Dancing With Fire (TO BE PUBLISHED)
Kabanata 22
Kabanata 22
IT'S TIRING AND painful. Life is full of challenges—it can either break you or make you. But one thing is certain: some lessons are learned the hard way.
I can't change the past, but I can change the present and my future. My life is up to me now, and how I choose to live it.
"Hello, Ma." I was smiling as I sat in front of my real mother's tomb.
I lit two white candles and placed fresh flowers. Lanta na kasi iyong inilagay ko no'ng isang araw.
"Hi, Ma, how are you? Ako, as usual, busy, pero kinakaya ko naman. Si Miggy, maayos naman ang lagay. Iiwan ko po muna kay Tita Asunta si Migs ngayon dahil may importante akong kliyenteng kikitain. Babiyahe rin po muna ako sa Casa Amara, sa probinsya namin nila Tatay at bibisita rin sa puntod niya.
"I love you, Ma. I promise to keep my head up and continue fighting. Kahit mahirap, kakayanin ko para sa sarili ko at sa kapatid ko. I wish and pray Tatay and you will guide us both. Sana po i-guide n'yo kaming maging maayos ang buhay at maging successful," I whispered.
I smiled, touched her tomb once more, uttered a brief prayer, and said goodbye.
Pag-uwi ko sa bahay namin, naabutan ko si Miggy sa tapat ng piano, may bagong piyesa na naman siyang kinakabisa. Each day, mas gumagaling siya nang gumagaling.
He just didn't excel musically. I can notice him taking an interest in what I do as an engineer.
"Engineer Flores," ani ng teacher niya pagkakita sa 'kin.
I smiled and nodded.
"It's Mendez," I corrected softly.
He looked surprised but nodded.
"Oh, you were known as a Flores. I didn't know you had a different surname," he said, standing to greet me.
"Hmm, they're just used to it. My family in the same field are the Flores, kaya no'ng nagtrabaho na rin ako, gano'n ang tawag sa akin. I corrected them, but nakasanayan siguro nila kaya hinayaan ko na."
"I see," he said, offering his hand. "Nice meeting you again, Engineer. Habang tumatagal, mas lalo kang gumaganda."
"Thank you! I've been busy." I shook his hand. "How's my brother?"
Nang nilingon ko si Miggy ay seryoso na ang tingin niya.
"He's doing great," the teacher said. "Uhm, busy ka ba mamaya?"
I didn't answer, only smiled at my brother, whose eyes narrowed at me. I chuckled when his sharp gaze shifted from me to his teacher, who was clearly taking an interest in me.
"Hi, Migs!" I cheered, sitting beside him and kissing his cheek.
"Huwag mong pansinin, Ate," he muttered quietly as I hugged him.
"What? Why?"
"You and your boys," he grimaced. Natawa ako.
"Engineer?"
"Oh, hmm?" I turned to the teacher, who shyly scratched his neck. "Uh, I just wanted to ask if I could invite you to dine?"
"For?" I tilted my head.
He licked his lip. "Just... just eat? We can bring Miggy if you like—"
"I'm not interested, Sir," Miggy suddenly said, pouting before turning back to the piano. I discreetly pinched his side, making him gasp.
"Ate!" he hissed.
"Oh, well, ikaw na lang?" Mr. Roque turned to me.
"I'm sorry, butI'm busy." I smiled kindly. "I have a project later, and I don't usually dine out unless it's for business."
His lips parted slightly.
"Gano'n ba?" He sighed, looking disappointed.
"I apologize, Mr. Roque," I said, standing and ruffling Miggy's hair, earning another complaint from him.
"Ate..." he called.
"You can continue your lesson," I told him. "Migs, I'll just fix my baggage."
"Alright." His dark eyes locked on mine. "Kuya Marco will take you there?"
"Yes." I kissed his forehead. "Balikan kita mamaya."
I shifted my gaze to his teacher, nodded formally, then turned my back and went upstairs to pack my things.
While fixing my baggage, I couldn't focus. My phone kept ringing. Tawag iyon mula sa secretary at sa team.
"Bukas pa po kami tutuloy do'n, Engineer," Jade, my secretary, said.
"Alright, my driver will bring you there with the team. Mauuna na ako kasi kailangan kong kitain ang kliyente bukas."
"Sige, Ma'am. Saan po pala kami mag-stay?"
"For a while, the client booked you all rooms in Casa Amara," I said.
"Ikaw, Ma'am?"
"I have a house there. Don't worry about me."
Saglit pa kaming nag-usap hanggang sa natapos at nagpatuloy ako sa pag-impake. However, exhaustion won kaya ang ending, dinalaw ako ng antok at nakatulog.
Nagising ako sa tunog ng phone ko at kaagad napaupo. Humihikab pa akong sumagot.
"Hello?"
