PRINCETOWN| Chapter 3

 

Curses

 

Abe’s Perspective

 

The way to her room was heavy. Every step I make felt like an apology. I missed her so much and it breaks my heart that all I can do is to wait.

 

I never regretted any decision I made for the last 10 years but this one broke the record. And now, I’m paying the price.

 

Her beautiful face never changed. If not for the tubes and the monitors beside her, I would think she’s only sleeping.

 

“Come back to me, please.” I begged holding her hand. “Your friend made it back. When will you? Galit ka pa ba sakin kaya mo ko pinaparusahan ng ganito?”

 

I’ve always thought that as long as I have the family name and the bloodline with me then I’ll live a life where I can control everything. Na hanggang ginagawa ko ng mahusay ang trabaho ko at ang misyon ko bilang parte ng pamilyang Gauthier, wala na kong proproblemahin.

 

“Abe, are you there?” Someone called by the door.

 

I didn’t dare to answer because I know he’ll still come in even though I’ll say he shouldn’t.

 

“What the hell do you want?”

 

“A nice cup of tea would be nice.” Paesyn smirked. I don’t always see him around but when I do, it’s either about business or he’s got something for me.

 

“Bulag ka ba? Tingin mo ba kusina to?”

 

“Tch. Ang seryoso mo naman. Wag ka munang dumikit kay War, magkamukha na nga kayo magkaugali pa.”

 

I ignored his comment leaving my wife for awhile to get something from a cabinet.

 

“Here, pour yourself some.” I tossed him some tea bag na hindi pa nabubuksan na ikinatawa niya.

 

“Loosen up man, gagaling din yang pinsan ko.”

 

His words are encouraging pero alam ko sa sarili kong walang salitang makapagpapasaya sa akin kung hindi ko makikitang magmulat siya ng mata, gumalaw, at magsalita.

 

Bago pa man humaba ang katahimikan ay nagsalita na si Paesyn.

 

“Alarik’s back. Chesham’s summoning us at the gallery tomorrow.”

 

 

I sighed. I’m not sure I’m relieved to hear that my cousin’s back. The last time I saw him…

 

“Bakit Abe, sa tingin mo hindi ka makakapatay ng tao sa oras na mawala sayo ang asawa mo? Eh kung patayin ko kaya siya ngayon?”

 

“Tumahimik ka kung hindi pasasabugin ko yang utak mo.”

 

Sabihin na lang natin na hindi maganda ang huling pagkikita namin ng isa sa mga paborito kong pinsan. At that time I thought I’ll only see those eyes from War but I never thought he’d be in so much rage after what happened. As if he’s transformed into another person.

 

I have Pascal Gauthier’s blood running deep in me, but I’ve never felt such monstrosity even if I’m in a bad mood.

 

“It’s been two years man. The least we can do is to be there for him after the tragedy. You and War will be there right?”

 

I hesitated for a while. Though I know, I wouldn’t miss seeing him for the world but I’m concerned about some things.

 

“You ever think you’ll love a girl, Paesyn?”

 

He cringed. Alam kong ayaw niya na tinatawag ko siya ng walang Kuya. It’s that or ayaw lang niya sa tanong ko. Or both.

 

“Sabihin na lang natin na wala pang minamalas sa mga babaeng nakilala ko.”

 

“Well, I look forward to the day you do.”

 

“Don’t.” He said that like I was joking. When I look at him, his attention was on a photo on a corner table. It was a picture of her in her finals match in France. I remember it was quite her happiest I’ve ever seen her.

 

“I’m sorry about Vaia.”

 

“You saying that is like you’re sorry for being part of the family.”

 

“I don’t believe in curses.”

 

“Oh yeah?”

 

“Mmm. But what I do believe is that you s love your woman too much you lose yourselves when you lose them.”

 

I can understand why he chose to believe that. I do think that there’s truth in his words but I’d also like to believe that men from Gauthier family are cursed the moment they fall in love.

 

 

 

Nang natapos na ang paguusap namin ni Paesyn ay bumaba ako sa kusina para kumuha ng maiinom. Simula ng ma-coma si Vaia nahirapan na akong matulog sa gabi. Kung hindi ako magsasalin ng alak o kaya naman ay magtratrabaho magdamag, hindi ako dadalawin ng antok.

 

“Nakaalis na si Kuya Paes?” Si War. Sa tagal niyang nagmumukmok sa Medicine quarters, muntik ko nang makalimutan na hindi nga pala siya normal. Sanay na ko na kung dumating siya ay wala man lang paramdam pero ngayon, parang nakakapanibago.

 

“You still walk like a predator even inside your own house.”

 

“Tch. Your fault for not noticing.” Kumuha siya ng sariling baso at nagsalin ng ibang alak mula sa display.

 

“How’s Vaia?”

 

“Ganon pa rin.”

 

War and I are opposites like the north and south poles but we’re practically raised in one house. Alam ko ang kulo ng bituka niya at ganoon din siya sa akin. He doesn’t usually care but when he does I know it.

 

“Anong plano mo bukas?”

 

“It’s an order. May magagawa pa ba ko. Isasama ko na lang si Malka.”

 

Si Malka.

 

Now here’s a girl who’s as brave as War. She started it all. Who would’ve thought that a small town girl can love him like that. I’m really amazed.

