SECRET AFFAIRS' Bound in Love (Ree and Lia)

Chapter 9 In a relationship show

I WAITED IN ANGUISH. Ang tagal ni dad bumalik sa office niya. Si manang Celsa naman ay iniwan ako dahil tinawag ito ni dad. I don’t know what is going on outside. Pero kaba ang siyang karamay ko rito while seated on the couch. Hindi ako mapakali kung bakit ngayon pa? Maya’t-maya ay sisilip ako sa bintana to see if he’s gone, but no. Nandito pa rin siya at tanging pagbuga ng hininga na lang ang siyang kaya kong gawin. I am so bored and disgusted of what is happening outside.

Lumipas ang isang oras and I heard a car blowing its horn outside. Maliksi akong tumalon sa couch at sumilip sa bintana. Suddenly the door creeches open and I heard my dad’s voice.

“He just left, hija.”

Lumingon ako ng mabilis at humakbang sa pagmamadali na makausap si Dad. How am I supposed to defend myself now for I know nothing about that guy. Seryoso ang tingin ng daddy ko sa akin and that threatens my peace. Well kanina pa threatened ang isip ko at puso ko.

“I met him,” sabi ni dad.

“W-who?” napakunot noo ako at bahagyang napahilis ang tingin ko kay daddy.

“I think you had enough for today, hija. Go to your room and fix yourself,” sabi ni dad matapos na ayusin nito ang buhok kong nagkalat sa mukha ko.

“Who was that, Dad?” muli kong tanong. Sana mali ang nasa isip ko dahil kung mangyayari man, wala akong magagawa if he told him everything. Tinapik ni dad ang balikat ko at tumungo na ito sa desk niya.

Ganoon lang? Won’t he ask me anything? Won’t he scold me for breaking someone’s window screen? Did my dad pay him his demands? Ano ba, Lia? Go and ask your dad what happened. Pero paano ko gagawin, I don’t know exactly the right words to say. Tila wala ako sa sarili na napalingon kay dad na may naiwang tanong sa isip ko. Kaya naman ay lumabas ako na parang nakalutang ang isip sa kawalan. I walked to my room and from there I heard downstairs na paalis ang mom. Mabuti at lalabas siya. Pero saan naman ang tungo niya at tila nagmamadali ito.

Everything makes me feel so lost now.

A DAY LATER AT DINNER. Nakaupo ako kasama ang mom at dad. This is the first time again after my troubled days, we will dine together. Para sa ‘kin wala na ang lahat, erased as it is. Kapag kasi sinabi ni dad na wala na, that is the end of the story and no more rewinds, no more explainations, no more concerns to discuss.

“Lia why didn’t you tell us about your secret affair?” basag ng mom.

Natigilan ako sa pag-nguya ng salad sa bunganga ko at inilapag ko ang hawak na tinidor. Nagtaas ako ng tingin sa mom at dad. I am puzzled with the words she uttered. What does my mom mean with that? Inilapag din ni dad ang hawak niyang kubyertos.

“Ano ba naman ang tanong na ‘yan. Binata ang tao at dalaga ang anak mo, how could you say that?” saway ng dad.

Kumuha ng glass ng tubig ang mommy at sumandal sa upuan nito. “Of course, Enrico alam ko ‘yan. You are certainly raising a nut head woman.”

She calls me that dahil sa lahat ng gusto niya lagi akong may kontra doon. I don’t know why does me and my mom never meets halfway.

“Mom I don’t get it. Ano po ‘yon?” tanong ko sa kaniya. I think I deserve a better explaination sa sinabi niya.

“Well,” she uttered.

This makes me sick thinking to whom does she connects me for having an affair? She’s losing her sanity. Tanggap ko na madalas hindi pabor ang nanay ko sa akin, but with this thought? I can’t let her do this, sa harap pa ng tatay ko? She is really trying to poison my dad’s mind now.

“I don’t have an affair, Dad,” sabi ko dito. Lilinisin ko talaga ang pangalan ko. Alam ko na marami akong kalokohan sa buhay, drinking with my friends, yes I do that, I commit a lot of mistakes but not this thing she thought about.

