Race's POV
I don't know what brought me here. Maybe I'm loosing my mind to attend for Gail's party, way too crazy!
May biglang lumapit sa akin. 'Yong tatlong gunggong; Lorenzo, Ace and Aaron.
"Tara na sa loob! Kanina ka pa namin hinihintay!" Aaron exclaimed.
"Daming chicks! Matutuwa ka!" Lorenzo smiled sheepishly.
Sinamaan ko siya nang tingin, "Not like you bro."
"More foods! This party made my day!" Wika naman ni Ace habang nakataas ang dalawang kamay sa tuwa.
Hinila nila kong tatlo papasok sa bahay ni Gail. Napakaraming tao sa harapan ng bahay nila. Some are familiar to me but there are new faces. Maybe came from other department at school.
Naglalakasan ang tugtog mula sa naglalakihang stereo. May mga naliligo na rin sa pool. Ang lahat ay pawang nagkakasiyahan. Everyone's busy minding their agendas.
"I thought you're not coming anymore!" Nakangusong sambit ni Gail nang makita ako.
"Thanks boys. You may now leave us. Just enjoy the party!" Sabi niya pa sa mga kasama ko. Ang mga hunghang, iniwan naman ako bigla.
I guess it's not really good idea to go here.
"Come with me. I'll introduce you to my parents." Saka niya ko nakangiting hinila papasok ng bahay nila.
Nakarating kami sa kusina. Doon namin nadatnan ang isang lalaki na nakikipag-usap sa dalawang may edad na mag-asawa, probably Gail's parents.
Oh. Someone's making a move.
"Mom, Dad. This is Race Clemente, my boyfriend." She said while grinning.
Napanganga ako dahil sa sinabi niya.
"I'm not your boy—"
"Sit! Just sit." Puwersahan niya kong pinaupo sa bangko do'n sa dinner table nila.
Masama naman ang tingin sa akin no'ng lalaki kanina.
"Hijo. Kumain ka muna." Sabi no'ng Mom ni Gail saka siya naglapag ng platito sa harapan ko na may lamang isang slice ng chocolate cake.
I was stunned for a moment. Gail's Mom is Zena's Auntie! Siya 'yong kausap ni Zena doon sa convenience store!
"You seemed familiar to me. Have we met before?" She asked.
Biglang may nag-ring na cellphone, it was coming from Gail's Dad.
"Excuse me." Sabi niya saka umalis.
"Mom, just talk to Race. Just need to shoo this one away." Gail said and then held the other guy's arm and pulled him out of the kitchen.
"I don't know. Maybe before po." Pagsisinungaling ko sa kanya.
Hindi ko alam pero bigla na lang nabuhay ang matinding galit sa sistema ko. I want to talk to her about Zena. I want to tell her how she suffer by her condition but she seem blind about her.
Tumayo ako mula sa pagkakaupo at wala ano-anong naglakad palabas.
Dire-diretso ako sa paglalakad hanggang sa makalabas ako ng bahay nila Gail.
"Race!" It was Gail but I did not pay attention to her.
I sat on my motorcycle and started the engine. Susuotin ko na sana ang helmet ko nang bigla akong pigilan ni Gail.
"Where are you going? Don't go, Race. Kararating mo lang tapos aalis ka na agad?" She told me.
"I can't stay here anymore. Mas gugustuhin ko pang samahan si Zena kaysa makipaglokohan sa 'yo at sa mga magulang mo." I said and wore my helmet. Tiningnan ko siya ng diretso sa kanyang mga mata. "One day, everything will just taken away from you. Everything that belongs to her. Totoo ang Karma, Gail. Karma's on the way."
***
Nang makarating sa loob ng lumang bahay, wala akong nadatnang Zena. She's not here.
Hinanap ko kung nasaan ang kandila at natagpuan ko 'to sa kusina.
Binuhay ko 'to at saka ako nagtungo sa sala ng bahay.Napukaw ang atensiyon ko ng mga picture frame na nakasabit sa dingding.
Dala ang kandila, lumapit ako sa mga ito at isa-isa itong pinagmasdan.
It was the younger Zena with her parents. Ang saya nila sa bawat larawan. Her Mom had this beautiful bright smile. She looked so nice and elegant while her Dad on the other side looked so professional and softhearted. Nakakapagtaka lang kung saan nakuha ni Zena ang angas at kasungitan gayong mukhang mababait naman ang mga magulang niya. Pambihira!
Hindi ko alam pero bigla na lang pumasok sa isip ko 'yong sinabi sa akin no'ng matanda ro'n sa pinagtatrabahuhan ko.
"May mga parating pero may mga aalis din. Hijo, tatagan mo ang loob mo dahil marami ka pang pagdaraanan. Kitang-kita ko sa mga mata mo ang kapalarang naghihintay sa 'yo. Ingatan mo siya pero dapat mas mag-ingat ka."
I know who she was talking about. Maybe its Zena? Sino pa ba ang sleeping beauty na kilala ko? It was probably her.
