Prologue

Girlfriend

Tristeen

Aaron's back! After four years... I made sure that I dressed up well and put on some light makeup. Ayaw pa naman no'n na masyado akong naglalagay ng kolorete sa mukha ko. I just let my long straight hair down because I remember him saying that he likes it this way.

Pupunta kami ng family ko sa early dinner sa bahay ng mga Ledesma. Pagkatapos ko sa pag-aayos ay lumabas na rin ako sa kwarto ko at niyaya na sina Mommy na umalis na kami. Ang bagal pa ng younger brother ko na si Lance kaya napagsabihan ko na rin.

"You're too excited, ate." he just said at nagbabagal pa rin!

Kalaunan ay bumaba na rin kami and headed straight outside of the house to the waiting cars.

I was nervous inside the car. Apat na taon din kaming hindi nagkita. Pero kilala na namin ang isa't isa mula pagkabata. Marami na kaming alam sa isa't isa at napagdaanan. Kaya alam kong magiging maayos din kami pagkatapos ng mga nangyari. I was still hopeful for us.

Sinalubong kami nina Tita Eris sa pinto pa lang ng bahay nila. She's Aaron's step-mom. Halos siya na rin ang nagpalaki kay Aaron dahil sa abroad nagtatrabaho at nakatira ang Mama nito. Sobrang bait ni tita. I would always remember her baking us our favorite cookies noong mga bata pa lang kami.

"Tristeen," sinalubong niya ako ng yakap.

I hugged her back. "Tita,"

Nakita ko naman ang pag-irap sa akin ni Rachel. I understand... We used to be so close to each other. Wala siyang kapatid na babae kaya ako na ang tinuring niyang ate. Both of his older siblings are male, Aaron and Jarvis.

"Sinundo pa nina Axel at Jarvis si Aaron sa airport." Tita Eris said.

Giniya na kami nito sa kanilang dining area. Maraming pinahandang pagkain si Tita para sa pagbabalik ni Aaron. Nakita ko roon ang mga paborito niya. Napangiti ako.

Unlike before ay marunong na akong magluto ngayon. The four years that we were apart I studied and learned to cook. Dahil gusto ko pagbalik niya palagi ko na siyang ipagluluto lalo ng mga favorite niya.

"Mom, nandito na sina kuya." nakangiting tawag ni Rachel kay Tita Eris.

Una akong napatayo mula sa hapag. Kasunod na ni Rachel sina Tito Axel at Jarvis... and Aaron. Who was still as handsome as ever. Wala masyadong nagbago sa kaniya kung mayroon man, it's his cold stare...

I prepared a smile. My heart was thumping and I wanted to immediately go to him and welcome him with a hug. But I stopped myself from doing so. At pinauna ko muna sina tita na makalapit sa kaniya. Tita Eris hugged Aaron and welcomed him back. Sumunod na rin na lumapit sa kanya ang family ko. Kinumusta si Aaron nina mommy at daddy.

Until I was the last one to greet him and welcomed him back, too. "Aaron," I hugged him. I missed him so much.

While I didn't feel his arms around me. Nang kumalas ako sa yakap ay halos wala pa rin reaksyon ang mga mata niya. He didn't look happy to see me at all. And it broke my heart.

"Let's eat!" narinig namin si Tita Eris.

Bumalik na kami sa mga upuan namin. And then we started eating. I was glancing at Aaron who was smiling and conversing with his family. Okay din naman siya sa pamilya ko. Sa akin lang hindi. He wouldn't even look my way. Nagbaba nalang ako ng tingin sa pagkain ko.

"Kuya, sino 'yong girl na kasama mo sa picture na sinend mo sa 'min ni Kuya Jarvis, ha?" Rachel teased his older brother.

Muli akong nag-angat ng tingin. Naabutan kong nakangiti si Aaron sa sinabi ng kapatid niya. Girl? Simula noong nangibang bansa si Aaron ay nawalan na ako ng personal na communication sa kanya. He wouldn't anymore want to communicate with me. Parang pinutol na rin niya ang ugnayan naming dalawa... And I can't blame him for doing that. I was at fault.

"Rachel, stop that, we're in front of the food." saway ni Tita Eris sa bunsong anak sa panunukso nito sa nakatatandang kapatid.

