WIFE SERIES : Silent Scars [Tagalog]

Chapter 2

Nicholai arrived at the Dreame Café with brows furrowed. Palinga-linga ito, halatang hinahanap ako. I waved my hand for him to see where I was sitting.

Nakita niya naman agad ako at naglakad palapit sa akin.

"Let's go," he said when he arrived at the table where I was sitting.

"Wait." Dali-dali ko'ng inubos ang inorder kong kape. After I finished drinking, I took my shoulder bag and wore it on my shoulder. "Tara," nakangiting sabi ko sa kanya.

Sabay kaming lumabas ng Café at naglakad kung saan nakaparada ang mamahalin niyang kotse. It was an Aston Martin One. I rolled my eyes. Boys and their toys.

Pinagbuksan niya ako ng pinto. I thanked him before getting inside and sat on the passenger's seat. Umikot naman siya at pumasok sa driver seat.

"I thought you're with your beloved boyfriend?" he asked while raising his brow as he started the car's engine.

Bigla akong sumimangot sa sinabi niya. He was teasing me again. He always did that.

"Bumalik na sa Law Firm kasi sabi ko ako na lang kamo ang hinihintay para makaalis kayo," sabi ko sabay irap sa kanya.

"Stop glaring at me. Bakit parang ako 'yung sinisisi mo? You are the one who forgot about our plan."

I sighed and just leaned on my seat. "I'm sorry, okay? Masyado akong na-excite makipagkita kay Philip kaya nakalimutan ko na may lakad pala ang pamilya. Tsk!

"Whatever. But you already owe me. Sabi mo gagawin mo lahat ng gusto ko." He smirked.

"Fine. Huwag mo lang ulit ako ipahawak sa ahas tulad ng dati kasi mapapatay talaga kita, Nic." Tinawanan lang ako ng bruho. Kainis.

Dati kasi di ko alam na 'yun pala ipapagawa niya sa akin ng natalo ako minsan sa laro namin. Grabe ang iyak ko noon. Kainis siya! Subukan niya lang talagang gawin ulit yun, friendship over na talaga!

I was startled nang biglang tumunog ang phone niya. Ang lakas pa. I saw a woman's name, Cheni, calling. Nasa dashboard lang naman kasi nakalagay 'yung phone niya.

Cheni? My besfriend? I haven't heard anything from her for a week already. Why was she calling Nic?

"Cheni's calling. Is that Cheni, my bestfriend?" I asked him with scruitizing eyes.

"Yes. Why?" He chuckled.

"What?! Anong pinaggagagawa mo sa bestfriend ko? Hoy, Nicholai!"

"You are overreacting. She lost your contact. Nakita niya ko one time sa Starry Hub and asked for it and also mine. And I don't know why after that she keeps on calling me."

"I know you more than anyone else, Nic. Wag mong patusin ang bestfriend ko kung sasaktan mo rin lang naman." Tinawanan na naman ako ng gago.

"Look. I'm not interested in her. She's pretty and sexy I admit. Pero mas maganda at sexy ka pa rin para sa akin," sabi niya sabay kindat.

"Hoy! Anong pinagsasasabi mo dyan? Kilabutan nga. Di tayo talo!"

"Yeah, right." He chuckled. "Just answer the call."

"Ayoko nga. Bahala ka dyan."

***

After two hours, nakarating na din kami sa resort. The whole family was already eating dinner when we arrived.

Lahat sila napatingin sa amin pagkapasok namin sa rest house.

"Bakit ang tagal niyo, Ate Denims?" It was my younger brother, Jayson, who asked. He was beside his twin, Jaymar, eating a giant crab.

Bigla akong nagutom. Damn! I looked at the food on the long table. They're having a boodle fight. And I couldn't help but drool at the seafood in front of me.

"Traffic," sabi ko na lang saka umupo sa bakanteng upuan sa harap nila.

"What took you so long, Denima?" My Mom asked. She was sitting beside my father.

"She forgot that we are leaving today, Tita." I glared at Nic. He was smirking. Bwisit talaga ang lalaking 'to. Binuko pa ko.

"Kailangan mo pa talagang sabihin sa kanila? Kahit kailan talaga sumbungero ka," inis na sabi ko sa kanya.

Halos napatawa naman sila lahat. My Mom and Dad. My two brothers. Tapos Nicholas Mom and Dad and his sister who were all eating suddenly stopped and chuckled while looking at us.

"Wala talaga kayong pinagbagong dalawa. Para pa rin kayong aso at pusa kung magbangayan," natatawang sabi ng Papa ni Nic.

"Bagay talaga kayong dalawa. Bakit di na lang kayo magpakasal? Both of you are in the right age already," his mom said while smiling.

Nanlaki ang mata ko sa pinagsasabi nila. Me and Nicholai getting married? Que horror! Not going to happen.

I love Philip. At siya lang ang pakakasalan ko.

"Mare. May boyfriend na 'yang anak ko. Kaya malabo," natatawang sabi ni Mama habang nakatingin sa amin.

"Aww! Too bad. Bet ko pa naman ang anak mo para sa anak ko, Mare. Siya lang nagpapatino dyan."

Wow! Ako daw ang nagpapatino? Kailan pa naging matino itong anak nila? Kung alam niya lang kung anong pinaggagagawa ng anak niya sa mga babae. Nako!

"Can you just eat and stop talking about us as if we are not in front of you?" Napatigil naman sila.

Iba talaga kapag si Nicholai na ang nagsalita. Napapatigil lahat. Ang strikto kasi. Parang galit lagi.

***

Inis akong napabangon sa kama kinabukasan. Kung di lang siguro ako ginising ng kapatid ko, hindi ako babangon. Balak ko na di batiin si Nicholai sa birthday niya para mainis siya sa akin. Wala. Trip ko lang kasi binuking niya ako kagabi.

Suot lang ang malaking t-shirt at maikling short ay bumaba na ako. Tapos na akong maligo at basa p amg buhok. I didn't blow dry it. I was combing my hair while getting down the stairs. Nakasalubong ko si Nicholai sa dulo ng hagdan na nakangiti. He was already dressed at nakaligo na din base sa tumutulong butil ng tubig sa buhok niya.

"Good morning," nakangiting bati ko sa kanya.

"It's already afternoon, Denima. I think you forgot something," sabi niya na nakahalukipkip. I knew he was waiting for me to greet him on his birthday. But I didn't.

"What?" Napatingin ako sa wall clock na malapit sa TV ng rest house. Nanlaki ang mata ko ng makita na alas kwarto na pala ng hapon. "Hala! Bakit ngayon lang ako ginising?" Kaya pala gutom na gutom na ako. Di ako nakapagbreakfast at lunch. Tsk!

"What are you playing, again, you woman?" inis na ani nito.

"Wala. Gutom na ko. Alis." Nilagpasan ko siya at nagpunta sa kusina para maghanap ng makakain.

Natawa ako ng bigla na lang siyang lumabas. After ko'ng kumain ay lumabas na din ako. They're so busy preparing for Nicholai's birthday.

Some of his cousin's had already arrived. They're drinking on the seaside.

"Hey, dosh! Come here! Kanina ka pa namin hinahanap." It was Hazel. One of Nicholai's cousin na ka-close ko.

Hinila niya ako kung saan sila nag-iinoman sabay abot sa akin ng shot glass. I smelled what was inside. Damn! Tequila.

I was about to drink it ng pinigilan ako ni Hazel. "Body shot daw," sabi niya.

"Kanino?" nakataas na kilay na tanong ko. She grinned at me. At parang may idea na ako kung kanino.

"Sa birthday boy."