Apollo's Crib: A Sinister Fate

EP.06

Hindi mapakali si Sinica habang nakaupo sa table niya, panay siya tingin sa entrance sa pagbabakasakaling mamataan kaagad ang asawa kapag dumating ito. Apollo has been late and it's already ten in the evening. Some of her guest already leave the party dahil sa pagkainip. Some chooses to stay sa pagbabakasakaling makadaupang palad pa rin ang bilyonaryong estudyante. Pero maging siya ay nawawalan na rin ng pag-asa na dumating pa ang asawa. Apollo was never late with his appointment, he was always on time and since he is already late, that means he will no longer show his face tonight.

"Sinica, have you talked with your husband? Some of the businessman here are still waiting for their luck to meet Apollo." untag sa kanya ni Veronica. Halatang tipsy na ito kaya lumalabas na ang pagiging taklesa.

"Please Veronica, not now. I'm tired and I don't wanna fight. Please stay at your respective seat, I'm not asking you to accompany me. Stop pestering me, will you?" aniya. Sa ilalim ng lamesa ay nakatago ang mga kamao niya na mahigpit na nakakuyom dahil sa pagtimtimpi na huwag siyang sumabog.

"Well, most of your guests came here only for Apollo not because of your stupid clothes. I really felt sorry for them because I think, you just lure them to attend your party," pagpapatuloy nito.

"Stephen, can you please send her home? I guess she's drunk already, she has forgotten what etiquette is," baling niya kay Stephen na pilit na hinihila ang kabiyak.

"Me? Drunk? Stop acting like you're high and mighty, Sinica. You have no idea, what's going on behind your back, if I were you I will start looking around. You'll never know what kind of surprises awaits you once you've found out the truth." tila nang-iinsultong wika ni Veronica, nakangisi pa ito sa kanya na parang nang-iinsulto.

Napansin yata ni Stephen ang pagtatagis ng kanyang bagang kaya nilapitan na nito ang asawa para tuluyang awatin.

"Honey, stop this nonsense! Let's go home!" ani Stephen sabay hila sa asawa ngunit pumiksi ang ginang at hinarap muli si Sinica.

"Poor you, look at yourself, between you and I, it seems like you're more wasted than me." anito sabay tawa ng malakas. Ininom nito ang natitirang alak sa kopita nito at ngumising muli. "Riches is nothing if you're unhappy, unloved, unappreciated, and getting cheated on. If your husband is like that, he wan't into you. You're just someone who's good with nothing." dagdag nito.

Nagsalubong ang kilay ni Sinica pagkarinig sa sinabi ng kaharap. Sino ang nagbigay sa babaeng ito na insultuhin siya sa harapan ng mga guest niya?!

"What did you say?! Take back every words you said! Or else, you'll regret opening your nasty mouth! I'll gonna rip your tounge for you to stop talking!" malakas niyang sabi, napatayo siya sabay duro sa ginang.

"I am sorry, she doesn't know what she's doing. We'll gonna leave now," hinging paumanhin ni Stephen. Tuluyan na nitong kinaladkad si Veronica papalayo sa kanya.

Napaupo siya habang nanginginig sa galit. Ano ang sabi ni Veronica? She's unhappy, unloved, unappreciated at niloloko? Where the hell did she get that idea?! Ano ang alam nito sa personal niyang buhay?

Namataan niyang papalapit sa kanya ang sekretarya at huminga siya nang malalim. Gusto niyang ihanda ang sarili sa irereport ng sekretarya.

"Madam Sinica, I've been calling Mr. Cheng as you instructed but his phone is currently turned off. I can't locate where he is, right now. I tried calling Eddie to asked some information, but he's at home already. Mr. Cheng asked him to go home and he said, he will drive himself here."

"Then, where the hell is my husband? He promised me this morning. Why can't he keep those damn promises?!" naluluha sa galit niyang sabi. Napatingin siya sa paligid ang nakita ang mangilan-ngilan niyang bisita na nag-uumpukan habang nakatingin sa kanya. Sa pakiwari niya ay siya ang pinag-uusapan ng mga ito.

"What's your plan, madam?" usisa ni Rona.

"Send them away, the party is over." aniya. Ang tinutukoy niya ang mga guest na nagpaiwan. Tumayo siya mula sa kinauupuan at nagsimulang maglakad patungo sa private office niya.

