Ang Mang-Aagaw 15

Kenji made a quick turn to the left and find himself parking at the side of Chef & Brewer in Ortigas.

With his heart thumping, he looked at his rear mirror and see himself looking so tensed and nervous.

This is not right. Maybe I need to calm down. Was it because of the incident? Sana magising agad si Jhaspher. Hindi ko naman sinasadya lahat. Hindi ko alam na may motor. God knows how careful I am as a driver.

Muli syang nagpakawala ng isang buntong-hininga. Alam nya sa sarili nya na nanghihina sya. Konsensya pa nya kung matuluyan si Jhaspher.

Isinandal nya ang kanyang likod sa upuan. Pinilit pakalmahin ang sarili. Inalis ang seatbelt at nagpakawala ng isang sigaw sa loob ng kanyang sasakyan.

Okay. I somehow felt better.

Lumabas na sya at tinungo ang restaurant. He eyed everyone inside until he saw that familiar face. Napangiti sya nang makita ito. Napuna rin nya ang mga kasama nito and he noticed that they are having a real good time.

Okay. I'll forget what happened muna and i'll enjoy this thing. Once in a while lang naman to eh.

Lumapit sya sa table na kinauupuan nila Philip. Philip was then euphoric upon seeing his little brother. Mabilis nya itong niyakap at gumanti rina ng isa in return.

“Mama Dalisay, Dhenxo, I would like you to meet Kenji. Sya yung gusto kong ma-meet nyo kanina pa,” entra ni Philip.

Dalisay gave Kenji a quick beso on the cheek. Dhenxo shook his hand. Kenji felt comfortable in an instant. The night went on and they had a couple of nice laughs. Napagusapan ang mga gagawin in the future para sa paghihiganti ni Philip. Dhenxo was feeling skeptical at nakakaramdam ng konsensya. Dalisay was worried. Kenji agreed on what Philip said. Alam nyang panahon na ito ng kanyang kuya para gumanti sa lahat ng nangloko sa kanya dati pa.

“This will be a great comeback for me,” masayang sabi ni Philip.

“Cheers!”

“Let's drink to that!,” ani Dalisay.

They shared a toast.

For Philip's anticipated victory.

Gab was feeling a bit beaten. Tama nga naman si Roj. Alam nya na ganun, na minsan nga ay sex lang talaga at walang emotional investment, pero he doesn't know what made him more hooked on Roj.

Roj made me feel so special and wanted tapos all of a sudden, he'll treat me like trash. Hindi ko sya maintindihan. I guess I have to win him again. I like Roj so much. I really do.

He grabbed his phone and started dialling Roj's number again.

Wala pang apat na ring ay may sumagot na agad sa linya.

“Roj,” mahinang sagot nito.

“Why?” halata ang pagkairita sa boses ni Roj.

“I just wanted to say Sorry for my behavior,” nahihiyang sabi ni Gab sa kabilang linya.

Napabuntong hininga si Roj. He was actually feeling low and Gab isn't the one he's expecting to call. He knows he wants Philip to call, not this guy. But somehow, the gesture was appreciated.

“Okay,” matipid nitong sagot.

Napangiti si Gab sa kabilang linya.

“Baby, does that mean we are already okay?”

Sa hindi maipaliwanag na dahilan ay napangiti si Roj sa narinig na endearment.

“Yes, baby,” sagot nito.

Napangiti si Roj muli. Bakit nga naman hindi nya hayaan si Gab na mahalin sya? Kailangan nya ngayon ng affection, at magkaaway sila ni Philip. Hindi rin naman sya dadamayan nito dahil napakalaki na ng pinagbago ng ugali nito. Hindi namans siguro masama kung hahayaan nya nalang ito na maging sweet sa kanya. But he has to know his limits, ofcourse.

“Baby Roj,” paglalambing ni Gab.

“Yes po?” Roj answer, sounding more calm.

“Can we meet tonight? I feel like having coffee,” kinikilig na aya nito.

“Hmmmm...”

“Please? My treat, I want to make it up. Pwedeng bumawi?”

Nadala si Roj sa lambing ni Gab. He found himself smiling. Parang eraser ang lambing nito na nagbura ng inis at kalungkutang nararamdaman nya.

“Okay.”

“Sige sige. Maliligo na ako. Sa dati tayo.”

“See you in an hour.”

The call ended.

Nakarating ng maayos si Philip at Kenji sa ospital. Mabilis silang pumunta sa kwartong kinalalagyan ni Jhaspher.

“Kuya, sya yung nabangga ko.”

Napabuntong-hininga si Philip.

“What the hell had happened ba? Was it your fault?”

“I made a sudden right sa kalsada and then sumalubong sya. Ayun, late na para makapagpreno agad, I saw his body wala ng malay. Ang bilis ng mga pangyayari.”

“It's no your fault, techinically. At kung susumahin sya pa ang dapat magbayad sa damage na ginawa nya sa isa mo pang car. But yes, buhay ang usapan dito sa let's disregard the money thingy.”

“It's not about the money kuya. I don't care. Dapat mabuhay sya.”

Napangiti si Philip. Mabilis nitong ginulo ang buhok ni Kenji, naglalambing.

“You're not into people Kenji.”

“What do you mean Kuya?”

Muli itong ngumiti.

“Dalawang bagay. It's just concerned ka lang talaga or gusto mo tong lalaking to,” malisyosong sabi ni Philip.

The statement caught Kenji off-guard.

“Pero infairness, cute tong nabangga mo ha? Medyo moreno tapos nakabraces. Pwede na,” pagbibiro ni Philip.

