... What were those things he did for the sake of his love to you?" I arched my eyebrows.

She chuckled. "Don't be jealous..."

"I am not."

She frowned. "Well, at least you should have pretended you are..."

I chuckled. "Come on..."

"One of the favors he did for me..." She stopped for a bit. "Have you ever wondered how did I know about your half sister... Irene?"

Bahagya akong naguluhan. "You could have hired investigator to observe me..."

Tumawa siyang muli. "Actually, I didn't hire him. He did it for the sake of his love to me."

Sandali akong napatingin sa kanya bago muling ibinalik sa kalsada ang tingin.

"You mean... Zac?" I asked even though I already know.

"Uh, yeah? Iyon ang tinutukoy ni Klaus. Medyo kilala rin si Zac sa larangan na 'yon..."

I stopped my car when the traffic light turned into red.Panandalian kong inalis ang kapit sa manibela para masahihin ang mga kamay ko. Lumapit nang bahagya sa akin si Aara at hinawakan ang dalawa kong kamay at siya ang nagmasahe roon.

I was just looking at her while she was massaging my hands. Her eyes were fixed on my hands. May mga hibla ng buhok ang kumawala sa kanyang tainga at bahagyang sumira iyon sa tanawin ng mukha niya.

Binawi ko ang kanan kong kamay mula sa pagkakahawak niya. Ginamit ko ang malaya kong kamay para ibalik sa ayos ang kanyang buhok. Natigilan kami nang makarinig ng sunud-sunod na busina, saka lang namin napansin na kanina pa pala berde ang ilaw.

"Focus..." Pang-aasar ni Aara.

"So... You used Zac's love for you to investigave me? That's how you found out about Irene?" I summarized her little story. "Aw, poor human being..." I chuckled.

"Pero nung nalinawan siya ay mabilis din niya akong iniwan. Remember? The day I left with him... We were together until he tried to harm me."

Bahagyang bumali ang leeg ko. "Did he?"

"That was just almost. I kicked him on his little bulge, I left him rolling on the floor, weeping in tears,  while holding his future..."

Bahagyang naibsan ang inis na nararamdaman ko dahil sa sinabi niya. Bahagya pa akong natawa dahil sa mga salitang ginamit niya.

"Future-wrecker..." biro ko.

"His little future... I think his hmmm is nothing compared to yours. " she laughed hard.

"Naughty girl..." natatawa ko pang sabi.

"Can I touch it?"

Bahagyang umawang ang bibig ko nang gumapang ang kanyang kamay sa hita ko. I bit my bottom lip when her hand traveled in between of my legs.

"Shit..." I laughed. "Stop..."

I could feel the heat crawling like a lightning in my veins. I parted my hips wider to give her more space. I could feel how suffocated my thing down there.

"Damn hard, huh?" she teased.

"Hey..." I stopped her when she was about to unzip my pants. I couldn't concentrate on driving anymore.

"Why? Don't you like it?" she asked in a seductive voice.

"Let him sleep if you have no plan of satistying it in you, please?" I laughed.

Mabilis na binawi niya ang kamay niya. Bahagya kong inayos ang sarili ko. Napatingin ako kay Aara na nakatingin na sa daan. Namumula pa ang mukha niya.

"But I have a roll of tissue on the back..." biro ko pa.

"Shut up..."

Natawa ako sa biglaang pagbabago ng boses niya. Para siyang nahihiya na nandidiri.

"Ang galing mo ring manbitin, 'no?" nakangisi ko pang sabi.

"You are no longer virgin..." she suddenly uttered, disappointed.

"You can't expect me to be one with my age. Come on, Aara..."

"I saved myself for you but you didn't do the same for me..."

Napahalakhak ako sa sinabi niya. Sinapak niya ang balikat ko dahil do'n.

"Don't be jealous..." Ako na naman ang gumamit ng pang-aasar niya kanina.

"I am not! It's just... You already had your first. W-What if I can't satisfy you anymore?"

I frowned. "I am not going to marry a pornstar so I do not really mind."

