Chapter 3

CHAPTER 3

Sunod-sunod na putok ng baril ang binitawan ni Catalina. Hugo replaced the empty strawberry shake on her table as he watched her shoot all the dummies in a mile. Walang palya lahat ng baril ng dalaga, it was all bull’s eye, as if she was shooting with a sniper.

Catalina was currently enjoying the shooting range in her parent’s mansion. Alas quarto na nang hapon pero abala pa rin si Catalina sa pagputok ng baril. It was like she was releasing her stress from something, she couldn’t tell.

“Babe, sit down and drink your shake first.”

Napatigil si Catalina sa paghila ng gantilyo, nilingon niya si Hugo at maliit na ngumiti. She sat down beside him on the bench and reached for her strawberry shake. Hugo pulled out a cigarette pack from his pocket and lit up one stick.

“Anong lasa?” she asked him.

“Mapait, it’s not for you.”

“Sabrina smokes too… Though I rarely see her smoke,” saad ng dalaga. “May problema ba?”

Umiling si Hugo. “No, babe, everything’s fine.”

“Sebastian,” nagbabantang tugon ni Catalina.

Hugo sighed. “Remember my former colleague in the Navy?”

“Yeah, yung hindi mo pinangalanan?”

Hugo’s hand, formed into a fist. “He doesn’t deserve a name.”

Catalina saw how hard Hugo was fisting his hand. Inabot ng dalaga ang kamay niya at marahang hinaplos, unti-unting kumalma si Hugo. Umusog ang dalaga papalapit sa binata at sinilip ang mukha nito. Hugo avoided her but he couldn’t get away from her gaze.

“Ikwento mo…”

Umiling si Hugo. “I can fix this. C’mon,” Hugo took her hand.

Kumunot ang noo ni Catalina. “Saan?”

He threw his smoke on the ground and stomped on it. “Pool,” maigsi niyang sagot sabay hila sa asawa.

The shooting range was ten kilometers away from the pool and from the mansion, then fifteen kilometers away from the horse stables. Kinakailangan nilang mag-golf cart para maabot ang kabilang dulo ng lupaing ito. Napapalibutan lang rin ng mga halaman ang lupain na ‘to, araw-araw na binibisita ng mga tauhan nina Catalina para panatilihin ang kalinisan at kaayusan.

Hugo and Catalina walked side by side, not touching each other but enough to send shivers to her spine. Hugo cleared his throat but he didn’t say anything. Ganoon rin ang ginawa ni catalina hanggang sa umabot sila sa harapan ng pool.

Hugo took off his shirt and his pants, leaving his boxers. Maingat siyang bumaba sa swimming pool habang nakatitig sa dalaga. Catalina sat on the edge of the pool while looking back at Hugo. Nang tuluyan nang nasa tubig si Hugo ay lumapit ito sa dalaga. Catalina shook her head.

“Wala akong damit.”

“Skinny dip with me then,” ani ni Hugo sabay angat ng hinubad na boxers nito.

Mahinang natawa si Catalina. “We both know it’s not just skinny dipping you’re talking about.”

“No? I don’t know… Wanna find out?”

Catalina stood up and pulled her dress up and threw it on the ground, leaving her with her undergarments. She dived into the pool and swam across Hugo. Isa-isang tinanggal ng dalaga ang natitirang saplot sa ilalim ng tubig habang nakatitig kay Hugo. She placed it near the poolside.

“I won't touch you…” Pigil hiningang sabi ni Hugo.

Ngumisi si Catalina. “Then stop holding your breath.”

Sumisid ang dalaga sa ilalim ng tubig, the lights were still off as the sun was setting. Pilit nilangoy ni Catalina ang kabilang dulo ng pool pero bago pa man niya maabot ‘yon ay hinila na ni Hugo ang paa niya.

Pumiglas si Catalina pero mas malakas ang asawa nito. He held her lower back and pulled her tightly to stand firm on the ground, against the waters. Masamang tumingin si Catalina kay Hugo.

“What happened to no touching?”

“Can't help it,” ngising tugon ng binata.

“Shouldn't you be ashamed?” Taas kilay na tanong niya.

“Why would I?” Napaisip siya. “You screamed my name while doing it. Why should I be ashamed?”

