Forced to the Altar

Chapter 2

*Chapter 2: Ang Unang Gabi Sa Mansyon Ng Demonyo*

*Chapter 2: The First Night in the Mansion of the Devil*

*ELENA POV*

Hindi ko akalain na makakarating ako dito.

_I never thought I would be here._

Ako, si Elena Cruz, 23 taong gulang, nagtitinda ng pandesal sa Tondo, nakatayo ngayon sa harap ng Montenegro Mansion.

_Me, Elena Cruz, 23 years old, pandesal vendor from Tondo, standing now in front of Montenegro Mansion._

At pag sinabi kong mansion, MANSION talaga.

_And when I say mansion, I mean MANSION really._

Tatlong palapag. Puti at ginto. May fountain sa harap na may estatwa ng anghel. Ang garden ay mas malaki pa sa buong Tondo. May sampung kotse sa garahe.

_Three floors. White and gold. There is a fountain in front with statue of angel. The garden is bigger than whole Tondo. There are ten cars in the garage._

Ito ay hindi bahay. Ito ay palasyo.

_This is not a house. This is a palace._

At ako, babaeng nakatira sa bahay na yero ang dingding at butas ang bubong, ay titira dito.

_And I, a girl who lives in a house with yero walls and broken roof, will live here._

Sa loob ng isang taon. Bilang Mrs. Montenegro.

_For one year. As Mrs. Montenegro._

"Wow," bulong ko.

_"Wow," I whispered._

"Pawiin mo yang pagkamangha sa mukha mo, pandesal girl," malamig na boses mula sa likod ko.

_"Wipe that amazement off your face, pandesal girl," a cold voice from behind me._

Lumingon ako.

_I turned around._

Si Adrian Montenegro. 28. Asawa ko.

_Adrian Montenegro. 28. My husband._

Oo, asawa ko na. Kahit hindi pa kami kasal sa simbahan, pumirma kami sa kontrata. Kaya legal, asawa ko na siya.

_Yes, my husband. Even though we are not married in church yet, we signed the contract. So legally, I am his wife now._

Nakasuot pa rin siya ng parehong black suit kanina. Pero ngayon, mas galit ang mukha niya.

_He was still wearing the same black suit earlier. But now, his face is more angry._

"Makinig ka sa akin, Elena," sabi niya, lumapit sa akin. "Ito ang Montenegro Mansion. Bahay ko. Mga patakaran ko. Patakaran number one: Hindi ka asawa ko dito. Kontrata ka lang."

_"Listen to me, Elena," he said, coming closer. "This is Montenegro Mansion. My house. My rules. Rule number one: You are not my wife here. You are just a contract."_

"Patakaran number two: Huwag mong hawakan ang mamahaling gamit dito. Taga Tondo ka, hindi mo alam humawak ng mamahalin."

_"Rule number two: Don't touch expensive things here. You are from Tondo, you don't know how to handle expensive things."_

"Patakaran number three: Magpanggap ka lang na asawa ko pag nandito si Lolo o pag nasa labas tayo. Pag tayo lang dalawa, wala ka sa akin. Naintindihan mo?"

_"Rule number three: Act as my wife only when Lolo is here or when we are in public. When we are alone, you are nothing to me. Understood?"_

Tumango ako. May luha na sa mata ko, pero pinigilan ko.

_I nodded. Tears were already in my eyes, but I stopped it._

"Naintindihan ko po, Sir."

_"Understood, Sir."_

"Sir?" Tumawa siya, pero malamig na tawa. "Sir ang tawag mo? Asawa mo ako, Elena. Tawagin mo akong Adrian. Pero wag mo akong tawaging Sir na parang yaya ka. Kahit... yaya ka lang naman na may marriage certificate."

_"Sir? You call me Sir? You are my wife, Elena. Call me Adrian. But don't call me Sir like you are my maid. Though... you are just a maid with marriage certificate."_

Masakit. Sobrang sakit ng bawat salita niya.

_It hurts. So much hurt for every word._

Pero hindi ako sumagot. Dahil naalala ko pamilya ko.

