Chapter 9

COME ON, open the damn door, Gianna. I need to see you. Nang wala pa ring sumagot mula sa loob ng kwarto ay sinubukan ni Caleb na pihitin ang doorknob. Nagulat siya nang malamang bukas iyon. Itinulak niya ang pinto pero wala ni anino ni Gianna sa loob.

Nagmamadaling lumabas siya at hinanap ang dalaga sa buong kabahayan. Sumibol ang kaba sa kanyang dibdib nang hindi ito matagpuan. She couldn’t be outside, it was raining wild. Posible kayang... tumakas ito? Naipilig niya ang ulo. Sa dami ng guard na itinalaga niya ay Malabo iyon... pero malabo nga ba? Sa naisip ay nagmamadali niyang tinungo ang front door.

Akmang pipihitin ni Caleb ang doorknob nang kusa nang bumukas ang pinto. Bumungad sa kanya ang basang-basang anyo ni Gianna, sa likod nito ay ang tila mga basang-sisiw na gwardya.

“Where the hell have you been?!”

“It doesn’t matter.” She smiled, that same proud smile she wore the first time she made him his three-in-one coffee. “Nahanap ko na ang bracelet ni Miguel.”

Matagal niyang tinitigan ang dalaga... ninanamnam ang presensya nito sa kanyang harapan. He allowed his self to finally catch his breath and feel that heavy load slowly being lifted off his chest. God... ano na lang ang gagawin niya kapag umalis ito?

He took his time crossing the distance between them. Inalis niya ang jacket na suot at ibinalot sa basang-basang katawan ni Gianna. Idinikit niya ang noo sa noo nito. At nang hindi pa rin makuntento ay hinapit niya ito sa baywang at hinagkan sa mga labi. For the first time after five long years, he felt his heart alive and kicking. Napapikit siya nang para bang nag-aalangang gumanti ang dalaga ng yakap sa kanya. For the first time since Erin’s death, he found peace.

“Caleb?” Alanganing tanong nito nang sa wakas ay bitawan niya.

“Yeah?”

“I think I’m falling.”

Nagsalubong ang mga kilay niya. Bago niya pa ganap na maunawaan ang sinabi ni Gianna ay natumba na ito. Mabuti na lang at mabilis ang reflexes niya at maagap na nasalo ito. Walang malay na nag-landing sa kanyang mga braso ang dalaga.

Naniningkit ang mga matang hinarap ni Caleb ang mga gwardyang patakas na sana. “Why the hell did you let her shower in the rain?!”

“SA SUSUNOD, lagyan n’yo ng lock ang bracelet ng apo n’yo. Kapag nawala pa ‘yan at ipinahanap na naman kay Gianna, ang apo n’yo na ang iwawala ko.”

Nagising si Gianna sa narinig na pagtaas ng boses ni Caleb. Kumikirot ang ulong iginala niya ang paningin sa kinaroroonan. Naroon nga sa kanyang kwarto ang binata, nakatalikod sa gawi niya at kasalukuyang ginigisa ang nakayukong si Manang Rosing.

Kahit nanghihina pa ay pinilit niyang bumangon. “Let her go, Caleb. I insisted to find that bracelet anyway.” Namamalat ang boses na sabad niya. Nang lumingon sa kanya ang dalawa ay sinikap niyang ngumiti. “Good morning.”

“It’s good evening now, Gianna. You’ve been sick and sleeping the whole day.” Nakakunot ang noong sinabi ng binata pagkatapos ay sinenyasan nang umalis si Manang Rosing. Lumapit ito sa kanya at inilagay ang palad sa noo niya. “May lagnat ka pa rin.” Marahas na bumuga ng hangin ang binata. “Aren’t you even thinking? Kulang dalawang araw kang nag-hunger strike ‘tapos, sinagasa mo ang ulan? Paanong hindi ka mahihimatay no’n? You are not a superwoman, Gianna! Stop acting like one to everybody!”

Napakagat-labi siya. “Gusto ko lang namang tulungan si Miguel. I didn’t want him lose his only reminder of his father. Hindi ko kasi naranasan ‘yon. Saka, patapos naman na kami ng mga guard sa paghahanap nang umulan.”

Bumuntong-hininga si Caleb. “’Wag mo na uli gagawin ‘yon. Pinag-alala mo ‘ko.”

For a fleeting moment, she thought she saw something in his eyes before he avoided her gaze. It was something that made her heart wonder once again. Bahagyang lumayo siya sa binata. Dahil sa lapit ng gwapong mukha nito sa kanya at sa preskong amoy nito, pakiramdam niya ay lalo pa siyang magkakasakit. But even with the distance, she could still inhale his masculine scent that seemed to creep in her senses.

