Chapter 4

"Oh my God, am I gaining weight?" I looked at myself in horror as I circled the measuring tape around my waist and my hips. 25 and waist ko at 33 naman ang hips! Nanlaki ang mga mata ko.

"Nasobrahan ba tayo ng kain, Barin?" nag-aalala kong tanong sa alaga, nakakunot ang noong nakatingin sa salamin at hindi nagugustuhan ang nakikita. "My gosh. If this continues, I will not be able to wear corset tutu dresses for the opera!"

Nag-panic ako sandali habang binubuo sa isipan kung ano ang dapat kong gawin sa timbang ko. When we were in Russia, I would take Barin out for a walk around the neighborhood and jog with him too. Eh dito, kain lang kami nang kain! Kung anu-anong events ako hinihila ni attorney and of course, there's free delicious food! Alangan namang hindi ako kumain?

Sa sobrang pangamba ko ay inignora ko ang inihandang breakfast sa table. Sinimulan ko ng pakuluan ang pagkain ni Barin at tumawag sa lobby.

"Hello?" a professional, female voice came in.

"Ah, yes. Hello. This is Savia..." pagpapakilala ko.

"Yes, Ma'am." I heard her typing in her computer, probably to confirm if I am a resident of this building. "What can we do?"

"May malapit ba na gyms dito?" tanong ko kaagad. "Yung nago-offer ng membership card tsaka maganda ang facilities."

"Just a moment, Ma'am. I'll give you a list."

"Thanks. Yung hindi makalumang gym, ah!" I reminded her.

Pinilit ko tandaan ang exercise routine namin sa theatre at inilista na rin iyon. I didn't have to worry about maintaining my weight in Russia because I was constantly moving. Eh dito, lumalabas lang ako kapag may party! If not, I would sit at home all day binge-watching Netflix series or arranging my designer bags at the shelves.

"Meron po, Ma'am." She said after a while, and then enumerated the names of the gyms that are near the area.

"Thank you!" I said, ending the call. Sakto namang pagkulo ng manok. I let it boil for another minute before I turned off the stove and drained the water. Tapos hinayaan ko nang lumamig saka pumasok sa kwarto ko para makapagbihis.

When I went out, I am already wearing a gray Nike sports bra, black leggings, and I paired it with white trainer shoes. Nakasaksak ang air pods sa tainga ko habang naglalakad ako palabas ng elevator at kaagad na dumiretso sa parking lot.

Despite the sultry voice of Lana del Rey singing in my ears, I could still hear those stupid bastards who were catcalling me. Kung hindi lang talaga ako nagmamadali ay baka pinatulan ko pa sila! But then, I am too busy minding my own business. Pity on them because they can't do anything but try to intimidate a woman and miserably failing.

I pulled out my white Porsche from the parking lot and then set the GPS to get me to the gym. Naalala ko ang mga dapat gawin nang makita ko ang petsa ngayong araw. I could stay for a few more weeks here before I'm bound to La Union.

My knuckles went hard around the steering wheel. Just the thought of that woman makes my blood boil!

"Calm down, Savia... she's not even worth thinking," I consoled myself as I stepped into the accelerator and speed up. Bumagal lang ang biyahe ko nang makita ang logo ng gym na hinahanap ko. naghanap kaagad ako ng mapagpa-parking-an at lumabas bitbit ang isang maliit na duffel bag na naglalaman ng mga damit ko pagkatapos ng workout. This is the same duffel bag I used during our practices in the theatre.

When I got inside, wala namang akong mai-reklamo sa mga facilities and equipment nila. This is not a well-known gym for no reason. They also limit the capacity of their customers to make sure that everyone is comfortable doing workouts and other routines while they're inside.

Even though I don't plan to stay long here in Manila, I still got their membership card. Pinlano ko kasing araw-araw na magpunta dito hanggang sa maibalik ko ang dating vital statistics ko.

