Kabanata 5

Stavros’ POV

“So, it means that Aviona’s adopted?” I blurted out.

“Yup,” Anthony answered from the other line.

I received the file of Aviona Sarrosa from Anthony this morning. I asked him to send it because that woman’s attitude was bothering the hell out of me.

Konti na lang ay iisipin kong takas siya sa isang mental facility.

“Wala ba silang tunay na anak?” patungkol ko sa mag-asawang Sarrosa.

“They don’t have any. Kaya nag-ampon na lang sila,” diretsong sagot niya.

Napasandal ako sa aking swivel chair. “Sigurado ka bang hinalungkat mo ang medical records ni Avionna?”

Saglit na natahimik si Anthony. “Oo, bro. Bakit? May napansin ka bang kakaiba sa kaniya?” takang tanong niya.

Napahilot ako sa aking noo. “I think she’s a bit weird. Pansin mo ba ‘yong mga akto niya noong araw ng kasal namin? ‘Yong lagi siyang nakayuko? She’s been like that all the time. She talks barely. And was almost avoiding me,” siwalat ko sa mga napansin ko sa aking napangasawa.

“If I’m not mistaken, Tita Rosita told me once that since they adopted her, tahimik daw talaga siya. She's an introvert. Maybe that explains why she’s like that to everyone around her,” aniya. “Ayaw mo n’on? Kapag introvert nga ang napangasawa mo, edi hindi siya masyadong makikialam sa mga desisyon mo. She seems submissive, too,” aniya.

“Yeah. I think so.”

“I need to go, bro. Naghihintay na ‘yong kliyente ko.”

Binaba ko na ang tawag. Muli na naman akong nalunod sa malalim na pag-iisip.

Kaya pala madali lang na pumayag si Mr. Sarrosa sa kasal dahil hindi niya sariling anak ang ipinakasal niya. Hindi naman iyon nakapagtataka dahil mukha naman siyang pera. Baka nga kahit sarili niyang anak si Aviona ay ipagkakasundo niya pa rin itong maikasal para lamang sa sarili niyang benepisyo.

Ngunit ang bumabagabag sa aking isipan ay ang inaasta ni Aviona. An introvert might be somehow afraid to communicate or socialize with others. But not with Aviona’s reactions. Para siyang takot sa mga tao dahil baka saktan siya ng mga ito. That’s what I could read in her eyes.

Those brown eyes wouldn’t lie. Maybe she’s always looking down. But I saw her eyes one time. And I could say she’s not just afraid. She's terrified… of people.

Bigla kong naalala ang huling pakiusap sa’kin ng kaniyang ina.

Was that the reason why she said that? Was there something more behind my wife’s terrified eyes?

I got out of daze when I heard the telephone rang.

“Yes?” I asked.

“Mr. Bienvenelo, Ms. Novida is here with me. She wants to talk to you. Will you allow her to enter?” It was Dominic, my secretary.

Napasuklay ako sa aking buhok. Ang dami ko nang iniisip. Balak pang dumagdag ng babaeng iyon.

Ms. Novida was really making her way, huh?

“Let her in,” napipilitan kong sagot.

I fixed my suit and tie.

Moments later, Ms. Novida came in with a wide smile on her face.

I smiled as I stood up and offered her a hand shake.

She squeezed my hand for the nth time.

“What a pleasant surprise, Ms Novida.”

“Am I not bothering you, Stavros?” she asked.

‘Oh yes you are,’ I answered in my mind.

“Of course not, Ms. Novida. Not when you really came for a visit,” I answered her politely. “Please have a seat.” I gestured to her to sit down.

“I’m glad that I came at the right time.” She crossed her arms, which I guess she did it purposely to show her cleavage to me.

Tsk. I fuck women but someone related to my business would always be an exception.

I forced a smile and looked at her face. “It seems that you have nice timing instincts, Ms. Novida.”

She raised a brow. “Oh, come on, Stavros. Just call me Niki. You don’t have to be so formal since it’s just the two of us.” She’s trying to be seductive through her voice. But that just won’t work on me.

