All-Time Favorite: El Paraiso

Chapter Seventeen

HINDI malaman ni Michelle ang gagawin. This was no ordinary child's tantrums. Catherine was getting hysterical.

"Promise her you won't leave her."

"W-what?"

"Just promise her." The voice held command. Pinaglipat-lipat nito ang tingin sa anak at sa kanya.

"But... but I don't make promises I can't keep," naguguluhang sabi niya. Sa likuran ay naririnig na niya ang lumalakas na iyak ng bata na may kasamang sigaw. "You can't do that to your child, Adrian."

"I will see to it that you will keep your promise. Now, tell her you won't leave," he commanded harshly. Si Catherine ay nakasiksik sa sulok ng upuan habang pasigaw na umiiyak. Her small body was shivering.

She would have asked what he meant by that but she was stunned by the harshness and urgency of his voice. And Catherine's cry was getting to scare her. Nakikita niyang natataranta rin si Adrian na hindi malaman ang gagawin sa anak. Pagkuwa'y lumabas siya ng sasakyan at umikot sa bahagi ng bata. Binuksan niya ang pinto at pumasok. She took the shivering girl in her arms and rocked her gently.

"I won't leave, honey, promise." She kissed her crown. "And I don't make promises I can't keep. Hush now, Catie."

Hindi sumagot ang bata pero ilang sandali pa'y unti-unting humihina ang pag-iyak nito. But she could still feel the child's shivering. Mayamaya pa'y tuluyan na itong huminto pero hindi kumawala sa pagkakayakap sa kanya. Adrian breathed a sigh of relief. Pagkuwa'y pabagsak na inihilig nito ang ulo sa headrest. Narinig ni Michelle ang marahang pagpukpok nito sa manibela. She could feel the anguished than saw it.

Mahabang sandaling nanatili silang tatlo sa ganoong ayos. Naguguluhang itinuon ni Michelle ang paningin sa labas ng sasakyan. Patuloy pa rin ang mahinang ambon. Hindi niya alam kung ano ang iisipin o kung ano ang ipinangako niya o kung paano niya iyon matutupad.

A couple of minutes later, kumawala si Catherine. Umangat ang mukha at hinagkan siya sa pisngi. Panatag na itong ngumiti at pagkatapos ay bumaba ng sasakyan na parang walang nangyari.

"I'll play at the pool, Daddy... Mommy..."

"Don't stray, honey," sagot ni Adrian at nilingon ang anak na lumakad papanhik sa bulubundukin.

Napahawak sa upuan ni Adrian si Michelle. "Umaambon. Besides, she could get hurt!"

Adrian turned, their faces almost touched, and her brain short circuited as his warm breath fanned her cheeck. She couldn't collect her thoughts. Banayad niyang inilayo ang sarili.

"Mahinang ambon lang iyan at natitiyak kong maglulunoy sa pool si Catherine. Huwag kang mag-alala, walang mangyayari sa kanya. Malimit kami rito kapag may panahon ako. This is her favorite place and she was referring to the pool just a few yards away not the waterfall. May dalisdis ng tubig sa lugar na iyon. Isa pa'y marunong siyang sumunod sa mga babala..."

Her face flushed. Alam niyang tinutukoy nito ang ginawa niyang pagtungo sa mga batuhan. Bumitiw siya sa likuran ng upuan nito at sumandal. Sinulyapan ang dinaanan ng bata na hindi na niya matanaw dahil naitago na ng malalagong halamang-gubat at damo. Ibinalik niya ang tingin kay Adrian.

"What was that all about?"

Adrian sighed wearily. "Sa Maynila ipinanganak at lumaki si Catherine, Michelle. Pero malimit siya rito kasama ni Beverly. She was three years old when she saw Virgilio fall from the stairs and died. A child's mind is resilient. Madaling makalimot. But less than a year later Bev died in a drowning accident at the resort. Tulad mo ay nagtungo siya sa batuhang iyon at nalimutan ang oras..."