CHAPTER 7
1794 Words
Nagising si Angelique sa sikat ng araw. She looked at her phone. It's 11 a.m. She woke up late again. This is not her. She always wakes up early to start her day. Then she noticed a message from her phone. She opened it. It's from Felix.
From Felix: Hey, baby. I didn't wake you up because you sleep like a pro. I just need to do some errands in the office. You can go out anytime you want just make sure to bring bodyguards. I'll call you later at lunch Mrs. WILDER.
She smiled. Yeah, she is Mrs. WILDER. Gusto niyang makonsensya dahil pakiramdam niya ay hindi na niya iniisip si Oscar. Pakiramdam niya ay kuntento na siya kung ano ang kanyang sitwasyon ngayon.
Hindi pa rin sila natulog sa iisang kwarto ni Felix. Nakakatuwa lang dahil hindi ito ipinipilit ng lalaki kahit pa nga dalawang beses na silang? Wait. Ano ba ang tawag sa ginawa nila? She laughed. She doesn’t even know what they did!
She went to the bathroom and do her routines. She wore floral dress today. She wants to go to the mall nearby and buy some stuff. Naglagay lamang siya ng powder at konting blush-on and very light lipstick. Nang mapagmasdan ang sarili ay sinukbit na niya ang kanyang shoulder bag. She was about to open her door when her phone rang.
Natataranta siyang kinuha ito sa bag at umupo sa kama. Her dad is calling.
"Hello, dad?"
"Hello my, love. Kumusta naman ang aming prinsesa?"
She smiled. She is a daddy's girl ever since. Naririnig pa niya ang pag-agaw ng ina sa telepono ngunit mukhang ayaw ibigay ng ama.
"I'm fine dad. I'm actually doing great."
"We have good news for you, my love."
"What is it dad?"
"Someone gave us back our businesses. All of it! Pati ang ating Mansion sa Sta. Fe ay naibalik."
"R-really?" Hindi naman siya nagulat na maibabalik ito, ang kinagulat niya ay ang mabilis na proseso.
"Yes anak! Ang kanyang abogado lang ang aming nakausap. Ayaw niyang magpakilala. Pero kung sino man siya! Buong buhay ko siyang pasasalamatan!"
"T-that's good to hear that, Dad.'' She was smiling at the same time, teary eyed. She can hear her dad's voice. He is genuinely happy.
Hindi sila galing sa mayamang angkan. Her dad was a working student. He worked as a janitor, waiter and balut vendor just so he can pay his own tuition. He worked really hard to achieve all of these.
"Hindi na namin matatapos ang isang buwan na bakasyon, dahil kailangan din namin umuwi agad upang asikasuhin ang lahat."
"Okay dad, I'll see both of you when you come back. Dito na natin pag-usapan ang lahat."
"We love you, my love."
Narinig din niya ang bulong ng kanyang mommy at ito rin ay nag I love you.
"I love you both so much!"
Then the line went out.
She smiled, and took a deep breath. Tuluyan ng tumulo ang kanina pang namumuong luha sa kanyang mga mata.
Happiness is an understatement to define her emotions right now. Lahat ng pinaghirapan ng kanyang ama ay naibalik na, at ‘yun ay dahil kay Felix.
She types a message on her phone.
To Felix: Please call me when you can.
She wiped her tears then she went out of her room.
Nakita niya sa kusina si Kling-kling at Tonya na parehong kasambahay.
"Ay, ma'am. Kakain na po ba kayo? Ipag hahain na po namin kayo."
Tumango lamang siya at umupo.
"Si Manang Ising po ay nasaan?"
"Lumabas po sandali. Baka po namimili. "
Hinainan siya ng dalawa.
"Kumain na ba kayo? Tanghalian na, oh."
"Mamaya na lang po pag tapos niyo," si Tonya ang sumagot.
She smiled.
"Sumabay na kayo sa 'kin. Ang lungkot kaya kumain ng mag- isa."
Tinignan lamang siya ng dalawang kasambahay.
"Please?" At nginuso pa niya ang kanyang labi at nag mukha siyang nag papaawa.
"Sige na nga po, mapilit kayo ma'am, eh." Agad kumuha ang dalawa ng kanin pinggan at kubyertos at sabay-sabay silang kumain.
"WHAT are you up to at ang dami mong binitawang investments? That's four big firms that we are talking about here," one of Felix's business advisers talked to him.
"First, that firm is not mine. I just gave it back to original owner. Hindi naman magiging mitsa ng pagkalugi ko kung ibabalik ko 'yon." He is just sitting to his table and signing some papers.
"Right. Pero ang dami mong investors na nag-invest 'don, at ano 'yon? Sila ang makikinabang at hindi ikaw?"
"Like I said Nico, it's not going to be the cause of my failure. My decision is personal and not related to my business agenda..." Mula sa pagpirma ay tinignan niya ang adviser. He looked at him with no emotions.
"...you are here to tell me what do I need to do and not what I can't do." At inilahad ni Felix ang mga papeles na pinirmahan.
Inabot naman ito ng kanyang adviser.
"Sorry s-sir," saad ni Nico. Yumukod ito. "I'm just concerned about your plans."
"Your job is to give me good advice regarding what to do to make my business get better and not to get concerned with my personal plans. Do I make myself clear, Nico?"
"Y-yes. Yes sir. Again, I apologize. "
At tumalikod na ito at lumabas ng kanyang office.
Napailing siya sa tinuran nito. Nagsimula itong magtrabaho sa kanya simula pa lang ng magsimula rin siyang mag-business at ngayon lang ito sumalungat sa kanyang desisyon.
