Rugged Men Series 7: Zacharias Alvarez (TAGALOG)

Chapter 2

PALIIT nang paliit ang mata ni Zacharias habang sunod-sunod na naglagay si Arthur ng kung ano-ano acrylic na kulay sa palette. Hinalo nito ang mga kulay hanggang sa dinagdagan iyon ni Arthur ng kulay itim at kaunting puti. Muling hinalo nito ang pinta na nasa palatte at naglagay ng katiting na kulay berde. Akma na maglalagay pa ulit ito nang puting kulay nang mapailing-iling ito.

“This is it,” ani Arthur sabay ipinakita sa kanila ang hinalo nitong kulay sa palete. “If I win, you are going to drink that s**t just like us. If I won’t then I will paint you a canvas with no fee to pay.”

Napaisip si Zacharias at tiningnan ang kulay na nasa palete nito. Pagkatapos ay tiningnan niya ang kanyang lamesa na kulay abo at inihambing iyon sa kulay na resulta ng ginawa ni Arthur.

“Cone on, Alvarez. We’re trying so hard to bring you back to life,” pang-uudyok ni Carter sabay tapik-tapik sa kanyahg balikat.

“What am I? Dead?” sarkastiko na tanong ni Zacharias at pumalatak dito.

“You know exactly what I mean, my friend,” sagot ni Carter at inihudyat ang ulo kay Arthur na naghihintay ng sagot.

“I know, that is why I don't what to agree with you guys,” wika ni Zacharias at napailing-iling at napapantastikuhan napatingin sa nakahilerang baso. “This is shit...”

“Since when did taking such thing is s**t, huh? We always do this when were in college,” ani Elijah at tinitigan ang nakahilerang baso. “Pampainit lang ito ng katawan. We will have an orgy, so you better not take down the offer.”

“You know what, Baltazar? Why don’t you just have a concert and then go home?” puna ni Zacharias at dismayado na tumingin dito. “And you, Torres. I was glad that you manage to build thirteen restaurants without having any bad luck, I really do. But now that you are back, I want to suggest making it at least fifteen. You are really annoying me. God! And you, Tan, why are you even here? I thought you are busy with the exhibit?”

“Nah, I am not now,” sagot ni Arthur at itinaas ang palate nitong hawak. “Otherwise, I won't try to win this for you to have fun with us. Come on, you've been so distant from us for how many months again? Oh, right. Almost a year, it's time for us to put back on track.”

Tumingin siya kay Elijah at nakitang nagkibit-balikat ito.

“I just come home from the concert, Alvarez, do you want to have another one? My hands are shaking, you know,” ani Elijah at ipinakita ang kamay na puro kalyo na kakagitara. “Besides, I could really use some relaxation. It’s good to be on your island by the way.”

“Agree!” pagsang-ayon ni Carter at umakbay sa kanya. “And thirteen is enough for a restaurant, mind you. I want to be with my friends. Five years ago, I got so busy and then the moment I come back, three of my friends are married, damn. A month after, Wyatt tied the knot making her fourth guy on the line...”

Nang marahil mapagtanto ni Arthur ang sinabi ay agad na napangiwi ito. Nakita niya ang pagsapak ni Elijah sa braso nito kaya ito pumalakpak sa kanyang harap para mas lalong ikinatalim ng kanyang mga mata.

“Did I say Wyatt? I didn't say Wyatt...” pagbawi ni Carter sabay mahinang natawa para mapaupo siya sa pinakamalapit na upuan katapat nito.

Sabay na napailing-iling si Arthur at Elijah kaya napabuntong-hininga si Carter.

“Okay, I said Wyatt,” Carter admitted and made a face. “And I’m sorry. But Alvarez man, you wouldn't move on if you keep doing this to yourself. That's why we're here. To be with you and cheer you up.”

“Well, what you're doing right now is not cheering me at all...” sarkastiko na wika ni Zacharias at sinipat ang nakahilerang limang baso. “You are treating me like I have a dysfunctional f*****g buddy junior.”

“You don't have, we know...” agap na wika ni Elijah at napahalakhak. “But we know that you didn't have some for months so you need it more than we do.”

“Thank you, Baltazar,” walang gana na wika ni Zacharias at sarkastiko na napapalakpak sa harap nito. “You are so thoughtful, I want to f*****g punch you in the face. Did you just say that I'm a loser, huh? That I need to drink some s**t like that in order to bed a woman and to last long?”

“I don't know. Maybe?” sagot ni Elijah at nagkibit-balikat. “I mean, I understand that being heartbroken can take someone's desire. But man, have some dignity. You're not like this before. Isolating yourself will not make you him. You are not going to be Wyatt, so accept it. Life is f*****g is too short to waste it. You must do everything to call it worthwhile. Stand up. Collect yourself. Be a man and never look back because life must come forward and not the other way around!”

