Chapter 23

Three years after…

I rested my arms on the banisters while watching the people from below. When the cold breeze of air touched my skin, I closed my eyes. Just when I decided to go inside because the air is already getting colder, a pair of warm arms encircled my waist.

“Why are you here? It’s cold outside,” Klein said when he put his chin in between my head and shoulder.

“I am waiting for you,” I replied.

Mula sa mabilis niyang galaw, pinaharap niya ako sa kanya at ikinulong ako sa mahaba at makapal niyang itim na coat, nakayakap sa akin. “Missed me?” he smiled but I smirked.

“I know it’s you who missed me,” I reverted his idea and he chuckled before he slightly messed my hair.

“Silly. Let’s go inside.” From his arms that snake on my waist, it went down and intertwined it on my hand. Nang hinila niya ako papasok ay sumunod na ako sa kanya.

Pagkarating sa sala ay inalis nito ang coat niya at ipinatong ‘yon sa armrest ng couch habang ako ay dumiretso sa kitchen upang iprepare ang dinner naming dalawa. Hindi nagtagal ay tinawag ko na siya.

Habang nilalagyan ko ng kanin ‘yung pinggan niya, bigla na lang niya akong hinila hanggang sa mapaupo ako sa kandungan niya.

“Hey, we’re eating now!” Mahina kong tinampal ang kamay nito pero hinigpitan niya lang lalo ang pagkakayakap niya sa akin para hindi ako makaalis.

“Feed me.”

“Are you a kid? Let me go, come on.” Dahil sa sinabi ko ay napanguso ito. Natawa naman ako bago niya ako pakawalan at itinuloy ko ‘yung paglalagay ng kanin at ulam sa pinggan niya.

While we’re eating, I’m controlling myself not to laugh at him. Para kasi siyang bata na hindi napagbigyan sa gusto niya. In the end, I lost and fed him. After we ate, he insisted on doing the dishes. Hindi na lang ako nagreklamo at sa huli ay pinanood na lamang siya habang nakaupo pa rin ako.

While watching him, a small smile plastered on my lips. It’s been three years since I begged him to save me from sadness. Klein didn’t think twice in doing so. The next morning that day when I drowned myself in alcohol, I found myself sitting in an airplane beside him and brought me here to Germany, his father’s hometown.

I can’t recall all the efforts he made to erase the agony in my heart but his presence is something that I can’t forget. Klein was with me when I’m losing myself. He was there with me when negative thoughts lingered on my mind. He was there with me when giving up almost defeated me.

During those days, Klein became my strength. Now that I was able to stand from being stumbled upon all my experiences, he is still with me. And after the day when I begged him to save me from sadness, here he is now, my top source of happiness.

I got back to my senses when a soft lip brushed on mine. “What were you thinking?” he asked.

Dahil sa pagkagulat, napasandal ang likod ko sa upuan habang siya ay ikinulong ako roon at itinukod ang mga kamay niya sa armrest ng inuupuan ko. But instead of answering him, I clung my hands to his nape. “I’m just happy to be with you.”

“Let’s sleep early. My parents will arrive tomorrow. Let’s fetch them together.” Hearing about his parents, I nodded.

Ever since I stepped my feet in this house, I got to know his family and I felt how welcoming they are. Maliban kay Klein, kabilang din sila sa mga taong tumulong para malagpasan ko ‘yung pinagdaanan ko noon. And for the past years that I’m with them, I got to know them more.

The next morning, Klein and I arrived at the airport before 6. We watched how their private plane landed before his parents including his sister walked downstairs. Pagkababa nila ay agad akong sinalubong ng 20-year-old nitong kapatid na babae. Kagagaling lang nila sa Japan at isang buwan silang nagstay doon.

“I missed you, Ate!” Kleinary hugged me tightly. Natatawa naman ang magulang nila dahil sa reaksyon ng bunso nilang anak.

Nabitawan lang ako ni Kleinary nang hilain siya palayo ni Klein sa akin. “She can’t breathe because of your fucking tight hug, lady.”

