Hindi Nakakalimot Ang Puso

CHAPTER 1

NAKAHINGA ng maluwag si Liz ng matapos ang ginagawa. Sa wakas ay makakauwi na rin siya. The office hour was already over. She glanced at her wristwatch. Malapit ng sumapit ang alas-siyete ng gabi. Dapat ay kanina pa siya nakaalis. Alas singko y medya ng hapon ang oras ng kanyang uwian.

Gustuhin man niyang umuwi na para makapagpahinga na rin ay hindi magawa. Kailangan pa niyang tapusin ang dokumentong pinagagawa sa kanya ng kanyang boss. Alam niya kung bakit ipinatatapos sa kanya sa loob ng araw ding iyon ni Mr. Campado ang dokumento. Huling araw na kasi nito sa kumpanya bilang isa sa CEO ng Gonzales Food Processing Incorporated. At gusto nitong nasa ayos ang lahat bago lisanin ang posisyon.

She’s working as his private secretary. Although halos apat na buwan pa lamang siyang nagtatrabaho bilang sekretarya nito, madali niyang nakasundo ang mabait na amo. At nalulungkot siya sa kaalamang aalis na ito sa kumpanya.

She felt her chest tightened in dismay. Mahirap pa namang makakita ng mabait na amo sa mga panahong ito. Kung siya nga lamang ang masusunod… Napabuntong-hininga na lamang ang babae.

Though hindi malinaw sa kanya ang dahilan ng pag-alis ni Mr. Campado, ang alam niya ay ang panganay na anak ng bagong may-ari ng GFPI ang papalit sa posisyon nito. At iyon ang kanyang magiging bagong amo.

Liz did not know what to expect from her new boss. Her working relationship with Mr. Campado went very smoothly. At iyon ay dahil mabait ito at hindi mahirap pakisamahan. And he’s tapping her every potential and she was grateful with that. She felt satisfaction working with such a nice boss.

She silently prayed for a good fate with a new boss. Sana naman ay katulad pa rin ito ni Mr. Campado. Mabait at hindi masyadong istrikto.

For the past four months, hindi nalingid kay Liz ang papaluging estado ng GFPI. Ipinagbebenta ng pamilya Gonzales ang major share ng kanilang negosyo.

May nakabili na ng pagmamay-ari sa kumpanya at ngayon nga ay iba na ang big boss ng GFPI. At kasabay ng pangyayaring iyon ay ang maraming mga pagbabagong ipinatupad sa loob ng kumpanya. Maraming mga matataaas na opisyal ang natanggal at iba pang kawani sa ibat-ibang dibisyon. At abot-abot ang kanyang pasasalamat ng malamang hindi siya kabilang sa mga mawawalan ng trabaho. She badly needed the job. Not at this point in her life.

Pagkatapos mailigpit ang mga gamit, nagmamadaling nilisan ni Liz ang opisina. Siya na lamang ang naiwan sapagkat kanina pa nakaalis si Mr. Campado at marami pang mga bagay na aasikasuhin. Ang dokumentong ipinagawa nito sa kanya ay iniwan na lamang niya sa itaas ng mesa nito.

Bitbit ang kanyang handbag at brown na folder, binaybay niya ang kahabaan ng hallway patungo sa elevator. Nasa ika-sampung palapag ng matayog na gusaling iyon ng GFPI sa Ortigas siya nakadestino. Bahagya niyang hinilot ang sintido dulot ng pagod sa maghapong pagtatrabaho. Isa ang araw na ito sa may pinakamaraming gawain sa kanilang opisina.

Walang laman ang kanyang isipan kundi ang makauwi na kaagad. She’s silently hoping that the traffic would not be really that troublesome. Her mind was occupied by the thought of Gerald. She knew that the boy was already waiting for her. At kahit pagod sa maghapong pagtatrabaho sa opisina, the thought of her cute little angel eased her weariness away.

Lumilipad ang kanyang isipan kaya hindi niya napagtuunan ng atensiyon ang kanyang paligid. Kaagad siyang pumasok sa elevator ng bumukas iyon. Nakipagsiksikan sa mga taong nag-uunahan sa pagpasok sa loob. Akap-akap ang folder sa kanyang dibdib, pinindot niya ang Ground Button at naghintay.

Rush hour sa mga oras na iyon. Halos ay magsiksikan ang mga taong laman ng elevator. Ngunit wala siyang pakialam doon. Ang gusto niya ay makauwi kaagad not only to rest but to see her sweet angel Gerald as well.

