Chapter 15: A Song to Remember

“But some of the photos posted over the internet looked so intimate. If someone will take a closer look at it with malice they will give a conclusion that both of you had a romantic relationship,” Brielle said.

Marahas na lumingon si Ivana sa kanya bago nagsalita.

“Brielle kung ang pakay mo ay pilit akong pa aaminin sa isang di totoong relasyon, nagkakamali ka dahil kung magmamahal man ako ng isang tao, mas pipiliin ko ang mabait at malawak ang pang-unawa,” may halong pait ang bawat salitang binitawan niya.

Hindi umimik si Brielle at nakatingin sa malayo. Pakiramdam niya nasaktan niya bigla si Ivana ngunit hindi na niya kayang bawiin ang nabitawang salita.

“Minsan ang tao hinuhusgahan ka base sa nakikita ng mga mata nila. Kahit hindi ka naman kilala, dahil sa mga malisyosong impormasyon na laganap sa social media, sa mata nila hinuhubaran kana. Bawat tao ang tingin sa isang babae na kasama ang isang sikat na business tycoon ay mistress o di kaya puppet niya. Nakakalungkot isipin kahit wala ka namang kasalanang ginagawa at nakibagay ka lang huhusgahan ka ng walang pakundangan,” sabi ni Ivana sabay tayo mula sa resting bed.

Lumingon si Brielle at nagulat ng makitang tumalikod siya.

“Saan ka pupunta?” tanong niya.

“Sa labas, masyado ng mabigat ang usapan natin. Baka magkakasamaan lang tayo ng loob, ayoko ng ganon! Ayokong sirain ang pagkakataong nakasama kita dahil baka isang araw di ko na ulit maranasan ang pagkakataon na ito,” tumalikod na siya at lumabas.

“Ivana!” tawag ni Brielle sa kanya ngunit hindi na siya lumingon.

Paglabas ng bahay sunud-sunod na patak ng luha ang kumawala sa mga mata niya. She never thought she would be humiliated by him. She avoided to have a provocative conversation that will trigger misunderstanding between them but Brielle started to talk about it. Masyado siyang emosyonal ng mga sandaling iyon. Ramdam niyang hindi siya mahal ni Brielle ngunit para sa ikatatahimik nila siya ang umiwas.

Sumunod si Brielle sa kanya at nadatnan niyang tahimik na umiiyak si Ivana dahil dinig niya ang mahinang hikbi nito. He walked towards her and hugged her from her back.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to hurt you!” he asked for an apology.

Huminto siya sa pag-iyak. Langhap niya ang mabangong hininga ni Brielle na malapit sa pisngi niya.

“It’s okay. Masyado lang akong emosyonal,” she said.

“Baby, I will tell you something!” pinihit siya nito paharap.

Di siya umimik at nagtatanong ang mga mata niya ng humarap siya rito. Inantay niyang muling magsalita si Brielle.

“Hindi kita gustong husgahan , nabasa ko lang sa internet. Kaya ako nagtanong kasi gusto kong marinig mula sa bibig mo ang tunay na relasyon mo sa kanya. Honestly, Simon, is one of my strong business rivals. Bawat mahalaga sa akin pakiramdam ko gusto niyang agawin. Ngayong ako ang pinili mo, gusto ko lang ang katapatan mo sa akin at manatili ka sa tabi ko kahit dumating ang pagkakataon na mayroon tayong pagtatalo,” sabi nito.

Tumingin siya ng direkta sa mga mata ni Brielle at biglang ngumiti. “Promise, I will be a loyal wife to you. I will not drag you down nor deceived you. Saka kapag dumating ang pagkakataon na hindi na tayo magkasundo mas pipiliin ko nalang lumayo sayo kaysa pumatol sa ibang tao,”

“My little wife has matured now. I feel your sincerity and I know even if you are still young, you tried to please me!” he whispered.

“Brielle Santillian!” she blushed when she realized what he said.

“Bakit? Totoo naman diba? You filled my bed with your warm kisses and hugged. I lost control when I laid with you,” his words were vulgar.

“Nagugulat ako sa mga sinasabi mo. Kilala ko kasi ang pag-uugali mo, ikaw yung tipong tahimik at seryoso lagi,” she tiptoed and brushed her lips at him. “I just wonder why you became aloof. I vaguely remembered that during our childhood you’re so vibrant and talkative,”

“You wanna know the reason, why?” he asked.

“Would you like to share it?” she said.

