Seducing The Fire (Wendy Fuentes) GXG

Chapter 02

Italia Gwen Soler

Habang papalapit ako sa puntod ni Kuya Danrev, natanaw ko ang isang babae na nakatayo roon. She had a tattoo on her right arm. She was taller than me even from a distance. She was wearing jeans and a plain long sleeve shirt rolled up to her elbows, at ang kanyang mahabang buhok ay nakalugay.

Her presence made me feel uneasy. There was something about her that seemed strong and mysterious. The tattoo on her arm added to the intrigue.

Well, ganito lang talaga ako. Minsan binabase ko ang personality ng isang tao sa kanilang physical looks.

"Who are you?" tanong ko nang malapitan ko siya. Nang lumingon siya sa akin ay nagtama ang aming mga tingin. Biglang kumabog ang dibdib ko hindi kaya ito si--------Wendy?

"I'm Arvie. I'm your brother's friend." her intense gaze made it feel like she could see right through me. Mali pala ako nang hinala. Masyado ko atang iniisip si Wendy para mapagkamalan ang taong ito. Medyo nabawasan ang hindi magandang impresyon ko sa kanya nang sabihin niyang kaibigan siya ng Kuya ko.

"How did you know I'm his sister?"

"You're Italia, right?"

Humarap siya sa akin, lumapit naman ako sa puntod ni Kuya para ilagay sa ibabaw nito ang bulaklak na dala ko. Nagsindi rin ako ng kandila.

"Uhm, yeah."

"Lagi kang nababanggit sa amin ng Kuya mo nong nabubuhay pa siya. He was so proud of you, always bragging about how smart and beautiful you are and how you have a great job in Australia."

Habang nagsasalita siya, she mentioned details about me, like my job in Australia, and that's when I was convinced that she really was my brother's friend. I observed her. She wasn't smiling, but her face wasn't intimidating either. The way she spoke, it was as if she knew me very well.

"At tama nga ang Kuya mo, you're beautiful."

"Thanks, but how did you and my brother become friends?" Hindi ko kilala lahat ng kaibigan ni Kuya at madalang siyang magbanggit tungkol sa kanila, maaaring nabanggit na niya ang taong ito dati sa akin pero hindi ko na maalala dahil matagal na akong nakatira sa Australia.

"We've known each other since college. Danrev was the one who did this tattoo on my arm." she said. I believed her dahil alam ko the way magtattoo ang Kuya ko, buhay na buhay ang mga kulay ng art sa kanyang kamay.

"....I thought he was just joking nong sabihin niyang bantayan kita, hindi ko alam na may masama siyang plano. I'm sorry for your loss, Italia."

I nodded. "Masakit para sa akin na mawalan ng kapatid. I always asked myself bakit nangyari ito sa kanya? Nagmahal lang naman siya, bakit kailangan niyang mawala. If only I could turn back time. I wish I was there during those times when he was feeling down."

Baka buhay pa ang Kuya ko hanggang ngayon kung binigyan ko siya ng oras ko, minsan tuloy hindi ko maiwasang sisihin ang sarili ko. Ang selfish ko sa part na puro career ang inatupag ko. All I wanted was for them to be proud of me, and this is the price I have to pay for what I have achieved in life, ang mawala ang nag-iisa kong kapatid. It hurts a lot, and I know that no one can ever take away this pain. And I still can't forgive myself.

"He didn't deserve this, Italia. Your brother Danrev was kind." saad niya habang nakatitig sa puntod ng kuya ko saka siya tumingin sa akin. Ang mga mata niya ay tila nakikiluksa sa nararamdaman kong hapdi sa mga oras na ito.

"I miss my Kuya, kung sino pa ang mahilig magbiro at laging nagpapatawa sa pamilya, sila pa yong madaling sumuko." Lalong gumuhit ang kirot sa dibdib ko habang nagsasalita ako.  "Do you know a woman named Wendy? Siya ang madalas banggitin ni Kuya sa mga magulang ko before he took his own life."