Love in a Rush 2 (COMPLETED)

Twenty Eight

PINILIT niyang ikubli ang inis na naramdaman nang makita si Angela. Shayla observed that Angela was extra pretty today, with her long hair in a bun, exposing her long Swan - like neck, and her pretty short, Pink floral Sunday dress, exposing her long flawless legs, and highlighting more her newly pedicured feet in gold sandals. Angela looked flawlessly pretty, she thought.

Napatingin tuloy siya sa suot niyang halos pakupas ng t-shirt, medyo lukot na string pants gawa ng paglalambingan nila ni Gerard kanina, at sa kanyang mga kukong malinis naman, ngunit hindi pedicured, katulad ng kay Angela.

Shayla felt her own toes slightly curled in reaction to Angela's site. She could even smell the scent of Angela's familiar perfume from where she was standing.

Napaisip siya kung anong pabango ni Angela dahil pamilyar ito sa kanya. Kapareho ito ng amoy ng niregalong pabango ni Gerard sa kanya nang nagsimula na siyang pumasok sa opisina. It was a Tuberose Angelica Joe Malone cologne, and it was Gerard's favorite scent, kaya nito ibinili para sa kanya. Sabi sa kanya ni Gerard noon na 'naadik' daw ito sa pabango at nate-turn on kapag naamoy nito ang pabangong gamit niya.

'Niya'. It meant sa akin lang nate-turn on si Gerard.She tried to assure herself, but in truth, it crossed her mind that Angela might be using the same cologne to attract Gerard. And, perhaps, Angela was trying to know everything that would make her husband turned on or attracted to her, to get Gerard's attention.

Angela was subtly trying to seduce, honey! She bit her lip with the realization.

She felt Gerard's hand touched her back, as if he caught the twitch on her face and understood what she was thinking. He held her closer to him, somehow assuring her. Napatingin siya sa asawang nakatingin din sa kanya. Kahit hindi sila nag-uusap, alam niyang pinakikiramdaman siya ng asawa.

Marahil, halata sa mga mata niya ang poot na nararamdaman sa realisasyong sineseduce ni Angela si Gerard.

How she wanted to be able to see if Gerard's senses were turned on by the presence of Angela. But Gerard remained poker face. He wasn't looking at Angela. Sa kanya lamang ito nakapokus.

Angela stood up, and approached them.

"Hello," magiliw na bati ni Angela sa kanya at kay Gerard.

Bahagya itong bumeso sa kanya, pero pag dating sa asawa ay inilapat pa nito ang dibdib kay Gearrd, bago tumingkayad para bumeso dito.

"Hi," maikling sambit ni Gerard.

Shayla couldn't contain her irritation. She bit her lip and crossed her arms, habang matalim na nakatingin kay Angela. But it seemed that Angela was oblivious to her glare, or she was just completely ignoring Shayla's reaction.

Excited na nakipag-usap si Angela kay Gerard. "It's a good decision, Ardy! You are truly ready for this, and I'm so confident that you can win, especially that you have so many initiatives and social work activities in the past, lalo na nung binata ka pa!" Tuloy tuloy lang na sabi ni Angela, and deliberately slip her hand around Gerard arm to guide him back to the meeting table, where the others were discussing about campaign plans for the other candidates running for election.

Gerard stopped and looked at her. "Hon," tawag nito sa kanya, gesturing her to follow them.

Saglit na luminga si Angela sa kanya. "Pahiram muna kay Ardy ha?" nakangiting sabi nito sa kanya, bago muling bumaling kay Gerard at nagsalita. "Bakit ka nga pala tumigil dati sa mga projects mo for your Dad? It's been 5 years that you were not in the spotlight per se." Tanong pa nito habang iniintay na maka-upo ang kanyang asawa. "Oh! I remember!" Anito at humawak sa noo. "You went to Brazil nga pala because there was a threat in your life when you and Shayla were together na." She said casually. "It's a good thing it's over now." Dagdag pa nito.

Gerard just gave a wry smile. Being a gentle man, he offered the seat to Angela, habang siya naman ay naiwan banda sa may pintuan na nakatayo at nakatingin lang sa kanila.

"Thank you," Angela sweetly said to Gerard.

Tumugon lang muli ng ngiti si Gerard, at tuloy tuloy pa rin sa pagsasalita si Angela, obviously making sure that he was engaged in the conversation.

"We will highlight your previous projects and programs, and we will start to do more this year, so that we could highlight them all during the campaign."

"Okay," tugon ni Gerard na tila bumibewelo lamang to disengage from the conversation, at alam niyang babaling ito sa kanya.

Angela touched his arm, and took her tablet almost to Gerard's face for him to look at something, while she continued to talk. "So I've listed all the programs that we can do for the whole year." She continued to say, as she moved closer to Gerard, and swiped something from the tablet for Gerard and her to browse through.

"These programs and projects will be our subtle way na magparadam ka na sa mga tao...thru the feeding programs, medical missions, and other projects. We will use Ponce Group of Companies through a Ponce Group Foundation."

