Forced to the Altar

Chapter.7

*Chapter 7: Umuwi Na Si Mrs. Montenegro

_ELENA POV_

Tahimik lang ako sa loob ng kotse ni Adrian habang pauwi kami galing sa restaurant.

_I was just quiet inside Adrian's car while we were going home from the restaurant._

Hindi ko pa rin makalimutan yung sinabi ni Sophia sa harap ng lahat ng tao.

_I still can't forget what Sophia said in front of everyone._

Paulit-ulit sa utak ko yung boses niya na sinasabing hindi ako bagay kay Adrian.

_Her voice keeps repeating in my mind saying I don't deserve Adrian._

Pandesal girl lang daw ako na taga Tondo at habang buhay na mahirap.

_She said I'm just a pandesal girl from Tondo and will forever be poor._

Tumingin ako sa labas ng bintana para hindi makita ni Adrian na tumutulo na naman luha ko.

_I looked outside the window so Adrian won't see my tears falling again._

Pero naramdaman niya agad at hinawakan niya ang kamay ko nang mahigpit.

_But he felt it right away and held my hand tightly._

"Elena, huwag mo pakinggan si Sophia. Hindi totoo yung sinabi niya," bulong niya.

_"Elena, don't listen to Sophia. What she said is not true," he whispered._

Umiling lang ako at pinilit ngumiti kahit ang sakit na ng dibdib ko.

_I just shook my head and forced a smile even though my chest hurts so much._

"Sanay na ako Adrian. Sanay na ako na maliitin ng ibang tao dahil mahirap lang kami," sabi ko ng mahina.

_"I'm used to it Adrian. I'm used to being belittled because we are poor," I said softly._

Pagdating namin sa mansion, bumungad agad si Manang Fe na may dalang mainit na adobo.

_When we arrived at the mansion, Manang Fe immediately welcomed us with hot adobo._

"Ma'am Elena! Sir Adrian! Nandito na kayo! Nilutuan kita ng paborito mo Ma'am Elena!" sabi niya habang umiiyak sa tuwa.

_"Ma'am Elena! Sir Adrian! You are here! I cooked your favorite Ma'am Elena!" she said while crying in joy._

"Manang, salamat po," sabi ko at niyakap siya.

_"Manang, thank you," I said and hugged her._

Tapos biglang dumating si Lolo Alejandro galing sa library na naka-wheelchair at may hawak na maliit na pulang box na mukhang mamahalin.

_Then Lolo Alejandro suddenly came from the library in his wheelchair holding a small red box that looked expensive._

"Elena, apo ko, halika dito," tawag niya sa akin.

_"Elena, my granddaughter, come here," he called me._

Lumapit ako sa kanya at lumuhod para magpantay kami.

_I went to him and kneeled so we are level._

"Binili ko ito para sa'yo. Matagal ko na itong tinatago para sa magiging asawa ni Adrian," sabi ni Lolo habang binubuksan ang box.

_"I bought this for you. I've been keeping this for a long time for Adrian's future wife," Lolo said while opening the box._

Pagbukas niya, kumislap ang isang diamond bracelet na kaparehas ng necklace na binigay niya dati.

_When he opened it, a diamond bracelet sparkled that matches the necklace he gave before._

"Lolo, hindi ko po matatanggap yan, sobrang mahal po niyan," sabi ko at umatras.

_"Lolo, I can't accept that, it's too expensive," I said and stepped back._

"Hindi ka na pandesal girl sa paningin ko. Apo na kita, Elena. At ito ay karapatan mo bilang Mrs. Montenegro," sagot niya.

_"You are no longer a pandesal girl in my eyes. You are my granddaughter now, Elena. And this is your right as Mrs. Montenegro," he answered._

_ADRIAN POV_

Habang pinapanood ko si Elena na umiiyak sa harap ni Lolo, may kakaiba akong naramdaman sa dibdib ko.

_While watching Elena cry in front of Lolo, I felt something strange in my chest._

Gusto ko siyang yakapin at sabihin na hindi niya kailangan umiyak dahil nandito ako.

_I want to hug her and tell her she doesn't need to cry because I'm here._

Lumapit ako at kinuha yung bracelet sa box.