"Weh?"

"But... Try to do a research..."

"Bwisit!" Muli niyang hinampas ang balikat ko.

"Biro lang..." Pagbawi ko. Narinig ang mahina niyang pag hikab. "You can sleep if you want."

"That would be a disrespectful move."

"Okay..."

Muli kaming binalot ng katahimikan. Ilang minuto rin ang lumipas nang hindi kami nagsasalita. Sandali kong tinignan si Aara. Akala ko ay tulog na siya pero nakatulala lang pala siya sa labas ng bintana.

"Matulog ka muna... Malayo pa tayo sa Zambales."

"H-Hindi mo ba itatanong sa akin kung paano ko nalaman kung nasa'n ngayon si Irene?" bigla niyang tanong nang hindi lumilingon sa akin. Nanatiling sa labas ng bintana ang kanyang atensyon.

"I don't want to talk about it... Ang importante ay alam natin kung nasa'n siya," sagot ko.

Bumalin siya ng tingin sa akin. "Ask me..."

"Sleep first..." I took a glimpse of her. "You look pale."

"Why don't you ask me first?"

"Probably because of Zac," I simply said. "Or similar to that... I don't want to talk about the asshole. Sleep..."

She chuckled. Naramdaman kong isinandal niya sa balikat ko ang kanyang ulo. Pinahinga niya sa hita ko ang isa niyang kamay.

"D-Don't leave me..." she whispered.

"I won't..."

"Kahit na anong mangyari, huwag mo akong iiwan..."

"Hush. Sleep..."

She yawned. "I want to see you when I open my eyes again."

"I am just here..."

Matapos no'n ay hindi na siya kumibo. Ilan pang minuto ang lumipas at medyo  mas bumigat ang pagkakasandal niya sa akin.  I took off my one hand on the steering-wheel and wrapped it around Aara. I slowly drive my car with one hand.

"Thank you for staying despite of my imperfections and decisions. Thank you for staying despite of the pain... Thank you," I whispered.

I am going to get Irene back. I will marry Aara. I will quit the betrothed concept and will fulfill the long promised vows. Gusto ko na ring matapos ang lahat ng ito. Alam kong pagod na kaming lahat. Kailangan ko nang ayusin ito. I won't make a mistake this time.

I will choose Aara no matter what.

Hindi ko alam kung ilang oras na kaming nagbbyahe. Nagising na rin si Aara. Huminto kami sa isang restaurant na nadaanan namin para kumain. Hindi rin kami nagtagal doon dahil gusto naming makarating habang maaga pa.

"You sleepy?" Aara asked when she heard me yawn. I shook my head. "I can drive..."

I shook my head again.

"Come on, Jude... I bring my driver's license. Nothing to worry about. I drive cars too..."

I looked at her. "Careful..."

"Of course..."

Itinabi ko sa gilid ang sasakyan at nagpalit kami ng pwesto ni Aara. Bahagya kong in-slant ang upuan para sa mas magandang posisyon. Naramdaman kong gumalaw muli ang sasakyan.

"Wake me when you get tired..."

"Yes, sleep now..."

I closed my eyes... Masyado akong pagod para tanggihan ang inaalok na tulog. Nagising ako nang marinig ang kaluskos. Unti-unti kong binuksan ang mata ko. Bumungad sa akin ang nakangiwing labi ni Aara.

"I'm sorry... Nahulog ko phone mo."

I nodded my head. Saka ko lang napansin na hindi na pala kami umaandar. Kumunot ang noo ko nang mapansin ang lugar. May isang bahay sa gilid namin, hindi iyon kalakihan. Napapaligiran din ito ng mga puno. Medyo may malaking pagitan sa bawat bahay. Tahimik ang paligid.

"Andito na ba tayo?" tanong ko kay Aara.

"Actually kanina pa... I just didn't wake you up."

"Sorry. Napagod ka ata sa kakamaneho."

She smiled. "No worries. Ikaw naman ang pinagmamaneho ko."