"But, madam... they are here to meet your husband. I'm afraid they'll badmouth you if we will send them home this early," ani Rona.

"Who cares? Then let them gossip around," pambabalewala niya sa payo ng sekretarya.

"But madam, can we wait a little while? Maybe Mr. Cheng is on the way now."

Tinitigan niya ito ng masama at dinuro sa mukha. "I told you to do your job, what happen then? I've been preparing for this banquet for months, why it has be ruined? I told you to make this night a moment to remember, what happened, huh?! You can't even reach my husband, you stupid and useless thing!" asik niya sa sekretarya. Humulagpos na ang galit at sama ng loob na namumuo sa dibdib niya at hindi na siya nakapagpigil pa.

"I am sorry, madam. I know it's my fault, please punish me!" ani Rona sabay luhod sa harapan ng mayamang ginang. Kailangan niyang magpakumbaba rito or else, pag-iinitan na naman nito ang kanyang ina.

"Send all these people out of my boutique, the party is over. Apollo will never come anyway," aniya. Hindi na siya muling lumingon pa kahit marami ang tumatawag sa kanya. Gusto niyang magkulong sa opisina niya at doon iiyak ang sama ng loob sa kabiyak. Kinausap niya pa ito kaninang umaga para lang makasiguro na pupunta nga ito ngunit nabigo siya. Ni anino ni Apollo ay hindi man lang nila nakita.

Ini-lock niya kaagad ang pinto pagkapasok ng opisina niya. Kinuha niya ang isang bote ng alak mula sa kanyang personal refrigerator at nilagay ang laman niyon. Nais niyang lunurin ang sarili dahil sa labis na hinanakit sa asawa.

Naiwan sa labas si Rona para abisuhan ang mga guest na magsipag-uwi na sila sapagkat tapos na ang party. Namataan rin niya ang driver ng amo na si Elvis habang tumutulong rin sa pagkausap sa mga guest.

"This is the worst party, I've ever been. I came here to meet Apollo but I ended up gaining nothing! What a waste of time!" bulalas ng isang may kaedarang lalaki. Halata sa mukha nito ang pagiging tyrant.

"I am sorry Sir, something came up and Mr. Cheng couldn't make it. But, thank you for coming and for showing your support to Madam SInica, she appreciates every one of you," ani Rona.

Iningusan lang siya ng ibang guest at nagsipag-uwian na. Wala naman itong mga magagawa kung si Sinica mismo ang magpaalis sa mga ito.

Napaalis na nila ang mga guest at sila na lang ni Elvis ang naiwan. Parehas sila naghihintay sa ipag-uutos ni Sinica, hindi rin nila basta maiwanan ang ginang hangga't wala itong sinasabi.

Naglakas loob si Elvis na katukin ang amo para magtanong, "Madam Sinica, do you need anything? All the guest is gone, is there anything we could do for you?"

"Nothing, leave me alone. I don't need you both. You can all go home for all I care!" Pasinghal na sagot ng ginang.

Napapailing naman si Elvis mula sa narinig, kagaya ng inaasahan. Mainit na naman ang dugo ng amo at matatagalan na naman ito kumalma.

"Let's go home, Rona," yakag niya sa kasamahan.

"I wonder where Mr. Cheng is, why he didn't showed up? Madam Sinica prepared for this night like crazy. But every effort goes to nothing. If I were her, I'd be upset too!" Ani Rona.

"Well, we have no idea what's going on between the two. It's not our problem, anyway. Let's just focus with our job alone." Suhestiyon ni Elvis na sinagot naman agad ng dalaga ng magkakasunod na tango.

Sabay na silang umalis sa boutique ng amo, iniwan na lang ni Elvis ang susi ng sasakyan upang may magamit ang amo pag-uwi. Hahayaan muna nila na mapag-isa sa Sinica hanggang sa kumalma ito.

Sinica spent the night crying her heart out. If she could just scream on the top of her lungs, she will. But she couldn't because she doesn't want the world to know that she is in so much pain because of her husband. What Veronica said was true, after two decades of marriage there was never a time that she felt her husband's love and admiration. Their union is just like for convenience. They both gain from each other in terms of money, no more no less.