"Hi, Sera!" I smiled when I heard the voice. "Excited na akong umuwi ka dito!"
"See you soon, Kikay!" I grinned. "I'll treat you, I promise!"
"Oo naman, 'no! Sumakses ka na! Konsensya mo na lang kung hindi mo ako ililibre!"
I cackled, shifting my gaze, and stopped when I saw Miggy sitting on the sofa, engrossed in reading a book.
"OA mo talaga! Hindi naman! Nagtrabaho lang!" I chuckled. "Ngayong gabi ako babyahe d'yan. Baka madaling-araw ako makarating. Bukas may kailangan lang akong kitaing kliyente, tapos girl time na!"
"Oo naman! Excited na ako! Imagine? Halos tatlong taon tayong hindi nagkikita, Sera! Nakakaloka ka!"
"Sus, saglit lang 'yon!" I laughed.
"E 'di wow, sana all sa three years successful!" she squealed. I laughed harder.
"Sige na, nakatulog kasi ako. Aayusin ko lang gamit ko para makaalis mamaya. Usap tayo bukas, ha?"
"Oo naman! Ingat, Sera! I miss you so much! Mwuah!" She even made kissing sounds.
I chuckled, my heart thumping with happiness.
"I miss you, too, Kikay! See you!"
Pagbaba ko ng phone, napansin kong ibinaba ni Migs ang librong binabasa at nakatingin na sa akin.
"What?" I pouted. "Hindi ka pa kumain, 'no?"
"I did, Ate," he said. "Tatawagin sana kita para kumain kaso tulog ka, kaya dito muna ako."
"Hmm, sige, bababa ako," I said.
Habang nando'n siya'y binalikan ko ang bagahe ko. I could notice him looking so I turned and looked at him.
"Come on, Migs. What is it?" I asked, staring back.
He sighed before he spoke. "Will you be alright?"
"Huh? Of course, why not?" I asked.
"You might see him there," he said.
Natigilan ako, tumikhim at nagtupi ng dami para ipasok sa maleta.
"So?" I asked. "Matagal na iyon, Migs. Saka, impossible. I'll only go there for a project."
"Paano pag nagkita kayo?"
"Eh 'di magkita." I sighed. "Saka impossible talaga. Kliyente ko lang naman ang kikitain, wala na."
He eyed me, then slowly nodded.
"I can come with you."
"Kaya ko, Migs," alo ko. "Saka may pasok ka, 'di ba? Hayaan mo, sa bakasyon mo babalik tayo para mabisita mo rin si Tatay."
Nagdalawang-isip pa siya pero alam naman naming wala na siyang magagawa at 'di siya puwedeng um-absent.
"Alright. Send me a picture, Ateng," he said.
"I will."
Tita Asunta chose to stay in our house while I was gone to look after Miggy. Marco drove me, and that's when I learned he was also part of the project.
"Really?" My smile widened.
"Hmm!" He winked. "Pero mauuna kayo. May kailangan pa kasi akong asikasuhin. I'll be there after a week."
I nodded, smiling as I looked out the window.
I was excited to be back, but not too much. Kinakabahan din ako sa kung anong mangyayari. Pero kagaya ng sabi ko, mukhang impossible. Hindi na kami magkikitang muli.
I highly doubted it.
It was late at night when we reached the place. I was yawning as I entered the house. Nakasunod si Marco bitbit ang bagahe ko.
"Will you be alright here?" he asked, his eyes roaming around the dusty, dirty house.
"Hmm," I hummed, staring at the place.
"You can't sleep here, Sera," aniya kaya nilingon ko na.
"I can clean," I said. "Saka buong buhay ko dito ako nakatira. I can manage."
"Even just for tonight," he insisted. "You had an early meeting earlier, tapos ang haba ng biyahe. You can't possibly clean this and sleep early."
Tatanggi na sana ako pero bigla akong napabahing at natakpan ang bibig.
Marco laughed. I grimaced and faced him.
"Okay, fine. What do you suggest? I can't stay in your house kasi may biyahe kang pa-Maynila, 'di ba?"
"You can," he said. "Nandoon pa rin naman ang maids."
"Ayaw ko." I sighed, pulling another bag outside. "Natatakot ako sa mansyon n'yo. Masyadong malaki, baka may multo."
Natawa siya.
"Tapos dito, 'di ka natatakot? Eh, ilang taong walang tao rito."
"I grew up in this house, Marco. Ang multo ang matakot sa 'kin!" Natatawa ko pang sinabi.
I looked around, sighing. It's been a while since I've been here. Medyo malaki na rin ang pinagkaiba sa noon. Lumipat na ang iba dahil under development ang parteng ito. Baka asikasuhin ko na rin ang mga naiwang gamit.
"E 'di, ihahatid kita sa hotel," he said.
"Masyadong mahal, alam mo na." I shrugged.