When I got their silver membership card, I thanked the lady behind the counter and then proceeded with my warm up exercises. Nilapitan ako ng lalaking trainer at nagtanong kung kailangan ko ba ng assistance. He smiled at me while I am doing jumping jacks in front of him.

"No..." I said between huffing breaths. "I can handle."

"OK." He said rather enthusiastically. Huminto ako na hinihingal at pinagmasdan siya. He has an athletic build and lean body, as he should have. Matangkad din at may dimples. His skin is a bit darker and reminded me of the Comanche people I met three years ago in Moscow. He's cute, huh.

"Basta, sabihin mo lang kung may kailangan ka. I'll be there." he winked in a friendly manner before sauntering away. Napailing ako at ipinagpatuloy ang exercise na ginagawa.

Nang matapos ako ay nagdesisyon akong magsimula sa treadmill. I changed my playlist and placed my phone inside my duffel bag before I stepped into the equipment. Habang sini-set ko ang machine ay napansin ko ang papalapit na anino sa akin.

"Anna?"

I turned to see an unfamiliar woman. She's glowing and really beautiful with her short yet soft curls, white sports bra and dolphin shorts and black sneakers. Malapad ang ngiti niya sa akin. Kumunot naman ang noo ko.

"Hindi mo na ba ako natatandaan?" she chuckled softly. "I'm Cerise. Asawa ni Reuben!"

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang tuluyan nang mag-sink in sa isipan ko kung saan ko nga ba unang nakita ang babaeng ito. I stepped down from the mill to apologize to her.

"I'm so sorry..." I muttered. "I easily forget faces,"

She laughed again and then pulled me into a hug. "Wala yun! Oh my God! How long has it been? Five years?" when she pulled back, tiningnan niya ako mula ulo hanggang paa. "You look really great!"

"Thank you. So do you." I said sincerely.

She giggled and stepped back, then pointed to the treadmill next to me. I nodded in understanding at sabay na kaming nag-jog.

"So, how are you?" she asked while running slowly at first.

"I'm good. And you?"

"Kapapanganak ko pa lang sa pangatlong anak namin ni Reuben," she smiled and then glanced down at her flat stomach. Medyo nagulat ako sa sinabi niya! She doesn't look like a mother of three sons! In fact, she's like a supermodel or something dahil sa hitsura at pangangatawan niya. Tinamaan kaagad ako ng insecurity. Cerise can maintain her body while being a mother. I, on the other hand, just gained weight just by staying here for a few weeks!

"Lumipat ba kayo ng tirahan ni Reuben? What are you doing here in Manila?" curious kong tanong sa kaniya habang patuloy ako sa pagtakbo.

She shook her head and smiled gently. "May showing ako ngayon dito sa Manila. And Reuben accompanied me for business. Binisita niya din ata si Blake. Teka, nagkita na ba kayo ni Blake—"

"Great. So, you paint?" I cut her off immediately, not wanting to answer her question.

Naintindihan niya din naman kaagad dahil tumango siya. "Yes. I'm a painter, Anna." She laughed softly. "You probably didn't know that. Isang beses lang tayong nagkita."

"Well, I'd be glad to attend your exhibit." huminto na ako at hinayaan ang sariling habulin ang hininga. I eyed the dumbbells nearby and decided to do it next. "Anong date ng showing mo?"

We talked some more before we went into separate ways in doing our workout routines. Naunang matapos si Cerise sa akin. Nagpaalam siya sa akin at halos patakbo nang lumabas ng gym.

Pagkatapos ko sa sariling workout ay nagpahinga muna ako at uminom ng tubig bago nagpunta sa shower room. I took a quick shower and changed into a white flowy dress. While drying my hair with the spare towel, I went back into the locker room, pre-occupied.

Doon lang ako natauhan nang mapansing dumami ata ang tao sa locker room. And it's not just people. They're guys and almost all of them are half naked!

"Oh my God..." horror dawned on me when I realized that I just stepped inside the boy's locker room! Bago pa man may makapansin ay mabilis akong tumalikod at bumunggo sa isang matigas na bagay. Napaatras ako, hawak-hawak ang tungki ng ilong ko at napapikit.

