MAAGA silang umalis nang umagang iyon. They were heading to Manila at kasalukuyang nasa expressway. She was expecting them to turn right when they reached the intersection going Manila International Airport but instead they turned the other way around. Sa pagkalito niya ay hindi sila sa airport huminto kundi sa isang kilalang private hospital sa Maynila.
"What are we doing here?" Takang tanong niya rito nang makababa sila ng sasakyan sa basement parking.
"We're riding the chopper." Simpleng sagot nito habang ibinababa ang mga maleta sa likod ng sasakyan.
"A chopper?" Naguguluhang tanong niya rito. She thought they will be riding a plane to Puerto Galera then ride a boat to Isla Azul.
"Why? Hindi ka pa ba nakasakay ng chopper before?" He asked amused when he saw her face. "Well, yeah. Not everyone gets to ride in it. But don't be scared, this is more fun than riding a plane."
"No. I mean, yes hindi pa ako nakakasakay. But I am confused I thought--" Pinutol nito ang sasabihin niya na tila alam na nito ang nasa isip ng dalaga.
"We need to be there ASAP. I hate waiting Lilac. Besides, maraming tao sa airport. I don't want to attract attention. Let's go." Hinila nito ang mga maleta at pumasok sa elevator sa basement. Limang palapag ang ospital. Bumaba sila sa huling palapag. Sinusundan niya lamang sa paglakad ang lalaki. Huminto ito sa tapat ng pinto at nag-warning knock saka nito binuksan iyon.
Kung tama ang hinala niya ay opisina ito ng CEO ayon sa nakasulat sa labas ng pinto.
Isang matangkad na lalaki ang nag-angat ng tingin mula sa kinauupuan nitong desk kung saan nakalapag ang ilang medical books at files. Nagtanggal ito ng salamin sa mata bago tumayo.
"Hey." Bati nito sa binatang kasama niya. Huminto si Seph sa tapat nito.
"Long time no see." Bati ni Seph sa kausap. Siya ay nanatiling nagmamasid lamang sa dalawa. Isang doktor ang nasa harap nila ngayon base sa suot nitong puting blazer. Matangkad ito katulad ni Joseph. Ang buhok nito ay maayos at clean cut na kabaligtaran naman ng sa aktor which was always rugged. Matangos din ang ilong nito and he had this attractive friendly eyes na tila laging kalmante at nakangiti. He reminded her of someone she knew. Jericho Rosales! Damn! Lahat na yata ng kagwapuhan ay sinalo nang dalawang lalaki sa kanyang harapan.
Tinapik nito ang balikat ni Joseph. "Yeah. 'Been a long time. How's my prodigal little brother doing? Had enough playing outside?" Nakangiti nitong tanong sa binata.
"And how's my loyal, always so dependable responsible big brother?" Ganting tanong nito sa kausap.
They both laughed at each other. Sa pakiwari ba niya ay lumiwanag ang buong opisina. "Hindi ka na talaga nagbago." Natatawang sabi nito.
"At nagsalita ang magaling. I'm your brother. What do you expect?" Tumawa ring ganti ni Joseph.
Kung gayon ay kapatid pala ni Joseph ito.
"So, you finally had a change of heart huh? You're going back to Isla." Tanong nito kay Joseph na umupo sa harap ng desk at pinagtiklop ang dalawang braso.
"Just answering our father's call. I still care for the family's business anyway. Stop making me the bad guy here."
"Good decision. You know dad needs you Joseph. He's not getting any younger."
Nagkibit lamang ng balikat ang binata.
"Yeah right. He is still as strong as a bull Nat." Sagot nito sa kapatid.
Noon lamang siya napagtuunan ng pansin ng kausap na doktor.
"Well, well, well, my brother doesn't change one bit." Nakangiting tingin nito sa kanya. "Hi." Inilahad nito ang kamay sa kanya.
Napakunot ang noo niya sa tinuran nito subali't hindi niya ipinahalata iyon.
Inabot niya ang kamay rito. "Hello. I'm Lilac. His assistant." Gusto sana niyang taasan ng kilay ang doktor. Mukhang iniisip pa nitong babae siya ng kapatid.
"Oh. Sorry." Hingi nito ng paumanhin. "I didn't think he'll bring his assistant there. He never used to." Pinukol nito ng tingin ang nakababatang kapatid.