_But I didn't answer. Because I remembered my family._

"Dali, sumunod ka sa akin," sabi ni Adrian at pumasok sa loob.

_"Come, follow me," Adrian said and went inside._

Sumunod ako. Bitbit ang lumang plastic bag ko. Wala akong maleta. Lahat ng damit ko kasya sa isang plastic bag ng palengke.

_I followed him. Carrying my old plastic bag. I don't have luggage. All my clothes fit in one palengke plastic bag._

Pagpasok namin, lahat ng katulong at gwardya tumingin sa akin.

_When we entered, all maids and guards looked at me._

At nakita ko sa mata nila: Sino itong mahirap na babae?

_And I saw in their eyes: Who is this poor girl?_

Isang matandang babae ang lumapit. Naka-uniform na black and white, parang head maid.

_One old woman approached. Wearing black and white uniform, like head maid._

"Sir Adrian, sino po ito...?" tanong niya.

_"Sir Adrian, who is this...?" she asked._

Hindi man lang tumingin sa akin si Adrian. "Ito si Elena Cruz. O dapat, Mrs. Montenegro. Asawa ko. Isang taon. Titira siya dito. Bigyan mo siya ng pinakamaliit na guest room. Yung malapit sa kusina."

_"This is Elena Cruz. Or Mrs. Montenegro. My wife. For one year. She will stay here. Give her smallest guest room. Near the kitchen."_

Ang head maid, si Manang Fe, naawa sa akin.

_The head maid, Manang Fe, pitied me._

"Hello po, Manang Fe," mahinang sabi ko.

_"Hello, Manang Fe," I said softly._

"Hello, hija. Welcome sa Montenegro Mansion."

_"Hello, hija. Welcome to Montenegro Mansion."_

Kahit isang tao lang ang mabait dito, okay na.

_At least one person is kind here, it's okay._

"Aalis ako papuntang opisina," sabi ni Adrian. "Manang Fe, siguraduhin mo hindi siya magnanakaw. Alam mo na, ugali ng mahihirap, magnakaw."

_"I'm going to office," Adrian said. "Manang Fe, make sure she doesn't steal. You know, poor people habit is to steal."_

At umalis siya.

_And he left._

Nakatayo ako sa gitna ng malaking sala na may chandelier na kasing laki ng bahay namin sa Tondo, hawak ang plastic bag, may luha sa mata, habang lahat ng katulong bumubulong.

_I stood in the middle of big living room with chandelier as big as our house in Tondo, holding plastic bag, with tears, while all maids whispering._

"Sino yan? Asawa daw ni Sir Adrian? Pero mukhang mahirap?"

_"Who is she? Wife of Sir Adrian? But she looks poor?"_

Impyerno ko ito. Araw pa lang ng una, impyerno na.

_This is my hell. Day one, hell already._

Dinala ako ni Manang Fe sa kwarto ko.

_Manang Fe brought me to my room._

Pagbukas ng pinto, nagulat ako. Kahit pinakamaliit na guest room malapit sa kusina, mas malaki pa sa buong bahay namin sa Tondo.

_When she opened the door, I was shocked. Even smallest guest room near kitchen, bigger than our whole house in Tondo._

"Maliit lang ito, hija," sabi ni Manang Fe.

_"This is small only, hija," Manang Fe said._

"Maliit? Manang, mas malaki pa ito sa buong bahay namin," bulong ko.

_"Small? Manang, this is bigger than our whole house," I whispered._

Hinawakan ni Manang Fe kamay ko. "Hija, alam kong mabait kang bata. Nakikita ko sa mata mo. Wag ka mag-alala, hindi lahat ng tao dito masama."

_"Hija, I know you are good girl. I see it in your eyes. Don't worry, not all people here are bad."_

Umiyak ako.

_I cried._

Pag-alis ni Manang Fe, nanatili ako sa kwarto. Binuksan ang plastic bag. Damit ko: dalawang lumang t-shirt, isang palda na butas, isang pantalon na kupas, at isang bestida na binili sa ukay-ukay ng 50 pesos.