He kissed her again and said, “The moment you left in Singapore, I was deeply hurt. You never told me that your family will return to Beijing. Pakiramdam ko noon nawala ang isa sa pinakamahalagang tao sa buhay ko. Yung takot na nananatili sa puso ko noong iniwan kami pansamantala ng Daddy ko nagdulot ng malaking epekto sa isipan ko. Namulat ako noon, laging sinasabi ni Mommy, babalik si Dad. For the past five years of my existence, I kept praying that he’ll come back to us. Every night I have seen my Mom silently weeping while holding Dad’s picture. I pretended to be innocent and know nothing about it because I don’t want to add another burden to my mother. Noong bumalik si Daddy Brent, they’re hurting each other, I felt how much pain my Mom had endured to show her love and affection. Marahil nga may kasalanan siya noon kay Dad pero yung takot at pangungulila ay naging sanhi bakit takot akong magtiwala sa salitang binibitawan ng isang tao. Noong umalis ka, doon ko unang naranasan yung pakiramdam na maiwan kang mag-isa na hindi mo alam kung ano ang nagawa mo sa taong iyon para iwanan ka niya,” puno ng lungkot na sabi ni Brielle.

Nagulat si Ivana ng marinig ang sinabi ni Brielle.

“I didn’t know that you were deeply hurt the time I left,” she said in a low voice. “Hubby, I didn’t mean to hurt you!”

“Ilang beses akong tinanong ng Mommy Shantal ko noon kung bakit ako malungkot? Kung bakit bigla akong nagbago? I said nothing because I don't want to make my Mom feel how deeply I got hurt. Tama na nga ito. Huwag na nating pag-usapan kasi magkakasamaan lang tayo ng loob. Kaya kita dinala rito para ma-enjoy natin ang moment na nandito tayo sa isang lugar na puno ng magagandang bagay,” he smiled at her.

“Ikaw nag-umpisa ng seryosong usapan huh, hindi ako!” she muttered.

“Halika na pasok na tayo kasi masyado ng malamig ang simoy ng hangin,” aya nito sa kanya bago pinunasan nito ang bakas ng luha sa pisngi niya.

“Mamaya na, let’s watch the amazing scenery down this rock formation. Tingnan mo sa baba oh, ang gandang tingnan ng matingkad na kulay ng iba’t ibang ilaw. Hindi na natin ulit mararanasan ito pagbalik natin sa sentro,” aniya.

“Nanginginig kana nga sa lamig eh,” sabi ni Brielle.

“Hindi na po, kasi yakap mo na ako. Let’s stay for a while please?” she begged him.

“Okay pagbibigyan na kita,” pinihit siya nito paharap sa baba at mahigpit na niyakap sa likuran. “How does it feel now? Do you feel the warmth from my body?” he asked.

“I wish na sana hindi na matapos ang panahong ito na magkasama tayo na walang ibang inisip kundi ang namnamin ang masayang pagkakataon na yakap natin ang isa’t-isa,” she said.

“Kung pwede lang manatili tayo sa lugar na ito habambuhay ginawa ko na. Kaya lang alam mo naman ako lang nag-iisang tumutulong sa parents ko. Mom Shantal and Daddy Brent are getting old, and they often told me to produce an heir. They love to have grandchildren,”

“Naiintindihan ko ang responsibility mo. Anuman ang kakaharapin mo hangga’t hihilingin mong manatili ako sa tabi mo, I will be staying at your side as your lawfully wedded wife,”

“Matapos natin ayusin yung mga bagay-bagay, let’s fly to Singapore, I will tell my parents about our marriage and that time I will give you a grand wedding that you deserve,” he slightly kiss her head.

“Nahihiya ako sa parents mo kasi noon bigla akong umalis na hindi nagpaalam sa inyong lahat. Alam mo namimiss rin kita noon. Lagi kong tinatanong ang Daddy ko kung kailan kami babalik ng Singapore? Lagi lang niyang sagot sa akin kapag hindi na siya busy,” aniya.

“Tama na ang usapan natin sa nakaraan, kalungkutan lang lagi ang naalala natin,” sabi ni Brielle.

“Yeah. We need to cherish this moment that we spend together,” she smiled at him.

“Teka!” sabi nito at kinuha ang cellphone sabay binuksan ang video recording nito. “Baby, smile! Kukuha ako ng video natin!” he urged her to smile.

“Okay! Sandali aayusin ko muna ang mukha ko!”

“Huwag na gumagana na ang recording oh!” nakangiting turan ni Brielle habang kumukuha ng video nilang dalawa.

“Ang daya mo! Ang panget ko dyan eh! Honey, ulitin mo!” pilit niyang inaabot ang cellphone na hawak ni Brielle.

“Huwag na maganda ka naman, sinong maysabi na pangit ka. Ayan na ngiti na. Say hi to the video!” udyok ni Brielle habang yakap siya at kumukuha ng video nilang dalawa.

“Ang daya ng asawa ko. Akin na iyan! Delete mo muna!”

“Hindi na, ang ganda mo nga oh! Natural beauty. Muah! Kiss mo na ako sa lips, dali na!”

“Ayoko! Ayoko!” maktol niya.

“Hahaha! Bakit ang sensitive ng wife ko. Buntis kaba?” pang- aasar nito

“Buntis ka dyan, wala pa ngang two weeks tayong magkasama buntis agad? Brielle, delete mo muna iyan!”