"Mind your own business Nat." Iritableng sagot nito sa kuya.
"Did I hit home?" Nakangisi nitong wika sa binata.
"Is the chopper ready?" Joseph said instead. "We've got to get going before you try to insinuate ridiculous ideas into my PA's head."
"Yep. Waiting for you boss."
Bumaba ang tingin ni Joseph sa kamay nitong hindi pa bumibitaw sa kanya. Then he released her hand.
"Nice to meet you Lilac. You have a beautiful name." He smiled at her.
He turned and grabbed her hand. "Let's go Lilac." At hinila na siya ni Joseph palabas. Naiiling na naiwan ang binatang doktor.
IN just two hours ay nakarating sila sa Isla Azul sakay ng helicopter. Huminto ito sa helipad ng isang malaking hotel. Kung hindi siya nagkakamali ay ito ang Blue Coral Hotels. Sa magazine at pamphlets niya lamang nakikita ang hotel na ito. Ngayon ay narito siya at nakatapak mismo rito. Sino kaya si Joseph para bigyan ng ganito kaespesyal na treatment? At ang kuya nito, ito nga ba ang CEO ng ospital na iyon? Ganoon ba kayaman ang pamilya nito? She's got no idea. Subali't paanong ang mga ito ang nagmamay-ari ng ospital? Leandro ang apelyido ni Joseph at tiyak na Leandro rin ang kapatid nito. Kung tama ang naaalala niya ay Garcia ang ang pamilyang nagmamay-ari ng ospital at maging ang hotel na ito. She was lost in deep thought. Pagbaba nila ay sinalubong sila ng dalawang staff at ang sa palagay niya ay manager ng hotel na bumati sa kanila. Isang matandang lalaki ito na sa hinuha niya ay nasa fifties.
Inakbayan nito si Joseph. "It's been a while." Malapad ang ngiti ng matanda.
"Yes, Garry. How was everything?"
"Maayos naman ang lahat hijo. Natutuwa akong nandito ka ngayon bilang kahalili ng ama mo. Mukhang matatagalan pa sila sa Venice." Sagot nito sa binata.
"I was thinking the same. Or else, he would not insist on me coming here." Nagtanggal ng suot na shades ang binata.
"I know. Give them some time for themselves Joseph. Why don't you just stay here? Magulo ang buhay artista. You are needed here. Me and your father are both old." Panghihimok nito sa binata.
"You should look in the mirror Garry. Mas matikas ka pa sa mga anak mo." Biro nito sa matanda.
Humalakhak ito sa sinabi ni Joseph. "Kaya nga ba gusto kong narito ka lagi. You always make me feel so young." Tumawa rin ito sa sinabi ng matandang lalaki. Tinapik tapik ng matanda ang balikat ni Joseph.
"And who is she?" Ngiting tanong nang masulyapan siya sa likuran.
"My assistant." Lumapit siya upang kamayan ang nakaunipormeng manager.
"Hi. Please to meet you. I'm Lilac." Pagpapakilala niya.
"Hello hija. Please feel comfortable and at home here. Magsabi ka lang sa reception kung ano ang mga kailangan ninyo." Kinamayan siya nito.
Hinarap nitong muli si Joseph. "So should I get a room for her?"
"Never mind. She can stay at my unit. There are two rooms there anyway." At lumakad na ito.
Makahulugang tinignan nito ang binata na nangingiting sinundan ang nauna sa paglalakad. Siya ay sumunod na rin sa mga ito.
Sa huling palapag sila dinala nito at pumasok ng pinto. Namangha siya sa itsura ng suite. Napakalaki niyon. Maaliwalas ang loob. Hindi rin ito nalalayo sa Pariston Hotel na pinanggalingan niya sa Dubai. Ang dominant color nito ay as usual blue but in different combinations of shades and tones.
Iniwanan sila ng manager pagtapos nitong magpaalam.
"This is beautiful Joseph!" She exclaimed. "I'd never thought I'll be in the best two hotels in the world in a span of just two months!"
"You're eyes are sparkling. I'm glad you liked it." He smiled at her.
Lumakad siya patungo sa bintana at sinulyapan ang labas. Overlooking the suite were the wide blue ocean and the white beach. Hindi niya napigilan ang paghanga. "Isla Azul. The bluest sea in the world. This is a paradise. I love it Joseph."
