Make Him Move On in 50 Days

Chapter 3

I was busy preparing for my first day at the office when the doorbell suddenly rang.

“Sandali lang!” I shouted loudly and hopefully, it could get through the doors as I struggled to make myself presentable as fast as I could.

I brushed my hair and slightly tapped my cheeks to have some blush. Masyado akong mukhang namumutla lalo na pagkatapos maligo. Tinakbo ko ang distansya ng pintuan sa akin. Muli kong tinampal ang pisngi ko bago binuksan ang pintuan.

“D-Dad.” I gasped when I saw my Dad in front of me after I opened the door.

He looked so furious. Mukhang galit na galit siya sa akin. Well, it’s not the first time I saw him fuming mad at me. That's why I didn’t take his expression seriously.

“You’re working for Stewart Highfields huh, Xylia?” he sarcastically said.

“Dad, we already talked about this,” I lazily said as I turned my back at him.

Pumasok naman si Daddy sa loob ng aking unit at sinarado ang pintuan. It’s better to argue privately, right?

“And I thought that it’s already clear to you that you will inherit our company,” he countered.

“Dad, you told me to work and so, I did!” katwiran ko. “And besides, I don’t have any plans in handling your company yet, Dad. I still want to explore before tying myself to hell.

Dumiretso ako sa kuwarto ko. Kahit na alam kong pagsasabihan pa ako ni Daddy ay pinaandar ko na ang blower para mabilis mapatuyo ang buhok ko.

“Who will handle it, then?” he asked me loudly so that I could hear him.

“Of course, Tiffany!” walang pagdadalawang isip kong sagot. “She’s a perfect example of a daughter you want, right? She has a hell of greatness, sweetness and every positiveness in the world that I don’t have.”

I stared at myself in the mirror while I was styling my hair, using my brush and drying it at the same time.

“Sumusobra ka na, Xylia.” Dumiin ang boses ni Daddy.

Kung galit siya kanina ay paniguradong mas nagalit ko siya dahil dinamay ko ang perpekto niyang anak-anakan.

“Iyon naman po ang totoo, ‘ddy,” giit ko at pinatay na ang blower. “I’m just telling the truth,” dagdag ko pa saka kinuha ang primer.

I put some of the primer at the side of my hand before putting it on my face evenly. I massaged my face to scatter the product afterwards.

“Ikaw ang nag-iisang anak ko, Xylia.” He reminded me once again. “You are the only rightful heir of the company.”

Nilagyan ko naman ng foundation ang buong mukha ko at ngumuso bago nag-apply ng kaunting cheek tint para medyo mamula ang aking pisngi. Kapag napadami ang lagay ko ay daig ko pa ang sinampal.

“In less than two weeks, ikakasal na kayo ni Madeline, Dad. Magiging anak n’yo na rin po si Tiffany,” sabi ko. “Siya na lang po ang gawin n’yong tagapagmana n’yo. After all, she’s way better than me.”

“That’s different, Xy,” he said. “You are my real daughter. Anak ka namin ng Mommy mo!”

Napatigil naman ako sa paglalagay ng lipstick sa aking labi at saka siya hinarap.

“Wow, Daddy!” I sarcastically exclaimed and almost clapped my hand. “Should I cry and be happy because of that fact?”

“Xylia, don’t test my patience,” he warned me.

“Ngayon na kailangan ako ng kompanya ninyo, saka ninyo sasabihin sa akin na ako ang tunay na anak ninyo?” Hindi ko maiwasan ang makaramdam ng hinanakit sa kanya. “For these past years ever since you met that Madeline, you’ve been very vocal on how great her daughter is and how much you wished that she is your real daughter. Mas tinuturing mo pa nga silang pamilya kaysa sa akin, eh. Samantalang sampid lang naman sila sa pamilya natin.”

Nakita kong napataas ang kamay ni daddy na handa nang lumapat sa aking pisngi. I just looked at him and waited for his hand to slap me. It would be easier for me then to cut every connection that I had with him that way. Ngunit sa kasamaang palad ay napahinga na lamang siya nang malalim. Kita ko ang pagpipigil niya habang binababa niya ang kanyang kamay.