Kenji flushed in deep red.

“Ku-kuya talaga!”

Philip chuckled.

“Fine. Fine. I'll help. Anong plano mo sa kanya?”

“I-I actually don't know. Ang mahalaga as of now eh dapat magkamalay na sya.”

“He'll be fine. Don't think too much,” there's assurance in Philip's tone.

“Sana nga kuya. Sana nga po.”

Yumakap si Kenji kay Philip. Ah, yes. Hindi nya alam ang kanyang gagawin without his kuya. Nakaramdam sya ng kapanatagan at security. Alam nyang hindi sya nito papabayaan. Kasabay ng pagkalmang iyon ay ang pagsuri nya kay Jhaspher. Tama ang kanyang Kuya Philip, gwapo nga ito. At nangangamba syang tama ulit ang kanyang kuya na gusto nya ito, sya ay napabuntong hininga.

“I better get going, Kenji. Inaantok na ako. I might get some coffee first.”

“Ingat ka kuya.”

Muli silang nagyakap. Philip gave the kid a sweet kiss on his forehead. Ilang segundo pa ay nawala na sa paningin ni Kenji ang kanyang kuya. He was then left alone with the still, unconscious Jhaspher.

Umupo sya sa tabi nito, pinagmasdan ang maamo nitong mukha at sa hindi malamang dahilan ay hinawakan nya ang kamay nito. Ramdam nya ang lambot ng mga kamay na yon, at hindi nya alam kung bakit hindi nya ito mabitawan.

“Sana magising ka na Jhaspher. Hindi ko sadya yung nangyari. Nagulat nalang ako may motor at nabangga na kita. Sorry, pero wala talaga akong alam.”

Muli syang napabuntong-hininga. Inangat nya ang kanyang tingin at nakita nyang nakadilat na si Jhaspher.

“Gising ka na! Gising ka na!”

Jhaspher remained silent. Nanatili lang itong nakatingin sa kanya.

“Nurse! Nurse! Gising na si Jhaspher! Nurse!

“Na-nasaan ako?”

Philip was seated comfortably at the back of his black car. Nakaramdam na sya ng pagod sa haba ng araw na hinarap nya. He had to report in his office and submit all requirements before the deadline.

Ang hirap maging busy. Buti nalang I still find time for precious people in my life.

Matapos magflash ng term na precious sa kanyang utak ay naalala nya ang kanyang bestfriend na si Roj.

Kamusta na kaya yun? Is he doing okay? Ano na kayang balita sa kanya? I kinda miss him.

Ah yeah. Atlast, naamin rin ni Philip sa kanyang sarili na namimiss nya ang kanyang bestfriend. Pero bakit nga ba? Ano ba ang dahilan at namimiss nya ito?

Oh well.

He instantly reached for his phone and dialled Roj's number.

I know he's still mad at me. Maybe it's about time na suyuin ko na sya ulit? I think...

No one answered.

He dialled the number again.

C'mon. Answer the phone. Maiinis na naman ako kapag di mo sinagot.

Then again, no one answered.

Fine.

“Kuya, park ka dyan sa coffee shop. Let's buy coffee.”

“Sir Philip ano pong coffee ang bibilhin ko?”

“Ahh Kuya ako na po. Just wait for me here nalang.”

Bumaba sya ng sasakyan at pumasok sa loob ng coffee shop along the way.

The smell of roasted coffee beans tickled his senses. Pakiramdam nya ay nabuhay syang muli sa nakakarelax na amoy nito. He eyed everyone in the coffee shop, wala pang sampu ang tao. But there was a couple na talaga namang kinagulat nya. It was Roj.

He then saw Roj with a guy with braces. Philip felt so pissed. Hindi nya namalayan na mabilis na pala syang naglalakad patungo sa kinalalagyan ng dalawa.

Roj then saw him approaching. Roj felt surprised, at the same time, nervous. Gab became clueless.

“Phi-Philip?”

Philip then grabbed the chair and sat in front of them.

“Baby,” sagot ni Philip.

Gab looked alarmed with what he heard.

“I'm sorry, Baby. Si-sino sya?” nauutal nitong tanong.

“Ohh. Baby? Baby ang tawagan nyo rin?”

Roj looked confused. Namutla rin ito.

“Philip stop it!”

“I won't stop Roj. Ang sabi mo sakin di ka na mangangaliwa? Tapos ngayon? Eto na naman?”

Nagulat si Gab at Roj sa narinig. Gab looked so angry.

“What does this mean? At sino kang putangina ka?” galit na sabi ni Gab.

“Philip stop toying me!”

“Putangina ka rin baklang parang espasol na may barbed wire sa nguso. If you don't know who the hell I am, ako lang naman ang boyfriend nyang lalaking kasama mo. You got that?”

Philip snapped.

Nangilid ang luha ni Gab.

“Anong ibig sabihin nito Roj?”

Before Roj could start speaking, Philip cut him off..

“Ang ibig sabihin lang nyan ay umuwi ka na at wag na wag na wag ka nang magpaparamdam at lalandi sa boyfriend ko. Did you understand?”

Gab and Roj were speechless.

Philip grabbed Roj by the arm.

“Let's go.”

Bago sila umalis ay tumingin muli si Philip kay Gab at nagtaas ng kilay.

“Don't dare bad mouth me again. Do it again and i'll make sure abo na ang bahay na uuwian mo.”

Philip dragged Roj out of the coffee shop. Nakalimutan nyang bibili pala sya ng kape.

I t u t u l o y . . .