Liz smiled at the thought.

Abala ang kanyang isipan kaya hindi niya namalayan ang pagpasok ng isang lalaki sa loob ng elevator at pumuwesto sa kanyang harapan.

Liz wrinkled her nose as she sniffed something… The scent that her nose captured was indeed very familiar. Strange, but the manly cologne has scent that totally brought her senses into life.

At bigla, hindi niya maintindihan kung ano ang nangyari sa kanya. Her heart raced faster… heavier. She can almost feel the rushing of her own blood. The familiar scent stirred something deep within her. It seemed that she was used smelling that manly scent sometime ago!

Kaagad na itinaas ni Liz ang kanyang mukha. The crease on her forehead deepened. And there, she saw the back portion of the head of the guy standing intimidatingly wide and tall in front of her. And her heart seemed to leap upon the sight.

Kilala ba niya ang lalaking ito? Her mouth opened. At biglang nanuyo ang kanyang lalamunan as her lips uttered something she did not hear.

Pamilyar sa kanya ang bultong iyon. Pamilyar to the point na nakatatak na yata sa kanyang buong katauhan. Sinikap niyang kapain sa sulok ng kanyang memorya kung sino ito, but she got no answer. Bigla tuloy kinabahan ang babae. This is indeed weird!

She can feel the sweating of her own palms… her cheeks seemed to be in fire. This man… This strange feelings… Oh hell! And she does not know what to do right now!

Her sanity was telling her, that she doesn’t know this person. Na ngayon lang niya ito nakita. Ngunit bakit ganito ang kanyang nararamdaman? And why does her heart beats something like this?

Oh hell! Hell! Bloody Hell!

Sa sobrang effort na ginagawa niya maalala lamang kung sino ang lalaking ito that made her feel stranger to herself anymore, she felt a pang of nausea. Pakiramdam niya ay biglang sumakit ang kanyang ulo.

Liz tried to ignore his presence. But the fresh manly scent seemed to torture her spirit. Pakiramdam niya ay mas lalong sumikip ang espasyo at hindi siya makahinga ng maluwag.

Who is this man? She wondered. And why is she acting like this? Stupidity immemorial!

Liz tried to breathe some air to calm herself. She was rattled. Nalilito siya sa tinatakbo ng kanyang damdamin. At ng bumukas ang elevator sa Ground Floor, her relief was so enormous. She can’t wait to get out of that lift and breathe some fresh air.

Sa pagmamadaling makalabas ng elevator, halos nabangga niya ang likuran ng lalaking iyon. Liz found herself stiffened at the contact of their clothes. But there was a strong force of electricity on it! Her eyes grew wide in amazement. Yes, and dammit, but she did really feel electricity!

Actually, halos dulo ng damit lamang nito ang dumikit sa kanya. But then, the effect was so drastic. Ni hindi nga nito napansin na nagkadikit ang kanilang mga damit.

Now this was really lunacy! She wondered in awe.

“Excuse me Miss.” Ang boses ng babaeng nasa likuran ni Liz ang nakapagpanumbalik sa kanyang natutulalang isipan.

“Sorry.” She smiled akwardly at tuluyan ng lumabas ng elevator.

Her eyes followed him. Ang lalaking laman ng kanyang isipan ay bahagya ng nakalayo at patungo na sa parking area. As though she was possessed, hindi namalayan ni Liz ang sumunod na pangyayari. It seemed that her two feet had their own minds. Sa mabilis na mga hakbang ay hinabol niya ang lalaki.

“Wait!” She shouted as he was about to slid into his car. Naudlot ang sanay gagawin nito. He stiffened and after a while, glanced back at her. And she cannot believe her own eyes ng humarap sa kanya ang lalaki. Her grip to the folder went tighter. Shocked, she stood there frozen.

What the heck! But she was staring to a face so vividly familiar! How can she recognize not those tsinito eyes? Those eyes who reminded her of the most important person she had in life. Her sweet little angel Gerald!

Staring at him right now, she was lost in mystery. Pakiramdam hi Liz ay nahulog siya sa isang malalim na balon ng palaisipan. Nasapo niya ang ulo ng makaramdam ng pagkahilo.

“Yes?” Nakakunot ang noo ng lalaki. He locked his eyes with hers. The slits of his eyes narrowed and his face darkened.

