Chapter 5 04

After a week, we file an annulment to the court as it should be. Kasama naming pupunta ro'n ngayon si Attorney. We've contacted him yesterday for him to be informed about this.

"Are you ready?"tanong agad sa akin ni Lexus nang makababa kami sa kotse.

Inayos ko 'yong collar ng suot kong black coat dress bago pumasok sa court kasama si Lexus at Attorney.

Nang makapasok kami ay umupo kami ro'n sa harap. Mukhang wala pa si Fereo rito. Ilang sandali pa ay lumabas na rin 'yong judge.

"Let's start with calling the plaintiff, Ashdale Traia Montessori," tawag sa akin no'ng judge. Tumayo ako sa nag-bow bago umupo ulit.

Lumingon ako ro'n sa kabila at napagtantong ni anino niya ay wala. Gusto niya bang paguluhin pa 'to? Sa araw ng first meeting?

"Fereo Jaizer Cleviste," pangatlong tawag na no'ng judge pero wala talagang sumasagot. My attorney tried to call him, but unattended.

He really loves playing game, huh. . .

"Last call. Fereo Jaizer Cleviste," huling banggit niya pero wala talaga. He then announced, "The second meeting will be after this week. Failure of presence of Fereo Jaizer Cleviste will be automatically stated as annuled."

Napansinghal ako. Bakit pa hindi siya pumunta? I prepared myself so long, but it ended nothing.

O dahil kaya hindi siya pumunta rito ay dahil matagal na niyang winakasan ang kasal namin.

But, not that, Astra. You know inside you the reason why he didn't came up here, because he thought that being absent will make things as easy.

"Let's wait for the second meeting, Astra," sabi sa akin ni Lexus. Palabas na kami ng korte ngayon kasama si Attorney. "It's just so suspicious. . ."

Nagpaalam na si Attorney Andajes sa amin, kaya kaming dalawa na lang ang naiwan dito sa labas.

"Let's go." Binuksan ni Lexus ang front door saka naman ako sumakay.

"I want to come at the café." I am pertaining to the café where Rean works.

Tumango lang siya sa akin at nag-drive na patungong Corrales. While roaming on the view outside. I can't stop thinking about how he could just be absent at this day.

One thing came up in my mind. Oo nga pala, what he commanded will happen. Gaya nga no'ng sabi niya sa akin sa condo na hindi siya papayag. But, I won't let him and his commands to be happen either.

Bumaba kami ro'n at pumasok na sa café. Gaya no'ng nakaraang linggo. Narito pa rin si Rean na nagta-trabaho.

"Oh, Astra. Napapadalas ka na rito," matamis ang ngiti niya habang sinasabi 'yon. "What do you want to drink? My treat na."

Agad akong umiling sa alok niya. "'Wag na. I'll buy-."

She cutted my words before I finish. "Payday ko ngayon. So, yeah. My treat na, just accept it! Ngayon lang kita malilibre gamit ang sarili kong pera!"

Tumango na lang ako sa kaniya. "Okay, fine, fine. Just cappuccino and these cookies."

I don't know why, but these cookies taste so delicious for me. No'ng kumain ako nito last week, I can't forget about its taste.

She let serve us up to our table. Nakiupo na rin siya tutal wala pa namang costumer.

"I heard you already filed and went to the court for trials. Did it went well?" asik niya agad sa akin pagkaupo namin.

"I don't think so. Hindi siya sumipot sa first meeting," I answered as I shrugged my head.

Her eyes babbled. "Oh my god. . . I guess he really love you to death." Tumingala siya saka ngumiti.

"Kung mahal niya talaga si Astrang. He won't do that," Lexus cleared habang nakasayad ang kilay niya.

"Y-you call her 'Astrang'?" Hindi makapaniwalang tanong ni Rean habang tinititigan si Lexus nang matalim.

He nodded. "Yes, I just love calling her like that," simple niyang sagot at uminom sa kape niya.

"Oh my god, Astra! How dare he call you like that-." Napatigil siya sa biglaan kong sinabi.

I gulped before I speak up.

"That should be kept in the past. A-ano naman kung tawagin ako ng gano'n 'di ba? It's just nickname for me."

Oo, 'yon lang. Kakalimutan ko na 'yan ang tawag sa akin ni Papa bago siya nawalan ng buhay. Pilitin ko mang kalimutan ang palayaw na 'yon sa pamamagitan ng hindi pagbanggit no'n ay alam kong hindi ko matatakasan.

Palayaw na kahit alam ni Fereo na ayaw kong tinatawag na gano'n ay palagi niyang isinisgaw sa tuwing tinatawag niya ako.

Halos sabay silang natulala sa sinabi ko. Ano pa ba aasahan ko sa expression nila? I told them all the story of my life.

Rean just shrugged her shoulders out of disbelief, habang si Lexus ay matalim ang tingin sa akin na para bang sinasabing nagsisinungaling ako.

"A-ano ba kayo. . . The both of you make me anxious," sabi ko sa kanilang dalawa saka humigop sa cappuccino ko at kumagat ng isang cookie.

"It's just a sudden decision from you." Halos magkasabay nilang banggit kaya nagkatinginan sila, pero inirapan lang siya ni Rean pagkatapos.

"Kayong dalawa talaga, ah! Didn't you know that people change at times?" paunawa ko sa kanilang dalawa.

Sasagot na sana si Rean, pero bigla na siyang bumalik sa counter dahil may costumer.

"Maiwan ko muna kayong dalawa. Gotta go," aniya saka tumayo para pumunta ro'n sa counter.

I nodded at her before I hugged her tight. Sobrang tagal. . . Sobrang tagal kong hinintay na mayakap muli si Rean.

