RIDE WITH DESTINY

KABANATA 2

Kabanata 2

NAKAABANG na ang pamilya de Lamartine sa receiving area ng bahay nila. Arella's father and sister Audrey, Klea, her Tito Arthur and Tita Bella are there, too. And of course, the witch is there also who is wearing a friendly beam while waiting for their visitors.

Ngayon darating ang mga Ellison para sa pamamanhikan. Sa katunayan ay nangangatog na ang mga tuhod ni Arella. Kinakabahan s'ya. She can't even draw a fake smile in her face because of too much anxious that's dripping on her whole being.

"Relax, Ella! Don't welcome the Ellison's family with that hinky in your face." Klea, who's in her side, spoke in a whisper to her.

Klea used to call her Ella, short for Arella. Magkasing-edad lang ang dalawa at sabay silang lumaki kaya nama'y sobrang lapit nila sa isa't-isa. Kahit noong mga panahong wala s'ya sa bansa ay hindi naputol ang kanilang komunikasyon. Sa katunayan ay binibisita rin sila ni Klea sa Mexico kung saan sila naninirahan ng anak.

Ngumiwi lang si Arella. "What do you expect me to express, Kle? Hindi ako makangiti,"

"Try, then." Inirapan s'ya ng pinsan. "Mukha ka ngang d'yosa, pero para ka namang ipinaglihi sa sama ng loob sa hitsura mo ngayon,"

"Shut up!" Arella breathed.

It's true. Arella is an epitome of beauty. Dating beauty queen at sikat na actress ang kanyang Ina kaya doon n'ya namana ang mayorya ng kanyang panlabas na anyo. Tall, a complexion that as white as snow, the bewitching pair of dark night eyes, the perfect shape of her jawline, pointed and indefectible nose, the two cherry red fleshy folds that surrounded her mouth, and of course, the seamless curves of her body.

Yeh, she's almost a perfect-picture of an aesthetic beauty. Pero may isang bagay ang namana n'ya rin sa Ina na gusto n'yang baguhin ngayon.

It's the cowardice and for being spinelessness.

Hindi n'ya gustong matulad sa Ina na hindi nagawang ipaglaban ang sarili mula sa paninira ng mga taong masasama ang loob. Hanggang sa namatay ito ay dinala na lamang ng kanyang Ina sa libingan ang issue na kinaliwa daw nito ang kanyang Ama at kesyo may kalaguyo daw itong mayamang politician noon.

Arella was a high school sophomore back then when that issue spread like a wildfire. Even if she was in her very young and pure mind that time, alam n'yang hindi iyon magagawa ng kanyang Mommy.

The adults strolled towards the entrance double door of de Lamartine's house when they heard a car engine sounds coming from the outside.

"They're here." Arella heard her Tita Bella broadcasted.

Her nerves stretched even wider. Aligaga s'yang lumapit sa hamba ng malaking pinto ng kanilang bahay. She saw the headlights turned off coming from car.. cars. She spotted two cars in total. Nag-park ang mga panauhin sa malawak na espasyo sa harapan ng bahay ng mga de Lamartine.

Isa-isa nang natatanaw ni Arella ang mga panauhin ng tuluyan na itong bumaba sa mga sasakyan at ngayo'y tinutungo ang kanilang direksyon.

The adults managed to welcome the new comers. Nasa likod lang silang tatlo. Isa-isang sinuri ni Arella ang mga pigura ng bawat panauhin. Hindi n'ya mapigilang umawang ang labi sa pagkamangha.

Damn.

She cussed under her breath.

She didn't imagine that Ellisons is some kind of.. of jaw-dropping clan. All members had a great appearance and their outward aspects roaring effortlessly class. Parang natanga si Arella sa sobrang pagkamangha sa mga nakikita.

"Arella, hija, come here." Arella climbed up in her awareness when her father called her.

He gestured for her to get near.

She tried to compose herself before going on her feet. Ang kaninang kaba ay napalitan na ng adoration. She adores these set of people in front of her.

