Forbidden Pleasure

Chapter 27

"Love took up the harp of Life, and smote on all the chords with might; smote the chord of self that, trembling, passed in music out of sight."
—Alfred Lord Tennyson

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Chapter 27

Halos hindi ako magkandaugaga sa paulit-ulit na pagsulyap sa aking cellphone.

Fuck, Kaius. Nasaan ka na ba?

"He's not coming?" tanong ni Hiro habang bitbit ang kanyang travel bag.

Kinagat ko ang aking ibabang labi at nagmamakaawa ang mga matang tinignan siya. Today is my son's birthday, and we're traveling our way to Tagaytay to celebrate it. Kami-kami lamang ng yaya at si Hiro ang kasama. No Kaius.

"Just leave a text. The sun's getting hot, and we might not catch some tables there," sambit ni Hiro.

Sa huli, wala akong nagawa kundi ang tumango at nagtipa ng mensahe para kay Kaius.

To unknown:

If you're planning to attend our small celebration, just go directly to Tagaytay Picnic Groove. Have a nice day.

Humugot ako ng malalim na hininga at pilit na ngumiti kay Hiro. He smiled back and carried my travel bag. Kung wala lang siguro si Hiro, baka kami-kami lang ni Kin at Kai. James' out of town. Wala pa rin si Kaius.

"Let's go," mahinang usal ko at naunang lumabas ng silid.

Kai and his babysitter were already in Hiro's Hilux. Ang sasakyan niya ang gagamitin namin papuntang Tagaytay. We'll stay there for two days and one night.

Bumuntong hininga ako at ngumiti kay Hiro nang mapasok siya ng elevator. His girlfriend agreed for him to come over, but she didn't come because she's busy.

Nang makarating kami ng parking lot ay agad na binuksan ni Hiro ang back compartment upang doon ilagay ang aming travel bag. I entered the passenger's seat and faced my son, who is now sitting in the back seat.

"Mama, papa wa doko?" takang tanong nito nang mapansing si Hiro ang sumakay sa driver's seat at hindi ang kanyang ama. [translation: Where's daddy?]

Pain ripped my heart into pieces as I answered my son with a lie: "Daddy's gonna be late, baby."

I'm sorry, Kai.

He smiled widely. "Okay!"

Nagkatinginan kami ni Hiro. Binalik ko ang aking paningin sa unahan at kinabit ang aking seatbelt. Hiro started the engine and stamped on the accelerator. Tahimik lamang ako habang tumatakbo ang sasakyan. I don't know what's wrong. But I'm bleeding. I'm bleeding an unrequited love for someone who will never be mine.

"You okay?" mahinang tanong ni Hiro. His eyes are still fixed on the road.

Nag-angat ako ng tingin sa rearview mirror upang tignan kung ano ang ginagawa ng anak ko, and he's sleeping. "I am."

"You look tired to me. You can rest for a while. The travel might take two hours because of the traffic." He glanced at me and smiled.

Hindi ako nagsalita. Nginitian ko siya pabalik at sumandal sa aking kinauupuan. I yawned, and I closed my eyes without noticing that I was already in a deep slumber of darkness.

Nagising na lang ako nang may tumapik sa pisngi ko. I slowly lifted my eyelids, only to see that it was Hiro who woke me. Nakabukas ang pinto sa gilid ko kaya agad kong inalis ang pagkakabit ng aking seatbelt. Tinulungan naman ako ni Hiro na makababa ng sasakyan.