Elegantly Imperfect

Kabanata 7

“What do you mean you separated? Did the two of you quarrel?”

Elena rubbed her belly. “No,” she whispered. “We annulled our marriage, Mama. We are not together anymore.”

“What?!” Biglang sumulpot si Emir sa loob sa kusina nang marinig nito ang sigaw ng asawa.

“Ne haber?” (What happened?) tanong nito bago lumapit sa kanila. Emir saw his daughter looking down as if being wrong. Did his wife scold their daughter?

Napahawak sa noo si Eleina sa sinabi ng anak. “How come? I thought you two were happy together?”

“Wait a minute. What’s going on?” naguguluhang tanong ng ama nito.

“They annulled their marriage.” Emir looked at his daughter, unlike his wife, he stayed calm.

“For what reason?”

“He found another woman,” mahinang usal ni Elena. Ito ang ayaw niya, eh. Ang pag-usapan sila ni Raphel, pero may karapatan naman ang magulang niya na malaman ito. After all, botong-boto sila sa lalaking ‘yon para sa kanya. They trusted Raphael.

“Did he cheat?” mariing tanong ng ama niya. She knows that he was already mad.

Elena clenched her fist as tears started to welled up on her eyes. She slowly looked at her dad.

“He… he c-cheated on me, Papa, with my best friend.”

Anger consumed Emir's eyes as she looked at his daughter's heartbreaking self and in pain.

“Piç!” (Bastard!) he cursed. Agad naman dinaluhan ito ng asawa.

“Calm down,” bulong nito. Elena also went to his father and caressed his back.

“How dare he?! Call him now, Emir!” utos ni Eleina ngunit pinigilan ito ng anak.

“Don’t. There’s nothing we can do to get us back to each other. He’s happy now with Chantal. I don’t want to bother them,” naluluhang sambit ni Elena. She wiped her tears away. “And I don’t want him to know that I’m pregnant.”

“Why? He’s the father of your child.”

“He left me for his mistress.”

“Then don’t,” singit ng ama niya. “He doesn’t deserve this child. He should pray that I will never meet him or else I’ll make sure to burn him until he becomes ashes. You are too good for him, Elena. If he doesn’t want you then you are always welcome to go back to us.”

“Why didn't you tell us about this matter sooner?” Siguradong hirap na hirap ang anak niya lalo pa at may binubuhay ito sa sinapupunan. Being a single mom is hard. However, these people are strong and brave.

Umiling si Elena. “I don’t want to cause you problems, especially that Dad has an illness.” Huminga ng malalim si Emir. Maalaga talaga ang anak niya at maswerte sila dahil napalaki ito ng tama. He can’t do anything that will tire him or else his heart won’t make it. Hindi siya pwedeng mamatay lalo na at kailangan siya ngayon ng pamilya. He can’t leave, yet.

“Did your mother-in-law know about this?”

“I think so.” Suminghot si Elena at tiningnan ang malaking tiyan. “I’ll stay here for a year, Mama, Papa. I will give birth here.” Isa pa gusto niya din alagaan ang anak ng kuya. She will stand up as his mother. Alam n’yang iyon din ang gusto ng magulang ni Keiran.

-----

Manila, Philippines, 10:00 A.M

“Sigurado po ba kayo na hindi niyo alam kung nasaana ang babaeng nakatira dito?” tanong ni Liana sa guard sa harap ng bahay ng dati n’yang kuya at Elena.

“Opo, Ma’am. Sa katunayan po ay binebenta na ang bahay na ‘to.”

“Gano’n ba?” Liana huffed and went inside hier car. Saan ba nagpunta si Elena. Bakit hindi man lang siya nito tinawagan? Pinutol ba nito ang koneksyon sa kanila dahil sa kuya niya. That idiot! Naaalibadbaran siya sa Chantal na ‘yon. Ang landi, p*ta! Baka hindi niya mapigilan na kalbuhin ito ‘pag nagkita sila. SHe will never accept that mistress! Ang kabit ay kabit!

