You Were Never Mine

Chapter 3

Third Person's P.O.V

NAKAUWI na si Yvette sa bahay nila at malapit na ang oras para sa tanghalian, pero iniisip pa rin niya kung si Igo ba talaga ang nakita niya kanina. Nagtatalo sa isipan niya ang mga tanong na gabi-gabing lumilipad sa isipan niya.

She is clinging to the belief that it was him, all by himself. Yvette thought of coming back to him kapag nalaman niyang wala itong anak o hindi siya masaya sa pamilya niya o hindi natupad ang mga pangarap niya, but knowing her ex-lover, if he wants to do it, he will undoubtedly do it.

Nakaya niya ngang iwan ako, kahit na pinaniwala niya kong ako ang buhay niya, kahinaan niya at lakas niya. Kaya, bakit pa ba ako umaasang hindi niya magagawang umasenso?

"Ma'am Yvette, kumain na po kayo. Hindi raw po kayo nag-agahan kanina bago nag-jogging." It was one of their cleaners who was responsible for this. Nasa kusina siya ngayon para uminom ng tubig at kumuha sana ng makakain sa ref, kahit yogurt lang, pero walang sila non.

"Kailangan kong mag-grocery ng pansarili kong kakainin." sabi niya sa isip niya at isinara ang refrigerator matapos kunin ang malamig na tubig.

"Thank you very much for the offer, but breakfast is not something I typically have in the morning." she left the maid matapos uminom ng tubig atsaka nagpasyang bumalik sa kwarto niya. Ayaw niya ng kausap at naiiirita siya sa kumakausap sa kaniya.

Bago pa siya makapasok sa kwarto niya ay nahagip ng mata niya ang kwarto kung saan nags-stay si Nanay Yolly at Igo. Despite the fact that it was designated as the guest room, Yvette's mother Yolly and Yvette's cousin Nay Yolly were permitted to use it as their primary residence. She is aware that her grandmother is quite strict, but she does not understand why her mother is acting so extra cordial toward them. She is aware that her grandmother is very strict. Nanay Yolly is not forced to live in the separate housing that is provided for their employees, even though the company does offer the housing.

Nagdalawang isip pa siya kung bubuksan niya ang pinto. It has been years since she has even mentioned the names of Nanay Yolly and Iigo Nathan in a conversation, much less inquired about either of them. She never inquired a thing about them mula nang umalis siya papunta sa States para sa trabaho niya.

Pero huli na dahil nahapit na niya ang door knob at akmang buksan na niya ito, but it won't open. Hindi ito mabuksan. It seems to be locked from the inside out; may I inquire as to how this is even possible?

Is there any chance of getting an appointment with Nanay Yolly?

Impossible.

'Yan ang tanong na naglalaro sa isipan niya na gustung gusto niyang itanong sa Mommy niya, pero sa tuwing susubukan niya ay hindi kayang lumabas sa bibig niya. Natatakot siya na baka sa tanong niyang 'yon, magtaka ang Mommy niya at halughugin ang nakaraan nila ni Igo.

"Yvette." Napapitlag siya nang marinig niya ang boses ng Mommy niya sa likuran.

"Mommy."

"Iniwan mo raw si Alberta sa ibaba nang hindi kumakain. Binilinan ko siya na kumain ka, pero hindi ka man lang—"

"Kakain po ako kapag gutom ako, Mom. I am in your debt." Sagot nito atsaka pasimpleng naglakad papunta sa pintuan nito, ngunit pinigilan siya ng Mommy niya sa pagpasok niya sa kwarto.

"What was it exactly that you were doing?"

I was getting ready to check the guest room for occupants when I thought I heard something in there, so I went ahead and got ready. When questioned "Why?" she gave a false reason. In her response, she posed a question as part of her response.

"Wala naman tayong bisita..." Yvette's mother double checked to make sure the door was unlocked before opening it herself, but it was already open "Only from the interior is it possible to enter it. Ngayon ko lang nalaman... Baka nasira…"

"Ano na ang nangyari kay Nanay Yolly, Mom?" she queried. It is reasonable to assume that she ultimately mustered up the nerve to ask about it. She has a voracious thirst for learning new things! She is waiting for a reply at this point.

"However, they left a number of months after you had finished your schooling and received your diploma. I was told that her son acquired a good job that will allow him to be able to pay for their mother, so it sounds like they have moved out on their own now." Mom didn't even blink an eye as she was responding; she was completely unfazed. She is not even making an effort to look at me in the eye at this point.

"Oh, okay." Sagot nito na parang wala lang ang narinig sa kaniya, pero ang totoo'y sasabog na ang puso niya. Just as she was about to leave, her mother said the words that she had wished she would never have to hear again and had prayed she would never have to hear again again.