"By the way, this is my eldest daughter, Arella. Arella, hija, this is your Tito Desmond and Tita Sophia." Her father started the introduction formally.

"Hello po." Arella politely greeted the couple and rewarded them both a beso. “I am glad to meet you, Tita, Tito.”

"Finally, we met you, hija. You're really as gorgeous as your late mother. Right, hon?" Galak na sabi ng bagong kilalang si Tita Sophia.

The serious yet courtly man in his early fifties nodded saying that he agreed to what his wife remarks.

Arella sweetly smiled at the couple. "Thanks po, Tita, You look splendid as well po."

Sophia Ellison, who's in here late forties cheerfully giggled. "Hindi kami nagkamali na sa'yo namin itatali ang aming panganay. I'm sure, you'll look magnificent together."

After hearing that line, Arella's stares exceeded to behind her Tita Sophia. She seemed like searching for someone.

Tatlong tao lang naman ang nasa likod ng mag-asawang Desmond at Sophia. Their daughter Ellize, Redden and his wife, Tracey na hindi pa nakikilala ni Arella.

Nasaan ba iyong mapapangasawa ko? Arella asked to herself.

Imposible namang itong isang lalaki na nasa likuran na halata namang asawa n'ya iyong kasama n'ya. Nakapulupot pa nga ang kamay sa babaeng matangkad at kulot ang buhok.

She smiled at the three. The adults gave her way to approach the people who are behind them.

Si Ellize ang unang lumapit kay Arella. She's wearing her most killer smile and Arella as well. The lady is undeniably gorgeous in any angle.

"Hi, I'm Ellize. Your future sister-in-law. Arella, right?" Arella was surprise when Ellize knew her name but she shrugged it off immediately.

Baka nalaman nila ang pangalan n'ya mula sa kanyang Ama. Of course, it's not impossible after all. Six years earlier when they proposed this arrange marriage, therefore, Ellisons got to know her profile. Basically, maybe.

Arella nodded and she stiffened a bit when Ellize threw herself to her for a friendly hug. But she managed to hug her back. She likes her being upbeat.

"Nice meeting you, Ellize." She said when they freed each other from the hug.

"Same here, Arella. You know, you look more gorgeous in person."

"Ha?" Napaawang ang bibig ni Arella.

"I know it was you. The silk-stocking Arella who beaten the Mexican runway years ago. I wouldn't be mistaken." Ellize confidently stated like she's having a keen interest with Arella's background.

She looked at Ellize quizzically.

Arella left bewildered. Big time. She didn't expect that someone like Ellize Ellison would recognised her. Yes, she is known as renowned runway model in Mexico pero binitawan na niya ang profession na iyon.

How did Ellize knew her when she faked her name during the flow of her career back then? Everyone recognised her as Arella Madrid, not Arella de Lamartine.

How come?

Imposibleng maalala pa s'ya nito if ever ngang nakita na s'ya nito noon. Mahigit apat na taon na s'yang wala sa karera.

"Drop it, Sofie. We're not here for your idolatry." A guy butted in using his slight vexation tone.

Arella transferred her attention to the guy and to the woman beside him. She got a chance to know the couple Redden and Tracey who're married for three years.

Everyone headed to the dining area of de Lamartine house except for Arella and Ellize who left outside, waiting for her soon-to-be fiancé. Wala pa ito at sabi ng pamilya n'ya ay may dinaanan pa raw ito.

Arella can't help herself but to feel disappointment.

Ito lang ang lalaking nahuli sa sariling pamamanhikan. She's not that excited nor pump up for the guy presence, it's just that, this guy seems irresponsible and Arella dislike his guts. Kung wala lang silang utang na loob sa pamilya nito ay mararapatin na lang n'yang huwag na talaga itong dumating.

Gayun pa ma'y medyo pabor rin si Arella sa pagkakahuli nito at kahit papaano nanariwang muli ang kanyang utak.