 

 

 

It was War’s 20^th birthday when I knew she’d completely make him lose his mind.

 

 

Me and Paesyn was on the far end of the garden that night calming War’s nerves. One of the things that we really avoid is to get his temper on the rise.

 

“Who the does he think he is? Doesn’t he know what I’m capable of? I can snap his neck in a second and bring him back to life just to kill him again!”

 

“Bro, kalma.”

 

“Ano bang sinabi ng Devo na yon?”

 

“Abe, not helping.”

 

“If he thinks he’s better than me just because he can climb his way to the top from nothing then I’ll be very honored to throw him back to the pit where he came from.”

 

Hindi pa bahagyang kumakalma ang iritadong si War ng may narinig kaming mga boses.

 

“Tara na nga kasi Vai, alam kong nandito sa garden si Warrie. Samahan mo ko!”

 

“Where’s your class girl? Hindi dapat ikaw ang naghahabol sa lalaking iyon.”

 

 

“I’m going to wring his ing neck.”

 

“Tumahimik ka na War, may mga bisita.”

 

“No, you ing shut up!”

 

“Tangina naman tol.”

 

 

“Hi girls. Are you lost?” I said blocking War’s view before they catch him in a really unwelcoming state.

 

Paesyn tried to cut me off but I continued.

 

“Hi Warrie…” Si Malka, heiress ng Blooms Land Ventures, as usual hindi niya ako nakikita pag anjan si War.

 

“Who the hell are you?” Bulyaw ni War sa dalawang babae. Inawat agad ito ni Paesyn at nagpaumanhin.

 

“We’re sorry Malka, Vaialy but our cousin’s drunk.” It was a lie. War doesn’t drink at parties thrown by our family.

 

I feel so embarrassed that War’s acting this way. Especially now that we’re in front of my crush. Hirapan na nga ako mapansin lang ni Vaia tapos mangyayari pa ang ganito…

 

“I’m your fiancee?” Malka explained. Hay, ba’t ba hindi na lang tumino si War at ngayon pa sinumpong?

 

“Tch, Ikaw? Don’t make me laugh.”

 

“Our parents arranged our marriage two years ago before you went to the camp.”

 

“Ah right, you’re that young girly girl. You look prettier now…”

 

I still couldn’t look at the girls because I’m not sure they wouldn’t want to see us again after this but then War’s eyes dropped at Malka’s chest and now I’m very sure Vaia’s impression of me will just get worse.

 

“Malka, binabastos ka na niyang hayop na yan. Kayayamang tao, mga bastos!”

 

Not everyone, baby.

 

“Hey , am I talking to you?”

 

Hindi ko na napigilan ang sarili kong itulak si War sa paraan ng pakikipagusap niya. And it wasn’t a light push. It was more like a hard shove.

 

“Dude, what the hell?”

 

“War, tama na. Mga babae iyang kausap mo.” I noticed in his eyes that he was suddenly calmer. Maybe the presence of the girls has distracted his wrath somehow.

 

“Can you two leave us alone. There are no room for prissy little girls here. Just go back to that lame party.”

 

Magsosorry na dapat ako sa dalawa pero hindi ko na nagawa dahil nagsimula ng magalit si Malka.

 

“Hoy Warrick Emile hindi ako naghintay ng dalawang taon para makita kang maging sa harap ko. Why are you like this? You’re not like the Warrie I’ve met before.”

 

“Eh…ano ngayon? Anong pake ko sa opinyon mo?”

 

I hate to admit it, but we’ll never have that War back. The way he’s change is permanent. I’ve seen him go through his transition and it affected me more than it affected everyone else in the family.

 

“Come on M, let’s go.”

 

But Malka did not move an inch. Sa halip ay lumapit pa siya sa pinsan ko at tiningnan mata sa mata.

For a second there I saw my cousin’s eyes wavered and I thought I was seeing the War I grew up with.

 

He was really taken aback.

 

Alam ko dahil wala pa, kahit isang tao ang humamon sa amin at tingnan kami derecho sa mata. Either naiintimidate sila dahil sa pamilya namin o di kaya naman ay sa takot na maoffend kami at parusahan namin sila.

 

 

Ngayon pa lang. At si Malka Bloom ang nagsimula.

 

“You dare to look me in-”

 

My jaw dropped at what she did next. Malka bloom gracefully grabbed my cousin’s collar and surprised him with a kiss. She was so brave attacking War like that I never thought she’d go for the kill.

 

Edi natahimik din si gago.

 

“Oh my god.” Paesyn snickered controlling his laugh.

 

 

“Next time, lower your voice when you’re talking to a girl.” She said then pecked his lips again.
 

“And here I thought you’d kiss like an expert. I’ve never been so disappointed.”

 

“Let’s go Vai.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I almost want to laugh at the memory.

 

“Hey man, did you ever think we’d be like this? I mean after all those wars, those battles and those blood we shed…”

 

“Do you think we deserve this?”

 

“What?”

 

I know he knows what I’m talking about. He just want to stall because he wanted to act tough and cool. He’s never going to change but I know he’s beginning to forgive himself.

 

“Love.”

 

Dahil kung ako, alam ko sa sarili ko na sa lahat ng kasalanan ko I’m the least person who deserves anything like that. And I know, War thinks this way too.

 

“No.” He sighed.

 

“But our girls do. And that’s what’s more important.”