More Than Anything (Absinthe Series 4)

Kabanata 31

Kabanata 31

More Than Anything

"Masyado pang makalat sa loob, hija. Kaya nahihiya pa akong paakyatin ka. Crithos hated the cleaners that's why I just left the place in such state. Pagpasensyahan mo na." Tita Cristina smiled apologetically.

We were already walking in a long foyer towards his penthouse unit. I was already aware that it's going to be a penthouse since we were at the topmost floor.

Naghahalo ang kaba at takot sa akong dibdib. I wasn't happy now of my damn decision but something tells me that I should do this.

Habang papaakyat kami kanina ay sinabi na sa akin ni Tita Cristina ang mga natamong sugat ni Crithos until she manage to tell me the story of how he became successful...like I didn't know that? Parang alam ko na rin naman ang bagay na iyon dahil magkaibigan sila ng kapatid ko.

Binuksan ni Tita ang pinto at bumungad sa amin ang napakagulong sala. Kumunot ang aking noo dahil sa mga kalat. Magazines were everywhere and even CD tapes. Parang nagliparan ang lahat dito at binagyo.

Nilingon ako ni Tita Cristina bago siya gumilid sa pinto. "He's been hot tempered lately. Kaya nag-aalala rin ako na baka mapuno ka at bigla kayong magbatuhan."

"Hindi naman po siguro, Tita," pag-aagap ko kahit sa totoo lang hindi ko alam kung paano ba aawat sa ganoong sitwasyon. When I was with Crithos before, I knew he was far from being hot-tempered. Oo nga't pikon pero hindi siya iyong tipong magdadabog na lang basta-basta. Palagi siyang may baong bala sa bawat argumento kaya naman ang nakikita ko ngayon ay hindi ko mapaniwalaan.

He was always the neat and clean one. Naalala ko pa noon ang sinabi ni Justin na madalas, siya ang naglilinis sa kanilang unit dahil ayaw niya sa kalat.

And now...the irony. Talagang maraming nagbabago sa paglipas ng panahon. And I am sure, I'll be having a hard time dealing with him now that I can sense the situation that I was in.

Pinaiwas ako ni Tita Cristina sa mga kalat. There were broken glasses on the floor. I don't know how she manage to stay here for a little while, considering that she visited him. Sa dami ng kalat ay baka nga ako ay hindi magtagal dito.

Sa pagitan ng receiving area at dining area ay ang pailalim na sofa na hugis parisukat. The couches were black and the view was relaxing because the blue pool could be seen outside. The only thing that divides the pool from the inside is the wide sliding door. At mula sa aming kinatatayuan ay kitang-kita ang ka-Maynilaan.

How good it is to swim there and fill your eyes with the view.

"He's staying on the first floor as of now because he can't stay in his room upstairs because of his wheelchair. Ayaw niya ring gumamit ng crutches so we have no choice but to bring him a wheelchair and it annoys him too."

Nagpatuloy kami sa paglalakad ni Tita Cristina hanggang sa makapunta sa isa pang pintuan. Maingat niyang kinatok ito pero walang sumasagot.

When she knocked thrice, may narinig kaming tumama sa pinto. Parang may humagis nang kung ano doon.

"Go away. I don't need visitors." His grumpy voice echoed. Nagkatinginan kami ni Tita at nagpakita na naman ang apologetic niyang ngiti.

"Apollo, it's me. I have a visitor."

"Mom, how many times do I have to tell you that I don't need anyone?!" pagalit na ang kaniyang boses. Nakita ko ang pagnguso ni Tita Cristina pero nagpumilit pa ring pumasok.

The door wasn't locked. Nang mabuksan iyon ay bumungad sa amin ang kaniyang kwartong walang kasing gulo. Nasa sahig na ang makapal na kumot at nagkalat ang iilang lata ng beer. Nanatili lamang akong nasa labas ng pinto habang tinatanggap ng aking mga mata ang makalat na tanawin.