Chapter 2
Two
“M
R. ARELLANO?”
Naabutan ni Hevn si Silvanus na patungo na sa lobby ng main villa hotel. He was still holding a newspaper in his hand when he turned to her.
“Yes?”
“Ahm...” Hinayaan niyang makapag-isip muna ang kanyang utak ng mga dapat sabihin habang naglalakad palapit sa lalaki. But those eyes were preventing her to think straight. Bulagin kaya niya ang mga mata nito? Or better yet, bulagin niya ang sarili. “Ahm, would you like to go out with my cousin?”
“Xeena?”
“Yes.”
“You don’t mind?”
“Ha?”
“I just thought you would really mind that one since you saw me first.”
“I, ah...” Bakit ayaw gumana ng utak niya? And why was he asking those questions? “What?”
“To tell you honestly, beautiful woman, it’s you who I want to go out with. In fact, I was just about to go back and ask you.”
Sa sobrang bilis ng tibok ng puso ni Hevn, pakiramdam niya ay magha-hyperventilate na siya. Hindi talaga niya kayang sundan ang mga biglaang sitwasyon na gaya niyon. That’s why she hated being put on the spot. She didn’t know how to react.
“Okay, I’ll go out with your cousin. But first, may I know your name, beautiful woman?”
“H-E-V-N.” Pagkasabi ng kanyang pangalan ay mabilis na rin niya itong tinalikuran.
But she should have known that she couldn’t get rid of him that easily. Nasundan siya ni Silvanus hanggang sa patio ng villa hotel.
“H-E-V-N. How do you pronounce that?”
“Heaven. My grandmother didn’t bring her eyeglasses with her when she signed my name on my birth certificate. Thus, my misspelled name.”
He chuckled. “That’s a weird name.”
“It’s not weird! It’s just... unique.” Huminto na siya sa paglalakad at hinarap ito. “Why are you following me?”
“Hmm, I’m not sure, either. I like your scent, I guess.”
At sa buong panggigilalas ni Hevn ay dumikit pa si Silvanus nang husto sa kanya. He took her by her waist and breathed in her scent.
Bolta-boltaheng kakaibang kilabot ang gumapang sa buong pagkatao niya nang maramdaman ang init ng solido nitong katawan. Hindi na siya nakagalaw pa, lalo na nang unti-unting dumako ang mukha ni Silvanus sa kanyang tainga. Until that very moment, she never knew her ears were that sensitive. Nang maramdaman ang hininga nito malapit sa kanyang leeg, parang bigla na lang hinigop ng kung anong puwersa ang buong lakas niya.
What the hell is wrong with me?
And what the heck was he doing to her?
“Hmm...” he whispered. “Heaven.”
Doon lang siya tila natauhan. Pinilit niyang makawala agad kay Silvanus. Hinayaan lang naman siya nitong makalayo.
Hinawakan ni Hevn ang leeg para kahit paano ay mabura ang pinanggagalingan ng kakaibang kilabot na iyon.
“I... I thought you were different.” Sa wakas ay nagawa na rin niyang magsalita. “I thought you were nice.”
“I am nice.”
“Then why did you—why did—”
“Because I find you very attractive.”
“No—”
“Right. I forgot you hate being praised.”
“No. I mean, you can’t like me!”
“Why not?”
“Because my cousin likes you!”
“I like your cousin. But only as a lady friend. Nothing more.”
“You agreed to go out with her.”
“Because you asked me to.”
“What?”
“Hevn, just tell me if you don’t want me to go out with your cousin and I won’t.”
“I can’t do that!”
“Okay. I’ll see her later, then. Tell Xeena I’ll be waiting at the lawn at three.”
Iyon lang iyon? Ganoon lang kadali kay Silvanus ang lahat? Kung ganoon, ano na ang ibig sabihin ng kagaganap lang na mga pangyayari sa pagitan nila? Was she just imagining things? Did he just almost kiss her? Did he really take her in his arms and whispered those wonderful words? Silvanus’ handsome smiling face told her straight out she was just dreaming. If that was possible. Kaya dapat lang na hindi niya iniintindi ang panghihinayang na nararamdaman.
“Right,” sagot niya sa pinakakaswal na boses. “I’ll tell Xeena that. Anything else?”
“Yeah. I really did almost kiss you, Hevn.”
“HE’S GONE!”
Natulig si Hevn nang sumigaw si Xeena pagpasok na pagpasok nito sa kanyang silid. Napakaganda ng pinsan sa suot na moss green dress with plunging neckline. Pero nangingintab ang mga mata nito sa nagbabadyang luha.
“What happened to you?”
“He’s gone, Hevn. Silvanus left the country.” Naupo ito sa tabi niya sa kama at ibinigay sa kanya ang kapirasong papel na iyon. “Pagpunta ko kanina sa usapan namin, that was all that greeted me. A note.”
Binasa niya ang nakasulat sa papel.
Sorry I left so suddenly. An emergency at my business in the Philippines occurred. I had to leave immediately. I’m really sorry. Silvanus.
Kahit ano ang gawin ni Hevn, hindi niya mapigilang matuwa sa nangyari. Pero agad din naman niya iyong pinatay. It wasn’t right to be enjoying her cousin’s first rejection. “Maybe it was for the best, Xeena. Maybe he’s not really worth it. Let him be.”
“I can’t.” Punong-puno ng conviction ang boses nito. “This is the first time I ever felt this way towards a guy, Hevn. And I’ve been waiting for this feeling for such a long time. I can’t just ignore it.”
Tama si Xeena. Kahit magpinsan lang sila, daig pa nila ang magkapatid kung magturingan. At sa pagkakaalam niya, ni minsan ay hindi pa ito nagka-boyfriend dahil napaka-idealistic nito pagdating sa salitang ‘relasyon.’ Xeena wanted to feel that certain feeling before she would go for that particular guy. And she finally felt it.
With Silvanus Arellano. Who, unfortunately, didn’t feel the same way for her.
“Xeena, baka naman nabibigla ka lang. Maybe you’re just attracted to him because, well, he is really handsome.”
“No, Hevn. I have this strange feeling inside me that tells me I shouldn’t just let him go.” Hinarap siya nito, determinado ang mga mata. “I’m not going to let him go just like that.”
“Well, cousin, as you may know by now...” Itinaas niya ang kapirasong papel na ibinigay nito. “He’s already gone.”
“And I know where to find him.”
Napaupo siya nang deresto. “Don’t tell me—”
“I’m going to the Philippines, Hevn. I’m getting him back.”
“Xeena, are you out of your mind?”
“Maybe.” Her cousin gave out a breathless laugh. “I told you this is the first time I ever felt this way. And I’m not going to ignore it.”
“You can’t do it!”
“You’re right. I can’t do it alone.” Xeena was beaming at her. “That’s why you’re going with me.”
Napailing na lang si Hevn, saka bumalik sa pagtulog. “I’m not going anywhere with you. I have a life here in Italy.”
“Okay lang kung hindi mo ako samahan. Ako na lang ang babalik sa Pilipinas, kung gano’n.”
“You don’t know how to live on your own, Xeena.”
Bago mamatay ang mga magulang ng pinsan ay siniguro na ng mga itong mabubuhay nang matiwasay at maalwan ang nag-iisang anak. Xeena lived the life of a princess. Hindi ito mabubuhay nang walang kasamang utusan sa tabi nito. Kaya sigurado siyang mananahimik lang si Xeena sa—
“I’ll book an airplane ticket,” narinig niyang sabi nito. “I’m leaving tomorrow.”