_After Manang Fe left, I stayed in room. Opened plastic bag. My clothes: two old t-shirts, one skirt with hole, one faded pants, and one dress I bought in ukay for 50 pesos._

Tumingin ako sa malaking salamin. First time makakita ng buong katawan na salamin.

_I looked at big mirror. First time to see full body mirror._

Paano ako magiging Mrs. Montenegro? Paano ako magiging asawa ng Billionaire?

_How can I be Mrs. Montenegro? How can I be wife of Billionaire?_

Alas otso ng gabi, may kumatok.

_8 PM, someone knocked._

"Hija, hapunan na. Pinapatawag ka ni Sir Adrian sa dining room," sabi ni Manang Fe.

_"Hija, dinner. Sir Adrian is calling you in dining room," Manang Fe said._

Inayos ko sarili. Sinout ang best ukay dress, 50 pesos. Nagsuklay. Naghilamos.

_I fixed myself. Wore best ukay dress, 50 pesos. Brushed hair. Washed face._

At pumunta sa dining room.

_And went to dining room._

Ang dining room ay sobrang laki. May mahabang mesa pang-20 tao. May chandelier ulit. At sa dulo ng mesa, nakaupo si Adrian, naka-black shirt na ngayon, mas gwapo, pero mas malamig.

_Dining room was so big. Long table for 20 persons. Chandelier again. And at end of table, sitting Adrian, wearing black shirt now, more handsome, but more cold._

At sa tabi niya... isang babae.

_And beside him... a woman._

Maganda. Sexy. Mahaba buhok. Naka-red dress na super iksi. Maputi. Matangkad. Model talaga.

_Beautiful. Sexy. Long hair. Wearing red dress super short. White skin. Tall. Really a model._

Sophia Reyes. 26. Girlfriend ni Adrian ng 3 taon.

_Sophia Reyes. 26. Girlfriend of Adrian for 3 years._

Tumingin siya sa akin mula ulo hanggang paa, tapos tumawa.

_She looked at me from head to toe, then laughed._

"Oh my God, Adrian, ito ba yung babae? Yung pandesal girl? Yung taga Tondo na pinilit kang pakasalan ni Lolo? Oh my God, ang... ang... hirap mo!"

_"Oh my God, Adrian, is this the girl? The pandesal girl? Girl from Tondo that Lolo forced you to marry? Oh my God, you are so... poor!"_

Hindi siya pinigilan ni Adrian. Tumingin lang siya sa akin na malamig ang mata.

_Adrian didn't stop her. He just looked at me with cold eyes._

"Elena, ito si Sophia Reyes. Girlfriend ko," sabi ni Adrian.

_"Elena, this is Sophia Reyes. My girlfriend," Adrian said._

Girlfriend? Pero ako asawa niya!

_Girlfriend? But I am his wife!_

"Hi, poor girl," sabi ni Sophia, nakangiti pero masama ang mata. "Don't worry, I don't mind sharing Adrian. Pwedeng sayo siya sa papel. Pero sa kama at sa puso, akin siya. Tama ba, babe?" Hinalikan niya si Adrian sa pisngi.

_"Hi, poor girl," Sophia said, smiling but evil eyes. "Don't worry, I don't mind sharing Adrian. You can have him in papers. But in bed and in heart, he is mine. Right, babe?" She kissed Adrian on cheek._

Hindi siya tinulak ni Adrian. Hinayaan niya halikan siya.

_Adrian didn't push her away. He let her kiss him._

Sa harap ko. Asawa niya.

_In front of me. His wife._

Nakatayo ako, frozen. Tumutulo na luha. Hindi ko mapigilan.

_I stood, frozen. Tears falling. I couldn't stop._

"Bakit ka umiiyak, pandesal girl?" tanong ni Sophia, pekeng concern. "Nasaktan ka? Sorry, hindi ko sinasadya. Kaso... ikaw at si Adrian... hindi kayo bagay. Taga Tondo ka, nagtitinda ng pandesal. Billionaire CEO siya. Parang... yung yaya na naging asawa sa pilit. Nakakatawa!"

