SECRET AFFAIRS' Bound in Love (Ree and Lia)

Chapter 3 Wedding Dress

Ree’s POV

TONIGHT is my first night back home. I can’t even remember when was the last time I had a conversation with my mom. Still I can’t forget what she did. All those times na nag-uusap kami ay wala siyang sinabi. All I thought everything’s fine.

But I think walking on to my own feet would take me to where I should be.

I gotta call Tim. My ever charming neighbor back when I was in grade school. Siya lang ang kaibigan ko sa village. Habang busy ang mommy ko sa work, madalas na si Tim ang kasama ko sa pagkain. He’s good. Kahit na nagkalayo kami pero hindi nagbago ang trato niya sa ‘kin. Kahit mas nakalalamang sila sa buhay at ang pamumuhay namin ng mommy ay average lang. Sa kaunting panahon na nagkasama kami ay lumalim lalo noong lumayo na ako dahil dinala ako ng mommy sa France. Doon kasi napili ng step-dad ko na manatili habang inaasikaso niya ang ilang business niya sa ibang bansa. Madalas ay pabalik-balik lang siya sa Canada kung saan naroon ang Alpha-Royale Hotel.

But despite his wealth, Hindi ko pinangarap na angkinin ang mayroon sila.

I instilled on my mind I should stand on my own, earn my labor and choose the path I want.

Sa binigay na address ni Tim kung saan kami magkikita ay tiyak ko na mabilis ko lang mararating. He said puntahan ko ang bar na binigay niya.

The road seems so quiet here. Kung may maaaberya ay tiyak na mahihirapan na makahanap ng tulong. Good thing at nakakuha ako kaagad ng sasakyan na magagamit dito. Mabilis lang naman kausap si Danna. Kahit may pagkamasungit ang half-sister ko ay kasundo ko rin sa mga ganitong pabor na hinihingi ko.

She gave me her car key and even get me a condominium to stay at. She wanted to make me feel comfortable kahit na busy siya sa buhay niya.

Habang binabaybay ko ang daan ay may napansin ako kaagad na isang sasakyan sa gitna ng kalsada. Napaka-walang konsiderasyon talaga ng mga tao. Kung kailan naman na madilim ang kalsada and it’s late, doon pa pipirme sa gitna ng kalsada.

I slowed down when I see somebody standing on the side of the car. Suddenly habang papalapit ako ay naaninag ko na parang babae ang nakatayo sa harap at tila may hawak na panyong iwinawagayway.

Napaisip ako kung titigil ba ako o didiretso. But I think kailangan ko tingnan kung nangangailangan nga ba siya ng tulong? Danna told me not to trust anyone here. Lalo na at gabi na. Minsan daw may mga modus nag anon. Paparahan na kunwari ay kailangan ng tulong, then mag-declare raw ng hold-up. Akala naman ni Danna na may makakaisa sa akin.

So I stopped the car at tiningnan ko ang taong nakatayo. I am right, she is waving her hand with a cloth in it. I think she’s shouting for help. So bumaba ako kaagad.

Napangisi ako nang mapansin ko na isang underwear ang hawak niyang pangwagay-way.

She’s asking for help. Tumirik daw ang sasakyan niya. Paano ba hindi titirik? She looks so dam hot holding her underwear and I can smell like may ihi. Did she just pee? But I can see na medyo pikunin ang babaeng ito. She looks pretty with her eyes. Pero bugnutin yata. Kanina nang pinagmamasdan ko siya mula sa loob ng aking sasakyan ay kita ko ang silhuete ng kaniyang katawan. Not bad, she looks good on her body.

Naalala ko tuloy. Tim told me he’s going to introduce to me the woman he will build home with.

Iiwanan ko ang babaeng ito na may kasungitan. She don’t need my help. She don’t trust me kaya siguro hindi na ako pinagbuksan ng pinto. Well, lady if that is what you want. You can sleep on your car.

Tumungo ako sa bar kung saan naroon si Tim. I missed this kind of life. It’s been a while since I lost her. Hindi na ako nakalabas. The emptiness I wanted to fill in makes me sick. I don’t know the purpose of my being without her. But I just can’t give up. She would always tell me how much hse loves me. She would always kiss my jaw line whenever she would ask me anything. She would always lay on my chest whenever she miss me. Sometimes we fell asleep like that.