"Anna?"

Nang magmulat ako ng mata ay tumambad ang nag-aalalang mukha ni Blake sa akin. Mukhang kakagaling niya lang din sa shower dahil tumutulo pa ang tubig mula sa buhok niya. Pinulot niya ang towel na nahulog ko at inabot sa akin.

"What are you doing here?"

By then, naagaw na namin ang atensyon ng mga lalaki sa loob. Nag-ingay kaagad sila nang makita ako.

"Uy! Bawal girls dito!"

"Blake, pakilala mo kami sa chicks mo!"

Sumama ang tingin niya sa kantyaw ng mga lalaki at hinawakan ang balikat ko.

"Sige na, pre!" halakhakan naman.

"Tumigil ka, gago." He turned to me with dark eyes. Lilingon pa sana ako ngunit mabilis niyang ipinirme ang mukha ko, hawak ang baba ko. "Let's get out of here."

"Hindi ko sinasadyang makapasok doon! I was lost, okay?" pagpapaliwanag ko sa kaniya habang naglalakad kami palabas, patungo sa may bench.

"I know..." kalmado niyang wika.

My frown got deeper. Bakit ba sobrang affected ako kung anong iisipin ni Blake na nakita niya ako sa loob ng boy's locker room? The need to explain for myself churned at the back of my head. Nag-init kaagad ang ulo ko sa kakaibang inaakto ko.

"Why are you here? Are you following me again?" namaywang pa ako at tinaasan siya ng kilay. He's just wearing a white wife beater shirt and pants. It's very un-CEO of him to wear it but for some reason, he looked really good in it.

"I'm a member here for a year already, Savannah." He explained in a gentle voice.

Tinakpan ko ang pagkapahiya ko sa pamamagitan ng pagsusuplada sa kaniya.

"OK, then. I'll just look for other gyms..." I said without thinking, and immediately regretted the money I paid for the membership card!

"Why would you look for other gyms? Iniiwasan mo ba ako?"

"Of course not!" maagap kong tanggi sa kaniya. I don't want to look at him in the face, because it reminds me of the night at the charity event. Hanggang ngayon ay nahihiya pa rin ako sa inakto ko. I sobbed at his arms all night until he accompanied me home and kissed me goodnight. That was two weeks ago. Hindi ko pinapansin ang mga texts at tawag niya mula noon.

"You don't even answer my calls and text messages..." he said, looking a little hurt. I bit on my lower lip and casually played with the damp towel in hand.

"I was... busy, okay? Marami akong ginagawa! Hindi ako pwedeng mag-text lang nang buong araw."

"Ganun ba? Sorry," he said apologetically and I become more irritated at myself than him! Ano ba 'tong lalaking ito? Saan ko ilalagay ang galit ko kung ganito siya? He must act like a jerk so I could fire on him!

"Sige na, I'll go na..." I said silently, admitting defeat.

"Teka lang," hinawakan niya nang marahan ang braso ko. Nag-angat ako ng tingin sa kaniya at nagtaas ng kilay. He didn't budge one bit. "Kumain ka na ba?"

Naalala ko ang abandoned breakfast sa apartment and unconsciously, I shook my head.

"Good. Kain muna tayo. Ihahatid kita sa inyo,"

"I brought my car," I said, lifting my chin arrogantly.

"Then I'll drive. Dito ka lang, kunin ko lang ang bag ko sa loob."

Bago pa man ako makasagot ay iniwan na niya ako sa labas. Napaawang ang bibig ko! Did he just?!

Wala pang isang minuto ay bumalik na kaagad siya. Suplada ko siyang tiningnan.

"I'll just get my bag, too." I said, gustong bumawi sa kaniya. I marched into the girl's locking room to get my bag. Sinadya ko talagang bagalan ang kilos ko. I even fixed the towel and rearrange the things inside my bag so I could buy some time!

