Racing Hearts (De Silva Series: 2nd Generation)

Chapter Twenty Three Part 2

Chapter 23 Part 2

Ruth

Kumaripas ng takbo si Dulce pabalik sa kwarto. Pinigilan ko sa braso si Dylan nang akma nitong susundan ang kapatid. “Hayaan mo na.” alu ko sa mababang boses.

“I won’t tolerate such things.”

I sighed. I was still holding his arm. “Intindihan mo. Nagulat ‘yon, e. Imbes na pagalitan mo dapat nagpaliwanag ka nang maayos para maintindihan niya. Ang bata pa ni Dulce.”

Bigla niya akong binalingan. “She’s not a child anymore. Our parents can spoil her but I won’t.” he paused. “I will make her like you, I promise.”

Napalunok ako. My cheeks warmed up. Tuluyan siyang humarap sa akin at sinapo ang magkabila kong pisngi. He tilted his head a little so he can catch my eyes. Umamo ang mukha niya. Nalusaw na ang galit na pinakita niya kay Dulce kanina. He softly touches my face like as if it was made of rare gems.

“She was upset, yes. But she will soon to accept that I like you.”

“Make her understand. Don’t force your sister to accept me.” May diin kong paalala.

Tumango siya. “I know, I know. I will make everything fine, babe. Don’t worry.”

He pulled me against his chest and pressed my face on it. Hindi ako umapela nang yakapin niya ako at hinaplos ang buhok ko. Kumakalabog pa rin ang dibdib ko. I smelled him and it was better than his t-shirt. I listened to his erratic heartbeat and it was better than his low voice. It means that he is alive. And he had defended me.

Anong inisip niya kanina? Hindi niya naalala kung sino ang mga magulang ko? Hindi niya naalala kung sinong nagluwal sa akin? It’s surprisingly to know, that the man who humiliated me years ago, is the man who defended me after. Ito ako ngayon, yumayakap at nagugustuhan ang init ng katawan niya sa katawan ko. Higit sa halik. Higit pa sa malalim na halikang ginawa namin. This Dylan de Silva, my mortal enemy converted to be my newly born defender of my whole being.

Magkahiwalay na kami nang magkasunod na lumabas ng kwarto sina Dulce at Yandrei. Nagtuloy sa paglabas si Dulce, si Yandrei ang nagpaalam na uuwi na sila. Hindi ko alam kung nasabihan siya pero kita ko ang pag aalangan na ngiti ni Yandrei sa akin. Lalo na kay Dylan.

Walang kibo akong nagpalit ako ng damit. Hinatid ako sa apartment ni Dylan. Hindi na siya bumaba ng sasakyan at umalis din kaagad. My accusation towards him had slipped away. But I found a new thing.

**

143 Street Café’s first day is jampacked. Puno na kami sa loob, mahaba pa ang pila sa labas. We, all three, decided to open on the same date and day. Sunday. We have discounts and we made sure we are prepared for the opening day. Karamihan, mga kabataan ang customer namin. We decided to add temporary chairs para sa gustong mag dine in. May nagtanong kung open sa delivery pero hindi pa namin iyon maasikaso. Ako at si Esther ang magkatulong na tumayo sa counter. Pareho kami ng suot na yellow T-shirt, may naka-imprint na logo at pangalan ng 143 Street. Si Walter ang nagmamando sa kitchen at siyang tagalabas at kuha ng mga order. Mayroon kaming in-employ na dalawang staff. Pero dahil first day namin, naging hands-on kaming tatlo.

I managed to use my camera and stole some beautiful photos. Mula pila sa labas pati eksena sa loob ng shop. Hindi ko inaasahan na magiging ganito ang outcome pagkatapos ng ilang pagma market namin. Mapa-online at invites sa mga kakilala. Inimbitahan ko ang mga kaklase ko, pero hindi na ako nag imbita ng taga Bangon office.

I was wearing tight jeans, rubber shoes and our uniform t-shirt. Nagsupil ako dahil hindi naman gaanong mainit ang klima ngayon. Si Esther ay nagkulot ng buhok at mapulang mapula ang kulay ng labi.

Hindi mahulugang-karayom ang mga unang oras namin ng pagbubukas sa publiko. It was already past six nang maranasan naming maupo sa silya ni Esther. Nagtinginan lang kami at sabay na tumawa. This experience is much better than our previous business venture. That I failed to manage.

