Chapter 1
1054 Words
Sage | Present time
Moscow has been my home for the last four years. After my confrontation with Nic, we never talked or saw each other again. Nasanay na ako, kaya kahit masakit — hindi ko na rin naramdaman ng magtagal. Para ano pa? Nagbitaw na s'ya ng salita. Buo na ang desisyon nya. At ang taong ayaw na sa akin, hindi ko kailanman pipilitin manatili sa tabi ko.
"You seemed lost in your thoughts, milaya." Nilingon ko ang pinanggalingan ng boses. It was Mikhail. Hindi ko namalayan ang pagdating nya sa opisina ko. Kung bakit naman ang lalakeng ito, walang tunog ang mga yabag.
Ngumiti ako sa kanya. "It's nothing."
"I bet you are thinking about him again. I saw his latest pic—"
I cut him off. "I don't want to hear it. He is irrelevant."
He smirked. "Irrelevant my ass, you can lie to everyone but not me. You missed him."
"Stop it."
"Terribly."
"Mikhail! Argh!" Napahilamos ako sa aking mukha. "You are so annoying! What are you doing here anyway?"
"How do you say it again? Ah! Why are you so sungit?" Natawa ako sa paraan ng pagkakasabi nya ng sungit. "You have your period or something?" Nalusaw ang ngiti ko. Kanina ay tinatanong nya kung iniisip ko ang lalakeng ilan taon ng sinusubukan kong kalimutan, at ngayon naman ay regla ko.
"Oh my gosh! I am going to tell Ninong to not allow you here in the building if you don't stop pestering me." I gave him an eyeroll.
He laughed so loud. "You can try, but you know I am the new CEO." Sinimangutan ko s'ya pero imbes na mainis s'ya ay kinindatan nya ako. "Let's go out for lunch. They have a newly opened French restaurant a few blocks away from here." Hindi ko s'ya sinagot. "Come on, I know you like French cuisine."
"Your treat?"
"Split the bill?"
"Argh! No wonder Irina broke up with you."
Tumawa ng malakas ito. "I'm kidding! Of course, it is my treat. And by the way, Irina and I are still on."
"Tss. In your dreams, maybe." Lalo lang humalakhak ang bruho. Kinuha ko ang aking shoulder bag at nagpatiuna sa paglakad. "You coming or what? Hurry up!"
"Someone's hungry. Did you eat lunch?" Kunot noong tanong nya sa akin.
"Nope." I pressed the elevator button.
Napapalatak sya. "But it's half past one?! You have bad eating habits, mileya. No wonder you're so thin!"
"I am not thin. I actually gained five pounds in the last month." Nakangiwi kong sagot sa kanya.
"You need to put in more weight." Bumukas ang elevator at lumulan kami.
"Nonsense. I am not sick and I am within the ideal weight range. Leave it alone, Mikhail."
He smirked. "When I see your man, I am going to tell him to fatten you up."
"Shut up." Siniringan ko s'ya pero hindi tumigil sa pang-aasar. It has been his habit since we were kids. Kahit sa telepono lang kami nag-uusap at ilang beses lang sa isang taon kaming magkita ay close pa rin kaming dalawa.
"You're still in love with him."
"Oh my gosh, stop it already."
"On one condition." Naglalakad na kami sa parking lot ngayon ng may maisip na namang kalokohan.
"What?" Humalukipkip ako.
"Sign the divorce papers. Only then I will stop pestering you."
Right. The divorce papers, how could I forget? Sa totoo lang ay hindi ko na 'yon binigyang pansin ng umalis ako ng bansa at nagtungo sa Russia. The last four years went by really quick. My life has changed dramatically and in a way, it taught me to grow up faster. I had to.
"Fine. I will sign it and mail it to him. I think it's time anyway."
He smiled. "I think this is your biggest challenge than your skyscraper last year."
"Keys?" Instead of giving me the car keys, he gave me a kiss on my forehead. "I meant car keys, Mik." Sanay na ako sa kanya na ganito. Ang halik nya sa noo ko ay walang malisya. Halik kapatid lang na naglalambing. Besides, patay na patay s'ya kay Irina.
"It's my car, I'm driving." He smirked.
"I am a better driver, and you know it."
"Your mother is a legend here. Until you own that speedway — you are not going to be a better driver than I am." He winked at me and I stuck my tongue out on him. I took the shotgun seat and let him drive us to the restaurant.
Yes, my mother is a legend in Moscow. Not just because she did the skyscraper, but because she won the race in Moscow Speedway years ago and still holds the fastest record in Russian history. Raven Sawyer Santillan Pastor - Sanz is my mother and I'm so proud to be her daughter.
"One of these days, I will race and beat my mother's record. Wait for it."
"How much do you want to bet?"
"I will take all your workload for a month if I lose the race."
"Higher."
"Two months if I lose the race."
"Higher."
"Three months?"
"If you lose, you will get back together with your husband."
"No way. Na-ah. Not an option."
"I'm not finished, you will also tell him about Cole."
"That is not fair."
"Who says life is fair?"
I folded my arms across my chest. "And if I win? What do I get?"
"A happy life." May laman ang sinabi nya pero pinilit kong huwag pansinin.
Napaismid ako. "A happy life? Seriously, Mik? I am happy!"
Naglalakad kami ngayon papunta sa restaurant. Ang parking lot ay nasa likod nito.
"You and I both know the truth. If you no longer want to be with him, then be brave enough to tell him. And I mean, tell him — everything."
"I hate it when you're right." Inakbayan naman n'ya ako at mahinang tumawa.
"That's why you have me for a big brother. How do you say it in Filipino again?"
"Kuya."
"Right, koo-yah."
Napatawa ako. "You sound better than last time."
"Of course! I am the great Mikhail Ivanov. What do you expect?" Nangingiti nitong sabi.
Ikinawit ko ang kamay ko sa likod nya at sabay naming tinahak ang entrada ng restaurant. Ipinagbukas pa n'ya ako ng pinto at pinaunang papasukin.
"I'm just going to use the washroom. I'll meet you at our table." Ihing ihi na ako kaya nagpaalam muna ako na pupunta sa banyo.
"All right, see you in a bit."
Binaybay ko ang papuntang washroom na pangbabae. Ang hindi ko inaasahan ay ang lalaking nakasandal sa pader sa may gilid ng pinto pagkatapos kong magwashroom.
"Is he your new flavor of the month?" It's Nic, my husband.
***
- Writer
