Chapter Thirty

Fine

Lumingon ako kina Daddy at Rhian. Seryoso lang si Daddy samantalang si Rhian ay matamis ang ngiting kumaway sa akin. I breathed and continued walking.

Ano naman kung siya nga ang maghahatid sa akin?

"Will you be fine?" he asked when we were on the road.

Nakatingin lang ako sa tanawin sa labas pero dahil nagsalita siya ay tumitig ako sa kaniya. Saglit na nagtama ang paningin namin pero dumiretso rin ang atensyon niya sa kalsada.

"Is there anything I should worry about?" I asked.

Umiling siya. "You'd be alone."

"Dad will send a housemaid." I was also uneasy to the thought of living on my own but I should be used to it. It was the freedom I always dreamed of.

Tumango siya. "Your Dad told me that you should just stay in your condo."

Umirap ako. It wasn't freedom after all. I would be imprisoned in that condo.

He smirked but eyes serious on the road. "If you plan to sneak out, don't try."

Ngumiti ako. "Should I do that?"

"You were thinking about it. I could tell." Tumigil ang sasakyan dahil sa traffic light kaya lumingon siya sa akin. I met his gaze but after a few seconds I looked away.

"Let's see." Nagi-isip ako. "You have to tell me first about your findings on what happened five years ago."

He withdrew and return his focus on the road. Tumahimik siya kaya malaya ko siyang napagmasdan. He looked like a Greek god when his hair was longer but in clean-cut, his face looked strong and more defined. Surely, women flocked to him with just that face alone. It was a bonus that he was well-off.

"I expected that you'd ask for this. Let's talk more when we get there," he finally uttered.

I let out a satisfied smile. "Okay."

Nag-isip ako ng puwede naming pag-usapan para hindi awkward pero bago pa ako makapagsalita ay tumunog ang cellphone ko. Mabilis kong sinagot nang makita kung sino ang tumatawag.

"Ma'am Anna," bati ko.

"Liah, kumusta? Bakit Ma'am Anna pa rin ang tawag mo sa akin. Tawagin mo na lang ako sa pangalan ko 'no. Hindi na tayo magkatrabaho." Nakikita ko na nakasimangot siya dahil sa tono niya kaya napangiti ako.

"Okay, Anna. I'm fine," sagot ko.

"Better. Hindi mo na ako naalalang tawagan, ah. Ano'ng ginagawa mo?" may pang-aasar na tanong niya pero binalewala ko.

"Papunta kami sa condo na titirhan ko for the mean time. Ikaw? Kumusta?"

"Heto. Nandito ako sa bahay n'yo. Natulog ako kagabi rito. Ang tatay mo pumunta sa Luna, may naospital na kamag-anak kaya sinamahan ko ang nanay mo."

"Mabuti at nand'yan ka, Anna. Thank you." Naalala ko si Nanay. Hindi ko pa siya nakakausap.

"Liah," humina ang boses niya kaya mas nilapit ko ang cellphone sa tainga ko.

"May nakita ako sa kuwarto mo kanina," bulong niya. Nagsalubong ang mga kilay ko.

Anna, si Liah ba 'yan?

Boses 'yon ni Nanay. Gusto ko sanang magpatuloy si Anna sa sasabihin niya pero tumahimik sa kabilang linya.

"Kausapin mo muna ang nanay mo, tawagan kita mamaya."

Huminga ako nang malalim nang marinig ang boses ni Nanay.

"'Nay, mabuti po."

Ilan pang pangungumusta at mga paalala ang narinig ko mula kay Nanay bago ito nakontento at pinutol ang tawag. Narating namin ang condo sa loob ng tatlumpong minuto. Agad kong tinanggal ang seatbelt ko at binuksan ang pinto nang makapag-park si Genus sa basement nang mapagtantong alam na alam niya kung saan siya pupunta.

Hindi ko na napigilan ang pagtatanong nang sumara ang elevator at pinindot niya ang tamang button papunta sa tamang palapag.

"I checked it yesterday. The vicinity was safe. I won't have to worry," balewalang sagot niya.

"Don't you trust my Dad?" Pinanlakihan ko siya ng mata.

He just shrugged. "I just want to make sure."

"Baka maglagay ka rin ng magbabantay sa akin," I said nonchalantly. I wasn't serious with it but when he remained unsmiling, I realize he would do such thing. My whole body faced him.

No! I wouldn't let him.

"I don't need it," I said, trying to sound calm.

