An Innocent Angel

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

I just wore a simple maroon long-sleeve dress. May mga pasa ako sa ibang parte ng katawan ko pero itinago ko nalang. Thanks to concealer. Hindi na ako naglagay ng maraming make ups since hindi ako mahilig. I just put a bit of pink blush on and lip gloss for my lips. I also powdered my face of course. Ginamit ko na rin ang black stilettos ko at nagdala din ako ng decent handkerchief.

I immediately went out of the house when I heard Shawn's car honking. I abruptly locked the door and went inside his car. I glanced at him for a while. He's actually staring at me intently. Nagsisimula na namang manginig ang mga kamay ko. Kinakabahan ako. Para kasing may nagawa na naman ako sa klase ng titig niya sa akin. Hindi nalang ako tumitingin sa kanya. And I felt relieved when he already started the engine.

He sighed before starting to drive. "Listen..." he seriously said. "I don't wanna see you flirting with my relatives there. Have at least a bit of dignity and decency." He added with a very cold tone.

I looked down and played my handkerchief. Mabuti nalang pala nagdala ako. Mukhang magagamit ko 'to.

Napalingon agad ako kay Shawn at hinimas ang braso ko nang hampasin niya 'yon. May pasa pa ako at mas sumakit lang.

"Would you pay attention b***h?!" He shouted.

Hindi nalang ako umimik at dahan dahang sumiksik sa gilid. "Sorry Shawn..." I apologized and prevented myself from crying.

He glared at me for seconds. "I said don't dare make a scene later." He said with irritation.

I nodded. "Okay." I almost whispered.

After minutes of driving, nakarating na rin kami. This house... it reminds me of many things. Masaya pa kami ni Shawn noong palagi kaming pumupunta rito. Mas madalas pa kami dito noon kumpara sa bahay niya.

Maraming mamahaling sasakyan ang nasa maluwang na garage. Well, seven lahat sila daddy Shane, Shawn's father, na magkakapatid; five boys and two girls. So malamang marami talaga sila.

Shawn parked the car and went out. Of course, I went out as well. Hindi ka pagbubuksan ni Shawn ng pinto tulad noon. Marami nang nagbago.

We started walking and I flinched when he wrapped his arm around my waist. Hindi naman siya nagsasalita at seryoso lang. We entered the house and maids greeted Shawn. Magtataka na sana ako kung bakit walang tao pero dumeretso kami sa back door. So nasa garden silang lahat. Well daddy Shane loves nature. No wonder he has a garden at the back of his house that almost looks like a forest already. The garden is filled with different colours of roses and surrounded by different kinds of colourful trees. I gasped when we reached the garden. Madaming tao. Mostly mga bata bata pa. Mga pinsan siguro ni Shawn.

"Sophia..." a gentle voice uttered my name from my right. I smiled. It's daddy Shane. He's the old version of Shawn, having a wide smile on his face.

My eyes got teary upon seeing him. It's been months since I last saw him because he stayed in Canada. He's one of the kindest and special person for me. 

"Dad..." I said and smiled.

He approached us and hugged me for a while. "How are you my daughter?" He asked.

I smiled. I wish I could tell you what I really feel dad. "I'm... fine dad."

He just nodded and looked at Shawn.

"Hi dad." Shawn greeted and hugged him for a while.

"Hello son. Are you taking good care of your wife?" He asked.

I looked away and waited for Shawn's answer. Shawn is about to say something but then a man called him. After that, sunod sunod na ang kumakausap kay Shawn tungkol sa pag-take over niya ng mga business nila. 

Parang gusto ko nalang umalis dahil I feel unwanted. Kung hindi pa ako tatanungin ng kausap ni Shawn kung sino ako, hindi na ako ipapakilala.

Few minutes passed, dad announced that the foods are ready. There are eight circular tables I think. Well, marami talaga kami ngayon dito. On the largest table, dad and his siblings sat.

Shawn brought me to a table where two ladies are sitting. Ayoko sana na doon kami dahil nandoon ang pinsan ni Shawn na may ayaw sa 'kin. They both greeted Shawn and only Isabelle greeted me. Monique was just glaring at me.