_I came closer and took the bracelet from the box._

"Ako na magsusoot sa'yo," sabi ko kay Elena.

_"Let me put it on you," I said to Elena._

Nanginginig ang kamay niya habang inaabot sa akin.

_Her hand was trembling while reaching out to me._

Dahan-dahan kong sinuot ang bracelet at hinawakan ang kamay niya pagkatapos.

_I slowly wore the bracelet on her and held her hand after._

"Bagay sa'yo. Maganda," bulong ko.

_"It suits you. Beautiful," I whispered._

Namula siya at yumuko at hindi makatingin sa akin.

_She blushed and looked down and couldn't look at me._

Tumingin si Lolo sa akin at ngumiti na parang sinasabi niyang tama ang ginagawa ko.

_Lolo looked at me and smiled like saying I'm doing the right thing._

Maya maya, iniwan kami ni Lolo at ni Manang Fe sa sala para makapag-usap kaming dalawa.

_Later, Lolo and Manang Fe left us in the living room so we two could talk._

"Elena, yung sinabi ko kanina sa restaurant, totoo yun. Na private date natin yun at asawa kita hindi lang sa papel," sabi ko at hinawakan ang mukha niya.

_"Elena, what I said earlier at the restaurant, it was true. That it was our private date and you are my wife not just on paper," I said and held her face._

Tumulo lalo luha ni Elena pero ngumiti siya.

_Elena's tears fell more but she smiled._

"Adrian, hindi mo kailangan gawin ito para lang protektahan ako kay Sophia," sabi niya.

_"Adrian, you don't need to do this just to protect me from Sophia," she said._

"Hindi lang dahil kay Sophia, Elena. Gusto ko talaga," sagot ko.

_"It's not just because of Sophia, Elena. I really want to," I answered._

Tinitigan ko siya ng matagal at naramdaman ko na bumibilis ang t***k ng puso ko.

_I stared at her for a long time and felt my heart beating fast._

Simula nung dumating siya sa mansion, naging magulo ang buhay ko pero sa magandang paraan.

_Since she arrived at the mansion, my life became messy but in a good way._

Dati tahimik lang ang mansion at puro trabaho lang nasa isip ko.

_Before the mansion was just quiet and only work was on my mind._

Ngayon may naghihintay na sa akin pag-uwi ko at may kasama na akong kumain.

_Now there is someone waiting for me when I come home and someone eating with me._

"Elena, pwede ba kitang yakapin?" tanong ko.

_"Elena, can I hug you?" I asked._

Tumango siya at agad ko siyang niyakap ng mahigpit.

_She nodded and I immediately hugged her tightly._

Amoy pandesal pa rin siya kahit naka-expensive dress na siya.

_She still smells like pandesal even though she is wearing an expensive dress._

At doon ko na-realize na yun pala ang paborito kong amoy.

_And there I realized that is actually my favorite scent._

_LOLO ALEJANDRO POV_

Pinapanood ko silang dalawa mula sa library habang kunwari nagbabasa ako ng dyaryo.

_I am watching them both from the library while pretending to read the newspaper._

Tumawag sa akin kanina si Manang Fe at sinabi na umiiyak si Elena dahil kay Sophia pero pinagtanggol siya ni Adrian sa buong restaurant at sinigaw na asawa niya si Elena.

_Manang Fe called me earlier and said Elena was crying because of Sophia but Adrian defended her in the whole restaurant and shouted that Elena is his wife._

Alam ko na tama ang desisyon ko na ipakasal si Elena kay Adrian kahit tutol ang board.

_I know my decision to marry Elena to Adrian was right even if the board objected._

Si Elena lang ang makakapagpabago sa apo kong malamig at masungit at workaholic.

_Only Elena can change my cold and grumpy and workaholic grandson._

Kaya tinawagan ko agad ang jewelry shop at pinadagdagan pa ang regalo.

_So I immediately called the jewelry shop and added more gifts._

Sabi ko gawan nila ng bracelet at singsing na kaparehas ng necklace para kay Elena at dapat delivery ngayon din.

