Tempted Heart (FREE TO READ)

Kabanata 5

KABANATA 5

THESE past few days, my life has suddenly changed. It was at this moment I knew that it will change forever. Mama was so worried at me yesterday when she saw my bruises. Hindi pa siya mapakali at muling nilinis ang sugat ko. Wala na akong masabi dahil kahit ayaw ko man ay namimiss ko din ang mga moments na dapat kasama ko siya. Ang mga panahon na inaalagaan niya ako. Even if she’s with me, I knew that she was still far from me.

I know she’s bringing something so heavy. I don’t want to tackle it to her because she might break down. She’s brave, I know. But I know she’s fragile too. If one day she’ll bring down her walls and open up to me, I will be willing to listen to her.

Pipikit pikit pa ang mata ko ng umahon sa kama. Pagbaba ko sa living room ay nagulat ako ng makita pa rin si Mama na nagwawalis doon. Nakapangbahay pa rin siya ng makita ko. Mama didn’t hire a helper here in our house. Okay lang naman sa akin iyon dahil kaya ko naman ang lahat ng gawaing bahay.

“Ma!” Tawag ko sa kanya.

Nag-angat siya ng tingin sa akin. Kumunot ang noo niya sa agaran kong sigaw sa kanya.

“Bakit ka sumisigaw, nak?” She asked me.

Dahan dahan akong bumaba sa hagdan at lumapit sa kanya.

“Wala po kayong duty, Ma?” I asked her shocked.

Ngumiti siya sa akin. “Wala, hija. It’s my off every Saturday now.” Sabi niya at tinapos na ang pagwawalis.

Binaba niya ang walis at tinitigan ang mukha ko tapos bumaba din iyon sa aking braso.

Then she sighed.

“You are not still telling me what happened to you yesterday, Bree. Did you meet an accident? Medyo hindi maayos ang kalagayan ng tuhod mo kahapon at namamaga pa. Ano bang pinanggagawa mo at naging ganon kalala ang tuhod mo?” Umupo siya sa couch at tinapik ang tabi niya. “Tapos hindi mo pa ako malinaw na sinasagot kahapon.”

Mabilis akong lumapit doon at umupo sa tabi niya. I face her.

“Ma, okay lang ako. I already told you that I’d fell because of a big rock. Tumama ang tuhod ko doon.” Humilig ako sa balikat niya at yumakap sa mga braso niya.

Hinaplos niya ang buhok ko kaya agad akong napapikit.

“I panicked when I saw you in that state last night. Hindi ka naman kasi nagsabi na ganoon na ang nagging kalagayan mo, kung hindi pa ako umuwi kagabi ay hindi ko man lang malalaman ang kalagayan mo. Mabuti na lang at madaling natapos ang shift ko kagabi.” Ang boses niya ay puno ng pangamba.

Dumilat ako. “Ma.” Malumanay kong tawag sa kanya.

“Alam mo, nak. I realized these past few years ay malimit lang tayo nagkasama ng ganito. I forgot to give you time because I thought you will always understand me. But seeing you last night makes me realized everything, it pains me seeing you like that. I forgot that you are only family that I have. Hindi kita napaglaanan ng panahon.”

Kusang tumulo ang luha ko sa sinabi niya. Kaagad na umangat ang kamay ko para punasan iyon. Ayaw kong mapapansin ni Mama na umiiyak at nalulungkot ako.

I inhaled sharply. Iniangat ko ang aking ulo mula sa pagkakahilig sa kanya.

“Ma, I understand that you were busy. Isa pa, let’s not talk about it. We’ve been through together enough and I don’t want to burden you anymore.”

Umiling siya sa akin. “I’m your mother. Ako dapat ang mas nakakaunawa sa mga bagay bagay at hindi ikaw ang mas nag-aadjust pa.” Pagpipilit niya sa kanyang sariling argumento.

Ngumiti ako. “Trust me, Ma. Wala akong hinanakit sa iyo. You are my mother and you are my family too. The last thing I want to do is to hurt you.”

