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CHAPTER 25

AGREEMENTS

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PAGLABAS ng hotel na pansamantalang tinutulyan ni Angel ay nakita niya si Ymannuel na nakatayo sa labas ng sasakyan. Nagtataka siyang lumapit sa binata na nakatitig sa cellphone.

"Uy, good morning. May hinihintay ka?" Bati nito sa binata na ngayon ay nag-angat na ng tingin sa kanya.

"Angel, right?" Walang pagbating tanong ni Ymannuel sa dalaga.

"Oo. Si Crystal?" Nagpalingon-lingon ito sa paligid at hinahanap si Crystal

"Nasa bahay."

"Okay... Anong ginagawa mo dito?"

Naguluhan si Angel. Base sa mga narinig niyang kuwento tungkol sa bunsong Fuentes, lagi nitong kasama ang nobya pero... anong ginagawa nito sa harap ng hotel? Was he actually waiting for her?

"I need to talk to you... about my fiancée."

Biglang nabalot ng pag-aalala si Angel. "Anong problema? May nangyari ba kay Crystal?"

"No. No. It's not that." Lumungkot ang ekspresyon ng binata.

"Anong problema?"

"I just need your help in watching over her while I'm doing my training."

"Ha? Bakit naman ako?"

"I need someone who is medically learning. She's going to be doing a lot of external studying in the mean time. I know Crystal told you about her condition already but most of our mutual friends closeby are not medical students. Ikaw na ang pinakamalapit sa bahay."

"Sorry for the word but you want me to... babysit her?" May pag-aalinlangan niyang tanong.

Napangisi si Ymannuel. "Yes. My baby needs someone to watch her when I'm not around which will happen more frequently."

Palihim na napangiti si Angel. Baby. He just called Crystal his baby. Gano'n nga kaseryoso ang binata sa dalaga.

"You're going to be training soon, right?" Tumango si Ymannuel bilang sagot sa dalaga. "Hm... Well, I don't see why not. Can you consider it as payment na rin with me staying here sa hotel?"

Naisip ni Angel na maaari na rin iyong pambayad sa pagiging mabait nina Crystal sa kaniya. Kahit na hindi pumayag si Ymannuel na doon siya sa bahay nila, gumawa pa rin ito ng paraan. The couple were too nice to her and she wants to repay them at all cost.

"Yeah, that's fine."

Lumawak ang ngiti ni Angel. "It's a deal then."

MATAPOS ang pag-uusap ay dinala ni Ymannuel ang dalaga sa bahay nila ni Crystal. He was okay with her coming over to take care of her woman but she would not be sleeping in the house like what they agreed upon.

Sa ngayon, mahalaga na may magbantay kay Crystal dahil mas madalas na mawawala sa bahay si Ymannuel para makumpleto ang kaniyang training sa ospital. The toll of learning her friend's death has taken a massive blow on her and she is going weaker and weaker with every passing day.

Nadurog ang puso ni Angel nang makita ang kalagayan ng kaniyang mabait na kaibigan. It has only been a few days but she looks like a big mess.

Crystal had dark circles around her puffy eyes. Hindi maiitanggi na umiyak s'ya ng umiyak. The brightness on Crystal's eyes were nowhere to be seen. Ni hindi nga nito napansin na nasa likod na niya sina Ymannuel at Angel.

"Oh my gosh..."

"Please take care of her. Uuwi naman ako kaagad."

"Oo na. Akong bahala," ani Angel.

Narinig na ni Angel ang kuwento tungkol sa pagkamatay ni Connor pero hindi niya inaasahan na ganoon ang kalagayan na kaniyang madadatnan. It was worse than what she imagined.

"I reserved a dinner out with her but I guess I'll have to cancel," biglang sambit ni Ymannuel. Hindi nakatakas kay Angel ang malungkot na mga mata ng binata.

Angel admired their relationship or rather, him. He was willing to go through all the trouble of asking someone for help for her and offer the world to her feet. He would be there through ups and downs. It was beyond beautiful.

"Don't cancel it! Gagawa'n ko ng paraan na lumabas siya nv bahay at makapag-dinner kayo," puno ng kumpyansa niyang sagot.

"Talaga?" A hint of hope glistened from his eyes.

Tumango si Angel. "Oo nga! Ako pa! Basta mag-focus ka sa trainingtapos do'n ka na dumeretso."

Ngumisi si Ymannuel. "Salamat," aniya saka lumapit kay Crystal na nakatitig pa rin sa labas ng balkonahe. He was whispering things to Crystal's ears and were inaudible to  her ears.

But between Ymannuel and Crystal, he was whispering his love for her... and that he was going to the hospital and will see her tonight. Hindi nagtagal ay umalis na nga ang binata.

Naging tahimik ang bahay. Sapat na para makapag-aral si Angel sa hapag kainan na hindi kalayuan sa silid nina Ymannuel at Crystal. Matapos ang ilang oras ay naisip na niyang magluto. Pinayagan naman siya ni Ymannuel na galawin ang kusina.

"Gusto mo bang kumain muna?" Malambing na tanong ni Angel sa kaibigan matapos ibaba ang libro sa mesa.

"No, wala akong gana."

"Hay naku, Crys. Ilang araw ka na daw hindi kumakain ng maayos. Ymannuel's worried sick about you."

"Alam ko," walang gana niyang sagot. "He invited me for dinner out tonight."

"Talaga? Saan daw?" She pretended not knowing the plan.

"Sa La Serene."