Hindi rin namin na-perfect ang unang araw. Unang pagkakamali ay sa sistema. Hindi maayos na pila at pagkalito sa gawain. Ofcourse, we practiced. Pero iba ang nangyari nang totoong may customer na pumasok. May natagalan sa pag serve ng drinks, nagkamali ng flavor at ilang maliit na errors. Tinandaan ko iyon para sa ika-i-improve ng shop.

“Taste and service can always improve.” Walter said when he took a very important short break. I saw him winked at Esther. She blushed.

My sweat broke when I saw kuya Nick arrived. Para itong sumisipol nang pasadahan ng tingin ang maliit naming pwesto. Women looked at his way. He generated twitching necks from our women customers. Huminto siya sa harap ng counter at tumingala sa menu naming nakasulat sa green board.

“Kuya Nick.”

He twitched his pouted lips. He narrowed his eyes on me, then finally smiled. Tinaasahan ko siya ng kilay, ngumiti rin ako. Hindi ko inaasahang dadalaw siya. Wala akong sinasabihan sa mga de Silva tungkol sa opening ng shop. Nahihiya ako. Hindi ito big time at sa liit, hindi rin sila magkakasya. But seeing him, seeing his alive presence made me a little happy.

“Congratulations.”

“Thank you. Ano’ng gusto mo, kuya? It’s on me.” I confidently said.

Kumunot ang noo ni kuya Nick. Bumaling sa entrada. Sa galaw pa lang ng mata niya, kumalabog na ang dibdib ko. Bumaling siya roon hindi dahil may narinig siya o napatingin lang. His gestures are telling me that he is with someone.

My eyes lingered at the door. Waiting for the familiar face. A someone that I anticipated since kuya Nick showed. Dahil nang nakita ko siya, I’m sorry kuya, my chest automatically stumbled and I expected to see his older cousin.

I stared at the door longer than he did.

He was wearing his usual branded t-shirt and jeans. Red came in next. Beaming at me when he saw me looking at the door.

“Congratulations, ate Ruth!”

I felt like my jaw cracked. Binalingan ako ulit ni kuya Nick, nakangisi na ito. Pagkatapos niyang mahalata ang reaksyon ko, agad akong bumawi at ngumiti nang maayos sa kapatid ko. “Red.” Malinaw kong tawag sa pangalan niya. Lumabas pa ako sa likod ng counter para salubungin siya ng yakap. “You’re . . . here.”

“I wouldn’t miss this, ate. Sayang hindi makakarating si Cam. Pero dadalaw siya for sure.” Sagot niya sa akin pagkatapos akong yakapin.

He is really growing too fast. Kaya na niya akong durugin sa isang yakap pa lang.

“Hindi talaga ako ang may-ari nitong shop,” saglit kong nilingon si Esther bago binalik ang mata ko kay Red. Then, I smiled lightly. “I’m a small-time investor.”

Tumawa si Esther. Humalukipkip si kuya Nick at napatingin din sa kanya.

“We’re the Three Musketeers. Ako, si Walter at Ruth. ‘Yang si Ruth ang in-charge sa Marketing at siya ring official photographer namin. Hindi naman ‘yon madaling trabaho kaya paanong small time ka?”

“Tsk.” Sagot ko sa kanya.

Inakbayan ako ni Red at ngumiting malapad. Pati ako ay nahawa sa gwapo niyang ngiti.

“Well, that’s my humble ate.”

“Kaya ililibre tayo ng ate mo.”

Biglang sumeryoso ang mukha ni Red. “I’ll not bankrupt my ate’s newest biz. I will pay.”

“Pay for us three, then.” Tinaasan ni kuya Nick ng kilay ang kapatid ko.

As if on cue, bumaling kaming apat sa pintuan. Bumaba na talaga ang pag aasam ko pagkakita kay Red. Pero nang dumating at pumasok si Dylan, na may dalang isang kumpol ng pulang mga rosas, dinalayuan ako ng nagbabagang dugo at binuhay nang binuhay ang t***k ng puso ko.

Hindi ko na naramdaman ang akbay sa akin ng kapatid ko. My eyes focused on Dylan. All I could see was his immaculately white long sleeves polo that he rolled up to his elbow. Arms and muscle were refined. His broad shoulders were as wide as the space of our entry door. He wasn’t look confident, but he knew what he was looking for.

