Mistaken for Pleasure

SYETE

SYETE

AURORA MARASIGAN 

THIS PAST FEW DAYS, I always bump into Eugenio. He keeps on showing up wherever I am, and even at my own house, I can still see him. I don’t know what he is doing here, but I can see him talking to Dad and Tita Carina most of the time.  

“What is that man doing here?” I ask Yaya Tessa while eyeing Eugenio. 

“Ewan ko. Bakit hindi ka na nagtatagalog? Napapansin ko hindi ka na nagpapraktis.” 

Tsk! She’s not making patawad talaga! 

She is always vigilant with every move I make, and she won’t ignore it even for a second. 

Nandito ako sa pool at hindi ko maiwasang tingnan silang habang nakaupo sa garden at mukhang may seryosong pinag-uusapan. Hindi ako mapaghinalang tao. Actually wala nga daw akong pakialam sa mga taon sa paligid ko sabi ni Yaya. But lately this man is making me curious in some point. 

I swim another lap before I went up to the pool. I am oblivious to my surroundings while walking onto the sun lounger when someone suddenly speaks from behind. “What the hell?!” I shriek at Eugenio’s sudden appearance. 

“Hindi ko kasi alam ang daan palabas. Ikaw lang ang nandito,” kibit balikat niyang sagot habang nakataas ang kamay. 

He acts like I have a disease. Tsk! “Really? How lame! Like duh, the bodyguard is everywhere,” I scowled at him. 

“Oh, my bad! See you again, Aurora. Nice, ass by the way,” pahabol niyang sigaw bago ito naglakad papunta sa sala. 

I hate this man! I really hate him!

Naiinis ako na lagi na lang siyang sumusulpot and he always make things that pisses me off. Hindi ko alam kung sinasadya niya ba ang bagay na ‘yon o talagang nagkakataon lang. Gustohin ko man syang iwasan at hindi pansinin ay talagang gumagawa ito ng rason para mas hindi ko siya maiwasan. 

Am I feelingera? 

No. Eugenio is just a fvcking d*ck! 

Kakaalis lang ni Eugenio ng muling dumating si Tita Carina. Lumapit ito sa akin bitbit ang isang tray ng juice at sandwich habang walang tigil na umiikot ang mata. “Are you looking for someone?” hindi ko mapigilang tanong sa kanya. 

“Yeah. Nakita mo ba si Gene?” 

My brows furrowed at the name she said. I don’t recall any other human being here aside from that assh*le who just left. “Gene? Eugenio Dimalupig?” When I saw the sudden recognition on her face, I feel something in my chest. “Umalis na siya,” matipid kong sagot bago muling tumalon sa pool. 

Hindi ko na nakita ang naging reaksyon niya sa sinabi ko. Pero may kung ano sa loob na hindi ko maipaliwanag. Is she cheating on my father? But it’s imposible she lvoe my father so much that she even abandoned her family for us. At least their family is not a loss compared to Dad's wealth. It’s a win-win for Tita Carina and her family when she marries Dad. 

“Are you listening, Maria Aurora?” 

“Huh? Are you saying something?” I blinked when she called my name. 

“Sabi ko umahon ka na at lalabas daw tayo sabi ng Daddy mo. Wear simple por favour!” she said before turning her back on me. 

Papasok pa lang ako ng sala ay nakita ko na si Yaya Tessa na bitbit ang robe ko. Nakasimangot agad ito ng makita akong palakad-lakad na naka two-piece. Hindi ko alam kung bakit ako ang lagi niyang pinag-iinitan samantalang si Rin-rin nga halos maghubad na sa mahahalay nitong damit. 

Inayos na ni Yaya ang susuotin ko pero hindi ko ito gusto kaya pinalitan ko din. Isang two-piece dress ang kinuha ko sa closet na isang beses ko pa lang yata nasuot mula ng binigay ito sa akin. Isa itong sleeveless top and skirt with a pink rose and green leaf design. I just pair it with a white Loubotin stilettos. 

“Bakit iba na naman ang suot mo?” kunot noo na tanogn ni Yaya habang nakalagay ang dalawang kamay sa bewang. 

“Ya, it’s so simple. I feel like I am dying wearing it. Like duh, I am Rara--Aw!” 

“Aw-awin kita diyan eh! Sasabihin na naman ng mahadera mong step mother hinahayaan kita sa gusto mo.”

I pouted when she starts murmuring beside me. “Ya, do you want me to be ugly? Let her be, Tita Carina just don't want me to go beyond her beauty,” I said before flipping my hair. 

Narinig ko pang tinawag niya akong maldita pero hindi ko na siya nilingon pa dahil kukurutin na naman ako nito. Pagbaba ko ng hagdan ay nakita ko agad ang masamang tingin sa akin ni Tita Carina pero sinagot ko lang siya ng isang matamis na ngiti. 

