Kabanata 14

“Are you ready?”

I nodded. “Yeah. Let's go?”

Rius opened the car door for me. Ilang araw na ang nakalipas pagkatapos nang madamdaming pag-uusap namin. He's still courting me. Everyday, he shows how determined and serious he is with me. Na-kuwento ko kay Hope ang tungkol dito and she was genuinely happy for me. 

“Sunduin kita mamaya,” aniya nang makarating na kami sa harap ng room namin. 

Tumango ako. “Sige.”

He stared at me with his serious face. Bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko at bahagyang nailang sa paninitig niya. 

“You can go now. Baka ma-late ka.” 

Lumapit ako sa kaniya at hinalikan siya sa pisngi. Napahawak siya sa baywang ko para alalayan pero agad akong lumayo at matamis siyang nginitian. 

“Tsk. Pasaway,” he murmured with his serious tone but can't suppress his smile. I giggled when his dimple showed. 

Siya naman ang lumapit sa akin at magaang hinalikan ako sa noo. Napapikit ako dahil do'n.

“See you later.”

I nodded for the last time before stepping in our room. I saw sadness in Akiro eyes the moment our eyes met. I smiled at him at isang maliit na ngiti lang ang tugon niya. 

May problema ba siya?

Hindi ko na napagtuonan nang pansin dahil dumating na ang prof namin sa geography. It's professor Jen Carter. I think she's just less than 30 or more. 

She carries herself confidently with professionalism. I love watching her moves and the way she speak. 

“I have a question. It's not specifically related to our subject though but it's related to your chosen course. Is it okay?” she asked with a smile on her face in the middle of our discussion.

Pagtango lang ang naging tugon namin. She looked around and her eyes stopped in my position. 

“I want you to answer my question, Miss?-”

I suddenly stood up from seat. “Fariscal po.”

She smiled. “Hmm... Okay Ms. Fariscal, what's your reason for choosing BS Tourism Management? As a matter of fact, I know you have, right?”

Kinakabahan man ay pinilit kong magsalita. It's my time to prove a point.

“I want to be a flight attendant, Miss. It's my dream ever since. Choosing this course will serves as a stepping stone for me to achieve it.”

Tumango siya. “Did you know that you can still be a flight attendant even if you're not a Tourism Management graduate? All of us has the chance to be one, actually. Though this course will help you build a good communication skills, to be observant, to be  an effective leader, and learn how to calm yourself under fire,”  akangiting paliwanag niya.

Naglakad siya sa harap habang pinaglalaruan ang ballpen sa mga daliri niya. 

“You can sit now, dear.” 

Sinunod ko ang sinabi niya at agad na umupo.

Nagpatuloy siya sa pagsasalita. “I was once a flight attendant. It was also my dream back when I was child. I did my best to pass the requirements and training just to achieve it. But before that, I went through a step by step training. I can say that it was easy at first but the last step almost made me lost my dream...the final interview. Just because I have a low self-esteem, irritating pimples on my face, and uncentered teeth...in short my personality was not that pleasing before.”

Paano naging gano'n? She looks beautiful and hot right now. 

Her eyes got teary. “I wasn't hired on that company. I was so devastated and exhausted with the outcome of my efforts. I stopped and rest for a while. I fixed and improved everything that needs to change with myself. Hindi ako nagpa-retoke ha,” natatawang aniya sa huli. We laughed at her defensive remark.

“Okay, so after fixing myself and such, I tried applying to the well-known airline around the world. I'm so ambitious right? I didn't even passed on the ordinary one, how come with the popular one? But luck was on my side when I did it! I was hired and achieved my dream!” May malaking ngiti sa mga labi niya habang binabanggit iyon.

“Why I'm telling this to all of you? I want you to realize that you should never lose hope and surrender. What I'm trying to say is... If there are no doors available, build the door for yourself. Convince yourself that you can do it. Turn your can't into can.” 

I was trapped with her words. If there are no doors available, build the door for yourself and turn your can't into can.

Her words lingered in my head. 

Nagtaas ng kamay ang kaklase ko. “Miss!”

“Yes? Do you have a queries? Go ahead!”

“What are the requirements for being a flight attendant po?”