“Yes Miss?” He repeated. Ngunit nanatiling parang natuklaw ng ahas si Liz. He did not know, but he found himself staring straightly into this strangers eyes. And he liked the feeling of it. The feeling of plunging into something he wanted to explore.

Kanina, when he heard her voice, something deep within him, buried in the corner of his soul was awakened. Curiosity drove him to look back. He faced her squarely and discovered an astonishing fact.

The lady captured his attention. And he can’t simply take his eyes off her. Na para bagang pinag-aralan ito ng maigi mula ulo hanggang paa. Although she was beautiful enough to swoon his eyes, that was not the primary reason. Her face… those rounded kitten like eyes… upturned nose… and those kissable lips… He closed his eyes as he saw sunshine crossed her face.

Christ, but he felt something different but homely familiar. Her pretty face brought him images of burning passion and undying memories. And it seemed that he, for the past years had found a piece of himself!

And for the first time in two years, he felt his heart functioned normally. He can feel the thudding of his heart against his chest. And that intrigued him most. This beautiful woman standing sweetly in front of him, with lips slightly open and with dreamy eyes, he felt the havoc of raw desire.

Sino ang babaeng ito that can make his life go upside down?

Gerald…, Liz whispered silently. Her lips were quivering. Totoo ba itong nakikita ng kanyang dalawang mga mata? O dinadaya lamang siya ng isang ilusyon?

“Yes Miss?” His voice echoed, louder this time and with a touch of arrogance.

“Huh!” She surely lost her mind and tongue at that moment. She felt her world swirling. And the attack of nausea was there again. A sticky and moist sweat dropped from her forehead.

“What can I do for you, anyway Miss?” Still, he remained polite. At sa nakikitang reaksiyon ng babae, he felt dammed sorry for her. And the urge to gather her on his arms and sooth her back was awesome.

“Gerald…,” It was a soft murmur.

Ngunit malinaw iyong nasagip ng pandinig ng lalaki. It was then that he realized na napagkamalan ito ng babae for someone else.

“Excuse me,” he smiled a bit. “But you see I’m not Gerald. My name is Christian.” His mouth twisted arrogantly.

Na lalong nakapagpatulala kay Liz! God, but he looked goddamed handsome! She was fascinated by the smile. She watched as his lips curved and flashed a set of well grown white teeth. And his voice? “Oh!” She gasped. It was then that she realized na kahit ang boses nito ay pamilyar sa kanya… Lalo tuloy siyang nalito.

“S-sorry,” she mumbled. “T’was that I thought I know you.” Hindi niya alam kung paano niya nabigkas ang mga salitang iyon. She felt the sudden rush of blood in her cheeks ng marealize na umaakto siyang parang tanga sa harapan ng lalaki. Bigla tuloy siyang na-conscious. Lalo pa ng mapansing pinag-aaralan siya ng lalaki mula ulo hanggang paa. She felt intimidated. Ngunit kaagad niyang hinamig ang sarili.

“Its okay.” He smiled, assuring her not to worry about it. Ang tsinito nitong mga mata ay nadagdagan ang pagka-singkit.

Just like the way Gerald does. Muli ay bigla siyang nalito sa naisip na iyon.

“Anyway, I’m Christian. And you?” He initiated the introduction.

“Liz. Liz San Diego.” Kusa iyong nanulas sa kanyang mga labi. Nag-aalangan pa sana siyang makipagkilala… But his warm smile was friendly enough to relax her tensed heart. Isa pa ay siya ang tumawag dito. And when he extended his hand para makipag handshake, inabot niya iyon sa nanlalamig na mga kamay.

And there again, she felt the strong flow of electricity as their hands met. She automatically withdrew the contact. She was unnerved. Her eyes dropped. Easy Liz, she silently filled her lungs with fresh oxygen. At ng pakiramdam niya ay nahamig na niya ang sarili, itinaas niya ang ulo at buong tapang na sinalubong ang titig nito. Which is a great mistake. She found herself drowned in those brown depths. Their gaze locked. At pakiramdam ni Liz ay may kapangyarihan ang mga mata ng estrangherong ito at nagmamalfunction ang kanyang utak. At hindi niya alam kung paano pahupain ang nagririgodon niyang damdamin.

They were just there. Nakatayo at nakatitig sa isat-isa. Time stood still. And for a moment, something on her mind flashed back. Blurry images flooded her brain. But its cloudy and vague at wala siyang maintindihan. She closed her eyes fiercely.

