Chapter Eleven
“S AAN mo na naman ba ako dadalhin, ha?”
Claria asked Cleevan a couple of times now. But he did not answer her. He would just shrug and keep quiet.
Hindi niya alam kung ano ang nangyayari sa lalaki. Noong isang araw, pinilit siyang isama nito sa Pacific Jewelry. Ngayon naman, sapilitan siyang isinama na naman papunta sa kung saan.
Akala niya, hindi siya kikibuin ng lalaki pagkatapos ng nangyari noong isang araw sa Sudalgo Corporation, pero nagkamali siya.
Ugali ba ni Cleevan na mamilit ng tao para samahan ito? Pero mukhang hindi naman. Looking at his face and knowing his attitude, he was the kind of man who would want to be alone. Then if it so, why would her force her to tag along with him?
She was confused. If it was the advice he needed, he could get it from anyone.
“The park looks peaceful,” sa halip ay sabi ni Cleevan nang dahan-dahan tumigil ang sasakyan.
Tumingin siya sa labas ng sasakyan. The park looked peaceful all right. But she did not like parks. It reminded her of Lance and their past. Lance and her used to hang out in the park after school. Palaging ang date nila ay sa park.
She sighed then looked at Cleevan with bored expression in her face. “Really?” she said dryly. “I don’t like hanging out in the park. I’d rather sleep.”
“You don’t like to hang out in a park?” Binuhay uli nito ang makina ng sasakyan. “Let’s go then.”
“Wait.” Pigil niya nang akmang papaandarin na ang sasakyan. “Saan mo ba ako dadalhin? You’d been dodging my question. And why did we stop here, in the park? Are you meeting someone?”
Cleevan stared at her for a minute. “Why would you think that?” He looked away. “Napadaan lang tayo. Bakit naman ako makikipag-date sa park? It’s lame.”
Napakunot ang noo niya. There was something about his voice that said otherwise.
Nagising siya sa pagmumuni-muni nang maramdamang umusad ang sasakyan. When she looked outside, the car was moving towards the park’s exit.
“Saan ba tayo pupunta?” tanong uli niya nang makalabas sila sa park.
“Wala.” His voice was cold. “Uuwi na tayo.”
Nagsalubong ang mga kilay niya. “Cleevan, saan ba talaga tayo pupunta? I mean, kanina, sabi mo, may pupuntahan tayo at kailangan mo ng tulong ko. `Tapos, ngayon, uuwi na tayo. Are you kidding me? You’re wasting my time,” eksaheradang sabi niya.
“Nagbago na ang isip ko,” sagot nito habang pinapaharurot nang mabilis ang kotse pauwi sa bahay nila— Scratch that, bahay pala nito. Hindi naman iyon sa kanya.
Nang makarating sila sa bahay, walang sere-seremonyang lumabas ito ng sasakyan at pumasok sa bahay.
Naiwan siyang nakatanga sa loob. She really could not understand Cleevan and his mood swings.
Huminga siya nang malalim at lumabas ng sasakyan. Walang buhay siyang naglakad papunta sa pinto ng bahay nang mahagip ng mata niya ang back compartment ng sasakyan. Her forehead knotted when she saw a blue clothing peeking between the compartment door.
Kunot-noong lumapit siya sa back compartment ng sasakyan at binuksan iyon.
` Buti, hindi naka-lock.
Nanlaki ang mga mata niya nang makita ang nasa loob ng back compartment. Ang asul na tela na nakaipit sa sarahan ng compartment ay isang picnic blanket. Her eyes stared at the basket beside the blue picnic blanket.
She moved to open the basket. Shock coated her being when she saw what was inside the basket. It was full of different kinds of food. From her favorite pizza to fried chicken.
A picnic blanket and a picnic basket. So ... “Cleevan was planning to have a picnic.” She paused to think. “But with who?”
“With you.”
Napaigtad siya nang marinig ang boses ni Ace mula sa likuran. Mabilis siyang humarap. “What do you mean?”
“Oh, I don’t know. Maybe because he wants to spend time with you?” He sounded sarcastic. “But apparently, you did something that ruined his plan.”
Claria felt awful. But even though she felt that way, her heart was still beating rapidly inside her chest. “How can you be so sure that I’m the one he’s going to have a picnic with?” Baka nagkakamali lang ito.
Ace walked to her side and picked up the bouquet of white-pink roses hidden on the corner of the compartment. He picked up a white small card inserted on the bouquet and gave it to her. “I think this is for you,” sabi nito.
She opened the scented rose pink colored card and read the message inside.
Nett,
Want to go out on a real date with me tonight? This time, I’m giving you the freedom to decide if it’s a yes or a no. I won’t force you into doing something you don’t want to do.
