This is the wakas of Rhythm of Lies.

I still can't believe that this story has now come to an end. I am so glad I was able to share this with you. You, still here, trusting me the flow, is an honor. I hope you enjoyed their whole journey. And for the last straw, sana mag-enjoy ulit kayo sa wakas na ito.

--

Wakas

I couldn't breathe properly after I saw a familiar name in an advertisement from the news article I'm reading in my phone. Fuck! And fuck that my anger boiled immediately! Dammit!

Binaba ko ang cellphone ko para tingnan ang pinsan ko. I don't know how long it was until that woman left. I got so occupied with my own life. Nakita ko sa gilid ng aking mata na napatingin sa akin si Ragnar nang napansin siguro na bumalik na muli ang atensyon ko sa presentation.

"Oh? Anong nangyari?" natatawang niyang tanong.

Gumalaw ang mata ko para tingnan siya.

His smile grew larger.

"Hindi na ako interesado sa binabasa ko." Sagot ko at sinubukang ibalik muli ang tingin sa presentation. Pero ang nagpipigil niyang tawa ang nagpalingon muli sa akin sa kaniya.

Kumunot lalo ang noo ko. Mas na-badtrip dahil sa makahulugan niyang tawa.

I feel like he's insulting me or something.

Nasa isang convention kaming dalawa sa Maynila dahil pinaghahandaan na nila ang panibagong settlement sa Dam na proyekto ng ama niya, ni Tito Aurelius, sa Leyte. I got bored with the discussions. Matapos kasi ang mga nangyari, may napagdegdesisyunan na iliban na ako sa grupo. The reason why I am here is because of an issue I will try to defend half-heartedly.

Wala na talaga akong pakealam. Hindi ko na kailangang gawin ito. But I was desperate to protect her and change my family's view for her. I was desperate. Was. With proper emphasis to the past tense.

Halos suntukin ko ang sarili nang mapangiti ng wala sa sarili.

Gago ka parin pala, Isaiah. Who are you fooling?

Inalis ko na ang pagkakabaling sa direksyon ni Ragnar dahil winawagayway niya ang kaniyang cellphone na alam ko agad kung ano ang laman. I just saw it in an advertisement from an article I was reading.

"Shup up." I hissed.

Iritado ang mukha ko pero hindi ko alam bakit lumalabas ang ngiti sa mga labi ko.

"It's Katherine," dagdag naman niya pero hindi ko na pinansin.

I knew my family has hated hers. Include me. But life was full of surprises.

It's like an adventure of a blind man. You don't see what's happening around you until you use your other senses. You have to feel through your hands the happenings around you. You must listen to the words of people guiding you. And need to smell and taste the air whether you're at the bitterness of your life. For our part, we only had the vision of a blind man. We were deceived by what we must see. We didn't know that hatred leaded us to where it almost broke us; because of me.

I still regretted staying late that morning. Dahil alam kong ma-pu-protektahan ko siya laban sa aking pamilya. I knew my family's hatred. But she threw her words like a fucking dagger to my heart.

"Isaiah, ayaw ko na!"

My eyes widened a fraction after hearing Katherine's words. I was trying to hold her that time, hugging her to my most intent, as if I could protect her against my raging lolo and Kuya Isaac. Alam kong gago ako pero hindi katanggap-tanggap ang hiwalayan ako ng babaeng gusto ko. Ang babaeng mahal ko. Dahil alam kong kaya kong magbago. Para sa kaniya. Para sa aming dalawa. And hell I was too shocked she got away from my body.

Her next resort punched me more.

"Ako ang dahilan bakit nagkakaganito ang pamilya mo!" She was heaving I wanted to pull her back to my warmth. Sobra akong nasasaktan para sa kaniya. Lalo na noong nakita ko ang pamumuo ng luha sa kaniyang mga mata. "M-masyado na pala akong minamaliit dito ni ultimo galaw ko siguro ay pinandidirian ninyo! Ayaw ko na, Isaiah. Lahat ng ito ay puro kasinungalingan lang."

"What do you mean?"

"Isaiah, salot lang ako sa pamilyang ito."

I tried to reassure her before she left. But maybe she was right. Her words reminded me all the hatred we planted. Tama nga siya. And I regretted everything.

