The Primadonna Princess

CHAPTER SIX

MAPANURI na naman ang tingin ni Tati Tori sa akin. The dinner was done already. At sa buong durasyon ng dinner ay nakayuko lamang ako habang ang sira-ulong si King ay mukhang proud na proud pa sa mga kalokohan nito. Nandoon na lagyan ako ng ulam sa plato at ipag-himay ako ng sugpo at alimango. Hindi ako makaangal at baka tuluyan na akong mapalayas sa pamamahay na ito. Mom is sending me dagger looks all time. Parang pinapaalalahanan akong huwag gumawa ng hindi kanais-nais. I maybe rebellious at times pero hindi naman ako walang-modong tao. I will not be called a princess if I don’t have a class.

“Yammy baby, tell me the truth. Again, I want the truth and nothing but the truth. Akala ko ba wala ka talagang sparks na maramdaman kay Pogi? So ano naman yung nakita naming kanina?” Usisa nito habang nagsasalin ako ng wine para rito. Nandito kami ngayon sa mini-bar ni Daddy. May interrogation daw na magaganap between the two us.

Matapos kasing umuwi ang pamilya Ramos ay umalis din ang parents ko. Kami lamang dalawa mag-tiya ang naiwan matapos mapag-desisyunan ng parents ko na pumunta sa exhibit ng kilalang pintor. My younger brother wanted arts so much at very supportive naman ang parents ko dito.

“Wala naman talaga, Tati! Sino naman ang magkakaguto sa lalaking yun? Wala naman kagusto-gusto sa hudyong aside from his looks and physique. At tsaka yung naabutan niyo kanina, wala lang naman talaga yun…We are just fighting because he pranks me. He pretends to be dead and I got so nervous because I thought I killed him. Yun pala pina-prank lang ako! Imagine that, Tati?” At kagaya ng nauna ay paulit-ulit ko nalang ineexplain rito ang nangyari. Pero mukhang hindi talaga kumbinsido ang tiyahin ko sa isinasagot ko.

“Oh, what a nice story, you closed the curtains and locked the door because you are afraid that someone might see you disposing his body. I never thought you will be like this when you grow up. Gosh! Hindi ko man lang naisip that you’ll get wilder and andventurous than me. You surpassed my expectations, at dito pa talaga sa house niyo. Baby Yammy ha, wala talaga kayong pinipiling lugar ni Pogi. You are a bad girl na talaga!”

“Why are you not believing me, Tati? I am telling you that we are fighting...” I felt sad to what she said. Akala ko pa naman maniniwala siya kapag inexplain ko na at ikinwento ang lahat ng nangyari sa amin ni King kanina. I mean the incident that happened dahil wala nama talagang ‘nangyari’ sa amin ni King.

“I thought you are on my side? Akala ko ba kakampi kita? Para ka na rin si Daddy…” May himig panunumbat na sabi ko rito. Tati Tori keeps on teasing me and I am not liking it because I am feeling down right now.

“Uy, walang ganyanan, baby. I am on your side. You know that, right? At tsaka masyado ka naman maramdamin, I am just kidding you.” Tumayo ito at lumapit sa akin. “I am the one who heard you asking for help. Akala ko nga nagpapatayan na kayong dalawa ni King kanina. So, I asked Manang to get the key. Diko naman alam na kasunod na pala ang buong angkan ni Pogi at ang Kuya’t Ate. At tsaka alam ko naman na nag-aaway kayo kasi nga nakita ko yung bakas ng kalmot mo sa leeg ni King. Grabe ka talaga, baby! You are so--” Sinamaan ko na agad siya ng tingin kaya agad din namang itong tumigil. Tumawa ito ng napakalakas at pagkatapos ay sumeryoso.