“Let’s stop this non sense conversation. Finish your meal,” utos ni dad.

Hindi na umimik si mom at ganoon din ako. After we dine, tinungo ko ang office ng daddy ko. I wanted to speak to him kung ano ba ang hindi ko alam. After Hermit’s visit, he didn’t asked me anything. Pero hindi ko alam ano ang sasabihin ko the moment we talk. Nagdadalawang isip akong nakatayo sa labas ng kwarto niya, should I knock? Or should I let it be? Tanging hingang malalim na lang ang kaya ko ibigay sa sarili ko to make me feel better.

Suddenly a low and cold voice awakened my senses.

“Dad left,” sabi nito.

Napatingala ako thinking that my mom’s apple of the eye is home. Napasalikop bisig akong humarap dito. Nagtaas ang kilay ko nang makita kong siya nga.

“So you are home?” usal ko.

Lumapit siya sa akin at niyakap ako.

“You’re still the witch girl I know,” sabi niya.

“Marunong ka pa naman pala umuwi. Saan ka ba?” tanong ko rito.

Kumalas siya ng yakap. Sometimes we argue, but I love my brother. Kahit na mas mahal ‘to ng mom kaysa sa akin na babae.

“Coffee? Wine?” tanong niya. Ngumiti ako at sumandal sa balikat niya.

“I had a very rough day,” sabi ko rito.

“I know, Lia. Mom told me over the phone.”

“She did?” I asked.

“Oo nga, alam mo naman kapag hindi ka na kayang pasunurin ni Mom she would always call me.”

“Then you fail with your mission,” sagot ko naman.

“Tara sa garden, the moon looks so bright and it’s kinda perfect for a drink.”

Sumunod ako kay Lucas. I know what he’s gonna tell me now. It will all be about his failed relationships. That chain never breaks. Paano ba naman sa tuwing papasok sa relasyon ay sa maling tao o ‘di kaya ay may sabit. Baka mala slang talaga niya na walang tatagal sa kaniya. Well I know I am too bad to be his sister.

Nagpunta kami sa garden at doon nagpahatid pala siya ng ice bucket at nakalubog sa yelo. He even asked for some nuts, dahil ito ang paborito niyang ipares lagi sa wine niya.

“Saan ka ba galing?” tanong ko. Mas interisado ako sa buhay niya kaysa sa problema ko.

“I met somebody from my past, sis.”

“Ayan ka na naman, Luke,” sabi ko rito habang nakaupo ako sa arm chair.

“You know I can’t tell anyone about this,” sabi niya. Absolutely, he can’t dahil malalagot siya sa perfect mom namin.

“Then tell me,” sabi ko having no choice at all.

“I am disappointed to know he’s got a girlfriend. Alam mo ‘yong iniinggit ako araw-araw.”

Humalakhak ako dahil sa ekspresyon ng mukha niya. “Inagawan ka ba?” tanong ko.

“Is that how console my wounded heart?” tanong niya.

“I love you, stop the drama, Lucas,” sabi ko dito.

“I know, but that would never be enough. I am so disgusted to what I have learned.”

“Well, hayaan mo kung ayaw sa ‘yo,” sabi ko.

“You always take everything a joke,” sabi niya.

“Of course not, only if you know how troubled I am,” sabi ko rito.

“Kailan ka ba walang problema? You like challenges, and you cannot sit on a bench na walang ginugulo sa mundo,” sabi nito.

Nagtawanan kaming dalawa. We may be rivals sa pagmamahal ng mom, but I certainly know that I have the best brother to keep here. Iyon lang alam ko na iba ang hilig nito kaya iniingatan ko lahat ng mga sekreto na sinasabi niya sa akin. To whom would he entrust everything?

“So you’re busted,” sabi niya.

“Ano ba? Huwag mo na ipaalala. I lost my cash and I got nothing left, Luke,” sabi ko.