Kuya and I got physical after Katherine left. Pinagsisisihanko siya kung bakit nangyari iyon sa aming dalawa. Kung hindi niya ako sinugod noong gabing iyon, bago ang kaganapang iyon, siguro matagal pa ang pagsasama namin ni Katherine. I'd probably had my time explaining everything to her. Kaya sa rahas ng kamao ako gumanti sa kaniya.

"Isaiah, stop it, hijo!" Naririnig ko si Mama noong naabutan niya kami ni Kuya sa may parking sa hapong iyon din mismo na nagbabasag-ulo.

My bloodshot eyes were glaring at my brother's now bloody face.

"Isaac, please, stopped it!" Sigaw ulit ni Mama noong sinubukang sumulong sa akin ni Kuya.

No one from my family dared to talk to me after Katherine decided to leave from our premise. I was sinking everything. I wasn't able to stop her. I wanted so much to rebel. It was so provoking. But I couldn't. No. I won't. Because when my time of realizations came, I finally saw a light of hope. That maybe, whatever has happened between Katherine and I, was just a beauty of life's phase. And we all knew that behind every beauty, always has its raging beast. At ang paghihiwalay namin ay ang halimaw sa sobra kung makapanakit.

Father made a choice from his past. And it was to marry a woman even if he's in love to someone.

Nagdulot iyon ng matinding gapos sa aming pamilya. Kay lola.

Masyadong basag ang puso ko. Wasak na wasak. Na halos mapamura ako kahit na hindi ko na dapat alalahanin pa iyon.

I even tried to put harm to Katherine when we were still in our younger years. Siguro sa kaniya dahil mas matanda ako ng ilang taon. I did not bother to calculate. My childish mind thought that it would go as our revenge from her family. That I can at least make myself happy.

"Anong ginagawa natin dito?"

Her eyes were innocent, miles away from mine, which by then was filled with rage and vengeance.

I even made a friend of hers as an excuse just so I could manipulate her to be here, fourth floor upstairs, in this empty room of our un-renovated mansion.

I was only about to frighten her through my words, that they don't deserve living near our fucking property, where papa could still see them. But what escalated after she screamed and ran away from that room, away from our home, shocked everyone. Especially for lolo. And that made me more vengeful.

Pero nang lumipas ang mga araw, ang galit kong iyon ay nagdulot sa akin para hindi siya makalimutan. Binuo ko ang sarili para mas lalong kamuhian siya. But damn I kept on cursing because I didn't know my anger was too much that I was slowly developing something for her. Hanggang sa naging buwan ang mga araw na iyon. At ang buwan ay naging taon.

It keeps on going on.

"It's already settled with the Zacarias," Lolo finally said to us.

Nasa Legazpi kami noon isang hapon sa isang engrandeng mesa sa ancient mansion nina Lolo. Doon napagdesisyunan na manatili na lang muna kami habang pinapahupa ang nangyari.

Ramdam ko ang nanlilisik an tingin sa akin ni Kuya. Tamad akong nakikinig sa sinasabi ni lolo sa hapag.

"This is ridiculous!" Hindi na napigilan ni Kuya ang pagsabog.

Binalingan ko siya. Nakatingin na siya kay Lolo.

All of my father's family members were present. They knew this was gonna happen. I was actually scared but somehow, I found lolo's way more convincing rather than pretend and play around with the rumors.

"I have already talked with Artemio's son. Nakausap ko na rin ang papa mo, Isaac. They're fine with it. And this is to protect the family's name."

"I have a woman of my own, lolo! And this won't resolve anything! Mas lalo lang magkakagulo! Lalo na dahil may iba akong gusto! They'll probably see me cheating!"

"Then don't cheat."

Hindi nakapagsalita si Kuya. Nagkaroon ng pagkakataon si Lolo na magpaliwanag ng husto.

"Mas mainam itong paraan para matigil na ang mga usap-usapan sa pamilya. You were the one pointed by Maria Grecalda's elites. Kailangan nating gawin ito para isipin na nagpumilit lang ang babaeng iyon sa 'yo. That she was your other woman. All chains were forced, yet, damn ones beg more."

Hindi ko na halos inintindi ang mga pangaral ng lolo sa panahong iyon noong isiwalat sa ang kagustuhan niya. Tinanggap namin iyon ng buong puso. Maliban lang kay Kuya. At sa mga sinabi ni lolo, wala pa iyong bahid dahil hindi ko pa alam kung ano ang nararamdaman ko kay Katherine sa panahong iyon.

