Apollo's Crib: A Sinister Fate

EP.07

"There's no other woman, what are you talking about? That's absurd, Sinica!" maang na sambit ni Apollo sa kabiyak.

Nakakatakot ang mga titig ni Sinica sa kanya. Waring sa anumang oras ay nakahanda itong umatake. It was the first time he saw her getting mad and he is surprise with how she glare at him.

"Yeah, you better be. I won't tolerate cheating, Apollo. You're completely grown-up and you know that if you don't want getting burned, don't ever dare play with fire!" turan sa kanya ng babae. Dinampot nito ang susi ng sasakyan at walang paalam na iniwan ang nababaghang si Apollo. Pagkarating niya sa sasakyan ay mabilis niya iyong pinaandar para makauwi na sa kanilang condo. She is badly hurt and she's afraid kung ano ang kaya niyang gawin o masabi sa asawa kaya nagpasya na lang siyang mauna. Namataan niya pa si Apollo na nakasunod sa sasakyan niya ngunit binalewala niya ito.

"Hey, mom, how's your party! Is it good?" salubong sa kanya ni Agatha pagkabukas pa lang niya sa marangya nilang front door.

"Don't even think of asking," matabang niyang sagot sa anak.

"Why? Something happened?" usisa nito, sabay tingin sa ama na kakarating lang din. "Dad, what happen between you two?"

"Your dad seems to be the scene stealer tonight, he's awesome! You better ask him, he can answer you with full details on how my party ended tonight," sarkastiko niyang sagot. Iniwanan na niya ang mag-ama sa kanilang malawak na living room at nagtungo sa kanilang kwarto para magpalit ng kanyang damit.

"Why you're still up at this hour?" untag ni Apollo sa panganay.

"I was waiting for mom, I just want to hear some news about her party. Why is she like that?"

"Long story, you better rest now." ani Apollo.

"Don't tell me you've hurt her again?"

Napatitig si Apollo sa kanyang anak at nagsalita, "There's something that you guys mustn't know. This matter belongs to me and your mom and it will stay that way, no matter what."

"We're adult now, Dad, I hope you changes your way as you getting older. But it seems like you haven't change at all. Mom doesn't deserve to be treated that way."

"You don't know anything, Agatha. You better shut your mouth!" asik ni Apollo.

"Of course I know, we may be quite but we're not blind. I know how you treated mom and that's awful." ani ng dalaga.

Natahimik na lang si Apollo sa mga sagot ng anak. Wala siyang balak makipagtalo pa rito para hindi na lumaki. Kailangan niya pang suyuin ang asawa para hindi na lumala ang tampo nito. His wife helped him a lot with his figure. The public knows him as a doting father and a husband. He never dreamed of his image getting stained because of his one mistake.

"I'm sorry about what happened, it was my fault. I apologize for not keeping my words earlier, I hope you can still forgive me and give me another chance..." malumanay niyang sambit sa asawa. Nasa harapan ito ng vanity mirror at kasalukuyang naglalagay ng mask sa mukha.

"You should have known me better, Apollo. We're old enough not to know every inch of our body and mind. I never asked for anything but your support, but seems like I couldn't even have that from you." anito.

"This will never happen again, I swear to God. I will make it up to you, Sinica."

Tumingin sa kanya ang kabiyak at ngumiti, "Sure, you will..."

Sinica tap his shoulder and goes to bed. He immediately change his clothes to join his wife and rest. They've got a long night and they all needed to relax a bit.

Meanwhile, Agatha and her siblings are talking with each other. Narinig din pala ng dalawa ang komosyon sa salas kaya nag-usisa ang mga ito.

"What happened to mom?" ani Audrey.

"Believe me, I had no idea." sagot ni Agatha.

"I wonder why you're still surprised as if this is the first time that mom was upset with dad." sabad ni Austin. Umiling-iling pa ito.

"What do we have to do, then?"

"What can we do?" ani Austin. "Nothing, that's not our business. Let them take care with this mess, they surely know what's best,"

"Apparently, that's not the case. And of course, this is our business too. This is our family, Austin, our parents mess will affect us, too!" pagalit na wika ni Agatha.

"Then, tell me what's your plan. Are you gonna ask them? Do you think they will tell you what's going on?"

"Of course they won't, but I will look further to see what is going on. I can't afford to watch this family being destroyed." ani Agatha.

Nagkatinginan naman sina Austin at Audrey na parehas ding nag-aalala para sa kanilang pamilya. Tama si Agatha, ang kasiraan ng mga magulang ay kasiraan din nila. At ayaw nilang pag piyestahan sila ng mga tao at mga kaibigan kapag nagkawatak-watak sila.

Stephen was staring at his wife while she is sleeping, he's trying to figure out what's going on. Ano ang alam ng kaniyang asawa sa sitwasyon ng mga Cheng. Why did she said those words in front of Sinica? Tila naramdaman naman ng kabiyak ang ginagawa niya dahil dumilat ito at tumitig sa kanya.

"You're supposed to be sleeping right mow, what with the stare?" usisa nito.

"What do you know about the Cheng? Why did you pick a fight to Sinica?"

"I don't know anything, maybe I was too drunk and all those words are meaningless, forget it."

"How can I forget those things, when every words you said are echoing in my head?"

"Stephen, I am drunk that night, okay? It's just a slip of my tounge, and it holds no value. You shouldn't take it your heart. Stop asking dumb questions, let's sleep." ani Veronica.