“Sa susunod, kung may gusto kang gawin, sabihin mo sa’kin.”

Sinikap ni Gianna na ituon ang atensiyon sa sinabi ni Caleb imbes na sa kalituhang muli niyang nararamdaman. “Bakit? Para mapigilan ako agad?”

“Hindi. Para matulungan kita agad.”

Nangislap ang mga mata niya. “Talaga?”

CALEB MUTTERED under his breath as he strived to put some distance between his self and Gianna. That unswerving desire to touch her and kiss her undermines his defenses. At natatakot siya... natatakot siyang hagkan ito habang iniisip na sa nakalipas na mga oras na wala siya halos matinong tulog sa kakabantay rito ay ilang beses niyang narinig ang pagsambit nito sa pangalan ng kapatid niya habang humihingi ito ng tawad.

“You would really help me?” She asked, feeling hopeful.

Gusto niyang tumanggi at bawiin ang sinabi. Gusto niyang paniwalaang nadala lang siya ng pag-aalalang nararamdaman kaya siya nakapagbitaw ng mga salitang labag sa kalooban niya pero hindi. With Gianna, he was a better version of his self. And he hates it. Because being better means being weaker. Being accessible to all sorts of pain and it sucks. And it sucked even more when he nodded and saw how her golden eyes lit up.

“Thank you, Caleb.”

Lumapit siya sa bintana at dumungaw roon. Hindi pa rin maganda ang panahon sa labas... katulad mismo ng nararamdaman niya. “Bakit ba parang napakadali lang para sa’yong ngumiti pagkatapos ng mga pinagdaanan mo?” He asked without looking at her. “I mean, your parents abandoned you. Ni wala ka man lang idea kung saan ka nanggaling. Namatay ang Mother Annita mo-“

“Because I’m done living in the black and white.”

“Paano... paano mo nagagawa ‘yon?”

Napasulyap siya sa dalaganang marinig ang pagbuntong-hininga nito kasabay nang pagtanaw din nito sa bintana. “Galit rin ako sa mundo noon. Bitter ako lalo na kapag family day sa school ‘tapos ang kasama ko, si Mother Annita lang hanggang sa one day, nagkaroon ng contest. Nanalo kami. Umakyat kami sa stage at kinuha ang prize namin. Pero nagulat ako nang ‘di lang ‘yon ang kinuha ni Mother Annita, isinama niya na ang mic.” Naaaliw nang hinarap siya nito. “Alam mo ba kung ano’ng ginawa niya?”

Kumunot ang noo ni Caleb. “Ano?”

“Nakangiti siya nang araw na ‘yon at the same time, naluluha siya. Sinabi niya sa lahat na ulila ako at ipinagpapasalamat niya ‘yon dahil nakilala niya ako. She looked at me with such adoration in her eyes and at that very moment, I understood love because she loved me. Noong maintindihan ko nang may nagmamahal pala talaga sa’kin, unti-unti, naglaho ang bitterness sa puso ko.” Masuyong ngumiti si Gianna. “Sana, nakilala mo rin siya. Baka sakaling nabago niya rin ang buhay mo.”

He looked into her eyes and he saw hope, he saw beauty and all the good things in the world. Pero sinikap niyang huwag magpadala sa kanyang mga nakikita sa takot na baka pinaglalaruan na naman siya ng tadhana. And he was too sick and tired of all its crummy tricks towards him.

Napailing siya pagkatapos ay isinenyas kay Gianna ang tray na may lamang pagkain. Lumapit na siya sa pinto pero bago siya tuluyang umalis ay nilingon niya ang dalaga. Pagtataka ang nakabanaag sa magandang mukha nito, siguro ay dahil sa biglang pagpormal niya.

He breathed heavily. “Hindi ko na siya kailangang makilala pa para mabago ang buhay ko. Because bringing you here was a bombshell, Gianna. It changed-and continuously changing my life whether I like it or not.”

“MARAMING salamat po sa inyo, Sir Caleb, sa napakalaking tulong na naibigay n’yo sa pamilya namin.”

Pormal na ngumiti si Caleb kay Rosing at sa son-in-law nito na si Eddie.“You shouldn’t thank me. You should thank your angel, Gianna, instead. That brat went out of her way for you, Rosing. You’re lucky. You got your job back thanks to her, too.” Walang paligoy-ligoy na sagot niya na sandaling ikinatahimik ng dalawa. He shrugged. It was never his style to steal someone else’s merit. He would not even have thought of visiting Martha if not for Gianna who insisted on doing it.