He's a busy man. I know if I let him wait for too long, he'll just go. Magkakalahating-oras na ata ang lumipas ay nasa loob pa rin ako. Pa-scroll-scroll lang ako sa social media at napag-desisyunang hanapin ang account niya sa Instagram.

Nagulat ako nang makakita ng apat o limang account na mukha niya ang gamit! Ang iba, hindi pa Blake Sobreval ang name na gamit!

"Tingnan mo 'tong babaerong ito..." bulong-bulong ko habang ini-stalk ang account niyang may pinakamaraming followers. "Kaya siguro maraming accounts para sa mga babae niya?"

Blake Sobreval

Businessman | Outdoor Enthusiast |

Kumulo lang ang sariling dugo ko sa naisip. Tinitigan ko ang mga pictures niya. Most of them are taken by paparazzi! Naiinis akong nag-scroll down, naghahanap ng kahit isa man lang niyang picture kasama ang isang babae pero wala akong makita.

I clicked the message button to check on him.

@saviadlr: are u still outside?

Naghintay ako ng ilang minuto at chineck pa ang iba niyang account. Nang wala akong matanggap na reply ay binalikan ko ang message sa kaniya.

Seen!

Kumulo ang dugo ko! Ang yabang naman talaga ng lalaking ito! Padabog kong inayos ang mga gamit at nag-decide na lumabas nalang. I'm sure he got tired and left!

Magkasalubong ang mga kilay kong lumabas ng girl's locker room. I am still cursing him inside of my head and stopped in my tracks when I saw him patiently waiting outside, with no phone in hand.

Napanganga ako at napatingin sa orasan ko. Mga 45 minutes ata ako sa loob! Nakatayo ba siya d'yan ng 45 minutes?!

"Let's go..." he said as if it's the most normal thing to say after someone made him wait for almost an hour.

"Did you get my message?" I demanded from him, falling into step next to him.

"Message?" dali-dali niyang kinuha ang phone mula sa itim na bag. I looked at him warily. He's already handling their company, the CEO of the Sobreval Industries and yet, he's still using an outdated iPhone! "What message? Hindi ka nagrereply sa mga texts ko..."

Ipinakita niya sa akin ang thread ng mga good morning at good night messages niya na walang nakuhang reply mula sa akin. I swiped it off my face to lessen the guilt that I am feeling and rolled my eyes.

"Sa Instagram! Duh."

"Instagram?"

Bumagal ang paglalakad ko nang mapagtanto kung ano ang nangyari.

"You don't have Instagram?!"

Marahan na iniling ni Blake ang ulo niya, medyo nalilito pa rin akong tinitingnan.

"My gosh! Taong bundok ka ba? Bakit wala kang Instagram?"

Nanggagalaiti ako sa sarili ko. So, poser pala ang na-message ko kanina! Bakit ang dami niyang mga poser accounts? Ganun na ba talaga siya ka-gwapo para gamitin ang pictures at pangalan niya?

"I don't have time for social media," seryoso niyang sabi, papalabas na kami ngayon at patungo sa parking lot sa dulo. "Do you want me to make an account?"

"Aba! Bakit ako ang tinatanong mo? Girlfriend mo ba ako?"

Tumigil siya sa paglalakad at nagpatuloy naman ako. Nang makita kong hindi na siya sumusunod ay saka din ako tumigil tsaka nilingon siya. Nagtaas ako ng kilay.

"Ano?" I asked, crossing my arms over my breast.

He took long strides towards me and then looked at me seriously.

"May itatanong ako, Savannah..."

"Ano nga..." iritado kong sabi sa kaniya.

Nagkamot pa siya sa batok bago pumirme nang tayo. "Pasensiya ka na, dito ko pa talaga tinanong sa parking lot. Ipapahabol ko nalang ang mga bulaklak mamaya."

"What are you talking about?"

"Gusto kitang ligawan, Savannah..."

