CHAPTER 3

Present...

NAKABIBINGING katahimikan ang bumalot sa buong reception area matapos ang pahayag ni Jacob.

Libby was in daze. Para bang paulit-ulit na nage echo ang

boses ng lalaki.

She managed to focus her eyes on Jacob only to see his triumphant sneer.

Oh Jacob, her heart cried. Ramdam na ramdam niya ang galit nito. Jacob who had never been angry with her. Who had always been patient with her even during her most stubborn moments. He was now looking at her with all contempt. Inanunsyo ang nakaraan nila with only one intention, which is to malign her. Hurt her.

“So where do we do this famous welcome massage this place is so proud of?” tanong ng lalaki. As if he didn’t just drop a bombshell. Tinaasan siya ng kilay. “My massage?”

Nanginginig ang boses ni Libby nang magsalita. “Sumunod ka.” She walked past him and didn’t bother looking back kung nakasunod nga ito. Part of her was hoping he wouldn’t follow. Huh, wishful thinking.

They briefly went of the main building saka pumasok sa unang massage cabin. Only when she entered and heard the door close behind her did she realize she’d been holding her breath the whole time.

Now she was truly trapped. There was no escape. What choice does she have but to face him and act brave? Kahit pa she felt as vulnerable as a mouse left at the mercy of a big cat.

Funny how she thought this day would never come. Funny how she believed she would never have to face him again. That she will never have to answer questions. At dahil nga sa paniniwala niyang iyon ay never niyang napaghandaan ang pagkakataong ito.

Humugot uli siya nang malalim na hininga saka humarap sa lalaki, para lamang magulat ng makitang nilampasan siya nito. Inilibot nito ang paningin sa kabuuan ng silid.

Sa ibang pagkakataon nagmamalaki na sana si Libby dahil totoo namang napakaganda ng presentasyon maging ng mga spa rooms nila. Malalawak ang mga ito,may sariling shower, may steam bath sa wooden bathtub. Rare plants hang around the room and their pride was the overlooking mountain view sa malawak na bintana. Sa ibang pagkakataon Libby should be promoting every feature they have. Pero hindi ngayon. Ngayon, ang silid na ito ay nagrerepresenta ng kanyang pagkasukol.

“Your brochure said I’ll get a steam bath first. Will you assist me with that?” tunta nito.

“Jacob please.” she pleaded, and for the first time she really looked at him directly only to wish she hadn't. A thin, fine scar ran from his left eyebrow, cutting across his eye and tapering down to his cheek. A harsh reminder of that day. She averted her eyes, a fresh wave of pain crawling through her body

Whether she liked it or not, they should do the inevitable, which is to talk. Acting as if everything was normal was just prolonging her agony.

There was his sarcastic laugh again. “So it’s Jacob now, is it? What the hell happened to the ‘Sir’?” usig ng lalaki.

“Did you know I was here before you came?” she asked instead.

Mas malakas ang tawa nito sa pagkakataong ito. “Of course not. Your question is implying I came here because of you. That I was looking for you. Is that what you want to hear? That I was looking for you?” he sneered.

“Of course not.” napayuko siya. Right. Assuming lang? Why would he look for her after what she did? Ambisyosa. He's here with Fiona Sevilla.

“But I was looking for you Libby.” he suddenly continued in a dangerous tone. She was compelled to raise her head and meet his gaze. She hated the fact that he could see the fear in her eyes. “Every single day since I got out of that hospital bed, I looked for you.”

Sandaling napapikit si Libby. She was so stupid. She shouldn’t have asked.

“Alam mo kung bakit?”

Napailing siya. Hindi bilang sagot sa tanong nito kundi senyales sana na gusto niyang tumigil na ito. Na ayaw niyang marinig pa kung ano ang sasabihin nito.

“Gusto mong malaman kung bakit?” he moved closer. She stepped back.

“Jacob, please.” she whispered in a hoarse voice. Libby was horrified. She didn’t know this man. This is not her Jacob. Ever since she first saw him kanina, ibang-iba na lahat ng kanyang nakikita at naririnig. Her Jacob was warm, fun, kind, sweet and loving.

Hindi ang taong ito na kaharap niya ngayon.

Did I do this to him as well? Tanong ng isipan. Did I turn him into this cold, bitter man?