Rachel pouted. Pero hindi na rin siya nagpatuloy pa sa ginawang panunukso kay Aaron tungkol sa isang tao...

Bahagya namang napatawa si Tito Axel, ang dad ni Aaron. "Mamaya nalang kayo magkulitan magkakapatid."

"They never change," Mommy commented.

Tita Eris smiled at my mom. "Oo nga, e. Kapag magkakasama silang tatlo pakiramdam ko mga bata pa rin sila na naghahabulan dito sa bahay gaya noon."

Ngumiti rin si Mommy. "Just like Tristeen and Lance, panay pa rin talaga ang asaran ng magkapatid minsan."

"Ganoon siguro talaga." Tita Eris smiled.

Tumango rin si mommy na may ngiti sa labi niya.

Nag-uusap din sina dad at Tito Axel kasama na sina Jarvis at Aaron mostly about business. May investments din si daddy sa company ng mga Ledesma.

Malapit na talaga ang mga pamilya namin sa isa't isa dahil din sa amin ni Aaron. We brought the two families together.

Hindi agad kami umalis ng family ko pagkatapos ng dinner. Nag-stay pa kami ng matagal doon sa bahay ng mga Ledesma. Our families bond just like before. Pero nagpaalam na rin sina daddy kalaunan nang lumalalim na rin ang gabi.

Ayaw ko pang umalis. Hindi pa kami nakakapag-usap ni Aaron because he's busy with his siblings. I was looking at him this whole dinner and he never looked back at me. And my heart has been hurting at his cold treatment towards me. Hanggang ngayon ba ay iniisip niya pa rin 'yon? It's been years since it happened. I know that I hurt him. But I already expressed my sorrys to him. I asked for his forgiveness at pinagsisisihan ko na iyong ginawa ko noon sa kaniya. Agad ko rin iyong tinigil at nangako ako sa kaniyang hindi na uulit pero naintindihan ko rin na hindi niya agad natanggap iyon. So I let him go and hoped na pagbalik niya ay maibabalik pa rin kami sa dati. I believed that he only needed time. Because I know that he loves me. At dahil mahal niya ako ay mapapatawad niya rin ako sa nagawa ko...

I gave him all the time that he needed and I patiently waited for his return today. Pero bakit parang ganoon pa rin...? Bakit parang hindi niya pa rin ako napapatawad...

"Dad, I'll just talk to Aaron." pagpapaalam ko.

Our families knew about what happened to us before Aaron decided to leave and study abroad. Aaron and I didn't talk about what happened between us to our parents but Rachel did.

Nilingon ako ni Daddy. Nagkatinginan kami. At first when Tita Eris invited us to dinner for Aaron's return nagdalawang-isip pa sina mommy at daddy kung pupunta. I was the one who encouraged them that we should go. Kami lang ni Aaron ang nagkaproblema noon at maayos pa rin naman ang relasyon ng mga pamilya namin sa isa't isa.

"Tristeen can also sleep here tonight. Baka magbobonding pa sila ni Rachel... Just like before..." Tita Eris trailed off.

Rachel didn't hear it because she's already gone to her brothers. If she did sigurado akong aalma siya sa sinabi ng mommy niya. Because we're not anymore the same as before. She used to admire me like I was her real big sister. Pero nagbago iyon nang malaman niyang niloko ko ang kapatid niya... And now she hates me.

I turned to Tita Eris and she gave me a small smile. Muli kaming Nagkatinginan ni daddy. When I was younger I remember my dad being strict with me especially with boys. Kahit nga kay Aaron noong una. But later on Aaron managed to earn my dad's trust. Until I grew more into a woman at unti-unti na rin natanggap ni daddy na hindi na nga ako bata and he became less strict with me. Lalo na ngayong tinatapos ko nalang ang med school. We own hospitals and I'll be leading it someday. The Dela Cuestas are known family of doctors.

Hinawakan ni mommy si daddy sa braso nito. Dad turned to her and they looked into each other's eyes. And then daddy nodded when he turned back to me and Tita Eris behind me. Napangiti ako sa pagpayag ni daddy.

"Ingat po kayo pauwi, Dad, Mom." Sumunod ako sa pamilya ko hanggang sa labas ng bahay. Nakasunod din sa amin ang pamilya nina Tita Eris.

"She can't sleep in my room." Rachel spoke after my family had left.

