TWO

Pagkatapos nang nangyari sa study nang kanyang ama ay hinatid na niya ito sa sariling silid para makapagpahinga. Siya naman ay dumeretso sa kanyang silid.

When she open her bedroom door it's still the same as she remembered it to be. Halos walang nagalaw sa ayos nito. The wall was still gray in color, her favorite Orion star constellation was still on the ceiling. Her study table was still on the right corner where pictures of her twin and father was hanging on the wall. The queen size bed sat on the middle of the room with dark red bedsheets while the canopy fabric was in black.

She went inside the bathroom to take a quick shower. Pagkatapos maligo ay binalot niya ang katawan sa malaking tuwalya. Lumabas siya ng banyo at naglakad papasok sa walk in closet para magbihis.   

She chose to wear a white colored cotton pajama and match it with a white hoodie. While she was putting her clothes on she saw her guitar in the corner of the room. It was only ten in the evening still early for her. Habang hawak niya ang kanyang gitara ay naisipan niyang bumaba na muna sa hardin para mag-isip ng gagawin kapag nakausap na niya ang taong iyon.

Bitbit ang gitara, lumabas siya ng kanyang silid at tinahak ang daan patungong hardin. As she open the front door the scent of her twin sister's roses flooded her nose again. Dumeretso siya sa puno sa gilid ng mga bulaklak at doon umupo. Wala siyang pakialam kahit madumihan man ang pajama niya. This spot was her sisters favorite. She said that the place have a calming effect on her.

She close her eyes and started to strum her guitar to the tune in her head. She imagine her sister sitting beside her smiling. Namuo na naman ang luha sa kanyang mga mata habang nakapikit ang mga ito. Ang tagal niya nang hindi humahawak ng gitara simula ng mawala ito. Ngayon nalang ulit, alam niyang matutulungan siya nito na magisip kahit man lang sa ganitong paraan ay makita niya itong muli. She stop strumming her guitar and look up at the dark but stary sky.

"I miss you sis. What should I do. If only you're here, you would know what to do. Sa ating dalawa ikaw ang mas magaling magisip ng solusyon habang ako naman, well, ako yung magaling magtaray. You're the brain and I'm the brawn ika nga nila. They always called us the beauty and the brain princesses of the old Fortejo. Kahit pareho tayong may angking ganda" Bulong niya sa kawalan at kumawala ang impit niyang hikbi.

Umihip ang hangin at nilipad ang hanggang bewang niyang buhok. It's like she's telling her that she's always here. Watching over her. Cheering for her. The wind was telling her that whatever decision she made she will always support her. That she will always be there every step of the way.

Iminulat niya ang kanyang mga mata at sumilay ang malamyos na ngiti sa kanyang mga labi.

"I love you sis! Ikaw lang ang nakapagpapaiyak sa akin ng ganito. Kayo lang ni Dad. Pagdating sa inyo ang babaw ng luha ko. Do you want me to sing for you?" Tanong niya sa kawalan.

"I always sing this song everytime, your memories resurfaces. I sing this in my head everytime I walk that runway, everytime there's a photoshoot. Ikaw nagpapalakas ng loob ko." Mahina niyang sambit.

The wind blew again. She take it as a yes. And as she strum her guitar and close her eyes she starts to sing softly...

I found myself today

Oh, I found myself and ran away

But something pulled me back

The voice of reason I forgot I had

All I know is you're not here to say

What you always used to say

But it's written in the sky tonight

So I won't give up, no I won't break down

Sooner than it seems life turns around

And I will be strong even if it all goes wrong

When I'm standing in the dark I'll still believe

Someone's watching over me

I've seen that ray of light

And it's shining on my destiny

Shining all the time, and I won't be afraid

To follow everywhere it's taking me

All I know is yesterday is gone

And right now I belong

To this moment, to my dreams

So I won't give up, no I won't break down

Sooner than it seems life turns around

And I will be strong even if it all goes wrong

When I'm standing in the dark I'll still believe

Someone's watching over me

"It's a nice song isn't it. I heard that on the second month after you passed away. I felt like you where telling me that you will always watch over me. That song was sang by Hilary Duff, sis." Mahina niyang sambit.

