Chapter 14

"It's such a joy to be with this team!" ani Jayden. He flashed a boyish grin towards the camera and adjusted the mic on his fingers. "I am confident na mananalo kami sa Mindanao Film Festival 2015. Sir Patrick is such a great director and filmmaker!"

Tahimik akong umalis sa kumpol ng mga reporters na pinapalibutan si Jayden. Our shooting is officially done. Instead of celebrating it quietly, naungkat ng media ang tungkol sa pagkakasali ni Jayden sa indie film na ito kaya naman dinumog na naman siya ng mga reporters, isang gabi habang nasa Apo View Hotel kami.

Sir Patrick wanted to lay low, but couldn't ignore the reporters. Sumagot naman siya nang maayos sa mga tanong nila. Imbes na ang aming bida ang i-focus ay kay Jayden napunta lahat ng atensiyon, gayong supporting actor lang naman siya.

Napailing nalang ako. Zeus, is as usual, hanging out with our lights director, Sir Byron. Kung hindi si Alas ay madalas ang director namin ang kaniyang kasama. He gets along with the two men very well. I guess Zeus had been looking for a male figure all his life and now that he has a chance, he's making the most out of it.

"Belle..."

Gulat akong napalingon. Ang akala ko kasi'y ako lang mag-isa sa garden! Dahil na rin sa pormal na okasyon, I was forced to wear a black sweetheart dress and a pair of heels. May event kaming dinaluhan kanina at bukas ay iti-treat kaming lahat ni Sir Patrick sa Seagull Mountain Resort bilang pasasalamat niya sa aming pagtitiyaga at suporta.

"What are you doing here, Jayden?" tanong ko sa kaniya. He looks good in his tux, but not as appealing as Alas. Mas matangkad ng kaunti si Alas sa kaniya and his light stubble made him more manly compared to him. Jayden is your typical boy-next-door, not the adult alpha male.

Sinilip ko ang kaniyang likuran kung may nakasunod ba sa kaniyang mga reporter. Baka mamaya'y makita na naman kaming dalawa ay ma-isyu na naman! I've had enough with their fabricated stories and sensationalized titles that does not justify the content!

"Gusto sana kitang makausap..." tumikhim siya at muling lumapit sa akin. Tumaas ang kilay ko. What does he want to talk about?

"Bakit?" I asked, trying to hide my impatience. I was hoping for at least a few minutes of complete peace by myself. Kaya nga ako humiwalay sa grupo na ngayo'y nagkakatuwaan na at nag-iinuman. Sigurado naman akong hindi sasali si Sir Patrick at Sir Byron kaya napanatag na din ako na naroon sa kaniya si Zeus.

Mas lumapit si Jayden sa akin. Sa kaniyang paghinto sa aking harapan ay naamoy ko ang alak sa kaniyang bibig. Pinigilan ko ang pagngiwi ng mga labi.

"It's... It's about us..." mahina niyang wika.

Ipinagkrus ko ang mga kamay sa dibdib at tinitigan siya. "Us?" I repeated.

Bigla nalang hinawakan ni Jayden ang braso ko kaya at hinatak ako palapit pa lalo sa kaniya.

"I know I have my own shortcomings, Isa. And what I did to you in the past... it was such a huge mistake! Nagsisisi na ako! Hindi ko dapat ginawa iyon sa iyo... Isa, matagal ko nang gustong sabihin sa iyo ang totoong nararamdaman ko..."

I blinked at him. He slurred most of his words. Jayden is obviously drunk. Luminga-linga ulit ako sa paligid at kinabahan nang mamataan ang isang lalaki na may hawak na malaking camera. Hindi pa niya kami nakikita pero kapag nagpatuloy siya sa paglalakad ay talagang mamamataan niya kami!

"Jayden... T-Teka lang..." inalis ko ang kaniyang braso at lumayo sa kaniya.

"I only blackmailed you before because I was desperate! I was losing you sure and fast! Inagaw ka ni Alas sa akin!"

"What?" hindi makapaniwalang tanong ko sa kaniya. Kaagad kong iniling ang ulo ko sa kaniyang sinabi. "Hindi totoo yan, Jayden. I had my own reasons why I broke up with you—"

"At si Alas iyon, hindi ba!" tumaas ang kaniyang boses na nagpapitlag sa akin.

I lowered my gaze to the ground. Pinilit kong alalahanin ang mga araw na kami pang dalawa ni Jayden. I can't say that I was not happy with him, especially when I thought I was surrounded with real friends. For a short time, he made me feel happy and contented. But it all faded when I realized the façade my friends are masking, his insincerity on our relationship, and the fact that I couldn't see myself with him in the future.