She swung her head when her phone beeps. She clicked the answer button and listened to the person on the other line

.

[Liana, the person you are looking for is Elena Nav— I mean Gonzales, right? I think someone registered a name like that in this village. Do you want to check if it’s legit?]

“Really? Give me the address. Thank you so much, Phoebe!” nakangiting turan ni Liana sa kaibigan. Actually, nitong college lang sila ni Phoebe nagkakilala and they immediately clicked. Now, they looked like they’ve known each other for a long time.

[You’re welcome. Samahan mo ako mag0shopping sa Sunday, okay?]

Liana playfully rolled her eyes. Mahilig talaga mag-shopping si Phoebe kahit hindi pa sila magkakilala. Halos lahat nga ng shop ay pinasukan na nito.

“Fine. See you tomorrow and thanks again!”

-----

Serenity Village.

Mabuti naman at pinapasok siya ng striktong guard sa loob. Ang strict mabuti kung hindi niya pa sinabi ang pangalan ni Elena at kung ano siya nito ay hindi siya papapasukin. Iniwan niya pa nga ang I.D sa guard, eh, para naman mapanatag ang loob nito. Mukha bang may balak s’yang masama? Duh!

Tumigil ang sasakyan niya sa isang krema at puting bahay. Oh, wow! The house is stunning. Alam nilang may kaya si Elena but she stayed low key. She went down the car and pressed the doorbell of the house. Ilang sandali lang ay bumukas ang pinto ay sumalubong sa kanya ang isang katulong na hindi siguro nagkakalayo ang edad nila.

“Yes?” Ay aba! Mukhang mataray, ah?

“Is this where Elena Gonzales is staying?” tanong ni Liana na nag-krus ng braso.

Kumunot ang noo ni Barbie sa dalagita na nasa harap niya. Sabi ng amo ay hindi siya pwedeng magpapasok na kahit na sino at kasabay na nito ay pagbibigay impormasyon tungkol dito.

“Hindi. Pasensya ka na.” Sasaraduhan sana niya ito ng pinto ng tinulak nito iyon paloob at pumasok si Liana sa loob.

“Hoy!” Hinablot ni Barbie ang braso nito.

“Alam mo bang trespassing ang ginagawa mo? Wala nga dito ang hinahanap mo kaya umalis ka na!” asik nito. Liana retrieved her arm and glared and looked at the maid seriously.

“Alam kong dito nakatira si Elena. I need to know, please?” Mukha namang seryoso ang dalaga pero hindi papauto si Barbie. Paano na lang kung nagpapanggap pala ito? Eh, ‘di dead meat siya sa amo niya.

“Umalis ka na, Miss. Hindi siya dito nakat—”

“I need to know if she is okay. Matagal ko na s’yang hinahanap.”

Barbie pursed her lips. “Sino ka ba?”

“I… I’m her ex-husband’s sister. She’s my sister-in-law.”

“Ah! Kapamilya ka pala ng damuhong ‘yon!” sarkastikong usal ni Barbie. Of course, may alam siya, noh! Nakita niya ang lalaki sa telebisyon at kilala niya ito. Nagtataka nga siya na hindi binalita sa media ang paghihiwalay nito sa asawa at tingnan mo ngayon, nagtatrabaho siya dito. Elena is not famous like his husband, actually, hindi ito sanay sa mga party. One time, nagulat na lang siya nang patayin ng amo ang t.v dahil sa lalaking ‘yon. Doon niya nalaman na ito pala ang asawa ni Raphael Navarro, ang cheater na ‘yon! Hmp!

Liana rolled her eyes. “You can call him whatever. He’s a bastard. Anyway, nasaan siya?”

“Wala na siya?”

Liana’s heart skipped a beat.

“What do you mean?”

“Ang ibig kong sabihin ay wala siya dito sa bahay.”

Nakahinga ng maluwag si Liana. Iba kasi ang naisip niya.

“When is she coming back?”

Barbie shrugged. “Hindi ko alam kung kailan siya babalik. Umalis siya ng bansa.”