Silent Shot

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Thirteen

“Okay lang ba itong suot ko?” tanong ni Grace. Nakailang ikot at hagod na ito sa dress na suot, kanina pa din ito tanong ng tanong.

“For the nth time, Grace. You look good.” may diin na sabi ko. “Kanina mo pa itinatanong iyan. Can you calm down?”

Grace shrieked and jumped towards me. Nandito kami ngayon sa kwarto ko. It’s almost dinner time pero hindi pa kami bumababa dahil hindi pa din dumarating ang pamilya Dela Vega.

“I’m trying! But I am so excited and nervous and, ugh! I don’t know what I’m feeling, Lira! Para akong mahihimatay!”

Halos matawa ako dahil kulang na lang ay magkombulsyon ito. “Halika na nga sa baba! Baka mas kakalma ka kapag may ibang tao.”

I grabbed her arm pulled her towards the door, parang lalo itong nanigas. Napailing na lang ako. Binuksan ko ang pinto at napatigil nang makita kung sino ang nakatayo sa labas nito.

It was Viggo.

Naramdaman ko na bumunggo sa likod ko si Grace dahil hila-hila ko nga pala ito nang bigla akong tumigil.

“Selira.” bati ni Viggo.

He looks so handsome in his white mao short sleeve shirt! Mukhang bagong gupit din and buhok nito na sadyang bumagay sa seryoso nitong mukha.

“V-Viggo…” bati ko sabay tikhim. Naramdaman kong sumilip si Grace mula sa likod ko at nakumpirma ko ito nang bumaling ang mata ni Viggo sa kanya.

“Uh, hi!” bati ni Grace. Tumango lang si Viggo, ni hindi man lang ngumiti sa kaibigan ko. I purse my lips, trying to hide my smile. Ewan ko ba pero ang lakas ng dating sa akin ng pagsusuplado nito.

“Grabe ang kulit ni Mommy… Ohh, you’re here Kuya?” si Jacob na kakadating lang.

Nakatayo kaming lahat at walang nagsasalita. Ako at si Grace ay nasa loob ng bukas na pinto ng kwarto habang ang magkapatid naman ay nasa labas.

Bakit nga ba nandito si Viggo? I mean, masaya ako na makakasama namin siya sa family dinner ngayon pero bakit siya umakyat dito sa kwarto ko? He don’t normally do that.

“Uy, Grace!” masiglang bati ni Jacob sa kaibigan ko.

I blinked. Matagal na pala ang titigan namin ni Viggo at na-realize ko lang iyon nang magsalita si Jacob.

“H-Hi!” nahihiya at ipit ang boses na lumabas kay Grace. Ngumiti naman si Jacob dito, his usual cheery and friendly smile. Ramdam ko ang paghigpit ng kapit ni Grace sa kamay ko.

Viggo was still looking at me when I glanced at him again.

“Pababa na din kami. Uh, kararating niyo lang ba?” I cleared my throat and looked at Jacob instead. Hindi ako maka-concentrate sa tingin ni Viggo!

I missed him! I missed him so much na ang mga titig niya ay nabibigyan ko ng kahulugan. Meanings like he missed me so damn much, too! And I hate myself for that. I hate assuming but I can’t help but assume!

“Yep. Nag-uusap na sila sa hapag-kainan. You know, the usual boring stuff.” si Jacob. “Why don’t we stay here for a while habang-”

“Dinner is almost ready, Jacob.” ani Viggo. He said those words without looking at his brother. Nakatingin lang siya sa akin. I can read the irritation in his voice.

Jacob looked at his brother and shrugged. “Alright. Living room na lang? Everyone?” he grinned.

“S-Sure!” si Grace.

I smiled at nagnakaw muna ng tingin kay Viggo. He is still looking at me. Halos hindi ako makalunok. Parang ako naman ngayon ang excited na kinakabahan na hindi ko maintindihan.

“Pwede bang mauna na kayo sa baba? Uh, may nakalimutan lang ako.”