"Bata pa tayo noon, Jayden..." mahina kong wika. "Hindi pa tayo sigurado sa nararamdaman natin—"

"Potangina naman, Isa!" a surge of emotions filled his voice when he shouted. "Hindi mo ba nakikita ang ginagawa kong ito para sa iyo? Gustong-gusto kita! Ginagawa kong ito lahat para sa iyo. Isa... mahal pa rin kita."

My jaw dropped at his words. I stared at him, not believing my eyes.

"Bumalik ka na sa akin, please..." basag ang boses nito.

Iniling ko ang ulo ko. "Jayden—"

Nagulat ako nang bigla nalang niya akong hinila at hinalikan! It was just a brief kiss. Kaagad ko siyang naitulak at isang malutong na sampal ang iginawad ko sa kaniyang pisngi!

"Jayden!" galit kong angas sa kaniya.

He lowered his gaze to the ground. My entire body froze when I heard a camera's shutter from a distance. Kaagad na umalis ang lalaking reporter nang lingunin ko siya. He quickly disappeared in the crowd with the picture that I'm sure would land for tomorrow's headline.

Naipikit ko nang mariin ang mga mata ko. I glared at Jayden.

"You know what? I was actually thinking of giving you a second chance to restore our relationship... but as friends. Pero sa ginawa mong ito, kahit magkakilala man lang Jayden, hindi ko na kayang ibigay sa iyo!" I spat and walked away, my chest filled with anger and rage.

Sinubukan kong hanapin ang lalaking reporter pero hindi ko na ito nakita pa. Mabilis siyang nawala. Sumasakit na ang ulo ko sa kakaisip kung papaano na naman ito mai-interpret ng media. That kiss would verify my so-called 'relationship' with Jayden and my being his sweetheart!

Sa huli ay nanlulumo akong umuwi nang maaga kasama si Zeus nang gabing iyon.

Nang dinala na kami ni Sir Patrick sa Seagull Mountain Resort ay hindi kami nagpapansinan dalawa ni Jayden. He tried talking to me but I always find my way to ignore and avoid him. Sinabihan ko na din si Alas na huwag nang lumuwas ng Davao dahil pang-huling araw na din naman namin ito dito.

Pauwi na kami sa Governor Generoso nang pumutok ang balita sa aming dalawa ni Jayden, gaya nga ng kinatatakutan ko. Nasa loob pa lang kami ng van ay panay na ang scroll ko sa mga nagsisisulputang articles na parang mga kabuti.

I massaged my temples. Gusto kong bumaba ng van para puntahan siya sa kabila at sigawan! Ang akala ko pa nama'y matatapos na ang walang katuturang isyu sa aming dalawa pero heto ako ngayo't may pinoproblema na naman na isa!

Band Vocalist Jayden Von Cruz Seen Kissing Outside a Hotel With His Higschool Sweetheart!

I gritted my teeth in anger. Libo-libong comments na naman mula sa kaniyang mga fans ang natanggap ng balita. I shut my phone and shoved it inside of my bag angrily. Buti't tulog na si Zeus sa tabi ko.

Alas kwatro na ng hapon nang makarating kami sa Governor Generoso. May dalawang araw kaming break na ibinigay ni Sir Patrick bago kami bumalik sa regular working days namin.

Kinarga ko si Zeus palabas ng van. Nagsilabasan na din ang iba kong mga ka-team at doon ko lang napansin na wala pala si Jayden. ang sabi sa akin ay lumuwas na siya ng Maynila kanina nang umuwi kami. I didn't expect him to bid goodbye at me, but I didn't know he was leaving so soon, too.

Nang maayos ko ang mga gamit ay diretso ang punta ko sa bus station. Kailangan ko munang umuwi para makatulog nang maayos si Zeus. Tatawagan ko na rin si mommy para ibalita sa kaniya ang nangyari sa aming indie film at para na rin kumustahin siya sa Hawaii.

Habang umaandar ang bus ay nakatingin lamang ako sa dagat at mga bahay na nadadaanan namin. I hope Alas wouldn't see the news, though. Ayoko nang mag-away na naman kami nang dahil kay Jayden.

But I guess I was wrong. Pag-uwi ko pa lamang ay tumunog na ang aking cellphone. Inilapag ko muna ang natutulog na si Zeus sa sofa at kinuha iyon mula sa bag. I heaved a sigh when I saw that it's really him, calling...

