CHAPTER 5

Chapter 5

ELIZABETH was so frustrated when she found out that she was in the middle of the sea, currently riding a big yacht, out of nowhere. Hindi niya alam kung nasaan siya o kung anong araw na. She can’t even find her cellphone! Hindi na niya alam ang gagawin. The only thing in her mind is to leave this yacht immediately. For sure nag-aalala na ang anak niya. Hindi pa naman iyon sanay na hindi siya umuwi.

With her mind in chaos, thinking of any way to leave the yacht, she went to find Alaister. Nilibot niya ang buong yacht at nakita ang lalaki sa lower deck, sitting comfortably on the rattan chair, reading some documents like he didn’t do something illegal. Gusto niyang murahin ang lalaki dahil sa ginawa nito pero anong magagawa niya kung mumurahin niya ito? Makakawala ba siya dito kapag ginawa niya yon?

She sighed and went to him. Kaagad itong nag-angat ng tingin at binigyan siya ng nagtatanong na tingin.

“Let’s make a deal,” she said in a formal tone.

“Paano kung ayaw ko?” Nanghahamong sagot nito na ikinatalim ng tingin niya.

“Then I’ll jump on the ocean…” walang bahalang sagot niya na ikinatawa ni Alaister. Of course, Alaister thinks that she won’t do that. Masyadong malaki ang yateng sinasakyan nila at wala siyang nakikitang isla sa malayo. She thinks that they are in the middle of the sea. Maaaring mamatay siya kapag nilangoy niya ang malawak na karagatan.

“You won’t do that,” may kumpyansang sabi nito.

“Watch me.” Pagkasabi ay mabilis na tumakbo at tumalon sa kulay bughaw na dagat. Dinig niya ang pagtawag ni Alaister sa pangalan niya pero habang pababa ng pababa ang katawan niya siya tubig. And when she dived into the body of the water, she paddled her feet and swam like a pro. Hindi siya tanga para ipahamak ang sarili niya, she just want her plan to work.

Sumisid siya sa malalim hanggang sa maramdaman niyang may braso na pumulupot sa beywang niya. She smiled in triumphant when her plan works. Naramdaman niya ang katawan niyang umahon mula sa tubig pero pinanatili niyang nakapikit ang kanyang mga mata.

“F’ck! Eli, wake up… how dare you do that?!” Galit na sigaw nito nang maingat siyang inilapag sa sahig ng yate. He was pumping her chest nervously but when Elizabeth opened her eyes and chuckled, he gave her a deadly look.

Natatawa si Elizabeth nang makita ang mukha ni Alaister na puno ng pag-aalala. She was laughing her ass out as she stood up while Alaister was still glaring at her.

“Elizabeth! Stop laughing!” Galit na suway nito kaya tumikhim siya at pinigilan ang sariling tumawa ulit.

“Akala mo hindi ko tototohanin no?” Aniya saka sinundan ito ng tingin nang tumayo itong bigla. Napatingala siya sa katangkaran nito. “Well, Alaister? Let’s make a deal or else I would really do stupid things here.”

Napabuntong-hininga nalang si Alaister bilang pagsuko. “Fine,” sagot nito na halatang napipilitan. “But first, magbihis ka muna. Magkakasakit ka sa d’yan kabaliwan mo.” Anito at iritadong tinalikuran siya. Siya naman ay napakibit-balikat nalang at tinahak ang daan papunta sa cabin ng lalaki.

SINCE ELIZABETH don’t have any undergarments and dresses, boxers at tshirt nalang ni Alaister ang isinuot niya. Speaking of that man, she found him in the kitchen… cooking! Hindi makapaniwalang sinilip niya kung anong ginagawa nito. Halos manlaki ang mga mata niya nang makumpirmang nagluluto nga ito.

“Wow… you cook?” She asked, amazed. Hindi naman kasi ito marunong magluto noong sila pa. He would choose to order food online or take out from fast food chains. Kaya hindi niya mapigilang mamangha sa kaalamang nagluluto na ito.

Alaister gave her a quick glance before continuing what he’s doing. “Yeah, I learned.” Sagot nito. Kumuha ito ng kutsara at kumuha ng kaunting sabaw gamit ito. “Say ‘ah’, Eli.” Anito at awtamatikong ngumanga naman siya ag tinggap ang sinubo nito.

She was just staring at him dumbfoundedly. Ni hindi niya maigalaw ang kamay niya para itulak ito. He’s so close that she doesn't know what the soup tastes like. Basta lang ay nakatitig lang siya sa gwapo nitong mukha, nahihiwagaan sa ikinilos nito.

“Ano, masarap ba?” He suddenly asked, bringing her reverie back. Napakurap-kurap siya at biglang natauhan. She took a step back from him and nodded awkwardly.

“Good thing you like it,” anito na may ngiti sa labi. “Sige na, umupo ka muna dun sa stool. Malapit na naman ‘tong matapos eh,” dagdag pa nito saka inalalayan siya paupo sa stool.

