Chapter Twenty Five

“You’ve finally got some nerves, Dawson!”

Napatigil siya sa pagpirma sa dokumento nang marinig ang boses ni Grant na bigla na lang pumasok sa opisina niya.

Tumingala siya nang tumayo ito sa harap ng office table niya at seryoso ang mukhang nakatingin sa kanya.

“What else did they tell you?” he asked nonchalantly. He ignored the impatient look in his eyes. Tutal ay sanay na siya sa kaibigan.

Halos dalawang taon na rin ang mabilis na lumipas at sa mga panahong iyon ay madalang na lang niyang makita at makasama ang mga kaibigan.

At sa tuwing magtatagpo ang landas nila ni Grant ay malamig ang pakikitungo nito sa kanya o kung hindi naman ay sesermunan lang siya.

But he fully understands him. Alam niyang galit ito sa ginawa niya kay Savannah. Dagdag pa na nadadamay ito sa inis sa kanya ng asawa nito na hanggang ngayon ay hindi siya kinakausap o hinaharap man lang.

Nagtataka nga siya kung bakit ito narito ngayon at sinadya siya sa opisina gayong wala naman okasyon o dahilan para puntahan siya nito.

“It doesn’t matter what else they told me. I only hope that you won’t go back on your words.”

Iginalaw niya ang panga saka bahagyang tumango.

“You know that I didn’t stop collecting evidence to prove her innocence from that case even though she almost killed my mother.”

“Pero hinayaan mo pa rin siyang makulong. Not just for awhile but it’s more than a f*****g year, Dos! Have you ever imagine what she’s been through all these time?... Besides, Tita Marietta provoked Savannah. At kahit sinong babae ay ganoon ang magiging reaksyon sa ipinagtapat niya.”

Hindi siya sumagot. He was guilty for turning his eyes blind. But he only did what he thought was right.

Alam niyang malaki ang kasalanan ng Mama niya at ito ang puno’t dulo ng lahat ng nangyayari kay Savannah lalo na ang ginawang paglason nito rito dahilan para kailanman ay hindi na ito maaaring magkaanak.

Kaya nga gumagawa siya ng paraan para mapalaya ang dating nobya at patunayan na wala itong kinalaman sa pagkamatay ng batang pasyente. Na alam niyang kulang pang kabayaran para sa ginawa nilang mag-ina.

He helplessly took a deep breath and glanced at Grant. Nangyari na ang nangyari at wala na siyang magagawa para baguhin ang naging kapalaran nila lalo na ni Savannah.

The least he could do is to let Savannah get out of jail so that she could start a new life.

Doon man lang ay makabawi siya rito.

“You know that I had no choice. Wala sa katinuan ang pag-iisip ni Mama noon. I just can’t simply take the risk of losing her life, too.” Bahagya siyang umiling saka huminga nang malalim. “Hindi mo rin maiisip kung anong klaseng hirap ang pinagdaan niya kaya niya nagawa ang lahat nang iyon.. But I know she was wrong… Everything she did was wrong. But what should I do? Ako na lang ang meron si Mama. Hindi ko kayang panoorin na lang siya habang patuloy siyang nalulunod sa kasalanan para makamit ang hustisya sa paraang gusto niya.. She had to stop. That’s why I had to sacrifice my relationship with Savannah. Iyon lang ang paraan para tumigil si Mama.”

“So, anong plano mo kapag nailabas mo si Savannah? Wouldn’t Tita Marietta give her another blow if she finds it?”

Sandali niyang sinulyapan si Grant saka humarap sa glass wall at tumanaw sa labas.

“I respect Tita Marietta at alam ko kung saan nanggagaling ang galit niya but Savannah had paid more than enough… Now, I’m telling you, Dos, if you hurt her again or let your Mom ruin her, rest assured that I have her back. This time, ako na ang makakalaban mo.”

Huminga siya nang malalim saka nakayukong isinuksok ang mga kamay sa bulsa ng pantalon.

“You don’t have to tell me that.. I’ll make sure that she will not get hurt this time.”

“How can you be so sure about that? For all we know, Savannah would be the last woman she will approve to be part of your family,” naninimbang na tanong ni Grant. He couldn't imagine how things would turn out this time if they got back together. “Or what? Are you gonna hide her from your mother? Until when? Hanggang sa maulit ulit ang mga nangyari—"

“It’s not what you think, Grant.” He cut him off. “There’s no chance for me and Savannah, okay?... I’ve already given up on her. And whatever we had will only remain in the past.”

Grant frowned while sizing him up. He looked at him seriously as if trying to read what’s on his mind. Then, he slightly shook his head and acted as if he was believing his words.

“Well, that’s good to hear. And I guess, that is the most pleasant decision I ever heard from you,” seryosong sambit nito habang matamang nakatingin sa kanya. “Anyway, for sure Savannah wouldn’t want to rekindle with you also. Not to mention the possibility of her cursing you nonstop.”

Mariin niyang pinaglapat ang mga labi sa narinig mula kay Grant. His heart suddenly felt restless but he ignored it.

Hindi naman imposible iyon. Savannah has all the rights to curse him. Maaaring sagad-sagad pa rin ang galit nito sa kanya.