"Alas..."

"Kissing in a hotel? Really?" he spat bitterly.

"I can explain." Pagod kong wika. "I told you not to listen or believe what the media is feeding the public, didn't I?"

Matagal bago nakasagot si Alas sa kabilang linya. I could hear his series of heavy breathing though.

"Alas, please..." malambing kong wika.

"Come here at my house." Wika niya sa malamig na tono. The authority in his voice made my knees weak. Tango lang ang naisagot ko sa kaniya, only to realize that he couldn't see me. So I cleared my throat and murmured a weak yes.

Ginising ko si Zeus at pinakain. Noong una ay nagmamaktol pa ito ngunit nang sinabi kong pupuntahan namin ang kaniyang Dada ay kaagad din siyang nabuhayan! Mabilis niyang inubos ang kaniyang pagkain at excited na nagbihis.

I changed into a pair of jeans and white polo shirt, too. As I fixed my hair into a tight bun, today, I decided, will be the day that I'm going to tell Alas the truth.

If he's going to confront me regarding this issue with Jayden, might as well tell him about his son, right? Hitting two birds with one stone today...

Hindi ko maikakailang kinakabahan ako sa puwedeng mangyari. How would he react? Would he be happy? Confused? Mad?

I took a deep breath and convinced myself that it's going to be alright. Maiintindihan ni Alas kung bakit ganito ang nangyari. And besides, he's so fond of Zeus. Didn't he want it?

"Mummy... come on!"

Naputol ang pag-iisip ko nang biglang sumilip si Zeus sa kwarto. I pulled myself up and buttoned my shirt. Carrying my rattan bag with me, I headed out to the door with Zeus.

Habang nasa tricycle ay ini-ensayo ko pa kung papaano ko sasabihin kay Alas. Inatake ng matinding kaba ang puso ko nang huminto na kami sa tapat ng kaniyang bahay. Bukas ulit ang gate nito.

Zeus quickly jumped up out the tricycle and chased the puppy. Binayaran ko ang driver at dahan-dahang naglakad papasok sa kanila.

Akmang bubuksan ko pa lang ang pintuan ay bumukas na ito. Bumungad sa akin ang maputlang mukha ni Krista. Mangiyak-ngiyak na ito at nanginginig ang mga labi.

"Are you okay?" nag-aalala kong tanong sa kaniya.

Kaagad siyang tumango. She cleared her throat. "N-Nasa study niya po si E-Engineer..." she said and excused herself.

Pinagmasdan ko siyang dali-daling lumabas ng bahay. Nasigawan ba siya ni Alas? What did he do to his scholar? Ganito na ba siya kabadtrip?

Lumunok ako at nilakasan ang loob. I stepped inside his house and scanned the surroundings. Dalawang beses pa lang akong nakakapunta dito. Where is his study?

Dumako ang tingin ko sa glassdoor tabi ng kaniyang kwarto. Bahagya itong bukas kaya naman doon ako nagtungo. Hindi nga ako nagkamali nang itulak ko ang mabigat na pintuan.

His large oak desk greeted me. The study is small but bookshelves occupied the entire walls. There's no room for any paintings or decorations. The mini chandelier hangs above us and a huge naked window behind his desk. Klarong-klaro dito ang dagat.

Nakatalikod si Alas sa akin, nakakrus ang mga kamay sa dibdib. He's wearing a white button down shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbow. If I'm not so nervous right now, I must've teased him for twinning the shirt with me.

Tumikhim ako at marahas niya akong nilingon. Hindi nakaligtas sa akin ang galit sa kaniyang mga mata. His brooding eyes are dark and are very very angry. Kumurba paibaba ang kaniyang manipis na labi. The tiny veins on his forearms are almost popping out and his tattoos seemed brighter than usual.

"Alas..." nanghihina kong sambit.

"Close the door," he ordered in a dangerous voice.

I swallowed and took a step backwards, closing the door without breaking eye contact with him. Bumagsak ang tingin ko sa mga nagkalat na newspapers sa kaniyang desk at sa basag na vase sa gilid.

I flinched. Kaya ba ganun na lang ka-takot ang ekspresiyon sa mukha ni Krista ay dahil nasaksihan niya si Alas na nagwawala?

"Where's Zeus?" his tone is still cold.

"N-Nasa labas..."

Tumango siya. He picked one of the newspapers and held it out in front of me. awtomatikong kumuyom ang mga kamao ko nang makita ang malaking picture naming dalawa ni Jayden na magkahalikan sa labas ng hotel.

