Chapter Fourteen

Devastated

I visited Tita Joyce again. I didn't know where Wesley lives but I'm certain that he probably lives in Metro Manila for his work. Dinalhan ko muli ng grocery si tita gaya ng nakasanayan ko na and I also brought her some pasalubong from the city.

"Tita," I greeted her with a smile. I went to her and kissed her cheek.

Nakangiti na rin sa akin si Tita Joyce. "Aryanne... Parang ang dami mo namang dala para sa akin. Marami pa akong stock sa kitchen at namili rin si Wesley."

Bumaling ako kay tita at ngumiti. "Ayos lang po, tita, nasanay na rin kasi ako..."

Tita Joyce just smilingly nodded at me.

"Tita..." I hesitated a bit to ask her about her son. "Palagi po ba kayong dinadalaw ni Wesley dito...?"

Tumango si tita. "Oo, kung hindi lang naman siya abala sa trabaho niya ay palagi niya rin akong pinupuntahan dito habang nandito pa siya sa bansa."

"Hindi pa rin po ba kayo sasama kay Wesley, tita, kapag bumalik na po siya sa England...?"

Umiling si tita. "Dito na ako sa bahay na 'to tatanda nang tuluyan, Aryanne, at mamamatay."

Napangiwi ako sa sinabi ni tita. "Huwag po kayong magsalita ng gan'yan, tita. Bata pa naman po kayo at healthy. Iniinom n'yo po ba nang maayos iyong mga vitamins n'yo at gamot na reseta po sa inyo ng doctor?" I asked her.

Tumango naman si tita.

I sighed. "Mabuti po... Kapag narinig kayo ni Wesley na nagsasalita ng gan'yan..." I trailed off.

Ngumiti si tita. "Nakapag-usap ba kayo ni Wesley?"

Unti-unti akong tumango sa tanong ni tita.

Nagkataon na binisita rin ni Wesley ang Mama niya nang araw na nandoon din ako. It was still awkward but we managed to be together inside one house. Para na rin kay Tita Joyce na parehong importante para sa aming dalawa.

"Hindi raw sasama sa 'yo si tita kapag babalik ka na sa England... Nag-usap na ba kayo?" I asked him and then I continued chopping the vegetables.

We were both in the kitchen to cook for lunch while Tita Joyce remained in their living room and just watching TV. I volunteered to cook our meal and Wesley also offered to help me prepare our food.

I felt him turning to me from preparing the meat, too. I turned to look at him, too. He nodded and sighed. "Ang tigas ng ulo ni Mama." he said.

Napangiti naman ako sa sinabi niya. Napailing din ako. "Alam mo naman si tita..." Tumingin muli ako sa kaniya. "Kung ganoon we should at least hire someone for her? Para may katulong naman siya dito sa bahay,"

"We'll tell her." Wesley said.

"Noon ko pa rin sinabi kay tita, pero... tama ka na matigas nga ang ulo ng Mama mo." I laughed a little.

Napatawa rin si Wesley kaya lalo na rin akong tumawa.

Tita Joyce said she's fine living alone. Pero tumatanda na rin siya and she should at least have someone to care for her, too, or help her if she choose to remain here in the house.

"You're cooking afritada...?" Wesley asked me like he just realized based on the ingredients we're preparing.

Saglit kong kinagat ang labi bago nag-angat ng tingin sa kaniya. "Uh, oo..."

He smiled faintly. "It's my favorite..."

Bahagya lang akong tumango habang nakababa na ang tingin sa lulutuin. I know, Wesley... I know. I can still remember many things about you... about us...

Pilit akong ngumiti at nag-angat ng tingin sa kaniya. "Ang dami kasi nating carrots and potatoes kaya..." I shrugged my shoulders.

Wesley nodded his head.

Hindi niya ako iniwan doon sa kusina until I finished cooking the chicken afritada, his favorite. And I knew, I can still remember that he likes it more if there's a lot of potatoes in it. Kaya medyo dinamihan ko na rin ang nilagay na patatas sa ulam.

When done we called Joyce for lunch. Wesley took her mother from the sala while I prepared the table. Just like the old times...

And the three of us happily ate our delicious meal that noon...

***

"Art, about the new recording offer..."