Lumapit ito sa kanya at sa pagkabigla niya ay niyakap siya nito mula sa likod. He rested his face on her right shoulder.
Natigilan siya. Hindi niya mawari ang sensasyong gumapang sa buong katawan niya. She couldn't move. "J-Joseph."
"Don't move Lilac. Don't make the situation worse. I just want to hug you like this." His voice was husky which only made her more uncomfortable. Her heart was pounding so hard she couldn't breathe.
"Sometimes I think, you hate me Lilac. You always try to brush me off. But when I get this close to you, I can feel you melting under my arms." He smelled her on the cheeks. It gave her the goosebumps. "You smell like a baby, sweetheart."
"Please Joseph." She didn't even know what that pleading was for. She felt his breath suddenly uneven. And that hard masculine thing behind her. "Oh."
He kissed the side of her forehead tightly then slowly released her. "I should go Lilac. Even before I lose all my sanity at makalimot ako." Pinamulahan siya ng mukha sa ibig nitong sabihin.
"I'll be downstairs in the office. You can unpack and rest here. Call the reception kung ano man ang kailangan mo." Tumalikod na ito at naglakad palabas ng unit.
"O-okay." Inihatid niya ng tingin ang binata. "Joseph."
MINABUTI niyang maglakad sa dalampasigan. Maghapong abala ang lalaki at hindi niya ito nakausap mula nang umalis ito sa unit. Nagugulumihanan ang damdamin niya sa mga ipinapakita ng lalaki sa kanya. Surely, Joseph liked her sa mga ikinikilos nito. But there's this part of her that wanted to build a fortress to guard her heart. Ngunit sa tuwing lumalapit na ang lalaki ay para bang hindi na siya nakakapag-isip pa ng tama. She admitted she was attracted to him. And at some point, she felt this pain knowing he will get married to another woman. Pero itinanggi naman ito ng binata. At ngayon ay naniniwala siya rito. But what else did she not know about Joseph? Tulad ng kung ano ba ang totoong pagkatao nito. Bakit sila narito? Hindi pa iyon naipaliliwanag ng binata sa kanya. And thinking about this idea, the gap between them seemed to widen. Their status now felt like a big barrier between them. How can she be a part of his glamorous world?
Nasa ganoon siyang pagmumuni-muni nang may magsalita sa likod niya.
"I've been looking for you. It's late." Boses iyon ni Joseph.
"Nagpahangin lang ako dito sa labas." Nakatingin siya sa malawak na karagatan.
Tumabi ito sa kanya. "Baka imbes na hangin ang malanghap mo dito, hamog na ang makuha mo. It's eleven o'clock already." Hinawakan nito ang kaliwang kamay niya at pinisil iyon.
Tinignan niya ang lalaki. "Joseph, why are you doing this?"
"What do you mean?" Nagsalubong ang mga kilay nito at hinarap siya.
"This playing around." She knew alam nito ang ibig niyang sabihin.
"I'm not playing around Lilac." Seryoso ang sagot nito.
"Then what is this?" She wanted to hear from him an answer.
"Lilac, I am bad at explaining. These things.." He sighed. "I myself also wonder. But I know I want you beside me. I want you to stay with me." Bumuntong hininga ito.
"Why don't we figure it both out?" He looked at her straight in the eyes. "I want to know as well." And he gazed at the black night towards the blue sea.
Tumingin din siya roon. Sa malayo, sa kawalan. Let's figure it out together. Inulit niya iyon sa isip niya. Joseph was not also sure about himself. Kung ano talaga ang nararamdaman nito para sa kanya. Will she be willing to stay beside him while he figures it out?
"Bumalik na tayo." Wika nito. At lumakad na silang muli papasok sa hotel.
THREE thirty. Iyon ang sabi ng wall clock sa cuarto niya. Nais niyang bumalik ulit sa pagtulog subalit hindi na niya magawa. "I think I need some water." Bumangon siya at pumunta sa minibar upang kumuha ng tubig.
May naaaninag siyang liwanag na mula sa living area. Lumapit siya roon. Nakita niya si Joseph na nakaupo sa sofa. Gising pa ito ng ganitong oras. May hawak itong gitara.
