CHAPTER 4

BUTTER HAVIAÑA

" Stop tapping your desk. Nandito na ang pinapakuha mo. S'ya nga pala, h'wag kang umalis manaya. " umangat ang kilay ko.

" And why?"

" Pupunta mamaya si Miss Catrian dito. You have to be here. " sagot niya.

" Just send her the contract. May lakad pa kami ng boyfriend ko. " she sigh heavily and hissed.

" Makakapaghintay ang lakad ninyo ng boyfriend mo. Stop acting so lovey dovey Butter. " she keeps pestering me about this Miss Catrian.

" Fine but, do something for me Laine. " pinaningkitan niya ako ng mga mata na tila ba nagbabanta.

" Ano na naman Butter?" pinsan ko talaga si Laine sa mother side.

" Investigate someone for me. "

" Name? "

" Earth this is her photo. " napahilot siya sa sintido habang nakapikit.

" Investigate someone na hindi mo alam kung ano ang surname. You're unbelievable! "

" Kaya nga andito ang picture n'ya eh. " binigay ko iyon sa kanya at bahagya siyang natawa ng makita ito.

" Fine. Dito ka lang wala kang meeting ngayong araw pero ime-meet mo ngayon dito si Miss Catrian. " who the h*ll is that Catrian? Why so important ba?

Lumipas ang oras tumawag ang boyfriend ko. Nag-aaya ng lunch together mamaya pero hindi ako pumayag. I said i have urgent business kahit wala naman. Ang totoo ay naiinis ako sa kanya. Dumating nga siya kahapon pero heto at wala pa rin naman siyang oras sa akin.

I stand across the glass wall. Staring the whole city, those buildings, homes, walking, vehicles and the traffic along S Road. I took a deep breath and smile bitterly.

' sister, i hope we can stand here together doing business together. it's been 9 years sister, you promise together- forever pero bakit iniwan mo ako? '

" Hi. Miss Haviaña? I'm Miss Catrian from Catrian Greens. Am i disturbing you Ma'am? " para bang tumigil ang buong mundo ko ng marinig ko ang boses na iyon. Agad kong pinahid ang aking luha kanina at humarap sa kanya.

" E-Earth? " nauutal na bigkas ko sa pangalan niya. Yes, no other than her.

Tumawa siya at naglakad palapit hanggang dalawang hakbanh na lang ang layo namin sa isa't isa.

She extended her hands as she introduce herself again.

" Hi My name is Earth Leight Catrian, 28 acting CEO of Catrian Greens. It's a pleasure to finally meet you Miss Haviaña. " nakangiti niyang sambit. Inabot ko ang kamay niyang malambot para sa shake hands.

" My boyfriend's sister also had the same name. You shared the same second name 'Leight' " namilog ang kanyang mga mata.

" It's just a name. Lot's of people using the same one." she said. Hindi naman siguro siya ang kapatid ng boyfriend ko. Kung oo edi magiging sister-in-law ko s'ya?

" H-Hi. I'm Butter Haviaña your future- i mean future business partner. " literal na pareho kaming natawa at sabay din tumingin sa labas ng building.

" So, ikaw pala ang ka-meeting ko kahapon. " she started.

" Yeah and you are wearing different clothes. " sambit ko.

" As well as you. Someone stain my dress so i need to change. " i just smile and continue staring outside.

It's been so long since i last stand here.

" You've been staring the city for so long, Butter. "

" You noticed? " tumango siya at inabot ang isang panyo sa akin.

" Memories? " she asked.

" Probably unfinished story of us na hindi ko matanggap. " huminga ako ng malalim at pinahid ang luha kong tumakas na naman sa mga mata ko.

" You and who? Don't tell me your boyfriend? " nabigla siya at hindi maiwasan ang tingnan ako ng may pag-aalala.

" No. My sister and I. It's been nine years pero hindi ko pa rin s'ya makalimutan. "

" I see. Akala ko ang boyfriend mo. So, what happened to your sister? Mind if you share? " Should i tell her? Baka isipin niyang freak ako.

Pero bakit ba ang gaan ng loob ko sa kanya?

" Sobrang mahal mo ata ang kapatid mo. "

" Yeah, more than just a sister. " sagot ko kaya't napa-atras siya.

" P-pardon? " pakla akong natawa at muling huminga ng malalim para sabihin ang totoo.

" I love her as my equal. I romantically love her. " nabigla talaga s'ya at punong puno ng pagtataka ang kanyang mga mata.

" S-she is your sister. "

" I know. I love her since i was 12, Earth. Call me crazy, freak of what. But I love my sister as my lover. " nakakagulat di ba? Oo mahal ko ang kapatid ko.

" Did she also loves you? " akala ko ay huhusgahan niya ako at iiwan dahil sa sinabi ko. Pero nanatili siya at nagtanong pa.

" Yes. But she keeps denying it. Of course she will, magkapatid kami at mali ang magmahalan kami ng higit pa sa magkapatid. And i was too young back then. "

" That's a sin Butter. "

" I know. But, we are not blood related Earth. Kinopkop lang siya ng pamilya ko. Pero tutol sila sa relasyon namin kaya pilit na lumalayo s'ya sa'kin. So I promise to be good and work hard for our future but then- 2 weeks before her 20th birthday, she passed away. I missed her so much. She once become my life, my light, my everything. The life of my world but she left me. " tuluyan akong nanghina at napa-upo na lang sa lapag. Dinulugan niya ako at pinahilig sa kanyang balikat.

" Illness? "

" No. Namatay siya sa sumabog na building. She's saving children from human traffickers. She's a secret agent at the age of 17 and she's also working as my family's newly appointed CEO at her 19. Sabi ng batang isa sa nailigtas niya, nasaksak siya at hindi na nakalabas ng building na sumabog. She saves me from human traffickers when i was seven and she's an orphan kaya inampon siya ng pamilya ko. I love her, yeah loving her is a sin. I'm guilty. Masamang tao ako Earth. " niyakap niya ako at hinayaang umiyak.

" You are the most bravest woman I've ever seen Butter. Loving someone isn't a sin. " i laugh even I'm still crying.

" You just said a while ago it's a sin. "

" Your reason proves you're not guilty loving her. And you know what, i just realized something. You don't need to pretend, you only need to be yourself. " naguluhan ako dahil may laman ang sinasabi niya.

" What are you trying to say? "

" I'm planning to divorce my husband and just be myself. I'm tired pretending, I'm tired being their puppet. " pinahid niya ang luha ko at seryoso siyang tumingin sa akin.

" You're scaring me Earth. May kinalaman ba ako sa divorce mo? "

" Relax you're so tense Miss Haviaña. You love your sister, you prove yourself, you never been afraid of your own feelings even though loving your sister can cost it all to you. And you still slay even though she's already gone. Maybe it's time for me to free myself. I can still survive without man, without them. That family is only draining me dry. " mapait siyang ngumiti tumingin sa nagkukulay kahel na langit.

It's almost sunset at magkasama na naman namin itong pinagmamasdan.

" But you know what. I don't believe my sister is really gone. I can still feel her. "- in your arms my earth.