He looked at his phone and saw a message from his wife. It was two hours ago. His phone was on do not disturb mode because he was in an important meeting.
Mabilis niyang dinial ang number ng asawa. Nakailang ring ito at hindi sumagot. He redials it. Still, hindi pa rin sumasagot. Paano kung tumakas ito at bumalik sa dati nitong nobyo?!
Hindi na siya mapakali. Tumayo siya at nag-dial ulit.
"Manang Ising, nandyan ba si Angelique?!"
"Relax lang, hijo. Lumabas lang sandali ang asawa mo at may bibilhin daw." Ramdam ni Manang Ising ang takot sa boses ni Felix.
He took a deep breath at natukod ang isang kamay sa lamesa.
"Thank you, manang. I'll just call her again."
Pagbaba pa lamang ay muli niyang na dial ang number ng asawa.
"Sorry, I didn't hear---"
"Don't do that to me again, Angelique!"
Nagulat si Angelique sa tinuran ng kausap. Galit ba ito?
"I- i'm sorry. Nasa loob kasi ako ng mall kanina kaya hindi ko narinig ang tawag mo."
Biglang nahimasmasan si Felix at muling naupo sa kanyang pwesto.
"I'm sorry too. I was just worried. I thought you ran away." Hindi niya maitago ang takot sa kanyang boses.
"Why would I do that?"
"I thought you might come back with your ex-boyfriend, because you love him." Mahina ang boses ni Felix.
"F-felix. I did not. Nandito na ako sa loob ng car, pauwi na rin kami. Pauwi ako sa BAHAY MO," sinadya niyang diinang ang huling salita.
"I brought two of your body guards by the way. So rest assured na hindi ako tatakbo," pagpapatuloy niya.
She heard him sigh.
"Y-yeah, I'm just paranoid. I just can't afford to lose you again. I'll die."
Hindi alam ni Angelique kung saan nanggaling ang mga sinasabi ni Felix sa kanya. Ngunit ayaw na niya dagdagan pa ang lungkot sa tinig nito.
"By the way. Thank you! My dad called me and they told me that your attorney contacted them about what you promised me."
"Of course, baby. I told you... in less than a week."
"Sobrang bilis lang kasi... Hindi mo alam kung paano mo ako napasaya."
"Are you? That's all I want to know. Your happiness is my priority."
Namayani ang saglit na katahimikan.
"Ahm, Felix..."
"Yes, baby?"
"...I- i know that you were my unknown husband. I am just starting to know you, actually. I wanna say...
"...thank you for doing this even though I know that I am also a strange wife to you. I just want you to know that I am willing to give it a try, and...
"...and to make this marriage work. I will be a good wife to you." May tumulo na luha sa mga mata ni Angelique and she doesn't know why.
Muling namayani ang katahimikan.
"Baby..." Walang masabi si Felix, namuo ang luha sa kanyang mga mata.
Angelique heard sounds that she knew that Felix was crying.
"Felix, a-are you okay?"
"I---ahm. Huu!” He laughed to hide his tears.
"I am okay, baby. Y-you. I-don't--- " He doesn't even know what to say.
"You don't know how happy I am right now! I promise! I will be a good husband!" he said it finally.
ANG gaan-gaan ng loob ni Angelique. Pakiramdam niya ay she's on the right track. Bitbit ang kanyang mga pinamili ay pumasok na siya sa mansion. Nakita niya ang mga kasambahay na may buhat na malalaking boxes.
"Ano ang mga 'yan?" tanong niya.
Ibinaba muna ng dalawa ang mga buhat na kahon.
"Pinapalipat po ni Manang Ising sa bodega, galing po sa kabilang kwarto," si Kling-Kling ang nagsalita.
"Mukhang ang bibigat niyan, bakit kayo ang nagbubuhat? Tawagin niyo ang ibang bodyguards sa labas at sila ang pagbuhatin niyo."
"Kaya napo namin ito, ma'am."
"Hindi Tonya. Mabibigat 'yan. Sige na tawagin niyo sa sila. Iwan niyo muna dito 'yan."
Sinunod naman siya ng dalawang kasambahay.
Hindi alam ni Angelique kung bakit parang hinihila siya ng kuryosidad na tignan ang mga kahon. Sinilip niya muna ang Foyer kung may tao na animoy may gagawin siyang masama.
Lumakad siya malapit sa isang kahon. Binaba niya ang mga pinamili sa mall at binuksan ang kahon. Wala man lang itong alikabok. Mukhang kalalagay lang ng mga gamit.
Isa-isa niyang tinignan ang mga ito, mayroong lagayan ng alahas na pagbukas niya ay dalawang singsing na plastic, hairpin na sunflower ang design.
Muli niya itong isinara at binalik sa kahon at inabot ang isang piano na laruan. Sinubukan niya ito kung gumagana pa at yes! It's still working.
Naagaw ng kanyang pansin, ang isang photo album. Binalik niya ang pianong laruan at kinuha ang photo album.
Binasa niya ang nasa labas nito.
'Memories'
Binuklat niya ito.
She frowned.
Mga litrato.
Isang binata kasama ang isang batang babae.
Mabilis niya itong binuklat muli at nahinto siya sa isang larawan. In this picture the guy is genuinely smiling while the girl is kissing him on the cheek.
She widened her eyes!
The guy in the picture is Felix and the girl with him looks like...
HER!
But she is sure that's not her! Hindi siya ang babae na nasa larawan!
"Angelique!" Mabilis hinablot ni Manang Ising ang hawak niyang photo album.
"S-sino ang babae sa larawan manang Ising? bakit kamukhang-kamukha ko siya?!"
- Writer