"That's a nice idea." Napangiti si Gerard. "I think the girls can also be involved in this."

"Girls?" napakunot noo si Angela, unsure who Gerard was referring to.

"Yes, Shayla and Rori." Sagot naman ni Gerard, at bumaling ng tingin sa kanya.

Hindi nakapag-salita si Angela. Siya man ay hindi rin kaagad nakapagsalita dahil nagulat siya sa sinabi ng asawa.

"Hon, come, join us. The foundation is a nice idea." Imbita naman ni Gerard at tumayo para ilahad ang kamay sa kanya at i-guide siya papunta sa upuan, katabi ni Angela.

Nag-alinlangan siyang lumapit. Ayaw niyang lumapit dahil naiinis siya kay Angela. Bukod sa nao- awkwardan siya na tumabi sa babaeng iyon, naiinis din siya dahil sinabi ni Gerard na nagustuhan nito ang ideya ni Angela. Nakaramdam tuloy siya ng masidhing pagseselos, pero bigla din naman itong nawala nang lumapit ang asawa at tumitig sa kanya na para bang nagtataka kung bakit nakasimangot siya. She met his gaze, and she saw a glint of amusement in his eyes. His attractive eyes were like teasing her. Perhaps it was so obvious that she was feeling overly jealous even if she was trying so hard to hide it. She looked down on the floor to hide whatever Gerard was obviously seeing on her facial expression. Mabuti at hindi na rin siya tinukso pa ni Gerard. He just touched her back and gently led her to the seat beside Angela.

"Ardy, halika muna't pakinggan mo ang sinasabi ni Tito Samuel mo." Tawag ng kanyang father-in-law kay Gerard.

"Hon, wait lang ha?" paalam ni Gerard sa kanya. "Excuse, Angela ha? Tawag ako ni Dad." Anito kay Angela na halata naman niyang hindi sinsero ang pagngiti.

Hindi naman niya napigilan mapatingin kay Angela at sa mga taong naroon. Busy ang mga lalaking politician sa pagmi-meeting, samantalang si Angela ay inilapag ang tablet nito sa lamesa, at nagtipa sa laptop na dala nito.

Sinulyapan niya kung ano ang tina-type ni Angela at bahagya niyang nabasa na isinusulat nito ang one year plans para sa paghahanda ng pagpasok ni Gerard sa politika.

Palihim niyang pinagmasdan ang gingagawa ni Angela and she felt impressed at how fast Angela could type on the keyboard of her laptop without looking at it.

Nahiya tuloy siya sapagkat kung siya ang nagtitipa sa laptop tuwing may report siyang ginagawa ay pa-isa isa siya at pindot system pa nga.

"So," narinig niyang sinambit ni Angela, bago tumingin sa kanya. "How are you, Shayla?" tanong nito at bumalik sa pagta-type.

"H-ha?" nasambit niya dahil hindi niya inaasahang na ito ay makikipag-usap sa kanya.

"How are you?" tanong nito without emotion.

"Good," matipid niyang sagot. Umiiral na naman ang kanyang pagka-mahiyain.

"I learned about the passing of your mom, and I'm so sorry I wasn't able to express my condolences to you." Anito.

Tiningnan niya ng maiigi ang facial expression ni Angela at sa palagay naman niya ay sinsero naman ito.

"My mom passed away when I was 12 years old, and I know how you feel." Angela said expressionless, as if she was trying to tell her that losing someone dear to her was a part of life so she should deal with it. But she wanted to believe otherwise, for she could never understand why one would be so indurate or emotionless about something as losing someone you love, and never feeling a thing.

"Naulila ka rin?" she tried to ask.

"No," sagot ni Angela, bago muling nagsalita ngunit mahinang mahina na parang isang sikreto ang sasabihin nito. "But it was just like that na rin, since my Dad re-married a wicked step mother, and brought along wicked step sisters who I had to compete with for Dad's attention, and a step brother who molested me."

Shayla gasped and bit her lower lip. Naawa siya kay Angela, pero bigla itong napatawa.

"I was just messing with you, Shayla." She gingerly laughed.

Hindi siya kaagad naka-reak dahil sa sinabi ni Angela.

She felt pissed, but she tried to control it.

"You mean your mom did not really pass away?" mahina niyang tanong.

"Oh, that one is true. She died while giving birth to me." Angela answered.

"B-but your step mom... step sisters... step brother... are they true?" tanong niya.

"No," sagot niya. "Dad didn't re-marry, but he was so busy. To compensate, he would bring me to his business trips and we travelled the world. I shop, while he was on business meetings." She smiled. "That's why I understand what Gerard went through as a child... you know, having a dad who was into politics. Sobrang busy, right?" Angela briefly touched her hand. "That's why I opted nga to volunteer as campaign manager, and perhaps, when he's in office, I can volunteer to be his Executive Assistant."

"Ha?" gulat niyang nasabi. "Head ka na ng isang group sa isang malaking kumpanya. Bakit gusto mo pang ma-demote?" tanong niya dahil gusto niyang malaman ang plano ni Angela.

