The Rich Man’s Ex-Wife

Kabanata 4

“Hello,” maikling bati ni Alessandro sa tatlo na halatang hindi gusto na naririto siya. Hindi niya na iyon pinansin. “Are you enjoying the party? Anyway, this is my sister, Aira.” Hinigit ni Alessandro ang kan’yang kapatid na may distansya sa kan’ya. Aira looked at them, but her gaze stayed longer at Karen who was beside Pietro.

“Nice to meet you again,” nakangiting bati ni Aira.

“How are you, Aira? Ang tagal din nating hindi nagkita. You’ve been away for four years. Wala man lang kaming balita sa’yo.” Si Michael lang yata ang may lakas loob na kausapin si Aira ng ganito. Karen looked at him and pursed her lips.

“Kailangan ko lang umalis dahil sa pamilya ko.” Wala namang kasalanan si Michael sa mga nangyayari, pero ayaw n’yang magkaroon pa ng close relation sa mga taong malapit sa dati n’yang asawa.

“I’ve heard a lot from you, Aira. I’m Karen by the way.” Karen gave Aira a warm smile and leaned at Pietro who was just watching the scene unfolds. Alam n’yang sinasadya ni Alessandro na lumapit sila sa pwesto nila, but he couldn’t do anything to stop them.

Aira restrained herself from rolling her eyes. Of course, alangan naman hindi siya makilala ng babaeng inagawan siya ng asawa? “I bet hindi magaganda ang mga narinig mo sa’kin. Congratulations nga pala sa inyo ni Pietro.”

Karen giggled. “Thank you. Pietro, wala ka bang sasabihin? Hindi ka na talaga nagbago, you’re always cold and aloof,” Karen teased. Michael twitched his lips, watching Karen getting intimate with his friend.

“Congratulations on getting back with your family. Excuse me, but we need to go. I must send her home before the clock strikes twelve,” wika nito bago tumayo at kinaladkad si Karen paalis. Aira looked at their hands intertwined. Ngayon niya lang napansin na kanina pa pala niya mahigpit na hawak ang laylayan ng dress niya.

“Pasensya na kayo.”

“He’s rude, isn’t he?” malamig na turan ni Alessandro bago umalis kasama si Aira. The man whispered into her hear, “sa inyong dalawa bakit sa tingin ko apektado pa rin siya sa’yo? Looked how he fled with that woman? Ang before twelve? Is she a princess?”

“Don’t mention him, kuya. Ano namang pake kung umalis agad sila? Ikaw pa yata ang apektado, eh.”

Alessandro playfully ruffled her hair, causing Aira to glare at him. “Me? Sino ba naman ang makakalimot sa mga sakit na binigay niya sa’yo? But I’m so proud of you for standing face to face with him.” It took a lot of courage for Aira to face Pietro again. Hindi iyon madali sa kan’ya lalo na’t maraming tao ang nakamasid sa galaw nila at mga umaasang may eksenang mangagayari.

“Of course. Hindi na ako ‘yong dating mahina at iiyak na lang sa tabi.” Ayaw n’yang makita siya ng vulnerable ulit. Ayaw n’yang malagay sa gano’ng sitwasyon ulit.

—

“Are you that affected seeing her again, Pietro? Sa ginawa mong pag-alis ay parang ikaw itong hindi nakamove on. Tell me the truth, do you still love her?” Sa loob ng sasakyan ay nakahalukipkip si Karen habang nakatingin ng nakakunot-noo sa binatang nagda-drive.

“What are you saying? Hindi ba’t may concert ka pa? I’m sending you in case na magalit ang manager mo. What does Aira have to do with this?” Pietro frowned and pursed his lips. Kita naman na naiinis ito dahil naglabasan ang ugat nito sa kamay habang nasa steering wheel ng sasakyan.

Tumahimik ng ilang segundo si Karen bago huminga ng malalim. “Okay. Umayos ka habang wala ako.”

Hindi nagsalita si Pietro. Pagkailang minuto pa ay tumigil ang sasakyan sa tinitirhan nito. Karen got out and bid goodbye before Pietro drove off. Karen looked sideways when she saw someone peeking on them. She pursed her lips before going inside the building.

Tinigil ni Pietro ang sasakyan sa isang tabi bago bumaba. Kumuha siya ng sigarilyo at sinindihan ito. Biglang pumasok sa isip niya ang imahe ni Aira kanina nang makita niya ito. Second time, Pietro. Sa pangalawang pagkakataon ay nakita niya ito ulit sa madaling panahon.

She really had changed. That change made her stunning and bolder. Sino ba naman ang hindi mapapatingin rito tipong mapapalingon ng paulit-ulit. Though, they were divorced, he can’t help but to feel a sense of irritation when other men was looking at his ex-wife.

His heart became unease. Aira, coming back here was not good for him… and her.

“F*ck!” he cursed and throw away his cigarette. Pumasok siya ng kotse at pinaandar na ito paalis. His mind was drifting to something else. He unbuttons the two buttons of his shirt. Ipinarada niya ang kotse sa parking lot ng bahay niya bago pumasok sa loob. He sat down on his bed, thinking something.

Tumunog ang kan’yang mobile phone. Kinuha niya ito mula sa bulsa at nakita ang email ng kan’yang secretary. He knitted his brow before browsing the file. There was a proposal from his company to invest in GTC. GTC? He decided to reply to his secretary to put the files into his office table for tomorrow review.

“Sir? Nandito po si Sir Timothy.”

Lumabas naman ang binate para puntahan ang tito niya na naghihintay sa sala. His face didn’t reveal any expression. Ganito naman talaga ito palagi. Napahinga na lang ng maluwag si Timothy sa pamangkin.

“What are you doing here, uncle? It’s late.”

“Wala lang. I’m on my way home nang maisip kong daanan ka. How are you? I heard bumalik na si Aira. What are your plans?” tanong nito at tiningnan ang ekspresyon ng pamangkin. It seems he’s not that affected like he thinks.

“Plans? What do you mean, uncle? Wala akong plano na kahit ano dahil para saan? We were done four years ago, and nothing will change kahit nandito pa siya.”

“Are you sure?”

Pietro nodded. “Hmm. Don’t I have Karen besides me? Don’t think about her anymore. Matagal na kaming tapos at ayaw ko nang marinig ang pangalan niya.”

Timothy was convinced. A pity, they didn’t last longer dahil sa pagdating ng singer na ‘yon. Honestly, hindi niya inaasahan na magagawang magloko ng pamangkin niya, knowing how he pursue Aira that time. Napailing na lang siya at tumayo.

“Do you plan to marry that woman? Kung gano’n ay dapat maaga pa lang ay mapaghandaan mo na, pero bago ‘yon ay dapat ayusin mo muna ang mga dapat ayusin. That woman has been by your side for four years and not giving her a title made her felt unease, right? Kung wala namang problema sa’yo at tuluyan mo nang nakalimutan si Aira siguro naman ay oras na para sumaya ka ulit? Anyway, I’m leaving. Take care of yourself.”

Sinamahan ni Pietro ang tito niya palabas ng bahay hanggang sa makasakay ito ng kotse.

Pumasok siya ulit at napatigil nang makita ang katulong nila nang mahigit na 20 years na malungkot na nakatitig sa kan’ya.

“May oras pa naman, hijo. Sundin mo ang gusto ng puso mo.”

But his answer, made the old lady saddened. “Gusto ko po si Karen, manang.”