He couldn’t help but recall the last time they talked. Hanggang ngayon ay malinaw pa rin sa alaala niya ang pagkamuhi sa mga mata nito.

That kind of look that couldn’t forgive whatever he does.

Mas mabuti na rin siguro na kamuhian siya nito kesa ang mahalin siya. Dahil wala nang bukas na naghihintay para sa kanilang dalawa.

Bumalik siya sa office desk niya saka muling kinuha ang dokumentong sandali niyang iniwan.

“If that’s why you’re here, it’s all settle then,” sambit niya saka itinuon ang mga mata sa hawak na papel. “She will be freed and I’ll stay away from her…”

Napatango na lang si Grant. Even though he can't fully trust his words, he can only hold onto it for now.

Sinagot ni Dos ang intercom nang tumunog iyon. It was his secretary. Sinabi nito na naroon sa labas ang Mama niya.

He frowned. Why do they suddenly have time to visit him?

Wala siyang nagawa kung hindi ang papasukin ito.

“Okay, let her come in.”

Tumayo si Grant nang marinig na nasa labas ang Mama ni Dos. He has something to tell him yet but it was not the right time.

“I’ll take my leave, first. Pumunta ka mamaya sa club ni Toby.”

Pagkasabi noon ay lumabas na si Grant. Nakasalubong niya si Marietta na nakangiting bumati pabalik sa kanya pagkatapos ay dumiretso na ito sa loob ng opisina ng anak.

Hindi nawawala ang ngiting pumasok sa loob ng opisina si Marietta habang tulak-tulak ng Yaya nito ang wheelchair.

“What are you doing here, Ma?” walang ngiting tanong ni Dos na sandali lang sinulyapan ang Ina.

“I was calling you since morning but you haven’t answered your phone kaya sumadya na lang ako rito.”

“Why? Do you need anything?” he said seriously.

“Nothing. I just want to greet you today. Happy birthday, son!”

Napatigil siya sandali at mabilis na dumako ang mga mata sa kalendaryo.

Only then he realized what date today. Hindi na niya namalayan ang pagdaan ng araw lalo ang mga okasyon.

Seems their sudden presence makes sense.

Bahagya siyang tumango saka ipinagpatuloy ang ginagawa.

When did his mother start to care about his birthday? In fact, this is the first time she got time to greet him personally.

“Hindi ka na sana nag-abala pa na pumunta rito. A phone call will do.”

“I shouldn’t have gone for a treatment if I knew that you will only be that cold towards me,” mababa ang boses na sambit nito.

Mataman itong nakatingin sa kanya. Maya-maya ay sinenyasan nito ang kasamang Yaya na nananatiling nasa likuran ng wheelchair na lumabas na muna.

Napatigil si Dos saka sinundan nang tingin ang Mama niya na kusang pinagulong ang wheelchair papunta sa harapan ng table niya.

Huminga siya nang malalim saka tumayo at kumuha ng isang baso ng tubig saka inaabot sa Ina.

“You know that I just recently acquire the SL Investments. Very crucial ang transition ng kumpanya kaya hindi ko pwedeng pabayaan.”

He was referring to the one of the top investment companies na pinaghirapan niyang makuha mula sa mga kalaban niya sa industriya.

Though, he may consider as a rookie from the bidders, malaki ang naging advantage niya nang makasama ang kumpanya sa top ten investment companies sa Pilipinas na agad namayagpag higit isang taon mula nang binuksan niya ito sa bansa na una niyang sinimulan sa Italy.

“Iyon nga ba ang dahilan?” Mula sa kanya ay lumipat ang tingin nito sa hawak na baso. “Or you still hold a grudge to what happened over the past two years?”

Tiningnan niya sandali ang Ina pero hindi niya sinagot ang tanong nito.

Kung may sama man siya ng loob ay dahil iyon kay Savannah.

After all, she was the victim. She was the absorber of all the wraths and hates from his mother.

Pero wala siyang nagawa para protektahan ito. And the worst of all, he even added more to the pain she had suffered.

Napailing siya nang muling maalala ang huli nilang pagkikita.

Guilt always consumed him every time he recalls the pain in her eyes when he admitted her accusation of his connivance to his mother. Lalo na sa ginawang paglason ng Mama niya rito dahilan para hindi na ito magka-anak.

“It’s a thing in the past, Mama. Everything I do has nothing to do with that…”

Bahagyang tumango si Marietta habang matamang nakatingin sa anak.

“I don’t remember any present I gave you on your birthdays… And I’m so sorry for taking you for granted for all these years, son. Now, I want to make it up to you. I know you have everything that I don’t know what you could possibly be needing kaya i want you to ask what birthday present you want me to give you.”

Napakunot ang noo ni Dos sa narinig. He thought he heard it wrong. Did she forget that she was not talking to a merely young boy who can please with just a birthday present?

“I mean anything, son.” She added meaningfully and as if with full of certainty.

Seryoso ang mukha ng Mama niya at sigurado rin siya na wala itong iniindang sakit sa mga oras na iyon.

In fact, ito yata ang unang beses na nakita niyang maaliwalas ang mukha nito. Pero tila may kakaiba sa mga mata nito.

Ang dating puro hinanakit at galit na nakabalatay sa mga mata nito ay tila napalitan ng kakaibang lungkot.