Barakuda: A Love Untold (Chapter VI)

 “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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Who is this Red guy?

Siya kaya si Red na minahal ako pero sinaktan ko lang? Siya ba si Red na nagligtas sa akin? Siya ba si Red na nangulit at nagpatawa sa akin? Siya ba iyong Red na pinaiyak ko at iniwan na lang basta basta? Siya ba iyong Red na hanggang ngayon ay mahal ko pa?

“Do you mind telling me the complete name of Red?”

“Sure.”

 “He is Red Hiro Zaavedra.”

Is fate kidding me? Why does it have to be him this time? Red, what did you do with this woman? these women? Red, what happened to you?

“Doc, do you know him?”

“…..no.”

I lied. I chose to lie.

“ I bet you will never want to meet him, Doc. He’s the worst man anyone could ever meet.”

After our session, it felt like my soul was sucked. 

Sa tatlong taon na nakalipas, marami na ring palang nangyari sa buhay niya. Iyong hotel and restaurant niya sa Batangas ay nabankrupt daw dahil nagtanggal ng shares ang ibang stockholders. Dahil doon, napilitan siyang isara iyon. At the same time, naghiwalay ang parents niya na kapwa mga doctor. His mother found a new husband and went abroad to live anew. His father was left in their home still fixing his broken heart with bottles of liquor. Dahil na rin si Red lang ang walang trabaho sa kanilang limang magkakapatid, umuwi siya sa bahay nila para alagaan ang ama. His stay there was like hell because his father saw him as a failure. As the only son, his father always wanted him to be a surgeon like him. However, Red took the road less taken and pursued his dreams to be a businessman. He succeeded but with the recent turn of events, his father had never been so disappointed and mad. He regretted having a weak and stupid son.

When it rains, it pours. And one day, Red found his father swimming in blood. What’s worse? His own family blamed him for their father’s death. His mother did not come for the funeral and after that, his siblings went on to their own separate lives.

Red had nothing to lose. He had no friends, and drugs and women became his routine. And when he was about to jump off to a moving train, it was then that Kathe saved him. Kathe healed him. Kathe nursed him back to life. She then brought him abroad and when they came back, Red has become a new person. But nobody knows what happened to Kathe and their relationship. It’s just that when he came back, he was carrying the title ‘Most Eligible Bachelor’  and the owner of Memento Vivere, an empire of 5-star hotel restaurants in the country. He got his dreams back but along with these, women became his past time and Cheska and Bridget were just two of his many pleasures. Unfortunately, Cheska was not able to get through the heartbreak and now, she has to undergo psychotherapy sessions with me.

After our first meeting, I could no longer handle the revelations. I decided to drive to Nasugbu, Batangas where my memories with him are still pure and pristine.

-------------RED’S POV-------------

“I Miss you.”

Tuwing may nasasaktan akong babae, lagi na lang akong dinadala ng mg paa ko dito. It’s been three years pero bakit hindi ko pa rin siya kayang kalimutan? Lagi ko siyang sinusubaybayan sa mga appearances niya sa TV and I must say, she looks stunning. Napakaprofessional niya, too formal na para bang hindi na siya iyong nakilala kong baliw noon. Iyong babaeng kumakain ng dinuguan, mahilig maggym pero kain naman ng kain ng ice cream and cholesterol-rich foods. Siya iyong babaeng maganda pero walang arte, siya iyong kayang magsurvive ng mag-isa dahil napakaindependent at free-spirited. She’s the woman I wanted to marry.

I want to see her personally but I am too afraid. And what will we talk about? The past? Nakakahiya ang mga nangyari sa akin. Ayaw kong makita sa mga mata niya ang pagkamuhi at pagkarindi.

In the near distance, I saw a women walking along the shore. She’s walking against the backdrop of the sea being darkened by dusk, running her fingers through her wind-tossed hair . Could it be her?

I walked toward the sea, careful timid steps.

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Naupo si Ata sa dalampasigan habang inaantay ang paglubog ng araw. Nagkulay pula ang langit habang namaalam ang Haring Araw. Abang nagmumuni-muni siya tungkol sa mga kwento ni Red nang may nanggambala sa kanyang katahimikan.

“Hello.”

Napatingin si Ata sa isang nakangiting binata na nakatayo sa tabi niya. May katangkaran ito at nakasuot ng blue shirt at cargo shorts. Medyo gwapo ang binata pero imbes na ngumiti ay pagkainis ang naramdaman ni Ata. Ayaw kasi niyang may istorbo pag nag-isp siya. Mas lalo siyang nainis nang walang pasabing umupo ang binata sa tabi niya.

“Alone?”

“Who told you to sit beside me?” pagkairita ni Ata.

“Suplada. Sa iyo ba?”

“Close ba tayo?”

“Ah hindi,” mahinang sagot ng lalaki. “Naghahanap kasi ako ng makakausap at napansin kita.”

“You approached the wrong person.” Agad na tumayo si Ata at lalakad nang palayo sa lalaki.

“Wait, teka lang.!”

She turned around.  “I don’t wanna talk with you.”

“Eto naman kahit samahan mo lang ako saglit. Kahit di tayo mag-usap basta panoorin na lang natin ang sunset,” hiling nito.

“No.”

“Please, mag-isa lang din kasi ako ditto. Kadarating ko lang”

“I have to go.”

“Please? I will shut up. Just watch the sunset with me.”

Ito naman talaga ang hinhintay ni Ata, ang mapanood ang sunset.

“You promise to shut up?”

“Yes boss!” the man answered and grinned like a kid.

Matagal silang namalagi sa may dalampasigan hanggang sa unti-unting nang nagdilim at nagpakita ang mga tala sa kalangitan. Ramdam ni Ata na paminsan-minsang nakatitig sa kanya ang kasama niyang binata pero hindi lang siya nagpahalata ditto. Sa katagalan ay nawalan na ng kaunti ang kanyang pagkainis sa binata. Nang ibaling niya ang tingin sa likod, parang may nagmamasid sa  kanila.

“May problema ba?” tanong ng binata.

“Ah wala.Tayo na.”

Muling tiningnan ulit ito ni Ata pero ang nakita niya na lang ay ang anino ng isang lalaking laglag ang mga balikat.