The Blind Young Master [Published under PopFiction]

Kabanata 20

Humarap ako sa kanya. Pakiramdam ko ay ito ang una naming pagkikita. The feeling of meeting him right now feels like I'm seeing my long time crush for the first time again. "Y-yes?" That was stupid of me to reply but I can't really find the right words to say.  Nawawala ako sa aking sarili sa tuwing nasa harapan ko si Dric.

"You are the 100th customer named Ela and it's really our promo to give you the most expensive room in our hotel, for free." Nalaglag ang panga ni Unity na nasa tabi ko ngayon. I know she's about to say a thing pero pinigilan ko agad siya.

"No thanks... We are really not planning to check in. We just got curious about the place itself. That's all." Hindi na ako makatingin sa kanya dahil ang dami nang nakapalibot sa amin. Maybe he doesn't remember me at all. My hair grew longer, and I dyed it too. The way I talk changed too, like how Canadians do.

"Afia..." Bulong sa akin ni Unity. Umiling ako. Sana makisama siya sa akin ngayon. Hindi kasi talaga ako nakikilala ni Dric. Wala na akong magagawa roon.

"What must I do for you to accept my offer? Maraming sumubok na palarin sa promo namin and you are now given that lucky chance. Why are you refusing it?" I wasn't expecting to talk to him this way. I wasn't expecting to meet him this way.

"Then give it to them. I don't need it as much as they need them. May mas nangangailangan." Ani ko.

"Kailan mo balak pagbigyan ang sarili mo?" Natigilan ako. Nangunot ang noo ko sa naging tanong niya. "Kailan mo balak unahin ang sarili mo, Ela?" Napatili si Unity na nasa tabi ko. Kusang kumawala na naman ang mga luha mula sa mga mata ko kasabay nang paghila niya sa kamay ko para mayakap ako. "Baby, I missed you. I really do." May suntok sa dibdib akong naramdaman. Akala...

"Dric..."

Nag-angat ako ng tingin sa kanya habang humihikbi. "You were always crying like this and I had no idea before. And you were this beautiful...magkakaroon pa pala ako ng maraming kaagaw sayo." Pinalis ko ang mga luha sa pisngi ko.

"I'm sorry..."

"Cancel all my meetings. I want to be alone with my baby..." Hindi ko na namalayang kaming dalawa na lang ang natira sa gitna ng lobby ng hotel at si Unity na pangisi-ngisi sa isang tabi.

"Best friend, exit muna ako. Mahaba-habang catch up yan. Dric, Unity nga pala, best friend niya. Mamaya baka makalimot na yang best friend ko dahil sayo." Ngumuso ako sa panunuya niya sa amin.

"I'll take care of her."

I watched the sunset from the balcony of the most expensive room. "You like it?" Tumango ako. "This is your design. Wala akong binago, sinadya ko yun para wala akong dahilan para kalimutan ka, na ni minsan hindi ko binalak. Every corner of the hotel reminded me of you. I  still named the hotel after your name, Afia Sadella Alejandrino. Mi Ela..."

"Mahal na mahal pa rin kita Ela. Kahit hindi mo naman ako mahal." Ngumuso ito. Natawa na lamang ako habang naiiling. "Hindi mo talaga ako mahal 'no? Tinatawanan mo lang kasi ako."

"Are they seeing this side of you? So childish." Biro ko tsaka yumakap sa kanya. "I lied, okay? Alam kong alam mo yan. I know we both needed it. We were both hurt from our past and we cannot just continue loving each other that way. We needed time to move on, not from each of us but from the past that hurt both of us." Lumapat ang labi niya sa tuktok ng ulo ko. "It's a hard decision to make but we have to."

"And I never doubted you. My feelings for you grew even more. Mahirap na kasing makahanap pa ng tulad mo, everyday all I hope is for you to come back home, ikaw na babalik ulit sa akin."

"Talaga ba? Eh you're about to meet Irynne earlier nga diba?" Ngumisi siya sa akin. Mas humigpit ang yakap niya.

"Selos ka?" Tumango ako. "I just wanted to test you and see your reaction. And you didn't even react at all, you just gave me a plain expression. Akala ko wala kang pakialam."