"You act more manly than me." I pouted my lips.

"Anything for my lady," biro pa niya.

I roam my eyes again around. Nahuli ng mata ko ang isang babaeng naglalakad palabas ng bahay. Kumalabog ang dibdib ko nang makita si Irene. She was smiling and her lips were moving like she was humming. She was wearing a white floral dress.

"Wait..." Aara stopped me when I was about to get out of my car. "Mukhang may pupuntahan siya," sabi pa niya.

Muling isinara ni Irene ang gate pagkalabas niya. Naglakad ito palayo. Sabay kaming lumabas ni Aara para sundan si Irene. Pinanatili namin ang medyo malawak na distansya para hindi niya kami mapansin.

"Where is she going?" I asked.

"Am I supposed to answer your question?" Aara questioned back.

Bahagyang nanliit ang mata ko nang marinig ang alon. The salty breeze started to make sense... She's going to the near sea. Habang palapit kami nang palapit ay palakas din nang palakas ang alon na naririnig namin.

"She really loves the view of sunset..." I finally said when realization hit me.

Mayamaya rin ay natanaw na namin ang malawak na dagat. Konti lang ang tao rito, malamang na dahil malapit lang ang lugar na ito ay hindi na bago sa iba ang tanawin na ito. Pansin ko rin na mukhang mga turista lang ang namamalagi rito.

We stopped and silently watched how Irene walked on the shoreline. Her arms were spread on both side, hugging the whip of salty air. Bahagya ring tinatangay ng hangin ang kanyang buhok.

"Are we going to interfere her freedom?" I suddenly asked.

Parang gusto ko tuloy umatras dahil paniguradong masisira ang mood niya kapag nakita kami. Kitang-kita ko ang kislap sa mata ni Irene habang tinatanaw ang palubog na araw.
Napatingin ako kay Aara nang marinig ang mahina niyang hikbi. She was looking at Irene. Nakatakip din sa bibig niya ang dalawa niyang kamay at pinipigilan ang malakas na hikbi.

"I-I think I can't do this anymore..." Aara suddenly muttered. "H-Hindi ko kaya." She shook her head.

"Wait... What?"

She looked at me. "P-Promise me you will stay beside me no matter what..."

"H-Hey..." Bigla akong nakaramdam ng takot sa kanya. "W-What are you talking about? Of course, I will stay."

She nodded her head before letting out a heavy sigh.

"I-I found an envelope in Irene's room..." She started. I didn't say anything to interfere. "Tama si Klaus. Kay Zac nakikipagkita si Irene. I know those signatures on the pictures inside the envelope. Those were Zac's symbol. He took all those pictures..."

"W-Wait... I don't understand."

"You have to!"

"T-Tell me more..."

She gulped. "Z-Zac is a private investigator... Irene hired him."

"B-But... Why?" Namaos ang boses ko. "Why would she hire a private investigator?"

"Remember the red rose you found in my room?" she asked again, her voice was trembling.

I nodded my head. "Y-yes... Zac gave you that."

She laughed. "You are wrong..."

"Wait... I'm confused. Ano ang nasa loob ng envelope?" tanong ko.

"My pictures..." My lips slightly parted in shock. "Irene hired Zac to observe me while I was gone in your sights. And..." She sobs harded. "The red rose was from Irene too."

Nanghina ako sa nalaman ko. Nanginig ang mga mata ko at namuo roon ang mga luha. Kinapos ako sa hangin. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang iisipin ko.

"J-Jude... Nalaman ko kung nasa'n si Irene kasi..." Humagulgol siyang muli. "She texted me that night... She wanted me to follow her."

"Fuck!" I cursed. "W-Why didn't you say to me!"

"She confessed her feelings to me... Jude, she is not in love with you..."

"Stop..." Kumuyom ang kamao ko.

Napatingin ako kay Irene na nakatalikod sa amin. She was staring at the sky until she screamed something and in that moment, I lost my balance... My knees bent on the sand, shaking and hurt.

"I love you, Aara!" Irene screamed.