Umawang ang bibig ko na nakatingin sa kaniya. I want to see if he's joking, but his face is so serious! I blinked, and then forced myself to chuckle.

"Napaka-old fashioned mo naman!"

"Then what do you want me to do?"

"Wala!" I took a deep breath to calm myself. Para na atang sasabog ang puso ko. What am I, a teenager who have been asked by her crush for a date?!

Nagsimula na akong maglakad ulit pero hinabol ako ni Blake at hinawakan ang braso ko. Nilingon ko siya nang nakakunot ang noo.

"Ano?"

"I can't not do anything for you, Anna. Didn't I say I'm going to make up for all the years I lost you?"

Suminghap ako at hindi nagsalita kaagad, pinipilit na timbangin ang nangyayari ngayon at ang mga bagay na gumugulo sa isipan ko.

"Eh di layuan mo ako kung gusto mong may magawa para sa akin..." pagmamatigas ko.

Mas lalong humigpit ang hawak niya sa braso ko. "I can't do that, either."

"Then do whatever you want..." I said, rolling my eyes.

"Good." He said, a bit satisfied of my answer. "Where's your car keys?"

Iniabot ko sa kaniya ang susi ng sasakyan at itinuro ang nakapark na Porsche. I slid inside the passenger seat and immediately buckled my seatbelt before he had a chance to do so.

I am using my phone while he's driving. Dinelete ko ang message ko sa poser account niya at binlock iyon. He stopped at the red light to turn to me. Nasulyapan niya ata ang mga pictures dahil kumunot ang noo niya.

"Ako ba yun?"

Umirap ako at ipinakita sa kaniya ang iilan pang mga poser accounts na ginagamit ang pangalan at mga pictures niya. Manghang-mangha na nakatingin si Blake sa mga iyon.

"Bakit naman nila gagawin yun?" he shook his head and then continued driving when the light turned green.

"Aba malay ko! Aren't you even mad at them?"

"What's the point of getting mad? It's not a hideous crime."

"It's using someone else's pictures and name! Paano kung may gawin silang mali and then people will blame you because of it?!"

Tumahimik si Blake saglit, nag-iisip. He dismissed me then, saying his lawyer could take care of it. Huminto kami sa isang maliit pero cozy na breakfast restaurant. He says his friend owns it and that the strawberry milkshake here is the best.

"Ako na ang o-order. Anong gusto mo?" tanong niya sa akin. I studied the menu and then pointed what I want before turning to my phone again.

Nang makaalis na siya ay sinundan ko siya ng tingin at nakitang nakangiti siyang binati ng babaeng staff. Medyo may kataasan ang linya. The woman offered to make an exception for him but he declined, saying he's going to join the queue and wait for his turn.

I scoffed when the girl continued to smile cutely at him and then disappeared back into the kitchen. Mayamaya ay isang matangkad na lalaki ang lumabas at nakita kaagad si Blake. The two men talked for a bit, laughing and then the man went inside. Nang lumingon si Blake sa akin ay kaagad kong iniwas ang tingin ko at hinarap ang cellphone.

Pagdating niya ay bitbit na niya ang tray ng pagkain namin. The shrimp aglio e olio looks delicious, so I took a picture of it. Sakto namang nahagip siya. Gusto ko iyong i-post bilang IG story ko. Kumunot ang noo ko nang may mapagtanto.

"Ay! Ano ba yan, hindi nga pala kita ma-tag!" banas ko. alangan namang isa sa mga posers niya ang i-tag ko, diba?

"I'll make an Instagram account then." Blake said, getting a fork and tissue and then sliding it to me.

"Good! You're messaging these posers?"

"No. I'm only creating an Instagram account for you. Para may ma-tag ka na sa mga pictures mo."

Nag-angat ako ng tingin, gulat na gulat. Napansin ata niyang nakatitig ako sa kaniya dahil tumama din ang tingin niya sa akin. He nodded towards my food.

"Kain ka na, Savannah. Lumalamig ang pasta mo."