Pakiramdam niya kasi ay tahasan na ang pagpaplano ni Angela na mapalapit sa kanyang asawa.

"Because I want to do something meaningful in my life." Angela simply answered. "And that is to serve the country." She added.

"Pero maliit ang suweldo sa gobyerno, kumpara sa isang private company, diba?" pagklaro niya.

Hindi sigurado ni Shayla kung alin ang mas ayaw niya sa dalawa: ang mag-apply si Angela bilang Executive Assistant ni Gerard, o ang manatili ito sa Ponce Group of Companies.

"Yeah," Angela was considering what she said. "But, it's okay." She answered flipping her hair, and excitedly smiled at her, then to Gerard. "I really don't mind."

"Kung sabagay, you belong to an affluent family," nasabi na lang niya.

"Exactly!" Mayabang na tugon ni Angela.

Lalo siyang nainis kay Angela. Hanggang ngayon ay ubod pa rin ito ng yabang. Ngunit mayabang ba talaga ito o tingin lamang niya iyon dahil nagseselos siya dito?

"Ma'am," naputol ang pag-iisip niya, at ang matagal na pala niyang pagtitig kay Angela, nang may lumapit na maid sa kanya. Napatingin siya dito. "Ready na po ang mga sahog ng beef kaldereta at napakuluan na namin ang baka." Sinabi niyang susunod na lang siya sa kusina, saka umalis ang maid.

Siya naman ay tumayo mula sa upuan at hindi na nagpaalam kay Angela dahil abala na ito sa pagtipa ng laptop. Tinungo na lang niya ang puwesto ng asawa. Agad naman siyang napansin ni Gerard at tumayo sa kinauupuan.

Hinawakan siya nito sa kamay.

"Magluluto lang ako ng lunch at magpapaset up ng lamesa." Paalam niya saka tumalikod kay Gerard na nakatitig laman sa kanya. She didn't know what he meant with his poker face and stare, but she also didn't want to know because she didn't want to let him know how jealous and irritated she felt for Angela. She just wanted to sort out her feelings. Iniisip lang niya na baka mataas lang ang emosyon niya ngayon sapagkat buntis siya. Dire-direcho siya sa paglabas ng opisina, nang mapansin niyang sinundan siya ng asawa.

"Hon," humawak si Gerard sa kamay niya para pigilan siyang maglakad sa hallway patungo sa kusina.

Tiningnan lang niya si Gerard.

"May problema ba?" bakas sa mata nito ang pag-aalala.

"Si Angela." Nabulalas niya, at nagsisisi na naisiwalat niya iyon.

"What about her?" tanong ni Gerard.

Napakagat labi siya. Pakiramdam niya kasi ay para siyang nagsusumbong na bata.

"Ardy," tawag ng father-in-law niya na sumunod sa labas ng pintuan, at nakita silang tila may pinag-uusapang seryosong bagay. "May problema ba mga anak?" tanong nito sa kanilang dalawa.

"Wala po, Dad." Siya na ang sumagot at ngumiti sa father-in-law niya. "Pinag-uusapan lamang po namin yung ihahanda ko pong lunch para sa inyo." Alibay na lamang niya.

"Naku! Mukhang masarap yan! Ano bang lulutuin ng favorite kong daughter-in-law?" magiliw na tanong ni President Gerry.

Alam naman niyang walang ibig sabihin ang kanyang father-in-law sa sinabi nito, pero naisip lang niya na may iba pa bang choice ang kanyang father-in-law, unless may iba itong pagpipilian-katulad ni Angela?

Sakit naman nun!Naisip niya at napahawak sa kanyang dibdib. Agad niyang sinita ang sarili sa isip. Juzko naman Shayla Milena! Tantanan nga ang pagiging praning ha? H'wag kang nega!

Si Gerard naman ay tila inoobserbahan ang kanyang reaksyon.

"Beef Caldereta po, Dad." Sagot ni Gerard para sa kanya.

"Magluluto din po ako ng seafood chopsuey. Nagpadeliver na din po ako ng Crispy Pata." Sabi niya habang nanakam ang father-in-law sa mga binanggit niyang ulam, lalo na ang Crispy Pata na paborito nito.

"Yan ang gusto ko sa'yo, anak eh! Alam mo ang gusto kong kainin!" Masayang sabi ni President Gerry, bago bumaling kay Gerard. "Oo nga pala, Ardy, may gusto kaming i-discuss sa'yo." Anito at inaya na si Gerard sa loob ng opisina.

Lumingon si Gerard sa kanya, at tumingin na lamang siya sa sahig hanggang muling magsara ang pintuan ng opisina ni Gerard. Siya naman ay tumungo na sa kusina para magluto.

Habang nagluluto siya ng kaldereta ay hindi niya mapigilang isipin ang pagmumukha ni Angela. Hindi tuloy niya napansin na sumubra na ang lagay niya ng sili sa nilulutong kaldereta.