The stranger in our door.
Kairos'
"What? What? Hindi kita maintindihan, Kairos. Can you just sit down for a moment and calm your tits? Sumisipa iyong anak ko sa tyan ko dahil sa'yo."
I was phasing uncomfortably in front of Telulah Consunji – Sandoval. She is my cousin. She is a very intelligent lawyer. Hindi nga lang siya nagpa-practice ngayon dahil buntis siya at medyo maselan ang kalagayan niya. She already has a son, seven years old na iyong bata, kasing edad halos ni Danielle ko.
"Can you calm down and tell me again what happened." She said calmly. Nakatingin siya sa dalawang marriage certificate ko. Hindi ko maintindihan kung paano nangyari ang kasal na ito! How the hell did it happen? How the hell can't I remember the fact that I marrid Catherine Fe?!
"Paano ako nakakuha ng cenomar kung kasal na ako by that time! This is fake! So fake! Hindi kami kasal ni Cachi! Paano ang reputation ko? Ng company? Paano ang press! Tel, they're gonna have a field day! Hindi pwedeng maapektuhan ang image ng company! People cannot know about this! It's not even real is it? Tell me!"
"Oh this, December 24 is authentic, Kairos. Ang kaso, baka kaya nakakuha ka ng Cenomar that time ay dahil hindi pa naka-rehistro itong kasal mo. Ganoon talaga lalo na kung sa civil lang kayo kasal. Hindi na siguro napansin noong nasa office. But if this is true, they hindi kayo kasal ni Iake, at may habol sa'yo itong si Catherine Fe."
"Paano mangyayari iyon kung hindi ko naman natatandaan! Loop hole iyon! Ibig sabihin iyong other party wala siya sa katinuan."
"Kung wala ka sa katinuan, bakit nakapirma ka?" Pinagdikit ni Tel iyong dalawang certificate. "Pirma mo ito, parehong- pareho. Hindi ka naman siguro pinilit. Nasa taman edad ka."
"Paano kung lasing ako?!"
"Paano ka nakapirma kung lasing ka?!"
"Paano kung hindi naman na- consummate ang kasal?!""Are you sure!"
Sasagot sana ako nang maalala ko iyong nangyari sa amin the night before I got married. Counted ba iyon?
"Kairos... so... hindi ka makasagot. Was the marriage consummated?"
Hindi pa rin ako nakasagot. That counts. Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! Paano ko ipapaliwanag kay Mariake ang bagay na ito? Kung mayroon man akong iniiwasan iyon ay ang mag-away kami. I don't want to end up having a destroyed marriage. I want to keep Mariake and my kids! Fuck again!
"May habol sa'yo si Miss Cinco, Kairos. Lalo na sa yaman mo." Alam kong nagbibiro siya pero naalarma rin ako. Kasal kami, wala siyang pinirmahang pre – nup! Fuck again! Mariake signed a prenup. Wala namang masama, sine-secure ko lang iyong para sa akin at sa mga anak ko.
"What can I do now?" Tanong ko sa pinsan ko.
"You have to find Miss Cinco." Sabi ni Tel sa akin. "But why would you do that if you can have it pulled out and destroyed. It's as if hindi nag-exist itong kasal mo. Walang makakaalam, Kairos. I just have to make a call."
Hindi ako nakasagot. I smiled at Telulah tapos ay umalis na ako. Pagsakay ko ng kotse ay tinawagan ko si Mr. Andrado – ang isa pang galamay ko.
"I have to know where the hell is Catherine Fe Cinco before the day ends or else you are going to lose your job." Hindi ko na siya hinintay sumagot. I went home to my family.
Pag-uwi ko ay sinalubong kaagad ako ni Ada. She's smiling at me, nagpapakarga pa.
"Hello, Daddy! I missed you!" She's four years old and I really love her. I really do.
"I missed you too, where is Ate Danielle and Mommy?"
"In the kitchen, they're cooking po."
"Alright. Let's go." I smiled at her. Nagpunta na kami sa kitchen kung saan natagpuan ko ang panganay ko at si Iake. She smiled at me.
"Ang aga mo naman, Kairos." Hinalikan niya ako. "Sabi ko diba hindi na dapat nagpapakarga kay Daddy kasi big girl na ikaw, Ada?""But he's my Daddy. I missed him!"
"And I missed you two baby girl!" I snuggled her.
"How about me? Did you miss me?" Tanong naman ni Danielle.
"Of course I missed you. Kiss Daddy, c'mon!" Yumuko pa ako para mahalikan ako ni Danielle sa pisngi. Tapos noon ay ibinaba ko na si Ada para matulungan ko silang dalawa ni Iake sa paghahana ng hapunan. She cooked chicken afritada, paborito kasi iyon nang mga bata. Habang nagluluto kami ay hindi ako mapakali. Hindi ko alam kung tatawag si Mr. Andrado sa akin o talagang mawawalan na siya ng trabaho.
