Kabanata 2

Kabanata 2

Life

Exactly 5 years ago at this place when I left everything. I cutted everything off, start anew and promised to myself that this time, it will never be fuck-up like before. When I gave birth to Zick…oh, my Eizickiel, he completes me. Again. As if he builds a new version of me. That everytime I remembers something from the past, I wanted to go back and just fucking punch my face for being such an idiot and impulsive. The young version of me just ruined everything in me but gave me an important lesson, and I can’t believe that I am actually doing some kind of decision like this.

“Be careful, baby, you’d fall for that,” I reminded him dahil pinilit niyang buhatin ang bag ko sa kagustuhang tumulong.

As if I didn’t know that he’s just showing off some skills to Calix.

“I got this, mum,” he said then chuckled.

Napailing na lang ako nang lakad-takbo siyang tumungo kay Calix na kasalukuyang hatak-hatak ang maleta namin at hinihintay na lamang kami sa harap ng sasakyan. Mabagal kasi ako maglakad.

“He wanted to show off to you,” natatawa kong salubong kay Calix saka inabot kay Kuya Dave ang bag na dala ko.

Calix let me in first at sumunod siya. Zick is now reading something beside the window of the van. Nabaling ang tingin ko kay Calix nang hulihin niya ang kamay ko at marahang hinalikan iyon.

“I’m glad you’re finally back,” bulong niya sa’kin kaya napangiti na lamang ako while holding his hands tightly.

Yeah, I though so.

Mahigit isang oras lang ang naging byahe namin bago kami makarating sa bahay. Walang sumalubong sa’min maliban sa maids dahil bukas pa uuwi sina kuya at mom. Tito Raul’s call did leave me no choice but to make a decision right away. Kinabukasan ay nag book kaagad si Calix ng ticket para sa’min while Lynne and the others are still in States para sulitin ang bakasyon nila.

Calix brought Zick to our room dahil nakatulog na ito sa byahe and we don’t want to wake him up dahil pagod na pagod siya. When I entered our house, walang masyadong nagbago except the atmosphere of it. It was so quiet in here na halos ikabingi ko na iyon.

Inilibot ko ang paningin ko sa buong bahay and that made me remembers everything that happened. I closed my eyes and sat down in the living room for a moment.

“You okay?”

I snap when someone called me. I raised a brow and saw Calix walked towards me at may dala siyang tubig. Inabot niya sa’kin ‘yon kaya agad kong kinuha.

“Jetlag?” he asked.

I just nodded at him then lean towards him. “I have to go to work tomorrow already. Ikaw?”

Ramdam ko ang saglit na paghalik niya sa tuktok ng ulo ko. “I have an important client. I’ll pick you up tomorrow lunch. What do you want to do today?”

“Who’s that important client?” I asked him, not minding his last question.

Narinig ko ang pagngisi niya kaya nilingon ko agad siya. Napakunot ang noo ko when I saw him widens his smile.

“What?” I asked him, still looking at him.

Ginagap niya ang kamay ko habang panay pa rin ang ngisi. “We’ve been together for how many years, ngayon ko lang narinig sa’yo ‘yan,” naloloko niyang sinabi sa’kin kaya mas lalo akong nagtaka.

“What are you talking about? Nagtatanong lang ako because I’m curious, Mr. Laxamana.”

Nang sabihin ko iyon ay humalakhak na ang lintik na Calix kaya sinapak ko na ang braso niya. “Stop laughing!”

“I’m not. I just find it awesome. Please do that more often. I like it,” he mockingly said to me and he fucking wink at me na lalo kong ikinairita.

“Gago,” I whisper. “Sino nga?” dagdag ko pa and he finally loses it.

“It’s Mr. Enrique Lim, one of our regular clients,” seryoso na niyang sabi kaya bumalik na ako sa ayos ng upo ko.

I suddenly remembers something when I heard what he said. Iyon ang sinabi ni Tito Raul na pangalan ng may pinakamalaking shares sa A&S that wanted to take over our company. Tama ba ako?

“Is he related to The Lim Incorporated?” I asked Calix and started to scroll on my phone, finding something when a message pop-up.

Uncle Raul

Did you get home safely? Let me know so I can go there. I really need to talk to you.

Agad akong nagtipa ng reply para sa kanya.

To Uncle

We’re home.

“He’s the President and CEO. Why?” I heard Calix said kaya nabaling ang tingin ko sa kanya saglit saka binalik ang atensyon sa phone ko to search him.

“They are our problem,” I simply said to him kasabay ng paglabas ng result ng sinearch ko.