Hawak ang kandila. Umakyat ako patungo sa second floor ng kanilang bahay. There's only two rooms up here. Medyo malaki rin ang balkonahe.
I walked towards the first room and saw Zena's name hanged on the door.
Pinihit ko ang seradora ng pinto at laking gulat ko nang makita si Zena na nakaupo sa isang bangko at nakadukmo sa isang study table.
She was sleeping.
Napailing na lang ako at nilapitan siya. Naupo ako sa kama at pinagmasdan ang mukha niyang nakahilig sa direksiyon ko.
"Kaya pala hindi kita makita kasi nandito ka lang at mahimbing na natutulog." I told her as if she was listening.
I carefully took her and laid her on the bed. Kinuha ko rin ang isang blanket na nakatago sa isang cabinet at saka ko siya kinumutan.
I sat on the study table's chair and stared at her.
"You should wake up by tomorrow. I won't let you sleep for a long time." Sabi ko sa kanya.
***
Nagising ako sa init na bumabalot sa loob ng silid.
Agad akong napangiti nang mapagtantong nakatulog pala ako.
Napalingon ako sa tabi ko't nakita si Zena na mahimbing pa rin na natutulog.
Wala naman akong relo pero alam kong hapon na. Hindi na kami nakapasok pa.
"Zena! Hey, wake up you sleepy head!" I shouted to her ear.
Hindi siya kumibo. Parang mantikang tulog. Ugh! Waking her up is not easy. Baka maligo 'to ng wala sa oras. Cold water can do.
Lumapit ako lalo sa tenga niya't malamig siyang binulungan. "Wake up sleeping beauty."
With that, bigla siyang naalarma at napatayo nang wala sa oras. Nawalan ako ng balanse nang magtama ang pisngi naming dalawa. Ang ending, nakasubsob ako sa kanya.
I am staring at her brown eyes. She was so shocked of what happen.
A smile born out of my lips. Bigla na lang din akong natawa dahil sa nangyari.
"You're finally awake sleeping beauty." I said.
Tinulak niya ko palayo. Tawa pa rin ako nang tawa.
"Anong nakakatawa? Can you please stop laughing? Nakakainis ka!" Sigaw niya sa akin.
"Give me a sec." And I laughed out loud making her mad of what I'm doing.
"Bahala ka nga sa buhay mo!" She yelled then stood up.
Iniwan niya ko sa loob ng silid. Nang makabawi ay lumabas na rin ako.
Napansin ko 'yong wall clock na nakasabit sa ibabaw ng pinto patungo sa kusina. It was already 2pm. Hindi na rin pala ako aabot sa trabaho ko. Sayang isang araw.
I heard something in my stomach. I must be really hungry. Simula pa ko kagabi hindi nakakakain.
"Zena, where are you." I asked.
"I hate you Race!" She replied.
Natawa na naman ako, "Follow me outside, mag fastfood na lang tayo. I'm so hungry."
Nauna na kong lumabas ng bahay. Sumakay na ko agad sa motorsiklo ko at binuhay ang makina nito.
I waited for Zena. Hindi ko alam kung ilang oras akong naghihintay do'n bago siya dumating.
She's now wearing a navy blue dress and stilletoos. Basa rin ang buhok niya. Maybe she took a bath.
Napahinto ako't napatitig sa kanya. She looked like an angel sent from above. Ang ganda niya!
"Wala ako ibang damit, e. I'm sorry to wear a dress thinking that we're going to ride a motorcycle." Nahihiya niyang saad.
"Just cover up your legs. Mahirap na't baka liparin ang palda mo't makita ang hindi dapat makita." Seryoso kong sambit sa kanya. "Come on. Let's go."
***
We were silently eating at one of those table inside the fast food. Maya't-maya akong napapasulyap kay Zena dahil sa ganda niya. She was just wearing a plain navy blue dress but it suits her so much.
"One more rice." She yelled to the guy who was holding the rice pot. Lumapit ito sa amin at nilagyan ng isang cup ng kanin ang plato ni Zena. The guy asked me but I said no. One rice is enough for me.
"Nagutom yata." Pagbibiro ko kay Zena.
"Slight lang." Sagot niya. "Hinintay kita kagabi, e."
"At nadatnan naman kitang natutulog na. Natulog na rin ako." I replied while laughing. Sinamaan niya ako nang tingin.
Nang matapos kami kumain, lumabas na kami ng fastfood.
Nang makalapit sa kanya, nakabili na siya ng ticket. Horror pa ang napili niyang panoorin. Maganda 'yon para magsiliparan ang popcorn na kakainin namin mamaya sa loob ng cinema.
Nang makapasok sa loob at makahanap ng pwesto, hindi ko alam pero mas mukha pang takot sa akin si Zena. She often screams and covers her face using her hands. Siguro kalahati ng kinakain niyang popcorn e naitapon niya ro'n sa ulo ng tao sa ibaba niyang bangko.
Then after a while, she's no longer screaming. 'Yon pala tulog na sa kinauupuan niya.
