4

Rhianne looked at the woman that interviewed her.

"Why do you need my Cenomar when it is not in the requirements?"

"Ms. Haller we just followed the order of the director."

Hindi makapaniwalang napailing-iling si Rhianne.

"Why is it important? I am here to work."

"Ms. Haller as I said we just follow the order of the director."

"And if I am married will the director refuse me right away?"

Tumawa ang babae.

"Hindi po Ms. Haller. In fact Mr. Fabian who is the new director is a married man. We just need to know if you are married or not."

"Bakit ba kasi?"

"Hindi ko nga rin po alam. Pero balita ko dinadala daw sa iisang kwarto ang mga single at in-interview." pabulong na sagot ng babae sa kanya.

"Ehh?" napangiwi niyang sabi.

"Ang weird naman dito."

"Sinabi mo pa. Mabuti na lang kasal ako."

"O-okay." sabi niya saka ngumiti.

"Pwede ka ng pumunta sa taas para makita mo ang opisina mo."

"T-tanggap na ako?"

"Siyempre. Inaasahan ka nga ni Director Fabian."

"Ay oo nga pala." sabi niya nang maalala niyang si Chris nga pala ang nagpapasok sa kanya dito.

"Basta wag nyo po kalimutan ang Cenomar nyo bukas."

Tumayo siya saka nakangiwing ngumiti.

"Cemar." bulong niya saka sumunod sa isang lalaki na naghihintay sa kanya sa labas ng kwarto para samahan siya sa opisina niya.

Ipinakilala siya nito sa kanyang mga kasama at hinatid siya sa kanyang desk. Kakaupo pa lamang niya nang tumunog ang kanyang cellphone.

"Babe..." sambit niya nang makita ang nakangusong mukha ni Tija sa screen.

"When are you coming back?"

"Later. I need to organise my desk first so that I can start next week. What happened? Why are you pouting?"

"Sen did it again."

"Sen? What did he do?"

Tija turned the camera around. She saw Sen standing on the chair while frying something and Sun is sitting on the tall cemented kitchen.

"Oh God." sambit niya saka napatutop sa noo.

"Your children?" tanong ni Aicy na katabi niya sa upuan.

Ngumiti siya dito saka tumango.

"She is my youngest, the one standing on the chair is my eldest and the second is the one sitting on the table."

"Aww so gorgeous. Are they triplets?"

Ngumiti siya saka tumango.

"Mom, please come back early."

"Don't worry, Babe. Mom will be there." sabi niya at pinatakan pa ng halik ang cellphone bago pinatay ang tawag.

"Where is their father? Why are they alone?"

Rhianne stopped and smiled. Alam na niyang maraming tao ang tatanong sa kanya ng ganito.

"He's also working." sagot niya saka nakangiting nagpaalam dito at nagmamadaling umalis ngunit nalimutan niya kung saan siya dumaan kanina kaya napunta siya sa ibang kwarto.

"My father is a Doctor and my mother is a housewife."

"Okay, next."

Hindi niya mapigilang sumilip sa nakaawang na kwarto at nakita ang mga babae sa loob.

"So ito pala ang kwartong yon? Ihh! Makapagpasa na lang nga ng Cemar." sabi niya saka nagmamadaling umalis doon.

-------

Date of marriage: August 04, 2014

Name of bride/Groom: Rhianne Haller Wright / Matthias Greg Azarcon Wright

She smiled bitterly seeing their names and closed her eyes as she remember the time that she received the divorce signed papers.

***

"I received it yesterday. What do you want me to do now after he really signed the papers?" tanong ng kanyang baklang pinsan na si Mars na isang abogado.

"I'll take it."

"Rhea, he will know it someday."

"I know. But I just don't have the gut to continue. He must've been so hurt while signing this."

"Are you still planning on coming back after you deliver it?" tanong nito habang nakatingin sa kanyang flat pa na tiyan. Bago lang din niya nalaman na buntis siya pagkatapos niyang magpa-check up kahapon.

"I don't know."

"Why don't you just stay with me? You don't need to stay away from here and to your family.

"I've hurt him so much and broke his trust."

"Oh come on. You didn't mean it. You only had to do that to make him hate you so that he will really sign the divorce paper. His mother is a demon. How could she let you do it?"

"The investor is her mother's friend. She can directly tell her to refuse us and I don't want him to suffer and feel disappointed for the second time. It is his dream to build his own company. He worked very hard. He might lose his chance this time to pursue his dream if he lost again for the second time."

"Haayy, money. I know your mother will help you but for sure your father will really do everything to vanish that little angel. That's why I understand why you prefer to stay away."

"Thank you for understanding me Mars."

"Go to Switzerland instead. Chris can take care of you there. You don't need to go to Canada where his mother wants you to go because I am sure that she will find you easily and might take your child away from you."

"Thank you, Mars. I don't know how to thank you for the things that you have done for me."

"We are cousins but you are like a daughter to me. You are the only one who understands a bisexual like me."

"Give it to me." kinuha ni Mars ang papel na hawak niya at pinu-pinong pinunit sa harap niya at tinapon sa basurahan.

"But Mars does Chris know about him?"

"Don't worry, I know that he has a foul mouth and a sassy attitude. He will definitely chase the man that made you pregnant so it's better for him to think that the father is the person you've dated there."

"How can I date there when I am already pregnant?"

"Asus! Just let him think anything."

***

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Nakangiti siyang napatingin sa birth certificate ng kanyang mga anak.

Matthesen Grey Haller Wright

Matthesun Grey Haller Wright

Matija Rhinney Haller Wright

Kaya ayaw niyang makilala ang mga anak niya dahil natatakot siya sa mga apelyido na dala ng mga ito. Siguradong magtatanong ang lahat sa mga apelyido na dala ng kanyang mga anak.

Nagulat pa siya ng bahagya sa malakas na tunog ng kanyang cellphone.

Ngumiti siya nang makita ang pangalan ni Tija na tumatawag sa W******p.

"Babe papunta na si Mommy." sagot agad niya at nagsuot ng seatbelt pero natigilan nang ibang mukha ang nakita niya sa camera.

She saw a man sitting on the floor while wrapped with a black tape around his body and on his mouth.

Kumunot ang noo niya saka inilapit ang mukha sa camera.

"Mars?" Hindi makapaniwalang sambit niya.