Kasalukuyan silang nasa hospital room ni Martha, ang anak ni Rosing. Pagkagaling ng dalaga ay humiling itong makita ang kalagayan ng anak ni Rosing. He could tell that she was so excited to see the baby especially when she found out that it was named after her and Rosing. She kept bragging about it the whole time to the guards who all became fond of her now.

Itinuturing ni Rosing na napakalaking utang na loob nang hayaan ito ng dalaga na makatakas sa beach house para mapuntahan ang anak nito. Ito ang nag-impluwensiya sa anak nitong si Martha tungkol sa pangalan ng sanggol. Hence, the baby was named Gianna Rose.But before they went to their room, she dragged him to the counter and asked him to pay for the bills. And like some stupid slave, he did.All she had to do was to look at him with those beautiful eyes and he’d lost it. Damn.Since when did he become a pitiful puppy in front of her?

“I will forever remember this. Thank you, Caleb! Thank you so much!” Naalala niya pang bulalas ng dalaga kanina matapos niyang ilabas ang kanyang wallet.

Bago pa man mamalayan ni Caleb ay sumilay na ang masuyong ngiti sa kanyang mga labi. If only she hadn’t gotten sick and if only his conscience did not keep on meddling with his system, would he have indulged her still? None of these was part of his plan, after all. Nilingon niya si Gianna. And suddenly, he knew the answer. In his heart, maybe he would always indulge that little brat if it meant seeing that happy smile on her face again.Hell, he would pay a lot for that smile. Ngayon ay para itong bata na nakatanghod kay Martha at sa sanggol na kalong ng huli. She looked so adorable with her eyes shining like that.

“Can I… hold her, too?” Mayamaya ay nag-aalinlangang sinabi ng dalaga.“I promise I will be very careful. Kung hindi pa naikukwento sa ‘yo ni Manang Rosing, lumaki ako sa orphanage. Isa ako sa mga nag-alaga sa mga batang dinala doon kaya marami-rami na din akong nahawakang baby at-“

Tumawa si Martha. “Hindi n’yo na po kailangang magpaliwanag, ma’am Gianna. Siyempre po, pwedeng-pwede n’yo siyang hawakan.”

Nang ipasa ni Martha kay Gianna ang sanggol, kusa nang kumilos ang kamay ni Caleb. He took out his cell phone from his jacket and immediately captured the moment without any of them noticing it. Mukhang nagsasabi nga ito ng totoo. She looked like an expert when it came to handling babies. Hindi umiyak ang sanggol nang kargahin nito. Matapos kumuha ng litrato ay nilapitan niya ang dalaga. Hinawi niya ang ilang hibla ng buhok na tumatabing sa mukha nito at inipit iyon sa tainga nito. But the strands seemed to be as stubborn as the owner.

Dinukot ni Caleb sa kanyang bulsa ang panyo niya saka siya pumuwesto sa likod ni Gianna at itinali ang buhok nito. Nang matapos ay nagtatakang napalingon siya sa paligid nang biglang matahimik ang mga ito. When he glanced around, everybody was looking at him including the two guards who went with him and Gianna. And they all had a surprised look on their faces. Even Gianna whose cheeks were flushed at the moment. Damn. She was really beautiful.

Kumunot ang noo ni Caleb. “What now?”

Nagkanya-kanya nang lihis ng tingin ang mga ito pero hindi nakaligtas sa kanya ang naging pagngiti ng mga ito. Humarap siya kay Gianna saka bumulong rito. “Why are they looking at me like that? What’s funny?”

“You.” Nangingiti na ring sagot ng dalaga. “You have a knack for surprising people, right, baby?” Untag nito sa sanggol na kasalukuyang titig na titig rito. “I’m Tita Gianna. And this big guy here is your Uncle Caleb.” Sinulyapan siya nito. “Come on. Smile and say ‘hi’ to her.”

“What for? Even if I do, she wouldn’t remember it though.”

“Problema ba ‘yon? Then stay nice to her grandma and to her parents so she will be sure to remember you until she grows up.”

Sumimangot si Caleb. This little brat kept preaching him in every chance she could. And he could not believe he was allowing her to have her way.Kokontra na sana siya nang makita niya kung paano nito marahang isinayaw ang sanggol habang nananatili ang matamis na ngiti sa mga labi.“Look at her chubby cheeks, Caleb. Isn’t she the cutest?”

“Right.” He said to indulge as he stood there, amazed. He had never seen a sight as lovely as this.“You would be a great mother one day, Gianna.”

Humarap sa kanya ang dalaga. Sandaling napuno ng pag-aalinlangan ang mga mata nito. He knew she was suddenly thinking about how her parents abandoned her when she was a baby. She once told him about her insecurities while growing up.“You think so?”