The Lim Incorporated

Enrique Lim celebrated their 7^th year anniversary as one of the most successful companies in Gun Industry…

“I honestly don’t know what they are planning but they wanted to take over A&S. Ilang taon na silang pinagkakatiwalaan ng pamilya namin, and suddenly a news came up that they are planning something in our company. I don’t know the whole story but according to Levi, The Lims are illegal,” wala sa sarili kong sabi kay Calix habang patuloy pa rin sa pagbabasa tungkol sa kanila.

Tito Raul really has this absurd idea that I can deal with something like this. Like, what do I know? I studied law and psychology and yeah, I’m good when it comes to a business but a Gun Industry? That’s why I’m not involving myself in our company before dahil ito nga iyon! Ganito ‘yon.

“Well, Lex told me that they have many cases and it’s fully confidential. I don’t know what is it dahil ngayon lang din pinaalam sakin ng lalaking ‘yon ang tungkol do’n,” Calix said to me at dumungaw sa phone ko.

I heave a sigh and looked at him. Seeing him like this is making me feel so nervous. Hindi niya alam ‘yon…na kaya ayokong tinitingnan niya ako nang matagal dahil kinakabahan pa rin ako. I don’t know why but I’m fucking nervous everytime I see him like this…like, adoring me so much. Like loving me so much. Kitang-kita ‘yon sa mga mata niya.

“Stop staring. I have problems to deal with and I don’t have a time to flirt with you,” I told him as I pushed his face away from me.

“Then stop being so beautiful,” he uttered that makes my heart beats faster.

I bit my lower lip and looked away from him. “Stop it, Calix,” I almost whisper.

Dinig ko ang tawa niya kay mas lalo akong nahiya. “Do you think I can do this?” pag-iiba ko ng usapan.

I lift my face and look at him. He’s now staring at me, like he is staring at my soul. Tagos na tagos iyon sa kaluluwa ko. This is what I like him the most. The way he looks at me. Soul to soul. The sincerity in his soul is killing me big time! Ikaw na lang ang mahihiya at iiwas ng tingin pag naghamon ka ng titigan sa kanya.

“You can do that. You can do everything, Acel. I believe in you,” he stated that made me smile.

Lumapit ako sa kanya at binaon ang mukha ko sa dibdib niya. Napapikit ako nang maamoy ko ang bango niya. His manly scent that makes me want to cry everytime I smell him. Sobrang sarap sa pang-amoy. I can’t get used to it.

“Thank you for always believing in me,” I told him habang ganoon pa rin ang posisyon ko.

I felt his arms around my waist and kisses the top of my head. “I love you and I will always do. You’re doing better than ever, love,” he whispered to me.

We ate our lunch together while Zick is still sleeping. Nang matapos kami ay saka dumating si Tito Raul at nagulat pa ako nang kasama nitong dumating si Levi. Muntik ko pang hindi makilala ito dahil naging brusko at hot itong tingnan. Mas lalo itong naging mukhang babaero. Nagsisimula na akong bumilib sa genes na mayroon kami dahil sa nakikita ko. Gano’n na ba katagal kong hindi ito nakita at maraming nagbago sa gagong ‘to?

“Looking good than before. That’s nice,” bati niya sa’kin when I gave him a peck of kiss. Mas matangkad pa rin talaga siya kaysa sa’kin.

“Mas nagmukha kang babaero,” pang-aasar ko sa kanya.

“Shut up. Where’s Zick?” he asked saka nilapitan si Calix at nag fist bump silang dalawa. “Welcome home, bro,” bati niya rito saka bumaling sa’kin.

“Tulog pa rin. Where’s Maxim?” I asked him at nilapitan si Tito Raul na kakapasok lamang after he took someone’s call.

“Tito…I missed you,” bati ko rito saka ako ginawaran ng mahigpit na yakap. I can feel his stress.

“I’m glad you came. Where’s Zick? I want to see him,” he said to me saka tumango lamang kay Calix.

We all sat down. “He’s still sleeping, tito. Pagod na pagod, mamaya ay gigising na iyon,” I told him at hinayaan na siyang magbukas ng topic tungkol sa mga Lim.

May mga dala itong papeles kanina nang dumating sila at isa-isa niya iyong nilatag sa table. Nakatingin lang ako roon habang hinihintay siyang magsalita. Maya-maya pa ay sinimulan na niyang ipaliwanag ang lahat mula umpisa hanggang sa huli at ang tanging naintindihan ko lamang ay ang totoong plano ng mga Lim sa kompanya namin at kung bakit bigla na lamang silang nagkainteres sa’min.

“Do you think there is someone behind all of these? O baka naman natatakot na sila dahil ilang taon nang nangunguna ang A&S sa market?” basag ko sa mahabang katahimikan na bumalot sa’min matapos sabihin ni Tito Raul lahat.