Huminga siya nang malalim para pakalmahin ang puso niyang walang humpay sa pagtibok ng mabilis na parang kinakarera. Lihim niyang tinapik-tapik ang dibdib niya kung nasaan ang puso niya.

“Kumalma ka, Eli, this is not good for you.” Bulong niya sa sarili at pinagmasdan ang likuran ng lalaki na abala sa pagluluto.

And because of the silence enveloping the surrounding, she asked. “When did you start cooking?”

“Since you left me,” sagot nito na nagpatahimik sa kanya. She heard the bitterness and sadness in his voice, making her feel guilty for leaving him. Pero masisisi niya ba ang sarili niya kung ginawa niya iyon para sa kaligtasan niya at ng anak niya. She can’t blame herself for leaving him without saying anything, for raising her son alone without a father. She was just scared and still stuck in the past.

The wound in her past is still not healed. Masyadong malalim ang sugat na iyon, puno ng hinanakit at puot ang laman ng puso niya ngayon kaya hindi siya dapat magpaapekto sa nararamdaman niya o ng kahit kanino.

“Here, let’s eat.” Biglang sabi nito na nasa harapan na niya pala. Nakahain na din ang ulam at kanin sa katabing lamesa kaya napatango nalang siya.

She spaced out that much that she didn’t notice him coming to her. Tahimik na kinain niya ang niluto nitong afretada at pinaresan iyon ng kanin. At dahil nagugutom na siya at matagal-tagal na rin mula noong nakakain siya ng filipino dish, marami ang nakain niya. Ganado siyang kumain at hindi na napansin ang pagsaway sa kanya ni Alaister. She was so focused on her food.

NAPAILING nalang si Alaister nang makitang ganadong kumakain si Elizabeth. Ni hindi siya nito pinansin ng sabihin niyang maghinay-hinay ito at baka mabilaukan. He was enjoying the sight of her, eating in front him. Pakiramdam niya ay nananaginip lang siya. Minsan ay hiniling niya mula noong iniwan siya nito na sana bumalik ito sa tabi niya.

He wants to cherish every moment he has with her before she left. Kung alam niya lang na iiwan siya nito ay sana sinulit niya ang mga oras na kasama ito. He shouldn’t have wasted any seconds. And seeing her in front of him, masasabi niyang tama ang naging desisyon niyang kidnappin ito. He knows it’s against the law, but the hell he cares. He don’t follow the laws, he make his own laws.

Napangiti siya nang marinig ang malakas na pagdighay ng babae. Everything Elizabeth did is beautiful to his eyes. Oh God, I’m so whipped. He has to hate her for leaving him without even saying goodbye but he just can’t. May kasalanan din naman siya dito.

“Para ka namang hindi nakakain ng isang buwan, ah. Ginutom ka ba ng nobyo mong attorney?” He can’t help but to comment out. He knows he sounds bitter but he didn’t care. He was jealous, seeing and thinking that that punk is Elizabeth’s boyfriend.

Elizabeth shrugged. “Greg doesn’t know how to cook, we always buy take outs and sometimes dine in to some restaurants. Limitado lang naman ang alam kong lutuin.” Anito habang kumakain pa rin.

Kumunot ang noo niya sa isinagot nito. So that punk is really her boyfriend? Inis na asik niya sa kanyang isipan. Maraming mga katanungan ang pumapasok sa kanyang isipan katulad ng, naglilive in na ba ang dalawa, did that punk kissed and touched her, is that punk better than him? Did something happened to them? At marami pang mga katanungan that pisses him more.

“How’s life?” He asked, trying to divert the topic. “When did you became a successful businesswoman?”

“My life?” Anito at tumigil sa pagkain saka tumingin sa kanya. “It’s been f’cked up since you entered the picture. Ano sa tingin mo ang mangyayari sa buhay ko kung wala ka? Of course, I will be happy and at peace.” Sagot nito na nababakas ang katotohanan sa boses nito.

He chuckled humorously. “Sorry for bringing you here without your permission. I was just too desperate.”

“Let me go if you’re really sorry,” she said in a deadly tone.

He shook his head in disapproval. “I’m sorry but I won’t let you go until we clarify some things about us.” Aniya sa may diin sa boses.

Inirapan siya ni Elizabeth at nagpatuloy sa pagkain. “What’s your plan?” Tanong nito. “Wala ka naman sigurong planong ikulong ako dito habang-buhay, ano?” Mababakas ang sarkasamo sa boses nito.

“Let’s get to know each other. I will tell everything about myself, and in exchange, I am asking you to believe me. Yun lang, Eli, I’m not asking for more but for you to believe me.” Aniya na halos nagmamakaawa. With Elizabeth nothing to choose with, she nodded.

Ano pa bang magagawa niya? She’s stucked with him, but not for long. Sisiguraduhin niyang makakaalis siya sa lugar na ito. For now, she has to deal with her ex-boyfriend hanggang sa makahanap siya paraan kung papaano siya makakaalis sa lugar.

