LMH-7

"So, what are you planning to do?" tanong ni Jareth habang hila hila ang maleta niya at naglalakad palabas ng NAIA. Damang dama na niya ang init ng Pinas gayong wala pang treinta minutos simula nang lumapag sila. "Do you want me to take you home? Sa Forbes ba?"

"Ihahatid mo 'ko?" tanong ni Cassandra matapos maghikab.

Iwinasiwas ni Jareth ang kamay sa tapat ng mukha niya. "Grabe ka naman maghikab, amoy ko dito yung baho ng hininga mo!"

Walang pasabi na siniko siya nito. "Kapal ng mukha mo, nagtoothbrush ako 'no!" inirapan siya nito. "Kaya ayaw sayo ni Charlie—"

"Wala na bang iba?" kunwari ay bored na tiningnan niya ito. "Wala nang dating eh."

She smirked at him. "Really? Why? Naka-move on ka na sa kapatid ko?"

"Yes." he felt rather proud of himself for saying that with a straight face.

Cass looked at him and then burst out laughing. "Who the fuck are you kidding?" hinampas siya nito sa balikat habang tawa parin ito nang tawa. "Wala kang maloloko dito, Jareth!"

"Eh sa talaga namang naka-move on na ako." he said stubbornly. "Will you fucking stop laughing? Hindi ka nakakatuwa."

"Ang benta kasi ng joke mo!" she continued laughing until they reached the exit of the airport.

Cassandra stopped right in the front of the busy road where most families meet. Kapansin pansin ang pagtigil nito sa pagtawa. She had that sad look in her eyes that bugged him.

Nilapitan niya ito. "I have a car waiting for me, cmon, ihahatid na kita sa inyo."

Umiling ang dalaga at binalingan ang trolley nila. Kinuha nito ang paper bag na naglalaman ng bridal gown nito. "I'm not going home, Jareth."

She walked towards the parked taxi but he held her back. "Mag-aalala ang parents mo," sambit niya at kinuha rito ang paperbag. "Mag-aalala si Charlie."

"Charlie na naman?" Cassandra chuckled humorlessly. "You couldn't even resist mentioning her name. Yan ba ang moved on na?"

"If I didn't know better, I'd think you're jealous." he remarked. Iginiya niya ito patungo sa parking area ng airport kung saan naghihintay ang sasakyan na gagamitin niya. Jayden made sure everything was carefully planned. Kulang na nga lang ay padaanin siya nito sa red carpet.

Baka pagdating mo sa burol ng tatay mo, malay mo.

"I'm not jealous." she said. Hinila nito ang braso mula sa kanya. "I just don't like it when people lie about their feelings. I mean, what's the point?"

Medyo natigilan siya sa sinabi nito.

"The whole world knows the truth. Wala kang niloloko kundi ang sarili mo. Hindi magiging kasinungalingan ang katotohanan no matter how many times you lie about it. Be straight up with yourself. What's the matter? Kahit naman anong gawin o sabihin mo, mahal mo pa rin siya at nasasaktan ka pa rin."

Okay, bullseye.

She's right. It's downright pitiful how someone who's psychologically unstable like her could deliver such kind of a blow. Para tuloy siya itong lumalabas na unstable. Pinagdikit niya ang mga labi at tumahimik na lang. Hindi na rin naman nagsalita si Cass na sumabay lang sa paglalakad niya.

"Kahit naman magsinungaling ka, hindi naman nabawasan yung sakit diba?"

"Shut up."

"Tingnan mo, nagagalit ka kasi tama ako."

"Eh di tama ka na. Manahimik ka na."

Jareth still had his lips pursed as they approached a Black Jaguar. Trust his brother to be such a show off. Ipinagbukas niya ng pinto ng sasakyan si Cass at nagulat pa siya ng magpasalamat ito.

Nang makasakay siya ay hinarap siya nito. It's amazing how much resemblance she have with Charlie. Ang pagkakaiba lamang nila ay ang brown na buhok ni Cass, habang mapula naman sa kapatid nito. Otherwise, sa kulay, sa hubog ng katawan—No, wait, mas mabilog ang p***t ni Cass!

Palihim niyang kinastigo ang sarili. Hindi niya dapat tinitingnan sa ganoong paraan si Cass. Kinikilabutan siya sa ginagawa. Ganito siguro talaga kapag tigang. Tigang? You just had sex with that woman from the bar? Dafuq are you talking about? Yeah, he almost forgot about that one.

Ipinilig niya ang ulo bago ibinalik ang atensyon dito.

