Barakuda: A Love Untold (Chapter V)

CHAPTER V

“I really like you Ata. Since the day we met, I’ve been thinking about you a lot. Don’t you feel the connection? I think the universe is conspiring for us to meet.” he murmured and moved closer and felt his hands on my waist.

“But what happened between you and Metis?”

“Do we have to talk about him now?”

“I want to know.”

He looked at me and said slowly. “It happened one night in a hotel. We were drinking hard. Then he confessed. He’s gay.”

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“Metis is gay? That’s not funny Red.” I started to free myself from his embrace. I walked towards the shore.

“ But it’s true.”

“So, you were in a relationship huh?”

“Of course not! How can you even think about that?”

“Liars!”

“Wow! We were just friends for God’s sake.” He followed me.

 “Why are you jumping into conclusions? Why don’t you listen to me?!” his voice is rising.

“Because you’re gay!” I insisted.

“If I am a gay, why did I kiss you? Why did I follow you all the way here? Why did I defend you from Metis? Why am I in love with you? Now, tell me if that’s being gay, then yes I am gay!”

“You’re not in love with me. You’re just using me to cover up your real identity! You and Metis are both using me!”

“You’re judgmental, Ata. Unbelievable.”

I zipped my mouth.

The wind blew hard.

 “Do you love me Ata?”

“I can’t be possibly be in love with you.” I turned my back

“Why did you kiss me back?” I could feel his breath. I could feel the goosebumps crawling on my nape.

“It’s just a kiss. Newton’s Third Law of Motion – Law of Interaction. Friction as well.” I answered confidently.

“I don’t care about those laws of motion because all I care is about us.” He moved closer , hugging me tight. 

He slowly said, “I am not gay, Ata. Trust me.”

In that moment, I could feel his honesty even his sincerity. Should I believe in him? What if he’s gay? What if he’s not going to stay?

I untangled his hands and faced him.

“Do you still communicate with him?” 

“Yes.”

“See?”

“But…it’s only for business. Remember,  we started as friends! You know what, this is not going anywhere!"

"Like us, we're not going anywhere Red."

"Don't do this to me. Please."

"Get off your hands."

"I love you. Look at me, you love me too. I can feel it. If you want space, I'll give it to you but please give me a chance to prove that I love you."

As tears were falling from his eyes, begging for me to stay, all I managed to say is

" You're the biggest regret in my life.”

He started to walk away until all I could see was darkness.

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After three years…

“Yes, Casey. I’ll be there in 10 minutes.”

For the past three years, wala akong ginawa kundi magtrabaho hanggang nakapagpatayo na rin ako ng sarili kong psychiatric clinic sa Manila. After that incident with Metis, I decided to quit, withdraw my partnership and end the friendship. May mga araw na bigla ko siyang naalala pero masakit pa noon kaya kailanman hindi ko sinagot mga tawag o text niya sa akin. Kapag pumupunta siya sa condo ko, hindi ko binubuksan ang pinto hanggang sa tuluyang lumipat na ako sa ibang condo at nagpasyang ipagpatuloy ang aking pangarap na magkaroon ng sariling clinic. Mahirap magsimula ulit ngunit sa tulong ng aking mga kaibigan at pamilya, nagtagumpay ako at isa na ako sa mga pinakakilalang doctor sa Pilipinas. Every Sunday, I am the resident psychologist of a TV Series in KRF, the no. 1 TV network in the country. They get to ask my opinions about the behavior of the housemates and explain its causes. Last month, I was ranked 8^th in the most influential women of the country. Dahil na rin siguro ito sa mga napublish ko na researches and books about the mind and seminars that I conducted around the world. I am also the new ambassadress of Women Empowerment and my advocacy is to educate and empower women, who are homeless, with the skills and confidence necessary to secure a job and create a healthy lifestyle.

But with all those years, I had no time to love. They say that you’ll only realize the worth of a person if he is gone and that’s exactly how I felt after Red walked away from my life. I tried to look for him and even went to his hotel restaurant a week after our fight but he did not show up. He changed his numbers and deactivated his social media accounts.  I guessed he was too upset. I deserved it.  I should have never stopped, I should have fought for us, I should have told him what I feel but I did not. There and then, I decided to forget him and move on. Now, I have forgotten how to love. But come to think of it, I still think about him. How is he?