Umatras ang lalaki ng isang hakbang. Komo’y nag-isip saglit saka nagkibit-balikat.

“Right. Maybe this is not the right time to discuss that. For now, I just want to have that massage. See if you’re still as good as before.” Gone was the dangerous tone. Now he sounded teasing. Seducing. He was obviously enjoying the fact that he was in control of the situation.

Libby couldn’t believe he was serious. Massage? At this time? When he could start tearing her apart like he obviously wanted to. What was he up to?

Pero wala siyang magawa kundi ang sumunod na lang, after all, kailangan niya rin ng pagkakataong i compose ang sarili.

But it was so damned hard to act normally. Lalo na ng makita niyang sinimulan nitong tanggalin ang pagkakabutones ng suot na polo.

Oh yes, he was serious.

Agad siyang tumalikod at tinungo ang wooden bath tub.

“You can have your steam bath first.” she tried to sound casual. “Since natapon iyong mga fresh herbs’ we’ll just have to do with essential oils.” Kumuha siya ng tuwalya at robe saka ito muling hinarap. “You can have your shower first--!” Libby gasped in shock!

His polo was off now, and Libby was immediately horrified at what she saw.

Agad niyang ipinikit ang mga mata. Itinaas ang mga braso at tinakpan ang mukha na komo’y sa paraang iyon ay mawawala ang nakita. But no amount of trying could do that. The sight was already embedded in her mind.

The long ugly scar from his left shoulder to his chest, The terrible burn that covered half his left arm.

Nasapo ng isang kamay niya ang dibdib. It hurt. Too much. It was hard to breathe.

“Damn you.” narinig niya ang mahinang sabi ng lalaki. This time she couldn’t identify if that was anger or despair in his voice. It broke her heart anyway. “Put your arms down and open your eyes.” Every word carried the weight of a command—and a threat.

Ibinaba niya ang braso, but she didn’t dare open her eyes. Maging ang paghinga ay nahihirapan pa rin siya, na parang bang nawalan ng lakas ang buong katawan.

“Open your eyes.” he demanded.

“No!” she didn’t mean to scream. Pero hindi niya napigilan ang sarili.

No. She couldn’t bear that sight again.

Hindi niya inasahan na ang malakas na sigaw na iyon ang hinihintay na senyales ng nasa labas ng cabin na halatan.g nakikiramdam.

Biglang bumukas ang p***o at pumasok si Arthur. “Libby, are you okay?” naga-alalang tanong nito. Followed by the obviously worried Fiona

“Shit!” mura ni Jacob.

Noon lang nagbukas ng paningin si Libby. She felt Jacob grab the robe from her hands saka ito tumalikod para suutin iyon.

“Okay lang ako.” It was hard to speak, but she didn’t want Arthur there. She hoped he didn’t see Jacob’s scars. He was obviously devastated sa biglang presensya ni Arthur. “Really, I’m okay.” aniya nang halatang hindi ito kumbinsido. “Nagulat lang ako.” pero nanginginig ang boses niya. “You may go, Arthur.”

Jacob who was already covered by the robe and who regained his composure walked to the door and opened it wide. “Leave.” said the guest to the owner, sa galit ngunit nagpipigil na boses.

"I think we should leave them alone.' mahinahong sabi ni Fiona kay Arthur.

Hindi makapaniwala si Libby sa kalmadong composure ng babae.

Arthur was still undecided. Pero habang hinihintay nila ang gagawin nito, isang maliit na pigura ang tumatakbong pumasok sa silid.

“Mommy!” sigaw nito sabay yakap sa mga paa nang muntikitan ng matumbang si Libby.

Humahangos ang sumunod ang bantay na si Lyka. “Sorry, ambilis niya!” sigaw nito ngunit agad tumigil nang makitang na kay Libby na ang bata.

Did they notice that her world stopped turning once again?

Pakiramdam niya’y lumobo ng sampung bese ang kanyang ulo,, ready to explode.

She stared at the boy, dumbfounded.

Leo, her son.

Jacob’s son.

There was no denying that. Leo was only one year and three months pero taglay nito ang lahat ng katangiang pisikal sa mukha ng ama.

Nangingilid ang mga luha na itinaas ni Libby ang mukha para tignan ang lalaki.

She expected shock, anger, disbelief.

Pero hindi niya nakita iyon.

What she saw in his eyes was deep, bottomless pain.