CHAPTER 11

"SAAN mo na naman ba ako dadalhin, ha?" Clarianette asked Cleevan a couple of times now, but he haven’t answered her. He would just shrugged and keep quiet.

Hindi niya alam kung ano ang nangyayari sa lalaking ito. Nuong isang araw, pinilit siya nitong isama sa Pacific Jewelry. Ngayon naman sapilitan siya nitong isinama na naman patungo sa kung saan.

Akala naman niya ay hindi siya nito kikibuin pagkatapos ng mga nangyari nuong isang araw sa Sudalgo Corporation, pero nagkamali siya.

Ugali ba nitong mamilit ng tao para samahan ito? Pero mukhang hindi naman. Looking at Cleevan's face and knowing his attitude, he’s the kind of man who would want to be alone. Then if it so, why forced her to tag along with him? She's confused. If it’s the advice he needs, he can get it from anyone.

"The park looks peaceful." Wika ni Cleevan ng dahan-dahan tumigil ang sasakyan nito.

Tumingin siya sa labas ng sasakyan. The park looks peaceful alright but she doesn’t like parks. It reminds her of Lance and her way back.

Lance and she used to hang out in the park after school. Palaging ang date nila ay sa park.

She sighed then looked at Cleevan with bored expression in her face. "Really?" She said dryly. "I don’t like hanging out in the park. I'd rather sleep."

"You don’t like to hang out in a park?" Binuhay nito ulit ang makina ng sasakyan. "Let’s go then."

"Wait." Pigil niya rito ng akmang papausarin na ang sasakyan. "Saan mo ba ako dadalhin? You’d been dodging my question. And why did we stop here, in the park? Are you meeting someone?"

Cleevan stared at her for a minute. "Why would you think that?" He looked away. "Napadaan lang tayo. Bakit naman ako makikipag date sa park? It’s lame."

Napakunot ang nuo niya. There's something about Cleevan's voice that says otherwise.

Nagising siya sa pagmumuni-muni ng maramdaman niyang umusad ang sasakyan. When she looked outside, the car is moving towards the Park's exit.

"Saan ba tayo pupunta?" Ulit na tanong niya ng makalabas sila sa park.

"Wala.” Cleevan’s voice was cold. “Uuwi na tayo."

Nagsalubong ang kilay niya. "Cleevan, saan ba talaga tayo pupunta? I mean, kanina sabi mo may pupuntahan tayo at kailangan mo ng tulong ko tapos ngayon uuwi na tayo. Are you kidding me? You’re wasting my time." Eksaheradang aniya.

"Nagbago na ang isip ko." Anito habang pinapaharurot ng mabilis ang kotse patungo sa bahay nila ... scratch that, bahay pala nito. Hindi naman yun sa kanya.

Nang makarating sila sa bahay, walang sere-seremonyang lumabas ito ng sasakyan at pumasok sa kabahayan.

Naiwan siyang nakatanga sa loob. She really can’t understand Cleevan and his mood swings.

Huminga siya ng malalim at lumabas ng sasakyan. Walang buhay siyang naglakad patungo sa pintuan ng bahay ng mahagip ng mata niya ang back compartment ng sasakyan ni Cleevan. Her forehead knotted when she saw a blue clothing peeking between the compartment door.

Kunot ang nuong lumapit siya sa back compartment ng sasakyan at binuksan iyon. Buti hindi naka-lock.

Nanlaki ang mga mata niya ng makita ang nasa loob ng back compartment. Iyong asul na tela na nakaipit sa sarahan ng compartment ay isang picnic blanket. Her eyes stared at the basket beside the blue picnic blanket.

Clarianette moves to open the basket. Shock coated her being when she saw what’s inside the basket. It’s full of different kinds of food. From her favorite Pizza to Fried chicken.

A picnic blanket and a picnic basket. So ... "Cleevan was planning to have a picnic." She paused to think. "But with who?"

"With you."

Napaigtad siya ng marinig ang boses ni Ace mula sa likuran niya.

Mabilis siyang humarap dito. "What do you mean?"

"Oh, I don’t know. Maybe because he wants to spend time with you?" Ace sounds sarcastic. "But apparently, you did something to ruin his plan."

She felt awful but even though she feels that way, her heart was still beating rapidly inside her chest. "How can you be so sure that I'm the one he's going to have a picnic with?" Baka nagkakamali lang ito.

Ace walked to her side and picks up the bouquet of white-pink roses hidden on the corner of the compartment. Ace picked up a white small card inserted on the bouquet and gave it to her.

"I think this is for you." Anito.

She opened the scented rose pink colored card and read the message inside.

Nett,

Want to go out on a real date with me tonight? This time, I’m giving you the freedom to decide if it’s a yes or a no. I won’t force you into doing something you don’t want to do.