He smiled. “I know so.You don’t have to worry about anything, Gianna. Iba ka kumpara sa mga taong iniisip mo.”

Sa isang iglap ay namasa ang mga mata ng dalaga. Nag-iwas ito ng tingin sa kanya. Nang humarap uli ito ay nakangiti na ito. “That really meant so much to me. Thank you for saying that.”

“I was just being honest. By the way, how many children would you like to have?”

“Five. I want to experience having my own big family.” Masigla na uli na sinabi ni Gianna.“Hindi na mahalaga kung anong maging gender nila. Basta gusto ko, limang anak.” In an instant, she had a dreamy look on her face.“I’d read them bedtime stories at night, Caleb, gaya nang ginawa para sa amin noon ni Mother Annita. And then I’d play with them and cuddle with them. I will give them all the love they need. It will be fun.”

“Of course. With you around, it’ll be fun.” Napatangong sinabi ni Caleb. Bigla, nalimutan niya kung nasaan sila. All he could see was her and the glow in her face.“Gender doesn’t really matter as long as they would all look like you.” It was so easy to imagine her raising kids who looked exactly like her. Pero nang ma-realize nasi Alaric ang magiging ama ng mga magiging anak ni Gianna, biglang naglaho ang ngiti sa kanyang mga labi.

“LET’S take a break for a while, kiddo. Magpahinga ka na muna. For sure, nag-prepare si Manang Rosing ng snacks sa loob. You can go inside and eat.” Malambing na sinabi ni Gianna kay Miguel matapos nilang magpalipad ng saranggola sa dalampasigan.

Nag-aalinlangang tiningala siya ng bata. “Okay lang kaya kung kumain ako sa loob, ate Gianna?”

Bahagyang ginulo ni Gianna ang buhok ng bata.“Siyempre naman! Eat as much as you can.‘Di ba sinabi ko na sa ‘yo noong isang araw? Mayaman ang may-ari ng islang ito. Hindi kabawasan sa yaman niya ang kakainin mo. He wouldn’t even notice it.” Kinindatan niya ang bata. “Kaya sige lang, magpakabusog ka. Magbaon ka pa kung gusto mo para kapag sinundo ka ng Uncle mo mamaya, hindi na kailangang magluto pagdating n’yo sa bahay.”

Nang nananakbong pumasok sa loob ng bahay si Miguel ay lumapit si Gianna kay Caleb na mag-isang nakaupo sa buhangin habang nakatanaw sa dagat. Naupo siya sa tabi nito. If there was one thing she noticed about Caleb these past few days, it was the fact that he had become… gentle. He doesn’t mind seeing Miguel now. In fact, he lets the kid play around and he helped him make a kite a while ago. He was good at making it that’s why she asked for a kite for herself, too.Kaya ang ending, dalawa silang nagpakasarap na maglaro ni Miguel kanina. Madalas niyang gawin ang bagay na iyon noon tuwing nasa orphanage siya kasama ang mga bata doon. They used to play for hours.

Pormal pa rin si Caleb sa harap ng mga guard at ng mga kasambahay pero hindi na ito ganoon kabrutal kausap. He also doesn’t demand anything from her anymore as if he had given up on doing it. He indulged her silly requests and allows her to be childish. Gaya kanina. And honestly, she didn’t know what to think about him. Seeing him kept confusing her. And it was supposed to be a bad thing. But recently, spending time with him like this doesn’t seem… that bad at all.

That was the reason why she would often find herself feeling guilty at the end of the day.Hindi niya naiwasan ang bumuntong-hininga sa naisip.

“What was that sigh for?” Hindi lumilingon sa kanyang tanong ni Caleb.

Inabala ni Gianna ang sarili sa pagbuo ng castle mula sa buhangin habang nag-iisip ng isasagot. Kahit na unti-unti nang nagbabago ang binata, kailangan niya pa ring maging maingat sa mga isinasagot rito. There was always a possibility that he would explode any time just like what happened a few days ago when he wanted to fire Manang Rosing.

“Wala. Naisip ko lang na gusto kong pumunta ng bayan. Paubos na ang stocks natin. I notice that Manang Rosing seems to be a little tired lately, lalo na at pabalik-balik siya dito sa isla at kina Martha para dalawin ang anak niya.Alam kong kahit hindi niya aminin, napapagod na siya. Besides, she’s not young anymore.I’m thinking of buying the groceries instead of her so she can rest for a while. But that would be impossible, right? You wouldn’t risk me sending to that place even with the guards. Of course, the guards can always buy things for her. But you know them. They are not used to doing those stuffs. Sayang naman kung iba ang mabili nila at hindi magamit. I know you’re a very wealthy man. Pero hindi ka pa rin dapat nagsasayang ng pera.”

