Chapter 5
Melancholic

"Ano ba, Dei? Tumigil na nga kayong dalawa!" iritadong pagsuway ko sa kanilang dalawa ni Selena. "Para kayong tanga."

They're both hiding behind a big column that supports the building's ground floor to the second.

Hinarap naman nila akong dalawa. They both rolled their eyes at me. Sabay na sabay pa talaga! Parang ako pa ang may ginagawang mali kaysa sa kanilang dalawa na balak mag-intrude sa privacy at issues sa buhay ng iba.

"Para sa'yo rin naman 'to, Xy!" sabi ni Deia.

Nagulat ako ng bigla niya akong hinatak patago sa likod nilang dalawa ni Selena.

"Oh my God! He's here." pagsinghap naman ni Selena.

Bahagya akong sumilip upang makita kung nandiyan na nga si Brendt at hindi sila nagloloko.

Sabay-sabay naming pinanood si Brendt na taas-noong naglalakad papasok sa cafe. He's not wearing expression. Daig pa niya ang sasabak sa giyera. He's fully guarding himself with his tight and strong look when I know that he already wants to break down just like what he did on the rooftop yesterday.

I shouldn't told Selena and Deia about Brendt's planned rendezvous with Sean Sarmiento. Isang pagkakamali ko 'yon. May mga bagay pala na hindi ko dapat sinasabi sa kanilang dalawa, lalo na ang mga ganitong bagay. Hindi kasi maiiwasan ang pangingialam nilang dalawa.

Yes, I'm curious about what happened but I know that I won't come to the point that I'm going to do this kind of thing. This is a very illogical move.

"Dei... Sels, let's just go home. This is not a good idea—" napatigil ako sa pagsasalita nang takpan ni Deia ang aking bibig.

"Shh... Sundan natin siya." she whispered.

Selena and Deia dragged me inside the cafe.

We saw Brendt sat on a vacant table with two chairs. Hinila naman ako nila Deia sa table na nasa likuran lamang ni Brendt. Umupo kami roon at nagawa pa ni Selena'ng mag-order para sa aming tatlo ng inumin.

Hindi ako nagsasalita dahil baka marinig ni Brendt ang boses ko. Hinayaan ko lang magdaldalan si Deia at Selena. I'm thankful na ibang topic ang pinag-uusapan nilang dalawa. They really know how to play this game.

"Oh my God!" Selena quietly squealed while her eyes were directed on someone who just came inside the cafe.

Nilingon ko naman ang lalaking kakapasok lang at narinig ko rin ang mahinang tili ni Deia.

The man's wearing a tight white polo longsleeves. One look and you know that he is a businessman. His eyes searched the whole cafe and I thought that his eyes stopped with the sight of me. But when I saw him walked his way to sit in front of Brendt, I remembered.

He's Sean Sarmiento.

Well, I wouldn't blame Cassandra if she chose him. He's also a catch and he is her husband. It is only right she chose him, but I guess she's wrong with making Brendt hope that they can be together when they clearly can't.

"How are you?" Sean started the talking as soon as he's settled to his seat in front of Brendt.

"Just go and get straight to the point, Sean." mariing sabi ni Brendt at tila ayaw nang mag-aksaya ng oras. "Let's not act like we're okay, when the truth is we're not."

Napabuntong hininga naman si Sean bago dumiretso ng tingin kay Brendt.

"Look, Brendt..." panimula niya. "What happened two years ago, it's already fine with me. Wala na sa akin 'yon."

Ilang sandali ring hindi nagsalita si Brendt. Nagtititigan lamang sila ni Sean.

I badly want to see his expression but I can't. Si Deia naman na nakaupo sa harapan ko at sa likod ni Brendt ay kulang nalang na makisali na sa usapan sa sobrang lapit.

Sean sighed again when he realized that Brendt wouldn't talk.

Naglapag naman si Sean ng brown envelope sa kanilang lamesa. I also saw him placed a ballpen on top.

"The papers for the petition of changing Lyrae's surname are there. I've already completed all the requirements kahit noong nasa America pa kami." he said and my forehead creased, very eager to understand everything that happened. "If we will be able to get your signature, it will be easier for us to change her surname. Medyo nahirapan kami dahil sa conditions ng pagpapapalit ng apilyido ni Lyrae. But, nagawan naman ng paraan ni Ashley."

Hindi pa rin kumikibo si Brendt pero sa palagay ko'y nakatutok na ang kaniyang mga mata sa envelope na nasa kaniyang harapan dahil medyo nakayuko na ang kaniyang ulo kumpara kanina.

"In less than a month or two, I'm going to marry Sandra again." bigla namang sabi ni Sean. "I'm planning a surprise wedding for her. I want to give her as a gift... that Lyrae will be under my family registration. She's a Sarmiento. 'Yan ang nananalaytay sa dugo ng anak ko. Once and for all, I'm her biological father. Ipaglalaban ko ang dapat kong ipaglaban kahit gaanong kahirap pa, mabigay lang kay Lyrae ang dapat na sa kaniya."

"I know." Brendt finally spoke up after Sean's long speeches. "You don't have to repeat it all over again. I already know those facts. You've been ranting about it and shoving it to my face two years ago."

Nakita kong kinuha na ni Brendt ang mga papel mula sa envelope. He diligently signed the papers in front of his love's lover.

"Everything's done." he announced and put the papers back into the envelope.

I saw Sean flashed a smile when he received the signed papeds inside the envelope back from Brendt's hands. I can see how genuine the happiness he's showing right now.

"Again, Brendt, before I leave..." sabi naman ni Sean nang naitabi na ang importanteng envelope.