Your husband,
Cleevan
Disappointment cut through her. Cleevan planned to have a picnic with her but she was so rude to him. Pero masisi ba siya ng asawa? He had been nothing but an asshole the whole morning. And he did not give her any hint that they were going to have a picnic.
Pain tore through her when she realized that it was the reason they were in the park a while ago. And his plan was ruined because she said that hanging out in the park was boring. She felt really awful.
She wanted to take it back but it was too late. Pakiramdam niya, nasaktan niya ang feelings ng asawa. He made an effort just to have picnic with her. But what did she do? She ruined it by letting her past with Lance affect her.
“I have to say sorry to him…” she whispered to herself, but looked like Ace heard it.
“Not now, but maybe later,” pigil ni Ace at isinara ang back compartment. “Cleevan is the most stubborn person I know and he’s very proud. Your sorry would not mean anything to him at the moment.”Naglakad na palayo si Ace.
Naiwan siyang nakatingin sa nakasarang compartment. She felt bad. She wanted to cursed herself but it would not do her any good.
Hindi siya makikinig kay Ace. Wala siyang pakialam kung hindi pahalagahan ni Cleevan ang paghingi niya ng tawad. Ang importante, nag-sorry siya.
She turned around and ran towards the house. She needed to talk to Cleevan.
ACE’S EYES were on Claria as she run towards the house. Humilig siya sa hamba ng pinto ng greenhouse habang nakatingin sa pinasukang pinto ng babae.
He was hoping that he tortured her conscience enough for her to go the Cleevan and apologize. Because honestly speaking, he was getting tired of Cleevan and Claria’s love story—if it could be called as that.
It had to end, one way or another. It was starting to get on his nerve. And if he had to help them for them to spill their feelings for each other, then, so be it.
He could be a bad guy for a little while.
CLARIA had been camping outside Cleevan’s office sa loob ng bahay. Kanina pa siya katok nang katok pero hindi siya pinagbuksan nito ng pinto. She thought if she stayed for a little while, he would open the door, but she was wrong. Namuti na lang ang mga mata niya, pero hindi siya pinagbuksan ng lalaki.
“Cleevan, please open the door. I’m sorry,” malakas ang boses na sabi niya.
She heaved a deep sigh when she did not hear a thing behind the closed door. Mahigit dalawang oras na siyang nakaupo sa labas ng opisina. Mukhang hindi na siya pagbubuksan ng asawa.
She slowly stood up and stared at the doorknob. She knocked until her hand hurt, but he did not open the door.
Tumalikod siya at naglakad papunta sa kuwarto nila. Every step she took, she was hoping that she would hear the door click open. But her hope was crushed. The door remained closed.
Claria threw herself on the bed. Lahat na yata ng masamang pakiramdam sa mundo, nararamdaman niya.
She stared blankly at the ceiling. “Why can’t he accept my apology?” she whispered. “It’s not like I intentionally ruined it.”
“Wanna go out?”
Her eyes snapped at the door. It was open and Ace was leaning on the side of the door. Mukhang nakalimutan niyang isara ang pinto.
“What do you want? Wala ako sa mood,” sabi niya sa naiinis na boses.
Lumapit si Ace sa kanya. “Let’s do something fun, okay?” sabi nito.
Nagpakawala siya ng isang malalim na buntong-hininga. “Ayoko. Tinatamad ako.”
“Fine.” May pagsuko sa boses nito. “Samahan mo na lang akong mag-grocery. Manang Lucing asked me to buy some groceries. Come on, samahan mo na ako.”
She sighed again and got up from the bed. She might as well accompanied Ace, kaysa naman maburo siya sa kuwarto.
“Okay. I’ll come with you,” sabi niya at inayos ang damit. “Let’s go.”
Sabay silang lumabas ng kuwarto at naglakad palabas ng bahay.
“You look the worse for wear,” komento nito. “Natakot tuloy ako na isama ka para bumili ng groceries. Baka mapagkamalan kang si Corazon, ang unang aswang. Look at your hair.” Hinawakan nito ang buhok niya. “Nagsuklay ka ba?”
Mabilis niyang sinuklay ang buhok at pabirong sinuntok si Ace sa braso. “I still look good even if I look bad.”
“Yeah, right,” he said, full of sarcasm.
Umirap siya. “Totoo naman kaya.”
“Yeah, and I’m Thor.”
Kinunutan niya ito ng noo. “Trust me. You’re not half as handsome as Thor.”
Sinimangutan siya nito. “Sige, si Iron Man na lang.”
Natawa siya. “Ang guwapo kaya ni Robert Downey kahit medyo may-edad na siya. At wala kang panama sa kanya.”
“Fine. Pigs can fly.”
She smiled. “There. Sana `yon na lang ang ginamit mong sarkasmo kanina. Mas kapani-paniwala kasi na lumilipad ang mga baboy kaysa naman ikaw si Thor o kaya si Iron Man.”