I need to find Cachi. I need to talk to her. Alam kong mas madali iyonh iniisip ni Telulah pero gusto kong malama kung paanong nakasal kaming dalawa nang hindi ko nalalaman and after that, I will have the marriage destroyed. May sarili naman na siyang buhay. Hindi iisang beses sinabi sa akin ni Alejandros noon na may boyfriend si Cachi, may may asawa na raw ito. Alam kong walang asawa si Cachi pero hindi ko sigurado iyong sa boyfriend.
I remembered her being at CLPH noong kasal ni Oliver. She came alone, ni hindi sila nakapag-usap ng kapatid ko pero alam kong umalis siya roon na kasama si Ody. Hindi ako tanga. Mula noon, inisip ko nang talagang mas pinili niyang hindi na lang ako makasama o maka-usap. That was also the time when Alejandros started calling a random number thinking that it was his daughter, iyon pala prank caller lang.
We had dinner. Inasikaso ni Iake ang mga anak ko. I like her being so domesticated. Hindi talaga niya hinahayaan na hindi siya ang naghahanda ng pagkain naming lahat. Kahit na may maids kami.
In the middle of the dinner, my phone rang and I had to excuse myself. My heart was beating fast. I saw Mr. Andrado's name in my screen.
"Sir, I found her. She lives in Seattle now. I am going to send you the full address.""Please do, Mr. Andrado and please tell the people in the airlines that I will be needing a private plane and I need it tonight. I will be flying to Seattle. This is an emergency." Sabi ko pa. Nagkaintindihan na kami sa flight arrangements ko.
I went back to my family.
"Is that work, Daddy?" Danielle asked me.
"Yes, baby. Daddy's gotta leave tonight."
"And where are you going?" My wife asked.
"Emergency client call in Singapore. I'll be back two days from now, or kung maaayos ko agad, bukas na." I smiled at her."Okay, iaayos ko ang gamit mo.""Thank you, Iake," Sabi ko na lang sa kanya. Mabilis ang oras. Inayos niya ang mga gamit ko at inihatid pa ako sa kotse ko. She even stood for a long time hanggang sa hindi na niya ako makita. Hindi nagtagal ay nasa airport na ako at nakasakay na sa eroplano papuntang Seattle.
Ilang taon kaming hindi nag-uusap ni Catherine and now, I am going to her to talk about this fucked up marriage. Alam niya ba? Kung oo, bakit hindi niya sinabi sa akin? Is she crazy? What the hell is going inside her mind.
Eighteen hours later, I am standing in front of her apartment door. Sa fourth floor siya nakatira. I am face to face with her door. Hindi ako makahinga. Kabang – kaba ako. Wala akong ibang naiisip, pinipilit kong mag-isip ng pros and cons pero hindi ko magawa. Walang laman ang isip ko kundi ang pangalan ni Catherine Fe.
Kumatok na ako. Walang sumasagot.
Paulit – ulit ang ginawa ko but then, walang sumagot.
"Hey, who are you?" I heard a little boy's voice. I looked at my left and I saw a boy – maybe six or seven years old, wearing a blue denim jacket, a pair of khakis and a blue shirt. May bonnet rin siya sa ulo."Sofie, there's a stranger in our door. Can you call Mommy?"
"Who are you, Sir? Who are you looking for?" The blonde girl asked.
"I'm looking for Catherine Fe's apartment. Uhm, Cachi Cinco, am I in the right place?" I asked them.
"That's Mommy's name!" The boy said.
"Rem, stop it. Don't yell. Mrs. Riley will hear you and will shout again."
Nakatitig ako doon sa bata. Mommy niya si Cachi?
"Your mom is Cachi?"
"Mommy said to not talk to strangers. Call mommy now!"
"Kairos?"
Another voice popped out. I looked and I saw Ody. What the fuck is he doing here.
"Mr. Ody! There's a stranger in our door!" The boy pointed at me.
"Oh he's not a stranger, he's my cousin."
Nag-init ang ulo ko.
"Why are you here?" I asked him."I should be the one asking you that. Why are you here in Cathy's apartment?""Mom! There's a stranger in our door!" The boy yelled. I looked at the stairs, noon ko nakitang paakyat na si Catherine Fe. She had a longer hair now. At nang magkaharap kami ay para bang nagulat talaga siya.
"Kairos' is here." Sabi ni Ody."What is Ody doing here?" I asked her."No, what are you doing here?" Matapang na tanong niya. Mula sa coat ko ay inilabas ko ang marriage certificate naming dalawa."We need to talk." I told her. She looked at me. She definitely knows something.
