We're going to talk, young lady

Theo's

"CONGRATULATIONS, THEO, IT'S YOU."

I heard Mr. Demitri loud and clear but damn, I couldn't understand him. All I did was sit in the middle of that bed while looking at him with that comical expression painted on my face. Gusto kong ipaulit sa kanya ang sinasabi niya sa akin pero wala akong maapuhap na salita. Sinasabi niya bang ako ang pinili niya para kay Hailey? Bakit ako? Anong kinalaman ko sa usapan nilang dalawa? Nakit naman siguro niya ang ginawa ni Perseus sa akin kagabi, did he choose me because he feels sorry for me?

"Theo, are you listening to me?"

"Bakit ako?"

"You care about my Hailey so much. Nakasisiguro akong magiging maayos ang pagsasama ninyong dalawa."

"You're serious?" Hindi ako talaga makapaniwala.

"I am dead serious." Ngumisi pa si Mr. Demitri sa akin. "The reason why I was on the way to your home last night was because I wanted to talk to your parents. I've known your family for a long time. Kilala ko ang mga magulang mo, even their parents and I know that you came from a good family. I wanted to tell your father about my proposal and if he agrees, I will support him to his next political endevours."

Sa ngayon kasi ay isang congresista si Papa. He was the former president of the Philippines but he stoop down his position because he chose to live a peaceful life with my mother, pero ika nga, people will always go back to whatever they love and my father went back to politics with of course a blessing from my mother. It's also the reason why I am taking up Political Science, after this, I'll take up Law and I'll try my best t enter politics too. That has been my goal ever since I was asked what I wanted to be when I grow up. But that's not really the point. I looked at Mr. Demitri again.

"Why me?"

"Kailangan bang ulit – ulitin ko? You care about my daughter. You'll take care of her." Wika niya pa sa akin. Lalo akong naguluhan.

"Yes, I care about Hailey, but that doesn't mean my feelings for her could turn into a romantic one."

"Oh... really? Are you sure? I've talked to you several times, I've watched you, Theo, I know you're in love with my Hailey." Nakakaloko pa iyong pagkakasabi niya noon sa akin. Naguguluhan na ako, why is everyone telling me that I am in love with Hailey, when I am not? We are just friends and that will never turn to something more than that. Kahit naman kailan ay hindi ako nakita ni Hailey sa ganoong perception. Kahit kailan ay hindi ako lalapagpas sa kaibigan para sa kanya. Hailey loves Perseus, if in case she decides to stop loving him. I'm sure Hailey will find someone else, someone that isn't me.

"Mr. Demi—"

"This conversation is over, Theo." Nakangisi pa rin siya sa akin. "I'll take you home. I'll talk to your father some other time. Uuwi muna ako. Hindi ko nakita ang asawa ko kagabi dahil sinamahan kita rito." Napapailing pa siya habang sinasabi niya iyon sa akin. As if naman sinabi kong bantayan niya ako. Bakit parang kasalanan ko pang hindi niya nakita si Mrs. Demitri kagabi? I sighed and thought about Hailey again. How is she today? Is she still upset because of what happened yesterday? Is she now thinking of going back to Perseus? Hanggang kailan kaya niya sasaktan ang sarili niya? Kailan kaya niya makikita na higit pa sa iniisip niya ang kahalagahan niya bilang tao at bilang babae? I wished she would love herself more than she loves Perseus. I hope she finds her real happiness, because as I always say, Hailey deserves it all. She deserves so much better.

I was lead outside the room by one of Mr. Demitri's bodyguard. Sumakay kami sa kotse niya. I sat down quietly while he sat just beside me while he was holding his phone. It rang and he answered it. Palaging matigas ang expression ng mukha ni Mr. Demitri, kahit kaninang kausap ko siya pero kapansin – pansin ngayon kung paanong nagbago iyon. I watched him as he answers the call with that smile on his face.

"Yes, love?" Even his voice changed. Mukhang frantic ang kausap ni Mr. Demitri sa kabilang liny ana ang hula ko naman ay si Mrs. Demitri. I couldn't help but think about Hailey when he suddenly gave me that look – I cannot explain it but he has a certain look on his face.
"Alright, love, calm down. I will look for her. Yza, calm down. Wait for me, alright? I love you." Pagkatapos na pagkatapos ng tawag na iyon ay balik na naman sa dati ang expression ng mukha niya.

"Randolf, where is Hailey?" He talked to the guy sitting at the front seat. May inilabas na cellphone ang lalaking iyon. Hindi naman na ako bago sa kalakaran ng mga bodyguards. We have our own bodyguards growing up. But when I was in high school I insisted on just a driver and that's just it. Si Mona ang maraming kasa – kasama. Hindi naman maiaalis kay Papa iyon dahil iisang babae si Ramona at talagang madalas siyang nag – aalis ng bahay.

