Chapter 43
Hunch

"I'm sorry if I wasn't there last night, Ida..." paghingi ko ng paumanhin kay Ida.

Namumungay at namumugto pa rin ang kaniyang mga mata. Hindi lang masiyadong halata dahil sa nilagay niyang eyeshadow at eyeliner sa kaniyang mga mata. She's even wearing an eyeglasses even though she has eyes with good vision just to hide her puffy eyes.

She smiled at me and rested her head on my shoulder as she hugged me.

"It's fine... I'm fine." she said. "Kuya Gael explained everything to me already. Your Mom just came and you need to accompany her. I don't want to steal your quality time with your mother. Minsan mo na nga lang siya makasama."

"You're still not okay with your parents?" tanong ko naman sa kaniya.

Naramdaman ko ang kaniyang pag-iling sa aking balikat at mas humigpit ang kaniyang pagkakayakap sa akin.

"But Kuya Isaiah talked to me..." sabi niya. "Nagkausap daw kayong dalawa. He already told me that he's willing to give Kuya Gael a chance. Si Daddy nalang talaga ang may problema... I don't know about Mom though. Pero nang dahil nga sa nangyari, sa tingin ko'y mahihirapan din ako kay Kuya Gael na makumbinsi."

"I'm sure Gael will be convinced in no time." sabi ko at nagsumikap na lingunin siya para ngumiti.

Umiling naman si Ida. "I don't think it'll be easy though..." huminga ng malalim si Ida. "He's mad because of what Mom and Dad did. They almost tear you both apart and he hates that part the most."

"If only you would let me talk to him, Ida. I swear, I'll do my best to convince him." sabi ko kay Ida.

Napabitaw naman siya sa pagakakayakap sa akin. Nilingon ko siya at nakitang ngumuso siya sa akin.

She smiled and for a second I thought that she will let me but she shook her head after smiling.

"Hahayaan ko munang lumipas sa isipan niya ang mga nangyari." sabi ni Ida.

Sakto namang bumalik na si Graham at Gael mula sa pagbili ng aming pagkain.

"Here's your food." napaangat ako ng tingin kay Graham at di pinansin si Gael na nilalapag na rin ang aking pagkain.

He gave Ida foods that he bought. Mayroon pa 'yong kasama na red velvet cheesecake na paborito ni Ida.

"Do you like what I bought?" mahinahon na pagtanong ni Graham kay Ida. "Or do you like to eat something else?"

My eyebrows raised while watching Graham acts like a servant to Ida.

It looks like there was a turnover that happen. Did they make a deal again or did Graham just offer himself voluntarily to serve Ida?

Mukha kasing nagkabaliktad na ang mga pangyayari. Ang pagkakaalam ko'y si Ida dapat ang maninilbi kay Graham sa loob ng isang buwan. Wala pa namang isang buwan ngunit si Graham na ang nagpapakumbaba upang mapagsilbihan si Ida.

Ngumuso naman si Ida at saka umiling. Inilapit niya sa kaniya ang binili ni Graham na pagkain. She tasted the red velvet cheesecake first before starting to eat the sizzling porkloin.

Graham smiled when Ida started to eat the food that he bought for her.

I wonder when will he admit to Ida his feelings. Moreover, when will he admit his true feelings for my friend to himself?

Nang umupo na si Graham at nagsimula na ring kumain ay saka ko hinarap si Gael na nakapangalumbaba at nakanguso habang nakatingin sa akin.

I creased my forehead because of his expression.

"What's with that expression?" I asked him before starting to eat.

"Will you pay attention to me now?" he asked me like a baby who lost his mother's attention to other kids.

I slightly chuckled. "Yes, baby." I teased him and gave him a sweet smile.

Unti-unti namang sumilay ang kaniyang ngiti. Nagsumikap siyang ilapit ang kaniyang katawan sa akin kahit na may lamesang nakapagitan sa aming dalawa. He gave me a brief kiss on my cheek.

No doubt that Gael became sweeter since last night. I didn't expect that he can be sweeter and more caring than what he usually is.

We were eating quietly. Pinapanood ko lang si Graham na laging palihim na sinusulyapan ng tingin si Ida at si Gael na ginugulo ako kapag nahuhuling nakatingin kay Graham.

The place suddenly got rackety.

Due to my curiousness, I scanned the whole place and my eyes darted to Isaiah who's surrounded by girls, taking pictures of him. Beside him is Zendaya who looks like she is looking for someone.

When her eyes met mine, her eyes slightly widened before leaning closer to Isaiah. She said something to him before pointing our table.

"Ida." I called Ida's attention who's now busy eating her lunch.

"Hmm?" she hummed without cutting the attention she's giving to her food.

I saw Gael creased his forehead when he saw me distracted before turning his head to see who am I looking at. Graham also did the same.

Mabilis ang paglapit ni Isaiah sa amin at mabilis din ang ginawang pagsunod sa kaniya ng mga babae. Ang iba'y natulak pa nga si Zendaya kaya hindi ito nakasunod kay Isaiah sa paglapit sa aming table.

"Ida."

Gulat at mabilis na nag-angat ng tingin si Ida sa kaniyang kapatid. Her jaw dropped upon seeing Isaiah in front of her, here inside our campus.

"Kuya! Why are you here?" nabiglang tanong ni Ida.

Akmang magsasalita si Isaiah nang bigla siyang tumigil at nilingon ang mga kapwa naming estudyante na nakapalibot sa kaniya.

I looked at Gael and he also looked at me. I gave him a meaningful stare. He deeply sighed before standing up.

"Quiet please." he calmly said but no one seems to heard him.

