JESTER Series Special - Chapter 11

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Hindi niya alam kung paano siyang napa-Oo nitong si Zen ng tanungin siya nito if she wanted to start a relationship. Ang pagkakaalam niya ay ayaw na ayaw niyang um-oo dito. Maybe she’s a masochist at gusto niyang masaktan talaga. She knew in her mind na Ezekiel didn’t really meant what he said: na mahal siya nito. She’s playing the role of a stupid woman in love by taking his excuse na may multiple personality disorder ito kaya she accepted the relationship. Why anyone blame her? She just fell in love with Ezekiel wholeheartedly kaya siya nagpapakatanga. 

Si Ezekiel nga ba at hindi si Evzen? Tanong ng isang bahagi ng isip niya. 

Diba nga I just played the stupid woman at tinanggap ang palusot niyang disorder?

What if there really is Evzen? Na ibang tao siya at si Ezekiel? 

“Nonsense,” naisatinig niya pero napakunot noo siya sa naisip. What if? No! Stop thinking about it Ayca. You are giving yourself false hopes. Maybe you are just thinking of something that nice para maka-escape ka sa pagiging mistress mo. 

“What ‘nonsense’ are you talking about, love?” nagtatakang turan ni ‘Evzen’ sa kanya and hugged her. “At ang kunot ng noo mo, are you still thinking about what I said and my…my disorder?” he said and somehow, she can read fear from his eyes bago siya nito hinalikan sa pagitan ng mata niya so the crease on her forehead will disappear. 

“You can’t blame me not to think of this again, Evzen or Ezekiel…I still don’t know what to think anymore,” napabuntong hininga siya and stare at him. Nakita niyang nahaluan ng ibang emosyon ang mga mata nito and that emotion is sadness. 

“You do love me, right?” 

“I do, Zen…I do so much I accepted the fact na may disorder ka.” 

“If you do love me then just trust your love for me.” 

“O-okay,” sabi niya dito and hugged him back. She wanted to not think of anything but the love she felt for him pero reality always kicks in her mind. 

“What should I do for you not to think of anything but the love between us?” 

Doon naman siya napaisip at napatingin dito. “Can I go home?” 

“You’re leaving me?” 

“Sira, I need to go home dahil malapit ng matapos ang summer holiday at wala pa kaong plano sa darating na school year. I am a teacher, remember?” 

“Oh yeah, I forgot. Pinakaba mo ako doon, love,” he said and smiles. “But can you just go home tomorrow? I want to take you to another place that is memorable for me,” sabi nito and gave her a quick kiss on the lips. If this is all just an act dahil guilty ito then she felt nothing like he’s acting and she knew best when acting dahil she’s an actress as well. She blushed at his kisses and nodded, sino ba naman ang tatanggi sa mga itinatanong or nirerequest nito kung bibigyan siya nito ng halik? 

“Ai nakalimutan kong tanungin! Anong type ng place mo ba ako dadalhin? Should I dress prettily, casual, formal, or just comfortable wear?” 

“Comfortable will be the perfect dress for today’s date,” sabi nito and winked at her. She was excited now, mukhang magiging masaya ang araw nilang ito. 

Evzen took Ayca to an amusement park para sa kanya people who’s dating in an amusement park were all lame and too cheesy pero noon iyon…nung bitter siya as a single lady. Now, everything seems to be just perfect for her. It might be a place full of people and noisy childrens pero as long na kasama niya si Evzen, even the noisiest place will be peaceful for her. Sounds cheesy? Definitely pero yun talaga ang nararamdaman niya. 

“Why here Zen?” hindi niya mapigilang magtanong dito kahit na the place is perfect for her. 

“Did you know that this was the first place na pwede akong maging ako when I was a kid? I was so happy to be here kasi walang restriction as a kid kapag andito ka. I enjoyed here so much kahit na nga ba nawala ako,” he said and chuckled. “I remember how angry my dad was dahil pina-page pa nila ako but I just kept playing that time kasi alam kong once I saw my dad na one of my happiest moments will be gone. Ganoon ang tingin ko sa buhay ko noon…na when I am with my parent’s hindi ako masaya but nung pumunta ako sa bahay ni Lolo, I misses them a lot. Natutunan ko nung bata ako na once you gave up on something doon mo lang malalaman ang worth nila,” sabi niya dito and gripped her hand gently. 

