Chapter 22: Sacrifice to Love

I was now sitting on my seat without Prince beside me. Sipping my coffee alone, eating without someone shares his opinions, and especially his words. I always believe that his words are the most precious things I've received from him. Even though I pretend not to be listening to him but in fact, my mind absorbs it all. There was a jar inside me where I gathered all his words.

It's been three days working with Carlo. Prince didn't even visit me because he knows that I'm safe to this place—the cozy house he prepared for me.

Tumayo na ako at inasikaso ang sarili. Humarap ako sa salamin ang sinuklay ang mahaba kong buhok. Katulad ng dati, powder at kaunting lip balm lang ang kadalasan kong nilalagay.

Dali-dali na akong lumabas ng bahay at sinara ang lahat katulad sa sinabi ni Prince sa 'kin no'ng hinatid niya ako rito. Locked all the doors and windows.

Pagkarating ko sa opisina ni Carlo, sinalubong agad ako ng mga guard niya. Pumasok na ako at nadatnan ko siyang nakasandal sa swivel chair niya.

"Good morning, Sir!" bati ko sa kaniya habang nakatalikod pa rin ito.

Humarap siya sa akin na may baong ngisi. "Good morning, Ms. Sky Sandoval."

Nagulat ako sa huling katagang binanggit niya. I've been here for three days but I just heard him mentioned me with that surname. Klaro nan siguro na Cordova ang apilyedo ko at hindi Sandoval?

"What just you say? Klaro na 'yong apilyedo ko sa documents na pinasa ko, ah?" I said and dropped my bag  on my chair.

"Diyan ka rin naman patungo. Ano pang hihintayin mo?" He hysterically looked at me.

Umangat ang bagang ko sa sinabi niya. Lalaking 'to talaga! Kahit ano-ano lang ang iniisip. Hindi nga ako tinawag ni Prince nang gano'n, siya pa? Basta-basta lang niyang nilalagay ang surname ni Prince sa hulihan ng pangalan ko.

"Stop teasing me, Carlo. Kahit amo kita, kaya kitang patulan." I rolled my eyes and took out my phone.

He shrugged and crossed his hands under his chest. We're just sitting on the same table but we mirrored each other. "Chill girl, huwag kang high blood, baka maaga kang kunin ni Lord."

Tumawa pa siya sa akin bago muling humarap sa computer niya. Sarap niyang hampasin ng nirolyong papel. Ang lakas ng loob niyang asarin ako sa umagang 'to. Hindi pa ako kumain ng agahan tapos binusog niya pa ako sa asar niya.

"'Wag mo akong ma-chill chill diyan."

"Bakit? Hindi ka ba nakapag-usap kay Prince? Hayaan mo, I'll set a date for you and him." Tinigil niya ang pagtipa at seryoso akong tiningnan. He's not joking now, right? "Pero may mga appointment pa ako, nakakaabala lang kayo."

Nagsalubong ang kilay ko dahil sa inis sa kaniya. Siya itong mag-offer tapos i-ca-cancel lang? Carlo nga naman, ang hirap intindihin.

I just heaved a sigh and continue what I am doing. I wore my eyeglasses to protect from the radiation of my laptop. Magdamag na naman akong uupo rito at tatrabahuin itong sandamakmak na papeles.

"Sky, may itatanong ako." Carlo caught my attention. Naiangat ko nga ang tingin ko sa biglaang tanong niya sa 'kin.

My lips formed a straight line and nodded.

"How was Calisto and Ravanni? Are they accepted you now?" His question made me froze for a moment.

Hindi ako nakagalaw at unti-unting umawang ang bibig para sumagot. Patuloy pa rin akong humahanap ng salita para maisagot sa kaniya.

"Do you think I will going to find  work, need to sacrifice myself if they accepted me?" I started. "Kasi kung sasabihin kong oo, you won't believe, right?"

He stopped for a moment and interestingly listened. "I believe in you, Sky. You won't lie and I know that. Alam mo ba ang balita sa kanila?"

I shook my head. "We're no longer communicating."

"I know. But Calisto is searching for you. I just helped you, Prince helped also to hide you. Mahal ka ni Prince, Sky. Kaya niya ginawa ang lahat para sa 'yo." He smiled at me. "Do you think...hindi pa ayos 'yong paa ni Prince no'ng sinamahan ka niya sa hospital?"

Binasa ko ang labi ko dahil parang nanunuyo na 'yon pati ang lalamunan ko. Handa akong makinig, kung tungkol kay Prince 'to. Pero kung sa magulang ko, I will listen but it might not interested anymore. I'm done listening them.