"Okay, if you say so. But please, apologize to Sinica first thing in the morning tomorrow. You should know that we needed them, we cannot afford to lose them and you know that."

"Okay, I will." sagot nito, "Can we sleep now? Please?"

Tinitigan niya lang ang esposa at muling nahiga sa kanilang kama, hindi pa rin nawawala sa isipan niya ang mga katagang pinakawalan nito. Kilala niya ang asawa, hindi mapipigilan ang bibig nito kapag merong alam. At kailangan niyang alamin kung ano iyon bago pa nito masira ang diskarte niya.

"Good morning madam, you have a guest waiting for you in the living room." Bungad ni Laura sa kanya pagkalabas niya ng kanyang silid.

"I'm not expecting anyone, and I'm not in the mood to entertain one," sagot niya.

"But, she was already there for thirty minutes straight. She even begged me to let her in, she said she has something important to say,"

"Who is that annoying person?" Salubong ang kilay na tanong niya. "And since when did I tell you allow anyone enter my house without my permission?"

Humingi naman kaagad ng paumanhin ang kasambahay sa kanya ngunit hindi pa rin nawawala ang inis niya. Never siyang tumanggap ng bisita ng ganoon kaaga. Nakasuot pa siya ng roba at wala pang make-up.

"Good morning, Sinica!" Malakas na tawag ni Veronica mula sa baba.

Kaagad siyang dumungaw at nakita ang ginang na nakatingala sa kinaroroonan niya. Ang lakas din naman ng loob ng baliw na babarng 'to na puntahan siya matapos siyang ipahiya nang nakaraang gabi.

"Did the sun rise up in the west? What brought you here?" Nakatikwas ang kilay na tanong niya pagkababa sa hagdan.

"I am here to apologize for what I did last night, my husband told me that I had said words that I shouldn't been said." Sagot nito. "I even brought some tea for peace offering," dagdag nito sabay turo sa ilang karton ng mamahaling tsaa na nakapatong sa center table.

Hindi niya maiwasang magtaas ng kilay sa ginawa nito. "Since you are here to talk about that, maybe you have an explanation on where the hell on earth you get those ideas? I think, I deserve an explanation, "

"I am sorry, last night I was totally drunk and doesn't know what I am doing. My big mouth is out of control and I'm taking back everything I've said. I didn't meant to harm you, my bad..."

"Are you?"

"Yes! I'm being nosy when I'm drunk, hope you can forgive me, Sinica. Of course, those words aren't true, right? Even you could tell that I'm just making a story."

"Yeah, sure! Is that all?" Aniya. "You can leave now, nobody want my husband to be awaken by you, right?

"H-huh? I-i am forgiven?" Gulat na sagot nito na waring hindi makapaniwala sa narinig.

"Yes, you may leave now. I can't have my breakfast if you're standing like a beggar in my living room as if you're asking for any leftovers in my fridge." Sarkastiko niyang sagot.

"W-what?! B-begggar?? Left overs?!" Gigil nitong sagot.

Tiningnan niya ito mula ulo hanggang paa sabay baling kay Laura. "Send my guest off and prepare for my tea. I need it in five minutes, hurry!" Aniya.

"Hey! I'm not a beggar! Are you looking down on me?!" Singhal nito sa kanya.

"Ma'am Veronica, it is best to leave the house right now. Your husband is waiting for you outside," ani Laura, sabay hila nito sa braso no Veronica papalabas ng bahay.

"That arrogant b***h! I can believe this!" Gigil pa ring tungayaw nito.

"What happen honey? Why you're acting like that again?" Untag sa kanya ni Stephen. Nakaabang ito sa pintuan at gulat sa naging hitsura ng asawa.

"What happened? You're asking me what happened?" Nandidilat na sambit nito. "That b***h called me a beggar asking for her leftovers! I can't take this, it's so annoying!" Singhal nito.

"Beggar?"gulat ring wika ni Stephen.

"Please don't make a scene here, unless you both want to be in the newspaper in a few hours. Please leave without even saying a word. Thank you!" Ani Laura sabay sara ng pinto.

"Where is Elvis?" tanong ni Sinica pagkabigay ni Laura ng paborito nitong tsaa.

"He was in the lobby, waiting for you madam,"

"Ask him to come over, I have something to tell him."

"Yes, madam, right away!"

"Tell him I am in the garden, don't let Apollo know about this,"

"I understand, madam..."

"Good."

Nagpatuloy sa pagsimsim ng tsaa si Sinica habang naghihintay sa tauhan. Sa kanyang isipan ay nakakabuo siya ng mga tanong at kailangan niya ng mga kasagutan, hence, she needed Elvis to do the job for her.

Nagpalinga-linga sina Veronica at Stephen at parehas itong mga nanahimik pagkakita sa iilang tao na nakamasid sa ingay na nilikha nila.

"Fine, of course we don't want to be in a bad light. It's not good for our business, let's go honey!" Ani Veronica. Hinila nito ang asawa at nagmamadaling nilisan ang lugar na iyon.

Sa isipan ni Veronica ay patuloy siyang nagngingitngit, hindi siya makapaghintay na makita ang pagbagsak ng mga Cheng. Kapag nangyari iyon ay sisiguraduhin niyang sila naman ng asawa niya ang aangat. Sa ngayon ay titiisin niya muna ang pang mamaliit ng mga ito sa kanya. Darating ang araw na siya naman ang tatapak sa mga ito.