"She's on her way to Mr. Calimbao's home, Sir." Sagot noong huli. Napatingin si Mr. Demitri sa akin. Punong – puno naman ako ng pagtataka. She didn't call me last night when she got home, I didn't even receive a text message from her and that got me worried. Hindi ko alam kung tinawagan niya baa ko dahil iniwanan ko ang phone ko sa bahay, maybe she did call, maybe she got worried that's why she's on my way to see me, but then as I was looking at Mr. Demitri, I realized that it could also because Hailey saw the video that was sent to her last night and she's really worried now.

My chest tightened when I suddenly thought of her tear – stricken face full of worry and fear. Napahawak pa ako sa dibdib ko.

"And you tell me that Hailey will always choose Perseus. Hmmm... I don't think that's the case anymore." Hindi ako nagsasalita. My chest is full of anticipation. Hindi naman ako nabigo dahil palapit pa lang kami sa bahay ng mga magulang ko ay nakita ko na agad ang sasakyan ni Hailey. The driver pulled up. I saw Hailey getting off her car. Nagmamadali akong bumaba. I caught her attention. Dapat pupunta siya sa front gate pero nakita nga niya kami. She run to me. She was already crying. I noticed how disheveled she was. Ang higpit agad ng yakap niya sa akin. Iyak siya nang iyak. Habang naririnig ko ang bawat hikbi ni Hailey ay lalong sumisikip ang dbdib ko.

"I'm so sorry." She was sobbing so hard. "I'm sorry, Theo, sorry. "I'll make sure he won't hurt you anymore. I'm so sorry, Theo. So sorry..."

Para sa akin wala naman siyang dapat ihingi ng tawad. Kahit kailan hindi niya ginustong masaktan ako. Hailey is too pure to think like that. Wala siyang kasalanan. I will forever and always be the first in line to defend her. I kept caressing her back, trying to calm her down, and while doing so, I couldn't help but think about Mr. Demitri's words, especially now that I am seeing him, standing just right outside his car, grinning at me like at Cheshire cat in that fairytale.

xxxx

Hailey's

"WHAT were you doing with my Dad?"

After all the sobs and tears, I was able to calm down. Pinapasok ako ni Theo sa bahay nila. Ni hindi ko nga nakausap si Daddy na napansin ko lang na naroon noong papasok na kami ni Theo sa loob. I didn't even have the chance to talk to him. I didn't even ask him if I could spend time with Theo today. I just wanted to make sure that he is feeling better.

"Uhm, your Dad found me in the park last night. Unconscious." Napasinghap ako. Muli ay gusto ko na namang maiyak. Hindi naman kasi dapat nangyayari ito. Sumobra na si Perseus. Alam kong tama si Theo, kailangan ko na talaga ng TRO laban sa kanya. Hindi ko alam kung pagkatapos ba ng kanina ay makikinig na siya sa akin o hindi niya pa rin ba ako titigilan. Gusto ko lang na matapos na ang lahat ng ito.

"I'm so sorry. Hindi ko talaga inaasahan na aabot sa ganito ang lahat." Napahagulgol na naman ako. Hindi nagtagal ay nakaupo na sa tabi ko si Theo at inaalo na naman ako. I was biting my lower lip to keep myself from sobbing but I couldn't help it anymore. Ang hirap pigilan ng mga luha ko. I found myself clutching the ends of his shirt. Hindi ako makatingin kay Theo. Hindi ko alam ang gagawin ko. Napansin ko nga kaninang namamaga iyong pisngi niya, na may sugat siya sa labi, hindi naman kalunos – lunos ang hitsura niya pero iyong kaisipan na nasaktan siya nang dahil sa akin ay hindi ko talaga matanggap. Kasalanan ko talaga ang lahat ng ito.

"Wala ka namang kasalanan. Hindi naman ikaw ang sumapak sa akin, so why apologize?" Typical Theo, he's always trying to downplay all the situation. Pinalalabas na naman niyang hindi naman big deal ang nangyari sa kanya, pero nasaktan siya, nawalan siya ng malay at halos hindi na niya maidilat ang kaliwang mata niya. Hindi ko nga alam kung paano niya ipapaliwanag sa mga magulang niya ang nangyari sa kanya. Luckily, pagpasok namin kanina ay walang nakakita sa kanya. Wala raw si Tita Cornelia, iyong Papa naman niya ay nasa husgado. His siblings are both at school and the maids seemed busy with their day.

"Hailey, maybe this time you'll think about filing a TRO against him. Hindi na alam ni Perseus ang ginagawa niya." Malumanay ngunit mariing wika sa akin ni Theo. Alam ko naman iyon at balak ko na talaga. I'll tell Dad about it when I get home. Bahala na kung anong magiging reaksyon niya. Hindi ko pa muling sinusubukang kausap si Daddy sa mga bagay na may kinalaman kay Perseus. Ayoko pa sana, but for Theo, I'd do anything to make sure he is safe.