"What now?" tamad namang sabi ni Brendt at parang wala nang pakealam sa sasabihin ng kaniyang kaharap.

"I just want to tell you that I'm very thankful that you took care and love Sandra and Lyrae. Thank you for treating my daughter as your own. I know that it's hard for you to let go of them but I admire you for being man enough to let them go." sabi naman ni Sean. "It's true that it's my fault and also yours that's why they were seprated from me for years, but I'm not going to ignore the fact na ikaw din ang dahilan kung bakit sila nabalik sa akin."

Napaawang naman ang aking labi. Unti-unti ko nang naiintindihan ang mga nangyari sa kanila noong ilang taon ng nakaraan.

"Still... I'm not going to stop you if you want to meet or visit Sandra and Lyrae. Just contact them or me. You can also go to our house if you want." Sean said. "Thank you, Brendt. I'll just send you the invites for our upcoming wedding. Please come. Lyrae and Sandra will appreciate it for sure."

Isang ngiti ang iginawad ni Sean bago siya tumayo. He bowed his head down a little bit as a sign of courtesy before actually leaving Brendt alone.

"Woah..." rinig kong reaksyon ni Selena.

Tinignan ko naman silang dalawa ni Deia at halatang hindi rin nila ikinatuwa ang mga narinig kanina.

Muli kong ibinalik ang tingin ko kay Brendt na ngayo'y tuluyan ng bumagsak ang balikat at pati na rin ang ulo. I bet he's crying right now.

Iniisip ko palang ang mga pinagdaanan niyang sakit, I don't think I can take it myself. Kung ako siguro siya ay matagal na akong sumuko sa hamon ng buhay. Baka hayaan ko nang maging matandang dalaga nalang ako dahil mas mapapadali ang lahat kapag ganoon.

I pity him so much, but I also admire his strength.

Sean's right.

Brendt's right decisions and actions showed that he's very man enough to accept everything even if it will not do any good to him.

I bit my lower lip and closed my eyes as I tried to stop myself with whatever I'm planning to do, involuntarily. I don't want to do it but my body wants to move.

Napabuntong hininga naman ako at walang salitang tumayo mula sa kinauupuan ko na ikinagulat ng dalawa.

"What the fuck are you doing?!" pabulong ngunit mariin na tanong sa akin ni Selena.

Hindi ko naman siya pinansin at iginaya na ang sarili ko patungo sa table kung saan nakaupo ngayon si Brendt. Rinig na rinig ko ang pabulong na pagpigil sa akin ni Deia at Selena ngunit ni isa sa kanila'y walang nagpahinto sa akin.

Parang may kumurot sa puso ko nang makumpirma kong umiiyak nga siya. I wonder why I'm hurting this way for a man I barely know.

"S-Sir..." nauutal na pagtawag ko sa kaniya.

He raised his head quick to look at me. Daig niya pa ang nakakita ng multo nang masilayan ako ng kaniyang banyagang mga mata. He's very shocked that I'm here right now.

"C-Cindy..." sabi niya't parang hindi pa siya sigurado.

I hid my smile knowing that he still manage to call me in a playful nickname that he made for me, even though he's hurting and emotionally suffering.

Inilahad ko naman ang aking panyo sa kaniya ngunit tinitigan niya lamang ito.

"Take it, Sir." sabi ko at mas inilapit pa sa kaniya ang panyo.

"I don't need that." he simply said and looked away.

Napahinga namn ako ng malalim at hinatak ang upuan papunta sa tabi niya. Umupo ako rito at inangat ko ang kaniyang mukha na halatang ikinagulat niya.

I don't know where I got the courage to touch him, but I did without even thinking twice. All I want to do is to comfort him right now. Ang gusto ko lamang ay maging maayos siya... hindi ko nga lang alam kung bakit gusto ko ay nang dahil sa akin.

I smiled at him and wiped his tears habang hindi niya pa pinapalis ang kamay kong nakahawak sa kaniyang pisngi.

"Huwag kang umiyak." sabi ko naman. "Sayang naman ang kagwapuhan mo kung iiyak ka lang. There are so many girls there who are dreaming for you. Maybe the one you should end up with is one of them. Don't get yourself stuck with one girl."

"You heard everything..." hindi iyon tanong.

"Hindi ko naman ipagkakalat 'yon, basta ngumiti ka lang ngayon." pabirong sabi ko sa kaniya.

Kinuha ko naman ang kaniyang kamay at pilit na inilagay doon ang aking panyo bago ipinahawak sa kaniya ng mahigpit.

"Keep it. I know you need it." sabi ko at tumayo na mula sa kinauupuan ko upang makaalis.

Nagpakawala ako ng isang malalim na paghinga nang makatalikod ako, ngunit agad ko ulit pinigilan ang huminga ng maayos nang tawagin niya ang pangalan ko.

"Xylia." he called.

I turned around to look at him again, just smiling at his worn out face.

"Thank you." simpleng sabi niya pero parang gusto ko nang magtatatalon sa sobrang tuwa at saya.

I smiled widely and shook my head. "It's nothing, but..." nawala ang ngiti ko nang muli akong mapatitig sa kaniyang malulungkot na mga mata.

How I badly want to make those melancholic eyes shine like the stars at night.

"Can I make a request?" bigla kong pagtanong.

"Sure..." nag-aalangan niya pang sagot.

I took a deep breath, trying to compose my thoughts and control my breathing.

For him.

I don't know why but I'll do this for him.

"Look at me, get over her and fall for me."  I stated those words and I won't let him say no.