Our family envisions wealth and socialites. Kahit na magkagulo sa loob ng isang kahon, basta maayos tingnan para sa labas para sa karamihan, ayos lang. Kuya got chained. At dahil mas bata ako sa kaniya, sa kaniya napunta ang kabayaran.

Sobrang gago ko dahil doon. Ang gago, gago ko! I caged his freedom. And it's all because of our family's will. Their vision. That's why we couldn't get along together. Not until time finally healed him. Us. That he has finally accepted. But only before we got back to that province after I graduated.

Doon na muling nagsimulang magkagulo.

Love is a powerful force that burns all your passions. Once you're in love, your attention will be for that certain person only. To the point where your surroundings doesn't matter anymore. That the only thing running around your head is your capability to protect her, your love. That you will become devoted like in fantasies that if your girl wants that star above, you'll do everything just to get it.

That's how powerful it is.

Or maybe... that's because how it got me.

My thoughts were cursing when I finally was able to meet her after her mother's death. It was also my first time seeing her for after so long. At alam ng mga tala sa kalangitan kung saan umabot ang tindi ng kaba ko noong tingnan niya ako sa unang pagkakataong iyon.

The paleness of her skin was like the milk in good machineries. Pure and well refined they were so attracting and conceiving. May kaunting epekto ng araw ang iilang bahagi ng kaniyang mukha pero dumagdag lang iyon sa pagiging maganda ng katangian niya.

"Isaiah, halika na..." said Manang.

Hell I didn't know I was sweating bullets!

I was so nervous for the sake of I don't know who!

Kinailangan ko pang maging pilyo para lang hindi mahalata ang kabang tinatago ko sa araw na iyon. When until I got comfortable with it. At habang lumilipas ang mga araw hindi ko napapansin ang sarili ko sa kaniya. And I thought she was feeling the same for me, too. Because she couldn't look at me. And my instincts were telling me every time I happen to look at her. I could see them through her eyes.

Hanggang mangyari ang isang gabi. Halos hindi pa ako makapaniwala noon nang naramdaman ko na idiniin niya ako sa sarili niya nang sinubukan kong halikan siya. Pinapakiramdaman ko siya buong oras ng selebrasyon ng kaarawan ni Mama sa Fort Bonifacio.

I was crazy over a girl. I smirked inwardly.

Muling winagayway sa akin ng pinsan ang kaniyang cellphone matapos ang mahaba kong pagbabalik tanaw. Masyado akong wala sa sarili na hindi ko napansin na lumipat na pala ang gago ng mas malapit na upuan sa akin.

Marami ang tao sa convention kaya hindi agaw pansin sa lahat ang ginawa niya. Malaki kasi ang proyekto at risky pa ito. There were engineers who brainstormed effective ideas that are being presented now.

"Williams..." tukso nito sa harapan ko.

Halos mag-init ang dugo ko sa sinabi nito. Kinuyom ko ang kamao. Nakita kong nakita niya iyon.

"Stop it. She has probably married someone now."

"Just shut your fucking mouth up." Iritado kong tugon sa kaniya.

And he moron laughed annoyingly. Kung hindi lang ako nakapagtimpi, malamang ay agaw atensyon na kami rito.

Nakakairita ang mga sinasabi niya lalo pa dahil tungkol iyon kay Katherine. Napapamumura lang ako sa utak ko. Pero hindi ako tuluyang nagpadala. Maayos ko pa ring naipakita sa convention ang pagiging kalmado.

Because I somehow get it. I get the wise decision she made after she left. She was broken and needed money for her brother's stake. She married someone for convenience. To do her bills. That's only it. And that should only be it. But damn I still couldn't accept it. I can pay her debts if she has one! She could have just asked me! Because I waited! Because I've been waiting.

Agad kong binalikan ang hindi mabasa-basang article na iyon noong nakauwi na ako sa sariling condo sa gabi ring iyon. Hapon na noong natapos ang convention na iyon. I headed to the gym afterwards but since that headline kept on distracting my thoughts, I had no choice. Kaunting pagpapawis lang and I headed back to my unit.

Binuksan ko agad ang cellphone at hinanap ang namimesteng article na mabilis ko namang nahanap.

