Elegantly Imperfect

Kabanata 9

Bumaba na ng eroplano sina Elena at ang anak nito. Prim was just on their back. If someone may observe them, one will think of them as a family.

“You gave birth already, Elena,” komento nito.

“Hmm.” As much as possible ayaw n’yang may nakikialam ng buhay niya.

“That’s great. Ano nga pala ang ginagawa mo sa Turkey?”

“That’s where I originally lived. Ikaw?” Tiningnan ni Elena si Primo na nasa gilid niya na. Hindi maipagkakaila na gwapo si Prim. Nakadagdag pa sa kagwapuhan nito nag suot na glasses at kapag lumalabas ang dimple.

“I was assigned for a medical surgery.”

“You’re a doctor?”

“Nope. I’m a researcher.”

“Researcher?”

Ngumiti si Prim bago nagsalita, “A medical researcher. We design and carry out studies to examine human diseases and methods for their prevention and treatment. We conduct research to improve human health in general,” pagpapaliwanag nito. Kaya pala ang linis tingnan ng lalaki. Someone who is in the field of medicine tends to look clean and neat.

“Wow. That’s amazing,” nakangiting turan ni Elena. Keiran suddenly tugged her arms.

“Mama. I can’t walk. Carry, me please,” the child pouted. Napatingin si Elena sa maletang hawak at sa bata. She sighed and was about to carry Keiran when Prim beat her first.

“Prim!” tawag niya. Hindi naman nagreklamo si Keiran at sinandal pa ang ulo nito sa balikat ng lalaki.

“You can’t carry him. Let me, mukhang hindi ka nakatulog sa eroplano.”

“It’s okay, kaya ko naman siya,” anagal ni Elena. She stepped forward para bawiin ang anak pero nag-step back naman si Prim. She narrowed her eyes at him but the latter arched his brow like he was challenging her.

“I insist. Mabigat din ang anak mo,” ani nito.

“Look at them! Ang sweet nila, oh!”

“Yeah. Ganda ng lahi!”

Elena looked down dahil sa narinig. Sabi na nga ba, eh. She peered at the man and saw his lips curling upward. What is he happy about?

No one knew what was running on Prim’s mind except him.

Nang nasa labas na silang dalawa ay kinuha na ni Elena si Keiran at sinakay sa taxi Hinarap niya muli si Prim at nagpasalamat dito.

“Thank you again, Prim. Pasensya ka na kung nabigatan ka kay Keiran,” pagpaumanhin niya at ngumiti ng tipid dito.

“It’s alright. If you don’t mind, are you not seeing someone right now?” tanong nito. It might be sudden and out of the topic but he’s just curious.

Elena twitches her lips, nonetheless, she answers, “No. I’m not seeing someone. I’m busy with my children.

Prim grinned, showing his dimples. “Oh, okay. I’ll see you again, Elena.” Prim waved at her and walked into his car which on the back of the taxi she will ride. Elena shook her head and went inside, saying to the driver where they will go.

Sa sasakyan kasunod ng taxi, nakasandal ang elbow ni Prim sa bintana habang ang thum nito ay nasa labi. The smile on his face grew brighter.

“Mukhang ang saya niyo po, Sir, ah,” pansin ng driver ng kotse nang mapansin ang mukha nito sa rear view mirror.

“Nothing. I just found the girl I’ve helped before,” sagot nito at inayos ang lenses ng glass na suot.

“Iyong babae po kanina? Na-shock nga po ako, Sir, pagkakita ko sa inyo na may dalang bata kala ko po nagkaanak kayo at sinekreto niyo,” usal ng driver. Bigla nga s’yang kinabahan kanina at naisip ang nanay ng lalaki. Gustong-gusto ng madam nila na magka-apo na pero itong panganay nilang anak ayaw pa mag-asawa.

Prim chuckled. Elena seems a hard woman to get. Lalo na at hiwalay ito sa asawa. Ang mga gano’ng tao mahirap magtiwala ulit kaya hindi na siya nagtataka kung bakit gano’n ang attitude ni Elena sa kanya.

“So, ano nga, Sir?” usisa ng driver.