"Arella, can I ask you something?" Kanina pa naman sila nag-uusap ni Ellize pero ngayon lang hindi naging matiwasay ang kanyang loob sa kasalukuyang tono ng kausap.

Ramdam n'yang mapupunta na sa dako paroon ang kanilang paksa. Pero sa loob ng ilang minutong pag-uusap nila ni Ellize ay nakuha kaagad nito ang loob n'ya kaya ayos na sa kanya saan man s'ya dalhin ng usapan nila. She somewhat found Ellize a trustworthy person and a friendly one, too.

After all, these people deserves an explanation kung bakit siya lumayas noon. She'll make it up to the Ellisons willfully.

"Sure. Fire on, Liz." Nakangiting saad n'ya sa dalaga.

Alinlangan namang ngumiti si Ellize sa kanya. "Why did you ran away six years ago and deserted my brother? I just, you know, curious."

She expected that question, actually.

"I'm too young back then, Liz." She started.

She looked away and shifted her gaze somewhere else. Mas komportable s'yang magkwento kung sa ibang direksyon s'ya titingin.

"Twenty two. Anyone in that age starting to operate their future lives after schooling. It was my dream and a task for myself, too, actually. Gusto kong magtrabaho at patunayang may ibubuga rin ako. I didn't know if where angle or career I'm good at, basta ang gusto ko lang ay magkaroon ng magandang future na ako mismo ang mag-ko-construct ng path papunta sa future na 'yon.

"But when Dad told me about.. about the marriage, it totally blown my mind.. off! I have gone mad and flabbergasted.. and felt betrayed that was why I came up with that stupid idea of running away and look for a not-so-nice shell where I can hide myself. And that's in Mexico."

Nanikip ang dibdib ni Arella habang binabalikan ang alaalang iyon ng buhay n'ya. It was the most shagging path of her life. But she is now at the bottom line of that path and it is funny that the end of it was just the same as its starting point. Kung saan s'ya nanggaling at kahit nagawa pa n'yang tumakbo ay pareho pa rin pala ang binagsakan n'ya.

Just great!

Arella felt a comforting hand in her back. Hindi na n'ya kailangang manghula kung sino at ano ang ginagawa ng kasama. She is very grateful that Ellize made her feel less frighten and lessen her loads burden by listening to her sentiments.

"I know it's too late but I want to apologize for deserting your brother before. I'm sorry." Arella said ruefully.

"It's okay, Arella. Well, to tell you honestly, we were unhappy when Tito Aurelius came to Dad and spilled the bad news of you running away. Like, we haven't had the chance to meet you, yet you already gone away." Ellize chuckled lightly.

Natatawa na lang din s'ya na parang nahahawa s'ya sa kakulitan ng kausap. Nagpapasalamat s'ya at nagagawang pagaanin ng bago n'ya palang kilala ang kanyang saloobin.

Ellize is quite proficient in such conversation. She is very clever and entertaining.

"Sayang nga at ngayon lang tayo nagkakilala. You know, I'm regretting that time when I saw you in Escar- Escarg-"

"Escarcega,"

"Yeh f**k! That one. Spanish is really hate my tongue, you see?" Ellize jested and they both chuckled.

Mexico's main language is Spanish but Arella didn't find herself in a hard-bitten process on socializing to Mexicans when she landed in that country. She finished a degree in Tourism and she studied language, too before that was why.

"But wait, you really saw me before in Escarcega?" Aniya na parang hindi makapaniwala.

Ellize nodded. "I did. I was there in a fashion event as a proxy of Kuya Sean. He was one of the financier of that big event." Ellize announced.

"What?" Napaawang ang bibig ni Arella sa gulat.

Sean?

Her fiancé?

"I'm pertaining to Southwest facére four, five years ago?!"

And Arella automatically remember the event. It was her fifth biggest project along her career and unfortunately her last.

But wait, Sean was part of production of that event? So, muntikan na palang mag-kruz ang kanilang mga landas noon.