"Ang arte ni Serang," he teased, pushing me lightly. I gasped and smacked him.
"Close ba tayo, huh?" I rolled my eyes.
He laughed again, about to tease me more, when my phone rang.
I straightened and quickly answered.
"Hello—"
"Bakit mo ako iniwan, Sera?!" The dramatic voice made me chuckle.
"Ano na naman, Intoy?" I hissed.
Marco laughed. "Si Intoy? Yieee..." he teased, kaya inirapan ko na't sinipa siya.
"Maghanap ka na lang ng hotel!" I hissed quietly. Marco laughed harder, grabbing my luggage to return it to his car.
"Bakit mo ako iniwan mag-isa?" Intoy whined.
I rolled my eyes, chuckling as I locked the house.
"Busy ako," I said. "Saka may project ako, 'di ba?"
"E, bakit ka aalis? Paano na ako dito? Paano na ang Sta. Monica kung wala ang magandang dilag kagaya mo?"
I burst out laughing, shaking my head.
"Manahimik ka nga d'yan, Intoy. Bakit hindi ka na lang mag-ronda? Baka may mga batang palaboy-laboy na naman sa gabi!"
"Day off ko ngayon, Sera. Ang daya naman, kala ko ba magde-date tayo!" he exclaimed.
"Asa!" I smirked.
"Daya naman, oh!"
"Sus, tama na nga. Mag-ronda ka d'yan sa barangay! Aba, kaya maraming batang gala kasi cellphone ka nang cellphone!"
"Eh, sa madaya ka, eh! Akala ko ba magde-date—"
"Hoy, kailan ako um-oo?"
"Sa imagination ko! Basta, bahala ka, hindi kita titigilan kapag hindi mo ako hahayaang makipag-date—"
"Oo na, oo na!" I cut him off. "Isang beses lang, huh, Intoy? Ang kulit-kulit mo, sinasabi ko sa 'yo."
"Oo nga! Date, huh? Sera?"
"Oo, isang beses na date lang. Kapag makulit ka pa rin, ihahagis ko 'yang batuta mo sa 'yo," I hissed.
"Yehey!" he cheered. I chuckled, then froze when I heard rustling from the plants at the side of the house.
I immediately turned my phone off, glancing at Marco, who was busy fixing the luggage before walking toward the plants.
"Sino 'yan?" tanong ko't lumapit do'n. Akmang aabutin ko ang halaman nang mapasigaw ako sa gulat nang may lalaking tumakbo mula sa pagkakatago.
He was pulling his cap down, nasagi pa niya si Marco na gulat din at umakma akong hahabol pero kumaripas siya ng takbo paalis.
My forehead creased.
What the hell was that?
"Ano 'yon?" I asked in confusion as I watch the tall man running like crazy, natipalok pa siya at nakita ko pa ang paglapit ng isang traysikel sa kanya na mabilis niyang sinakyan bago humarurot paalis.
"M-Magnanakaw?" I murmured.
"We're not sure but that's another reason you shouldn't stay here. Sleep in a hotel, Sera." Marco frowned, grabbed my arm, and ushered me back into the car.
That night, I stayed at Casa Amara Resort to rest. Umalis din si Marco pa-Maynila kaya ako lang mag-isip.
I should be resting pero nakatulog kasi akong mahaba kanina habang nasa biyahe kaya 'di na ako dinadalaw ngayon. Nag-order na lang ako ng pagkain at wine, 'di pa pala ako naghahapunan.
I was brushing my hair when the doorbell rang.
I stood, adjusted my robe, and peeked outside. There was a tall man with a food cart. Nakatungo siya at 'di makita ang mukha dahil sa mask.
"Hi, 'yan ba ang order?" I asked.
He nodded slowly, not even meeting my eyes. 'Di ko na lang pinansin at napasulyap sa cart, nagtaka at marami iyon compared sa order ko.
"Kaunti lang ang order ko, Sir. Just steak and a bottle of wine," I said.
He didn't answer. Instead, he scribbled something on a notepad and handed it to me.
FREE
Oh... maybe he can't speak?
I tried to look at him again, but he turned away.
"Oh, wow, thanks! Papasok na lang, Sir," I said, opening the door.
Nauna ako papasok at sumunod siya, inilalagay ang pagkain sa table. Sumunod akong tahimik, pinagmamasdan siya. He's tall with a lean and athletic frame. He looked...
I stopped, my heart pounding as I noticed something familiar in his stance.
"E-Excuse me—" I began, but my phone rang. Dagli kong hinagilap ang phone at sinagot iyon.
"Hello?"
"Ma'am, nand'yan na raw po sa inyo si Engr. Silvano," Jade said.
"Napaaga ba ang flight? Tell him to go to Casa Amara. I already booked the team here. I'll inform them about the early arrival."