"In addition to that, I had the impression that he was responsible for someone getting pregnant. Isn't that a complete waste of time and resources? He doesn't even meet the age requirement to be my grandfather! Tsk tsk." After informing her, her mother had smiled at her before leaving the room, thus it was only natural for her daughter to mirror her attitude by smiling as well. A grin that is fully manufactured by oneself.

So he genuinely departed... at totoo nga na nakabuntis siya...

Lumipas ang oras at tapos na silang mananghalian. The day passed fast nang hindi niya namamalayan. Binuksan niya ang laptop niya to check her e-mails. She needs to examine kung may update na siya pertaining sa tatrabahuin niya rito.

Pagbukas niya, mayroon siyang fifteen unopened texts. Email is her preferred way of communication with her coworkers and friends outside of work due to the fact that she uses social media so little, ranging from rarely to never using it at all.

Inuna muna niya ang mga SMS mula sa boss niya.

From: ShaunSilvestr HTTP3@email.com

The Topic Being the Workplace Itself

Block 3 Miranda Street, Quezon City, Philippines, is the location of the business in question. The location of the site is right there. The client is interested in having a face-to-face meeting with you because this is the very first project you have ever worked on. Gather your ideas in preparation. We provide the highest possible standard.

Good luck! Enjoy yourself to the fullest in the Philippines and make the most of your time there. Miss you!:)

It turned out to be her supervisor, who informed her that he had been thinking about her a lot. Of course, sa loob ng tatlong taon niya sa ibang bansa, halos araw araw silang magkasama sa office at wala siyang magawa kung hindi niya maka-close ang boss niya na parang kaibigan na rin niya.

Nagreply siya ng I miss you too kay Shaun, ang boss niya, atsaka na siya nag-proceed sa ibang mga email. Nakakita siya ng mga spam messages na agad niya binlock at isang message na nagpalakas ng t***k ng puso niya.

I can't even begin to guess where to start...

"No. This is absolutely not going to take place under any circumstances. In no conceivable world. s**t. No no no no..." Yvette has a hard time believing what she has just read because it seems impossible. She is utterly incapable of apprehending the reality that this is taking happening. She is quite certain that what she is imagining is correct and has an unshakable faith in this conclusion.

She had never given it any thought before...

From: Engr Rios07@email.com

The topic at hand is employment.

I hope you're having a wonderful day, Miss Hilton!

This person right here serves as Secretary Engineer Nathan Iigo Rios's for the company.

Napakunot naman ng noo si Yvette. Wtf? Secretary niya, pero email address niya ang ginamit?

Napaka— wait. Hindi niya nga alam kung babae o lalaki ang secretary ni Igo, bakit ba siya ganito mag-isip?

... A task, which required the aid of both your organization and our own, was successfully finished.

Nakatulala talaga siya habang iniisip ang sasabihin niya o kung ano ang dapat niyang maramdaman o kung ano ang dapat niyang maging respond.

Shit!

Agad siyang nagtipa ng message para sa boss niya. Hindi siya papayag na makasama niya ito sa trabaho. To hell with appropriate behavior in the workplace! Professional siya, oo, pero masakit parin! It's been years, yes, pero masakit parin sa puso niya ang mga nangyari.

She is not ready to confront Igo while his child and wife are gazing at her with smiles on their faces, and she does not intend to do so. Ayaw niyang magmura sa harapan ng mga ito, dahil ayaw niyang magmukhang affected. That would be the factor that ultimately led to her premature passing. That would shred her heart in a million different directions at the same time, and it would rip it apart completely.

Ilang minuto lang, nag-pop up ang skype sa laptop niya at ang tawag ni Shaun ang sumalubong sa kaniya. Agad naman niya itong sinagot at hinila niya pabalik ang sarili niya sa tamang katinuan.

"Shane, I'm sorry to disappoint you, but I'm not going to do that."

"You must, Yvette. You must." Para namang nabuhayan ang galit sa dugo niya, dahil parang pinipilit siya nito.

"Why?!" She is not in a good mood right now. Getting very close to the states of being irritated and enraged.

"The consumer is an indispensable link in the supply chain. We can't say no. May kontrata tayong sinusunod, Yvette. This is not only relevant to our personal lives; it also applies to other contexts." Umiling siya.

"Excuse me, but isn't it nasa contract natin na pwedeng tumanggi sa project if—" It is safe to assume that Shaun will comprehend the situation given that he is of British and Filipino ancestry. He is fluent in Tagalog and has a natural command of the language.

"He defies the norm in every way possible."

"No—"

"He's Mr. Rossveth Bueno." natahimik si Yvette sa kabilang linya. Pilit na ina-absorb ang mga salitang sinabi ng boss niya.

An official statement from Rossveth Bueno...