Namula bigla ang pisnge ni Catalina. The pool was big but it felt smaller because of Hugo in front of her. He dominated the pool just as he dominated her world. Napaatras si Catalina mula sa binata. Lumapit siya sa giid ng pool at inabot ang hinubad na damit.

Catalina cleared her throat. “I'm done swimming.”

Napahilamos si Hugo sa inis. “If I wasn’t the man sitting across from you that day…” Hugo started, referring to the day that they both met again after a month of no connection. “Would you still marry me?”

Nahigit ang hininga ng dalaga sa tanong ng binata. She wore her undergarments again and walked back to the stairs. Tumigil siya nang isang hakbang na lamang ang kailangan bago makaahon sa pool.

“I will,” she lied.

“You won’t divorce him?”

Umiling si Catalina at isinuot ang itim na bestida. “Marriage is sacred, Hugo.”

Mahigpit na kumuyom ang kamao ng binata sa ilalim ng tubig kasabay ng paglakad ni Catalina papasok sa mansion. Catalina immediately headed to her old room, her things were still there. Hindi ito ang bahay na tinutuluyan nila nang mamatay ang mga magulang niya. This house was built for Catalina ang her siblings but they never visited this until their parents died. Nakapangalan pa rin kina Samuel at Catherine Garcia ang mansion na ito, Catalina doesn’t want to take it. Saka na lamang kapag kaya na niyang harapin ang mga tao.

Catalina removed her clothes again and stared at her naked reflection in the bathroom’s mirror. Huminga sya ng malalim. She resembles her mother so much. From her eyes, her lips, her face, and her nose. Pero ang kulay ng mata niya ay namana niya galing sa kaniyang ama. Even her hair was inherited from her late father. Her porcelain skin was from her mother but her tattoos were designed just as her father wanted.

Hinawakan ni Catalina ang kulot na buhok. She would always iron it ang cover it with temporary black hair colors, but at the end of the day, she is Samuel’s daughter. Hindi mapipigilan ang gulo kapag muli siyang lumabas sa lahat bilang si Catalina Sienna Garcia.

Catalina sighed and stepped into the shower. Mabilis niyang tinapos ang pagligo at binalot ang sarili sa itim na roba. She was wearing her panties underneath but she left her bra on the bed. Sinilip ni Catalina ang balkonahe niya para malaman kung naroon pa rin si Hugo na palangoy-langoy sa pool. She stepped out of her room and headed to the study.

This house had three living rooms, eight bedrooms including the master’s, one office, and a very big study room. The rooftop had a helicopter space. Two gyms on the ground floor and a parking space enough for ten cars.

Tinulak ni Catalina ang dalawang malalaking pinto upang bumukas ‘yon. The aroma of books filled her nose as she left the door open. Bumaba ang dalaga mula sa ikalawang palapag. This study is located at the center of the house, books here are centuries old and artifacts are a millennium old. The study was designed to be lower than the second floor but not enough to take space on the first floor.

Isang mahabang mesa ang nakalagay sa gitna. The bookshelves were 10 feet tall, all made of the strongest wood. Huminga ng malalim si Catalina at inabot ang mga papel sa mesa.

Her mother was a journalist, while her father was a researcher. Magkasangga silang dalawa sa lahat ng bagay, but when her father knew about the existence of the strongest criminal organization, they were hunted down. Lalo na ang ina nila dahil siya ang sumulat ng mga dapat malaman ng tao.

Wala sa sariling napatulo ang luha ni Catalina. She was staring at her mother’s writings for too long, rereading what was said to be the most painful for her. It was her apology letter and her last. Humihingi ng tawad si Catherine dahil alam niya ang mangyayari sa kanila ni Samuel. She was too sorry to leave her children but she had no time.

Hindi na napansin ng dalaga ang pagpasok ni Hugo. He rushed to her ide and gently wiped her tears. He took the paper from her hands and placed it back on the table, where it belonged. Nilingon niyang muli ang dalaga at marahang niyakap.

“Hush, babe…” he whispered. “Stop crying…”

“She sacrificed…herself,” hagulgol ng dalaga.

“I’m glad you’re alive, okay?”

Nilingon ni Catalina ang asawa sa kabila ng basang-basa nitong mata. “I’m not…” Mapait siyang ngumiti. “I’m not glad to be alive, Hugo—I would never be…”