9

Pangako

I stared at Phonix for what seemed like a very long while. He was standing weakly infront of me, head down, while breathing hard.

"Anong ginawa ng Mama?" I whispered. Phonix shook his head before clenching his jaw. 

Umangat ang kamay niya at inihilamos ang palad sa kanyang mukha bago siya muling umiling. The man look so utterly broken and devastated as he stared back at me. I cleared my throat and faced the sea. The salty air filled my lungs as I try to search for the words I need to tell this man. 

Magsasalita na sana ako noong naramdaman ko ang mga hakbang ni Phoenix sa aking likuran. He stood beside me before facing the ocean as well.

"What did my mother tell you?" 

Huminga siya ng malalim bago mapait na ngumiti. 

"She offered me a life, Noelle. She offered me everything that my riches can never buy. She offered me love," he huskily said. Marahas akong napatingin sa kanya. Anong ibig niyang sabihin? 

"How long have you been here?" he asked. Kinagat ko ang labi ko bago niyakap ang aking mga braso. 

"Two months." 

He smiled bitterly before nodding. 

"And two months ago, your mother presented to me another Noelle Madrid."

Kumunot ang noo ko sa gusto niyang ipahiwatig. How can my mother present me to the Fuegos two months ago if I am here in El Nido? 

Phoenix probably saw the confusion in my face and he spoke once again. Sa bulsa niya ay kinuha niya ang kanyang cellphone. He tapped on it for a few times before showing me a picture of a couple. Kinuha ko ang kanyang cellphone at tiningnan ang litrato. 

It was a silhouette picture, but I am sure that the man there was Phoenix. Sa tabi niya ay may isang babaeng nakaangkla ang mga braso sa kanyang leeg. They were kissing while the place was illuminated with thousands of lanterns.

"Who's this?" 

"That was Noelle. Or so I thought," Phoenix murmured. Binulsa niya ang kanyang phone bago muling humarap sa dagat. He breathe hard again as he stared at the vastness of the sea. 

"I ran away from home, Phonix, when my mother announced our marriage. I don't know how my mother was able to present another Noelle to you but I am very sorry for whatever you have been through because of her," I sincerely said. Hindi ko alam kung paano nagawa ni Mama ang kumuha ng babaeng magpapanggap na ako pero nararamdaman ko kung gaano nasaktan si Phonix dahil doon. I know I didn't have any part of the lie but he wouldn't be hurt if I didn't run. Nasasaktan siya ngayon dahil tinakbuhan ko ang kasunduan ng mga pamilya namin. 

Humarap siya sa akin at tinitigan ako. His deep grey eyes bored holes into me as he stared at me with great intensity.

"Why did you run, Noelle? Answer me. And it better be good or else..." 

Napalunok ako sa banta niya. My tongue got stuck as I realized the threat he is giving. My eyes felt painful as tears start. 

"Sasabihin mo sa Mama kung nasaan ako?" 

He smiled sardonically before nodding. "You're mother brought unmeasurable pain to me, señorita, kaya tamang saktan ka rin, hindi ba?" anas niya, tiim na tiim ang bagang habang nakatitig sa akin. 

"That's how the world works, Noelle. If somebody hurts you, then hurt them back. The world doesn't need a martyr, it needs a fighter," he added. I swallowed the bile in my throat as tears sprung from the corners of my eyes.

"Now tell me, why didn't you want to marry me?" 

I closed my eyes and tried to calm myself. Lumipad ang mga kamay ko sa pendant ng kwintas na ibinigay ni Papa sa akin noon. As I calm myself, the cokd breeze of the ocean swept through me, silently telling me that everything would be alright. Tahimik na sinasabi sa akin ng dagat na mali ang pananaw ni Phoenix, na hindi ibig sabihin na sinaktan ka ay mananakit ka din pabalik. Accepting the pain is not martyrdom, it is courage. 

Nagdilat ako at muling sumalubong sa akin ang kulay abong mata niya. He looked at me with wrath and anger I could barely understand. Kung ano man ang ginawa ni Mama, sigurado akong sobra sobrang nasaktan si Phoenix roon. His pain was too raw, I could almost feel it. 

"My mother told me I should marry you for the company..." 

Tumaas ang kilay niya at mas nag alab ang galit sa mga mata. 

"And that reason was not enough?" 

Umiling ako. "No. Phoenix, I will only marry for love," matapang kong deklarasyon. Sinalubong ko ang mata niya at nakita ko ang mabilis na pagbabago ng kanyang ekspresyon. Mula sa galit ay napalitan iyon ng pagkamangha hanggang sa bumalik iyon sa lungkot. He smiled sadly before shrugging his shoulders. 

"You sound like her." 

"Like who?" 

Muli siyang nagkibit balikat. "My Noelle. God, I don't even know her real name," he cursed. Muli siyang humarap sa dagat at tinitigan iyon. Huminga siya ng malalim na para bang may malalim na iniisip. I stood there, waiting for him to finish his thoughts when I heard footsteps nearby. 

