"Ako, Lena." Pinigilan niya ako sa paglalakad at hinawakan ang magkabilang braso ko.
"My god, Renz. Nahihibang ka na ba o gusto mo lang akong lokohin para makaganti ka?"
His hold on me loosened when he heard what I had to say so I took the opportunity to walk away but he recovered quickly and caught up with me, embracing me from behind.
"Wala akong pakialam kung ano man ang mga nangyari. Nandito ka na ngayon. Hindi na kita papakawalan ulit."
"Renz..." I could only say his name because I'm not allowed to love him, I'm not even supposed to be letting him hold me like this but I am too weak.
"I stayed because of you. Everything I did was to have you back." I could feel his soft kisses on my hair and his voice was husky and pained.
When I was away, I always looked at the night sky whenever I missed him. Cliché, yes, but I took comfort in the fact that no matter what happens, we were still under the same sky. He's not that far. At this moment, I was in his arms but we still can never be.
"Renz, I can't..." I covered my lips with my hand to keep myself from weeping.
Dahan-dahan niya akong pinakawalan at hinarap sa kaniya. This time he tucked me in a warm embrace where we fit perfectly together. Binitawan niya lamang ako ngunit para mahawakan ang magkabilang pisngi ko.
"Long ago, you said your only ambition was to be my wife, Lena." I should have stopped him at that. Dapat ay nagpumiglas na ako at tumakbo palayo. "Marry me. Please stay here and marry me..." Because the next thing he did was to pull me in a gentle but firm kiss.
His lips felt so soft and yet so ruthless. He gently coaxed my mouth to open as he slid his tongue in. I whimpered helplessly and although that little sound seemed to encourage him, it became my salvation. Natauhan ako sa ginagawa namin at itinulak siya palayo sa akin. We were both panting and there was triumph in his eyes which vanished as soon as I opened my mouth.
"How dare you?"
I know he could see the disgust in my eyes and hear it in my voice. Even now I crave to give in to the pull between us but I cannot allow myself. "'Wag, Renz! Utang na loob, 'wag. Hindi na kita mahal, Renz. Matagal na 'yon. Please, let's just forget everything!"
I ran away after saying those words and thankfully, this time he let me.
🌿
"Attorney, I don't think I'd be able to stay until next year." I hated the hint of panic in my voice. I called her the moment I had locked the library, grateful that there is a telephone I can use in private.
"Ano'ng nangyari, Lena? Is everything okay? Inaway ka ba ni Cosette?" Her kind and motherly voice almost did me in but I steeled myself. Walang dapat makaalam.
"Wala po! Walang nangyari. It's just that I'm not very comfortable with the set-up here."
"Lena, let me remind you. Kung aalis ka riyan, your inheritance will be compromised. Madadamay rin ang mga beneficiaries."
She is right of course. I don't know why I didn't think of that until she mentioned it. Huminga ako nang malalim bago nagsalita ulit, "You're right, Attorney."
"I heard your silvanas are getting quite popular. That's a good investment."
"Oh that... yeah. Sige po, attorney, pasensya na sa abala."
"It's alright, my dear. You may call me whenever you need to."
Pagkatapos naming magusap ay pumunta ako sa kusina para kausapin si Nang Sol at balitaan na rin tungkol sa mga pamangkin niya. In truth, I just want to distract myself.
"Lena, ano, may nobyo ka na ba? Kano siguro, 'no?" pang-aasar niya sa'kin.
"Wala po. Naging abala ako sa pag-aaral at pagta-trabaho." Tumawa siya sa sagot ko at kinurot pa ako nang kaunti sa braso.
"Asus! Hindi mo pa rin ba nakakalimutan ang first love mo?" Makahulugan siyang tumingin sa'kin at nagpasalamat ako na nakalabas na sa kusina ang ibang katulong.
"Huh? Nang Sol naman..."
"'Wag ka na magmaang-maangan, 'day. Alam ko noon pa man gustong-gusto mo na si Señorito. 'Di ba nga nang unang dating niya rito ay ikaw lang ang nagtitiis sa ugali niya? Ubod nang sungit pa 'yan dati."
Ngumiwi ako sa tinuran niya dahil, sa sobrang kainosentihan ko dati ay alam pala ng lahat ang pagkakagusto ko kay Renz.
FLASHBACK
1985
"Ano, Goldie, ano'ng susunod na gagawin?"
Kasalukuyang nakasulat ang pangalan naming dalawa ni Renz sa likod ng notebook ni Goldie.
Lorenzo Peñalver III
Lena Olivia Garcia
"Isama mo na rin kaya ang middle name ni'yo. Parang si Don Isong naman 'yan eh." Hindi siya makatingin nang diretso sa'kin dahil tulad ng lahat ng taga-Aguadulce, alam ni Goldie ang tsismis tungkol sa amin ng matanda. Pero hindi niya ako kailanman tinukso o pinagsabihan ng masama.
Ngumiti na lamang ako sa kaniya at nilagay ang middle name ni Renz na Divinagracia at Andrada naman ang sa akin.
"Ayan, sige, i-cross out mo lahat ng letra na magkapareho kayo tapos bilangin mo kung ilan lahat 'yon."
Medyo natagalan akong gawin ang utos niya pero sa huli ay natapos din. "Bilangin na natin!" sabik na aya ko sa kaniya.
"Wow, ubos lahat ng letra ng pangalan mo ah! Ikaw talaga, gustong-gusto mo talaga siya!" gigil at parang kinikiliti na turan niya sa'kin.
"25 ang sa kaniya kaya...friends! Sa'yo naman 23 kaya... enemy." Sumimangot ako sa lumabas na resulta.
"Teka lang, subukan natin 'yong sum ng 25 at saka 23 na 43."
"Goldie, hindi naman 43 'yon eh. Ang tamang sagot ay 48!"
"Oo nga, alam ko naman, Lena! Pinapatawa lang kita. Sige, bilangin na natin at mahaba-haba ito."
Hinayaan ko siyang magbilang kahit alam ko na ang resulta kaya napangiti ako.
"Sweethearts," sabay naming bulong.
"Ano, masaya ka na? Kilig na kilig ka na eh!" sabi niya sabay sundot sa tagiliran ko.
"Sweethearts lang? Bakit hindi married?" tanong ko na nakakunot ang noo.
"Asus, ikaw naman, nobyohin mo muna bago mo asawahin, Lena."
Tumango ako sa sinabi niya dahil 'yon naman talaga ang pangarap ko.
Mag-aaral ako nang mabuti at maghahanap ng magandang trabaho. Kasi balang-araw gusto kong maging asawa ni Renz, kapag twenty-one years old na ako. Kailangan ko na magpursige para balang-araw hindi niya naman ako ikahiya, bagkus ay ipagmamalaki niya ako. Hindi siya papagalitan ng Mama niya at hindi rin siya pagtatawanan ng mga kaibigan niya lalo na 'yong mga taga-Maynila. Sana hindi rin magalit si Don Isong sa'kin na nagkagusto ako sa apo niya.
BINABASA MO ANG
Unlike Any Other
Romance|COMPLETED| "Gusto kita. Gusto talaga kita, Renz. Simula pa nang unang dating mo rito sa Guimaras." The summer Lorenzo Peñalver III was sent home to Aguadulce was unlike any other one he had before... It was in that small town that he came to know h...