"For my peace of mind, Liah. Just one. He won't be visible."

"Can't you trust me?" I asked, I couldn't hide the irritation in my voice but I swallowed hard to remove the bile in my throat.

Bumukas ang elevator bago pa man siya makapagsalita. Dali-dali akong lumabas at ipinasok ang susi sa keyhole. Pagsasarhan ko sana siya ng pinto pero mas mabilis niyang napigilan iyon. Tumingala ako sa kamay niya sa taas ng pinto at buong lakas kong itinulak ito. Umirap ako nang hindi ko magawa.

"Let's do it your way, okay?" marahan niyang sinabi.

Tahimik ko pa ring itinulak iyon kahit alam kong balewala ang lakas na ibinibigay ko.

"Let me in," he said in a menacing voice. I kept on pushing until the door moved.

"Ouch!" He groaned but didn't let go of the door.

Shit!

Binitiwan ko dahil baka mas lalo siyang maipit. He took that opportunity to push the door open. Nanlalaki ang mga matang tumalikod ako. What the hell!

Kaunting sakit lang bumibigay ka na!

I stomped my feet and sat on the sofa on the living room. There wasn't any other sitting option besides the two-seater sofa and I felt more irritated. Saan ko siya pauupuin? Ayaw ko siyang makatabi. Tumayo ako at muntik ko nang masagi ang puting round table sa harap ng sofa. The condo wasn't fully furnished yet. Dad informed me about this and he promised to deliver the furniture I needed but I couldn't contain my annoyance.

Okay. For goodness' sake calm down, will you? You needed to talk to him for the information you needed.

With that thought my annoyance slowly subsided a little bit. Bumalik ako sa sofa dahil wala akong ibang mauupuan. I crossed my arms and my eyes pierced through him when he aimed a spot beside me.

He shrugged and a small smile formed on his lips. "Should I sit on the floor?"

Umirap ako. "Come on. Tell me what I should know."

He suddenly was in a pensive mood. He sat stiffly and look at me in the eyes with apprehension.

"Your dad believe that Shan's case and your accident wasn't connected," he started.

I nodded and remained silent for him to continue. It felt like he had a different opinion.

He glowered at the table like he wanted to punch it but he restrained himself. "Someone was behind your accident and it was the same person who stabbed Shan," he concluded.

My eyes widened in horror. I already figured out that the bloody dream was a memory of Shan but hearing from him what happened was still a shock to me. My chest seemed to compress but I couldn't be shaken by this. Napatuwid ako ng upo.

"Had I gone to jail?" wala sa sariling tanong ko.

Memories of the police arresting me became clearer in my mind. It was as if an echo of a painful dream but it was too real.

I sighed and looked at him, waiting for his answer.

"Yes," he said cautiously.

His eyes darkened like the night sky. With all the emotions riled up within me, I find peace staring at those eyes. Mysterious yet captivating. I couldn't help my smile.

"I'm okay." I assured him. "Go on."

He took a deep breath and continued. "You stayed in jail for several hours but after that you disappeared. I was in a convention in Cebu that time. I didn't know what happened. If... if only I stayed." Yumuko siya. His shoulders sagged and his face was stone hard like he had been suppressing any emotion but in the end his eyes gave away. He was the perfect picture of a broken man. He looked so sorrowful.

I didn't want to imagine how he'd been when I was believed to be dead but seeing the remnants of his grief, I suddenly wanted to hug him, to ease the pain, to tell him I was here. I held his arm. Ang kanina niya pang pinagkakait na tingin ay dumapo sa akin. I held his gaze for a long while. He stared at me with ambivalence but the tenderness and longingness were apparent.

"H-How have you been?" I asked. My voice shook so I had to look away.

It was as if a forbidden question. It was as if a part of me craved for him but I didn't want to let go those emotions that was only meant for him.

I realized it was the old Liah. The me that was very secretive even when she could choose not to. It was the old Liah that was always holding back herself. It was what I feared, to come back to my old self even I didn't know her whole but I understand her better more than anyone even without the memories.

She was scared to be vocal. She was scared that she wouldn't be able to handle her own feelings. 

My heart begun to beat in a frantic rhythm. I lifted my gaze at him. His lips was a bit parted and his eyes gaped at me in amazement.

"How have you been?" I repeated with a clearer voice, my hold of him tightened.

Hinigit niya ako at niyakap nang mahigpit. She breathed on my hair and whispered.

"I'm more than fine, now."