“You know what? When I married your uncle because he got me pregnant. I never thought I am capable of loving someone more than I love my ex-boyfriend na pangit. I remember, pinilit lang din ako dati ni kuya na magpakasal sa uncle mo. He once told me, ‘If I can’t see future on that man, I will not allow you to marry him. Darating ang araw at sasabihin mo sa aking tama ang naging desisyon ko para sayo.’ And yes, Kuya was right! Your uncle is the only love of my life.” Excited na kwento ni Tati Tori sa akin. Normally, kapag tungkol sa love life ni Tati ang pinag-uusapan namin ay kinikilig ako para sa kanya.

“But we have different situation naman, Tati… Uncle told me he loves you even before he knocked you up. At tsaka, uncle is far more mabait than Kulugong King.”

“Ay, kinikilig talaga ako kapag naririnig yang side story ng uncle mo!”

“Yeah, true love does exist.” Pagsang-ayon ko rito.

“But it’s not what I am trying to impart to you. I was just trying to tell you to trust your father’s decision. I do believe that he will not lead you to something you will be regret someday. Walang ama na dadalhin ang anak sa masama. And if this time, magkamali siya ng desisyon, you can count on me. I will be your back-up plan, dear. Don’t worry.” Tati Tori cupped my face and smiled at me. And I nodded to her. Yes, I know I can count on her all the time.

I am in deep thought while walking towards my room when my phone vibrated. Imbes na pumunta ako sa kwarto ay dumeritso nalang ako sa balcony. Charizza Siy is calling me. It was an anticipated call because I messaged her.

"Hey, Cha! So, what’s new? Do we have good new?" Bungad ko agad rito. As a closest friend, she knew what has been happening to me right now.  

“I have good news for you, babe!” Halos tumili na ito habang nagsasalita. Excitement is written on her voice. Lahat nalang ng bagay para rito ay exciting. Kung may bad influence na kaibigan ay si Charizza na siguro iyo. But good thing, I can handle myself well that I can say no to her if I didn’t want the things she is doing. Kahit naman sobrang liberated at care-free ang babaing ito ay nakakatulong naman ito sa akin madalas.

“Really?! But the only good news I want to hear right now is that I am not marrying the asshole anymore.” I am referring to King. Kung may magandang balita man akong nais marinig ay iyong malaman na hindi na ako pipiliting ipakasal rito. 

"Ysia babe…Hindi pa nga siguro natin makukuha iyang inaasam mo pero I have solution.”

“It that a legit solution?” Straight to the point kung tanong rito.

“Remember Simon Chu? My cousin na patay na patay sayo? He will be your escape goat to that planned marriage with Mr. Hunk Ramos.”

“As if talaga? I am not going to follow your silly plan, Charizza. Nakakaloka ka!” Napag-usapan kasi naming noong nakaraan na pikutin ko nalang si Simon Chu para ito ang mapakasalan ko at hindi si King Ramos. I thought it was a joke kaya naman sumang-ayon ako kunwari. I never thought she’s serious about that.

“Ano ka ba? Eto na yun, girl… We are invited to Rudolph's party tonight… Simon is coming too... Babe, it's your time to shine! Pwede na nating gawin ang plano. I will make sure everything will fall into places as planned."  Rudolph is her friend while Simon Chu is my suitor. Mayaman, gwapo at mabait. Halos lahat na siguro ng katangian ng isang lalaki ay nasa kanya na. Okay naman ito pero walang spark between us -- no magical feeling. But I am considering him to be my other half than to get married with an asshole named King Josef.

"Sissy, can I ask you something? Do you think Simon will marry me in an instant if something happened between us tonight?" Tawagin niyo na akong desperada but I have no option right now.

"Of course, he will. Deads na deads yun sayo eh. I should know." Yeah, Cha should know because Simon is his cousin. At si Charizza mismo ang gumagawa ng paraan para mapalapit kami sa isat-isa ni Simon. Maybe Charizza wanted me to be a part of their family.

“Do you think this will be successful?”

“It will be. I’ll make sure of that, soon-to-be-cousin.”

"Okay, then. Maghahanda na ako for tonight."

"Orayt! Bye! I’ll fetch you before nine in the evening. Byee, sissy! Ciao!" Tumitili nitong tinapos ang tawag. Sana lang hindi mag-fail ang plano naming ni Charizza.