I ignored the loud banging of my heart when I got the chance to finally look at her picture in the article. I memorized her with liberation. The picture is Katherine standing in a huge stage alone. Her princess like long dress anticipated her curled hair properly sideways. May mga kuha pang malayo at kita ang buong espasyo kung nasaan siya pero mas nagtagal ako sa isang kuha ng maganda niyang mukha. And based from the way she's holding the microphone, and how her eyes were closed, the picture was taken out of her consent. But it did not change the elegance she possessed in that photo.

Hindi ko napigilan ang sarili na i-save iyon.

Dumiretso ako sa kuwarto ko at binaba ang alak na hawak para mabasa ang mga nakasulat. Umupo ako sa gilid ng kama habang patuloy na nagbabasa.

Every after her picture were the continuation of the topic. Tungkol lang iyon sa pagpaparangal sa kaniya. But her name, specifically her last name, actually was the one caught my attention. Sa dulo ay may link upang makita ko ang performance niya. Hindi ko na iyon pinalampas.

I really missed her during those heavy years of my life so much. From the challenges we surpassed, to the struggles we accepted, and for years of being unaware, finally, now, I am able to hold her again. And this time, she's not alone. She bared the first born of Maderal's new generation.

"Sir, nandito po ang mga dokumentong pinakuha niyo galing HR sa baba," sabi sa akin ni Jonard, assistant ng boung palapag ko, nang nilapag niya ng mga dokumentong naka-pile sa braso niya kanina.

Gumalaw ako sa swivel para malapitan ang mga iyon. Hindi na ako nag-angat ng tingin sa kaniya nang magpasalamat. Narinig ko naman agad ang pag-alis niya nang isarado niya ang pintuan ng opisina ko.

Matapos ang ilang pag-aabang na baka may naligaw na dokumentong may pangalan ng ahensya niya, sa wakas, may isa ngayon na pinadala rito. I requested for it. Kaniya-kaniyang sariling record-keeping ang iba't ibang holdings ng Maderal Empire pero sinadya kong abangan para mahingan ang isang ito. Alam kong mali ang mangi-alam sa mga dokumento ng kumpanya. Pero isinantabi ko iyon para sa pansariling legasyon.

I notified her through email first. I used my complete biological name underneath my signature. It was as if my warning, or at least a hint that I am still here trying to knock her to open her heart. Wala na akong pakealam kung kasal siya. I will use my name and what my family can do just to get her.

Pero gulat ang sumalubong sa akin noong dumating ang araw ng request kong digital interview sa kaniya.

Katherine wasn't the one shown on my screen. It was a man; her man. And he probably knew me because based from his reaction, his eyes were widened out of shocked. Maybe Katherine introduced me to him. Maybe he knew our past. Dammit. She hasn't moved on too.

Damn I couldn't hide my evil smile to this man on my screen.

"S-sir," bigla itong nagsalita.

Hindi ko alam kung kabado ang boses na narinig ko. But I leaned closer to my laptop. Gusto kong takutin siya sa pamamagitan ng prisensya ko. And I couldn't hide my scowl. He called my name. It agitated my angst more.

"Where is she?" hindi ko napigilan ang sariling magtanong.

My voice was darkened, almost naturally sounding like I could punch this man already. Damn that's just how desperate I was.

Pinanood ko ang pagtaas ng kaniyang balikat. Lumalim agad ang diin sa pagitan ng kilay ko. Nanatiling nakatuon ang tingin ko sa screen. Pinapagmasdan ang pagdiin ng kaniyang braso sa sariling katawan. Until probably he couldn't contain it. Umangat ang kaniyang kamay para takpan ng palad ang kaniyang bibig. And the way he shrieked his lips initiated a point before it got covered.

That's when I started to get confused.

"Walang hiya talaga 'tong si Katherine!" he mouthed, voice almost muffled because of his palm.

"Where the fuck is she?!" I shouted on my screen.

Umiling-uling agad siya, nagulat din sa bigla kong pagsigaw. Agad namatay ang linya. Halos masira ko ang screen ng desktop ko dahil sa ginawa niya.

"Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!"

Damn I snapped!

Tinapon ko ang mga papeles na nasa ibabaw ng mesa ko palayo. Agad ko din hinilamos ang palad matapos itulak ang sarili palayo sa lamesa habang naka-upo sa swivel.

"Dammit!"

Hinilamos ko ang palad sa mukha dahil sa hindi mapigilang iritasyon. I was almost at my peak! At dahil sa nangyaring iyon, hindi ako makapagtrabaho ng maayos. I cancelled my meetings that day. Umalis din agad ako maaga sa opisina. Damn. Inilabas ko ang init ng ulo sa pagbubuhat sa gym sa mga natitirang oras ng araw na iyon.