Tumaas ang sulok ng labi nito dahil sa sinabi ng Kuya niya. “I just missed her!” pagdadahilan nito saka niya sinamaan ng tingin si Klein. “Stupid Klein Jackson, I hate you,” bulong nito.

“I can hear you, Kleinary Steffi.” Kulang na lang ay lumukot ang mukha nito dahil sa sinabi ni Klein.

His parents then faked a laugh to stop their fight. Agad kong nilapitan ang mag-asawa at niyakap ang mga ito.

“We missed you, hija,” saad nila sa akin at gano’n din ang naging tugon ko.

Nagkumustahan kami ng mga ito at kung anu-anong tinanong nila sa akin. Natatawa pa nga kami kay Klein dahil nagtatampo siya. Ni hindi man lang daw kasi siya kinukumusta ng magulang niya samantalang siya raw iyong anak sa aming dalawa.

Dahil umaga pa lang naman ay niyaya nila kaming mag-almusal. Hindi nagtagal ay may isang kotseng huminto sa harap namin na siyang sundo nila. Dahil dala naman ni Klein ang kotse niya, doon kami sumakay at nagkita na lamang kami roon sa restaurant kung saan sila nagpa-reserve.

“Do you want to eat something, Rhian? You can order it if you want,” Tita Amanda offered.

“I’m okay with these foods, Tita.”

Tita frowned at me. “I told you to call me Mom, right?” Ngunit nahihiyang ngumiti na lamang ako sa kanya.

“Don’t pressure her, Mom. Once we’re married, you’re gonna hear her call you Mom,” Klein butted in.

“Kailan ba ang kasal?” Tita asked him and I was just quiet in my seat, feeling the fast beating of my chest. Klein meaningfully shrugged and smiled at them. Nang lingunin niya ako’y nginitian ko na lang din siya.

Klein and I were in a relationship for almost two years now. I didn’t develop my feelings towards him when he brought me here. I already had feelings for him before my tragic past happened. It’s just that I don’t want to acknowledge it myself before because I was scared. But things were different now. Besides, I can’t hide it from him anymore because it’s quite obvious.

Around 10 when we got back to the house. Bahay ‘yon ng parents ni Klein at doon kami nanunuluyan. Bandang ala una naman ng pumasok si Klein sa kompanya niya. Dito kasi talaga sa Germany ang main building ng car company niya, hindi sa Pilipinas.

Pagkaalis niya ay nakipagkwentuhan ako kasama ng kanyang family. Nalaman na rin ng mga ito ang tungkol sa nangyari sa akin three years ago and they were sad about what happened. I just smiled. It’s been two years yet my heart is still aching just by remembering my Dad and my baby. Ang kaibahan lang ay tanggap ko na ang pagkawala nila. Death is uncontrollable and I know they were in God’s paradise now.

Klein’s parents stayed here for four days only, leaving Kleinary with us. Dahil maghapon ang pasok ni Klein, sa mga nagdaang araw ay sa akin naiiwan ang kapatid nitong babae.

“Was this beautiful?” I was lounging near the pool when Kleinary went near me and showed me her sketch pad.

I looked at it and noticed that what she sketched was a long white frock dress. May kulay kayumangging butones ito mula taas hanggang sa baba at may laso sa kamay. It was simple yet elegant.

“Yeah, it’s pretty,” I smiled while telling her that yet she just looked at her sketch blankly.

“Really?” halatang hindi ito sang-ayon sa sagot ko. “Why do I feel like the details are so boring?” napakamot ito ng ulo saka umalis at umupo sa duyan hindi kalayuan sa akin.

Watching her not far from me, she erased some details of the sketch she made; seemed not satisfied with what she did. As someone who’s into sketches, for her what she did was boring but for me, it was really pretty. I don’t know much about sketches, though.

Naroon lang kay Kleinary ang paningin ko na hanggang ngayon ay inaayos ‘yung gawa niya. At the age of 20, she already owned a clothing line here in Germany. It was not a simple clothing line, but a famous one especially for teenagers. Marami na rin itong boutiques sa mga malls.

If Klein was into cars and Kleinary was into clothing designs, their parents were into hotels. To add, those were not just mere businesses. Bawat line of businesses nila ay may iba-ibang branch sa ibang bansa at talagang kilala. They are really families of business-minded people and they were incredibly rich.