"Kaya ko to!" Kausap ko sa aking sarili. Nagdadalawang isip pa rin talaga ako sa gagawin naming plano ng kaibigan ko. If I couldn't stop the wedding then I might get married to someone I know. Someone ideal enough to be my husband. And someone I can learn to love.

Akma na sana akong papasok sa loob ng bahay nang bigla na lamang lumitaw sa harapan ko si King Josef Ramos.

“You are friends with Charizza Siy?” Nakahalukipkip at matiim na nakatingin sa akin.

“So?! She’s my friend not yours. Problema mo? At bakit nandito ka na naman?”

“Bumalik ako. Your dad messaged me. Wala ka raw kasama rito sa mansion kasi umalis sila. And who am I to refuse my father-in-law’s request, right?” Napamulagat ako sa sinabi nito. That it means my communication siya sa buong pamilya ko? I felt betrayed again.

“Oh, I see. Kayo na ang may communication sa isa’t-isa. Excuse me may kasama ako rito! Andito sina Manang… you can go away na! And mind your own business because I don’t mind yours.” Ngunit ng dumaan ako sa tabi nito ay hinawakan ako nito sa kamay.

“Nice idea, Ysia. Willing kang mamikot at magpakasal sa ibang lalaki? You’ll stoop that low? I thought you’ll walk gracefully on our wedding day? Why a sudden change of mind?”

“O diba, ito yun gusto mo? Ginagawan ko ng paraan na hindi makasal sayo. You should be happy?!” Balik-tanong ko rito. “Ito na yun bagay na hinihiling mo sa akin, right? So ano pa ang pinuputok ng butse mo? You can go now and have a good life.”

“Are you crazy? Kaya mong bumukaka sa ibang lalaki para lang hindi matuloy ang kasal natin? Anong klaseng utak yan, Ysia? Yes, I want out. But do you really think I can sleep peacefully at night knowing that you jumped on bed with a married man. And that you’ll be a mistress if your plan succeded?” Namumula na ito sa galit. Ano ba talaga ang pinagsasabi ng lalaking ito?

“What are you talking about? You don’t know anything.” Wala akong pakialaman sa anupamang sasabihin niya kaya naman ay pumasok na ako sa loob ng bahay. Nagmamadali ako para hindi na niya ako maabutan.

“Mas may alam ako sayo, Ysia. Ikaw ang walang alam!” Nakasunod pa rin pala ito sa akin.

“Tell me! Tell me now!” Sa sobrang pagkainis ay dinuro-duro ko siya sa dibdib nito.

“You want the truth? Okay, fine! My dear Ysia, Simon Chu is already married to a woman named Carla Saison. And your friend Charizza is not really a friend to you. Don't you know she hates you to death? She wants you miserable. How did I know? Because Carla Saison is my ex-girlfriend. Simon Chu is an ex-bro.” Halos wala akong masabi sa narinig mula rito.

“Are you insinuating that Charizza—”

“I don’t know what that b***h Charizza wants but she sets-up Carla and Simon too. The reason why they are married. And now, she is doing the scheme to you." Napanganga ako sa narinig. 

.

“You don't know everything about me! You are just lying to me. Hindi gagawin ni Charizza sa akin yan!” I am almost hysterical to what I have heard.

“She is… and she will be...”

“No, you are lying.” Naisip ko kung ilang beses na niya akong niloko.

“No, I’m not. Go on… Ask your dear friend.” Sakto naman na nag-vibrate ang phone ko kaya naman sinagot ko agad.

“Hello, Charizza? Can I ask you something important?” Nakatingin lamang si King habang nakikipag-usap ako. “How true that Simon is a married man?”

“Sissy, where did you get that information? Of course not. Ipapahamak ba kita?”

Pero ko pa man ito masagot muli ay kinuha ni King sa akin ang cellphone.

“Hindi nga ba, Charizza?! I was there in the wedding outside the church.” Matigas at puno ng pait na sabi ni King