Nag-angat siya ng tingin sa akin galing sa pagkain. We were at the condo and just eating a meal together. He nodded his head like he already understood. Napangiti na ako.

"Thank you, Art."

He only nodded again and didn't say anything anymore.

Napag-usapan na rin namin ang tungkol sa nakuha kong bagong contract for recording. At tama nga si Sir Oliver na maaring makatrabaho ko uli si Wesley... Sinabi ko naman lahat kay Art. And he agreed to it. Kaya hindi pa rin namin maaasikaso iyong kasal namin.

Maxine and Michael's wedding got delayed, too, because of work and their families... Ang gusto sana ng dalawa noon ay simpleng kasalanan nalang when they also invited us dahil boss din nila si Arthur. Pero dahil mukhang iba rin yata ang gusto ng parehong parents nila para sa kanilang kasal kaya medyo nagtagal pa ang pagpaplano. Pinagbigyan nalang din ng dalawang ikakasal ang kanilang parents dahil matanda na rin ang mga ito.

So their wedding day came. Gusto pa sana ng pamilya nila na sa probinsya sila ikasal pero umalma na sina Maxine dahil mas gustong dito nalang sa Manila para maimbitahan din ang bosses nila sa law firm at mga katrabaho. Medyo hassle pa kasi kung ipapabyahe pa ang mga ito patungong probinsya kung doon nga sila ikakasal. Sa huli ay hinayaan na rin sila ng parents nila.

I was at the church with Arthur. I just wore a simple dress that's ideal for attending a wedding. Sponsor din ang daddy ni Art sa kasal nina Maxine at Mike. Natutuwa rin kasi talaga si Judge sa dalawa sa pinakita na nina Max na galing sa pagiging abogado kahit medyo bago pa lang din silang dalawa ni Mike sa pagpapractice ng kanilang profession.

Hindi pa namin inasahan na magkakaroon ng ilang media sa labas lang naman ng simbahan. Iyon pala ay dahil may nakaalam din na invited at pupunta si Wesley sa wedding ng mga kaibigan namin. Konti lang naman ang mga iyon at na control lang din sa pakiusap na rin ni Wesley sa kanila. Wesley just wanted to attend our friends' wedding. Dumating din si Justin.

Wesley found me standing within the many people. Agad din nagtagpo ang mga mata namin. Until his eyes lowered to where I can also feel Arthur's hand held my waist. Wesley looked away at sinalubong din siya ng parents nina Mike.

Nakaupo na kami sa loob ng simbahan at nasa altar na rin sina Max at Mike. While they were making their vows, I can't help it but to turn my head to Wesley's direction. At nahuli ko rin siyang nakatingin sa banda namin ni Art na katabi ko sa upuan. Nagbaba ako ng tingin sa maliit kong bag na nasa kandungan ko lang.

"I Michael Borromeo, take you,
Maxine Cortez, to be my Wife..."

" I, Maxine Cortez, take you, Michael Borromeo, to be my husband. To have and to hold, in sickness and in
health, for richer or for poorer, in joy and sorrow, and I promise My love to you..."

"...And with this ring, I take you as my wife...

"... I take you as my husband, for as long as we both shall live."

Bumaling muli ako sa kung saan nakaupo si Wesley na naabutan kong nakatingin din siya sa akin. Our gazes locked for a while. Until I just lowered my head to my lap again. Naramdaman ko rin ang pag-iinit ng mga mata ko and the emotion I felt in my chest.

I remember... I also dreamed of marrying Wesley, too, when we were both young... Naalala kong nagkaroon pa nga kami noon ng kasal kasalan noong mga bata pa lang kami... With our friends as our guests and witnesses...

We were too young then. It can be considered as a childish act... But I knew then in my heart that if fate would allow us... The young Aryanne truly dreamed of marrying her best friend when they grow older...

"Are you okay?"

Kinalma ko ang sarili ko bago mag-angat ng tingin kay Arthur and tried to put on a reassuring smile on my face. "Yeah, uh, medyo na touched lang ako sa vows nina Attorney..." tukoy ko kanila Maxine at Mike.

Tumango naman si Arthur and didn't ask me anything further. Bumaling muli ako kay Wesley at nakitang nasa harap na ang mga mata niya kung nasaan sina Maxine.