“H-Ha?” si Grace na parang namutla agad. She was scared and I understand pero talagang kailangan ko munang magpakalma ng sarili! “S-Samahan na kita!”

“N-No.” I cleared my throat. Sorry na talaga, Grace! Babawi ako, promise! “Mabilis lang ‘to.”

“Tara na, Grace! Susunod din si Lira.” ani Jacob na hinawakan ang palapulsuhan ni Grace upang mahila na paibaba. I saw how my friend got stunned by their skin contact at alam ko agad na napatawad na ako nito.

“I’ll wait for Selira.” si Viggo. Jacob didn’t mind what his brother said, ni hindi man lang ito lumingon.

“Uh, hindi na, Viggo--”

“I insist. I have something to tell you anyway.”

Hindi na narinig pa ni Jacob at Grace and sinabing iyon ni Viggo dahil malayo na ang mga ito.

“Uh, okay, um…” umatras ako ng bahagya. “Pasok ka muna, may, uh, kukunin lang ako.”

Viggo slightly shook his head. Somehow, he looked a bit disappointed with something.

“When I told you to not be alone in a room with a boy, I mean it.” he sighed.

“But you are not a boy-” ako na mismo ang nagpreno ng bibig ko nang makita na tumaas ang isang kilay niya. “Whatever.” sabi ko na lang at tumalikod na lang.

“Dito lang ako sa labas. I’ll wait for you.” halos pabulong na ang mga huling salita nito.

Humarap ako sa closet kahit wala naman akong kukuhanin doon. I pretended I was getting something though because I can feel his hot gaze on my back.

Sa halip na makalma ay mas lalo yatang nag-aalburoto ang dibdib ko.

“Uh, ano nga ulit ang sasabihin mo?” basag ko sa katahimikan habang patuloy na sa pagkukunwaring may hinahanap sa mga drawer.

“I, uh, I don’t think I will be here on your birthday.” he sighed after.

Napatigil ang mga kamay ko sa paghahanap ng kung ano. Saglit akong natigilan pero agad din na naka-recover.

“G-Ganun ba? Bakit?” I was forcing my voice to sound like usual but I think I failed. Mabagal na ngayon ang paggalaw ng kamay ko sa loob ng drawer at hindi na ako doon nakatingin.

“Dad asked me to go abroad. Business related. Mamayang gabi na ang alis ko and I won’t be back in a month.”

Next week na ang birthday ko. Hindi nga siya makakapunta. Parang nag-init ang paligid ng mga mata ko but still, I tried to hold the tears back.

“Okay.” sabi ko at huminga ng malalim. I picked a random ponytail and clenched it with my hand. “Nakita ko na!” sabi ko at humarap sa kanya.

What I saw in Viggo’s eyes will forever be a mystery to me. I don’t know what to call it. Its sad, its mad, its regretful, its guilty, its unreadable.

“T-Tara.” nagsimula na akong lumapit sa kanya.

“I want to give you something.” bigla nitong sinabi at may kung ano na hinugot mula sa bulsa ng pantalon nito. “Early birthday gift.” sabay abot sa akin nang makalapit na ako sa kanya ng husto.

Hindi ko inaasahan na may regalo siyang ibibigay. At kahit hindi bagay ang importante para sakin kundi presensya, hindi ko pa din maiwasan na hindi masiyahan.

Viggo is giving me a gift in exchange of his absence. It’s not the gift that counts, but his effort to even think of it. Kahit pa mukhang apology gift na iyon at hindi na birthday gift, okay lang agad!

Isang kulay kahel na kahon ang nasa kamay niya. Kinuha ko iyon at binuksan, not bothering to look in Viggo’s face dahil pakiramdam ko ay maiiyak ako.

I opened the box and was greeted with a silver bracelet. It has a little sun with six ray lights as a pendant. Medyo napatanong ako sa isip kung anim lang ba o walo ang raylight ng araw?

“Happy Birthday, Selira.” Viggo said in almost a whisper.