"Noelle?" the familiar baritone called me. Hinarap ko iyon at nakita si Lukas na kunot na kunot ang pagkakatingin sa aming dalawa ni Phoenix. He was still wearing his uniiform but his polo was already opened. Nakaalis na rin ang pagkakatuck in niya at medyo magulo na ang buhok. But still, the man is breathtakingly gorgeous, even with his ruggedness. 

Umigting ang panga niya habang nakatitig sa aming dalawa ni Phoenix. His eyes went to Phoenix' car then back at him. His brown eyes turned to slits as he strode towards my direction. Nang makalapit siya sa akin ay agad ginagap ng kanyang mga kamay ang aking palapulsuhan. 

"Luke!" I exclaimed. Mabilis niya akong itinago sa kanyang likuran bago hinarap si Phoenix na kuryosong nakatingin sa aming dalawa. The corner of the lips of Phonix rose as he stared at Lukas' hand on my wrist. 

"Should I tell this to your mother?" 

Nanginig ako sa sinabi nito. Mabilis akong umiling at nagtangkang lumapit sa kanya noong hinatak akong muli ni Lukas.

"Phoenix, please..." halos maiyak ko ng sabi. I looked at Lukas who's staring at me, confused. Kinagat ko ang labi ko habang unti unti na akong nilalamon ng takot. I don't want to leave this place. I want to stay here. I want to be with Luke. 

Dahil aminin ko man o hindi, alam kong may nararamdaman na ako para sa kanya. It's just that the uncertainty of my situation keeps me from naming my feelings for him. 

"I will keep this a secret, Noelle. I am fine as long as one of us is happy..." he said before looking at Lukas. He smiled sadly and then bowed slightly. 

"Adios, señorita," he said before entering his car. Noong makaalis na siya ay doob pa lamang ako nakahinga ng mabuti. My knees buckled and Lukas held me for support. 

"Ayos ka lang?" nag aalala niyang tanong. I looked at him and nodded. His brown eyes shone like the stars on a very dark night. Inalalayan niya ako para makatayo ng maayos bago niya ako inakay papunta sa dalampasigan. Hinubad niya ang kanyang polo at nilatag iyon sa buhanginan bago ako pinaupo roon. 

Ilang sandali kaming tahimik. Ang tanging naririnig namin ay ang hampas ng alon sa batuhan at ang huni ng mga ibon na nagsisiliparan. Niyakap ko ang aking tuhod at ipinatong ang baba roon bago ko tiningnam si Lukas. 

"Sasabihin mo na ba kung sino iyon?" mariin niyang tanong. Kinagat ko ang labi ko at muli akong inatake ng kaba.

Umangat ang kamay ko at hinaplos ang pisngi niya. He closed his eyes and leaned to my touch. 

"He's no one of importance, Luke." 

Kumunot ang noo niya at hinuli ang kamay ko sa kanyang palad. 

"Pero magkakilala kayo..." 

Umiling ako. Hindi ko pwedeng sabihin kung sino si Phoenix sa buhay ko. Ayaw kong malaman ni Lukas ang totoong dahilan ng paglalayas ko. Ayaw kong madamay siya sa gulo namin ni Mama. I would handle this on my own. I know I can do it. 

"Kaibigan siya ng pamilya namin. Nagulat siya ng maabutan niya ako sa karinderya kanina kaya nag usap kami. Ipinaliwanag ko kung bakit nandito ako," I half lied. Lalong lumalim ang kunot sa noo niya bago huminga ng malalim. Nginitian ko si Lukas bago ako lumapit sa kanya. Ipinatong ko ang aking noo sa kanyang balikat bago huminga ng malalim.

Phoenix found me here. It is just a matter of time before my mother would come and then I have to go back to being the Madrid heiress. Ang buhay na minamahal ko dito sa Ell Nido ay matatapos na. 

I looked at Lukas again and my heart just ached so badly. My tears hurt the corners of my eyes so I smiled to stop them from falling. Lukas touched my cheek before brushing a tear that fell. 

"God,baby. Why are you crying?" 

Umiling ako at mas napaluha na lamang. God, how could this man be so utterly wonderful? Makakaya ko pa bang iwan siya, kung ang buong pagkatao ko ay nagsusumigaw na manatili ako rito sa tabi niya? How could I go back to my life before him if my whole being shouts his name now? How? 

"Masaya lang ako, Luke, na kasama kita dito sa El Nido. Sobrang saya ko," umiiyak kong sabi. His eyes softened and nodded. 

"Then stay. Don't leave me, please. Promise me," he whispered. Hinawakan niya ang pisngi ko at tinitigan ako sa aking mata. 

"Ngayon ko lang naramdaman ang ganito, Noelle, pero sigurado na ako. Mahal na mahal kita," pag amin niya. Nanlaki ang mata ko sa gulat mula sa mga sinabi niya. Iyong mga luha ko ay tuloy tuloy na bumagsak habang siya ay nakatitig sa akin. 

"So please stay. Stay with me,"he whispered huskily. I choke a sob before nodding.

Niyakap ko si Lukas at di na nagsalita dahil alam ko, balang araw ay ako mismo ang sisira sa pangakong iyon.