I wrapped my arms around his torso. I felt him stiffened a little but that was just for a second. A little while later, he relaxed under my hold. Nakatapat iyong tainga ko sa bandang dibdib niya, I can hear his heartbeat. Bigla ay naalala ko ang mabilis na tibok ng puso ko. Why is it that he seemed so calm, while I have this erratic heartbeat? Parang hindi nga ako makahinga. I looked at him while I was still embracing him. He was looking straight, sa wall nga yata siya nakatingin tapos, nararamdaman kong hinahaplos niya ang braso ko. I pouted a little bit, hindi ko maintindihan ang sarili ko.

"Theo... I'm so sorry." Sabi kong muli sa kanya. Theo sighed. Noon lang siya tumingin sa akin. Pakiramdam ko may iniisip siya, something that makes me think that he's not himself right now. "Are you alright? Does it hurt anywhere at all?"

"I'm fine. I'm only tired." Sagot naman niya sa akin. Somehow, hindi ako naniniwala. Bumitiw ako sa kanya. I wanted to hold him a little longer because I wanted to feel his warmth longer but it seems like his not really in the mood for anything right now.

"Do you want to go to sleep?" I asked lightly. Parang nag – isip pa siya but in the end, tumango si Theo.

"I'll leave now..."

"I'm so sorry, Hailey. I'm just really tired." Sabi niya pa sa akin. Hinaplos ko naman iyong pisngi ni Theo. Naiintindihan ko naman siya. Maybe we could talk some other time again. Maybe by then I could tell him about what I did this morning. I just hope things would be back to normal.

"I'll go now. You better shower first and dry your hair, and please call me after waking up." Sabi ko pa. I kissed Theo's cheek and left his room. I stood in front of his door while thinking about it. He seemed to be detached. He seemed to be out of here. Ano kayang nangyari? May sinabi kaya sa kanya si Daddy?

"Oh, Hailey, nandito ka pala!" Napalingon ako nang marinig ko ang boses ng kapatid ni Theo, si Ramona. She was smiling at me. I had to smile back. I didn't want to be rude. "I like your bag! Is that the new Gucci limited edition? I've been trying to coax my father to buying me that pero kailangan may condition pa, sana all." Natawa na lang ako sa sinabi niya. "Is everything okay? Si Kuya? Hindi siya umuwi kagabi."

"Uhm he's taking a bath. Uuwi na rin naman ako ngayon."

"Oh, I see. What happened yesterday? He left his date. Ayon, nagkagalit tuloy sila." Napatitig ako kay Ramona. Date? Theo was at a date yesterday? Is that the reason why he was at the café near my university? I didn't even get to ask him why he was there. Basta na lang ako sumama sa kanya.

"He was with someone?"

"Yes, my friend Denise. Nagulat nga ako, I thought they were having a lot of fun, but then hey you called, so, he dropped it."

"I called?" Hindi ko naiintindihan si Ramona.

"You know, Hailey, when it comes to you, my brother will throw everything away just to cater your needs, be it a date or a family dinner. Kaya nga palagi ko siyang sinasabihan, lagi ko siyang tinatanong, is he really going to live as your shadow for a long time? I know you two are best friends but is that really it?"

"Mona..." I tried to say something, but I couldn't find the right words to say. Mona smiled. Pinisil niya ang kamay ko. "I wouldn't mind if you two end up together, but right now, Hailey, you and my brother need to get your shit together. For the sake of everyone." Kinindatan ako ni Mona at saka niya ako nilagpasan.

I left their home with so much questions in my mind. Kahit nakauwi na ako ay ganoon pa rin ang laman ng isipan ko. Kung tutuusin, tama si Mona, hindi iisang beses na nag-cancel si Theo ng lakad para lang sa akin. Even if he has an important exam or recitation the next day if I call or message him, he'd never tell me that he's busy with acads or anything, he will make time for me.

He always does.

"Hailey, you're here." Narinig ko ang boses ni Mommy. I didn't even realize that I was already inside our living room. I was in deep thought. Hindi ko rin napansin na hindi lang pala si Mama at Daddy ang naroon, in the middle of the living room, sits the Queen – Hera Adrianna Consunji – Vejar.

She was regally sitting on that couch, looking at me like I am specimen under the microscope. The Queen stood up. She was clutching her limited-edition Hermes Birkin bag studded with little diamonds.

She's my aunt but I feel intimidated. I blinked.

"We are going to talk, young lady." She told me in her coldest voice.

"Not if I have something to say about it." Suddenly my father's voice boomed around the living area.

Pinagpapawisan ako.