_"Why are you crying, pandesal girl?" Sophia asked, fake concern. "Are you hurt? Sorry, I didn't mean to hurt. But... you and Adrian... you don't match. You are from Tondo, you sell pandesal. He is Billionaire CEO. You are like... maid who became wife because forced. So funny!"_

Hindi ko na kinaya.

_I couldn't take it anymore._

Tumakbo ako. Tumakbo pabalik sa maliit na guest room malapit sa kusina.

_I ran. Ran back to small guest room near kitchen._

Ni-lock ang pinto at umiyak. Malakas.

_Locked the door and cried. Loudly._

Unang gabi sa Montenegro Mansion.

_First night in Montenegro Mansion._

Unang gabi bilang Mrs. Montenegro.

_First night as Mrs. Montenegro._

At wasak na ako.

_And I am already broken._

Alas diyes ng gabi, habang umiiyak pa rin sa malambot na kama, tumunog phone ko.

_10 PM, while still crying on soft bed, my phone rang._

Mama ko.

_My Mama._

"Anak! Elena! Okay ka lang ba diyan?"

_"Child! Elena! Are you okay there?"_

Pinunasan ko luha at nagpanggap na masaya.

_I wiped tears and pretended happy._

"Ma, okay lang ako dito. Malaki po mansion. Mabait po sila."

_"Ma, I'm okay here. Mansion is big. They are kind."_

"Anak, salamat ha. Dahil sayo, bayad na utang ni Papa. May 10 million pa tayo."

_"Child, thank you. Because of you, Papa's debt is paid. We have 10 million."_

Umiyak ako lalo pagkatapos ng tawag.

_I cried harder after the call._

Ibinenta ko sarili ko. Pero ligtas pamilya ko.

_I sold myself. But my family is saved._

Sapat na ba yun?

_Is that enough?_

Pero bakit ang sakit pa rin?

_But why does it still hurt so much?_

May kumatok ulit sa pinto.

_Someone knocked again._

Si Adrian.

_Adrian._

Binuksan ko pinto, maga ang mata sa kaiiyak.

_I opened door, eyes swollen from crying._

Nakatayo siya, naka-black shirt pa rin, may hawak na plato.

_He was standing, still in black shirt, holding a plate._

"Sabi ni Manang Fe hindi ka kumain," malamig na sabi niya, at binigay sa akin plato. "Kumain ka. Ayokong mamatay ka sa bahay ko at sisihin ako ni Lolo."

_"Manang Fe said you didn't eat," he said coldly, and gave me plate. "Eat. I don't want you to die in my house and Lolo will blame me."_

Kinuha ko plato. Steak. First time makakita ng steak sa totoong buhay.

_I took plate. It was steak. First time I saw steak in real life._

"Thank you..." bulong ko.

_"Thank you..." I whispered._

Tumingin siya sa akin sa huling pagkakataon, malamig na mata lumambot ng isang segundo, parang may nakita akong awa, o iba pa, pero nawala agad.

_He looked at me one last time, cold eyes softened for one second, I saw pity, or something else, but disappeared quickly._

"Good night, pandesal girl," sabi niya at umalis.

_"Good night, pandesal girl," he said and left._

Sinara ko pinto at tinitigan ang steak.

_I closed door and looked at steak._

At umiyak ulit.

_And cried again._

Pero ngayon, hindi dahil sa sakit.

_But now, not because of pain._

Dahil sa unang pagkakataon ngayong araw, nag-alala siya. Kahit isang segundo lang. Kahit tawagin niya akong pandesal girl.

_Because for first time today, he cared. Even for one second. Even if he calls me pandesal girl._

Unang gabi ko sa impyerno.

_My first night in hell._

Pero baka, baka lang, hindi masama ang impyerno kung ang demonyo minsan nagdadala ng steak.

_But maybe, just maybe, hell is not so bad if the devil sometimes brings steak._

*TO BE CONTINUED...*

*Gusto mo ba Chapter 3 na ganito ring format - Tagalog muna tapos English?*