***

"Aryanne! Welcome back! Nakakatuwa at makakatrabaho ka muli namin." Salubong sa akin ni Gino na nakatrabaho na rin namin noon ni Wesley sa pagrerecord noong kanta para sa movie nila ni Savannah.

I smiled and greeted him back. "Gin... Si Wesley?"

"Papunta na 'yon dito." He went to me and started checking the new lyrics I brought in the studio.

Bumukas ang pintuan ng recording studio at agad akong bumaling doon para makitang dumating si Wesley. Sinalubong ko siya ng ngiti pero halos hindi naman siya ngumiti pabalik sa akin. Pero sa huli ay ngumiti rin siya at lumapit na agad sa amin ni Gino.

Since then I started working with Wesley again. At kung minsan ay nagkakayayaan din ang staffs at lumalabas kami and we're just trying to hide Wesley from the media and the people. Hindi naman strict si Sir Oliver bilang manager ni Wesley at pinapayuhan niya lang itong mag-ingat lalo na sa issues. Si Sir Oliver na rin ang humawak sa akin sa mga song recordings ko.

"Si Wesley?" It was Justin. He went to our recording studio.

"Ah, may meeting lang sila ni Sir Oliver." sagot ko naman.

"Hinahanap kasi siya ni Sav, may usapan daw sila." Justin said.

Sav, Savannah Ortega. I immediately wondered what's it all about. Ano ang usapan nina Savannah at Wesley? Magkikita ba sila pagkatapos naming mag-record? Perhaps date?

"Are you okay with it?"

Kumunot ang noo ni Justin sa akin. "What?"

"Wesley and Savannah... Mukhang may kung ano na sa kanila... Ayos lang ba 'yon sa 'yo?" I asked him.

"What do you mean?" Justin's forehead was still creased.

I sighed a bit. Noon pa man ay nakita ko na na parang may kung ano rin pagtingin si Justin kay Savannah. We grew up together. I saw him played with girls and I witnessed how he was when he's serious, too, with the girl he likes. And by the looks in his eyes whenever I caught him silently watching Savannah, alam kong seryoso ang nararamdaman niya para sa kaniya.

"Don't you like Savannah?" I asked straightforwardly.

His lips parted. "What are you talking about?"

"If you like her, then... bakit parang tinutulak mo pa siya kay Wesley..."

Awang pa rin ang labi ni Justin hanggang sa bahagya siyang natawa without humor.

"I know when you like someone truly, Justin." I said.

He gave me an annoyed look. "Stop it. Don't act as if you still know me, as if you still know us, Aryanne."

I looked down a bit. Pero muli rin akong nag-angat ng tingin sa kaniya. "Why are you doing this—"

"How 'bout you, what are you doing? Just being nosy with other people's life? Ano ba'ng pakialam mo? Wala ka nang pakialam sa amin ni Wesley. And if... I really like Savannah, what's it to you? My feelings doesn't matter..." He trailed off and then he sighed. "Savannah likes Wesley. And I won't be a hindrance to them."

"What if Wesley doesn't feel the same for Savannah?"

He laughed again, this time with sarcasm. "Don't be so full of yourself, Aryanne. Ano'ng iniisip mo, na ikaw pa rin ang gusto ni Wesley hanggang ngayon? Wesley deserve better. I was there when he was so devastated because of you. You don't know what exactly he'd been through all those years. Lalo noong bago pa lang kami sa England."

"Wesley's family from his father's side did not approve of him. Ayaw rin sa kaniya ng wife ng dad niya kahit ng mga half siblings niya. Although his father cared for Wesley, hati rin ang mga decision nito dahil sa pamilya niya. Sekreto lang siyang tinutulungan ng Papa niya at hindi rin umasa lang doon si Wesley. Alam mo ba, Aryanne, Wesley had to work several jobs a day dahil sabi niya nangako raw siya sa 'yo na babalikan ka niya agad so he needed to earn enough money to do so."

"If only you knew, if only you saw his situation back then. Nagkakasakit na siya no'n, Aryanne, dahil sa sobrang pagtatrabaho. Bago pa man kami nakuha sa audition na naglagay sa amin sa banda. Hindi madali ang pinagdaanan ni Wesley, Aryanne. At least you should've understand him." Mariin niyang sinabi sa akin ang mga ito.

My lips parted and my eyes heated because of unshed tears. Justin looked away.