Pumikit siya ng mariin bago huminga ng malalim.

"I said, quiet please!" he shouted so loud that almost everyone stopped what they're doing and focused their attention to Gael.

Napangiti naman ako. That's my man...

"I hope we can give the privacy that Isaiah needs with his sister right now." he authoritatively said. "Obviously, he's not here for a fanmeeting but for his sister. So please, can we all give them space and privacy?"

Nagbulong-bulong muna ang iba bago nagsilayuan sa aming table. We made sure that no one near can here what Isaiah's going to say.

Binaling naman ni Gael ang kaniyang tingin kay Isaiah na ngayo'y nakatingin din sa kaniya.

"Thank you." Isaiah thanked him.

"You can talk now." mahinahon na sabi ni Gael bago muling umupo sa aking harapan.

I gave him a proud smile when he looked at me.

Binalik ni Isaiah ang tingin niya kay Ida na ngayo'y naghihintay pa rin sa kaniyang sasabihin.

"Why is your phone turned off?" mariing tanong ni Isaiah kay Ida.

"It has nothing to do with you." sabi naman ni Ida at nag-iwas ng tingin sa kapatid.

"Fix your things and come with me right now. I've been texting you and trying to call you but your phone's off." sabi ni Isaiah. "Dad's in the hospital right now. He had a mild heart attack earlier. He needs to see you, Ida. Please."

Nanlaki naman ang mga mata ni Ida nang marinig ang sinabi ni Isaiah.

"Dad's in the hospital?" her voice's full of concern.

"Yes, but he's fine now. He's recovering now. He wants to see you..." Isaiah trailed off and looked at Gael's direction. "He also wants to see you, Gael. I hope you can give him some of your time."

Gael's jaw clenched. "Why would I give him something that he didn't give me?"

"Gael." I sternly called him and he immediately raised his head to look at me. "Sumama ka na sa kanila."

"Blair—"

"Please, Gael... Please." pakiusap ko sa kaniya. "Your father's in a bad condition. Please..."

Napabuntong hininga naman si Gael bago nilingon si Isaiah.

"I'll just be quick. Hindi ako magtatagal doon." sabi niya kay Isaiah.

I smiled when he agreed to come with them.

Nagulat ako nang biglang sumulpot si Ida sa aming gawi upang hablutin si Gael na nagpatianod. Ida also grabbed Isaiah's hand using her other hand.

I watched the three of them walked fast to leave. But before they went out of my sight, Gael looked at me one last time and gave me a faint smile.

You'll be just fine, my love.

Gael texted me when they arrived at the hospital. He told me that Graham will bring me home because he'll be staying at the hospital 'til tonight. I think they're okay now. Hihintayin ko nalang na magkwento siya sa akin patungkol sa nangyari.

Gusto ko mang bisitahin si Tito ay gusto ko ring bigyan sila ng oras na sila lang pamilya ang mag-uusap-usap.

"Thanks for the ride, Graham."pasasalamat ko kay Graham.

"You're welcome." sabi niya. "But please, text Gael that I brought you home safe and sound. You know him..." nagkibit-balikat siya at hindi na itinuloy.

Bahagya naman akong natawa. "I know..." sabi ko nalang. "Don't worry. I'll text him."

Muli akong nagpasalamat sa kaniya bago ako tuluyang pumasok sa aming bahay. Nagtitipa ako ng mensahe kay Gael para sabihing nakauwi na ako nang marinig ko ang pasigaw na boses ni Mommy sa kanilang kwarto nang patungo na sana ako sa aking silid.

The sound of her voice's already faint but I know that she's shouting since I can hear it from here.

I tiptoed my way closer to their room. The door's slightly opened.

"I said I won't go back there, Jay!" I heard Mom shouted and I halted.

They are... fighting?

"Come on, Helena. Baka kung ano ang isipin ni Blair if you will stay there while I'm here. Come back here." rinig kong mahinahon na sabi ni Daddy.

They must be video calling each other.

"Ano naman kung ano ang isipin ng anak natin?" pabalang na tanong ni Mommy. "I won't go back there until you tell me the truth. I have a hunch, Jay. Hindi lang ako nagsasalita. Huwag mong hintayin na ako ang gumawa ng paraan para mahanap ang babae mo!"

I gasped, but I immediately covered my mouth. Tears started to pool inside my eyes because of the pain I feel for my Mom who loves my Dad unconditionally.

Dad has a mistress?

"How many times do I have to tell you that I don't have a mistress, Helena? We're not fighting about this one." sabi ni Daddy.

"I know you do. Huwag mo nang dagdagan pa ang kasinungalingan mo, Jay. I might not be able to forgive you kapag napatunayan kong may babae ka." punong-puno ng pagbabanta ang boses ni Mommy.

"That's it! I'm going home. We're going to talk in person. Hindi pwedeng dito tayo nag-aaway." pinal na pagdedesisyon ni Daddy.

"Kahit huwag ka nang umuwi. Just stay there with your mistress. We don't need you here." punong-puno ng hinanakit ang boses ni Mommy.

"Let's talk about this when I get home, Helena." pagod nang sabi ni Daddy. "I love you, okay?"

"Don't you lie again about loving me when you already don't..." rinig kong sabi ni Mommy at nakakabinging katahimikan na lamang ang aking narinig.

I bit my lower lip and was about to open the door when I heard Mom's faint sobs, aching for my Dad's lost love.

Napapikit ako ng mariin na dahilan kung bakit pumatak ang aking luha at binitawan na lamang ang door knob upang mabigyan ng oras mag-isa si Mommy.