"It's still early Lilac. Bakit gising ka na?" Tanong nito sa kanya nang makalapit siya rito.
Hawak ang baso ng tubig ay lumapit siya rito. "It's already late Joseph. Bakit gising ka pa?"
Ngumisi ito. "Answering me with another question." Umusog ito ng upo at naglaan ng espasyo sa kaliwa. "Come, umupo ka rito. I can't sleep. So I am composing a song."
Umupo siya sa tabi nito. "You're very talented." Puri niya rito. Kunsabagay, isa nga pala itong musician.
Ngumiti ito sa kanya. "I composed some of our songs. Most were composed by Lyka. Pero lahat kami ay nagsusulat ng kanta. Even Daniel." He looked at her intently when he said 'Daniel'.
"Can I hear it?" Ito ang unang pagkakataon na madidinig niya itong kumanta.
"Hindi ko pa ito natatapos." Kinalabit nito ang gitara. She gazed at him. He started to pluck the strings. Bigla ang pagkabog ng dibdib niya ng simulan nitong tugtugin ang instrumento. The music he was playing was enchanting. Para siyang nalipat sa ibang dimension.
"I don't know what's it about 'til I met you
No, I can't keep on denying what is true
'Cause every time I see you near me
Everything around me fades
And then when I look in your eyes
I know I can't walk away
Everything now turns into questions
How am I not able to answer?
When did this started to happen?
But I know I won't be able to walk away"
He was looking at her while he played the keys. Then the music ended.
"Hanggang dito pa lang ang naisulat ko. What do you think?" Tanong nito sa kanya.
"It was beautiful." Hindi na niya makuhang tumingin sa lalaki. She felt she was suddenly lost. "What is the title?"
"Lilac." He said. Iginala nito ang mata sa kabuuan ng mukha niya. "That's the title." He touched her face and caressed her cheeks.
"W-what?" She didn't even know if he heard it. Nagbabara ang lalamunan niya.
His simple touch sent her different kinds of sensations she never imagined actually exist.
"I have always loved your eyes Lilac. Do you know that?" Unti-unting lumapit ang mukha nito sa kanya. She closed her eyes. Then she felt his lips on her eye, and then on the other.
"Your cheeks." His thumb finger was caressing her cheek. Lumipat ang mga labi nito sa pisngi niya. Hindi man niya aminin subali't gusto niya ang ginagawa nito. She could not think clearly. All she was able to think of was him.
"Joseph." Yun lang ang lumabas sa bibig niya.
"I love how you call my name, sweetheart." His breath was now fanning her face. And he kissed her. Passionately than ever. And this time she did not resist. "Kiss me, Lilac." He whispered in between kisses. She did not know how but she tried to open her mouth and move.
He cupped her nape when he felt her move. Hindi na niya namalayan ang pagtaas ng mga kamay sa dibdib ng binata.
His lips went wild inside her mouth. Wanting more. Longing. Naramdaman niya ang pagbaba ng kamay nito mula sa pisngi niya, to her neck, and then to her shoulders. At ibinaba nito ang tirante ng suot niya.
Noon lamang siya natilihinan. "Joseph, no." Kumalas siya agad mula rito.
His eyes were still showing passion and desire. "I want you Lilac." Hinawakan siya nito sa kamay at hinalikan nito iyon. Napapikit siya.
"Joseph, I can't". Tinignan niya ito. "I can't do this."
His facial expression changed to confusion, then was is pain? Pero saglit lamang iyon. "Is it because of Daniel?"
"W-wait what?" She could not get it why he had to drag Daniel in their conversation.
"Is he the reason why you are always like this Lilac?" It was now anger that she was sensing from him.
"Brian has nothing to do with any of this Joseph." Huminga siya ng malalim. "I am not any of those you had sex with after a few meetings. You don't even know your true feelings for me." She pointed out to him.
"Damn you Lilac. Hindi pa ba sapat na gusto kitang makasama? I want you here beside me. I want you with me."
Tumayo siya. Hindi humihiwalay ng tingin rito.
"That's the thing Joseph, you only want me." Mapaklang wika niya. "And I cannot take that risk." Iyon lang at lumakad na siya pabalik sa cuarto. She felt her heart was being picked by a thousand needles. Did she really have fallen in love with Joseph? She wanted to deny it pero alam niyang lolokohin lang niya ang sarili.