She walk towards the teacher's desk and sat on the chair.

 “You need to submit your high school diploma as a minimum educational requirement. However, airlines prefer applicants with a college degree or applicants who attend schools or colleges that offer flight attendant training since it will serves as an advantage over other applicants.”

“Also, you need to pass the airlines' requirements in terms of age, height, weight, etc. The training is hard, as in really hard so you need to be healthy to pass the training and the medical exam.”

So pag may sakit hindi pwede? Hindi ko alam pero bahagya akong kinabahan.

“What company did you applied for, Miss?” tanong din ng kaklase kong babae. 

“Oh! Which one? The one where I got rejected or accepted?” 

”In which you got hired po.”

“Air Force of D's Company. But I heard it was upgraded. They are now manufacturing high end aircraft around the world. I'm so much thankful and proud with their company.” Her eyes twinkled with Joy.

Really? She worked at Granny's company before? Wow! Gusto kong sabihing pag mamay-ari ng lola ko iyon but I opted not to. I'm contented of being proud silently. 

“Why did stop working for them, Miss?” tanong pa ulit nito. 

She shrugged. “Well, my parents want me to be a teacher. I love them so much to disobey their want. But a piece of advice, if you really want to pursue your dreams in life, follow your heart.. not what others want you to be.” She smiled. 

My heart melt with her words of wisdom. I guess tama ang desisyon kong tahakin ang daang pinili.

Rius fetched me to our room when the lunch break came. Hindi namin kasama si Hope dahil may kasama naman daw ito. 

“How's your day?” nakangiting tanong ko. 

Katatapos lang naming kumain and we're sitting here in the wooden chair situated at the sunken garden. I was worried if other students will notice us pero bihira lang naman daw ang mga taong napapadpad dito sa ganitong oras.

“Fine. How about you?” he said while gently holding my hand over my lap.

“Likewise.”

I'm still not used with his actions. Parang kailan lang ang lungkot-lungkot ng mga araw...ng buhay ko. Before, I'm just asking the stars to let me hold him even just for a while but now he's holding me tightly. 

Nangangamba ako na baka bukas o sa mga susunod na araw mawala na siya sa tabi ko dahil ang bilis mangyari ng lahat... baka mabilis din maglalaho. 

“Don't leave me, please,” I said, unknowingly. 

I stared at his eyes deeply like he will vanished in a blink of an eye. He sighed before putting my head on his masculine chest.

“I won't.”

I pouted. “What if you'll get tired with me?”

Humigpit ang yakap niya sa'kin. “I will stand by you no matter what, I will never give up on you no matter what.”

Tumingin ako sa paligid. Hindi ang maaliwas na kapaligiran ang nagpaginhawa sa puso ko, but his words put my heart at peace. 

“Just don't expect anything from me. I'm from poor family. I can only give you my love, Fortunate.”

Napapikit ako sa malamyos niyang tinig. Rius... your status in life never crossed my mind that way. 

“I never expect beyond on what you have. I just need an assurance. Assurance that you'll never leave nor neglect me when everything becomes complicated and worse,” mahinang bulong ko. 

He kissed my head gently. “Just trust me, please.”

I nibbled on my lower lip and turned around to face him. He hold my waist for support when I put my arms around his neck . I saw his eyes slowy dropped on my lips. My heart beats rapidly as I tiptoed to reach for his cheeks and kissed it softly. 

He was taken aback with my sudden move. 

Napangisi ako sa reaksiyon niya. Come on, Rius...I only kissed you on your cheeks! Wag kang magulat. Masanay ka na because I will be your girlfriend soon. I inwardly smirked with my thoughts. If mom finds out how her daughter flirts, she will be very furious and mad. 

Pinisil niya ang ilong ko. “You're being naughty, Miss. I'm not liking it anymore.”

Ngumuso ko. “Ayaw mo?”

He sighed and pulled my body for a hug. “You're tempting me. I don't want to take advantage. You will only allowed to kiss me sa oras na sinagot mo na ako. For now, l will only indulge you with a hug.”

Sumimangot ako pero hindi na mapigilang ngumiti. I rested my head on his chest. Ramdam ko ang mabilis na pagtibok ng puso niya. I hope he won't notice how my heart screams for his name. 