Pero mas lalo lamang akong nagalit sa nabasang headline.

Jayden Von Cruz Admitted to Have a 4-Year Old Son With a Non-Showbiz Girl

Umawang ang bibig ko. babasahin ko pa sana ang artikulong inilimbag ngunit mabilis itong ibinagsak ni Alas sa desk. Napatalon ako sa lakas ng kaniyang pagkakabagsak. He stared at me with his dark eyes, as if he could read my mind right now and see right through my soul.

"Son with a notorious rockstar, Belle? Are you fucking kidding me?"

Mabilis kong iniling ang ulo ko at lumapit sa kaniya pero natigilan din sa nakakamamatay niyang tingin. "H-Hindi yun, totoo..." I squeaked. All of my practice lines flew out of the window when I saw the fire burning in his eyes.

I shut my eyes close. Nagsisimula na ding manginig ang mga labi pati ang mga tuhod ko. "Please, listen to me..."

Hindi siya nagsalita. He's watching my every move like a beast about to attack its helpless prey. I can't help but shiver in front of him, feeling so small and weak.

Lumunok ulit ako. "J-Jayden is an ex-boyfriend of mine. Matagal na kaming hiwalay, Alas. And he wants to get back with me! Hinalikan niya ako. I didn't initiate the kiss. Sinampal ko siya pagkatapos niya akong halikan..."

"Really?" he asked mockingly.

"Listen to me, please!" I pleaded. "All of these issues I have with Jayden, it's nonsense! Those fuckers who dare call themselves as media practitioners doesn't even bother to check the veracity of their content! They just want to feed the public of what they wanted to see! Pero ni isa sa mga iyon ay hindi totoo..."

"Jayden Von Cruz admitted to have a 4-Year old son with a non-showbiz girl..." binasa niya ang headline ng diyaryo at gigil itong nilakumos saka itinapon sa sahig. "Kahit ito ay hindi totoo?"

"Of course not!"

"Belle..." he drawled slowly. Marahas siyang suminghap. His eyes are bloodshot. Ramdam ko ang kaniyang pinipigilang galit. Kita pa lang sa mga impit niyang kilos na gusto na niyang ibato ang lamesa sa akin. "I need you to fucking tell me the truth—"

"Zeus is your son!" I yelled at him. Tumigil si Alas, at unti-unting nanlaki ang mga mata sa narinig. Pero bumalik ulit ito sa paniningkit. I panted heavily. Mas lalo lang akong nanginig sa aking sinabi. I wasn't planning to tell him this way, but to the hell with it!

I closed my eyes and tried to take several deep breaths. "Zeus... he's your son, Alas..." pag-uulit ko sa mas kalmadong boses na ngayon.

"I know." he said simply.

It was my turn to get surprised. Nanlalaki ang mga mata ko siyang tiningnan.

"Paanong—"

Marahas niyang binuksan ang drawer ng kaniyang desk at may hinigit na papel doon. Ibinagsak niya ito sa lamesa. Tinitigan ko ang nanghahamon niyang mga mata bago ko dahan-dahang ibinagsak ang paningin sa papel na kaniyang inilahad.

I took it from him. The blood drained from my face when I realized what it is.

A DNA test.

A DNA test of him and Zeus. And the result is positive.

"You've conducted a DNA test with my son without my knowledge?" malamig kong tanong sa kaniya.

"Our son," he corrected, gritting his teeth.

"Alas—"

"Huwag mo akong gawing tanga, Belle." Umigting ang kaniyang panga at binawi ang papel sa akin. "I may not still remember you but it's easy to connect the dots..."

Lumabas siya mula sa kaniyang desk at nagtungo sa isa sa mga bookshelves niya. May hinigit siyang libro mula doon at base sa lumang pabalat ng libro ay nakilala ko iyon kaagad.

"The Isabelle who wrote me this letter is you, right?" he asked. Inilagay niya din ang libro sa kaniyang desk at kinuha doon ang sulat na inialay ko sa kaniya, limang taon ang nakakalipas. "This is you, right?"

Hindi ako nakasagot. Gulong-gulo ang isipan ko kung paano lahat nangyari ito.

"Answer me, Belle! Goddamit!" he snarled again.

I closed my eyes as tears ran down my cheeks. Nanghihina kong itinango ang aking ulo.

"Fuck!" ang telepono naman sa kaniyang tabi ang lumipad patungo sa bookshelf at nagkawatak-watak nang mahulog.

