Copper

8

Thirdy wanted to wait for Bea before eating dinner kaso 10PM na hindi pa din ito nauwi. He wanted to call her pero ayaw niya namang maging clingy.

He sighed and eat the food he cooked para sakanila ni Bea. Although he's not sure pinagtabi niya parin ito ng pagkain. Pagkatapos ay nagshower na siya at dumiretso sa kwarto. He opened the ac as well kaya tumabi na sakanya si Copper.

12am na noong tuluyang nakatulog si Thirdy. He was worried pero ayaw niyang makalimutan kung hanggang saan lang siya. 2am na noong may paulit ulit na nagdoorbell dahil mababaw ang tulog ni Thirdy he quickly got up. Hindi na niya tiningnan ang peephole.

She saw the drunk Beatriz smiling. Bago pa man siya makapagsalita ay natumba na sakanya ito.

"Magaling na si Copper pero nandito ka pa din" Her voice isn't clear but Thirdy understood

"You are so weird. Sabi mo toxic na ko. Sabi mo pahinga sa isat isa bakit dito ka nanaman"

Thirdy didn't answer patuloy niyang inalalayan si Beatriz kwarto

"Kita mo inaalagaan mo pa ko. Bakit nga? Bakit ka sumunod sa ospital? Bakit ka ganyan? Bakit mo tinago sakin na kinausap ka ni daddy?"

She showered him with all of her questions ever since that break up night.

Pagkahiga niya kay Bea kumuha ito ng maligamgam na tubig at towel. Copper is now barking.

"Is that my son crying? where is he?" Bea quickly got up pero tinulak pa din ni Thirdy ang braso niya para mahiga

"Bring copper here" she pleaded

He sighed at iniwan ang  tubig at towel sa tabi ng kama ni Bea. He carried Copper at tinabi sakanya. She pets him habang nakahiga sila parehas at nagsimula na si Thirdy punasan si Bea

"Kaya mo magpalit damit?"

"Wag na. Bago tong tshirt ko. Sa kainuman ko nasukahan ko damit ko eh" she chuckled at her own story

"Sino kainuman mo?"

"Cel, Maki and Andrei"

"Andrei?" he asked if tama ba rinig niya

"Oo yung chef" she confirms

"Eh bat di ka hinatid?"

"Maaga siya umalis kasi may work siya. Si Cel naghatid sakin pero hanggang parking lang kasi weak si Maki nasuka" she laughed again

"So kay Andrei tong shirt?"

"Sira kay Maki." she said and push Thirdy's hand

"Ayaw mo magpapunas?"

"Gawin mo yan kung jowa mo ko" She closed her eyes.

Thirdy sighed in annoyance at kumuha ng water.

"Uminom ka water bago matulog" hila niya kay Bea

"Shhhh magigising si Cucu" she whispered

Thirdy is amused. Bea never called Copper Cucu. Si thirdy lang natawag sakanya ng Cucu. The story behind his name is Bea wanted to name him Cobalt but Thirdy didn't agree because if it's Cobalt his nickname will be Coco since Cobalt's symbol is Co. Coco is too predictable he argues. And since Copper's birthday is on the 29th of September and the atomic number of Copper is 29, pumayag na din si Bea. She said na buti pa pag dog names Thirdy likes to think so much. She's too bitter na hindi Cobalt ang nanalong pangalan kaya hindi niya ito tinatawag na Cucu.

"What did you call him?" He asked again

"Cucu, my son. I hate it. Why does it have to be Cucu. It sounds like Pupu. I hate it but I love him. I love Copper so much" she said

"Yeah i love him too" bulong ni Thirdy bago pinunasan ulit si Bea

"Why didn't you tell me he talked to you? That's the reason why you left me no?" She's talking with her eyes close

"Sasabihin ko sana sayo when you're sober pero dahil makulit ka at mukha namang di mo maalala sige. That night, sinabi sakin ni Tito Elmer na ipapangalan niya sakin yung company pero ikaw ang gagawing CEO. Tinanong ko bakit sabi niya wala daw siyang tiwala sayo. Nainis ako. Sobrang galit ako pero kailangan kong kumalma kasi pag sa harap niya ko sumabog baka pati ikaw madamay. Anak ka niya. Dapat kahit talikuran ka ng buong mundo nasa likod mo siya. Sabi niya kung magpapakasal ka daw sakin, aasikasuhin na niya agad ang papeles. Ayoko Bea sobrang ayaw ko. Hindi dahil hindi ko kaya, ayaw ko kasi ako lang ang naniniwala  sayo. At kung papayag ako para ko lang hinayaan yung tatay mong wag maniwala sayo. Nakipagbreak ako kasi gusto ko sampalin mo siya ng kakayahan mo."

He's almost crying now

"Hindi mo yon deserve, Beatriz. Sobrang galing mo. Alam mo ba nung nakipagbreak ako sayo. Umuwi ako ng Cainta at umiyak sa tabi ni Mama. Sabi ko baka pwede kunin ka nalang namin sa kompanya namin. Wag ka na dyan sa tatay mo"

He tries not to stutter

"Pumayag sila pero kinabukasan naisip ko na pag ginawa ko yon inalisan kita ng karapatan patunayan sa tatay mo kung sino ka."

"Magaling ka Bea. Sobrang galing mo. Akala mo ba hindi ko nakikita lahat ng enevelope na tinatapon mo tungkol sa job offers mo sa Canada?"

"Alam ko yon Bea. Alam ko yon. Binabasa ko yon isa isa. Gaanon ka kagaling pero kinukulong mo sarili mo sa toxic na kompanya ng tatay mo. Kung pwede lang kita tabihan sa opisina araw araw para hindi ka niya masigawan gagawin ko na"

Bea's snoring now

"Pero hindi pwede. Kaya sorry kung inisip mo mababaw lang ang rason ng break up natin. Sorry if iniisip mo na may iba. Wala Bea. At never magkakaroon. Ang gusto ko lang patunayan mo sa tatay mo na kaya mo abutin ang pangarap mo kahit walang lalaking kasama."

The tears continued to fall. Copper went to him and licks his face trying to wipe the tears

Kinumutan na niya si Beatriz at naghilamos ng mukha.

he sighed and checks Beatriz again. He turned off the lights at nagalarm ng 5am to cook her breakfast. He also texted Elmer.

"Sir, Hindi po papasok si Bea bukas. May pupuntahan po kami. Salamat sir" he lied

He just want her to rest. He wants her to be at peace even for just a day.