Kabanata 6
1368 Words
Bea
"How was Kreige Ducani's case so far?" Rafael asked.
"Boring. Walang silbi ang witnesses ng kabilang kampo. They are making a fool out of themselves, and their stupid evidences are giving me eye sore." I sighed. "I should've given the case to someone else."
Rafael smirked. "As if Khalil Ducani will let you. Tuwang-tuwa sayo iyon. I'm surprised that he's not pushing you to date one of his sons yet."
Oh, he did. He kept bragging about his sons, maliban lang kay Kreige dahil alam niyang hindi talaga kami magkasundong dalawa. The only time that we're civil to each other is when we're inside the court room. Oras na lumabas kami roon, para kaming aso't pusang hindi mauubusan ng pagtatalunan.
My phone buzzed. Nang makita ni Rafael na si Gerby ang tumatawag ay sumeryoso ang kanyang mukha.
"Kinukulit ka pa rin? Kapal din ng mukha."
I sighed and rested my back on my swivel chair. "He wants me to take care of their annulment case."
"Please tell me you didn't take it."
I smirked. "Why wouldn't I?"
Rafael groaned. "Bea, that motherfucker cheated on you with your bestfriend, Jaysel. Why would you even consider defending him against the woman who stole him from you?"
"Simple. I wanna show him that I don't give a f**k anymore."
"That is the dumbest reason I've ever heard from you." He shook his head, disappointed.
I know. I just can't help it. Hanggang ngayon ay galit pa rin ako. Galit na galit. But I was raised thinking that the best revenge is showing that you don't care about what happened, because if you will, it means you're on the losing end.
I hate losing, at kung hindi ko tatanggapin ang kaso, iisipin ni Gerby na bitter ako sa nangyari.
"I just wanna be professional. That's all. Isa pa ay lumapit na siya kay Tita Betty," I reasoned out.
Another sigh left his lips. "It's obvious that he regrets choosing Jaysel over you. Tingnan mo ngang ipinipilit na kanya si Khalid kahit ni minsan wala namang nangyari sa inyo. He just assumed that he, quote and quote, accidentally took advantage of you when you guys got drunk during his birthday party."
"I already showed him the DNA test. He knows Khalid isn't his but he said he doesn't care and that he's ready to be Khalid's Dad."
Umigting na nang tuluyan ang panga ni Rafael. "I don't like where this conversation is heading. Please, Bea. If you're thinking of allowing him in your life to get your revenge, save yourself from another potential heartbreak. I cannot watch you lose yourself again because of him."
Nilunok ko ang namuong bara sa aking lalamunan. Nang hindi ko siya sinagot ay muli siyang nagtanong.
"Do you still love him?"
"No," mabilis kong sagot, at totoo iyon.
Galit ako, pero hindi ibig sabihin no'n ay mayroon pa akong nararamdaman para kay Gerby. My feelings for him disappeared a long time ago, at matagal ko nang natanggap na habambuhay na akong matatakot makipagrelasyon dahil sa panlolokong nagawa ni Gerby sa akin.
"Masaya na ako kay Khalid. My son is enough for me, Rafael so you don't have to worry anymore. I will only take the case because tita Betty wants me to, and because I don't involve my personal life with my professional life."
Naihilamos niya ang kanyang palad sa mukha. Mayamaya ay naiinis siyang tumayo. "I'll go talk to tita Betty. I'll steal the case from you."
"You don't have to."
Bumuntonghininga na lamang ako nang umalis siya ng opisina ko. Kilala ko si Rafael. Alam kong kakausapin talaga niya si Tita Betty para lamang hindi ako ang humawak sa annulment case ni Gerby.
I cannot blame him if he's this protective over me. I got pregnant with Khalid because I was broken hearted and tried to ease my pain away. Halos mapatay ako ni Daddy nang malaman niya ang kundisyon ko, at kung hindi dahil kay Rafael, baka hindi kami nagkaayos ni Daddy bago siya namatay.
Inayos ko na lamang ang mga gamit ko saka na ako nagtungo sa tahanan ng mga Ducani. The couple invited me to their anniversary. Isa pa ay hiniram nila si Khalid kanina kaya kailangan ko ring sunduin.
