Bumuntong-hininga si Cassandra. Ito ang sinasabi ni Adrian na tjnawagan siya ng kaniyang daddy at siya ang sinisisi sa nangyari sa pool. "Wala bang binanggit sa iyo si Tito Tommy?" mahinang tanong ni Cassandra. "Well, he did mention that you pushed Sharon onto the water. Is that true?" Sheena asked directly to the point. "Would you believe me if I say I didn't?" Cassandra challenged her. Sheena is staring at her intently. Sinusukat ang kaniyang mga sinasabi, pinag -aralan ang kaniyang mukha. " Yes." she finally nodded. "Thank you, Tita.." Cassandra closed her eyes. At least may naniwala sa kaniya. "Wait a minute.." Rengie interrupted. "I thought you said you slipped onto the water?" "I'm sorry Rengie, I was lying. The truth was Sharon grabbed me into the edge of the pool and then I was stunned when she suddenly leaped onto the water and that's when I saw, Tito Tommy. .He ordered me to save sharon, who pulled me into the water and that's why I almost drowned."
"Oh." Sheena glanced at her nephew. "Maliban sa pagiging matagumpay na business man, mabait at matulungin na bata itong pamangkin ko." she proudly said. "Ang swerte ng babaeng mapangasawa nito.." sagot ni Sheena sa tanong ni Cassandra. "Nakakahiya naman, Auntie Sheena." Cassandra smiled when Rengie blushed a little. "Hush! totoo naman, ano bang ikinahiya mo." saway ni Sheena. "You know, my nephew here is the owner of The S Palace restaurants- have you heard about it, Cassandra?" "Sounds familiar-- oh!" Cassandra widened her eyes when the name rang a bell. It is a five star restaurant. The S Palace is the international restaurant that serves Filipino and Asian cuisine. At may maraming branches sa ibat-ibang parte ng Pilipinas. "Iyon ba iyong The S Palace sa Makati City, Ayala Avenue at iba pang lugar dito sa Maynila?" tanong ni Cassandra. Sosyal ang restaurant na iyon. "Have you heard about it?" "Yes, now I know kung ano iyong S.." nakangiting sabi ni Cassandra. "Santos?"
Cassandra I was thinking about whether I should tell Rengie about the incident. He saved my life, but that doesn't mean I should discuss something that may anger my husband. Tito Tommy is his father, and his father favored Sharon. The least I can do now is to keep quiet, until I convince Adrian that I'm telling the truth. "Na-nadulas ako.." Sabi ko na hindi nakatingin kay Rengie. "Bakit parang hindi ako naniniwala?" sagot niya. "Anong ibig mong sabihin?" kinabahan ako sa sagot niya. "Nothing. It's just me saying I don't believe what you said.." ngumiti si Rengie kaya hindi ko alam kong nagsasabi siya ng seryoso o binibiro lang ako. Maya-maya ay tumawa ito. "Ikaw naman hindi na mabiro, you look tense and serious-- well, nag-iingat ka na lang sa susunod. Baka, wala ako para iligtas ka next time." she smiled again. Kumukurap-kurap na lang ako sa mga sinasabi niya." Alam mo, hindi nakakasawa tingnan ang ngiti mo. Nakakahawa din tingnan parang gusto ko tuloy laging ngumiti
"Hi.." Cassandra looked over her shoulder and saw Rengie Santos staring and smiling at her. Agad na ngumiti si Cassandra ng makita si Rengie, the good vibes that he brings and the infectious smile he has is amazing. "Hi..maupo ka.." anyaya ni Cassandra sa lalaki. " Oh, wait..kukunin ko muna ang coat mo." tumayo si Cassandra mula sa kaniyang kinauupuan sa patio ng mansion. "Oh, no worries about it." he sat down next to the seat of Cassandra. "Huh?" Cassandra sat down again. "I mean, hindi naman ako nagmamadali. Thank God it's friday, I can stay here...for a while." he said, smiling again. "Oh, I see. Pasensya ka na ha, hindi ko nasoli sa iyo ang coat mo. Nakatulog kasi ako that time.." nagkibit balikat si Cassandra. She doesn't want to remind Rengie about the incident that is not only quite awkward but humiliating. Pero, anong magagawa niya? Si Rengie ang lalaking nagligtas sa kaniya. Mapag-usapan talaga nila ang nangyari."It doesn't matter, you know, masyado kang n
Pare -pareho lang talaga kayong lahat na mga lalaki. Mga mahihina pagdating sa tawag ng laman. Nagngingit ang kalooban ni Salve. Tumalikod na lamang ito bago pa niya muling sumbatan ang kaniyang asawa. Nagpasiya na sila na ibaon sa limot ang kasalanan ni Gordon Sandoval. Inisip na lang niya na boys will be boys. Bound to make mistakes because boys by nature are polygamous. Nang makalayo na si Salve ay kinuha ni Gordon ang kaniyang cellphone na nasa mesa. Nag dial ng number habang pinatong ang kaniyang paa sa isa pang silya sa harapan ng veranda. "How is she?"agad na tanong ni Gordon sa kanilang linya. "She died Mr Sandoval, namatay siya pagkatapos ng isang linggo na isilang ang inyong anak. I tried to contact you but I can't seem to connect with you. I'm sorry." the man on the other line said. There was a long silence. Salve, it was her. Hinarang niya lahat ng tawag para sa kaniya. A single tear drops on Mr Sandoval's cheek. Nawalan siya ng kontak kay Cassiopeia ng ma
Pare -pareho lang talaga kayong lahat na mga lalaki. Mga mahihina pagdating sa tawag ng laman. Nagngingit ang kalooban ni Salve. Tumalikod na lamang ito bago pa niya muling sumbatan ang kaniyang asawa. Nagpasiya na sila na ibaon sa limot ang kasalanan ni Gordon Sandoval. Inisip na lang niya na boys will be boys. Bound to make mistakes because boys by nature are polygamous. Nang makalayo na si Salve ay kinuha ni Gordon ang kaniyang cellphone na nasa mesa. Nag dial ng number habang pinatong ang kaniyang paa sa isa pang silya sa harapan ng veranda. "How is she?"agad na tanong ni Gordon sa kanilang linya. "She died Mr Sandoval, namatay siya pagkatapos ng isang linggo na isilang ang inyong anak. I tried to contact you but I can't seem to connect with you. I'm sorry." the man on the other line said. There was a long silence. Salve, it was her. Hinarang niya lahat ng tawag para sa kaniya. A single tear drops on Mr Sandoval's cheek. Nawalan siya ng kontak kay Cassiopeia ng ma