_I told them to make a bracelet and ring that matches the necklace for Elena and it should be delivered today._

Hindi lang dahil asawa siya ni Adrian sa papel, kundi dahil apo ko na siya sa puso ko at mahal ko na siya na parang tunay na apo.

_Not just because she is Adrian's wife on paper, but because she is my granddaughter in my heart and I love her like a real granddaughter._

Sana dumating ang araw na maging totoo na ang kasal nila at bigyan nila ako ng apo sa tuhod bago ako mawala sa mundo.

_I hope the day comes that their marriage becomes real and they give me a great-grandchild before I leave this world._

Tinawag ko si Manang Fe.

_I called Manang Fe._

"Manang, bukas ipahanda mo ang driver. Pupunta sila Elena sa Tondo para makilala pamilya niya," bulong ko.

_"Manang, tomorrow prepare the driver. Elena and Adrian will go to Tondo to meet her family," I whispered._

Tumango si Manang Fe at natuwa.

_Manang Fe nodded and was happy._

"Sa wakas Lolo, magiging totoong mag-asawa na sila," sabi niya.

_"Finally Lolo, they will become a real married couple," she said._

_MANANG FE POV_

Nasa kusina ako at pinapanood silang dalawa na magkahawak kamay sa sala habang umiiyak ako.

_I am in the kitchen watching them holding hands in the living room while I am crying._

Naiiyak ako sa tuwa kasi sa wakas pinili na ni Sir Adrian si Ma'am Elena sa harap ng lahat.

_I am crying in joy because finally Sir Adrian chose Ma'am Elena in front of everyone._

Tatlong taon kong nakita kung paano saktan ni Sophia si Sir Adrian at puro pera lang habol niya.

_For three years I saw how Sophia hurt Sir Adrian and she was only after money._

Pero si Ma'am Elena, kahit mahirap lang siya at taga Tondo at nagtitinda ng pandesal sa kanto, totoo ang puso niya at mahal niya si Sir Adrian.

_But Ma'am Elena, even if she is poor and from Tondo and sells pandesal on the corner, her heart is true and she loves Sir Adrian._

Kaya nagluto ako ng maraming adobo at sinigang at pritong isda para kay Ma'am Elena kasi alam kong namimiss niya ang luto ng nanay niya.

_So I cooked a lot of adobo and sinigang and fried fish for Ma'am Elena because I know she misses her mother's cooking._

Gusto ko maramdaman niya na may pamilya siya dito sa mansion at hindi siya pandesal girl lang.

_I want her to feel she has a family here in the mansion and she is not just a pandesal girl._

"Sir Adrian, Ma'am Elena, kain na po kayo! Nakahanda na hapunan!" sigaw ko.

_"Sir Adrian, Ma'am Elena, let's eat! Dinner is ready!" I shouted._

Ngumiti silang dalawa at sabay na pumunta sa kusina na magkahawak pa rin ang kamay.

_They both smiled and went to the kitchen together still holding hands._

"Sarap Manang ah," sabi ni Sir Adrian na bihira mag-compliment.

_"Delicious Manang," Sir Adrian said who rarely compliments._

"Syempre Sir, para kay Ma'am Elena yan eh," sagot ko at nagtawanan kami.

_"Of course Sir, that's for Ma'am Elena," I answered and we laughed._

_SOPHIA POV_

Nasa condo ko ako at basag basag na ang mga vase at picture frame na binato ko sa galit.

_I am in my condo and the vases and picture frames I threw in anger are broken._

Sinundan ko sila kanina sa restaurant at nakita ko kung paano ipagtanggol ni Adrian si Elena at sinabi niyang private date nila yun.

_I followed them earlier to the restaurant and saw how Adrian defended Elena and said it was their private date._

Ako dapat yun! Ako dapat yung ka-date niya! Ako dapat yung asawa niya!

_That should be me! I should be his date! I should be his wife!_

Tatlong taon kami ni Adrian! Tatlong taon! Tapos isang pandesal girl lang na hindi marunong gumamit ng kutsilyo at tinidor at amoy harina ang pipiliin niya!