Waking up next to her every morning is what makes my day. But this time, thinking about how we was, makes me want not to continue. Pero hindi ko siya bibiguin. She asked me to be strong even without her. Yes, Kassy asked me. She said that I should live like everyday is my last.

Hindi ko alam kung bakit iyon ang madalas niyang sabihin. She kept everything from me. My failure was, I never asked her. I never checked on her. I was so comfortable being with her. I was so busy thinking of my dreams for us. Nakalimutan ko rin siyang tanungin.

A hug is what Tim gave me.

“Pare it’s been so long,” sabi nito habang tinatapik-tapik ang aking likod.

Nagharap kami kaagad na nakangiti.

“So? Are we good tonight? A party?” tanong niya.

Tumango lang ako. Nag-ikot ang tingin ko sa loob ng bar. I can see a lot of women here. Kailan pa nahilig si Tim sa ganitong lugar? When I visited him in California, he’s living alone in his flat at madalas na siya ang pinupuntahan ng mga babae. Pero sadyang pihikan ang isang ‘to. Iyon ang aking pagkaka-alam.

Lumapit si Tim sa isang table kung saan mayroong dalawang babaeng nakaupo ay umiinom. I guess kasama niya ang mga ‘to.

“Come.. Join us here, Ree. I have called for some friends for a welcome.” Ngumisi ito and he raised his glass.

“Keila will you entertain my dear friend here?” hiling ni Tim sa babaeng nakasuot ng emerald green na damit. Halos mapisa ang dibdib nito sa sikip ng suot. Tiningnan ko lang ito. I don’t think na matutuwa sa akin ang babaeng ito.

She walked and sit by my side.

“Tim I will be fine. Mas ma-eentertain ka nila. I am good.”

“I don’t want to hear that cousin,” ang saad nito. He used to call me that. Sabi niya kasi noon pangarap niya magkaroon ng pinsan na kalaro. But since nasa malayong lugar ang mga pinsan niya ay ito na ang tawag niya sa akin. So I let him to make him feel comfortable.

He gave me a glass of drink.

“So what do you do now you’re here?” he asked me.

“Kararating ko lang,” saad ko.

“Oh! I thought matagal ka na rito. Kaya ba late ka na nakarating? Nahirapan ka bang matunton ako?”

Tumawa si Tim. If only he knows that I dealt with an extraordinary lady along the road. Babaeng naglalabas ng panties to catch attention.

“Sort of. But there is a lady na nadaanan ko. She was asking for help.”

“Help?” tanong ni Tim at nagsalubong ang mga kilay nito.

“Saan?”

Ikinuwento ko sa kaniya. I even described her to him.

“You know what? You missed the show. You should have taken her here with us. Sana nakilala ko pa.”

“So foolish. Tumigil ka. Hindi ka pa nakontento sa dalawang kasama mo rito?”

“Bro—isa-isa tayo. Hindi pwedeng ako lang.” Ngumisi si Tim sabay inom mula sa baso na hawak.

“So I heard you are getting married,” bungad ko.

“Y-yes. You are right. I just met her. Pero dito ako dumiretso after the dinner with her family.”

“So who is the cursed girl?” tanong kong natatawa.

“That is too much to say. She’s the luckiest to marry a wealthy man like me.” Nagyayabang na naman ang isang ‘to. Pero alam kong nagbibiro lang din siya.

“But you know what? I can feel her unhappy to see me.” Biglang nagbago ang takbo ng usapan.

“Well you know your parents, Tim.”

“I know.” Tumango siya at muling lumagok mula sa basong hawak.

“May I see her?”

Kumuha ng phone si Tim at binuksan ito. Gulat ako nang makita kong ang dami niyang grabbed photos ng nakatakdang mapangangasawa niya. Maybe these came form her social media account. Pero nagkunot ang noo ko nang maalala ko ang babae kanina.

“She looks exactly the same..” untag ko. Napatingin agad si Tim sa akin.

