"We meet again, pregnant lady," sabi ni Davon at ngumiti.
Sinuklian ko ang ngiti nya at ibinalik ang paningin sa Helena Rae na ito, kung tama ako.
"Helena," tama nga ako. "Helena, this is the pregnant lady I was talking about." ani Davon. He grinned widely at Helena.
"Yes, babe." nang-iinis ang tono ng Helena at napatingin saakin. Tiningnan ko rin sya nang masama. "Excuse us, Damon. Mag-uusap lang kami." anito at ngumiti saakin nang pagkaplastik-plastik.
Tumango naman sakanya si Davon kaya tumayo ang Helena at hinatak ako palabas, agad akong napahawak sa tiyan ko. Hinili nya pa ako papasok sa elevator at palabas sa rooftop ng ospital. "Ano ba?!" pangunguna ko nang makalabas kami.
"Hello, Selena Aiah. We meet at last," anito at binigyan ako ulit ng plastik na ngiti. "Nice to meet you," anito at naglahad ng kamay. Tinitigan ko na lang ang kamay nya pero kinuha nya mismo ang kamay ko. "I'm trying to be nice here." seryosong sabi nya.
Ako naman ang nagbigay ng plastik na ngiti. Yung plastik na plastik para dama. "Well, try harder, Helena Rae." sabi ko naman. Take that, bitch.
Napahawak naman sa dibdib nya. "Ouch." sabi nya at mahinang natawa, nang-aasar. "I want us to talk formally and seriously," aniya.
"And I don't." sabi ko naman.
"Well, you have no choice but to talk to me." she cleared her throat, trying to start the formal and serious conversation she wants. "Look, I am sorry." sabi nya kaya napakunot ang noo ko. "I'm saying this to you now, I have moved on already." sabi pa nya. Ako na ang natawa sakanya.
"Talaga?" tanong ko. Tumango sya, seryoso. "Hindi halata," sabi ko, sarkastiko.
"Please stop it, I'm really serious, give me time to explain." sabi nya, halatang nagpipigil ng inis.
I sighed too. "Okay. Say whatever you have to say."
"Thanks." aniya at ngumiti, feel ko na ang pagiging sincere nya doon. "So, it stared before your first anniversary with Damon. We talked, he apologized sincerely while I was crying my heart out. You can't blame me!" aniya at tumingala, pinipigilang tumulo ang mga luha. "Damon's too precious, losing him would be like losing a game with Cupid. I lost him the day before an engagement party for us will happen." aniya pa at tumawa. Maging ako ay natawa.
Sa ngayon ay masasabi ko na naiinis parin ako sakanya pero masasabi ko rin na ramdam na ramdam ko ang sensiridad nya habang kinakausap ako, hindi ko nga lang alam kung para saan 'yung mga pang-iinis nya saakin kanina lang.
"You see, I met him while I was having my vacation on Japan. We were both college students that time. I approached him but he didn't even notice me approaching him. And I started talking to him and he did, too. Each day, after that day we met, he started opening up. How annoyed he was about a fucked up something you shouldn't know." aniya sa boses panlalaki kaya bahagya ulit akong natawa. "And he always mentioned you in his stories. I envied you back then."
"You don't have to, though." sabi ko naman. Bakit naman kaya? 'Yun kaya yung manliligaw ko palang si Davon? Pagkatapos nung nabaril sya?
"I know." she gave me a small smile. "Well, yeah. And years after we met, I started courting him. Crazy right?" aniya kaya medyo napatango ako. "We became girlfriend and boyfriend after a month of courting him. It continued for years. You two met again, after many years of us together. And I swear he never did anything like kiss me or touch me, I swear." aniya, defensive.
"Oo na," natawa ako. "Sige, tuloy." sabi ko.
"And I was really annoyed when he broke up with me, saying that he met you again, I forgot that you're the girl he always talks about and it even took many days for me to remember your name because of annoyance, I mean, too much annoyance. Nag-padala agad ako sa mga naramdaman ko, sorry." she held me hand. "But after some time, I moved on. I swear I did. I even helped in your wedding in Maldives," aniya.
"Hmm? Totoo?" tanong ko.
She nodded at me. "But I didn't show up. I also told Damon to not mention it to you, for you might think just because you might think he's cheating, which he'll never do." saad nya. Napatango naman ako. Totoo 'yun.
"I was working peacefuly when he called me. I was shocked but I still answered the call. It weirded me out when he started asking where I was, as in! Napakunot nga lang noo ko, sabihin ba naming kade-date lang daw naming kahapon, ba't daw sya nasa ospital." aniya. "He told me to come to him. And fetch him, telling me he wants to be with me."
She looked at me seriously. "That's why I'm sorry." sabi nya.
Naintindihan ko sya.
"Oo na. Ms. Rich," sabi ko at bahagyang tumawa. "Pero para saan yung pang-iinis mo kanina, ha?" tanong ko, Sya, ha. Moved on already pala ha.
"That?" she chuckled. "I love seeing people upset, you're my victim today," aniya at mahinang tumawa. "I'm really sorry for everything. I'm also sorry that Damon lost his memories. Is it a substance failure effect? Did you guys tell the doctors already? Or maybe they know now." aniya at napatingin sa malayo.
Napabuntong-hininga ako. Oo nga pala't may amnesia yung asawa ko na 'yun. Paano na yan? Isang buwan nalang yata bago ako manganak, e.
"Also, I'm told by Davon that—"
"Ate! Oh my God! Are you suicida— oh. Who is she?" tanong ng kakambal ko, sa likod nya ay si Zach na seryosong nakatingin kay Helena.
"Hindi ako suicidal, sira." sabi ko.
"E ba't kayo nandito?" tanong nya. "By the way, Keana Aera," aniya at naglahad ng kamay kay Helena. Ayos din 'tong si Keana e.
"Helena Rae," sabi naman ni Helena at tinanggap ang kamay ni Keana. "I should go to Damon now. By the way, ako na ang magbabantay sakanya ngayong gabi, no need to worry guys. Goodbye." anito at naglakad papasok, naiwan kaming tatlo dito sa rooftop.
"Who is that?" tanong ni Keana saakin.
"Helena Rae." simpleng sagot ko.
"Yeah, I know, Ate, duh?" sagot naman nya sa sagot ko. Eto ba yung sagutan? "Pero sino nga?" tanong nya pa.
"That's Leivon's ex-girlfriend, baby." sabi ni Zach at ngumiti kay Keana. Ako tuloy kinikilig sakanila.
"Ooh. Edi okay." sabi naman ni Keana. "Pero bakit ka pumayag na magbantay yun? Nako, Ate. Sinasabi ko sayo, mag-ingat ka doon sa babaeng yun at masama ang kutob ko do'n." sabi ni Keana.
"My Ana's right." Zach grinned. Keana slightly pushed him. "Be careful. Beware of snakes." aniya kaya tiningnan naming sya ni Keana. "What?"
Sabay kaming nagkibit-balikat ni Keana at naglakad papasok. "Well, who knows?!" pasigaw na sabi ni Zach. Kinabahan tuloy ako.
He's right.
Who knows?