"One of the organizer told me that one of their pride in runway is a Filipino that was why I got an interest with that information. Of course, I'm so proud that my co-Filipino rocking a foreign catwalk. Ngayon ko lang nalaman na sister in law ko pala ang makinang na babaeng 'yon sa runway show na 'yon." Ellize voice laced with so much pride.

Maaaring nagkita na pala sila noon ni Ellize pero hindi lang talaga sila magkakilala.

Both their attentions caught when another luxurious car stopped in the driveway.

"It's Kuya Sean. Finally, that jerk's arrived, tsk!" Rinig n'yang reklamo ni Ellize.

Umayos ng tayo si Arella at ng mamatay ang headlights ng bagong dating na sasakyan ay nag-umpisa na ring kumabog ng husto ang kanyang dibdib.

Nervousness eating her again.

Hindi pa man nakakalabas ang taong hinihintay nila ay biglang tumunog ang kanyang telepono sa loob ng maliit n'yang purse.

Agaran n'ya iyong kinuha at lalo s'yang kinabahan nang lumitaw ang mukha ng matalik n'yang kaibigan na si Carol.

Nang mag-angat s'ya ng tingin ay nasa kanya na pala ang atensyon ni Ellize.

"Answer it first, Arella. Ako na lang ang sasalubong kay Kuya." Wika ni Ellize.

Sumang-ayon na lang s'ya sa sinabi nito at kailangan n'ya ring sagutin ang tawag baka nais s'yang makausap ng anak.

Tumungo si Arella sa may bandang kanan ng kanilang bahay. Doon n'ya naisipang pumwesto. Ilang minuto lang naman tumagal ang kanilang usapan ni Carol at sinabi lang sa kanya ng kaibigan na ayos naman daw ang anak at kahit papaano'y pinapaintindi ni Carol sa musmos ang sitwasyon ng Ina.

Arella is so thankful that Carol is guiding them and always there to help her. Umpisa pa lang ng magdesisyon s'yang tumayo sa sariling mga paa ay si Carol na ang palaging nasa tabi n'ya hanggang sa noon nga na nagkaanak s'ya.

Pabalik na sa loob ng bahay si Arella ng sakto rin namang may taong palabas ng pinto. At sa laki ba naman ng kanilang pintuan ay minalas pa na nabunggo s'ya nito at muntikan na talaga s'yang mapaupo sa lakas ng pagkakasalpok n'ya sa taong palabas.

"f**k!" Napamura s'ya.

Mabuti na lamang at alerto ang taong bumunggo sa kanya at nahagip kaagad ang kanyang braso at kung hindi ay baka dumadaing na s'ya sa sakit ngayon kung bumagsak man s'ya.

"Oh? My fault, I'm sorry.” A raspy voice of a man apologized immediately.

Doon n'ya lang naramdaman ang mainit na hawak ng lalaki sa kanyang braso na para bang nagdudulot ito ng kakaibang pakiramdam sa kanya.

Itinoon n'ya ang mga mata sa malaking kamay na nakahawak sa kanyang braso. Kumurap s'ya ng ilang beses upang burahin sa isipan ang bagay na naiguhit n'ya doon. Pakiramdam n'ya kasi ay pamilyar sa kanya ang inosenting dampi ng kamay na 'yon sa balat n'ya. Parang naiisip n'ya ang ama ni Sam at ang Hawaii escapade niya.

"You alright, miss?" Napukaw s'ya ng muli na namang magsalita ang lalaki.

Marahas n'yang binawi ang braso sa kamay ng estranghero at umatras s'ya ng kaunti.

Doon n'ya lang naisipang itaas ang paningin upang kilalanin ang taong bumunggo sa kanya.

Kapwa nagulat ang dalawa ng tuluyan na nilang makita ang bawat isa. Si Arella ay halos malaglag na sa semento ang panga dahil sa sobrang gulat.

Kumurap pa s'ya ng tatlong beses upang kompirmahing hindi s'ya binibiro ng sariling imahenasyon.

Pero totoo talaga ang nakikita n'ya.

What the hell? She unbelievably murmured under her breath.

"Y-you?"