“Huwag na huwag mong pagsasalitaan ang Mommy Madeline mo nang ganyan at ang kapatid mo,” he ordered, trying to calm himself.

“Mommy Madeline?” Ngumisi ako at tinaas ang aking kilay. “Sa pagkakaalam ko ay isa lang ang mommy ko at wala na siya ngayon. Ang alam ko din ay nag-iisang anak lang ako ng mommy at daddy ko. I’m not informed na may kapatid pala ako.”

“Sumosobra na ang ugali mo!” He started to raise his voice. “Tingin mo ba ay nagugustuhan ng mommy mo ang ugaling pinapakita mo sa akin ngayon?!”

Padabog ko namang tumayo upang tapatan ang kanyang nagliliyab na galit. Kung galit siya ay mas galit ako!

“Tingin ninyo rin ba ay nagugustuhan ni mommy ang pagpapakasal ninyo sa iba? Ang paglayo ng loob ninyo sa sarili ninyong anak para lang punan ang kakulangan na nararamdaman ng anak ng babae mo?” Hindi ko na napigilan ang sarili ko sa pagsumbat.

How dare he use Mom to tame me. Pagkatapos niyang talikuran ang pagmamahal niya kay Mommy para lang magmahal ng iba. I couldn’t believe him.

He always tells me that he still loves my mother. Pero paano niya nagawang magmahal ng iba kung mahal niya pa rin si Mommy? Even if she’s already dead, if he really loves her, he will remain faithful! They even swore and made their vows in front of God when they got married na hanggang kamatayan. Nasaan na ‘yon ngayon?

“Kung ayaw mong magkasakitan pa tayo lalo, just leave,” sabi ko na lang at muling umupo saka humarap sa salamin para ipagpatuloy ang ginagawa ko.

Dinig ko naman ang bayolenteng paghinga nang malalim ni Daddy.

“We’re not done yet, Xylia. Babalikan kita,” sabi niya bago lumabas ng aking kuwarto upang maiwan na ako.

Inabala ko ang sarili ko sa pag-aayos ng sarili ko para makalimutan ang sagutan namin ni daddy. 

Dad and I always fight, but the fight we had earlier was more intense. Tuwing nadadamay si mommy sa sagutan namin ay nagagalit ako. Wala siyang karapatan na isali si mommy sa usapan. She’s already resting in peace. I didn’t want to bother her anymore.

Once I got satisfied with how I looked, bumaba na ako ng unit ko para makapasok na sa trabaho bago pa ako ma-late.

“Hello?” sagot ko nang biglang tumawag si Deia habang nagda-drive ako.

“Sunduin mo ako mamaya sa work, ah?” sabi niya. “Mga 6PM ang out ko. Sa condo mo ako kakain ng dinner. I miss your food.”

“Oo na,” sabi ko. “Hintayin mo lang ako kapag nauna kang mag-out at wala pa ako.”

“Sure! I’d also be informing Selena about our dinner,” sabi niya. “Thank you, Xy. Bye!”

I parked my car at the company’s basement which was also the parking lot. Tinakbo ko naman ang elevator doon na papasara na.

Instead of pressing the button, I just sacrificed my arm and my hand which was holding my phone. Muntik ko pa iyong mabitawan. Mabuti na lang at malakas ang sensor ng elevator kaya agad itong bumukas bago pa ako maipit ng tuluyan.

Napahinga ako nang maluwag at napangiti ng wala sa sarili nang bumukas iyon.

“Yes!” I exclaimed in relief.

I looked straight inside the elevator. Muntik na akong masamid kahit na wala naman akong kinakain o iniinom nang makita ko kung sino ang sakay.

There I found Brendt playfully smiling at me. His eyebrows were raised while he was holding his phone over his ear. “I’ll just call you later,” sabi naman niya at saka ibinaba ang kanyang cellphone habang diretso pa ring nakatingin sa akin.

