“Hindi ako lampa,” mariing tanggi ni P.
“Oh? Natakid ka sa Australia kaya mo nakilala si Taylor. And the other day at the park, you did the same thing to me. Is that your way of—“ Taylor shot a warning look at Ale. “Making friends?” Hindi niya itinuloy ang gustong sabihin. It wasn’t appropriate anyway.“Kung ikaw din lang, hindi na.” Inirapan siya ng babae. That left him dumbfounded, habang si Taylor ay nagpipigil ng tawa.He kept quiet after that. The woman is clearly nuts, at hindi niya alam kung paano natatagalan ito ni Taylor. Para bang kahit ano’ng sabihin niya sa babae ay offensive ang dating. At isa pa, napakadali nitong maasar sa kaniya. Well, ganoon din naman siya kaya amanos lang sila.Ipinikit na lang niya ang mga mata kaya tuluyang maubos ang pasens’ya kay P. Sa traffic at pagod ay nakatulog s’ya sa biyahe. Nang maalimpungatan ay naka-park na ang sasakyan sa harap ng isang condo, kaya nagtatakang tiningnan niya ang kaibigan.
“Tay, I’m staying at the hotel,” wika niya bago ito umibis ng sasakyan.“It’s too early, and I bet your room is not ready yet. Stay at my place for a bit and let’s eat. I’ll whip something in the kitchen.”Nang malingunan niya si P ay nasa labas na ito at may ka-text sa cellphone. P couldn’t stop smiling and Ale wondered if she was talking to her boyfriend. Nang maisip ‘yon nakaramdam siya ng inis. Hindi niya alam na kanina pa siya inoobserbahan ni Tay.“What?” tanong niya nang may sabihin ito sa kaniya pero hindi niya naunawaan.“I said, she’s not dating anyone. You’re welcome.”Kumunot ang noo niya. “So? What does that have to do with me?” Ang lagay, kailangan pa niyang magpasalamat sa impormasyon na hindi naman niya hinihingi?“You like her, don’t deny it.” He was about to say that Taylor is mistaken pero umiling ito. “Don’t break her heart, Ale. Iba na lang kung hindi mo seseryosohin.” That was the last thing Taylor said before he got out of the car.***Nang makarating sila sa loob ng condo ni Taylor ay hindi sila nagpapansinan ni P. Ang luggage lang nito ang ibinaba mula sa sasakyan, pero ang sa kaniya ay naiwan doon.“Are you staying here?” Hindi niya napigilan ang magtanong. Silang dalawa lang ang nasa sala dahil si Taylor ay nagtungo na sa kusina para magluto.“Why do you care?” Sumagot si P sa kaniya na hindi man lang nag-abala na tapunan siya ng tingin.“Has no one ever told you that it’s rude not to look at the person in the eye when they are talking to you?”“Dad. My brothers,” sagot nito sa kaniya. Hindi pa rin siya tinitingnan. Napansin niya na hindi nito binanggit ang ina.“And you’re still doing it?” sarkastikong tanong ni Ale sa babae.P locked her phone and faced him. “Ay! Tao ka pala? Akala ko sama ka ng loob na ipinaglihi sa tao.” She grinned at him before getting up and leaving him alone.He was taken aback with her response. He stopped going to church a long time ago, pero sa oras na ito— gusto niyang tawagin ang lahat ng santo para bigyan siya ng sapat na pasens’ya para sa babae. Kung alam kaya ni P kung anong klaseng tao siya, pagsupladahan pa kaya siya nito? The thing is the woman has the gall to annoy him, at wala pang nangahas na gawin ito sa kaniya.He followed her a few seconds later, at napatigil siya sa paghakbang nang marinig ang pakikipag-usap nito kay Taylor.“Can I help you with anything?” tanong ni P kay Taylor. “I can cook the bacon.”Tumawa si Taylor. “And burn down the place— Ouch!” Pabirong sinuntok ni P si Taylor.“You’re mean,” kunwari ay nagdaramdam na wika ni P.Taylor laughed a little at ginulo ang buhok ng babae. “Set the table with Ale and rest.”Sumimangot kaagad si P. “I don’t need help.”“Tsk. I’m starting to think what they say is true.” Maang na tumingin si P kay Taylor. “The more you hate, the more you love.” Humalakhak si Taylor.