“Whatever,” nagtatampong sabi ni Ace at binuksan ang passenger side na pinto ng kotse. “Sakay na bago pa kita iwan dito.”
Natatawang sumakay siya sa kotse. Hindi niya akalain na asar-talo pala ang lalaki.
NANG maisara ang pinto, naramdaman ni Ace na parang may nakatingin sa kanya mula sa balkonahe.
He looked up and saw Cleevan staring at him with dark expression on his face.
He smiled at his brother then waved his hand. He smirked when Cleevan’s face darkened more before turning around to leave the balcony.
Napailing-iling na lang siya. Ang tigas talaga ng ulo ng kapatid niya.
AFTER buying groceries, nagyaya agad na umuwi si Claria. Wala siya sa mood lumabas. Sumama lang siya kay Ace dahil sa grocery store naman sila pumunta.
Habang naglalakad papunta sa kuwarto, binabasa niya ang pamphlet na hawak na nakuha sa grocery store. The pamphlet was all about the City of Baguio. The grocery store had a raffle draw next month and the first price was a trip to Baguio for two. Hindi niya alam kung ano ang mayroon sa Baguio, basta gusto niyang pumunta doon. Isang beses pa lang siyang nakapunta at bata pa siya noon. Hindi na nga niya maalala.
Claria heard that Baguio was an amazing city. And then she heard about this swan boat in Burnham Park, she wanted to ride one. Siguro ang saya niyon.
Napangiti siya nang ma-imagine ang sarili na nakasakay sa swan boat.
That would be a great experience.
She really wanted to go to Baguio but she knew better. Hindi siya papayagan ni Cleevan na pumunta roon. Hindi nga siya nito pinapayagang pumunta sa bahay ng mga magulang niya, sa Baguio pa kaya?
When she entered the master bedroom, she dropped the pamphlet on the floor and then lay on the bed. Hindi niya alam kung dahil iyon sa pagod sa pamimili ng grocery, nakatulog siya nang hindi niya namamalayan.
CLEEVAN silently entered the master’s bedroom. He did not want to wake Clarianette up. Baka mag-away na naman sila.
Iyon din ang dahilan kung bakit hindi niya ito pinagbuksan ng pinto kanina. He knew that they would only argue. Doon naman sila magaling na dalawa, eh— ang magsagutan. Iniiwasan niya iyon dahil napakadali niyang magalit kapag ang asawa ang kasagutan.
This woman was brining out all the emotions he had buried after his parent’ deaths
Before her, he was always calm collected he barely got angry. He controlled everything around him. If there was one thing he loathed, that was complication. He wanted everything in order to avoid unnecessary problems. But when Clarianette Honey entered his life, complication became his best friend.
Everything about her was complicated.
Cleevan lost his calm whenever she was around. He lost his temper in just a matter of minute whenever they argued. He lost control whenever she was just inches away from him. Hindi niya alam kung ano ang mayroon sa babaeng ito. Pero isa lang ang alam niya, he was losing his mind because of her. And it looked like she was stealing his heart, too, every time that she was with him.
He stared at sleeping woman in the bed. When he saw her shiver, he sighed then moved to cover her with comforter. A minute after staring at her lovely face, he crouched down to take off his shoes when he saw something... A paper.
He picked it up and found out that it was a pamphlet about Baguio City.
“Are you waiting for an invitation?” tanong ni Ace mula sa nakabukas na pinto ng kuwarto na hindi niya namalayang nandoon pala.
He stopped reading the pamphlet and looked at his brother. “What do you want?”
Naglakad palapit ang kapatid at kinuha ang pamphlet na hawak niya. “Make a move before somebody else does.”
He narrowed his eyes on him. “Somebody who? You?”
Ace shrugged. “Who knows?”
His expression darkened. “She’s my wife! She’s mine!” He snarled at his brother.
Ace smirked at him. “We both know the truth, Kuya. Maybe you should tell her. That would help you get into her good side. Malay mo, she would consider dating you afterwards.”
He looked down. For the first time in his life, he felt so hopeless and frightened. “She will hate me forever.”
“She already hates you, what difference would it make if you tell her the truth?”
Nag-angat siya ng tingin. “Are you… going to… tell her?”
“That’s not my business, it’s yours. But if you keep on lying to her, maybe I would. Fuck my ‘ that’s not my business, it’s yours’ speech.”
Nawalan siya ng imik. He could sense a warning in his brother’s voice. “Why do you care?”
“Secret.” Ace smiled innocently then gave back the pamphlet to him before leaving the room.
Cleevan stared at the pamphlet and then, his stare hopped to Clarianette and back to the pamphlet on his hand again.
“Well…” he drawled as he stared at his wife’s beautiful face. “Baguio seems a good place to celebrate birthdays.”