My mother has soft and smooth features. Maputi ang kanyang balat, matangos ang kanyang ilong at maninipis ang kanyang mga labi na may mapusyaw na kulay. Most of my features are not from her. I also have gray eyes which I find odd because I didn't got it from any of them. That's why always wear a contact lens because I don’t like staring at it.

Mama was not happy when I wore a black lens but then again she didn’t pester me about that anymore. Hinayaan na lang niya ako.

“Hay naku! I can’t believe that you are going to graduate soon. I’m so proud of you, Bree.” Masayang sabi niya sa akin. She then hugged me immediately.

“How did I end up having a good daughter like you?” She said softly.

I smiled. “Maybe you just got lucky?” I playfully said at her that makes her laugh.

Tumango siya. “I’m really lucky to have you.”

Mama’s parents died early. At the age of twenty-six, she married my father. She had me after a year of their marriage. Walang ibang pamilya ang Mama ko dahil mag-isang anak lang siya ng lolo at lola. Mayroon siyang namana sa kanyang mga magulang na malaking palayan at tubuhan sa Surigao del Norte.

Hindi iyon napamahalaan ni Mama ng maayos dahil nag-asawa siya at naisipang dito tumira sa Manila. Ihibabilin niya na lang ito sa mga pinagkakatiwalaang tauhan ng Mama at Papa niya. Isa pa, hindi pa ako nakakapunta doon kahit kailan at ang sabi ni Mama ay maganda ang probinsiyang kinalakihan niya. And she also misses being there too.

Mayroon din siyang ipinakitang larawan sa kanilang mansiyon at namamangha ako ng tumingin doon. Kahit sa larawan ko lang ito nakikita ay napakaganda ng desinyo nito. So ancient, perfect for my taste.

Someday, I’ll go there.

Later that afternoon, Mama and I decided to have a dinner in a fine restaurant. I can’t even contain my happiness because I’m smiling non-stop. It’s been a month since we did this.

“Welcome to De luxxe Restaurant, Ma’am!”

Ngumiti si Mama sa lalaking na nasa reservation desk. Tumingin ito sa akin at agad natulala.

I easily got conscious at his reaction. Yumuko at tiningnan ang suot ko kung mayroong mali. I’m wearing an off shoulder floral peach dress and a flat peach shoes too.

“Table for two.” Natauhan ito at agad na namula bago bumaling kay Mama.

Lumingon sa akin si Mama. She eyed me maliciously then winked at me.

Kumunot ang noo ko sa ginawa ni Mama.

“This way, Ma’am.”

Hinigit ako ni Mama. She leaned closer to me.

“Ang ganda talaga ng anak ko, mana sa akin.” She whispered at me.

“Ma!” Namula ako sa sinabi niya.

Humalakhak lang siya sa akin.

I’m really uncomfortable when she’s praising me like that. Maganda kasi si Mama, and we have the same figure. Mas malaman nga lang siya ng kunti.

Bago pa kami makaupo ay may tumawag kay Mama.

“Doctor Ferran?” Malamyos na tawag nito sa ina ko.

Isang magandang ginang ang naglakad patungon sa amin na sa pagkakakilala ko ay pareho ng edad kay Mama. She walks with fine dignity and it was all effortless. It’s like she’s performing a greatest walk for this century.

Maganda siya kahit may edad na. May magandang kutis at isa sa unang napansin ko ay ang maganda niyang natural na pilik mata. Mahahaba ito at napakapamilyar para sa akin.

“Laura.” Nasisiyang tawag ni Mama sa kanya. “Hi!”

Agad itong nakipagbeso beso kay Mama.

“I’m glad I meet you here.” Mabait na saad ng ginang. Her smiles are just like my mother. So smooth and addicting.

Lumingon ito sa sa deriksiyon ko at bahagyang nagulat.

“Is she your daughter?” She asked Mama while still smiling.

Tumango si Mama at inilahad ang kamay sa akin upang ako’y maayos na makalapit sa kanila.