Your husband,

Cleevan

Disappointment cut through her. Cleevan plan to have a picnic with her and she was so rude to him. Pero masisi ba siya nito? He'd been nothing but an asshole the whole morning. And he didn’t give her any hint that they're going to have a picnic.

Pain tore through her when she realized that it's the reason why they are in the park a while ago. And Cleevan's planned was ruined because she said that hanging out in the park is boring. She felt really awful.

She wanted to take it back, but it’s too late. Pakiramdam niya nasaktan niya ang feelings ng asawa. He exerted effort just to have picnic with her, but what did she do? She ruined it by letting her past with Lance affect her.

"I have to say sorry to him." She whispered to herself, but looks like Ace heard it.

"Not now, but maybe later." Wika ni Ace at isinara ang back compartment. "Cleevan is the most prideful and stubborn person I know. Your sorry would not mean anything to him at the moment."

Naglakad palayo si Ace at naiwan siyang nakatingin sa nakasirang compartment. She felt bad. She wanted to cursed herself but it won’t do her any good.

Hindi siya makikinig kay Ace. Wala siyang pakialam kung hindi pahalagahan ni Cleevan ang paghingi niya ng tawad, ang importante nag-sorry siya.

She spun around and run towards the house. She needs to talk to Cleevan.

ACE EYES were on Claria as she run towards the house. Humilig siya sa hamba ng pintuan ng green house habang nakatingin sa pinasukang pinto ng babae.

He's hoping that he tortured her conscience enough for her to go the Cleevan and apologize. Because honestly speaking, he's getting tired of Cleevan and Claria's love story, if it can be called that.

It has to end, one way or another. It’s starting to get into his nerve. And if he have to aid those twp in admitting their feelings to each other, then so be it.

He could be a bad guy for a little while.

CLARIANETTE has been camping out outside Cleevan's office. Kanina pa siya katok ng katok pero hindi siya nito pinagbuksan. She thought if she stayed for a little while, he would open the door, but she's wrong. Namuti nalang ang mata niya, pero hindi siya nito pinagbuksan.

"Cleevan, please open the door. I'm sorry." Malakas ang boses na wika niya.

Clarianette heave a deep sighed when she didn’t hear a thing behind the closed door. Mahigit dalawang oras na siyang nakaupo sa labas ng opisina nito. Mukhang hindi na siya nito pagbubuksan.

She slowly stands up and stared at the door knob.

Claria raised her hand to knocked, but up until her knuckles hurt, he didn’t open the door.

Tumalikod siya at naglakad patungo sa kuwarto nila. Every step she took, she's hoping that she would hear the door clicks open, but her hope was crushed. The door didn’t open.

Claria throw herself on the bed. Lahat na yata ng masamang pakiramdam sa mundo, nararamdaman niya.

She stared blankly at the ceiling. "Why can't he accept my apology?" She whispered. "It’s not like I intentionally to ruin it."

"Wanna go out?"

Her eyes snapped at the door. It was open and Ace is leaning on the side of the door. Mukhang nakalimutan niyang isara ang pintuan.

"What do you want? Wala ako sa mood." Aniya sa naiinis na boses.

Lumapit sa kanya si Ace. "Let’s do something fun, okay?" Anito.

Nagpakawala siya ng isang malalim na buntong hininga. "Ayoko. Tinatamad ako."

"Fine." May pagsuko sa boses nito. "Samahan mo nalang ako nag grocery. Manang Lucing asked me to buy some groceries. Come on, samahan mo na ako."

She sighed again and get up from the bed. She might as well accompany Ace, kaysa naman maburo siya rito.

"Okay. I'll come with you." Wika niya at inayos ang damit. "Let’s go."

Sabay silang lumabas ng kuwarto ni Ace at naglakad palabas ng bahay.

"You look worse for the wear." Komento ni Ace. "Natakot tuloy ako na isama ka para bumili ng groceries, baka mapagkamalan kang si Corazon and unang aswang. Look at your hair," Hinawakan nito ang buhok niya. “Nagsuklay ka ba?”

Mabilis na sinuklay niya ang buhok at pabirong sinuntok si Ace sa braso. "I look good even if I look worse."

"Yeah, right." Ace said, full of sarcasm.

Umirap siya sa hangin. "Totoo naman kaya."

"Yeah, and I'm Thor."

Kinunotan niya ito ng nuo. "Trust me; you're not half as handsome as Thor."

Sinimangutan siya nito. "Sige, si Iron man nalang."

Natawa siya sa nakasimangot nitong mukha. "Ang guwapo kaya ni Robert Downey kahit medyo may-edad na siya. At wala kang panama sa kanya."

“Fine. Pigs can fly.”

She smiled. “There. Sana ‘yon nalang ang ginamit mong sarkasmo kanina. Mas kapani-paniwala kasi na lumilipad ang mga baboy kaysa naman ikaw si Thor o kaya si Iron man.”