"Rachel!" baling ni Tita Eris sa anak.

"Rachel..." saway din ni Tito Axel sa bunso.

Rachel rolled her eyes and turned her back at us. Pumasok na rin sa loob ng bahay sina Aaron at Jarvis. Pagkatapos ay sumunod na rin kami nina tito at tita.

Tahimik na ang loob ng bahay sa malaki nilang living room. "Umakyat na siguro sa mga kwarto nila." puna rin ni Tita Eris na tinutukoy ang tatlong magkakapatid. And then she turned to Tito Axel for awhile. "Hon, I'll just bring Tristeen up to her room."

Tumango lang naman si tito at nauna na siguro sa kwarto nilang mag-asawa.

"Thank you, Tita Eris." I faced her.

She gave me a gentle smile. "I hope you and Aaron can talk to each other soon."

I looked down. "Mukhang galit pa rin po siya sa akin, tita..." I quietly said.

I heard Tita Eris sighing. "We all know what happened before... But it's been years. I'm aware that you have already regretted your past action, Tristeen." Tumingin ako kay tita. Muli niya akong binigyan ng isang marahang ngiti. Noon pa man ay mabait na talaga siya sa akin. And she also like me for Aaron. Kilala na niya ako simula pagkabata and she also didn't liked what I did in the past but she never hated me. She chose to understand the situation and even tried to help na maayos pa kami ni Aaron. "It was a mistake... And I know that if your feelings are true you will surpass this." Tita Eris smiled and took my hand to hold it.

I hugged her and she comforted me a bit with gently tapping my back.

"Magsabi ka lang kung may kailangan ka pa. You can also ask the maids." bilin sa akin ni Tita Eris bago niya ako tuluyang iwan sa guest room.

Tumango ako at ngumiti. "Thank you again, Tita."

She just smiled at me at nagpaalam na magpapahinga. It's been a long night.

Nilibot ko ang tingin sa malaki rin na guest room. Ito na ang madalas kong tulugan noon if Rachel won't ask for me to sleep in her bedroom. At katabi lang nito ang kwarto ni Aaron.

I took a breath before I decided to go out of my room and went in front of Aaron's bedroom. I lifted my hand and brought it to his door and started knocking gently after a while.

Ilang sandali pa bago niya ako napagbuksan ng pinto. Bumungad sa akin si Aaron na basa pa ang buhok galing sa pagligo. Bumaba ang tingin ko sa katawan niya na basa rin ng tubig galing sa shower. He was half-naked with only a small white towel hanging loosely around his hips in front of me.

"Aaron..." marahan kong tawag sa pangalan niya.

He was just looking at me, waiting for what I'd say.

"Aaron, m-mag-usap tayo." I stuttered.

Bahagya siyang umatras at nilakihan pa ang bukas ng pinto. Pumasok naman ako sa kwarto niya. Sandali kong napagmasdan ang loob ng kwarto niya na wala rin namang pinagbago at gaya pa rin ng dati.

"Aaron—" Nagulat ako nang sobrang lapit na namin sa isa't isa. Halos mapaatras ako nang nagpatuloy lang si Aaron sa paglapit sa akin.

"A-Aaron..."

Pero tuloy-tuloy na nilapit niya lang ang mukha niya sa akin. Nanlaki pa ang mga mata ko pero napapikit din nang maramdaman ko ang labi niya sa akin. I missed him. I missed his kisses. I missed his touch. I let him as he held me close to his body.

Until our clothes were scattered on the floor. His kisses went down my neck as his hands touched me in places. Hinayaan ko lang siya at hinayaan ko rin ang sarili ko. I missed him so much. And I will hope that after this he will never leave me again. Dahil halos hindi ko kayanin noong iwan niya ako.

***

I woke up the next day on Aaron's bed but he wasn't there beside me anymore. I got up and got my clothes from last night. Isa-isa kong kinuha ang mga iyon sa sahig ng kwarto na nagkalat lang kagabi. I didn't want to wear the same clothes but I had no choice. May mga damit naman na pinahiram sa akin si Tita Eris dahil wala akong dala na pumunta rito at hindi rin naman ito napaghandaan. But I can't walk out of Aaron's bedroom naked. After wearing again my clothes, babalik na ako sa guest room para makaligo at makapagbihis bago bumaba nang nagulat kami pareho ni Tita Eris nang maabutan niya akong kakalabas lang sa kwarto ni Aaron.