“My Braises, Lau.” Mama proudly said.

Lumingon si Mama sa akin. “Bree, she’s Laura Monastaro. Isa siya sa mga pasyente at naging kaibigan ko sa hospital.”

Magiliw itong naglipat ng tingin mula kay Mama patungo sa akin at tila nagulat ito ng makita ako.

Napansin ito ni Mama kaya tinanong niya si Ma’am Laura. “Is there something wrong, Lau?”

Agad itong nahimasmasan at mabilis na umiling. But she still looks shaken and awkward. “N—napakagandang bata at manang mana sa iyo, Doc.”

Nagtataka man ay nahihiya pa rin akong tumingin sa kanya. “It nice to meet you po.”

Lumapit siya sa akin at nakipagbeso beso rin.

“Bagay kayo ng anak ko, hija.” Nahahalina niyang saad sa akin

Napatikhim ako sa sinabi niya pati si Mama ay napapatawa na lang din dahil sa reaksiyon ko.

“You bet?” Mama teased.

Napahalakhak si Mrs. Monastaro. “Bet na bet.” Then she winked at me.

I wanna groaned in front of them. Eh kung sana si Maria lang sila ay baka nagawa ko nang kurutin ang gilid nila.

“Kararating niyo lang ba?” Tanong niya bigla sa amin.

Mama nodded at her. “We were just about to order.”

Pumalakpak ito na parang nagagalak. “Why don’t you join us instead? Tanging ang asawa ko at ang anak ko lang ang kasama ko sa table namin. Plus, there are more seats to fill in.” Magiliw na saad niya sa amin.

“It’s okay, Laura. Nakakahiya.”

“You don’t need to, Doc. I’ll also have a lot to tell you so it’s better if we could talk while we dined it.” Sabi niya sabay higit sa aming dalawa ni Mama. “Kaya pagbigyan mo na ako. Ngayon lang naman ako nagayaya sa iyo dahil palagi mong nirereject ang offer ko.”

Kaya wala kaming nagawa kundi ang magpatianod na lang. Namangha pa ako ng pumasok kami sa isang private room. Hindi ko alam na may ganito pala dito. There was some men guarding the door of the private room and when they saw us they immediately open the door revealing the most beautiful dining room I’ve ever seen in my life.

“Doctor Ferran?” A cold and baritone voice put me back on my senses.

A man with same age of Mrs. Monastaro is what I saw. His features and expressions were so dark and even with his age, he is still handsome. He seems very familiar.

Pero nang mas nilingon ko pa ang isa pang aninong nasa gilid niya ay muntik na akong mawalan ng lakas. I will never forget that dark and hooded eyes. Iyon nga ata ang isa sa mga parte ng mukha niya ang pinakanagustuhan ko.

That’s why their surname was familiar. It’s his parents!

Ba’t ba di ko naisip iyon?

Achilles with his very splendid and expensive suits is greatly standing right beside with his father. I’m sure from the built, manang mana siya sa kanyang ama. Broad shoulder and a firmed jaw. The only thing that he got from his mother was his eyes and brows. But the attitude and the screaming aura is surely from his father.

“Good evening, Mr. Monastaro.” It was my mother who formally greeted the man in the house of Monastaro.

Yumuko ako at hinayaang tumitig lang sa akin si Achilles. Nahihiya akong mag-angat ng tingin dahil sa nagawa kong kasalanan sa kanya. Naparusahan siya dahil sa akin at hindi ko maatim ang kaparusahang dinanas niya. Wala akong mukhang maihaharap sa kanya.

“My wife seems so fond of you, Doc. Finally, I can formally say my deepest gratitude for her success operation because of you.” He said to Mama.

“It’s my pleasure, Mr. Monastaro. We took an oath to do our best for our patient’s safety so you don’t have to thank me.” Magaang sabi ni Mama.

Yumakap ito sa asawa niya na ginantihan naman ng ginang.

What a lovely couple?

If Dad were just like that…

I sighed.