We took our seats and started eating. Puno ng tawanan at kwentuhan ang garden. Ako lang yata ang hindi nagsasalita.

"So, are you done studying Sophia?" Isabelle asked while slicing the beef.

I looked at her and smiled. "Not yet."

She nodded. "What's your course anyways?"

"Tourism." I simply answered.

"Wow. Well, bagay mo naman. Are you a German?"

I shook my head. "I'm half British."

"Oh. It resembles. Your father is the British?"

I nodded. Kaya gano’n nalang ang galit sa akin ni mama tuwing nakikita niya ang mukha ko, naalala niya si papa. Sinisisi niya 'ko kung bakit hindi siya pinakasalanan at iniwan nalang ni papa. I never met him anyways. Basta nalang niya kaming iniwan.

She just nodded on my answer. She's about to say a word but then a guy showed up.

"Hey sis..." he greeted and kissed Isabelle's cheek.

"What took you so long?" Isabelle asked.

The guy just shrugged his shoulder and roamed his eyes on us. He smirked. "Welcome back dude." He said to Shawn.

Shawn smiled and uttered 'yeah'. Napatingin naman siya sa 'kin and tinitigan ako. I felt awkward the way he stares. Thank God Isabelle took off the awkwardness.

"Oh, by the way Sophia. This is Ivan, my sinful brother." She sarcastically said. "Would you please just take your seat Van?" Isabelle said to him. He did. But then again stared at me.

Umiwas nalang ako ng tingin dahil nakatitig pa rin siya. I looked at Shawn pero wala naman siyang pakialam. Kumakain lang siya.

"She's your wife Shawn?" Ivan asked.

Shawn stopped eating and looked at Ivan. "Yeah." He answered. "Why?"

"You married a club dancer?" He curiously asked.

Para akong natuod sa narinig ko. Kaya pala siya titig na titig sa 'kin. Oh God. Of course people would recognize me. I don't use make ups or masks in the club.

"What?!" Monique exclaimed. "She's a p********e cousin?!" She shouted.

Napayuko ako nang naramdaman ko ang mga titig ng mga bisita sa amin. Tears filled my eyes. I glanced at Shawn and found him calm, like he doesn't care at all.

"I saw her dancing almost every night in the club." Ivan said.

"That's impossible Ivan. I knew her. She's a decent and intelligent woman." Isabelle said.

"God kuya Shawn. She's a prostitute." Monique again said disgustingly.

"Poor Shawn. How come you married her?" I heard a woman's voice.

"Dude you should've married Alice instead." I heard a man's voice.

Hindi ako tumitingin sa kahit sino. I'm just looking at my handkerchief when a tear fell onto it.

"How's that? Many men surely tasted you already." Monique again said.

Tuloy tuloy lang sa pagtulo ang mga luha ko habang pinakikinggan ang mga panlalait nila. I'm waiting for Shawn. Hinihintay kong ipagtanggol niya 'ko pero kumakain lang siya na parang walang pakialam. Pakiramdam ko ang dumi dumi ko talaga habang nakikinig sa mga sinasabi nila.

"What was this all about?!"

They all stopped gossiping when they heard daddy Shane's voice. I felt a pair of hands on my shoulder.

"Anong mga sinasabi niyo kay Sophia?" He firmly asked. Silence occurred but my tears fall endlessly. "How dare you let them insult your wife Shawn?" Dad angrily said to Shawn.

"They stated the fact, actually, dad." He coldly said.

"See tito? Kuya Shawn knew. So talagang p****k at maduming babae ang asawa niya." Monique insulted.

I sobbed and stood up. "Hindi niyo po alam ang buhay ko. Hindi niyo alam ang lahat. ‘Wag niyo naman po 'kong bastusin." I pleaded while crying. "Mauuna na po ako. I'm sorry dad." After saying those words... I hurriedly ran out of that house.

Sawang sawa na 'kong mahusgahan. Wala naman silang alam sa 'kin. Ano ba’ng ginawa kong masama at ganito ang mga nangyayari sa 'kin?

…