“Pero hindi pa naman nahuli ang lahat right? Nalaman mo na ang katotohanan, that you were loved and cherished kaya you better take a hold of them and never let them go,” sabi niya at ngumiti siya dito in a gentlest manner. “So tama na ang drama and let’s have some fun!” sabi niya and she even raised her hand dahil na-excite din siya. 

Both of them rode all of the rides sa Enchanted Kingdom, even the ones na nagbubukas lang sa gabi and it’s only for adults ay nasakyan nila. Enjoy na enjoy nilang dalawa ang araw na ito and she felt like she became a kid again. Sa sobrang pagka-enjoy nga nila ay nakalimutan nilang kumain. 

Umupo sila sa harapan ng isang food stall dahil hindi na sila makapag-antay na makakain kaysa magbiyahe pa sila sa labas to go to a proper restaurant na matagal rin naman silang papakainin. 

“Wait lang, Zen, mag-CR lang ako ha. I-order mo na lang ako ng kahit ano hindi naman ako mapili,” sabi niya dito and gave him a quick kiss on the lips. Somehow, this date made them closer and more…comfortable being together as a couple. 

She walked away nung tumungo ito. Nakarating na siya sa CR and was shocked ng makita niyang naghuhugas ng kamay si Chloe sa loob. She felt cold and guilty all of a sudden whilse standing there like a statue. 

“Excuse me, Miss, padaan lang,” sabi ng babae sa likuran niya that caught her and Chloe’s attention. She went to the side before she looked back to Chloe na ngayon ay nakangiting kumaway sa kanya. She awkwardly wave and smiled at her. 

“Oh my God! Small world ha! At mukhang pinagtatagpo lagi tayo lagi,” sabi nito at binesohan siya which she did as well. “Let me guess, pumunta ka dito with a date right?” may panunukso na nakarehistro sa mga mukha nito and she was having a hard time to answer her. She hesitatedly nodded her head. 

“Y-yeah…kasama ko ang ka-date ko. A-actually nasa food stall siya malapit dito.” 

“Oh really? Wow ha! Naalala ko tuloy ng i-date rin ako ni Zeke dito sa noon. Nasakyan niya na ba lahat? My kids—,” 

“I’m sorry, Chloe,” she started sobbing. Na-guilty kasi siya ng tuluyan dahil napakabait nito. As a fan of Ezekiel dapat ay alam niyang dito nga nag-date ang dalawa noon and now, Ezekiel or Evzen or whoever she’s with right now ay dinala ulit siya dito. Is it just coincidence or pinlano talaga ito ni Ezekeil? Maybe he wanted her to stop this ‘relationship’ by feeling guilty. 

“Oh! Bakit ka umiiyak?” nagulat na tanong nito at nagmamadaling naglabas ng tissue sa malaking bag nito. “Are you okay? Bakit ka naiyak and saying sorry to me?” 

“I’m dating Ezekiel,” sabi niya dito at mas lumakas pa ang pag-iyak niya. 

“Ha? E kasama ko ang asawa ko and the kids are with him,” sobrang pagtataka nito pero hindi naman niya masyadong naririnig ang sinabi nito dahil na rin she’s flooded with guilt. “Ahhh! Alam ko na!” malakas na sabi nito that made her look at her confused. “You’re dating Evzen right now? I knew it! Sabi ko na nga ba at kayong dalawa talaga ang magkakatuluyan sa bandang huli. Kahit na ba doon na lang ako sa boring kong office alam ko pa rin kung sino ang swak sa isa’t-isa!” 

“Y-you knew Evzen?” 