Nang manatiling tahimik si Caleb, kinakabahan nang nagpatuloy si Gianna.Was she pushing her luck too much? Itinaas niya ang kanang kamay na puno pa ng buhangin. “I promise thatI won’t try to escape. I won’t even try to call Alaric anymore.I know better than to do that now. Natuto na ako. I just really want to help Manang Rosing. Let me do it, Caleb. Please.”

Sa halip na sumagot, kinuha ni Caleb ang mga kamay niya at marahang pinagpag ang mga buhangin doon. “I believe you.Actually, hindi pa rin ako nakakapunta sa bayan. I will go with you there. Let’s buy the groceries together tomorrow.”

Kuminang ang mga mata ni Gianna. “Really? Thank you!”

Ngumiti lang ang binata at hinaplos ang mga pisngi niya bago ito nahiga sa buhangin at pumikit. Caleb was still as mysterious as before. Whenever he would be this quiet, she could not help but be curious. What could be going on in his mind right now? Alam niyang napakahirap pa rin para kay Caleb na kalimutan ang nakaraan kaya nga naroon pa rin siya sa lugar na iyon hanggang ngayon. But on days like this, she could not help but think that it was not really her who was trapped. It was him. He was trapped by the memories of the past and by the countless it-could-have-beens with his supposed to be wife and child. He was still suffering and for sure, Ric feels the same, too. Dahil kilala niya ang kanyang fiancé kaya naniniwala siyang iniinda rin nito ang mga nangyari noon.

Kung tutuusin, parehong mabuting tao ang magkapatid, sa magkaiba nga lang sigurong paraan. Caleb’s generosity towards Manang Rosing’s family was a proof. Kahit pa ilang beses siyang pasalamatan ng ginang at ng anak nito, hindi siya naniniwala sa sinabi ng mga ito na naging posible umano ang bagay na iyon dahil sa kanya.Gianna and Caleb may have arguments in the past that hurt both of them still, she wanted to believe that Caleb was compassionate, too. Pero siyempre ay hindi nito aaminin iyon kaya siya ang ginawa nitong excuse para makatulong.

Gianna was only testing the waters when she went with Caleb to the cashier back at the hospital yesterday. Kaya ikinasorpresa niya nang hindi lang nito basta sinagot ang hospital bills ni Martha. Nagbigay pa ito ng extra cash sa mag-asawa na hindi niya pa malalaman kung hindi ikinuwento sa kanya ni Manang Rosing kanina. Ayon sa ginang, nag-offer din daw ng scholarship si Caleb para kay Miguel.

It seemed that the Montero brothers both had kind hearts, kaya mahirap para sa kanya ang manatiling masama ang loob sa mga ito sa kabila ng pinagdaraanan niya ngayon.Besides, she was slowly learning to enjoy staying there. Dahil mababait naman ang mga tao doon at damang-dama niya ang mataas na respeto ng mga ito kay Caleb sa kabila ng paminsan-minsan pa ring pagsusuplado ng binata. Right now, how she wished there was a way she could help the twinsmove on and reunite.

“What are you thinking?” She asked after some time, hoping to distract him. Caleb was probably thinking about the past again.

Dumilat ang binata at deretsong tumitig sa kanya. The intensity in his stare made her heart race.“If I tell you that I’m thinking about you, what will you do?”

Nag-iwas ng tingin si Gianna. Pinagtuunan niya uli ng pansin ang binubuong sand castle. How was she supposed to answer that? She was a disk jockey. People thought that she would never run out of things to say. Iyon din ang akala niya noon. But ever since meeting Caleb, ilang beses na siyang natatahimik sa magkakaibang dahilan nga lang.Noong una dahil sa matinding inis o galit. Pero iba ngayon. Sincerity was visible in his eyes and it warmed her heart.

“And why are you thinking about me?” She asked when she finally found her wit.

“I’m just wondering what it would take for me to be able to keep you here with me… forever.”

Forever.Napaharap siya kay Caleb sa narinig. He looked dead serious. Muling kumabog ang dibdib niya. Ano’ng ibig sabihin niyon? Hindi na siya nakasagot hanggang sa bumangon na si Caleb. Humugot ito ng malalim na hininga bago inalis ang suot na jacket at ipinaibabaw sa mga balikat niya.

“It’s cold. Baka lamigin ka. I will head inside first. Be sure to follow afterwards. You can’t be sick again.”