"You must've been caught in traffic kaya ka natagalan, hijo. But its okay! We're really expecting you, although iyang si Yllana ay sinasabi pa sa aming you're very busy. That you couldn't come! Nonsense! No one's busy for family!" yakag ni Mama kay Ram matapos itong ibeso.
"Yes, tita. Traffic..." Ram pulled back, his gunmetal eyes raking over me.
"Its okay! Its okay! Better late than never! Let's go sit para makakain na tayong lahat. Fitz...Sandy...call the kids..."
Halos hampasin ko ng asymmetrical vase ang aking mga pinsan nang sila'y nangungutyang dumaan sa aking harapan. Umikot ang aking mga mata at muling ibalik kay Ram na kunot na kunot na ngayon ang noong pinanunuod ako.
"And please call Yllana too! Tell her to go here now!" pahabol pa ni Mama at ngumisi kay Ram.
Ram looked at Mama and frowned even more dangerously.
"You know your wife. Yllana likes events like these. Paniguradong magpapaganda pa ng sobra para sa'yo na para bang hindi kayo araw-araw nagkikita!" Mama laughed as we assembled ourselves on the dining area.
Si Mr. Alejandre na lumitaw mula sa bar ng restaurant ang siyang nasa puno ng hapag. Binalewala ako nito at inismidan nang tuwang-tuwang ipinakilala ako ni Mama. Also, to my other cousins, tito and tita's and of course, grandma.
I was to be seated next to my sister on the left side. Mapapagitnaan namin siya ni Ram. Sa aming tapat ay ang aking mga minamahal na pinsan. The three were watching me closely as if waiting for me to do wrong.
"What game are you playing, huh?" Nilingon ako ni Ram, ang isang kamay ay malayang pinatatalon ang mga daliri sa table.
"So, this is a game to you now? Ang akala ko ba ay...as per your words, business? Tell me, is it a good business or bad business?" Bumaba ang aking boses habang sinisipat ang himpapawid sa kabilang dako.
Ram clicked his tongue and hissed quietly. I spared him a glance and it looked like he was devouring me in his eyes.
"Let's talk outside..." he pronounced every syllable in full authority that I almost shivered.
Nilingon ko si Mama nang sinali niya ako sa kanilang usapan nina Tito Jesse. Her husband, however, became silent and face grim. Sumagot naman ako kahit papaano at inayos ang aking maxi dress pagkatapos.
The restaurant was very modern and stiff. Yes, this was a restaurant from a five-star hotel and aims to fulfill its expectations but for me, it didn't feel homey. Glass figurines and crystal chandeliers exceeded too much luxury that the food will prick my throat if I ate.
Mabuti na lamang at ang view sa labas ay ang mga nagliliparang eroplano. Ang mga kumikinang na tubig ng artipisyal na karagatan. Mga batang nagtatakbuhan. Bumuntong hininga ako nang maramdamang unti-unti akong nauubusan ng lakas.
Nakakaubos ka ng lakas, Ram.
"No, Ram..." I said.
"Chrissy..."
"My eyes saw it all. After all these years. Nothing changed, huh? I have nothing to say to you..." Bahagya ko itong nilingon upang makita lamang na ang matinding emosyon sa kaniyang mga mata ay mukhang hindi na huhupa pa.
"Ako ang magsasalita. Mali ka nanaman ng iniisip, Chrissy. This isn't what you think it is. Let's go outside so we can talk. Properly..." nanggigigil niyang saad.
"I don't want to. But, there's one thing..." Napanguso ako at tiningala si Ram. Taas-baba ang kaniyang malapad na dibdib habang inaabangan ang aking hiling.
"What is it? Tell me..."
"Burn in hell. Right now," bulong ko nang dungawin ang kaniyang leeg. Pumikit ng mariin si Ram na tila ba timping-timpi na. I winked at Fitz across the table who was hanging his mouth agape.