When the movie ended, wala akong ibang choice kundi buhatin siya. It's a bridal style and I really looked like a guy from a heroin movie where he save a girl from a burning house. Awesome! May mga napapatingin tuloy sa amin.
"Zena! Wake up." Bulong ko sa kanya.
I reapeted it ten times 'til she got her consciousness.
"Sorry." Aniya nang maibaba ko siya. Inalalayan ko pa siya dahil kakagising niya pa lang.
"Ready to go home?" I asked her. Gabi na rin kasi.
Tumango lang siya bilang sagot.
Inihatid ko siya sa luma nilang bahay gamit ang motorsiklo ko.
Nang makababa siya, nangingibabaw ang matamis na ngiti sa maamo niyang mukha.
"Thanks for everything Race. Thanks for making up my day." She said with a smile.
I smiled back, "Tomorrow, let's install a padlock to your room for better security. That way, Gail's Dad won't be doing some attemps anymore."
"But—"
"Goodnight." I said and started to drive away.
6 years later...Zerena's POV"Anak. Bid your Dad good bye. Tell him you're going to school." Sabi sa akin ni Mommy. Nasa kusina kami at inaayos niya 'yong lunch box ko. I nodded and went upstairs.Naglalakad pa lang ako patungo sa silid nila Mommy at Daddy unti-unti nang namumuo ang mga luha sa gilid ng mga mata ko. They were verging to fall. I just fought hard not to let them fall again.I knocked on the door and smiled. Dad told me before to always knock on the door before entering a room. It was just an alarm for the elderly that someone would just want to come inside. Bad daw kasi ang pu
Race's POVI was standing on my spot, my knees were shaking uncontrollably while facing all the guests and invited persons in our wedding.One week ago, I planned everything out. I told myself when she woke up, I'll be asking her to marry me and proceed to the latter part.The whole place was a combination of white and sky blue in colours. Instead of rose, I told Alexsha about sunflowers and how Zena love them. Yes, Alexsha was our wedding planner. The color white chairs and the sky blue catering table cloth complemented together. The white ribbon was arrangely tied to the chairs near the pathway to give those who'll walk there a little guide towards my direction. Well, Alexsha impressed me with her bright ideas. H
Race's POVThe Ruined City played couple of their songs then went all inside the house afterwards. Napakaraming tao sa labas dahil sa kanila. Nakahatak sila ng napakaraming tao sa buong nayon.Abala kami nila Alexsha, Aaron at Jillian sa kusina. We were preparing food for the dinner.Zerena and Loud came rushing in. Kasunod nila ang apat, Lorenzo, Drift, Burn at Chandler."Anak, baka magkasakitan kayo ni Zerena." Babala ni Lorenzo sa dalawang bata na naghahabulan sa loob ng kusina."Anak, enough na." Sambit ko kay Zerena. The two of them stopped. Zerena whispered something to Loud and they both agreed to it
4 years later...Race's POV"Thank you, sir! Please come again." Sabi sa akin no'ng babae sa counter matapos maiabot sa akin ang sukli ko. I smiled at her and turned to look at my daughter. She's missing!Holding the bouquet of tulips and dozen of sunflowers in my arms, I went out of that flower shop. My heart was racing so fast and eventually turned calm when I saw my daughter with a guy wearing a long coat and cap. Nakatalikod sila sa akin kaya hindi ko makita kung sino ang kasama ng anak ko. They were waiting patiently at the guy who was making the cotton candy on that pink push stall."Zerena, anak." Pagtawag ko sa 'king munting prins
Race's POV"I know you can do it. Just keep calm. Breathe." Pagpapakalma ko kay Zena habang sinasabayan ang stretcher sa pagtakbo nito. Her hand was intertwined to mine. She was breathing deeply and I know she was filled with tension inside.I kissed her forehead. "You and our baby will be safe. Don't worry.""Sir, hanggang dito na lang po kayo." Sabi sa akin no'ng nurse saka ako hinarang at saka ipinasok si Zena sa operating room ng St. Luke's. I even smiled at her before the door shut.Naupo ako sa bleachers at saka napasapo sa mukha. Jace and Ace came, both gasping air as they arrived.
Race's POVHindi na ko nagsayang pa ng oras. Right after graduated college, I went to Dimitria's company and gave the attache case Alexsha wanted me to use as a ticket to enter the said company. Pinalabas namin na isa akong shareholders upang makapasok sa kompanya sa mataas na posisiyon. At first, it was kinda hard to adjust but when I learned the environment inside the company, hindi na ko nahirapan pa. Maaayos din naman katrabaho ang mga tao sa loob. I am overwelmed by their welcome party and that was enough of me to fuel myself to work harder for Zena.I'm not telling her that I'm saving money to buy the lot. Titriplehin ko ang presiyo makuha lang 'yon mula sa business tycoon na bumili nito. Mahalaga ang lugar na 'yon para kay Zena at makita ko lang siyang masaya, masaya na rin ako. Even if it means of me to tire