Chapter 38
Ilang segundo kaming nagkatitigan ng babae, hindi na ako nagsalita at tuluyan na akong humakbang papalabas ng washroom.
What does she mean by that? What again?
There is always another side for every gentle prince.
Hindi pa man ako nakakalayo mula sa washroom, nakita ko ang babae at ang kasama nito na nagmamadaling lumabas ng entrance.
Halos mapatalon pa ako nang lumingon sa akin ang magandang babae bago niya isinuot ang kanyang itim na shades.
Wala sa sarili akong napahawak sa dibdib ko, bigla itong pumintig ng hindi tama, ramdam ko ang pangingilabot ko at ang matinding pagtatanong sa sarili ko.
Nanatili akong nakatayo habang ang aking mga mata ay nagsisimula nang gumapang sa maamong mukha ni Triton.
Having a funny conversation with his bestfriend.
"Hindi naman ikaw ang sinasabi niya, Triton hindi ba?"
It might be Troy and she had mistaken me as his girl. Sana ay ganito nga ang totoong nangyari.
Kung iisipin, may mga bagay pa ba akong hindi nalalaman kay Triton bukod sa sakit na hanggang ngayon ay hindi namin napapag-usapan?
He stopped chatting with Troy when his gaze met mine.
"Euphie!" Hindi niya ako hinintay na makarating sa kanya dahil siya na mismo ang naglakad para salubungin ako.
"We got the best spot."
"Great,"
"Yeah great," pinisil muna ni Triton ang ilong ko bago niya ako inakbayan.
Naglalakad na kaming tatlo, nasa gitna namin si Triton habang abala sa kanyang telepono si Troy.
"What took you so long?" tanong ni Triton sa akin.
"I just encountered a weird woman."
"What? Weird?"
"She told me this, there is always another side for every gentle prince. Weird right?" ramdam ko ang biglang pagluwag ng akbay sa akin ni Triton at ang pagtigil ni Troy sa pagpindot ng kanyang telepono.
This is something I've noticed about these two, they have this unison reaction. Yes, they'll react differently but their strange movement at the same time made me realize that they're hiding something.
Triton and Troy's reaction gave me this answer. Isa sa kanila o tamang si Triton talaga ang tinutukoy ng babae.
Is this something about his health? Or anything else?
"Yeah, that's weird." Tumikhim ito at muling tumingin sa unahan para magpatuloy sa paglalakad.
"Probably prank." Sabat ni Troy.
They are literally partners in crime.
Nagpatuloy kami sa paglalakad, I think this isn't safe for a starting relationship to have a puzzle on the platter.
I should enjoy this date with Triton, saka ko na lang siguro iisipin ang mga salita ng babaeng 'yon.
"You're healthy, right Triton?"
Sa pagkakataong ito sabay na silang lumingon sa akin.
"W-What are you talking about Euphie? Yes, of course! I am healthy."
"You should Triton, you should."
"I'll leave you here guys, see you later." Paalam sa amin ni Troy.
"Where are you going?" tanong ni Triton.
"Somewhere away from sweets, do you expect me to follow you all the way? My god, T malaki ka na sa dalawang bagay. Nangungulambo ka na nga, just enjoy guys. Mambabae muna ako." Kumindat sa akin si Troy bago nito ibinalik ang kanyang salamin.
"Oh okay, don't get drunk." Troy just gave a lazy salute to Triton before he turned his back.
Nagpatuloy kami ni Triton sa paglalakad. But this time we're now holding each other's hand.
"I haven't been here Triton, yes this place is so beautiful but what is their highlights?"
"Hmm, aside from their foods, clean place and beautiful views. They are also performing different kind of dances with symbolic meaning." Lumingon ako kay Triton.
"Really? Nakapanuod ka Triton?"
"Just once and it was so beautiful, Euphie."
"I'm excited!"
"Most of their dances are being associated with fire, mahilig sa fire dance ang mga Montenegro. Kahit saang resort nila may mga fire dance at kung hindi ako nagkakamali, resort lang nila ang may iba't-ibang uri ng fire dance."
"Wow,"
"Ang napanuod ko dati, pumipili ang mga crews ng magagandang guests. They will ask them if they are willing to dance with the performers, I was with Ate Trina that time." Triton bitterly smiled.
Triton, Ate Trina and I were very close before. Halos hindi na rin humiwalay noon si Triton kay Ate Trina, sabi ni Tita Taliya kung hindi lamang kami nakilala ni Ahmed.
But now that Ate Trina's gone, ramdam ko pa rin ang sakit sa mga mata ni Triton sa tuwing binabanggit niya ang pangalan nito.
I can still remember how Triton's parents suffered. Na-trauma noon si Triton dahil siya ang nakakita ng katawan ni Ate Trina.
"And she was the most beautiful girl dancing around the fire with a white veil and basket of flowers. She gracefully danced there, throwing flowers around the fire with her sweet laughters. Lahat yata ng lalaki kay Ate Trina nakatingin nang gabing 'yon Euphie."
"Because she's very beautiful." Kapwa na kami nakatitig sa tabing dagat.
"I'm really sorry, ate." I heard him whisper.
"Why are you sorry?" nagtatakang tanong ko kay Triton. Para siyang nabigla sa tanong ko.
"W-What?"
"You said sorry for Ate Trina." Nagkatitigan kami ni Triton bago siya bumuntong-hininga.
"I was sorry because I came late, kung maaga siguro akong pumasok sa kwarto niya baka napigilan ko siya."
I know this is our date and we shouldn't have talk about his sister's death, but it is really my long mystery.
Hanggang ngayon ay hindi ko pa rin alam ang totoong dahilan kung bakit nagsuicide si Ate Trina.
"M-May iniwan ba siyang sulat o kahit ano sa inyo Triton?"
"Nothing," mabilis na sagot nito.
"S-So the reasons are still unknown?"
"But I'm aware that most of the people were hearing rumors."
I was hesitant to say to ask but I gathered all the courage to spill the words. Yes, I've been hearing this rumors but I'm still hoping that this wasn't the real reason of her suicide.