Nang dumating ako roon ay malakas na tumatawa si Kreige habang kaasaran ang mga kapatid at kaibigan. The dimple on his left cheek kept showing every time he'd grin. Paubos na rin ang laman ng beer niya't ang pisngi ay namumula-mula na dala ng epekto ng alak.
Hindi ko naman sana siya iintindihin kung hindi ko lang napansing nakakandong sa kanya si Khalid. My son was even shoving sliced fruits inside Kreige's mouth while he's busy talking to his siblings.
Himala? Magkasundo yata ang dalawa ngayon?
"Bea, kanina ka pa namin hinihintay," bungad ni tito Khalil nang makita ako.
"Good evening po. Sorry, tito I got caught up with some paperworks. By the way, happy anniversary po."
"Salamat, hija." He pointed Kreige and Khalid. "Maganda ang ihip ng hangin. Paano, ginamot ni Kreige ang gasgas ng anak mo sa tuhod saka niya binigyan ng chocolate bar."
"Nadapa ho?"
"Yes. Nagtatatakbo kanina at nadapa, but it's okay. You know, falling or failing is important. Someday, he's going to fail in life, but he's not gonna be afraid to get up and try again."
Napangiti ako sa kanyang sinabi. The wisdom this man has is just fascinating.
"You're right, tito. Most people wanted to be successful, but failure scare them a lot."
He scoffed. "Sabi ko nga kay Kreige, kapag hindi ka takot madapa, hindi ka rin matatakot tumakbo." Ngumiti siya. "Baka nagugutom ka na. My wonderful wife made her specialty. I'm sure you'll love the rest of the food as well. Naka-fiesta style tayo ngayon kaya bahala kang sumandok ng gusto mong kainin. Hindi pa rin kumain ang anak mo at hinihintay ka."
I smiled back and excused myself. Tinawag ko si Khalid para kumain ngunit may sumpong yata ang makulit ngayon dahil gusto pa ay magpabuhat kay Kreige!
Kreige looked at me before he agreed to Khalid's request. Wala na tuloy akong nagawa nang lumapit ang dalawa sa akin. We went to the buffet table and grabbed two plates, but before I started putting food on the plates, Kreige spoke.
"I haven't eaten yet."
I grabbed another plate and gave it to him. Buhat niya si Khalid sa isang braso at tahimik siyang nakabuntot sa akin para malagyan ko ng pagkain ang plato niya. Nang matapos kami ay nagtungo kami sa bakanteng round table.
I noticed his family and friends looking at us. Bigla tuloy akong na-conscious kaya tinawag ko si Khalid para sa akin na kumandong.
"No no no. Ah wanchu sit hew." Sumandal siyang lalo sa dibdib ni Kreige. "Wee fwens now, Mama." Tiningala niya ang medyo lasing nang si Kreige. "Light? Wee fwens now?" Kreige smirked. "Of course." He rubbed Khalid's belly. "Finish your food so we can swim later."
Napalunok na lamang ako nang magsimula silang kumaing dalawa. Nang subuan pa ni Khalid ng shanghai si Kreige ay napahinga na lamang ako ng malalim. Naku-culture shock yata ako sa nangyayari.
Sinubuan ko ng kanin at ulam si Khalid habang si Kreige naman ang nagpainom ng juice. Mayamaya ay ganoon na lamang ang naging pagpikit namin nang masilaw sa flash ng camera. Nang tingnan namin kung sino ang kumuha ay makahulugan nang nakangisi ang kuya ni Kreige na si Keeno.
"You guys look great together," kumento niya saka ako kinindatan at umalis para kumuha pa ng ibang litrato.
Sabay na uminit ang pisngi namin ni Kreige, at nang aksidente kaming nagkatinginan, halos sabay rin kaming tumikhim bago namin tinuwid ang aming mga likod.
"You don't like me, right?" he asked all of a sudden.
"Of course. In fact, I hate you," mabilis kong sagot.
He jerked his head. "Good. That means the feeling is mutual so this is fine." He gulped. "This is totally fine. We don't have to feel awkward around each other because the odds of us liking each other is close to none."
Tumango na lamang ako saka na umiwas ng tingin.
Looks like my pounding heart is the only thing that says otherwise. . .
- Writer