Oh, try me. I’d seen worse than that.

“I don’t want to disrespect you by calling your first name Ms. Novida. You’re my investor.” And I didn’t want to have any relationship with you other than being business partners.

She crossed her legs before she spoke. “I don’t mind being disrespected as long as it’s you, Stavros.”

I just laughed at her response. She’s a spoiled slut obviously.

Right in time, we heard a knock on the door.

“Come in,” I said.

Dominic came in with two glasses of juice and two plates with slices of cake in it. He laid those down on the table.

I nodded at Dominic.

Then he left.

I returned my eyes to Ms. Novida who was obviously drooling over me. “I think it’s a bit late for coffee. So, here’s some pomelo juice and blueberry cheesecake for you, Ms. Novida.”

“Aww. That’s so sweet of you, Stavros.” She tucked her loose hair behind her ear and began to drink the juice.

Anong oras ba balak umalis ng babaeng ‘to?

“So, may I ask why you are visiting today?”

“Oh… that.” Hindi siya makapagsalita nang maayos dahil may subo-subo pa siyang cake. Tinakpan niya ang kaniyang bibig gamit ang likod ng kaniyang palad. Nang malunok niya na ang kinakain ay saka siya nagsalita. “I just want to invite you as my date at an engagement party of one of my friends this Friday night.”

“Wait.” I dialled the telephone and put it on speaker.

“Crown Legacy Hotels. This is Dominic Enriquez. What can I help you?” Dominic answered.

“Dominic,” I called him to inform him that it was me who was calling.

“Yes, Mr. Bienvenelo?”

“Do I have an appointment on Friday night?” I made sure that Ms. Novida would be hearing all of it.

She was just staring at the telephone, waiting attentively for whatever my secretary would be saying.

“Let me check, Mr. Bienvenelo.” The line went silent for a few seconds. “Yes, Mr. Bienvenelo. Actually, you have a flight on Friday morning for a 3-day business trip on Florida.”

I would definitely give him a raise.

He really knew what to do in times like this.

“Okay. Thank you.” I dropped the call.

When I looked at Ms. Novida, her face already looked crumpled.

Itinukod ko ang aking mga siko at saka ko sinalo ang aking baba gamit ang likod ng aking mga palad. “I’m afraid I need to turn your invite down this time, Ms. Novida. Unfortunately, I have a business trip on Friday.”

Mas lalong bumusangot ang mukha niya.

Lihim akong napangisi ako.

“Pwede naman tayong lumabas sa—”

“Mrs. Bienvenelo—” si Dominic.

Naputol ang dapat na sasabihin ni Ms. Novida nang biglang bumukas ang pinto.

“Mama,” tawag ko sa kaniya. Tumayo ako at lumapit sa kaniya upang h*****k sa kaniyang pisngi.

Hindi siya nakagalaw sa aking ginawa.

Hinarap ko si Ms. Novida na ngayon ay nakatayo na at bahagyang nanlaki ang mga mata. “Uhm—”

“I’m sorry, Ms. Novida. Maybe we can talk about it next time? I just have to catch up with my mom. She just came back from the States,” I interrupted her.

Ilang segundo pa siyang natulala bago natauhan at kumilos. “Ye-yeah. Sure. I guess I have to go, too.” Dinampot niya ang kaniyang purse at saka tumayo. “Thanks for the snack, Stavros.” Bumaling ito sa babaeng katabi ko. “Nice to meet you, Mrs. Bienvenelo,” ngiting-ngiting bati niya. Nakalahad pa ang kamay niya para makipag-shake hands.

Lihim akong napangisi nang ismiran lamang siya ng aking madrasta.

Napapahiyang lumabas ng aking opisina si Ms. Novida kasama si Dominic.

Nang makaalis siya ay naglakad na ako palayo kay Milagros. Bumalik ako sa aking kinauupuan. “So, what brings you here, stepmother?” patuyang tanong ko.