"Whatever." Nagtatampong anito at binuksan ang passenger-side na pinto ng kotse. "Sakay na, bago pa kita iwan dito."

Natatawang sumakay siya sa kotse. Hindi niya akalain na asar-talo pala ang binata.

NANG maisara ni Ace ang pinto, naramdaman niyang parang may nakatingin sa kanya mula sa may balkonahe.

He looked up and saw Cleevan staring at him with dark expression on his face.

He smiled at his brother then waved his hand.

He smirked when Cleevan's face darkened more before turning around to leave the balcony.

Napailing-iling nalang siya sa kapatid. Ang tigas talaga ang ulo.

AFTER BUYING groceries, nag-aya kaagad na umuwi si Clarianette. Wala siya sa mood lumabas. Sumama lang siya kay Ace dahil sa grocery store naman sila pumunta.

Habang naglalakad patungo sa kuwarto nila, binabasa niya ang pamphlet na hawak na nakuha niya sa grocery store.

The pamphlet was all about the City of Baguio. The grocery has a raffle draw next month and the first price is trip to Baguio for two.

Hindi niya alam kung anong mayroon sa Baguio, basta gusto niyang pumunta roon. Isang beses palang siyang nakapunta roon at bata pa siya noon. Hindi na nga niya maalala.

She heard that Baguio is an amazing city. And then she heard about this swan boat in Burnham Park, she wanted to ride one. Siguro ang saya ‘non.

Napangiti siya nang ma-imagine ang sarili na nakasakay sa swan boat. That would be a great experience. She really wanted to go to Baguio, but she knew better. Hindi siya papayagan ni Cleevan na pumunta roon. Hindi nga siya nito pinapayagang pumunta sa bahay ng mga magulang niya, sa Baguio pa kaya?

When she entered the master’s bedroom, she dropped the pamphlet on the floor and then lay on the bed. Hindi niya alam kung dahil ito sa pagod sa pamimili ng grocery, nakatulog siya ng hindi niya namamalayan.

CLEEVAN silently entered the master’s bedroom. He doesn’t want to wake her up. Baka mag-away na naman sila nito.

Iyon din ang rason kung bakit hindi niya ito pinagbuksan ng pinto kanina. He knew that they’ll argue. Doon naman sila magaling na dalawa e, ang mag-sagutan.

Iniiwasan niya iyon dahil napakadali niyang magalit kapag ito ang kasagutan niya.

He doesn’t know what is with this woman who brings out every emotion he buried after his parents death.

Before her, he is always calm and collected. He only gets angry when he has to. Every emotion they see in his face has reasons. He controlled everything around him. If there’s one thing he loathes, that is complication. He wants things in order to avoid unnecessary problems, but when Clarianette Honey entered his life, complication becomes his best friend.

Everything about Nett is complicated.

He loses his calm and collected attitude when she’s around. He loses his leashed temper in just a matter of minute when they argue over nonsense things. He loses control when she’s just inch away from him. Hindi niya alam kung anong mayroon sa babaeng ito, pero isa lang ang alam niya, he is losing his mind because of her and it looks like she’s stealing his heart too in every passing minute that she’s with him.

Cleevan stared at the peacefully sleeping woman in the bed. When he saw her shivered, he sighed then moved to cover her with comforter. 

A minute after staring at Nett’s lovely face, he crouched down to take off his shoes when his eyes saw a paper… no it wasn’t a paper.

He picks it up and found out that it’s a pamphlet about the City of Baguio.

“Are you waiting for an invitation?” Anang boses ni Ace mula sa pintuan ng silid.

He stops reading the pamphlet and looked at his brother. “What do you want?”

Naglakad palapit sa kanya ang kapatid ang kinuha ang pamphlet na hawak niya. “Make a move before somebody else does.”

He narrowed his eyes on Ace. “Someone who? You?”

Ace shrugged. “Who knows?”

His expression darkened. “She’s my wife! She’s mine!” He snarled at his brother.

Ace smirked at him. “We both know the truth, Kuya. Maybe you should tell her. That would help you get into her good side. Malay mo, she considers dating you after.”

He looked down. For the first time in his life, he felt so hopeless, frightened. “She will hate me forever.”

“She already hates you, what difference would it make if you tell her the truth?”

Nag-angat siya ng tingin dito. “Are you … going to … tell her?”

“That’s not my business, it’s yours. But if you keep on lying to her, maybe I would. Fvck my ‘that’s not my business, it’s yours’ speech.”

Nawalan siya ng imik. Cleevan can hear a warning note in Ace’s voice.

“Why do you care?”

“Secret.” Ace smiled innocently then gave back the pamphlet to him before leaving the room.

Cleevan stared at the pamphlet and then his stare hopped to Nett and then to the pamphlet on his hand again.

“Well,” He drawls as he stared at Nett’s beautiful face. “Baguio seems a good place to celebrate birth days.”