Damn I am becoming obsessed with her!

Pero matapos lang ang ilang araw, muli kaming nakapag-usap ng lalaking iyon. He finally introduced himself properly to me. And somehow, it calmed my nerves. But he added something that wrecked me again...

"Hindi ko alam ano ang relasyon ninyo noon pero may ipapakita akong larawan sa iyo. Please, please, please. Don't tell her you got that from me. Ayaw ko mang manghimasok pero alam kong ito ang tama. Lalo na dahil hinahanap mo siya. She's been a dear friend to me. And I hope this will help for the both of you..." he said.

After the call ended, I received his email. Hindi ko muna binuksan dahil nagkaroon ng urgent meeting tungkol sa isang insidente ng kumapnya at nasa unit na ako noong maalala ko ulit ito.

I was unbuttoning my shirt using a hand because my other one is busy looking for the mail. I had no clue what was it all about. I only got interested because it matters with Katherine. And the soulful words of her friend. I immediately saw his name and opened the mail.

Tuluyan ko munang inalis ang suot bago naibalik ang atensyon sa screen ng cellphone.

It immediately caught my senses.

Para akong nagyelo nang makita ang laman ng email nito. At sobra rin ang pintig ng puso ko na halos hindi ko marinig ang ingay sa labas ng unit ko.

Titig na titig ako sa larawang pinadala ng kaibigan ni Katherine, sa dalawang taong laman nito, at sa batang lalaki na nasa bisig nito.

The image of Katherine smiling widely, all her beautiful set of teeth almost revealed, weakened my knees. Kinailangan ko pa ng tulong ng kama para lang mapanatili ang tindig. But the young boy clipped properly in between her arms made me sat down to the edge of my bed.

Nanghihina ako.

The lights in my room feels burning it made me sweat so hard.

Hindi ko na kailangang titigan ng matagal ang itsura ng bata dahil unang tingin pa lang, kilalang kilala mo na kaagad kung kanino nagmana iyon. It's my photocopy! My mini me!

Hindi ako nakatulog ng maayos sa gabing iyon.

Natulala ako sa kisame habang paulit ulit na dinudungaw ang larawan nilang dalawa.

Katherine was so happy on the picture while my son was irritated. Siguro ay kinuha niya lang iyon para magkaroon ng ganoong larawan. And based from the party hat Katherine has on the image, it seems like they were in a children's party or something.

That's how I knew Katherine bared the fruit of our past.

Ako naman ngayon ang sising-sisi sa sarili noong nalaman ko ang tungkol sa bagay na iyon. Pinagsisisihan ko ang mga galit na natanim ko sa kaniya. Ang mga galit na kahibangan lang ang dulot talaga. They were incomparable from how she handled everything by her own.

She raised our child herself... and that without needing... anyone's help. She underwent the deepest of the deep. And I haven't fucking known about anything!

Kaya ang galit ko sa sarili ko ay hindi ko napigilan noong nagtagumpay ang pinlano ng kaibigan niya. Damn they didn't know who the biological father of my son was. My own fucking son! Katherine was very keen with her words. Damn.

That's why thoughts about her sacrifices drowned me that I snapped during the first minute of us in my office. She had no other choice after I asked her that I want to meet my boy.

Pero noong nasa sasakyan na kami, panay ang baling ko sa kaniya. Naririnig ko ang pagpipigil niya ng iyak. At bawat hikbing pinipigilan niya, bumabalik sa akin lahat ng mga nasabi ko. At halos kinukurot nito ang aking puso. I thought I was hard as the rock does. Funny. Those were my only thoughts.

"Let's... uhm... stay here for a while," sabi ni Katherine pagkapatay ko sa makina ng Mustang.

Agad dumiretso ang tingin ko sa kaniya.

"I can go with you." Dagdag ko agad dahil hindi makapaniwala sa biglang sinabi niya.

Sunod-sunod naman ang pag-iling niya.

"Isaiah, no... I mean... not yet. A-ano kasi..."

There was another silence. Hindi ko napapansin ang sariling titig na titig na pala sa kaniya habang nag-iisip siya ng idadahilan niya. I remained my silence. Ginawa kong pagkakataon ang paghihintay para mas mapagmasdan siya ng ganito kalapit. Kung saan saan pa napupunta ang mata niya.