“Of course! He is the twin brother of my husband. Nagulat nga ako nung sinabi niyang may kakambal siya sa akin eh and they are identical too! It’s a good thing our hearts knew our partners kundi baka magulat na lang ako if ever makita ko kayong dalawang naghahalikan ni Evzen,” she said and laugh heartily. 

“W-What did you just said?” 

“Oh? About kapag naghalikan kayo ni Evzen and I felt shocked?” nagtatakang tanong nito sa kanya. 

“No...” she even shook her head. “T-the first one.” 

“Ahh! Na kambal sila Evzen at Ezekiel. Yeah, they are indeed twins at i—Oh no! Don’t tell me di pa sinasabi sa iyo ni Evzen ang katotohanan? I thought nung nagkasalubong kami ng daan nung pauwi na kami nila Ezekiel ay sasabihin na niya sa iyo. He told us na sasabihin niya sa iyo,” sabi nito at natutop ang mga bibig just realizing her mistakes. She shook her head harder and longer this time and smiled weakly to her. 

“N-no, hindi niya sinabi. I’m going out first,” sabi niya at nakalimutan na niya ang ano pa mang business niya sa CR. She heard Chloe called her pero wala siyang gustong gawin kundi ang marinig ang katotohanan sa bibig mismo ni Evzen. She was walking towards the stall na pinag-iwanan niya kay Evzen ng magulat siya dahil may narinig siyang tumawag sa kanya. It’s not Chloe this time but her kids instead. 

“Tita Aycaaa! You’re here too!” 

“Danica, nice seeing you here,” 

“Hi kids. Hi Ezekiel,” she said full of confidence na ito nga ang tunay na Ezekiel. 

“Yup the one and only, oh except for my dopplegange…I mean my twin. So sino ang kasama mo ngayon? Don’t tell me it’s my not so handsome twin, Evzen?” 

“Yes, do you want to join us? Nakaupo siya doon sa food stall na iyon,” she said and pointed Evzen who’s somehow looking somewhere at hinahanap siya. That moment na tinuturo niya kung saan nakaupo si Evzen ay naipanalangin niyang wala ito doon at ang lahat ng sinabi ni Chloe sa kanya ay puro kasinungalingan pero he was there. Evzen was there looking worried dahil natagalan siya sa pag-‘CR’ niya. 

“H-hon,” narinig niya may takot sa pagkakatawag ni Chloe sa asawa nito. 

“Oh, wifey, andito ka na pala. Chloe’s asking us to join them sa food stall na iyon. Let’s go and greet my twin at ng makakain na rin ang mga bata. They are hungry,” masayang sabi ni Ezekiel who seems not to read the mood and tension between her and Chloe. 

“Yes, mom, nagugutom na po kami,” masayang sabi ni Aaron sa mama nito at ito pa mismo ang humila papuntang food stall kung saan naroroon si Evzen. She followed them at nakita niya ang kabadong tingin ni Chloe sa kanya but she ignored it. Naglakad na rin si Art kasama ang ama nito kasabay niya. 

“Chloe! Zeke! Andi—A-ayca…” nakita niya ang pagkagulat na rumihistro sa mukha ni Evzen ng makita ang kapatid at ang pamilya nito. Namutla naman ito nang makita siyang kasama dito and she was staring at him coldly. “L-let me explain.” 

“What? Para mapaikot mo pa ulit ako?” 

“I…think me and my family should go and get some food somewhere. Bye, Zen and goodluck,” sabi ne Ezekiel na ngayon lang nakahalata na may mangyayaring malaking gulo. It’s a good thing na naalala pa niya na may kasama itong mga bata or else she will make the couple stay para mas malinawan siya kung gaano siya Katanga all this time. 

“Bye po, Tito Evzen at Tita Ayca!” masayang pagpapaalam sa kanila ng dalawang bata pero wala sa kanila ang nag-bye man lang sa mga ito and both of them are just staring at each other. She can read the same emotions na nakita niya nung araw na nilagnat ito: sadness, fear, guilt, pain and hurt.

“When did you start thinking of making me look stupid?” 

“It’s not li—,” 

“Just answer my damn question!” 