After all the affliction in these past tragic years. I admit that she did those things out of her hate because of what my mother. Na isa lang palang hindi pagkakaunawaan.

I guess we are quits now.

"Uuwi na rin kami. See you around, Rean. . ." Tumigil ako sa pagsasalita at saka bumulong. "Rean, gaga."

Tiningnan niya ako ng masama saka sumumbat din sa akin. "I miss you so much, Astra, asungot," tanging sabi niya bago tuluyang bumalik sa counter.

"Let's go." Halos hanggang tainga na ang ngiti ko. Bumabalik na ang saya ko na kagaya noon. Sayang hindi na siya kabilang pa. . .

He nodded at me saka ako pinagbuksan ng pinto. He didn't started the engine, instead he looked at me seriously at eyes.

"I have to tell you something. . ."

"Ano 'yon?" kunot-noo kong tanong sa kaniya.

He gulped before he continued. "I've been keeping this for a year, maybe?" Mas lalong kumunot ang noo ko, kaya inayos ko 'yong pagkakaupo ko.

"I'm going to tell you later. Let's go at High Ridge for now." Wala akong ginawa kun'di tumango sa kaniya.

He drives the car slowly as we drive to High Ridge. It will take us twenty minutes to arrive at High Ridge since it's just here inside Cagayan de Oro.

The radio then suddenly played a song, that suddenly reminds me of the past. A song that'll never be removed from my head.

"If the pain is just for now,

Please make our love indefinite,

If this will be the last time for us,

Give us longer time for us to feel,

The love I've always wanted from you,"

I forced myself to turn off the radio. Ayaw kong bumalik na naman sa puso't-isipan ko ang huling kanta na narinig ko hanggang sa lumabas ako ng bansa.

The time I've heard of this song, I kept remembering how I shuttered into pieces from the way I get in a taxi, sobbing.

"Why did you turned it off? Magandang kanta kaya 'yon," Lexus said as he turned the car to the left, where the High Ridge direction is.

I rolled my eyes around. "As if you know nothing."

He laughed playfully and continued the way to High Ridge. It is located on the higher part of the city, which is good-looking every sunset, because you can clearly view how this city is wonderful with the city lights.

He parked the car near the entrance and opened the front door for me.

"Thank you," I thanked him after I stepped out from his car. Sabay kaming pumasok do'n sa open-view at umupo.

A waitress came to us and asked what we'll gonna be ordering. We ordered a beef steak and french toast for us.

Habang naghihintay kami ay inaya ako ni Lexus na pumunta ro'n sa may telescope para tingnan ang kagandahan ng siyudad.

As I close my left eye, I roam my right eye to the telescope and catched the view of the Cagayan de Oro bridge.

Bigla ko na lang naramdaman ang paghigpit ng kamay niya sa baywang ko. I can't stop him, because I'm still on viewing the view.

He whispered, "I'll be telling you something. Come with me. . ." Malamig at mapanindig ang bulong niya sa akin. Inalis niya 'yong pagkakayakap mula sa likod ko saka ko siya sinundan sa kung saan.

Why is he acting this way now?

Tumigil kami sa isang table na may red lights na nakasabit sa may puno. The table were filled with two and foods on it.

Kumunot ang aking noo. "Why do you. . ."

Hindi niya ako sinagot, bagkus ay nagpresentang paupuin ako sa upuan.

My confusion have been to the highest level of me. Why is he acting this way? The way he nibble my waist, the way he commands me, and now. A romantic dinner. . .

"I will be telling you this after I've finally decided to," aniya nang makaupo siya. He poured a wine to my glass as he continues. "I've been struggling of what I am feeling lately."

Nanlaki ang mata at na-half open ang bibig ko sa sunod niyang sinabi sa akin. Nahawakan ko kaagad ang bibig ko dahil sa sinabi niya.

"I think I'm falling to you. . . The days we were together, the way you smile and laugh. It makes me flutter so d*mn much."

Hindi ako nakasagot. I've kept my mouth shut for seconds before I answered him.

"Kailan pa, Lexus?" My brows furrowed as I asked him.

"I've realized it just one of these past days," sagot niya sa akin.

I shrugged my head out of disbelief. Hindi ako handa. "We are friends, you know it." My voice trailed off.

Hindi ko kayang magmahal ulit. Lalo na at kakahilom pa lang ang sugat ko. I. . . I don't even know what are my feelings for him either.

"We are friends, I know it. But. . . If we'll give it a try, Astra. We could make it up to lover, hmm." I heard him whispered it.

"Many of my Canadian friends tried to court me. Alam mo namang rejection agad, 'di ba? You know it since before. I am not ready for commitment. I don't even know If I could even love a man again. . ."

He shrugged his shoulders. "Let's trust the process, Astra. This. . . this will be my first time I've fallen for a woman, and I can't just let it go. . ."

Tumayo siya at inayos 'yong coat niya saka niya inayos ang boses niya. "Ashdale Traia Montessori, will you date me?"

I am speechless for the meantime. Nakatayo pa rin siya kahit 'di ako sumasagot at nakangiti pa rin sa akin- naghihintay ng matamis na sagot.

Wala naman sigurong mawawala kung susubukan, 'di ba? Besides, I've known Lexus for how many years. And he's no longer a stranger to me. . . He has been with me since I was still in the process of healing. Na kaya mas madali akong naging maayos ay dahil sa tulong niya sa akin.

"Y-yes?"

His eyes widened as he smiled hopefully at me. Lumapit siya sa akin, kaya tumayo ako. I was dumbfounded when he hugged me so tight. Like, there is now tomorrow.

I've once again felt this kind of feeling after years. . .