Hindi ko binalak na tagalan ang pagtitig sa kanya. But at this moment, ang birada ng t***k ng puso at mga mata ko ay hindi ko magawang utusang huminahon. They both lingered on his like as if he owns them. Napalunok ako. Red looked at me. Hindi ko na siya magawang tingnan. Dylan’s way is pointing where I’m standing, that is beside my younger brother. I saw Dylan’s grinning lips. He looked fresh. Para bang kalalabas lang sa shower. He filled my nose with his addicting scent. Lumipat ang mata niya sa balikat ko. Kung saan nakapatong ang braso ni Red. Nasa tatlo o apat na segundong tumigil ang mata niya roon bago inalis.

Malakas na tumikhim si kuya Nick. “He’s our cousin. Take note of it.”

Nagpalito sa akin ang sinambit ni kuya Nick. Dylan stopped in front of us Red. He offered me his red roses. Ito ‘yung oras na ramdam kong tumigil ang mundo, dahil tumahimik ang paligid kahit maraming tao. The roses are astonishingly gorgeous. His eyes are also nailed at me.

“Your flowers, kuya, too romantic? But I guess, binibigyan mo rin ng gan’yan si Auntie Aaliyah, right?”

Red’s tone was suspicious. Nilingon ko siya. Nahuli ko ang matiim niyang tingin kay Dylan pero ang labi ay bahagyang nakangisi. His eyes were saying what his tongue couldn’t release.

Dylan looked at him. He didn’t wave any reaction. “This is romantic, yes. And I didn’t give my mother red roses. I have a different intention with Ruth.”

“What kind of intention?”

Dylan stared at him. Hindi ito agad na sumagot at nakipagtagisan ng titigan kay Red. At si Red, kahit na mas matangkad at malaki si Dylan sa kanya, hindi ko rin makitaan ng takot sa mukha.

“I want to be her boyfriend,”

I gulped. I slowly took the flowers, sa pag asang mag iiba ng direksyon ang mga mata nila. Pero kahit ginawa ko na ‘yon, hindi nagpatinag ang dalawang lalaki.

Red tilted his head. Pinabigat niya ang braso sa balikat ko. Dylan’s eyes noticed it.

“My ate Ruth’s boyfriend? Hindi ba, mainit ang dugo mo sa kanya?”

Dylan sighed heavily and glanced away from my shoulder. “I’m courting her. I want to be her official boyfriend.”

“Did you ask our parents about this?”

“Don’t get worried, Red. Dylan is serious with her.” Kuya Nick’s impatient words butted in.

Nilingon ko na rin ang kapatid ko. Alam kong pinoprotektahan niya ako pero ayokong mag away silang magpinsan nang dahil sa akin. Hindi ko pa nga alam kung okay na si Dulce at Dylan. Baka ako pa sumira sa magandang relasyon nilang magkakamag anak. Well, I already did.

“Napag usapan na namin ‘to, Red. I’m sorry, kung hindi ko pa nasabi sa ‘yo,” mahinahon kong salita.

Red looked at me with impassive face. “I’m still a little surprised, ate.”

“I-I’m sorry.”

I didn’t want to be caught at this hour, at this moment and at this crowds. Mabuti sana kung kami kami lang. I’m worried because they are not just ordinary men. With no ordinary blood. Tinitigan ako ni Red.

“Let’s not make a scene here, Red. Kakabukas pa lang ng coffee shop ng ate mo. We’re here to celebrate with her.” kuya Nick said.

Pinilit kong ngumiti sa kapatid ko. On the other hand, I’m deeply touched by his actions. Kahit hindi talaga kami magkadugo, naroon pa rin sa kanya ang pag aalala sa akin. Isang bagay na hindi ko maramdaman sa tunay kong kadugo.

Biglang hinawakan ni Dylan ang wrist ko. Pareho kaming napatingin sa kanya ni Red. Iritadong mata ang nakita ko sa pinsan niya.

“Pwede ko na ba siyang makuha sa ‘yo? Kanina ka pa nakaakbay. Naiinip na ako.”

Gumalaw si kuya Nick na parang nagpipigil pumihit ng tawa. Namilog ang mata ko kay Dylan. He remained so cold.

Binaklas ni Red ang braso sa balikat ko. Kaya mas lalo akong hinila ni Dylan sa kanya.

“You’re so bossy.” I muttered at him.

He grinned and nodded. “I won’t argue with you. Congratulations, babe. I’m so proud of you.”

He pulled me a little closer to his body. Nakatingala ako sa kanya at siya naman ay nakatunghay sa mukha ko. Sunud sunod na liwanag ang bumuhos sa amin. I was shocked when I saw one reporter who is freely taking a lot of photos of us. I was holding the flowers and Dylan’s holding my wrist. That’s not the ideal pose for someone who wanted a discreet life.