“F—“ P was going to say the f word pero isang tingin lang ni Taylor ay umirap ito. “Nevermind!” Tumalikod na si P at naglakad palayo sa kusina. “Ale!” tawag nito sa kaniya. Nang makita siya nito malapit sa kusina ay kaagad na kumunot ang noo. “How long have you been there?”Of course he’s going to lie. Baka tawagin pa siya nitong tsismoso. “Ngayon lang.”P stared at him for a quick second, at halatang hindi naniniwala. “Help me set the table.”“You forgot the magic word.” If you can’t beat them, join them. Ang lagay ay si P lang ang pwedeng mang-inis sa kanilang dalawa?“Excuse me?” Sumandal s’ya sa hamba at naghintay. P rolled her eyes and said, “Please.”“That’s better. Come.” Hinawakan niya ang kamay ni P at iginiya niya ito pabalik sa kusina.He doesn’t know what he was thinking when he held her hand, but he did anyway. He liked the warmth coming from it, at kahit pasimple nitong hinihila ang kamay ay hindi niya hinayaan. He reached for the plates using his one hand, and did the same with the glasses. Saka lang niya ito binitawan nang kailangan na nilang dalhin sa mesa ang mga plato. P avoided his gaze and went back to the kitchen to get the utensils. Nang ihain ni Taylor ang pagkain ay may naglalaro itong ngiti sa mga labi. Alam niya, Taylor’s teasing him.Naupo sila para kumain. Si Taylor ay nasa kabisera, at nasa magkabilang gilid sila ni P. Tahimik siya habang kumakain at panay ang sulyap sa babae. Simula nang hawakan niya ang kamay nito at naging masuyo ang pakikitungo niya kanina ay para itong nangimi sa kaniya. She barely spared him a glance.“Ale, do you want to go out with us tonight?”Tumingin siya kay P bago tingnan si Taylor. “Where?” Uminom siya ng tubig.“To the bar. We’re going out to get something to drink,” sagot ng kaibigan sa kaniya.“Sure.” Nakita ni Ale ang pagngiwi ni P. Did she not want him to go with them?The smell of ammonia was what woke him up. He found himself still on the floor and P was on the bed waiting for him to open his eyes. Ang doktor na tinawag niya ay nagpunta sa bahay para i-check si P. May kasama rin itong isang nurse. Umupo muna siya sa sahig at kahit hilo ay tinangka na lumipat sa kama. Hinaplos ni P ang pisngi niya saka siya ginawaran ng halik sa labi."What happened?" Tumawa si P. "Hinimatay ka." He made a sour face. "I meant—""I'm pregnant. I need to get an ultrasound done but the doctor is thinking I'm about five to six weeks along." He was so happy he couldn't speak. He is going to be a father... Hindi siya marunong humawak ng bata. Paano ba magpalit ng diaper? Okay naman siya sa pagpupuyat. Kahit huwag na siyang matulog sa pagbabantay at—"Ale?" His train of thoughts were suddenly stopped when he heard P's voice."Sorry. You were saying?"Tumikhim ang doktora. "We will give you a few minutes before we take your blood samples." Lumabas ito ng silid kasunod a
P was very patient with him and held his hand every step of the way. Ang hindi niya lang ginawa ay ang pagkonsulta sa doktor. He doesn't need it. What he needs is someone who will listen to him. He realized how he bottled up everything inside and now he's paying for it. He told P every single memory he has growing up— good or bad. P is the only therapist he needs. "So he wasn't always bad to you?" Umiling siya. "He is not really. It's hard to explain. Think of it as I will never be good enough as his son.""Well, that's because you're not his." They were out in the balcony and it's been a couple of months since Alejandro and Gabriella's death.May routine sila ni P na uminom ng tsa sa gabi sa balcony at saka mag-uusap. They had talks before but never like this. This time, he's pouring everything out. Mas madaling maging masaya kapag ni-let go na niya ang lahat ng masasamang pangyayari sa buhay niya. Hindi niya makakalimutan, pero hindi rin niya kailangang alalahanin pa at pabigatin