"Sige, Ma'am," she replied.
I nodded, dropped the call, and immediately looked back at the man inside my room—only to be disappointed. He was gone.
Humabol pa ako pero wala na akong naabutan pagkalabas. I sighed and shook my head as I closed it again.
You must be crazy, Sera.
The doorbell rang again after a while. I opened it quickly, hoping it was the same man, but my shoulders slumped when I saw another tall man.
"Yes?" I asked, studying his face. He resembled someone I couldn't place.
"Hi, Ma'am. For you." He handed me a bouquet. I accepted it in confusion.
"Kanino galing?"
"From the management, Ma'am. Casa Amara is pleased to have you as a guest."
"M-Me?" I pointed to myself.
"Yes," he confirmed.
"And you are?"
"Warren, Ma'am." He smiled. "Bellboy po."
"Oh..." I nodded and smiled faintly. "Thanks, Warren."
That was a strange night for me.
The next morning, I hurried downstairs to the restaurant to meet my clients. Napahaba ang tulog ko sa wine at ngayon, nagmamadali ako!
Nakakahiya sa kliyente ko!
I rushed over, fixing my dress and taming my messy hair as I carried my laptop towards her.
"I'm sorry, I'm late!" I panted.
She stood and immediately smiled.
"Oh my God, Sera! You're here!" Lars exclaimed. I smiled as she hugged me, niyakap ko siya pabalik.
"Nice seeing you again, Lars! Mas lalo kang gumaganda! Blooming!" I beamed.
"You've become prettier!" she exclaimed, her black eyes sparkling. I glanced beside her and saw another pretty woman. Nag-ngitian kami.
"Oh, Sera. This is Winter." The beautiful girl stood to greet me.
"Win, this is Engr. Flores, 'yong kinukwento ko," Lars said.
"Hi, Engineer! You're so pretty!" Winter cheered.
I smiled, kissed her cheek, and shook her hand.
"You're beautiful, too, both of you!" I said, glancing at Lars, who was grinning. "It's nice meeting you."
Naupo kami at nagbatian. I noticed Winter looking at me with a soft smile.
"She's kinda young, hmm..." Winter teased. "May boyfriend ka na ba, Engr.? May kilala ako! Pinsan ng asawa ko, ilang years nang single at tuyot—"
"I really don't have time for love life now," putol ko, nahihiya at natatawa. "And you can just call me Sera. I'm Serafine Flores Mendez."
"Oh, but why are they calling you Engr. Flores?"
"Nakasanayan lang. My family on my mother's side are engineers and architects kaya..." I smiled.
"Wow! Ang galing! Lars here is a nurse, you're an engineer, and ako... hmm? Model?" She paused, thinking. "Sayang, wala rito si Zire! Makulit 'yon!" she babbled, then suddenly shut her lips when she realized she was talking nonstop.
Natawa si Lars.
"Ah... sorry, madaldal lang," Winter said, pretending to zip her mouth.
"It's alright. No worries! Kahit ako maingay kapag kalauan ay komportable na. I like people like you. Ang awkward kasi kapag masyadong seryoso ang meeting, 'no? Nakakapressure. I like it more when we're just talking like this." Inilahad ko kami, 'di makakailang magaan ang loob sa kanila.
"That's great!" Winter beamed. "Pag-usapan na natin ang project bago pa ako maligaw ng landas at tanungin ka kung ilang taon ka nang tuyot," she teased.
My eyes widened, my cheeks flushing red.
Lars burst out laughing and pinched Winter, who only giggled.
"Win, yari ka sa asawa mo," Lars teased.
"Sus, gusto nga no'n nadidiligan! Pitikin ko pa lieutenant niya—"
"Hoy!" They both erupted in laughter, and I couldn't help but laugh too, shaking my head, feeling the comfort of their playful banters.
"Baka nahahawaan na natin ng kalokohan si Sera!" ani Lars na tinuro pa ako kaya umiling ulit.
"Sus, kunwari lang 'yan. Baka camera shy din kasi disyerto," Winter teased again.
'Di matigil ang tawanan naming tatlo na sumakit na ang tiyan ko sa banat ni Winter. She reminded me of some of my friends before, sina Sir Roff at Trisha. Madaldal din at lowkey bastos.
"Sorry to disturb you, ladies." I froze when I heard that voice, my heartbeat spiking like it recognized who it was from.
"Oh, you're here!" Lars smiled.
My heart thumped harder; I could feel it in my throat as the chair beside me moved.
My mouth parted slightly when I saw him sit down, and I couldn't help but become hyperaware of him. His movement. His scent. Him.
He shifted his gaze toward me, and when our eyes locked, the fire I thought was gone returned quietly, as if it had been waiting all along.
"Engineer Mendez," he acknowledged, his sharp eyes staring at me coldly.
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