“What are these two women doing? Oh, is that sinagang?” Tito Vaughn, Klein’s father, asked when he saw me and Tita Lucille cooking.

Pareho kaming natawa dahil sa sinabi nito. “It’s sinigang, darling, not sinagang.”

The three of us laughed. Nagluluto kasi kami ni Tita ng sinigang para sa lunch namin. Tita Lucille is a pure Filipina while Tito Vaughn is a German. Dahil kay Tita, may mga alam siya pagdating sa Filipino food and culture. Sometimes he’s speaking Tagalog as well as Kleinary and I find it cute when they speak that language. Ang cute lang kasing pakinggan ng accent nila.

Bandang alas dose na yata nung kumain kami. After eating, we sat on the couch and talked about Kleinary’s studies. Then with my phone placed beside me, when I moved, it was accidentally tapped, resulting in dialing Klein’s number. Dahil sinagot na niya ‘yung tawag, kinausap ko na lang din siya.

“Katatapos lang naming kumain. Ikaw?” I told him when he asked if we already had our lunch.

[I haven’t had my lunch yet. I’m still doing some paper works.]

“Kumain ka na muna kaya? It’s already 1, Klein,” I emphasized. Hindi dapat siya nagpapalipas ng gutom.

[Later, I’ll just finish this.]

I sighed. “May ulam pa rito. Would you like me to bring it to you?”

[Yes, please.] Napailing ako dahil hindi man lang ito tumanggi.

After the call, I informed his parents that I will go to Klein’s company today. When asked why I told them that I’ll bring him food so he could take his lunch. Sabi ni Tito ay initin ko raw muna ‘yon pero sabi ko’y sa office na lang ni Klein since mayroon namang pantry doon.

Tito’s driver dropped me at Klein’s company. When I got into the building, I went to the reception and informed them that I’ll bring the food to Klein. Pumayag naman ang mga ito dahil kilala naman na nila ako.

Without knocking on his office door, I pushed it and went inside. There, I saw Klein with eyeglasses on, busy on the files on top of his table.

“Hey,” I greeted him. Nag-angat ito ng tingin sa akin saka ako nginitian sa kabila ng pagiging abala niya. “Still having lots of work to do?” I asked and he replied me with a nod.

Placing the food box on the table, I walked in his direction but soon as I was near him, Klein suddenly pulled me until I settled on his lap. Sa halip na magreklamo ay ikinawit ko ang mga kamay ko sa leeg niya. Sitting on his lap, he hugged me and I felt him sighed deeply on my neck.

“Let me recharge myself first,” he said and while he’s hugging me, I kept tapping his back.

Limang minuto siguro ang lumipas bago niya ako pakawalan. When he faced me, I quickly stole a kiss from him. “I hope you’ve recharged yourself now.”

Klein just chuckled at what I did. Later on, I stood and walked inside the pantry so I could reheat the food. Sinabihan ko na lang itong sumunod na sa akin. After reheating the sinigang, I put it on the table. Matapos kong kumuha ng kutsara, kukuha na rin sana ako ng pinggan nang maramdaman ko si Klein sa likuran ko at ikinulong ako nito sa sink.

I faced him. Locking my eyes into his, he quickly kissed me as I did earlier. Feeling the sincerity of his kisses, I answered him back. I even clung my arms on his neck with the spoon I’m holding. Mula sa kamay niyang nasa gilid ko at nakahawak sa sink, unti-unti itong pumunta sa baywang ko.

I also tiptoed and crossed my arms on his nape so I could equal the intensity of his kisses.

Even without seeing what he did, Klein pulled the chair near us using his left foot and let me sit in there without breaking our kisses. He was holding both the armrests of the chair while kissing me and soon, he handheld the back of my head, pulling towards him to have the access to kiss me more. He only let go of me when both of us were panting for our breath.

“I think that’s the best and fastest way to recharge myself,” he uttered, his eyes were still on my lips.

“Crazy,” I commented, shaking my head. But soon, I stood and let him sit on the chair instead. I quickly prepared the utensils and fed him myself with the sinigang I brought.