“N-not here, please,” sabi nito at tumingin sa paligid. People were staring at them and the kids seem to be confused and afraid dahil hindi niya namamalayang napapalakas na pala ang boses niya. She turned around and started to walked towards the gate. Alam niyang sinusundan siya ni Evzen because she can still feel the gaze at her back. 

She went inside the car without letting Evzen do his acts. He went towards the driver seat at tumingin sa kanya but she didn’t look at him, instead ay tumingin siya sa labas ng bintana. They were there for a couple more minutes bago nito pinaandar ang sasakyan. Sa bahay nila ito pag-uusapan. 

It seems the travel from EK to his grandfather’s house took forever dahil sa napakatahimik nilang biyahe not like earlier…nung hindi pa niya alam ang totoo at nung tinatawanan siya ni Evzen in the back of his mind dahil napakatanga niya. 

“Oh dumating na pala kayo, gusto niy bang kumain?” 

“Not now, Manang, matulog na po kayo…me and Ayca needs to talk,” sabi nito and sighs. Nakita niyang tumingin muna ito sa kanya and then towards Evzen bago ito tumungo at umalis. “Let’s talk in the study, Ayca,” yun lang at ito na mismo ang naunang maglakad papunta doon. Evzen opened the door to her and he even closed it. Alam niyang soundproof ito and it’s almost midnight, alam niyang ang ibang kasambahay ay tulog na. 

“Now answer my question earlier.” 

“It started when I realized that you were a fan of my twin.” 

“So…simula nung una tayong magkita? Kaya ba hindi mo ako kinorek when I called you Zeke?” 

“No! I tried hard to tell you na hindi ako si Zeke but you assumed.” 

“Oh! I am sorry kung nag-assume akong si Zeke ka at hindi man lang kita binigyan ng time na makapagpaliwanag but hindi noong sinama mo ako dito? You have plenty of time to explain things to me! Instead, you let it go at hinayaang isipin kong ikaw si Ezekiel!” galit na galit siya kay Evzen pero mas galit siya sa sarili niya. Why the heck did she fell in love with this crazy liar and now she’s hurting so much the she felt she just got stabbed a million times. 

“I’m sorry,” at tumungo ito. Doon na lumabas ang pinipigilan niyang luha kanina pa nung magkaharap na sila ni Evzen at katabi niya si Ezekiel. 

“I’m sorry? Saan? For making me look like a fool or for laughing at me while watching me struggle fighting my feelings for you dahil akala ko ay may asawa at anak ka na?” 

“I did not laugh at you. Nasasaktan din ako at nahihirapan that time.” 

“I doubt it…you even told another lies, remember?” 

“Believe me, Ayca.” 

“Stop calling me Ayca like I know you.” 

“Ako pa rin ito, Ayca! It’s just my name’s not Ezekiel nor am I him,” 

“I know…kasi he will never be like you. Atleast, Ezekiel didn’t lie to his wife! He is so much better than you!” sabi niya dito that made Evzen look so shock. She took the opportunity to turn around and walked towards the door. “I’ll just think of you as my worst nightmare. Goodbye,” yun lang at lumabas na siya dito. 

She went upstairs at ini-empake lahat ng gamit niya as soon as she can. While packing, she found a necklace that was given to her by Evzen nung araw na muntikan na siyang masaksak. That time, Evzen bought a necklace telling sorry. Hindi lang nito naibigay sa kanya iyon dahil sa nabadtrip ito sa kanya dahil muntikan na siyang mapahamak while she was with him. She cried hard staring at that necklace. Nung araw na ibinigay sa kanya iyon ng binata ang isa sa mga pinaka masayang araw at alala niya but now it’s just a bitter memory. 

She took her lagguage and walked out of the house. Nakita niyang nakatayo lang si Evzen sa sala and didn’t even stopped her. He really is wise. Alam nitong hindi siya magpapapigil. 

Pero sana nag-try ulit itong pinigilan siyang umalis kahit na alam nitong useless ito ngayon…

ITUTULOY...