I looked up at him this time and smiled. “Thank you.” then I placed the bracelet on my wrist. He locked it for me.

Madami na akong bracelet, signature and not but this one looks perfect on my wrist. I smiled at Viggo, a smile so genuine that he smiled back.

Viggo cleared his throat and looked away. Frowning a bit while looking at the stairs.

“Let’s head downstairs. Dinner is probably starting.”

***

Halakhakan ang maririnig sa hapag-kainan. Sa kanan ko ay si Grace at sa kaliwa naman ay si Jacob. Viggo was sitting in front of me, as usual.

“Sayang naman at wala rito si Viggo sa kaarawan ni Selira, Madel.” sabi ni Mommy kapagkuwan.

Tita Madel groaned. “I’m really sorry, Luisa, Selira,” she turned to me to give me a small smile. “Brandon has to be hands-on with the new project in Tagaytay and we have no time to sacrifice.”

“It’s okay lang po, tita.” I humbly said.

“Mabuti at handa itong si Viggo para i-handle ang negosyo niyo abroad.” sabi naman ni Daddy.

“And it will be a great help for his profile and experience.” ani tito Brandon. “This is a big challenge and I am confident with my son’s skills.” ngumisi pa ito. Proud na proud kay Viggo.

Hindi ko tuloy maiwasang hindi mas humanga at maging proud din kay Viggo. This is a challenge indeed at sa murang edad ni Viggo, ni hindi pa ito nakakagraduate ng kolehiyo, malaking responsibilidad ito.

“But of course, we will support him still.” tita Luisa said.

I looked at Viggo who was not joining the conversation. He always does so I was curious why he was so quiet. He was playing with his food and his eyes are looking at… my wrist.

Nakaramdam ako ng pagkailang. I can’t move my hand now kahit gusto ko itong tanggalin sa lamesa at ipatong na lang sa hita ko. Pero bakit ko nga ba ito itatago sa kanya?

“Hey,” bulong ni Jacob sa gilid ko na nagpatigil sa mga iniisip ko. I saw Viggo’s eyes turned to his brother and frowned.

“H-Ha?” I did not bother to move dahil sobrang lapit ni Jacob sa akin.

“I think your friend likes me. She does, right?” nanunuya ang boses nito.

Grace was welcomed in our table. Kanina ay tinanong na ito ng tinanong nina Mommy at Dad. Now, she’s eating in silence.

Umikot ang mata ko.

“Don’t you even dare, Jacob.” warning ko at tumingin na dito. Pinanlakihan ko ito ng mata.

“What? I was just asking. She’s too sweet to me kanina and--”

“She is my friend!” gigil pero pabulong kong sinabi.

“I am not taking her away from you. I’m just stating my observation, okay?”

“Wag na wag mo lang paglalaruan ang kaibigan ko, Viggo. Sinasabi ko sayo.”

Ngumisi ito ng nakakaloko. “She does like me, then?”

I groaned. Paano na lang kung ligawan nga nito si Grace? Grace likes him. What if she got hurt because of Jacob? Mawawalan ako ng kaibigan!

“Jacob.” I heard Viggo. “Leave Selira alone, she’s eating.”

Nakita ko ang paglingon ng mga magulang namin sa kay Viggo. I gulped. Lagi naman nagpapaka-kuya si Viggo but he was never this verbal na kahit sa harap ng family namin.

At tunog galit pa.

“Oh, they are always like that, hijo.” my mom chuckled.

“Nanibago siguro dahil matagal-tagal na hindi nakasama sa gatherings.” mapaklang tumawa si tita Luisa, tila nagulat din.

Viggo sighed heavily and smiled at my mom before he continue eating.

I swallowed hard. Does he really like me or is he just being brotherly?

I saw him typing on his phone and then put it down. My phone beeped after a while. I knotted my forehead because I think I know who texted me.

And I was right. It was Viggo.

Viggo: Talk later? Before I go.

Hindi ko alam kung ano ang gusto niyang sabihin pa but I was suddenly nervous as I typed ‘Okay.’