Zacharias was tongue-tied for a moment. Napakurap-kurap lamang siya sa harap ni Elijah kahit pa man alam niyang isa ito sa mga liriko ng sariling-gawa nitong kanta. The lyrics of a song couldn't be felt if a person isn't in the same situation. Malaking punto iyon para sa problemang hinaharap niya sa kasalukuyan. After Madison married his friend Wyatt, he pinned his feet on the ground and suffered alone. He literally shut himself to the world. Sa sobrang sakit ng hatid ng muling pag-tanggi sa kanya ni Madison ay pakiramdam niya ay hindi na siya natatablan ng kung anong pang kalungkutan. Tuluyan na siyang nawala ng pandamu. Sa tuwing maiisip niya ang senaryo na iyon ay hindi niya na napipigilan ang pagak na pagngiti.

“Wow, Baltazar. You really hurt me now by saying that,” ani Zacharias at naghilot ng sentido. Minuto nang makalipas bago siya humugot nang malalim na paghinga bilang pagsang-ayon sa mga kaibigan. “Fine. I’m taking the bet.”

“You are doing it?” tanong ni Arthur, nagningning ang mga mata.

“What choice do I have, fucker?” tanong ni Zacharias at masamang tumingin dito. “Unless you guys don’t want—”

“Of course, we do!” pagbawi ni Arthur at tinanguhan siya. “If I win, you will take it with us. Don't worry, Morales did a tweaking with this thing to lessen the effect since he added water, he made it liquid and he approves drinking it as long as we stay on the island. What happened on the island must stay on the island.”

“I know,” sagot ni Zacharias at napangisi. “Besides, you're not going to win anyway. I could see that the color didn't match—”

Hindi na naituloy ni Zacharias ang kataga nang pahapyaw na inlapat ni Arthur ang kulay mula sa palete at kinalat ito sa mesa. Kagaya ng hindi niya inaakala ay parehas na parehas ang hinalo nitong kulay sa mesa.

“Oh, fuck...” dugtong ni Zacharias at hindi makapaniwalang napatingin sa mesa. “Did you really just... did you—”

“I did,” pagmamayabang ni Arthur at itinuro ang mga mata nito. “Wyatt doesn't the only one who has a keen eye, you know. I know what are the colors of any appliances or furniture, or any thing that has color. Isang tingin ko lang sa bagay na iyon, alam ko na ang ihahalo kong kulay para matamo ko ang kaparehas na kulay.”

“God bless your eyes,” papuri ni Elijah kay Arthur.

Arthur smiled and looked at Elijah's calloused hand. “And God bless your hand.”

“Tan has won so you better drink that with us,” wika ni Carter at naningkit ang mga mata. “Marcus is coming with five girls in thirty. You can choose with your liking. Don't worry, they're clean.”

“You guys are so messed up...” ani Zacharias at natatawang napailing-iling.

“Aren't we all?” tanong ni Carter at dumampot na ng isang baso pagkatapos ay ininom ang laman.

Sunod na kumuha ng tag-iisang baso sina Elijah at Arthur. Siya ang sumunod at nang akma na iinumin niya na ang nasa loob ng maliit na baso ay biglang tumunog ang kanyang cell phone.

“Oh, come on...” pagreklamo ni Carter at umiling-iling. “You should turn that cell phone off.”

“I’m sorry, this new bought island of mine is basically under construction for AVZ resort, so I have to keep my line open,” sagot ni Zacharias at nakitang sekretarya niya iyon na tumatawag mula sa reception area. “Salubungin niyo na si Marcus sa reception area. I’ll meet you at the bar.”

Nang maningkit ang mata ng tatlo ay mahinang natawa siya sa harap ng mga ito.

“I won't bail, I promise. Go now, I will meet you once I finish talking with my secretary. This talk won’t be long,” pagtitiyak ni Zacharias para lumisan na ang mga mga kaibigan sa opisina at sinagot ang tawag nang mawala na sa kanyang paningin ang tatlo.

“Bakit ka napatawag, Lawrence?” bungad ni Zacharias.

“Sir, may babae po akong nakita sa daungan na walang malay. Kailangan po natin siyang tulungan,” pagbibigay-alam ni Lawrence para kunot ang kanyang noo.

“Babae?” tanong ni Zacharias.

“Opo, sir. Babae na maitim at mahaba ang buhok. May sugat po sa ulo at sa mga paa,” paliwanag ni Lawrence.

“Okay, I understand, Lawrence. Send her to the infirmary immediately, I will meet you there in a minute,” wika ni Zacharias at pinatay na ang tawag.

Zacharias wonder for a minute after ending the call, his hands playing with his cell phone. His island doesn't have any route since it’s private and midget. Hindi matunton ang kanyang isla ng walang direksyon galing sa kanya dahil sa liit ng isla ay wala ito sa mapa ng Pilipinas. Now, how come there is a unconscious woman on the shore?