The Rich Man’s Ex-Wife

Kabanata 3

“What’s wrong with you, Aira?” Aira asked herself when she got inside the comfort room. Mabuti na lamang at walang ibang tao na naroon. She was feeling uncomfortable lalo na sa mga tingin ng pamilya niya sa kan’ya. Naawa ba sila sa kan’ya? Bakit naman? She was the daughter of the Gomez and the sister of the heir of the GTC. Walang kawalan sa kan’ya kung meron man, it was their lost.

Huminga siya ng malalim at tumingin sa harapan ng salamin bago ngumiti. That’s right. She should be happy at wala s’yang pake kung kontrabida siya sa paningin ng iba. She heaved a sighed and went out. She was surprised when she saw Pietro at the door towards the venue. Nagsalubong lang ang kilay niya at ‘di ito pinansin.

“Why are you here?”

Umihip ang malamig na hangin. Aira stopped and looked at the man who was staring at her blankly. “Why I wouldn’t be here?” she retorted back.

Pietro frowned at her attitude. Hindi niya nagustuhan iyon. “Ano’ng relasyon mo sa Gomez? Don’t tell me you’re Alessandro’s girlfriend? I thought he knows better not to get with a divorce woman. Tanggap ba ito ng pamilya niya?”

Aira laughed angrily. “How do you know kung ano ang type ni Alessandro? Are you close with each other? Isa pa…” she smiled mockingly, “kung ‘di ako tanggap ng pamilya niya bakit nandito ako? It’s not making sense, right?” She rolled her eyes before goinf inside the venue with her chin held high. He should have seen his face, it’s ugly.

“Ano’ng meron at nakangiti ka?” tanong ng mama niya nang makabalik siya sa table nila.

“Wala naman, Mom. I just saw something funny,” sagot niya. Of course, hindi na nagsalita pa si Michelle dahil mas mahalaga na masaya ngayon ang anak. Mukhang hindi na rin naman ito apektado sa ex-husband nito.

Ilang sandal pa ay nag-umpisa na ang event. Alessandro gave a brief introduction before starting the celebration. Bumaba ito at tumabi sa kan’ya.

“Are you enjoying the party, sis?” he whispered.

“Naturally. Since ikaw ang naghanda nito dapat lang na ma-enjoy naming, right? Congratulations, brother!”

“It seems your ex-wife was enjoying the company of Mr. Gomez, Pietro. Kaya ka ba umalis ay dahil sa kan’ya? Did the two of you met?” sunod-sunod na tanong ni Karen habang hawak ang isang kopita ng white wine.

“No. I was out,” sagot ni Pietro na nakatitig ang matalim na mata sa dalawang tao na sobrang close sa isa’t-isa.

Tumaas ang kilay ni Karen. “Dapat lang. Maraming camera ang nakatutok sa atin at masama iyon sa image natin lalo na ako kung makita ka nilang kasama ang ex-wife mo.”

Pietro looked at her calmly. “You don’t need to worry about that. Kailan ang balik mo after ng concert mo sa America at Asia?”

Sumandal si Karen sa braso ng binate bago sumagot, “I don’t know. It will take a month bago matapos ang concert ko. I have a tour in 7 countries to perform. Hindi ko nga alam kung may oras pa akong magpahinga, eh. Will you miss me?”

“Of course. Message me if something happens.”

Karen giggled. “Fine. I would be busy for the time being. Don’t you dare have another woman beside me, huh.” Napailing lang si Pietro at tumingin muli kung nasaan si Aira. She’s not with the Gomez anymore as well as Alessandro. Did she leave the party with him?

Sa gilid naman nila ay pinanonood lang ni Michael ang dalawa. His eyes flashed and he looked down with a frown.

“Here I thought magkakaroon ng conflict kapag nagkita ang dalawa. Mukhang happy naman at kontento si Mr. Valerio kay Karen. They’ve been sweet to each other since they got here,” komento ng isang ginang na asawa ng isang negosyante.

“Of course. It was over between the two ex-lovers. Totoo nga ang tsismis noon na matagal nang may namamagitan sa dalawa. Personally, I don’t like Mr. Valerio on how he treated his ex-wife. My sympathy goes for Aira.”

