You're Mine!

Chapter 6 pt.1

Althea’s P.O.V

Kasama ko si Nanay Imelda na bumili ng mga gamit ko at gagamitin niya sa pagluluto para mamaya sa tanghalian at hapunan namin. Sa malapit na grocery store sa condo ni Rafael kami bumibili. Mabait si Nanay Imelda at nakakatuwa ang mga kwento niya about sa probinsya. I want to go to a rural place once in my lifetime or kahit isang buwan lang parang bakasyon.

“Hija, bibili lang ako ng kakailanganin ko sa pagluluto. Magkita na lang tayo sa counter,” sabi ni Nanay Imelda. Tumango ako.

“Sige po,” sagot ko at nauna ng maglakad para bumili ng kailangan ko. I need some toothbrushes, toothpaste, and also shampoo and conditioner. Nakakuha na ako ng toothbrush and toothpaste at papunta na ako sa Shampoo and conditioner rack.

“Hey!” Napalingon ako only to find Rafael’s friend, Ralph.

“Oh! Ralph! What are you doing here?” I asked. Ngumiti lang siya.

“I was thinking of bringing you fruits, so I dropped by to the grocery to get some,” sabi niya. Tumango-tango ako pero agad din akong napakunot noo.

“Don’t you have work to do? Why are you going to Rafael’s house when it’s working hours?” I asked. Tumawa siya.

“I want to be close to Rafael’s wife. We can’t still believe that he married someone. He’s kind of the old-school guy,” sabi niya. Ako naman ang napangisi. Yeah, Rafael is the type of guy who wants it to be in slow courtship than to the fast marriage. Well, its my fault.

“If I didn’t provoke him, then this will never happen.” I looked at the rack to get the things I need.

“Woah, provoke? What do you mean?” Tanong niya. Tipid na ngumiti ako. I don’t know why I am telling him this, but I told him what happened between Rafael and me.

“I was devastated when my father got into a scandal—killing the daughter of his friend by rape. My family and I knew that my father couldn’t do that because he respects women so much. He loves my mom, and he loves my sister and me. How can a loving man do that? But, because of that scandal, my father’s business suddenly gone down. And we need help, so I look for people who can help us, but no one wants to until I found Rafael on a bar. Drinking away his sorrows because of break up or something.” I sighed. I wonder why she didn’t accept Rafael when he is committed to one person. “We drank together that night, and because he didn’t know where to send me home, he brought me to his place. I kissed him and woke his urges. Then this happened,” I said jokingly and pointed to my stomach. He snorts.

“If I were Rafael, I married you that day!” He said and shook his head. I just smiled.

“Rafael is not in good condition at that time. And what happened between us is a mistake. We didn’t expect that this child will come into our lives but, I don’t regret having this child. It didn’t even cross my mind to get rid of it, even though I’m in a dire position,” I said, patting my flat stomach. I looked at Ralph and saw amazement on his face.

“Damn! Why didn’t I met you before? Maybe if I did, my life had already change into something better,” he said with a wild smile. Natawa ako. Kung magkakakilala man kaming dalawa, hindi ko siya mapapansin. Also, I am different than the person I am right now.

“You won’t like me kung nakilala mo ako noon. And I know Rafael hates me until now.” Nakita ko ang pagkunot noo niya at parang gustong malaman kung bakit galit sakin si Rafael. Tumingin ako sa binibili ko. “I got what I need. I need to go, Ralph. Baka inaantay na ako ni Nanay Imelda sa counter," sabi ko. Nakita ko ang gulat sa mukha niya.

“You’re with Nanay Imelda? It’s been a while since I saw her. I’ll come with you. Ihahatid ko na rin kayo," sabi niya. Hindi ko mapigilan na mapatawa. Hindi siya sanay magtagalog medyo natawa ako sa accent niya. Nauna na akong maglakad sumunod naman siya sakin.

“You’re not used to talking in tagalog are you?” I asked him. He blushes and scratches the back of his head.

“Well, yeah. I’m not even though I’ve lived here for so long as I can remember, but I can understand tagalog,” Ralph said. Kinuha niya sakin yung basket. “Here, let me hold it for you.”

Ibinigay ko naman yung basket sa kaniya.

"Thanks. Nakarating kami sa counter at nagulat si Nanay Imelda nang makita kung sino ang kasama ko.

"Ralph, Hijo!" Hindi makapaniwala si Nanay Imelda. Napalitan ang gulat niya ng kasiyahan ng makita si Ralph. "Ke laki-laki mo na at lalong kayng gumwapo!"

Tumawa si Ralph sa tinuran ni Nanay Imelda. “Thank you, Nanay Imelda. You’re still beautiful, Nanay, since I was a kid!”

"Ikaw na bata ka, bolero ka pa rin!" Sabi ni Nanay Imelda. Ngumiti lang si Ralph.

“Let me pay for your groceries, Nanay. I hope you don’t mind.” Tumingin sakin si Ralph. “Also, let me pay yours too.”

Umiling ako. “It’s my things. I can pay for it,” sabi ko. Umiling si Nanay Imelda.

"Hayaan mo na siya Althea na bayaran yan, hindi ka n'yan titigilan hanggat hindi mo pinapabayaran sa kaniya," sabi ni Nanay Imelda. Mukhang close silang dalawa ah. Tumawa si Ralph.

“You know me, Nanay!” Nakangiting sabi ni Ralph. Napabuntong hininga na lang ako at hinayaan siya.

“If that’s what you want, then go ahead,” I said. Ngumiti siya he paid for the groceries Nanay and I bought. Siya na rin nagdala ng binili namin and pinahawak niya sakin ang mga binili niyang prutas.

“Let me give you a ride home,” sabi niya. Wala na rin kaming nagawa kundi ang pumayag.

Unknown to them, someone is looking at them.

Rafael’s P.O.V

I’m doing my paper works ng mag-ring ang cellphone ko. It was a text from Mike.

MIKE

Ralph is with them.

10:46 AM Month XX, XXXX

Napakunot noo ako. I don’t get why Ralph is doing this. Don’t tell me he’s taking a liking to Althea? Whatever that is, I’m not too fond of it. She’s my wife, and I hope Ralph remembers that. Biglang pasok naman ni Carlos, my secretary sa opisina ko.

“Sir Rafael Here is the contract you need to sign, and Mr. Alcantara is on the phone,” sabi niya. I nodded.

“Transfer the call,” I said. Carlos left the office after he nodded. I sighed and took the call.