“Nothing. Tapos na ba ang party sa Navarro?” change topic niya.

“Umalis na po ang kapatid niyo, Sir.”

Kumunot ang noo ni Prim. “Bakit?” Tapos na ba ang party?

Napakamot sa ulo ang driver. “Mukhang na-badtrip po kasi ‘yong kaibigan niya kay Sir Navarro.”

Prim nodded in understanding. Hindi sila magka-close ni Raphael Navarro, they are just acquaintances. Close lang ang kapatid niya at kapatid nito. As far as he knows, Raphael annulled his marriage to his ex-wide. Alam na alam sa social circle ang nangyari lalo na at ang pinagpalit nito ay ang matalik na kaibigan ng dating asawa. How can a man do that to his wife? Nakita niya na ang bagong babae nito pero ang ex-wife ng lalaki ay hindi pa. Aaminin niya, sexy at maganda ang pinagpalit nito pero it doesn’t changed the fact that that woman is a mistress. Curious tuloy siya kung sino ang ex-wife ni Raphael.

“Kayo po, Sir? Hindi na po kayo dadalo?”

“Hindi na. Umalis na ang kapatid ko. Pagod pa ako sa biyahe kaya kailangan ko magpahinga.”

“Okay po.”

-----

“Sumosobra na ‘yang kapatid mo, Raphael!” singhal ni Chantal nang makapsok sila sa condo nito. Her face was stained by her tears. Masyado s’yang napahiya sa party at karamihan doon ay mga may reputasyon! Nakakainis ang Liana na ‘yon! Siguradong uungkatin na naman ng mga ‘yon ang past nila.

“You know her. She’s too attached to Elena,” sagot ni Raphael. He massaged the bridge of his nose. Habang patagal nang patagal sila ni Chantal, nagiging demanding, arogante at selosa na ito. Ni madikitan lang siya ng ibang babae, magsisigawan sila sa pag-uwi.

“Why can’t she just accept na tayo na at wala na si Elena?” Nilapitan ni Chantal ang kasintahan. “Let’s get married, babe, para wala na silang maisumbat sa akin.”

Huminga ng malalim si Raphael. Isa pa ito. Chantal kept talking about marriage. “I said before that we should not talk about this—”

“Why?! Akala ko ba mahal mo ako? I’m waiting for that time, Raphael. Baka wala kang balak pakasalan ako? Mahal mo pa din ba si Elena? I’m telling you, she will not go back to you pagkatapos ng ginawa mo. You are stuck with me!”

Raphael gritted his teeth and grabbed Chantal’s arms. “Stop bringing her to our matter. Hiwalay na kami. What’s happening to you, Chantal? Mukha kang paranoid. You should stop meeting your friends for a while. I’m stress out sa nangyari kanina at tumawag sa akin si Dad.”

“So kasalanan ko, Rapahel? Your b*tch of a sister started that! Ano bang pinakain ni Elena para maging gano’n ang kapatid mo?!”

Raphael darkened his eyes. Chantal shivered and unconsciously stepped back.

“Don’t you dare call my sister that. Kapatid ko pa rin ‘yon, Chantal. Better watch your mouth. It seems I spoil you too much. Stay here and reflect on your mistake.” Tumalikod si Raphael at tumango sa katulong na naroon. Ito ang nagbabantay kay Chantala sa condo nito.

Chantal hugged him on his back.

“I’m sorry, hindi ko na uulitin ‘yon. Could you please stay, babe?”

Hindi nagpatinag si Raphael at kinalas ang braso nito na nakayakap sa bewang niya. The man walked out without glancing back.

Chantal gritted her teeth and clenched her fist. What the hell? May tinatago ba sai Raphael sa kanya? May iba ba ito? Her eyes revealed a sinister look. Hindi siya makakapayag na maagaw ito sa kanya. Masyado na s’yang maraming nagawa para pakawalan ito.

She heard a snort and looked at the maid’s direction, glaring at her.

“What?!”

The maid shrugged and went back on cooking. Huh! Tingnan natin kung tatagal pa ang boss niya sa babaeng ‘to.