“Well, who would have thought that she will come back with the Gomez?” a woman much older than her peers said. “Looked, they were all happy having her. Divorcing Mr. Valerio was not bad after all. I wonder how she can get the family wrapped around her palm. In fact, setting aside her background, Aira was pretty and seems like a lady from an educated family. Nakita niyo ba ang upbringing niya? With a class!”

Ilang sandal pa ay bumalik na si Aira kasama si Alessandro. Nag-iba yata ang ihip ng hangin dahil halos nakikita n’yang nakangiti sa kan’ya ang ilang bisita. Did something happen while they were away?

Ilang sandali pa ay tumaas ang mag-asawang Gomez na may malaking ngiti sa mukha. Nakahawak sa bewang si Conrado sa kanyang asawa na si Michelle.

Pietro’s eyes followed Aira who was beside Pietro, holding her hand walking towards the stage. The way her lips curled up when Alessandro talked, the way her eyes brightened— it reminds of him of their past.

She used to look at him like that.

“I know that you are all enjoying the party but beside this celebration we have an announcement to make and we're very excited to share it with you…” Conrado started.

“Will they announce Alessandro’s marriage?”

“Sa tingin ko rin,” bulong ng iilan. Bakas sa mukha nila ang antisipasyon sa susunod na sasabihin ni Conrado. Pietro’s lips turned into thin line as his eyes darkened.

“This is a special night not just for us but for the whole family, finally we got to formally introduce to all of you our daughter…”

Rinig ang singhap at pagkabigla ng lahat kabilang na roon si Karen na magkasalubong ang kilay, sanhi para umayos siya ng upo. Michael and Pietro looked at each other with understanding.

“Yes. Our daughter. Alam kong kilala niyo na siya,” Michelle playfully smiled at them. “Her name was always in news. I doubt hindi niyo siya kilala. Hindi naming gusto ns isekreto ito, pero nirespeto naming ang desisyon niya at hinayaan siya sa gusto n’yang gawin.” She smiled at her daughter at the back. “Come here, sweetie.”

“Oh my god!”

“This was really… unexpected.”

On the stage, Aira was like a fine diamond who was shining so bright during the night. She was stunning the way her hips move gracefully and how she carry herself in front of the stage. Ang ganda ng ngiti nito at hindi maipagkakaila na mas gumanda ito magmula nang makipag-hiwalay ang asawa nito.

“Everyone, please enjoy the night,” maikling wika nito.

“Pietro, are you okay?”

Pietro snapped back and loosened his fist that unconsciously clenched. He looked away and answered Karen in a hoarse voice that he’s fine. Looking at Aira today, he can’t help but to wonder why did she keep this a secret from him? Wala ba s’yang naging tiwala sa kan’ya sa loob ng tatlong taon na mag-asawa sila?

“Okay ka lang ba talaga, we can leave kung gusto mo,” may pag-aalala sa boses ni Karen. She was prepared to leave the venue, but it depends on kung gusto rin ni Pietro na umalis.

“Why would you guys leave? The party is not over baka ma-misunderstood ng Gomez ang intension niyo rito. Pietro you know better how the industry work, right? Besides, you said you don’t care…”

“Did I say I want to leave? If Karen wants to go home then I should leave with her lalo na kung hindi siya komportable dito,” mariing sagot ni Pietro. His eyes narrowed at Michael. Matagal niya na bang alam ito?

Michael put his hands up as if surrendering. “Go on, then. Ewan ko lang kung ano ang magyayari bukas. Baka makita niyo na lang ang sarili niyo sa balita.”

This Karen was capable to make his friend divorce his wife. Sino ba ito at bigla na lang sumulpot sa buhay ni Pietro? Sa gilid ng mata niya ay nakita niya ang papalapit na si Alessandro at Aira sa table nila. Umayos siya ng upo at tumingin sa dalawa.

“Why don’t you send your regards to them, Pietro? Kung aalis kayo mabuti sigurong magpaalam kayo sa magkapatid.”