IRONIA [COMPLETED]

Chapter XVIII - Rationale

CHAND Mortega arrived at their meeting place with his high expectation na madaratnan na niya doon ang supposedly ka-date niyang si Dominique Liondelle—'cause he was clearly aware na masyado nang hulog ang damdamin ng dalaga sa kanya up to the point na hindi nito maaatim na ma-late sa mahalagang araw. But to his great surprise ay walang Dominique na naghihintay sa kanya.

Sinubukan niyang kontakin ito sa cellphone, but his attempt failed. Dominique had eventually shut down her phone for the reason he wasn't aware of.

***

WEARING his feminine annoyed face habang pilit na pinupunasan ng sariling mga kamay ang dress niyang suot na may bahid ng chocolate ice cream, Zafier decided to find a comfort room upang maremedyohan niya ang stain na idinulot ng tumatakbong batang bumangga sa kanya sa butterfly garden.

It was ominous. Parang isang babala na mayroong hindi magandang mangyayari sa araw na iyon. If only he was like his naive sister ay malamang kinuha na niya iyon bilang sign na kailangan na niyang umuwi kung ayaw niyang mangyari ang bad omen na naghihintay sa near future. But he was way too different from her. Ang kailangan niya lamang gawin ngayon ay maghanap ng comfort room, hugasan ang parte na may bahid ng chocolate ice cream, at bumalik sa meeting place upang tuparin ang napagkasunduan nilang magkapatid.

He passed by a well known seafood restaurant and felt like there was a familiar someone inside that establishment na tila ba naging magnet sa kanya. Slowly, he walked backwards to check kung sino iyon.

The restaurant was packed by hungry customers and others were lining up to the entrance at naghihintay ng bakanteng table. But beyond that busy facade, he managed to spot that magnet, his girlfriend, Misha.

He got excited sa presensya ng kanyang mahal na kasintahan, ngunit ang excitement na iyon ay unti-unting natunaw sa sikat ng araw nang makita niyang hindi ito nag-iisa. Misha was with another man inside the busy restaurant, smiling, giggling, and seemed like she was having fun with that other man's company.

Zafier wanted to think that it was only a friendly date. Na walang namamagitan sa dalawa. But he was not the type to ignore the pieces of evidence laid before his eyes. Ang makitang nagpapasubo ang kanyang girlfriend sa lalaking kasama kahit na mayroon naman itong sariling kutsara at tinidor ay hindi niya maaaring balewalain. Forgetting the fact that he was still inside Dominique's body, sinugod niya ang taksil na kasintahan at ang kalaguyo nito.

He lost his control as he grabbed the other man's collar, buong lakas itong hinigit patayo, at walang hesitation na sinuntok sa panga. He was too angry that he didn't hear the loud gasps of the people around them. Ang tanging narinig niya ay ang sigaw ni Misha sa pangalan ng lalaking sinuntok niya. At sa paglapit ng kanyang kasintahan sa lalaking nakasubsob na ngayon sa sahig ng restaurant, noon lamang siya natauhan.

Everyone's glaring at him na para bang siya ang pinakamakasalanang nilalang sa lugar na iyon. But those glares were nothing. What actually affected him was his girlfriend's eyes. His heart ached nang makita niya sa mga mata ni Misha na siya ang talo. Na kahit maglaban pa man sila ng lalaking ka-date nito ay ang lalaking iyon pa rin ang lalapitan at pipiliin ng dalaga.