“Okay, I’ll agree but in one condition.” She said in a negotiating voice that she always use in business terms.

“Okay, anything.” He immediately replied.

“You’ll bring me home and leave me alone after a month of your ‘get-to-know-each-other’ thingy,” aniya at kita niya ang pag-aalangan sa mga mata ni Alaister pero tumango din naman ito.

THEY FINISHED their lunch together and went to the railings of the yacht, watching the waves of the sea together. The sound of the waves of the sea together with the breezing air that hits her face somehow calms her. Nagiging maayos na ang takbo ng utak niya at nakapag-iisip na siya ng maayos.

Feeling Alaister’s presence is enough to make her uneasy. Kinakabahan siya sa maaaring mangyari sa kanila, baka traydorin siya ng sariling katawan at puso. She has goals and that is to stay away from him and protect her son from him. Hindi pwedeng mahulog siya sa patibong ng lalaki. Alam niyang may pinaplano ang lalaki at hindi lang ang pakikipagkilala ang pakay nito. She can feel it. Hindi siya nito kikidnapin kung gusto lang nitong ipakita at ipakilala ang tunay na pagkatao nito.

But what’s the use anyway? Ano naman ngayon kung makilala niya ang tunay na ito? That wouldn’t change the fact that he is the son of the demon who killed her mother, her other half. Napakasakit sa kanya ang mawalan ng ina lalo pa at nandoon siya at nasaksihan niya ang kademonyohan at kababuyang ginawa ng ama nito sa ina niya. What worsts is that she didn’t do anything to save and protect her mother. Kaya minsan ay sinisisi niya ang sarili niya dahil sa pagiging mahina niya. Minsan ay tinatanong niya sa sarili niya kung bakit naging babae pa siya. Women are weak, that’s what her father once said. Women should be protected by men, not the other way around.

Her father wanted a male child to take over their business. But unluckily, a female child came, and that’s her. Ang akala kasi ng mga magulang niya ay lalaki siya noong ipinagbubuntis pa siya ng ina niya kaya siguro ay malaking pagkabigo ang naramadaman ng kanyang ama malamang babae ang anak nito. But her mother was happy when she came out.

Her mother was the only one who understands and supports her. She always rely on her mother… she depends on her. Kaya para na rin siyang nawalan ng buhay ng mamatay ito. It’s like her other half is dead while the other half is still alive, but not living. Kaya hinding-hindi niya mapapatawad ang ama nito. And she would loathe everyone who’s connected to him.

“Ang lalim ata ng iniisip mo,” biglang sabi ni Alaister na nagpabalik sa kanyang isipan sa kasalukuyan. “Hindi ka naman siguro nag-iisip ng paraan para takasan ako, ‘di ba?”

Napatingin siya dito at pinakatitigan ang gwapo nitong pagmumukha. She can see loneliness and pain in his mysterious eyes. Puno ng sakit at pagod ang mga mapupungay nitong mga mata.

“I’m not… I’m just wondering, para saan pa ang pagpapakilala mo sa akin when I know who you are already?” She asked, bitterness is visible in her voice. “I mean, I did a background check on you, Alaister. Ano pa ba ang kulang sa mga detalyeng nabasa ko?”

“What details about me have you known?” Tanong nito.

“Zacchaeus Alaister Silvestri, Romano is your father’s surname pero bakit hindi mo ginagamit ang apilyedo ng magaling mong ama?” She asked curiously as she turned her gaze to him who’s just watching the sea.

“Because… I don’t like him being my father, I loathe everything about him.” Biglang sabi nito na mababakas ang galit pero nanatiling kalmado ang mukha. “Minsan hinihiling ko nalang sa Panginoon na sana ay hindi nalang siya ang naging ama ko. Maybe, just maybe, my mom would be free.” Anito na may pait sa boses pero may pag-aalangan siya kung maniniwala ba siya sa sasabihin nito o hindi.

She has trust issues. Pili lang ang mga taong pinagkakatiwalaan niya. Mahirap ding magtiwala ulit sa taong walang ginawa kundi maglihim at magsinungaling.

“If you did a background check on me, that doesn’t mean you know everything about me. Did the report told you that I’m a rape child?”

Halos nabuwal si Elizabeth sa sinabi nito. Hindi niya alam na bunga pala ito ng panggagahasa. Ayaw niya mang paniwalaan pero sapat na ang pait at sakit sa boses nito para mapatunayang totoo ang sinasabi nito. She was shocked that she couldn’t even utter a word.

Kita niya ang mapait na pagngiti ni Alaister at naiiling na napayuko na tila ba nahihiya.

“M-My father… v-violated my m-mom, Elizabeth. At ako ang naging bunga sa kababuyang ginawa ng ama ko sa ina ko.” Basag ang boses na pag-amin nito and all Elizabeth could do is to gather him in her arms and give him a warm embrace.