The Conflict of the Past pt. 1

5 years ago.

Red parked his car in their garage. He just got back from a vacation with his friends sa hacienda nila Buboy. He went straight home pagkahatid niya kay Terrenz. It was kind of a tiring long drive kaya't he went straight home para makapagpahinga. He didn't bother unloading his stuff iuutos na lang niya iyon mamaya. Pumasok na siya sa loob ng bahay. He passed thru the side entrance. When he entered, narinig niya ang tila masayang kwentuhan from the guest lounge area. Tila may bisita ang Tita Marga niya.

He wished to take a rest so he headed straight upstairs and hindi na inalam kung sino ang bisita ng tiyahin niya. He went straight to his room. When he was about to enter his room, napaatras siya nang may matanawan siyang babaeng nakaupo sa sofa sa upstairs salas. Nagbabasa ito ng tila magazine habang nakasandal ang ulo sa sofa. Napangunoot noo siya nang makilala niya ang babae. Lumapit siya rito.

"Llanie?" tawag niya rito.

Napalingon si Llanie sa kaniya. Bahagya lang siyang tinignan nito at ipinagpatuloy ang pagbabasa sa magazine. She looked bored.

"What are you doing here?" he asked.

Llanie rolled her eyes and sarcastically took a deep breath. "Eh di ano pa, acting like a good daughter. Your aunt invited my parents for some kind of tea party. They are talking about old stuff, it bores me. So here I am trying to fight the urge takasan sila," Llanie said.

Natawa si Red sa sinabi nito. Llanie was always this bitchy but she is fun to be with and nice. Best friend ito ni Terrenz and he always witness how solid their friendship was. Kahit mayaman ito, Llanie was down to earth and always protects Terrenz.

"Nakauwi na ba si Terrenz?" tanong nito.

"I dropped her there. And don't call her today. Hindi yun lalabas. We just got back. She needs rest," aniya. He sat on the couch.

Ngumiwi si Llanie. "Excuse me, as if mapipigil mo ko. Ako ang best friend. Bago kayo naging kayo, kami ang laging magkasama. Kapag grumaduate kayo, kami pa rin ang magkasama. Besides, 1 week kayong magkasama. Don't be like a controlling boyfriend," inirapan niya ito.

"I am not a controlling boyfriend. I am just telling you to let her rest for a day," turan ni Red somewhat.

"Whatever, Redentor," pairap na tugon niya rito.

Pagkuwa'y nilingon nito ang direksiyon pababa ng hagdan as if may tinitignan ito roon. Saka ito napasulyap sa suot na wristwatch.

"Hindi pa ba sila tapos? Pwede na ba kong umalis?" ani Llanie.

"Bakit ka ba kasi nagbabait-baitan? You're mom and dad knows kung gano katigas ang ulo mo. They are used to it," udyok ni Red.

Llanie's parents and Red's Tita Marga are business partners for long time. Nang mamatay ang magulang ni Red nung 15 years old siya, ang Tita na niya ang naging guardian niya. Ito ang nagtake over sa mga negosyong naiwan ng ama niya dahil bata pa siya noon. His Tita Marga is his father's step-sister. Kahit pa siya ang sole heir ng kaniyang ama, he needed his aunt's help at that time. Wala na rin siyang alam na ibang malapit na kamag-anak.

Red's Aunt is more strict than his dad. Pinanindigan nito ang pagtayo bilang magulang niya. At times, Red feels being controlled and his privacy being envaded but he just accept the fact na kung wala ang tiyahin niya, he will be nowhere near he is now. Kahit papano, iningatan nito ang yaman na iniwan sa kaniya ng mga magulang. Pinag-aral pa din siya nito and gave him the life he is used to noong nabubuhay pa ang mga magulang niya.