“Why?” tanong niya.

“I think I saw her.”

“Where?” interesado itong malaman.

“Nadaanan ko yata siya. She’s the lady I am telling you whom I bumped with before I came here.”

Mabilis na tumayo si Tim. “Alright, I will be back then. Babalikan kita rito. Huwag kang aalis.” Mabilis niyang habilin. Iniwan niya ako kasama ang isang babae na pinakilala niyang Keila.

I drunken myself. I missed home but I don’t want to remember the sadness that kills me. Kanina pa ako minomolestiya ni Keila. But I cannot say no to this woman. She’ve been so honest with her thoughts, even her wildest thoughts. Mukhang nakasanayan na nga ng babaeng ito ang ganitong buhay. Nakaupo siya sa tabi ko, with her hand on my leg. I mean near my thighs. Hinayaan ko lang siya. I don’t want to offend her. May sense naman siyang kausap. Fashion designing daw ang course niya. She have been talking a lot and it sounds good to me.

Hanggang sa nauwi kaming dalawa sa sasakyan ko. I don’t know why I did it. But I think it isn’t bad to try another adventure. After a while of keeping myself away from people around me, this time I need to try to pull myself out of my comfort.

She’s damn hot and wild. Medyo nasobrahan yata sa alcohol. Kahit hindi ko na utusan. She has mastered the art of seduction.

Ang sabi naman niya, no strings attached. We would just enjoy each others company. Sounds better and negotiable to me. I like her for being straightforward. When she whispered she wanna f**k with me, then I told her, do the honor of making me feel you.

Hindi nga ni Keila hiniya ang sarili. But I refused for penetration. I can only make out and help her out in a way I can. Akala ko kaya ko na sumubok. Pero sa tuwing dadampi ang labi ko sa labi niya, Kassy’s memories would remind me.

Hanggang sa nakatulog na lang si Keila sa ibabaw ko. I feel sorry, but my heart is still bleeding because of her death and Amara’s.

LIA POV

BUMABA ako after me and dad talked. Maybe I can do something to make him change his mind. Or even my Mom.

Pababa pa lang ako ng hagdan but I can hear voices at the living room. Nagkunot ang aking noo. Do we have visitors already? Mabilis akong bumaba dahil narinig ko ang boses ng mommy at may kausap ito. I know who’s it.

Nang lumapag ang paa ko sa ground ay hindi nagkamali ang kutob ko.

“There you are,” sabi ni Lucas.

I looked at him. Lumapit siya sa akin.

“I brought your couturiere for your wedding dress, Lia.”

Napalunok ako ng aking laway. They are all seriously kidding me at this hour. Pinalalapot lang nila ang pawis sa katawan ko nang wala sa oras. How could they decide this quick?

“Mom?” napatingin akong nakangiwi sa gawi niya. Kausap niya ang sinasabi ni Lucas na couturier.

“Yes, Lia. Get yourself ready, they brought you all kinds of wedding dresses to choose from. Ikaw na ang bahalang pumili. Besides, Tim is on his way to check on you.”

Mabilis na iniabot ng mommy ang hand bag niya sa secretary niyang laging nakabuntot sa kaniya.

Ang akala ko panaginip lang ang engagement kagabi. Tim didn’t gave me a ring, so we are not engaged literally. This is purely business.

“So? I am going too. Iwanan ka na muna namin. Enjoy trying everything,” bulong ng kuya kong si Lucas.

Napailing ako. Hindi nga biro ang lahat ng ito. I can see stack of boxes in the ground. Mukha ba talaga akong pumayag sa kasal?

Bagsak balikat akong tumalikod. I am about to take a step up the stairs when I heard my mom laughing from outside.

“Tim its good to see you here, hijo. Nasa loob si Lia and she’s excited to show you herself in white.”

Wow my mom sounds ridiculously happy while I? I am so miserable.

Ilang sandali pa habang pilit kong inilalayo ang sarili doon ay tinawag ako ng katulong.

“Maam si sir Timothy po ay dumating na.”

Speaking of the devil groom to be,” tanging nabulong sa aking sarili.