Try harder babe. I know you know I'm not gonna buy it.

"Bababa na lang uli ako kung tapos ko nang kausapin si Paul,"

"What?!" Biglang kumunot ang noo ko.

Hindi naman siya makatingin ng diretso.

"You don't know him yet. I mean... he might not understand these yet. Kailangan ko munang ipa-intindi sa kaniya ang mga detalye. Ang buong pangyayari,"

"What floor are you?" I said, full of determination.

Baby, if you won't let me, then I'll have to force myself. You have suffered for years already! Still wasn't enough for you?

Mas lalo siyang nataranta.

Damn even if you changed a lot, still, you're the Katherine I know; covered with denials.

"We're at the twenty-first-floor of this building. But please, Isaiah," inabot niya ang braso ko. Halos malusaw ako sa ginawa niya pero nagpintig parin ang determinasyon sa akin.

Lahat ng mga pagkukulang ko sa anak, sa kanila ng Mommy niya, bumulok lahat ng iyon noong una kong makita ang anak ko sa tinutuluyan nila. Tumagal ang titig ko sa kaniya, sa kanila ng mahal ko, dahil hindi ako makapaniwala na hindi ko siya nakasama habang sinisilang siya. Hindi ko naalagaan ang Mommy niya noong nasa sinapupunan palang nito. And damn I was battling with my own selfishness when Katherine battled with for her family... for our child.

Gusto kong suntukin ang sarili ko sa mga kagaguhan ko. I knew impregnating her after what we've done was possible. But the thought never made its way through my head because of my own pitiful warzone. Putang ina mo Isaiah ang gago mong lalaki!

Lahat ng mga pagsisisi ko sa pagkakataong iyon ay nagsilabasan sa aking mata.

I told Katherine I will be protecting her. I told her I will be responsible about everything. Shit. I was full of shit.

"Who is he, Mommy?" my son asking Katherine.

My heart skipped.

"I-it's me, baby. Y-your papa,"

My mind decided already after that very moment.

"Where have you been, papa? Mommy had to be away from me, every day, for us, for me. Where have you been, papa?" ang anak ko habang mahigpit ang yakap ng mga braso niya sa leeg ko.

Tango ako nang tango. Nanatili sa pagkakakaluhod para maabot lang siya. At para mas tumagal ang yakap ko sa kaniya.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry, son. I didn't know."

I kept on repeating my apologies on him.

"I will never let you and your family go again." Bulong ko pa sa kaniya.

I treasured my everyday with him, with them. Kahit na sinusuyo ko si Katherine, araw-araw, at kahit na tinatago niya pa rin ang tunay na nararamdaman niya, pinag-igihan ko pa rin ito. I called my family and scheduled them to finally meet my son. Pero naudlot lang dahil sa mga personal na kadahilanan.

"Kamusta?" Si Kuya pagbisita nito sa building isang araw.

Umuuwi na ako sa suite ni Katherine noon. Sa tagal din ng mga nangyari, bumalik na ulit ang aming pagkakasundo.

I didn't know he will be visiting my office. Binaba ko ang dokumentong binabasa para mag-angat ng tingin sa kaniya. He's on his proper corporate. Naglalakad na ito palapit sa lamesa ko. Tinuro ko agad ang upuan sa tapat.

"So, what's going to be your move?"

"Hindi ko pa alam. Ayaw pa rin ni Lola,"

Kuya's lips formed a smirk.

"At least she knows. Importante na iyon."

Sa kabila ng mga nangyari sa amin noon, si Kuya ang muli kong naging takbuhan sa mga problema. He will help me understand his perspective of whether my move is going to be good or not. At noong sinabi ko sa kaniya ang plano, tumugon agad siya roon. At kahit na may kaunting palpak, nagtagumpay pa rin akong mailagay ang singsing na ipinagawa ko sa daliri ni Katherine.

God knows how nervous I was because of Lola's words. Muntik pang magkagulo sa dinner na iyon. Though it turned out a little successful. And I was happy how it ended.

At habang tinatahak ng sasakyan namin ang pamilyar na daan ng Hulatan, mas lalong nadadama kong may yumayakap sa aking puso.

The mountains beside us were part of how we started together. Like the clouds kissing its peaks, and with the water running on its every river, the familiarity of it together seems pure and warming.

"May mga binago na pala sa daanan dito," si Katherine sa likod ko.