“Glad to meet you Liz.” His voice was thick and hoarse. Ngunit parang isang malamyos na musikang umabot iyon sa pandinig ni Liz.

“Liz,” he uttered her name again. Tasting the sweetness of her name at the tip of his tongue.

She opened her eyes and bravely met his stare. “Same here C-Christian.” She still mumbled. She was trying to hold her composure. Ngunit ang malakas at misteryosong dating sa kanya ng lalaking ito mistulang isang mabangis na tigreng hindi niya kayang paamuin. At hindi niya maipaliwanag ang kakaibang pakiramdam na dulot sa kanya ng lalaki.

“Sorry for the inconvenience. Naistorbo tuloy kita.” She smiled shyly. “I guess I have to go now.” Enough Liz! Lihim niyang pinagalitan ang sarili. Stop acting like an idiot! Bigla tuloy siyang nainis sa sarili ng marealize na para siyang isang teenager na nahuhumaling sa kapogihan ng lalaking ito. Bigla siyang sumimangot.

Hindi na hinintay pa na makasagot ang lalaki. Sa nagmamadaling mga hakbang ay nilisan niya ang lugar na iyon, papalayo dito. Papalayo sa kakaibang damdaming hindi naman niya maintindihan kung ano. Di niya alam, ngunit parang may gusto siyang takasan.

Dali-dali niyang pinara ang dumaang taksi. Animo’y hinahabol ng sampung kabayo na nagmamadaling pumasok siya sa loob ng sasakyan. Narinig pa niyang tinawag siya ng lalaki ngunit hindi na niya pinag-abalahang lingunin pa ito.

Saka lamang nakahinga ng maluwag si Liz ng tumatakbo na papalayo ang sinasakyang taksi. Kanina, Pakiramdam niya ay biglang sumikip ang kanyang mundo. Her meeting with that stranger seemed to bring her into another dimension.

“Christian.” She whispered his name and sighed in exasperation. Kahit alam niyang estranghero sa kanya ang lalaking iyon, hindi niya mapigilan ang sariling mag-isip tungkol sa tunay nitong pagkatao. At ang katotohanang nakita ng kanyang mga mata mismo ay mahirap itakwil sa kanyang isipan. He really looked like Gerald. The same tsinito eyes…

Baka naman pagkakataon lang ang lahat. But the resemblance was very pronounced and undeniable! Na kahit siya mismo ay hindi magawang kumbinsihin ang sarili na nagkataon lamang ang lahat. Napabuga siya ng hangin. And at that moment, all she wanted to do was to get out of the cab, at liparin ang distansiya pauwi sa kanilang tahanan. Ma-traffic pa naman sa mga oras na ito. Isinandal niya ang likod upang hamigin ang sarili. Sa pagdaan ng mga sandali ay unti-unti na siyang naiinip.

CHAPTER 2

“MAMA!!!” Masayang boses ng isang taon at limang buwang cute na batang lalaki ang sumalubong kay Liz. Bagamat bata pa ito ay matatas na kung magsalita.

“My cute angel!” Liz felt her heart throbbed with pride. Gerald was such a very adorable child. Yumuko siya and kissed his soft, rosy cheeks at kinuha sa stroller ang tatawa-tawang bata. He felt warm on her hands.

“Kanina ka pa hinihintay ni Gerald Ate,” si Maila. Ang yaya ng bata. Nakasunod ito sa likuran ni Liz habang itinutulak ang wala ng lamang stroller.

“Sobrang traffic kasi,” she answered… and sighed. Hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin makatkat sa kanyang isipan ang nangyari kanina. Her meeting with that stranger named Christian. Hindi tuloy niya maiwasang titigan ng mabuti ang anak. And there, she confirmed the great similarity between that stranger and her son Gerald.

“Nasaan si Inay Maila?” Hindi niya alam kung ano ang iisipin ng mga sandaling iyon. Nangangapa siya sa dilim. And right now, she wanted to talk to her mother. Marami siyang mga katanungang hindi mahanapan ng kasagutan.

“Nasa kusina po at naghahanda ng hapunan.”

Kalong si Gerald ay tinungo ni Liz ang kusina. Naabutan niya ang ina na kasalukuyang naglalagay ng mga plato sa mesa. Katulong nito sa paghahanda ng hapunan ang kanyang nakababatang kapatid na si Kristel.