“Alam mo...ikaw lang ang kilala kong hindi mayaman na fluent mag-english. Palahi naman,” pilyang sabi ko sa huli. 

“Silly. I have a foreign blood...and we lived in England before not until everything falls into the current situation.”

My brows furrowed. “So you're family was rich before?”

He just shrugged and ignored my question. 

“Where's your mother anyway? Hindi ko pa siya nakikita eh,” pagtatanong ko ulit. My face was thick enough to ask personal questions. 

His embraced tightened with my question. Nakaramdam ako nang kaba dahil baka magalit siya sa pangungulit ko. 

“Tangina ang laswa, pre.”

Agad akong humilay sa pagkakayakap kay Rius nang marinig ang malutong na pagmumura na sinabayan nang malakas na pagtawa, tila'y nang-aasar. Tumingin ako sa mga bagong dating na mga kaibigan niya. I brushed my hair using my fingers with nervousness.

“Gago wag ka nang maglinis! Nakita kitang hinipuan ang babae sa canteen kanina, siraulo ka!” pangbabara ni Dexter kay Christian.

Christian step-back like he heard something ridiculous from dexter then smirked afterwards.

“Look who's talking. Parang 'di kita nakitang  humalik sa leeg ni--”

“Gago!” Chris laughed out loud with Dexter's reaction. Defeated. 

Justin shook his head with disbelief, seems disappointed with his friends' behavior. Ngayon ko lang siya napansin sa sobrang tahimik niya. 

“Anong ginagawa niyo rito?” salubong ang kilay na tanong ni Rius.

His friends look at each other like they understand something just in between them through staring at their own eyes. 

“Manggugulo,” they uttered in unison.

Rius jaw clenched. Nagkatinginan silang tatlo at agad na kumaripas nang takbo ang dalawa. 

“Bye, angel! Wag mong sasagutin 'yan!” sigaw ni Chris. Natawa ako.

Naiwan si Justin sa harap namin.

“Agatha's looking for you.” Iyon lang sinabi niya bago tumalikod para umalis.

Si Agatha? I glance at him with a question. Tumiim lang ang bagang niya habang nakatingin sa baba. Why is she looking for him?

“Go ahead. Maybe it's important. Papasok na rin ako sa next class ko. See you later,” I said and stood up from my seat. 

I'm about to take a step when he hold my wrist softly. Napatigil ako at nagtatakang humarap sa kaniya. His eyes were gentle and full of unknown emotions I cannot name. 

“Nothing is more important than you. Ihahatid na kita,” he said gently and stood up from his seat too.

That brought smile on my face. I only nodded and let him accompany me to our room. 

I remembered something while we're walking in the hallway.

“Uh, Rius...” 

“Hmm?..”

I nibbled on my lower lip. “I-I called you before at night. Hindi ikaw ang...n-nakasagot. Babae.”

Tumigil siya sa paglalakad at saglit na nag-isip. I got nervous thinking about who it was. 

“I think it's... Cassidy. She's been meddling with my life since I'm working on their restaurant. She keep on saying she likes me. Ang kulit-kulit niya. Pinakialaman niya ang cellphone ko while I'm on duty that's why she answered your call last time...and I'm sorry about that.”

I stilled upon hearing it. Sila ang may-ari nang pinagtatrabahuan niya and she confessed? Thoughts of them being together in one place made me sick. 

“Ahh... it's okay.” Sabay ngiti ko.

Disappointment invade my system knowing how desperate Cassidy is while confessing her feelings...though she's really a straight-forward person. I kinda felt jealous pero mas nangibabaw ang awa para sa kaniya because I know how it feels to be ignored and rejected.

“Malapit na ang UP fair, Fortunate! Ibig sabihin may concert na naman at iba pang events na magaganap sa University natin,” masayang sabi ni Winslet habang niyayakap ang isang damit sa dibdib niya.

Nandito kami ngayon sa bilihan ng mga mumurahing damit na sinasabi ni Winslet na ukay-ukay. 

Naglakad na kami papunta sa counter upang magbayad ng mga pinamili namin.