"Alas..." I cried.

"You've been fooling with me for months!" he punched the shelf and the books fell on the floor. "What the fuck is wrong with you?"

"I have reasons, Alas!"

"Yeah, like what? Taking my son away from me?"

I stared at him in horror. "I could never do that!"

Matabang siyang tumawa. "Belle, stop lying to me. I've already done background checks with you and your mother."

Nanigas ako sa kinatatayuan ko. He had me checked?

It was my turn to laugh bitterly.

It's not a surprise. He's Flavian Alas Ferrer. A well-paid engineer. The man who came from a wealthy family and owns a beachfront property. He can speak the global lingua franca fluently and is now working on building his own firm.

What can't he do?

"Oh, eh bakit naghahanap ka pa sa akin ng sagot eh pina-imbestigahan mo na pala kami?" tanong ko sa kaniya. Unti-unti nang namumuo ang galit sa dibdib ko.

"Because you don't trust me!"

"No! Fuck you, Ferrer! You!" I stabbed at his chest. "You don't trust me!"

"Why didn't you tell me the truth earlier?" he shot back. "Do you have any idea how much I've suffered? How confused I am when I found the DNA result? Huh?"

Fresh fat tears rolled down my cheeks once more. "I told you, I have reasons!"

"Fuck that stupid reasons of yours, Belle!" sigaw niya pabalik sa akin. Hinihingal na siya sa matinding galit at pulang-pula na ang kaniyang mukha.

A soft knock interrupted the two of us. Nanigas ako nang marinig ang boses ni Zeus sa labas ng pintuan.

"Mummy... are you ok?" inosente at nag-aaalang tanong ni Zeus.

Alas cursed some more. I wiped my tears and cleared my throat.

"Y-Yeah! I'm fine, baby! Go back outside and play... Lalabas din ako saglit!" sigaw ko sa anak pabalik.

I heard his tiny little steps retreating. Bumalik ang tingin ko kay Alas na ngayo'y hindi na mapakali.

"Tell me, what the fuck happened to us, Belle? Why don't I have any memories of you?" may hinigit pa siyang isang polaroid photo at ipinakita sa akin. "When did this happen?"

Tinitigan ko ang litrato. Naka-uniform pa ako at katabi si Alas, tumatawa at may hawak na barbeque. I recognized this day when his friends from Manila came over to visit him. One of his friends must've snapped that photo and gave it to him.

Ipinikit ko ang mga mata ko. Tulo pa rin nang tulo ang mga luha ko.

"Belle... Please!"

"I... I don't know where to start, Alas. B-But... but we were once together and I left without knowing that I'm pregnant and now—"

"And now you're planning to leave again?"

Nanlaki ulit ang mga mata ko sa sinabi niya. "What? No! I'm not planning to leave!"

"Damn it, Belle!" itinapon niya ang litrato sa sahig. It hurt me to see him throw away the picture like that. Parang may kumurot sa puso ko at ngayon ay nahihirapan na ako sa paghinga.

"Why are you still lying to my face? Kailan mo ba talaga balak sabihin sa akin ang totoo, ha!?"

"I'm not lying, Alas!"

"Your mother is not on a fucking business trip, Belle..." aniya at bahagyang lumayo sa akin. Ihinilamos niya ang kaniyang mukha sa palad at bahagya pang sinabunutan ang buhok dahil sa frustration na nararamdaman. "She's on North Carolina, plotting everything! You're going to leave with her once she comes back! Na-asikaso na ang visa ninyong tatlo! Balak niyang doon kayo manirahan!"

I froze with what he said. Hindi ako makapaniwala sa sinasabi niya.

"A-Ano?"

"Didn't you heard what I just said? You and your mother are planning to take Zeus away from me!" galit niyang sigaw.

"No..." marahan kong iniling ang ulo ko. Hindi ko naiintindihan ang sinasabi niya!

His lips pursed in a thin line. Then he chuckled bitterly. "I don't know what I did to you, Belle, for you to mess with my feelings like this... But if you're going to play this game? Count me in as your player, Isabelle Avanzado."

"Alas..."

"You're not going anywhere. You're not going near that Jayden Goddamn Cruz. Mas lalong hindi ka sasama sa nanay mo sa North Carolina!" hinigit niya ang braso ko at inilapit ang kaniyang mukha sa akin. In an angry low voice, he whispered to my ears.

"You're gonna fucking marry me, Isabelle. Or I'm going to do everything, with all the power I possess, to take Zeus away from you."