“By the way, it’s Samuel, Doc. No need for the formality.” Tumango sa kanya si Mama.

Nalipat ang tingin nito sa akin at bigla akong kinabahan.

“Who is this beautiful young lady?” He asked.

I cleared my throat.

“I’m Braises Ferran, Sir. I’m her daughter.” Magalang kong saad habang yumuko ng kaunti.

His chuckles echoed across the room. Dumadagundong ito na parang hari na nagsasaya. They are wealthy and even if you don’t know them yet, just by looking at them you will mistake them as royalties.

“Magalang na bata.” Saad niya habang nahahalinang tumingin sa akin. “You can call me Tito Sam instead and Tita Lau for my wife, hija.”

Humakbang si Achilles patungo sa ama kaya nilingon siya nito.

“By the way ,my son… Achilles.”

Tinitigan ko siya pero agad niyang nailipat ang mata kay Mama sa sandaling magtagpo ang aming paningin.

“Nice to finally meet you, Ma’am.” His raspy voice said.

Natawa si Mama sa kanya. “It’s Tita Emma for you, hijo.”

Nang bumalik ang paningin niya sa akin ay hindi ko na maipaliwanag ang aking nararamdaman. Titig na titig siya sa akin at walang emosiyon ang maaring makita sa kanyang mga mukha.

Isang hakbang ang ginawa niya patungo sa akin na ikinagulat ko pati ng mga magulang niya. Pagkatapos ay hinapit niya ang braso ko.

Nagsimulang dumadagungdong ang puso ko dahil sa ginawa niya. The boosting electrifying feeling I felt was so enormous that I can even hear its own pounding. Nang hindi makuntento ay iniangat niya ang panga ko at masuyo akong hinawakan roon ng may pag-iingat.

“Are you okay now?” He asked seriously.

His breath ran down to my checks. His manly scent immediately penetrated my nostrils. It was so addicting!

Ano kaya ang perfume niya?

“A-achilles?” It was her mother who immediately recovered at his son’s aggressiveness action.

I looked unto Mama. Her jaw are dropped dead open when she saw our position.

His father was only watching us with a signature smirk on his lips. The same smirk that will always plaster with Achilles face. He is really a carbon copy of his father.

“May nangyari bang hindi namin alam?” Namamanghang tanong ng mommy niya.

Hindi man lang siya nagulat at mas ibinaba pa ang hawak niya sa aking beywang kaya natuon ang pansin ko doon. Hindi ako makapagsalita dahil din sa gulat.

“Nothing, Mom. I’m just checking her if she’s okay. She met an accident yesterday and I was the one who carried her to the clinic.” Sagot niya sa ina.

“O-oh. How thoughtful of you son.” Hindi pa rin makapaniwala sa sinabi niya.

Natauhan si Mama pero hindi matanggal ang kanyang mata sa kamay ni Achilles na mariing nakahawak sa aking beywang.

“Thank you for bringing my daughter to the clinic, hijo.” She said then eyed me with an unknown look.

Like she’s telling me that I didn’t tell her about this!

“It’s my pleasure, Tita.”

Napapalakpak si Tita Laura dahil doon.

“Our dinner is ready now. Let’s eat before it turns cold.” Masayang saad niya.

She turned her eyes to his son and teasingly looking at him. Tita Laura then come closer to his husband and whispered something.

“What just happened, Samuel?” She whispered. Pero rinig ko pa rin.

Agad akong humawak sa kamay ni Achilles at tinanggal iyon sa beywang ko. He’s really territorial. Lumingon siya sa akin.

“Tabi na lang kami ni Mama.” Nahihiya kong saad sa kanya.

He eyed me sharply before nodding at me coldly.

“Your son is smitten, Laura.” Iyon ang narinig kong sagot ni Tito sa kanya. Tito Sam then chuckled.

What?!

Mama then slightly grabbed my hand.

“Explain this to me later.” She whispered excitedly at me.

Damn it!

I then frustratedly looked at her.