"Oh, my gosh! That's so sweet! Do you want me to help you dress up tonight?"

"No. Ayokong lumabas," sumandal itong muli sa couch at nang-iwas ng tingin. Wala talagang gana ang hitsura nito.

"Come on, Crys.  Kailangan mo ring lumabas! You can't keep yourself locked up in here and just staring at the empty wall," sumbat ni Angel.

"It's not empty. I got pictures in there," nakangusong sagot ni Crystal sa pagtukoy sa mga larawan ng paru-paro na kuha niya isang taon na ang nakakalipas para sa isa niyang kurso. The colours and patterns of the wings — blue, black, white, orange, and yellow — all showcased beauty and calmness for her.

"Crys naman..."

Angel might have been in the wrong for confidently saying that she can make Crystal leave the house and attend dinner.

"I actually have a different plan in mind." Bigla itong lumingon kay Angel. "Actually, I have a wish that I can only ask of you to do... for me."

Kumunot ang noo ni Angel. "Ano naman 'yon?"

"Go to the dinner in my stead."

"T-teka lang, Crystal. That dinner is between you and Ymannuel. Hindi parte ng trabaho ko 'yan. I'm here to watch over you... not do a stand in for you."

"Look, I'm okay, Angel."

"Kung okay ka, bakit hinihiling mo 'yan? Bakit pinag-aalala mo si Ymannuel? The guy is so down seeing you in such a state. At isa pa, pareho kaming medical student ng fiancée mo. I don't want to have any gossips around my name since I'm a complete newbie in here."

"Kaya nga sa'yo ako humihiling," Crystal answered. "You would understand him better than any other people."

Nagkrus ang mga braso ni Crystal. "Bakit parang may iba kang motibo?"

"Mayro'n nga," sambit ni Crystal. "Eman needs to fall out of love with me."

Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Angel sa narinig habang hindi pa rin pinuputol ang pagtitig sa mga mata ni Crystal. Hinihintay niyang sabihin na biro lamang iyon ngunit hindi iyon nangyari.

Naunang nang-iwas si Angel na humugot ng malalim na paghi ga bago muling tumingin sa kausap.

"Mali 'to. I barely know you and that goes both ways."

"Alam ko." Prangkang sagot ni Crystal na ikinagulat ni Angel. 

"Ahm, baka nakakalimutan mong engaged kayo ni Ymannuel? You guys are so in love with each other. Parang wala kang tiwala sa kanya?"

"I trust him, Angel. Sobra-sobra."

"Gano'n naman pala—"

"Pero may mga bagay na hindi ko mapipigilan lalo na ang kamatayan ko," pagputol ni Crystal sa dalaga. "At gusto kong makita na masaya s'ya at magiging okay s'ya bago ako mawala."

"So, you're setting him up with someone else? Kahit sa taong hindi mo pa naman lubos na kilala?"

Napalunok si Crystal. Ramdam niya ang pagbabara dito at nilunok niya ito kasama ng kanyang mabigat na nararamdaman. "Yes."

"I still think it's wrong."

"Still... please consider it."

"No offense, Crys, pero ayokong maging panakip butas. I'm here in the U.S. para tuparin ang pangarap kong maging doktor at nandito ako sa bahay n'yo ni Ymannuel para samahan ka bilang kabayaran sa pagpapatira n'yo sa akin sa hotel habang hindi pa maayos ang boarding house ko."

"Come on, Angel. Just give it a try. Kahit ngayong gabi lang. Just go to the dinner he set up... For me."

"Mahal na mahal ka ni Ymannuel."

"At mahal ko rin s'ya. Believe me. Kaya nga handa akong gawin ito para sa kanya."

"Crys..."

"I'm willing to sacrifice everything for him... kahit na ang relasyon namin," mapait n'yang pag-amin. "I'm a walking time bomb, Angel. Anytime could be my last day."

"Don't say that!"

Umiling si Crystal. "Ayokong maramdaman n'ya muli ang nangyari noong nawala ang kapatid n'ya. Now that I know how it feels losing someone important, hindi ko hahayaang mangyari iyon kay Eman." Crysal was holding back hertears from falling out... and she was struggling.

"You're willing to break his heart to protect him?"

"Yes. Habang humihinga pa ako, dapat maka-move on na siya sa 'kin." Kumuyom ang kaniyang mga kamay bago nang-iwas ng tingin. "It's better to cry for the living than the dead."

"Crystal..."

"Kaya I'm sorry if you feel that I'm being selfish right now. I'm sorry kung hinihiling kong maging panakip butas ka kasi 'yon ang nakikita kong paraan para mabawasan ang mararamdaman niyang sakit kapag nawala na ako."

Hindi lamang si Crystal ang naluluha pero maging si Angel ay naiiyak na rin. Angel could see Crystal's pain and suffering. She was drowning and she didn't want to pull her beloved with her.

There were two hearts suffering in front of her and she would be lying if she said she was heartless... considering she has experienced her own league of painful memories.

Nabigla si Angel nang hawakan ni Crystal ang magkabila niyang kamay at hindi inalis ang pagkakatitig sa kanyang mga mata.

"Please, Angel?" She pleaded.

Napalunok si Crystal. She made a deal with a Fuentes and now, another arrangement with the Fuentes' fiancée. Never did she imagine that her stepping foot to the States would get her to experience such things... Never.

"Okay. Payag na ako."

What has she gotten herself into?

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PrincessThirteen00 © 25 07 2020