“G-Good morning, Sir!” nauutal kong pagbati dahil sa kahihiyan.

Muntik nang sumara ulit ang elevator pero agad na umaksyon si Brendt at hinarang ang sarili niya. Sumandal siya sa gilid ng pintuan ng elevator bago niya inilahad ang kanyang kamay.

“Go inside already,” natatawa niyang sabi sa’kin.

Tumango-tango naman ako at nahihiyang pumasok sa loob ng elevator. Siniksik ko ang sarili ko sa kabilang dulo kahit na kaming dalawa lang naman ang nasa loob nito.

Sa kabilang dulo ako ng elevator pumuwesto sa sobrang kahihiyan na nararamdaman ko. Mukha akong haggard! Bakit ko ba kasi hinabol pa ‘yong elevator, eh, meron pa namang isang elevator?

Kinagat ko na lang ang labi ko sa sobrang kahihiyan na nararamdaman at mahigpit na hinawakan ang cellphone ko.

I will never do that again. Next time, I will gracefully let the elevator go up and just wait for it to come back down.

“It seems like you’re the type of person who can’t let go of her phone,” bigla niyang sabi at nahuli ko siyang nakatingin sa kamay ko.

“Uhm—”

“But you still didn’t bother to text me, Cinderella?” He added before I even got a chance to defend myself that I’m not addicted to cell phones.

“What?” I asked even though I heard what he said clearly.

He chuckled and bit his lower lip, trying to stop himself from laughing. Napakunot ang noo ko dahil sa pinaghalong kaba at kuryosidad.

“Uhm... I’m not usually into texting. Nagkataon lang na hawak ko ang phone ko,” I just reasoned out and slyly smiled.

“Well, just kidding. You don’t have to explain nor feel nervous.” He laughed. “I just remembered that I gave you my number, but you’re still not texting me. And I just want to be friends with my new employee.”

“Ah, gano’n ba?” Iyon na lang nasabi ko at saka nag-iwas ng tingin.

What now, Xylia? This is your chance to flirt with him but you’re blowing it away with your fcked up and nonsense answers.

“But can I get your number, too?” he suddenly asked at muli akong napatingin sa kanya. “Para fair tayo. You have my number, and I’ll have your number. We’re even.”

Hindi pa ako nakakasagot ay inilahad niya na ang kanyang mamahaling cellphone sa aking harapan. “Just save your number here,” utos niya.

Tumango naman ako at bahagyang nakayuko nang kinuha ang kanyang cellphone. I bit my lower lip as I typed my number on his phone and saved it as “Ms. Saavedra” to make it very formal.

“Done!” anunsyo ko at maingat na binalik na ang kanyang cellphone.

He looked at his phone, trying to confirm if I really saved my number. His eyebrows suddenly shot up. “Bakit Ms. Saavedra?” Itinagilid niya ang kanyang ulo habang pinagmamasdan ang aking nakarehistrong numero at pangalan sa kanyang cellphone.

Napanguso na lang ako at hindi sumagot saka pinaglaruan na lang ang hawak kong cellphone.

“Xylia,” tawag naman niya ulit sa akin at nag-angat ako ng tingin.

I was shocked when I saw his phone directed at me. The next thing I heard was a shutter from his phone’s camera.

He took a photo of me!

“Pretty,” he commented while smiling and he pressed some keys on his phone.

What the hell? Is he flirting with me, too?

Tumunog ang elevator at nakita kong nasa tamang palapag na ako ng aking opisina. Medyo natagalan pa ako sa pagkilos upang makalabas sa sobrang gulat sa biglang pagkuha sa akin ng litrato ni Brendt.

Mabuti na lang at pindot niya ang open button kaya hindi ito sumara hanggang sa makalabas ako.

“I’ll be waiting for your portfolio later if I’m not busy. Ipapatawag kita,” he told me when I stepped outside of the elevator. “Have a good day at work, Cinderella.”

Napapikit naman ako nang mariin.

Damn! He could just ask me, and I’m willing to smile for the picture he took. Ano kaya ang hitsura ko sa picture na kinuha niya?