“Talaga?  Mga sikat bang artista o banda ang pupunta roon?” manghang tanong ko. 

She smiled widely. “Oo! Dati nga pangarap lang namin ni ate na makapag-aral sa UP dahil do'n pero ngayon natupad na.”

Papalabas na kami nang marinig ko ang sinabi niya. I stopped walking for a while to ask her a question. 

“Sinong ate?” I asked with brows furrowed. I only know one person who's her sister. 

She sighed. “Sino pa ba? Cassidy Cabalahin. Ate ko siya kasi matanda siya sa akin ng isang taon. Hindi rin mahahalata ng iba na magkapatid kami dahil apelyido ni mama ang gamit ko. It was forbidden to use my father's surename...baka magkagulo lang.”

Tuluyan kaming nakalabas ng gusali. Ipinulupot ko ang kamay sa braso niya habang naglalakad kami.

“You were intimate before, right? Pero bakit galit na galit siya sa'yo ngayon? What happened? Sorry for meddling with your life...no need to answer if you're uncomfortable with it.”

Ayoko namang manghimasok sa buhay niya but I'm just curious and concern with her relationship to her sister.

“Okay lang ano ka ba. Galit siya sa akin dahil akala niya nakikipaglapit ako sa kaniya para lang agawin si papa at makihati sa kayamanan nila. To be honest, hindi iyon pumasok sa isip ko kahit kailan. Gusto ko lang makasama sila ni papa pero hindi pwede.” 

Tumingin siya sa kawalan at isang malungkot na ngiti ang sumilay. 

“Alam mo ba 'yong pakiramdam na gusto mong gawin ang isang bagay pero wala kang magagawa? Hinahadlangan ka ng tao at ng mundo.”

Nararamdaman kita Win...pero sa magkaibang sitwasyon.

A blue sports car stopped in front of us. Cassidy stepped out from it gracefully.

“Magkasama na naman kayo?”

We glanced at her, slightly shocked upon her sudden appearance. Her arms were fold in front of her chest while looking at us irritatedly. She looks pretty with her sleeveless dress and killer heels. 

“What's wrong with it, then?” kunot-noo na tanong ko. 

Umirap siya sa kawalan. “Well, you're both weakling and pathetic kaya 'di na ako magtataka.”

Sumulyap ako kay Winslet at hindi siya pinansin. Wala akong oras makipagbangayan sa kaniya.

“I'm still talking to you kaya wag kang bastos! May atraso ka pa sa aking babae ka. Mang-aagaw! Inahas mo si Console. He's mine!”

I almost yelled when she forcefully grabbed my arms. Naramdaman kong bumaon ang kaniyang mga kuko sa balat ko dahilan para mapaigtad ako sa hapdi na dulot no'n.

“What are you doing? Let me go!” Pagpupumiglas ko. 

“Ate!” si Winslet pero isang nagbabantang tingin lang ang ipinukol nito sa kaniya.

“Shut up! Isang beses lang kitang pagsasabihan, Fortunate Agony. Layuan mo siya kung hindi... makikita mo ang hinahanap mo!”

Pilit kong hinihila ang braso ko pero masyado siyang malakas kumpara sa akin.

“Hindi mo siya pagmamay-ari, Cassidy.” matapang na ani ko.

Her face flushed while pointing a finger on me. She greeted her teeth before speaking.

“Babawiin ko siya sa kahit anong paraan. Tandaan mo 'yan!” she said desperately with a warning. 

Binitawan niya ang braso ko at sumakay ulit sa kotse niya. Napatingin ako sa parteng iyon na hinawakan niya. Namula iyon at may mga munting dugo na namuo doon dahil sa matalas niyang kuko.

“Okay ka lang, Fortunate? Pasensya ka na ha 'di ko siya napigilan,” nag-aalalang turan niya. 

I smiled weakly at her. “Wala ka namang kasalanan. Let's go? Gusto ko nang umuwi.” 

She nodded but worries was visible in her eyes. Hinatid ko muna siya sa bahay nila. Malungkot siyang nagpaalam at gano'n din ako. I went home with a heavy feeling. 

Nakaramdam ako nang pangamba. I won't let you ruin us, Cassidy.