But my Dad is the only exception who is now checking me out from head to toe. I mouthed what on him, and he just answered me with a disapproving look. 

“Aurora…” 

“Yes, Dad?” I answered, smiling widely at him. I need to do this if I don’t want to be grounded. “May problema po ba?” 

Oh, my! Tap on the back, Rara. You sound so convincing on your Tagalog. 

“Nabalitaan ko ang nangyari sa ‘yo sa mall.” 

Tsk! I really can’t trust Aj. He always tells Dad if something happens to me or if I did something terrible. “What do you want me to do? She keeps on shouting and making eskandalo in front of other people. I tried to say sorry, but she insist on paying her clothes and insult me,” I said, defending myself. 

What? That b***h is not here. She won’t hear if I insult her or lied to Dad. I can make amin that I make buhos the coffee on purpose because she’s bitching on me! Like duh, I am Rara Marasigan and she’s making me pahiya right now! 

Dad stops arguing with me and just reminds me that it should never happen again. However, when we arrive at the restaurant, Yaya Tessa keeps on whispering about what Daddy said. I feel like I have my walking homily beside me who never stop telling me what to do. 

Nasa entrance pa lang kami ng restaurant ay nagkakagulo na ang mga reporter kay Daddy. Syempre my stepmom is already beside him smiling as if she really is interested in the topic. 

I don’t hate her. I just don’t like her. Is that the same? 

I don’t know either. 

“Ya, doon tayo. Wala namang bisita si Daddy. Right, Tita Carina?” baling ko sa stepmom ko na nakasunod sa akin maglakad. “Aw!” daing ko ng bumunggo ako sa isang pader. 

Nang tumingala ako ay hindi pala pader ang nabangga ko kung hindi isang lalaking ayaw kong makita. “Tsk! Watch where your going!” I scowled and pull my arms from his hands. 

“Ikaw ang nakabangga hindi ba?” mapang-uyam na ngisi sa akin ni Eugenio. 

“Gene, ikaw pala. Pasensya ka na dito sa anak ko. Hindi ka lang niya napansin,” lapit ni Tita Carina kay Eugenio na para bang kasalanan ko ang lahat.

Sa inis ko ay nilagpasan ko na sila at sumunod na kay Yaya Tessa sa lamesa na nakalaan sa amin. Maya-maya ay naupo na rin si Dad pero napataas na lang ang kilay ko ng makita si Tita Carina na kasunod si Eugenio at masayang nakikipagkwentuhan dito. 

Is it me, or am I really pissed off and annoyed with them? Maybe you're jealous? And why is that? That thought never crossed my mind. I wouldn’t like a shameless person like him. 

“Are you okay, Princess?” 

“Yes, Dad.” 

I can’t tell him that I’m not okay and that I am naiinis. “You are pouting right now, Maria Aurora. If you didnt know,” he said with a tone of reminding me where we are. 

Hindi na ako muling sumagot pa at nakipagtalo sa kanya dahil alam kong magagalit lang ito lalo sa akin. I can’t afford to be grounded right now. There’s a new bar pa naman that we are planning to visit tomorrow. Tsk! 

Natapos yata ang lunch na tahimik lang ako at hindi na nakisali pa sa kanila. Mabuti na lang nagmessage ang dalawa kong kaibigan na naghihintay na sa akin sa labas. Aj is the driver and Rin is waiving at me from the backseat. Nagpaalam lang ako kay Dad na wala ng sinabi dahil nasa labas ito at hindi na nagsalita pa. Pero kung nagkataon na nasa bahay kami ay marami na itong sinabi at baka pati si Yaya Tessa ay pasamahin pa sa mga lakad ko. 

“Where are we going?” tanong ko kay Aj ng makapasok sa kotse niya. 

“Where do you want to go?” 

“Hoy, tanungin niyo naman ako kung saan ko gustong pumunta,” singit ni Trinity na puno pa ang bibig sa mga take out foods nila. 

I thought that was we were going somewhere nice but we just stopped in front of Casa. When I asked them why here, they said that Rin-rin wanted to use the vouchers she got for this place. Rin said she need to use the discount and we will pay the rest.

At the end kami pa rin pala ang gagastos ni Aj. but knowing Aj the gentleman he surely would shoulder all he payment.

“Hindi na ulit kayo nagkita ng may-ari nito, Awreng?” tanong ni Rin-rin ng maupo ito sa tabi ko. Kunot noo ko syang nilingon bago ko narealize kung ano ang sinasabi niya. “Yung gwapo na kaaway mo.” 

“Oh, Eugenio? Why you like him?” 