Sinamaan niya ako ng tingin. Hindi na siya nag-abalang umalis sa kaniyang kinatatayuan. “Nagkamali talaga si Steban sa pagpili sayo bilang tagapagmana ng kumpanyang ito. Puro babae ang inaatupag mo. Imbes na nagtatrabaho ka na sa mga oras na ito ay abala ka pa sa pakikipaglandian sa babae mo. At talagang sa opisina niyo pa naisipang gumawa ng milagro. Dios por santo, Stavros!”

Tiningnan ko lang siya na parang ‘yon ang pinakawalang kwentang mga salitang narinig ko sa buong mundo. “‘Yan ba ang rason kung bakit ka napasugod dito, Milagros? O naubos na ang laman ng bank account mo? Magkano ba ang balak mong ipalagay?”

“Wala ka talagang respeto! Hindi maipagkakailang bastardo ka talaga!” Namumula na ang mukha niya at halos lumabas ang mga litid niya sa leeg.

Sumandal ako habang nilalaro ang nadampot na ballpen sa aking kamay. “You don’t deserve my respect, Milagros. Just tell me what you need and leave my company,” matigas na wika ko.

Nagngalit ang panga niya. Nagbabaga na rin ang kaniyang mga mata. “Magpakasasa ka sa yaman na tinatamasa mo ngayon, Stavros. Dahil di magtatagal, mababawi ko rin ang pinaghirapan ng asawa ko mula sayo!” banta niya.

I looked at her boredly. “Kung sakali man na magkatotoo ‘yang panaginip mo, sayo nga kaya mapupunta ang lahat ng ito? O baka naman sa bagong asawa mo?” Nginisian ko siya. “Pero ‘di mo na kailangang mag-isip. Dahil wala sa mga ilusyon mo ang magkakatotoo. Sa akin ang pinaghirapan ng tatay ko.”

Nakakuyom na ang mga kamao niya. “Baka nakakalimutan mong may kondisyon bago mo makuha ang kumpanya? Isang buwan na lamang ay lalagpas ka na sa napag-usapang taon, Stavros. Malapit ka ng magtrenta’y uno at wala pa ang asawang magiging susi mo sa tuluyang pagmamay-ari ng kumpanyang ito.” Tinapatan niya ang aking ngisi.

Napahalakhak ako sa sinabi niya. “Who said that I’m still not married?” Itinaas ko ang aking kamay at ipinakita sa kaniya ang wedding ring namin ni Aviona.

Nanlaki ang kaniyang mga mata. “How could you—I’m not buying your fake wedding ring. Ni hindi mo nga ako inimbitahan sa inyong kasal o kahit na iniharap mo na lang sa akin ang asawa mo pagkatapos niyong ikasal. Iyon ay kung tunay ngang may asawa ka,” pagpapaniwala niya sa kaniyang sarili.

“Bakit ko siya kailangang iharap sayo? Nanay ba kita?”

Napatigil siya sa aking sinabi.

“You know what, Milagros? Kung kailangan mo ng pera, you can talk to Dominic to transfer it to your account. Hindi naman kita pinagdadamutan sa pera ng tatay ko dahil naging asawa ka pa rin niya. Just don’t waste my time with that nonsense blabbering of yours. Shop all you want and put in your mind that you can never have this company in your new husband’s name.”

Wala na siyang nasabi. Inis siyang naglakad palabas ng aking opisina. Ibinagsak pa nga niya ang pinto.

Napabuga ako ng hangin at napahilot sa noo.

This day was stressful.

I grabbed my phone and dialled Manang Eba’s number.

“Hello, Sir?”

“How’s Aviona?”

“Nako, sir. Tulad pa rin po ng dati. Hindi po siya lumalabas mula sa kaniyang kwarto. Kung hindi pa po dadalhan ng pagkain sa kwarto ay hindi pa po kakain.”

I heaved a sigh after the call. I didn’t know that I could be this curious in someone’s life until I married my wife, Aviona Sarrosa-Bienvenelo.