“Love the way you act. Muah! Muah!” yakap siya nito lalo ng hinalik halikan sa labi. “Tingnan mo sa baba ang liwanag ng buong paligid at ang gandang tingnan!” tuloy pa rin ang pagrerecord nito ng video.

“Bitawan mo muna ako. Ayaw mo na rin ihinto ang nirerecord mong iyan, maglalakad ako papunta doon banda at videohan mo na ako,” sabi niya rito.

“Good idea! Okay! Walk slowly as I take a video of you! And wait, how about you sing a song for me?” he said.

“Sing a song?” she asked.

“Yeah! Kagaya ng madalas mong ginagawa noon kapag naglalaro tayo. Kinakantahan mo ako. Sabi mo nga noon, the song you used to sing would be your best gift for me!” paalala ni Brielle sa kanya.

“Eh mga bata pa tayo noon! Kaya kung anu ano naiisip kong gawin!” nahihiyang tugon ni Ivana.

“Sige na! I know maganda ang boses mo at kaya mong gawin ulit iyon. Sige na dali na, nagrerecord pa rin ako oh!” anito.

“Huwag nalang, nahihiya ako,”

“Sige na, dali na! I want to hear the song you used to sing for me. Yung title ay statue ba ‘yon?” he smiled at her.

“Bakit ang dami mong naalalang past event natin?” bumalik siya sa harapan ni Brielle and hang her arm into his neck, slowly touch her lips to his mouth.

“Sing it again! I wanted to hear it!” he urged her to sing. And grant a deep kiss into her lips.

“Okay you win!” she detached herself and move back then started singing,

Oh yeah, oh yeah

Yeah, ooh, yeah

When a day is said and done

In the middle of the night, and you're fast asleep, my love

Stay awake looking at your beauty

Telling myself I'm the luckiest girl alive

'Cause so many times I was certain

You was gonna walk out of my life, life

Why you take such a hold of me, boy,

When I'm still trying to get my act right?

What is the reason when you really could have any girl you want?

I don't see what I have to offer

I should've been a season

Guess you could see I had potential

Do you know you're my miracle? (Oh yeah)

I'm like a statue

Stuck staring right at you

Got me frozen in my tracks

So amazed how you take me back

Each and every time our love collapsed

Statue

Stuck staring right at you

So when I'm lost for words

Every time I disappoint you

It's just 'cause I can't believe

That you're so wonderful

(Stuck like a statue)

Don't wanna lose you, no

(Stuck like a statue)

Ask myself why are you even with me

After all the shit I put you through?

Why did you make it so hard with me?

It's like you're living in an igloo

But baby your love is so warm it makes my shield melt down, down

And every time we're both at war you make me come around

What is the reason when you really could have any girl you want?

I don't see what I have to offer

I should've been a season

Guess you could see I had potential

Do you know you're my miracle?

I'm like a statue

Stuck staring right at you

Got me frozen in my tracks

So amazed how you take me back

Each and every time our love collapsed

Statue

Stuck staring right at you

So when I'm lost for words

Every time I disappoint you

It's just 'cause I can't believe

That you're so wonderful

(Stuck like a statue)

Don't wanna lose you, no

(Stuck like a statue)

And you're so beautiful

(Stuck like a statue)

Don't wanna lose you Never

(Stuck like a statue)

Oh, no

Every single day of my life I thank my lucky stars

God really had to spend extra time when he sculpted your heart

'Cause there's no explanation

Can't solve the equation

It's like you love me more than I love myself

I'm like a statue

Stuck staring right at you

Got me frozen in my tracks

So amazed how you take me back

Each and every time our love collapsed

Statue

Stuck staring right at you

So when I'm lost for words (statue)

Every time I disappoint you

Baby, it's 'cause I can't believe ('cause you're my statue)

That you're so beautiful (boy, you are the reason)

Stuck like a statue (the reason for living)

Don't wanna lose you, no (the reason for breathing)

Stuck like a statue (you're so wonderful)

And you're so beautiful (and I want you to feel it)

Stuck like a statue ('cause so bad I mean it)

Don't wanna lose you, no (you're the reason for breathing)

Stuck like a statue (you're so wonderful)

Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, yeah yeah yeah yeah

When the day is said and done

In the middle of the night, and you're fast asleep, my love

I'm the luckiest girl alive

“Yey! Ayan ang ganda----” biglang naputol ang boses ni Brielle ng makita niyang umiyak si Ivana. He stopped the recording and walked towards her then pulled her into his arms and gave a deep kiss on her lips.

“Hmm! I can’t breath!” reklamo niya rito.

“Why are you crying?” he asked after he let go of her mouth.

“Gawa mo, kasi bakit iyon ang napili mong kanta?”

“Maganda yung message ng song saka naalala ko ang bawat ngiti mo noon sa akin kapag kumakanta kana,” anito.