"I don't really know about that, Carlo. Siguro...hindi pa siya ayos dahil pumunta pa nga sina Amor at Amira do'n para alagaan siya," saysay ko sa kaniya na nangunot ang noo.

"He's completely fine. Hindi naman gaanong naapektuhan si Prince no'ng na-accident siya. He used to lie because that's the only way he can helped you. He force you to stay beside him because that's the only way he can protect you. Masaya siya no'ng nakita ka niya, Sky. Noon ko lang siya nakitang kumaripas ng takbo papunta sa 'kin at nagpatulong kung paano ka mapaamo." He sat properly. Umarko man ang kilay ko ngunit bakas sa pananalita niya na nagsasabi siya ng totoo.

"H-He lied?" I ask, because I just badly want to hear more from him.

"Yes. For your sake. I know how he would love a person. Kahit na mahirap gawin ang isang bagay, gagawin niya 'yon." In his words, it seems he telling me that Prince is worth to be love. "Kahit tatalon pa 'yan sa ilog, sasabihin mo lang na mahal mo siya," dagdag niya at tumawa.

"Grabe naman. Why would he sacrifice if there were girls who he deserves, right?" I raised my brows and drawn a smile. "When you almost sacrifice yourself just to have the person you love, that's not love anymore. That's sacrificing."

"Then, how can he prove that he loves you, if he won't sacrifice himself? If he didn't sail with you amidst the wavy ocean, how can he prove you that he is willing to stay even with that kind of situations?"He stood up and insert his hands on his pocket.

I don't know what it feels like. But Prince doing so much for me. He did a great thing. Sa pagsagip lang sa 'kin mula sa magulang ako at sa pagtago sa 'kin, that means so much to me now. He always gave me reason to love him. He always told me that I am worthy. Now, who else could do what Prince do?

"A-Ah...salamat, Carlo. If it is not because of you, I wouldn't know how Prince suffer for me. Thank you so much for telling me that." I vow my head and closed my palms together. If it is not because of him, I would not know why there is butterflies in my belly when Prince is around me.

"Sana sagutin mo na siya. 'Wag mong pahirapan ang kaibigan ko," aniya.

"Oo naman—"

"Sasagutin mo na?" Nanlaki ang mata niya ang tinatanong 'yon.

"I mean...hindi ko naman siya pinahirapan. He always understand me. That's what I like—Understanding boyfriend," I said and giggles.

He laughed and cover his mouth with his palm. "Kaiyak! Sana hindi ko siya kinuwento sa 'yo, nainggit tuloy ako."

Hinampas ko siya sa braso kaya napatili ito. Lalaking 'to talaga, parang hindi nakaranas magmahal. Ganiyan lang naman ang pag-ibig, minsan ang hirap intindihin. The only way for you to get understand it fully is... to try. Try to love a person. You won't just feel valued, you will learned too.

"Sasagutin mo?Sabihan mo ako, walang amo-amo pagdating sa tulong, ha? Huwag kang mahiya sa 'kin!" He laughed.

"Alam mo Carlo..."

"Ano? Ha?" Niyugyog niya ako habang nakangisi. Tinapunan ko nang tingin ang kaniyang kamay at napangiwi na lamang ako.

"Alam mo, hindi rin ako kumikilala ng amo, kapag upakan kita!" Tinaasan ko siya ng kamao kaya agad niyang tinanggal ang kamay niya sa balikat ko.

"Akala ko pa naman, sasagutin mo na," aniya at kumamot sa ulo niya. "Basta sabihan mo ako..."He stopped, he look to the four corner of his office.

"Ayaw kong sabihin sa 'yo, chismoso ka lang, eh!" Umirap ako at umupo pabalik.

Hindi niya ako sinagot at kinuha niya na lang ang cellphone niya. Natahimik na lamang ako nang may tinipa siya sa cellphone niya. Pagkatapos ay inangat niya ang tingin sa akin. His expression made my brows creased. Nawala 'yong dating ngisi niya sa akin at napalitan ng pag-aalala.

"Sky, umalis daw si Prince sa kanila. Tatlong araw na raw siyang hindi umuwi sa kanila sabi ni Adam," aniya na dahilan ng pagtahip ng aking puso.

He shouldn't leave me like this! Hindi ko pa nasabi sa kaniya ang nararamdaman ko! I didn't told him yet!

"Tell me, Carlo. It's just a joke, right? Sabihin mo naman!" Hinawakan ko ang magkabilang braso niya habang naiiyak na ako.

Sana sinabi sa 'kin ni Prince na hindi niya pala gustong aalis ako! Sana sinabi niyang mananatili lang ako! Intindihin ko naman siya kung sinabi niya lang sa 'kin ang rason niya!