Ngumisi ito. “Is that your problem?” tanong niya. Humugot siya ng wallet mula sa bulsa niya at may kinuha sa wallet. “Here use for a while, but don’t spend too much, mamumulubi ako sa ‘yo.”

“Seriously?” tanong ko nang magliwanag ang mga mata ko sa nakikita ko. It is his credit card and he is handing me it allowing me to spend his money.

“Who am I to refuse?” sabi ko sabay hablot at inamoy. “So, can I just travel around,” sabi ko.

“Around what?” tanong niya. “Don’t you ever think about it, girl. Hanggang Batanes ka lang, huwag kang lalagpas.”

Humalakhak kaming dalawa. Having somebody to laugh with is another therapy I need. Wala akong sasakyan, wala akong credit card of my own, I spent the money I saved for my tickets, and here is Lucas, my saving grace.

The next morning, I woke up early and get dressed. I am heading outside, since Lucas gave me his car key. Nagpahatid lang ito sa airport dahil may pupuntahan daw sa Iloilo. I wonder why he keeps on going there. But he keeps it a secret from me. Kaya pwede ko raw gamitin ang car niya habang ayaw ni mom na ilabas ko ‘yong sa akin.

Bumaba ako at kaagad na sumalubong ang mom sa akin.

“You’re going out?” she asked.

“Yes, Lucas gave me his key, so I think I can go out,” sabi ko.

“May bisita ka, harapin mo muna bago ka lumabas,” sabi niya. So I wonder who could that be? Bumaba ako at si mommy ay umakyat na.

Pagdating ko sa terasa ay naroon si Tim. He’s standing looking at something. My heart wouldn’t skip a beat. I remember what I did. Is he hear for a paycheck?

Tumikhim ako at humarap siya. Seryoso ang mukha nito at nilapitan ako.

“Don’t come closer,” sabi ko.

“Fine,” sabi naman niya.

“What do you want?” tanong ko.

“I came to ask for an apology,” sabi nito. Seriously?

“What for?” tanong ko. Remembering I was the one who should.

“I just dropped by to ask for it,” malumanay niyang sabi.

“Fine, were good,” sagot ko naman, simple as that.

“Are we really gonna call this wedding off?” tanong niya.

“Would you be happy to call me your wife? Besides, your parents will never want another engagement,” sabi ko.

“Then let me just ask if I can still have the chance of knowing you,” hiling nito.

“How kind of you, Tim. Huwag mo ako niloloko. I know everything about you and Keila, why not ask her for marriage? Give justice to those orgasm you share with her,” diretsa kong sabi.

“Lia, do you hear yourself?”

“Of course, loud and clear,” mataray kong sabi. “I got to go, please don’t bother me anymore, and don’t ever try thinking that courtship exists. Kayo na mismo ni Keila ang nagpatunay na hindi ‘yon kailangan, you can easily go to bed naked, without it,” tumalikod ako at sumakay sa sasakyan ni Lucas. Ibinaba ko ang window screen at nagpaalam.

“Thank you for f*****g my friend, you gave me reasons not to get to know you better,” pinaandar ko ang sasakyan at lumapit si Tim.

“Ako lang ba?” sabi nito. Ibinaba ko lalo ang window screen ng yumuko ito upang magpantay kami ng tingin. “Ano?” tanong ko.

“What about you and my best friend?” tanong niya. “Who?” nagsalubong ang kilay ko sa sinabi nito. Sino daw? Nagbibintang ba siya o sinusubukan niya ang pasensiya ko?

“Your dad talked to my parents, and were settled, the business continues but ours, will never be possible dahil ayaw mo.”

“Exactly and thank you,” sabi ko.

“But why didn’t you tell me that you were in a relationship with Ree?” tanong niya.

My world shuts down, sinong Ree? The hermit?

After hearing that from Tim, my ears felt the heat as it runs through all over my body. Sinungaling ‘yon? Dapat ba akong kabahan kung ano ang sinabi niya sa dad ko? Walang hiya siya, bakit niya sinabi ‘yon? Hindi pwede, I don’t have the idea what he feds my dad. I hate him.