Umahon ako sa pagkakasandal para maikot ko siya. Bahagya ko pang ginising ang sarili dahil sa mga nagbabalikang mga alaala.

Dumiretso muna ang tingin ko sa tulog pa rin naming anak na nakahiga ang ulo sa hita niya bago ko inagat ang atensyon sa kaniya.

Her attention was towards the view outside her window.

Marahil ay marami rin ang mga alaalang bumabalik sa kaniya habang tinatahak ng sasakyan ang pamilyar na pamilyar na daan.

Hindi ako nagulat sa iilang pagbabago rito dahil tuwing nagkakaroon ng pagkakataon ay nakakabalik ako sa bayan. I witnessed the glow up of this tiny Municipality. From the construction of every roads... to the building of small establishments.

"The town is growing slightly," kumento ko na nagpabaling sa kaniya sa akin.

Napakurap-kurap pa siya bago nagsalita.

I smirked involuntarily from what she just did.

"K-kamusta na pala ang dam ninyo? Is it... functional already?"

Lumalim ang pagtitig ko sa kaniya. I don't know why I can't stop smiling in front of her. At ramdam ko namang hindi siya kumportable sa paraang ng tingin ko. But I'd like to put another meaning with the way she skips my gaze.

Sinarili ko nalang iyon at hindi na pinigilan ang sariling mapangiti habang nagsasalita.

"Not yet. But the test drives were done. Probably next year, the operation will start already. Do you want us to see?"

"S-sure, why not!"

That dam... the river... where we had our first encounter. I can still remember them in details.

We had our rest when we finally got home. Ako na ang kumarga kay Paul habang ang iilang mga kasambahay naman ay tumulong sa pagkuha sa aming dala. There's some who recognized her as what she is today and few who remembered her before.

Nagpaalam agad ako sa kaniya na mauuna na ako sa pag-akyat. They will be sleeping in my room now. And I don't know how she'll react if she found out that some of her things were kept inside mine. I just shrugged them for now.

Siguro, mamaya na namin pag-uusapan.

And speaking of the latter, people were busy because of our coming home. Hindi alam ni Katherine na narito rin sina lola ang lolo. Hindi ko rin nasabi sa kaniya ang tungkol rito. Ang alam niya talagang sadya ay ang okasyong dadaluhan niya.

Not until dinner came.

"I will make sure that everyone will be acquainted to the first born. This will be huge." Si lolo na nakaupo sa kabisera ng mahabang lamesa.

Alam nilang uuwi kami ni Katherine sa Hulatan para sa kasal ng kaibigan niya. I knew this was going to happen but I didn't know that the Costiniano's will be coming. Everyone in the family member was settled in the long dining table of the mansion. Tito Aurelius's sons were seated in front of us. Next to them were their parents.

Katabi ko naman si Katherine at sa tabi naman nito ay si Paul na nakikita ko sa gilid ng mata kong nakalabas ang ulo, tila nakikinig din sa sinasabi ng Lolo.

"We will launch a debut," said lola, who's seated near papa, beside lolo.

Agad kong naramdaman ang paghigpit ng kamay ni Katherine sa braso ko. Pinutol ko ang tingin kay lola para balingan siya. Nakaangat ang dalawang kilay ko. She wasn't looking at me. Nakatuon lang ang atensyon niya sa mga nagsasalita.

I sensed that she is not comfortable to any of these.

I leaned closer to her to press my lips to her blond hair.

"It's alright," bulong ko sa kaniyang tainga. "It's Lola's words. We cannot stop her."

And soon you'll get to know the extravagant among us. Or maybe the excessive.

Patuloy kami sa pakikinig sa mga pinaplano. We just agreed to whatever they wanted. My son was the first born and they wanted everyone to know him, just like how people know us.

That dinner was done casually. Nagkaroon din ng kamustahan at mga papuri lalo na sa mga narating ng magiging asawa ko. Damn I still am so grateful I was able to bring her here.

Nakaupo pa rin ako sa puwesto habang siya, matapos nakalaya sa tabi ko, sa usapan dito, ay agad dinayo ng mga kababaihan. Hindi ko maalis ang tingin sa kaniya habang pinapa-ayos ni kuya ang mesa para sa inuman mamaya naming magpipinsan. Alam ko ring mag-uuntugan sa akin ang kanilang mga tukso. Pero wala na akong pakealam doon.

She will be sleeping later with me.