Esmeralda Alba Vejar'sI could still remember that day when my Mom and Dad walked down the aisle. I was only ten years old back then and I am very much happy because I know for a fact that it's that day that will change everything in our lives.My dad told me that he had always adored my mom when they were younger. He had always seen her as a special girl. He was just too gay to even realize that.Their wedding was six years ago, and now, I am sixteen and I am watching them as they talk to each other in the gazebo while drinking tea. Momma smiled at Dad and they laughed again.I sighed."What are you doing, Ate?" Eros asked me. I looked back, I think he just got home from school."Look at them. They're so perfect for each other." Sabi ko pa."Oh yes. So perfect that they had two other kids." Tumawa si Eros. May dalawa pa kaming kapatid, si Alexandro at si Sarita. Sarita is our youngest, she's in kinder now, si Alexandro naman ay grade four. We have a semi - big family and my parents h
Alejandros'"You didn't tell Sabino you're back? Pinasundo mo lang siya papunta dito sa CLPH? Bakit? Dapat ikaw ang sumundo sa kanya, Alele. He cannot walk."I was having a morning walk with Ate Amal that morning. Kahapon ako dumating galing Seattle at kahapon ko rin nalaman ang tungkol sa katotohanan kay Sabi. Ang hindi ko maintidihan ay kung bakit kailangan niyang gawin iyon. I know, maybe it's about love or because he didn't want to feel alone.I feel responsible for whatever happened to him. Ako talaga ang may kasalanan noon kasi naman iniwanan niya ang pamilya niya para sa akin at kailangan kong harapin iyon. Kahit na hindi ko na siya mahal sa paraang nais niya, he is still my responsibility. Hindi ko siya pwedeng iwanan basta. Alam kong dapat akong magalit sa kanya but as I looked at him that day, I realized that he changed as I did.Pareho kaming nagbago. At sa pagbabagong iyon, naiwanan ko si Sabino."Ate, Sabi can walk. He's been trying to hide that for a long time. Not sure
Elisha's"Momma is Papa gonna be alright?"Eros was sitting beside me. His hands were clasped together and he was looking at me with his wide almond shaped eyes."He is going to be fine, Eros. He promised you and Ate right?" Ginulo ko nang bahagya ang buhok niya. Nasa waiting area kami ng ospital at naghihintay sa kanila. Si Alba ay nasa kabilang couch at nagbabasa ng libro niya. Alba is a wide reader, isang bagay na namana niya sa Papa niya. I remember seeing a lot of books in his rooms when I was a teenager. He loves reading, mana si Alba sa kanya."But will we be able to eat the candies in his coat pocket after it's done?" Eros asked me."Of course! But Papa needs to eat many broccolis because he needs to get healthy after it's done." He smiled at me. Napangiti na rin ako."I miss him already Momma. After its done, I'm letting him hug you because he helped Rom. Rom's gonna be alright after this, too right?" He asked again. I could only hope. I am hoping and praying that everything
Alejandros'"Papa, are you still bakla?"I was going upstairs with Alba in my hands. Pikon nap ikon ako kay Elisha. Kung sino-sinong lalaki ang kinakausap niya. Inabot na siya ng tanghali sa labas! Hindi naman niya kasama si Eros. Kahit pa sabihing may baby sitter doon. Anong magagawa noong baby sitter?! Sasabunutan ko na talaga itong babaeng ito! Hindi siya nag-iisip!Ini-stress niya ako samantalang bukas na ang operation namin ni Rom! Hindi niya baa lam na bawal ma-stress ang beauty ko?!"Anak, stop asking me that." I plainly said to my daughter. She shook her head."According to google, baklas don't go around punching people if they're upset. They slap people around, pulling their hair, then they don't have kids. "Cause they're baklas. Papa, I don't think you're a bakla nymore. I think you love Momma that's why you punched Mr. Jarvis. He's Mommy's friend and he gave us two bottles of cow milk for Rom. You're jealous, Papa. You're in love with Momma."Hindi ako nakakibo. Tinitingnan
Alejandros'"Thank you, Alejandros ha."Pagpasok namin sa apartment ay iyon agad ang sinabi ni Elisha sa akin. Thank you. Nagpapasalamat siya dahil pumayag akong maging donor para kay Rom which is never really a problem kasi pamangkin ko naman ang pinag-uusapan at isa pa kailangan talaga ni Rom ng tulong. I saw the kid. He was too weak. Kamukha siya ni Rem pero mas maliit siya at mas maputla at mas payat dahil nga siguro sa sakit nito."It's nothing. I'm glad to help." I told her. Sinusundan ng mata ko si Eros. Kanina sa plane ay magkausap na kami. Natutuwa ako sa kanya dahil para bang ang independent niya tulad rin ni Alba. Now, he's taking out all his toys and the he looked at me."Hey, Papa, let's play with my cars and lego! Faster!" Gigil na gigil siya habang kinakawayan ako. Napatawa ako tapos ay agad na nagpunta sa kanya. He gave me some lego blocks and told me to build whatever I want. Alba joined us and played too."Papa, are you going to marry Momma?"Natigilan ako. I looked