"T-Tita..."

"Tristeen... Uh," nagpatuloy sa paglapit sa akin si Tita Eris. "Tatawagin na sana kita dahil magbebreakfast na tayo sa baba..."

I promptly nodded my head. "Sige po, tita. Uh, tara na po." Gusto ko pa sanang mag-ayos muna pero ayaw ko naman silang paghintayin kung kakain na. Mabuti nalang at nakapaghilamos naman ako at toothbrush gamit ang spare toothbrush ni Aaron sa bathroom ng kwarto niya.

Tumango na rin si Tita Eris at nagpatiuna. Sumunod naman ako sa kaniya. When we arrived at the dining room, hindi ko inasahang may isa pang tao akong madadatnan doon bukod sa pamilya at sa akin. I saw an unfamiliar face of a girl sitting there beside Aaron. My steps slowed down and I can't take my eyes off the girl.

"You did not change? 'Yan pa ang damit mo yesterday, ah."

I turned to Rachel who was smiling when she saw me arrived but now she's giving me a disgusted look on her small face after she noticed that I'm wearing the same clothes as yesterday evening.

And I regretted getting up a little late and not being able to change and prepare myself. And now I feel very unprepared in front of the guest...

"Rachel," saway ni Tita Eris sa bunso niya.

"What? I'm just saying..." mula sa mommy niya ay bumalik sa akin ang tingin ni Rachel. Pinaupo naman na ako ni Tita Eris doon at sumunod na rin siyang naupo. "Oh! Ate Tristeen, this is Ate Sophie, Kuya Aaron's girlfriend!" Rachel announced it happily.

My eyes widened and I turned to them again. Kumain lang naman si Aaron. While the girl beside him, Sophie, smiled at me as a greeting. Hindi ko naman maibalik ang ngiti ng babae.

"Kumain ka na, Rachel." sabi ni Tita Eris kaniya.

Bumaba ang tingin ko sa pinggan kong wala pang laman na pagkain. I didn't know how to react or what to think. Totoo ba iyon? Is it really his girlfriend? I didn't know. Ilang taon na nga kaming hindi nag-uusap. But I told him I'd wait. And he returned but with someone else now? Muli ko silang tiningnan sa harap ko and I saw Aaron smiled after she told him something quietly.

"Tristeen..."

Bumaling ako kay Tita Eris nang tawagin niya ang pangalan ko. She gave me a weak smile. "Kumain ka na, hija." puna niya rin.

Halos wala pa sa sarili akong tumango at unti-unti na rin kumuha ng pagkain kahit hindi ko alam kung makakakain pa ba ako sa lagay na 'to.

Pinatapos ko lang ang breakfast namin. And when I had the chance to confront Aaron when he went to get water while everyone remained in the living room with Sophie, sinundan ko siya. "What's happening, Aaron?"

Tumigil siya sa pagpunta sa kusina at hinarap ako. "What?"

Umawang ang labi ko. "Is she really your girlfriend?"

"Yes."

Lalong umawang ang labi ko. "What? Why..." Nilapitan ko pa siya. "Why are you doing this, Aaron? I told you I'd wait for you!"

"And? Did I promise you anything after you said that?"

My lips parted as I looked at him. I cannot believe it. I feel like I was talking to another person and it's not the Aaron I know anymore. Tears pooled in my eyes and my heart hurt.

"We broke up four years ago, Tristeen." as if he reminded me in case I forgot.

"Ikaw lang ang may gustong makipaghiwalay! Ayaw ko, Aaron! I told you I'd wait..." Nanghina ako.

He shook his head. "We're done."

"What about what happened last night? Ano iyon kung ganoon? If she's your girlfriend then you just cheated on her!"

"That." Lumapit siya sa akin at walang awang sinabi sa akin ang mga sumunod niyang salita. "That can be our little affair. Aren't you used to doing that? Hindi ba gusto mo nga iyon." he smirked evilly.

I raised my hand and slapped him hard on his cheek. His face turned to the side. Binalik niya lang sa akin ang malamig niyang tingin at pagkatapos ay tinalikuran niya na ako at tumuloy sa kitchen. While my tears fell like waterfalls and I sobbed from the pain.