“Hindi naman. Curios lang ako kung bakit nagtatrabaho siya sa ganitong lugar,” kibit balikat na sagot ni Rin-rin. 

“I don’t care why they started this business. Like duh, hindi rin naman ako interesado.” 

“Maldita!” 

“I know, Langga!” tukso ko pa sa kanya lalo kaya hinila na lang nito ang buhok ko sa sobrang inis niya. 

Kinuha ko ang isang baso ng lemon martini na inorder ni Rin-rin at tinungga ang huling  patak nito. Si Aj ay nawala na sa tabi namin dahil nakatagpo na naman ito ng kausap about business. He reminds me of Dad who never stop talking about politics and people. 

“Ra, let’s dance!” Yaya sa akin ni Rin-rin sa gitna ng bar. 

Habang naglalakad ay sinasabayan namin ang tugtog sa background. Sabay kaming sumigaw habang ang mga kamay ay nakataas ay sumasayaw. I feel like the song fits on my mood. We also make layo to the guys who keeps on bugging us on our table. Like duh, as if they’ll even reach my standards. 

“Wooh!” 

I am dancing and holding a glass of martini on my hand. i ‘m getting tipsy, but Trinity is still alive and getting hype with the crowd. 

Maarte, spoiled brat, maldita, high maintenance chick. I don’t care what people call me. All i care about is i am happy and my Dad is happy. He is the only person that i have. The only person who always believes me no matter what people around us saying against me. 

“Where are you going?” Rin-rin shouted when she saw me walks out of the crowd. 

I don’t knwo if she get what I said, but i just pointed the way to the bathroom. “Are you lost baby girl?” a guy said when he block my way. I winced on how he say that word. He doenst even have a slightest resemblance to Michele. 

“Duh, I am married and his the son of the mayor,” I told him to make him stop. 

Iyon ang laging sinasabi ko sa tuwing may lalaking lalapit sa akin kaya madalas din akong tawanan ni Aj at Rin-rin.. After saying that they instantly step back. Knowing that i have the mayor’s back is a good thing. But definitely Dad will kill me if he heard about this gossip. 

“Yes, Dad?” sagot ko sa tawag ni Dad na kanina pa pala tumatawag. 

“Where are you?” 

“Were at the bar. Why?” 

“Oh, nothing. I thought your Tita is with you,” he said before hanging up. 

Nang tawagan ko si Yaya Tessa ay umalis daw ang step mother ko at mukhang kanina pa hinahanap ng Tatay ko. It's eleven o'clock in the evening so where is she going at this time? Suddenly I was terrified that she might be doing something terrible behind my Dad's back.

Habang pabalik sa pwesto namin nila Rin-rin ay natiigl akong ng magawi ang tingin ko sa mini garden an connectiing sa Casa Hotel. And when i walk in i am shock to find Tita Carina dancing with a man in the middle of full moon. 

Dahan-dahan pa akong naglakad palapit sa kanila dahil baka namamali lang ako ng tingin. But it’s not, it is really my stepmom. “What the fvck is happening here?” hindi ko napigilang sigaw kaya mabilis na napalayo si Tita Carina kay Eugenio. 

“Aurora!” 

“What are you doing? Are you cheating on my Dad?” 

I lost my mind when that idea came into me. 

Halso lakad takbo akong nilapitan siya at mabilis na hinila palayo sa malanding lalaking ito. Pakiramdam ko ay hindi ako makahinga ngayon dahil sa nararamdaman kong inis at galit sa kanilang dalawa. 

“It’s not what you think. Gene is just helping me--” 

“Gene? Are you that close to call him that? Are you making me dumb, right now? I know what i saw. How long have you been doing this?” 

I am frustrated and hurt for my Dad. And i ca’t help it that ifferent scenarios also came into my mind. 

“It’s not what you think. He really is helping me. Oh, God!” 

“Stop explaining! I don’t need your lies and excuses,” I said dismissing her. “And you, a married woman really?” 

Paran sasabog ang dibdib ko sa sobrang inis at galit na nararamdaman ko habang naglalakad ako palabas ng bar. Naglalakad ako kahit hindi ko naman alam kung saan ako pupunta. 

I am so frustrated to myself that i didn’t see this coming. If i’m not self centered maybe i’ve seen how she is treating that guy. Or even Eugene i should’ve notice his reasons for getting near our family. I could have done something so that Tita Carina would not have approached Eugenio or committed a sin against Dad. She's too precious for him and i don’t know how will he would accept this news. 

“s**t!” 

Naihilamos ko na lang sa mukha ang kamay ko ng bumuhos ang malakas na ulan. Kahit panahon ay hindi man lang nakikisama sa akin ngayon. 

Just great! 

I am so fvck up, right now!