Alejandros’“Come fly with me, Alejandros.”I couldn’t decide on what to do. Gusto kobg sumama kay Elisha pero hindi ko basta pwedeng iwanan si Sabi. But then, looking at her now, in front of me makes me want to fly with her – gusto kong sumama sa lahat ng lugarna pupuntahan niya. Gusto ko na siyang makasama at ituloy kung anuman ang naudlot noon. We have kids. Two of them at hindi ko hahayaan na mawala na naman sila. I have missed seven years of Alba’s life. Hindi ko hahayaang madagdagan iyon. Hindi ko rin hahayaang mawala sa akin ang anak konh si Eros. The way he looked at me earlier - iyong para bang kinikilala at tinatantya niya akong mabuti ay sobranh awakward para sa akin. Hindi naman dapat ganoon iyon. I sighed."Please, Alejandros. Let's fly to Seattle. Please..." Hinawakan niya ang braso ko and I swear, I felt fireworks all over me. Napabuntong - hininga na lang ako."I will arrange our plane, Lisha.""Oh my god! Thank you, Alejandros!" Bigla na lang niya akong niyakap. Natig
Eight years later...Kindred Hospital Seattle – First HillElisha's"Momma, will he be okay? I mean really, really okay? I am really really worried about him. Rem keeps on asking me if Rom is going to die. Mama Cathy doesn't want us to think that Rom is going to die. Rem said that if Rom dies, he wll die too, is that true? If that is, where are we gonna bury him? In Qatar, here in Seattle or in the Philippines? It's so confusing because we have like dual citizenship."Alba keeps on talking while we walk around the hospital to find Cachi. I just got back from picking Alba and Rem from their school and since we got in the car, hindi na tumigil si Alba sa kakasalita. Hindi ko maintindihan kung paanong naging napakadaldal nang anak ko samantalang noong baby siya ang tagal niya bago natuwid sa bulol niyang pagsasalita. She's now seven years old. Two months from now, eight years old na siya, I was thinking of giving her a birthday party. Ngayon lang kung sakali siya makakapag-party."Rom is
Elisha'sWe are now walking back to the main base of the CLPH. Alejandros was holding my hand while we walk. I couldn't contain my happiness. Basta masaya ako at mukhang masaya rin naman siya."Hey, Alele!"Napansin kong may golf cart na huminto sa tapat namin. In there, I saw his cousin, Apollo Vejar kasama ang girlfriend nito. They were laughing while talking to Alele."Saan kayo? Tara, sakay na!""Sure! Saan ba kayo pupunta ni Wewe?" He asked. "Si Lisha nga pala." He looked at me then he grinned. "Jowa ko." Napansin kong kumunot ang noo ni Apollo."Jowa?" He repeated what Alele said."Girlfriend iyon, Pol." Sabi noong maliit na babae. Hindi naman nagsalita na si Apollo pero halata sa kanya ang pagtataka. Inalalayan naman ako ni Alejandros hanggang sa makaupo kaming dalawa sa likod ng golf cart. Hindi niya pa rin binibitiwan ang kamay ko. I am happy – so happy. Mahal ko naman kasi si Alejandros. Iyon nga lang, hindi ko alam kung mahal niya ba ako. Paano kung hindi, paano kung ganito
Elisha's"Ateng, lalaki na ba siya? Parang lalaki na siya... feeling ko lalaki na siya."Taa nang tawa si Catherine Fe sa akin. Nasa bahay niya ako nang umagang iyon. Naghahanda kasi siya sa pagdating ng Mommy niya. Excited ang lukas. Sabi niya nga bantayan ko siya dahil baka atakihin siya ng epilepsy sa sobrang excitement niya. Ganoon daw kasi siya kapag mataas ang emotions. Inaatake siya."Hindi ko alam." She smiled. "Malay mo naman. Ano nag-wrestling ba kayo?" She asked me."Hindi. Umiyak kasi si Alba, so I had to attend to her. Ewan ko ba. Parang napapaso na rin ako. Umalis nga ako sa kabila, tulog pa rin si Alele. Sa iisang kama kami natulog eh. Bahala na, basta." I sighed. Nasa play pen si Alba, habang si Rem at Rom ay nakahiga sa crib nilang dalawa at para bang nag-uusap."Everything has to be perfect. I don't want Nanay to think that I am losing it." Tumawa siya. "Anyway, h'wag mon ang pakaisipin si Alejandros. Kung gusto ka niya at kung may nararamdaman siya sa'yo, gagawa siy