-----RED’S POV-------------

“How dare you Red?! Sa dinami dami talaga ng ipagpapapalit mo sa akin, sa kapatid ko pa! Hayop ka! Go to hell!”

“Ate, sorry. Hindi ko sinasadya, I love him. Ate, patawarin mo ako. “I’m begging you.” Dali-daling habol ni Cheska ang kapatid niyang si Bridget habang hawak hawak ang blanket na nakatakip sa 

kanyang hubad na katawan.

“Hey Cheska. Come back here babe!”

“Ate, I really tried suppressing my feelings but the more I hide, the more I’ve fallen for him. We love each other and he said he’ll marry me. I’m really sorry…” Narinig kong sabi ni Cheska sabay hagulgol. Bakit ba ang dami daming drama ng mga babae? I’m sick of this drama bullshit.

“Talaga sinabi niyang pakakasalan ka niya? Ano pa, na gusto niyang magkaroon ng tatlong anak tapos titira kayo doon sa hometown niya sa Batangas? Sabay kayong manonood ng sunset at magtatampisaw sa dagat habang nakatunghay ang buwan? My God! Those are his favorite lines! Sinabi niya din iyan sa akin at sa mga iba pang babae niya Cheska!”

“ Totoong tao siya ate, he won’t lie to me!”

“Wake up! Hindi ka niya mahal. Gusto ka lang niyang maging laruan! Halika na, come with me dahil kung hindi , hindi talaga kita mapapatawad!”

“No, I’ll stay!”  

Drama you ask? Alright, let's add gas to the fire;

“Ang tanong Cheska, mahal ba kita?” sabay ngisi ko sa kanya.

Gulat na tumingin sa akin ang dalawa.

“I never loved you.”

“Ano’ng sinabi mo?”

“You heard me. I do not love you. You are just one of my toys. You and your sister, as a matter of fact. But your performance is way hotter than her so why not come back to my room and let’s do it again. Let’s make it 6 rounds tonight. ”

Bago ko pa mahawakan si Cheska, magkapatid na sampal ang dumapo sa aking mukha.

“Napakasama mo Red! Wala kang kwentang mahalin! Katawan ko lang pala ang habol mo…”

“Cheska, let’s go. Get up! And you asshole, you’ll pay for this.”

This is getting fun.

Mabilisang kinuha ni Bridget ang mga nagkalat na damit ni Cheska sa sofa.

“Her red panty is on my bed, FYI.” I laughed hard. It’s funny how things are turning out. Women are fools. Proven and tested.

“You’ll pay for this.” Nanginginig na turan ni Bridget at biglang umihip ang malakas na hangin.

"How much?" I teasingly replied. 

“Isinusumpa ko na sa susunod na magmamahal ka, may mamatay na isa sa inyo.”

They walked out and I’ve realized that I was not laughing anymore.

-----------------ATA’s POV-------------

“Yes, Doc. Nandoon na po sila sa loob ng office.”

“Thank you Casey.” Matagal ko ng secretary si Casey. Maaasahan talaga siya kahit na bata pa. May new clients pala ako ngayon and I’ve heard that they are related to the owner of KRF. I wonder.

“Good morning .”

“Good morning Doc. I’m Bridget and this is my younger sister, Cheska.”

“Nice to meet you. Have a sit please. What can I do for you?”

“See my sister here has been acting weird for the past few days. She does not want to eat. She does not go out from her room. She’s just lying on her bed and staring at her ceiling. We tried talking to her but she won’t speak. And lately, narinig ko siyang nagsasalita nang mag-isa. Kahapon, nakita ko siyang may hawak na gunting at ginugupitan ang kanyang buhok. Look at her, that’s her doing.”

Ang color golden blonde na buhok ni Cheska ay pakalbo na sa bandang kanan. Sa kaliwa, hindi pantay pantay ang pagkakagupit na para bang may galit siya sa kanyang buhok. She’s so young, probably in her early 20’s.

“Do you know why she’s doing this?”

“Yes. It’s because of love.”

“What do you mean?”

“Red…” Cheska suddenly jumped out from her seat. “Red………..red…………”

“Cheska, stop….Red is gone.”

“Red?”  I asked. I moved towards them.

 “Red…red…”

“He’s not coming back, come on, sit here. Good girl. That’s my girl.” I helped Bridget calm down her sister. 

“Why does she keep on saying that?”

“He is the guy who broke my sister’s heart after breaking mine.”

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