"Cheers for making me look like an idiot in front of my guests," ani Sinica habang nakaharap sa picture ni Apollo sa kanyang opisina. Itinaas niya ang bote ng alak at nilagok ang laman niyon. "Why do you have to be so cruel? What did I do to deserve this? After all these years, I've become a good wife and a mother. Why can't you be a good husband, too?" Puno ng hinanakit niyang sabi. Patuloy sa pag-agos ang kanyang mga luha at hindi niya na alintana kung mukha na siyang bruha dahil sa pagkahulas ng kanyang make-up.

Dala ng kalasingan ay napayupyop na lang si Sinica sa kanyang sofa. Nasa ganoon siyang posisyon hanggang sa unti-unti siyang hilahin ng antok.

"Oh my God! Where am I?" Ani Apollo sabay balikwas sa kanyang higaan. Paglinga niya sa katabi ay tulog na tulog pa rin ito kaya niyugyog niya ang balikat nito para magising.

"Hmmm? What's your problem, honey? Can we just sleep at peace, huh?" Anito.

"Why I'm still here? I'm supposed to leave after a few drinks, my wife is waiting for me!" Turan niya rito.

"I don't care! I don't give a damn if she's still waiting for you at this hour! You've just spent a few hours with me and how dare you glare at me like that with those eyes!" Gigil rin na sagot nito sa kanya.

"I told you that I have to meet few potential clients there, that's why I agree for that stupid banquet!"

"So, did I ruined your plans? Tell me, Apollo!" Galit na rin na hamon nito.

"I told you not to play your tricks with me. I am doing this for us to be together as soon as possible. Why can't you understand that? All you have to do is to play along!"

"We've been together for so long, and whenever you spend your time with me, we always end up having a fight." Anito sabay tingin sa kanya. Ang mga mata nito ay puno ng galit at hinanakit.

"Because you're not behaving the way we talked to,"

"Is that so? Then, why don't we end this relationship right now? After all, you're not the same Apollo that I used to know." Hamon nito.

"Stop playing with me!" Singhal niya.

"Get out! Run to your stupid wife! Don't you ever show yourself in front of me, ever again!" Ganting singhal nito.

Galit niyang dinampot ang mga damit at mabilis itong isinuot. Pagkatapos ay dire-diretsong naglakad papalabas ng pinto. Padabog pa siyang sumakay sa kanyang kotse at pinaharurot iyon patungo sa shop ng asawa. Umaasa siya na naroon pa rin ang kabiyak kahit alas dos na ng madaling araw. May sarili siyang susi ng botique ni Sinica kaya hindi naging problema sa kanya ang pagpasok kahit wala ng katao-tao at sarado na ang mga ilaw at wala na rin ang mga bisita.

"Sinica?" Tawag niya sa asawa nang makita itong nakayupyop sa sofa. Bakas pa ang natuyong luha nito sa pisngi at nagkalat ang mga bote ng alak sa sahig.

Dumilat naman agad ang ginang at tinitigan siya ng masama.

"Oh, you're here Apollo? Why are you here at this hour? Do you like to see how miserable you make me feel tonight?" Puno ng hinanakit na sambit nito.

"I'm sorry if I didn't make it, something came up and things got blurry..." Pagpapaliwanag niya.

Tumayo si Sinica at nagpaikot-ikot sa harapan niya.

"Can you see my make-up? I was so beautiful few hours back. Do you notice my gown, my jewelries? I tried to look at my best because I want you to become proud. But all of these things, don't matter to you, right?"

"I didn't do it on purpose, please forgive me."

Humalakhak ang ginang sa sobrang galit at napatingin ng matalim sa asawa.

"After all these years, you've never been a husband to me. Back then, I always told myself that you're just busy preparing for your empire. I just told myself that as a wife, I have to support you, understand you, and stand with you. But I never felt the same from you, Apollo."

"Sinica, stop that! You're drunk, let's go home!" Awat niya sa asawa.

"Don't touch me! Tell me, Apollo. Are you sleeping with somebody else?!" Mabagsik na sigaw ng ginang.

"W-what?!" Tigagal niyang sagot.

"Who is that woman?! Tell me so I could kill her with both of my hands! No one is allowed to take you away from me. I endured so much with this relationship, and I won't let anyone destroy this, not now, not ever!" Gigil na sigaw ni Sinica sa nakangangang si Apollo.