"Ihatid mo na lang ako sa Marchetti."

"Ha? Bakit dun?" his eyebrows furrowed at the mention of an italian owned hotel.

"H'wag ka nang makialam."

"Nakarating na tayo ng Maynila at lahat, ngayon mo pa sasabihin na h'wag akong makialam?" matawa tawang sabi niya. "Now, humor me, Cassandra. Bakit ayaw mong umuwi sa inyo?"

Napabuga ng hangin ang dalaga bago siya hinarap. "Because I can't face them now."

"Why?" "Can't you just stop asking questions? Huling pabor na 'to, Jareth. After this, let's pretend this didn't happen." kunot noong bumaling ito sa bintana ng sasakyan niya.

Jareth shrugged. He didn't want to concern himself too much with how Cassandra's mind works. She's a nutcase. But the remains of his humanity insisted that he should at least make sure she'll be safe. Para na lang sa kapatid nito.

When they got to Marchetti, one of the largest hotel in the Metro, Cassandra was still quiet. Which concerned him a little since this woman just couldn't seem to stop prattling about almost everything inconsequential. He knew it was useless to worry about her after she insisted that this would be the last time she would ask for his help. And besides, she didn't care about him one bit so why should he concern himself? Pero dikta na rin siguro talaga ng konsensya at kagandahang asal ang nagtulak sa kanya na samahan si Cass na kumuha ng kwarto at ihatid ito doon. Hindi niya alam kung gaano naging kalalim ang relasyon nito at ng bugok nitong almost husband, ngunit alam niyang hindi biro ang maiwan sa altar.

"You don't have to do this, Jareth." nakaismid na sambit nito. "I'll be fine. I'm not a baby."

"Wala namang nagsasabing baby ka—"

"Don't act like a gentleman coz we both know you aren't."

He ignored her jab and just followed her to her room. Tahimik nang muli si Cass nang maupo ito sa couch sa gilid ng kwarto. It was a very simple room. Isang couch, isang mesa at isang kama. Nothing extravagant na siyang pinagtaka ni Jareth dahil kilala niya ang babae sa pagiging prestihiyosa nito. Pinagmasdan niya ito habang tulala itong pasalampak na nakaupo sa couch.

Kung hindi pa tumunog ang telepono sa bulsa niya ay hindi pa siya matitinag sa kinauupuan.

"Are you sure you're going to be okay?"

"No." He saw tears finally glistening her eyes.

This was the reaction he's been waiting. Iyong mawalan ng control si Cassandra. Because this is what she's known for, being out of control, being emotional, and being a wreck. Nakahinga siya ng maluwag nang sa wakas ay makakuha ng reaksyon mula rito.

"But I hope to god, I'll be."

Tumango si Jareth. Hindi na siya nagsalita at iniwanan na lamang si Cassandra sa kwarto niya.

Tumuloy na siya sa address na ipinadala ng kapatid niya kung saan nakaburol ang ama.

Pinagtitinginan siya ng mga tao habang naglalakad siya palapit sa kabaong ni Don Juan Andres Aragon. And as he stared down at the lifeless body of his father, he forgot every painful memory he had of him. Lahat ng mga masasakit na salitang binitawan noon nito sa kanya ay tila isa na lamang malabong alaala.

He couldn't remember the exact words that he kept written in his every nerve fiber. Wala siyang maalala. Bukod sa nag-iisang memorya kung saan tinuturuan siya ng ama niya na buuin ang isang laruang robot.

He could remember him beaming up to his dad and him ruffling his hair like he was so proud of his son. A single tear came rolling down his cheek.

Naikuyom niya ang mga kamao sa ibabaw ng kabaong nito at ibinulong ang mga salitang sana noon pa niya nasabi rito. His brother came up behind him but before he was able to say anything, Jareth turned his back.

He ignored Jayden's words. Diretso siya sa sasakyan niya. He started the engine and started driving aimlessly.

He didn't know where to go. His first impulse was to seek Charlie but he knew he couldn't do that. He wanted to see her but at the same time he doesn't want to.

Hindi niya alam kung anong pumasok sa isipan biya but he found himself retracing his steps. Hanggang sa kumatok siya sa isang pintuan at napagbuksan siya ng gulat na gulat na si Cassandra.

"What the hell are you doing back here?"

Itinaas niya ang dalang bote ng alak. "Let's get drunk. No talking. Let's just get trashed tonight. Pwede ba?"

Tumango ang dalaga at niluwagan ang pagkakabukas ng pinto.