Hindi matanggap ni Gabriella ang kapalaran na sinapit niya kay Alejandro. They were friends. They grew up together. She can't believe that after everything, he would do such a horrible act to her. It wasn't even because he loved her. Love isn't selfish. Love doesn't envy. Alejandro was blinded by his hate and jealousy to Alessandro. At his young mind, it was instilled that he has to do better so he would be Don someday. He gained it by birthright, but even that wasn't real. "I want a divorce." Gabriella's voice was firm. Napatawa si Alejandro. "You really think you'd be free from me, Gabriella?" "I will do whatever you want, just set me free. I will not tell a soul about your family's secret." She was hoping she would be able to persuade him. Ayaw na niyang makisama sa asawang hindi niya kayang pagkatiwalaan. Masyadong mahaba ang habambuhay. At kung hindi siya pakakawalan nito ay mas nanaisin pa niyang wakasan ang buhay niya. Sa imp'yerno rin naman ang tungo niya. How her life
He and Pietra flew home to the Philippines, but didn't take their original flight. TJ arranged something else for them and made sure they are safe. He asked Pietra for some time before they talk about what happened at ilang araw pagkatapos nilang makabalik sa Pilipinas ay hindi na ito nakatiis sa pananahimik niya."Ale, I know you're grieving your family but sometimes, it helps when you talk about it. I will not hold it against you. I am here to listen," bulong nito sa kaniya matapos yumakap. Ever since they came home, he's been keeping to himself. Aside from spending a few hours in the restaurant, uuwi siya sa bahay para makasama si P. He would prepare meals for the both of them. Inaalagaan niya ito. Pero pagdating ng gabi, nahihirapan siyang matulog. Kahit sa panaginip ay nakikita niya ang pagbangga at pagsabog ng kotse ni Alejandro. Pati ang pagkamatay ni Gabriella ay sumasagi sa isip niya. "If you don't want to talk to me, talk to someone. Please, Ale. I don't want you to get sic
The family is in chaos and he is nowhere near the Gambinos. He followed his instinct and went to New Jersey where P would be. Sana lang ay nadala ito roon nina Rob. Surprisingly, TJ owns a home there at ibinigay niya kay P pati na kay Rob at Magnus ang address nito kung sakaling magkaroon ng problema sa pagbabalik niya. He has never been there so he doesn't know what it's like. Baka nasa isang secluded na lugar ang bahay nito katulad sa headquarters nila sa San Servando. Deep inside he hoped that he wasn't going to use it. He drove despite being tired. His only goal was to see P and be with her. Bahala na kung ano ang kasunod na mangyayari. Driving thru the city was brutal until after what seemed like forever, he reached a family neighbourhood. Bergen County has contemporary homes and the one on the right side at the end of the street was the one he was looking for. It's not secluded at all. In fact, it was a beautiful home if only it's occupied by a couple and their children. Pero
"I'll take my chances."Kung gaano siya kabilis dumating ay ganoon din siya kabilis na tumalikod sa kapatid at nilisan ang restaurant na 'yon. Magnus and Rob are with P at hindi pababayaan ng dalawa ang fiancee niya. Narinig niya ang pagpukpok ni Alejandro sa kamao nito sa mesa at hindi natutuwa sa ginawa niya. "No wonder you were the least favorite in the family, Alessandro. You've always been different and yet Dad kept you."Alejandro's father only kept him to serve a purpose and that's to bury a secret. He has yet to find out what it is but he already knew that he is not going to like it— whatever it is. "That's fine. I don't care," sagot niya sa kapatid at hindi man lang ito nilingon. His brother knew fully well not to create a scene in public that would tarnish the business. Kaya nga siya ang inuutusan nito noon para magligpit ng kalat. Alejandro doesn't have it in him— he is simply... weak.He started calling P but she wasn't answering. He tried Rob and Morgan but they did not