_Adrian and I were together for three years! Three years! Then he will just choose a pandesal girl who doesn't know how to use knife and fork and smells like flour!_

Hindi ako papayag! Hindi ako papayag na matalo sa isang mahirap na taga Tondo na walang pinag-aralan!

_I won't allow it! I won't allow myself to lose to a poor girl from Tondo with no education!_

May kilala ako sa media at sa mga vlogger.

_I know someone in the media and among vloggers._

Ipapakalat ko ang picture ni Elena na nagtitinda ng pandesal sa Tondo na pawis na pawis at punit ang damit.

_I will spread Elena's picture selling pandesal in Tondo sweaty and with torn clothes._

Ipapahiya ko siya sa buong Pilipinas para iwan siya ni Adrian at mapahiya ang pamilya Montenegro.

_I will shame her in the whole Philippines so Adrian will leave her and the Montenegro family will be shamed._

"Adrian Montenegro ay akin lang! Akin lang siya! Hindi siya pwedeng mapunta kay Elena!" sigaw ko habang umiiyak at sinisira ang lahat ng gamit.

_"Adrian Montenegro is mine only! He is only mine! He cannot go to Elena!" I shouted while crying and destroying everything._

_ELENA POV - SA HAPAG KAINAN_

Kumakain kami ngayon ni Adrian ng adobo na niluto ni Manang Fe at ang dami naming kanin.

_We are now eating the adobo Manang Fe cooked and we have a lot of rice._

First time ko kumain sa hapag kainan ng mansion na hindi ako nahihiya at hindi ako kinakabahan.

_It's my first time eating at the mansion's dining table without feeling shy and nervous._

Kasi hawak ni Adrian kamay ko sa ilalim ng mesa at nakangiti siya sa akin.

_Because Adrian is holding my hand under the table and he is smiling at me._

"Masarap ba?" tanong ni Manang Fe habang nakatingin sa amin.

_"Is it delicious?" Manang Fe asked while looking at us._

"Opo Manang, parang luto ni Nanay sa Tondo. Namimiss ko na po si Nanay," sagot ko at ngumiti kahit naluluha.

_"Yes Manang, it tastes like my mother's cooking in Tondo. I miss my mother," I answered and smiled even though I am tearing up._

Tumingin si Adrian sa akin at biglang nagsalita na ikinagulat ko.

_Adrian looked at me and suddenly spoke which shocked me._

"Elena, gusto mo ba umuwi sa Tondo bukas? Samahan kita. Gusto ko makilala pamilya mo at nanay mo," sabi niya.

_"Elena, do you want to go home to Tondo tomorrow? I'll accompany you. I want to meet your family and your mother," he said._

Nabigla ako at nabitawan ko ang kutsara.

_I was shocked and I dropped the spoon._

"Talaga Adrian? Gusto mo pumunta sa Tondo? Mabaho dun at masikip at maraming tao at baka mahiya ka?" sabi ko.

_"Really Adrian? You want to go to Tondo? It smells there and it's crowded and many people and you might be embarrassed?" I said._

"Wala akong pakialam. Gusto ko makita kung saan ka lumaki. Asawa kita eh. At gusto ko makilala kung saan nanggaling ang pinakamagandang babae na nakilala ko," sagot niya.

_"I don't care. I want to see where you grew up. You are my wife after all. And I want to meet where the most beautiful woman I met came from," he answered._

At dun na naman tumibok ng mabilis ang puso ko at namula ako ng sobra.

_And there my heart beat fast again and I blushed so much._

Bakit ba sa tuwing sinasabi niyang asawa niya ako, parang totoo na talaga at hindi lang sa papel at kontrata?

_Why is it every time he says I'm his wife, it feels so real and not just on paper and contract?_

"Adrian, salamat," bulong ko.

_"Adrian, thank you," I whispered._

Hinawakan niya lalo kamay ko at ngumiti.

_He held my hand tighter and smiled._

"Welcome home, Mrs. Montenegro. Dito ka na talaga sa bahay natin," sabi niya.

_"Welcome home, Mrs. Montenegro. You are really home now in our house," he said._

At sa unang pagkakataon, naramdaman ko na totoo na. Umuwi na ako.

_And for the first time, I felt it was real. I am finally home._

END OF CHAPTER 7