“I don’t know. Your tito Saldy told me that after the incident five years ago, bigla na lamang bumagsak ang Lim Incorporated sa market. Maybe, because of your dad,” Tito Raul said to me saka isa-isa nang nililigpit ang mga papeles na iyon na naglalaman ng market share ng kompanya.

“But do you know his daughter Mari Eleanor?” Levi asked to me kaya nabaling ang tingin ko sa kanya.

Mari Eleanor. Ngayon ko lamang narinig ang pangalang iyon. Hindi ko naman personally kilala ang pamilyang Lim at wala akong balak kilalanin sila. Kahit noon ko pa ito naririnig kay dad ay hindi ko na iyon pinagtuunan ng pansin dahil wala pa naman akong interes sa kanila. But who is she?

I shrugged my shoulder, “I don’t know their family so, hindi ko kilala. Why?” I asked to Levi.

“Mommy!”

Hindi ko na napansin ang sagot ni Levi dahil sa pag-alingawngaw ng sigaw ni Zick sa buong bahay. Lahat kami ay nabaling ang tingin sa kanya. Napangiti ako nang mabilis itong tumakbo patungo sa’kin saka ibinaon ang mukha sa dibdib ko.

“How was your sleep? Are you hungry?” tanong ko sa kanya.

Hindi siya sumagot, sa halip ay humarap kina tito Raul at Levi. Kita ko ang pagkunot nila ng noo saglit bago lumawak ang mga ngiti.

“There you are, little kid,” Tito Raul said at mabilis na nilapitan ang anak ko.

“Lolo!” tuwang-tuwa nitong sigaw saka yumakap kay tito Raul.

Buti na lamang ay natatandaan niya halos lahat ng mga malalapit sa’kin, dahil nang huling umuwi ang mga ito sa States ay two years old pa lang si Zick.

“Ang laki-laki mo na. Ang guwapo guwapo,” I heard Tito Raul said kaya mas lumawak ang ngiti ko.

“Hindi mo kamukha,” I heard Levi said kaya tiningna ko siya nang masama.

That’s a fact, though. Walang nakuha sa itsura sa’kin ang batang ito at lahat ay sa ama niya. Hindi maipagkakailang mag-ama sila dahil kamukhang-kamukha niya ito.

Ramdam ko ang paghawak ni Calix sa kamay ko kaya tiningala ko siya. Nakatingin din ito kay Zick na parang proud na proud siya rito. I don’t know what he’s thingking towards my Eizickiel and sometimes, I wanna ask him pero wala pa akong sapat na lakas ng loob na tanungin siya tungkol sa bagay na iyon. I can feel his love towards my son. Everything in Calix is so genuine lalo na ang pagmamahal niya sa’ming mag-ina. Ano pa ba ang hihilingin ko?

After Tito Raul set the meeting with me tomorrow ay umalis na ito kasama si Levi. We decided to have our dinner outside dahil nag request si Zick ng chicken and pasta. He loves pasta and I hate it.

Nang makarating kami sa restaurant ay saglit lamang kaming kumain at umuwi na rin dahil pakiramdam ko ay may nagmamasid sa’kin. I didn’t bother to tell it to Calix dahil alam kong OA ang reaction niya lalo na’t narito kami sa Pilipinas. Baka OA lang din ako at masyadong paranoid.

 After an hour, we arrived at our house nang kausap ko pa rin si Lynne na ngayo’y naghahanda na pauwi.

“So, how was your flight? Any news about your company?” tanong niyang muli sa’kin kaya napairap na ako sa hangin.

“We landed here safely at bukas na agad ang board meeting with the directors. Do you know Mari Eleanor?” tanong ko sa kanya at pinaunan nang papasukin ang dalawa sa loob ng bahay.

“Mari Eleanor…parang narinig ko na ‘yan somewhere, wait,” I heard she said at may pinagtanungan siyang kung sino sa background saka mabilis na bumalik sa linya.

“She’s the successor of Lim’s Incorporated, right? Caleb told me that they know her, na-meet daw nila before sa Australia. What about her?”

A…they are related to her? What a small world, Acel.

“I have a meeting with her tomorrow. I was just asking dahil baka kilala mo,” I told her behind the line.

I sat down outside the house, not minding the cold wind and the noisy background sa kung nasaan man si Lynne ngayon.

“Are you now living there for good? Handa ka na ba talaga? You can just ask Tito Raul to give the authority to Kuya Roy kung hindi ka pa ready, Acel,” I heard Lynne said.

Napailing ako. “I should be ready, Lynne. Ate Jamilah doesn’t want kuya to take over dahil may sarili na silang business.”

“I’m just concerned about you and Zick. What if he sees you? Your son? Anong gagawin mo after five years of hiding Zick to him tapos biglang magkita kayo?”

I don’t know. Really. Besides, nakalabas na ba siya? Imposible.