He met Llanie and her family thru his aunt. High School pa lang sila noon when they first met. Noon pa man, Llanie and Red knows they are being shipped to each other. But Llanie is still young at that time kaya't tila hindi din iyon masyadong sineseryoso ng mga magulang ni Llanie. They never saw each other after the first meeting. Then, they met ulit ng college and that is when he learned na eto ang bestfriend/room mate ni Terrenz.

Kahit walang kinalaman si Llanie sa pagkakakilala niya kay Terrenz, he was somewhat thankful na close ito ng babaeng nililigawan. It was easier for him to get close kay Terrenz noon. At times, nakakaguilty na ginagamit niya ito just to simply talk to Terrenz. But Llanie have been supportive din naman sa lovelife ng best friend nito.

Tumayo si Llanie. "I'll go then, bahala na," anito. "Will you come with me para magpaalam?"

Nagdikit ang kilay ni Red kasabay ng pagkulubot ng noo. He rejected the idea. "Hindi nga ko nagpakita dun eh because I wanted to rest, tas sasamahan pa kita."

"Iiiihhh... Kung sa parents ko lang, ok na ko eh. But your Aunt, she looks like the wicked step-mother ni Cinderella," reklamo ni Llanie.

Natawa si Red. But he understood how Llanie felt. Kahit ang mga kaibigan niya ganun din ang description sa Tita niya. Honestly, he is not that close sa tiyahin niya. To him, his aunt is like a hired guardian rather than a family.

Natatawang tumayo na rin si Red. Might as well na ihatid na lang din niya palabas ng bahay si Llanie. Iuutos na lang din niya sa driver nila na ihatid si Llanie for she might need a ride. Magkasunod na bumaba sila ng bahay at tinungo sa guest lounge ang parents and tiyahin niyang nagkukwentuhan. They can both hear them cheerfully talking as they walk towards the guest lounge.

"Mom, Dad..." tawag ni Llanie as she walks in sa lounge. Nasa likod nito si Red. Red stop at the entrance, sumandal siya sa hamba ng pinto habang nakapamulsa as he waited for Llanie to talk to her parents. "I'm leaving. I need to do some things."

"Oh! Hi Red!" magiliw na bati ng mother ni Llanie kay Red nang makita siya nito. Red just smile.

"You're back," turan naman ng tiyahin niya. "We were just talking about both of you."

Nagkatinginan ang dalawa. Tila alam na naman nila kung san na naman tutungo ang usapang ito. Llanie secretly signal Red to do something. Red didn't react. He seemed used to it. Kaya halos hindi na rin ito nagkokomento.

"You know it's good that they are friends now, it is actually a good start," dagdag pa ng tiyahin ni Red. She is the eager one na ipareho sila sa isa't-isa. "It's like destiny na naging mag-schoolmate pa sila."

Napailing na lang si Red. While Llanie smile awkwardly.

"My apologies Tita Marga but I really have to go. I'll just see you next time," turan ni Llanie. Hindi na nito hinintay na magsalita ang sinuman sa magulang nito or ang tiyahin ni Red. Mabilis na itong humakbang palabas. Sumunod na lang din si Red dito.

"Hindi ka ba naiilang when they always do that?" iritableng turan ni Llanie.

Red smiled weakly. Kahit siya he didn't want to tolerate it. But as respect sa mga nakakatanda sa kanila, he didn't give any reaction. Besides, Llanie is his girlfriend's best friend. Ayaw niyang magbigay kahit kunting doubt sa relasyon nila ni Terrenz.

"It's best not to react on it. Simply ignore it. As long as hindi mo pa ko pinipikot, I can tolerate," biro ni Red.

"As if! Mahindig ka nga Redentor. Over my dead body!"

Napailing-iling na lang habang natatawa si Red. Pagkuwa'y tila pagod na humarap ito sa kaniya. "You can tell Mang Jorge to drive you home. Hanapin mo na lang siya sa labas. I'm too tired to function. Aakyat na ko," anito saka tumalikod at halos patalon-talong inakyat ang second floor.

Inirapan na lang ito ni Llanie saka tuluyang lumabas na ng main door.