“O nandiyan ka na pala Liz. Tamang -tama at nakahanda na ang hapunan.”

She took a last longer look at her son. And again, hindi niya maiwasang mapabuntong-hininga sa nakita. Ibinalik niya sa nakasunod na si Maila ang bata. Pagkatapos ay humugot ng silya, umupo at tahimik na tinitigan ang ina.

“Tawagin mo na ang Itay mo Kristel at ng makakain na tayo.” Si Rosita habang inilalagay nito ang pinakahuling plato. Humugot na rin ito ng upuan upang makaupo at kampanteng tinitigan ang anak.

She opened her mouth to ask her mother, ngunit wala siyang makapang akmang katanungan. She felt the sudden rush of weariness.

“May problema ba Liz?” Ngayon ay nakatitig na rin ng matiim si Rosita sa anak. Kaagad na napansin ang emosyong nakabadha sa mukha ni Liz.

Though Liz was obviously tired, there was something else in her eyes na kung bakit ay biglang nakapagpakaba sa ginang.

“Nak?” Untag nito sa lumilipad na diwa ni Liz.

Liz blinked her eyes rapidly. She saw concern on her mother’s face. Lalong nadagdagan ang pag-aalala sa mukha nito ng manatili siyang tahimik. With that, ipinasya na lamang niyang sarilinin ang nakakapagpabagabag ng kanyang isipan.

“Wala ho to Nay. Napagod lang ako.” Hinilot-hilot niya ang nananakit na sintido.

“Mabuti pa ay kumain ka na anak. Maya-maya ay nandito na rin sina Kristel at Itay mo.” Nag-aalalang sinapo ni Rosita ang sintido ni Liz. At ng wala itong maramdamang lagnat, nakahinga ito ng maluwag. Ipinaglagay pa nito ng pagkain sa plato ang anak.

She smiled in gratitude. Bilib siya sa klase ng pag-aarugang ibinigay sa kanilang magkapatid ng ina. Undoubtedly, her mother was the best in the world! She was always been there para dumamay sa kanila ni Kristel sa mga pagkakataong kailangan nila ng tulong.

At somehow ay sinundot siya ng konsensya. Hindi niya alam, but for the first time, she doubted her mother.

Pakiramdam kasi niya ay marami itong itinatago sa kanya. At hindi niya maiwasang magduda.

Pakiramdam ni Liz ay maraming kulang sa kanyang pagkatao. Maraming katanungan ang gumugulo sa kanyang isipan. Bagamat sinagot na iyon ng kanyang ina at dati ay pinaniniwalaan niya, ewan kung bakit ngunit ngayon ay hindi niya maturol ang katotohanan ng mga bagay-bagay.

At ang insidenteng nangyari kanina ay mahirap ipaliwanag. At nalilito si Liz sa tinatakbo ng kanyang damdamin.

Hindi niya kilala ang Christian na iyon. At base sa naging reaksiyon nito, hindi rin siya kilala ng lalaki. But the strange feeling she felt for that stranger was quite unexplainable!

Hindi niya lubos maisip kung bakit ganun na lamang kalakas ang naging epekto ng lalaki sa kanya. Maybe she could account that to the fact na kamukha nito ang kanyang anak. In fact, he was the older version of her son!

Yes! She snapped. Maybe that was it! The fact that he looks like her son captured her attention. And that put an invisible bond between them and nothing more. Parang ganoon na nga.

But the similarity was so great that it’s hardly coincidental! Nagsusumiksik iyon sa kanyang isipan. That thought could not be eradicated from her mind. And she was getting paranoid!

Oh what the hell!

Nalilito na siya sa tinatakbo ng kanyang pag-iisip. At ang nakakalitong damdaming lumukob sa kanyang pagkatao sa pagtatagpo nila ni Christian seemed to torture her soul.

She suddenly felt weak and battered.

Hindi mapuknat-puknat sa kanyang isipan ang guwapong mukha ng estrangherong iyon. Why does she feel something like this towards that man? It was indeed extraordinary!

Christian….

The name sounds very familiar. But of course, it was a common name. In fact, may pinsan pa nga siyang Christian din ang pangalan.

Christian… She murmured his name silently.

Oh, how she wanted to throw him out of her system!

Liz released a silent sigh of weariness and frustration.

—– WATCH OUT FOR THE NEXT CHAPTER—-