She stayed there for a couple of minute more. Tumayo siya at pinagpag ang kumapit na mumunting dumi sa kanyang pang-upo. Napagpasyahan niyang bumalik na sa kanyang kwarto at magpahinga. Siguradong mapapagod at mauubos ang enerhiya niya kapag nakaharap na niya ang business partner ng kanyang ama. As she lay in bed, determination rans through her.

For Dad, was the last thing she thought about before she drifted off to sleep.

The next day she woke up it's already quarter past nine am. She got out of bed, took a bath and brush her teeth. She chose to wear white ripped jeans, a brown turtle neck sweater and a brown booties. She put her hair in a messy bun and apply nude lipstick. She grab her aviator, shoulder bag and went downstair to look for tatay Berto. She's not in the mood to eat breakfast. Mas gusto nalang niyang umalis ng maaga at puntahan ang taong pakaw kesa kumain ng agahan. She saw him in the garage wiping the car.

"Tay Berto. Pwede nyo ba akong ihatid sa Snyder's company sa Ortigas." Simula niyang sabi habang naglalakad ito papunta sa kanya. Sa nabasa niya kagabi ay doon ang main branch nila at doon naka-office ang may ari ng kompanya.

"Sige iha. Hindi ka ba magpapaalam sa Daddy mo bago tayo umalis?" Tanong nito habang binubuksan ang passenger seat para sa kanya.

"Hindi na ho nagpapahinga pa ata si Dad hindi ko sya naabutan sa komedor." Nakangiti niyang sabi dito habang paupo sa upuan ng sasakyan.

Tumango nalamang si tatay Berto at pumasok na sa driver's seat. At habang nasa daan at hindi niya maiwasang kabahan sa mangyayari. Pano kung hindi ito pumayag na bayaran niya pakonti konti ang nakuha ng ama anong gagawin niya? Hindi, hindi dapat siya panghinaan ng loob. Mariin niyang sambit sa sarili.

Hindi niya namalayan na nasa harap na pala sila ng naturang gusali kung hindi pa kinatok ni tatay Berto ang bintana ng passenger seat. Huminga siya ng malalim saka sinuot ang aviator sunglasses saka lumabas ng sasakyan. Tiningala niya ang napakalaking building at pagkatapos huminga ulit ng malalim ay nagsimula na siya maglakad papasok sa building.

Pinagbuksan siya ng pinto ng guard at magalang na binati. Ngiti lang ang isinagot nito sa kanya. Pagkalapit sa front desk ay tinanong agad niya ang babaeng nasa harapan kung anong floor ang opisina ni Mr. Snyder at agad naman nitong sinabi iyon. Mukhang malaki ang bilib ng may ari sa sarili nito dahil tinuturo agad ng front desk personel ang floor ng opisina nito ng hindi man lang tinatanong ang identification ng naghahanap.

She went straight to the elevator and as she step inside she press the thirtieth floor button where the office of the CEO/Owner was located. Nang bumukas ang elevator door sa thirtieth floor ay sinalubong agad siya ng may edad na babae at itinuro sa kanya ang pinto kung nasaan ang mismong opisina ni Mr. Snyder.

She took another deep breath and knock three times. As she heard the word come in she turn the knob and open the door. She step inside and saw a man who's back was on her. He was looking outside the busy street. He's hands are on his pockets.

She suddenly felt very nervous. She feels like she knew who that broad shoulders belong to. Parang nakita na niya ang bulto nito. Hindi niya lang matandaan kung saan at kung kelan. Tumikhim siya para kunin ang atensyon nito kahit pa kinakabahan siya sa makikita.

Unti-unti itong humarap sa kanya. Nang tuluyan niyang makita ang mukha nito ay napasapo siya sa kanyang dibdib at nanginig ang kanyang mga tuhod. As she look into his eyes, she saw the familiar bluish-green pools she sometimes saw in one of her VS fashion show.

"I-Ikaw?" she mumbled and she saw the corner of his lips curl up.