CHAPTER 5

SERAFINA'S POV

“Serafina.”

Narinig ko ang pamilyar na tinig na iyon. At gaya ng inaasahan ko, paglingon ko, nakita ko si Tiana. May kasama siyang dalawang babae. Her smile was sweet, too sweet.

The kind of smile that made me want to check if she had hidden a knife behind her back.

“Well, where have you been, Sera?” tanong niya.

Nanatili akong tahimik.

“Enzo has been looking for you.”

“Really?”

I tried to sound surprised.

“Yes.” Ngumiti siya. “He wants you to bring him some ice-cold water.”

Napakurap ako.

Seriously? Hindi ba marunong kumuha ng tubig ang asawa ko?

May dalawang kamay naman siya. At kung hindi niya kaya, may mga waiter sa paligid.

But of course, original Serafina wouldn't question him. Kaya hindi rin ako puwedeng magtanong. My gaze slowly moved over Tiana. She was undeniably beautiful, sexy and confident.

Ang suot niya ay isa na namang revealing dress na parang konting maling galaw lang ay may mawawala nang parte. I looked at her from head to toe.

Maganda naman ang suot niya kaya lang kailangan ba talagang parang may personal na away sila ng tela?

Ibinaba ko ang tingin ko.

“Ah, okay. I'll bring him cold water.”

Bigla ay tumawa ng malakas si Tiana, sumabay ang dalawang babae. Takang tiningnan ko sila.

“What?”

Tiana covered her mouth dramatically.

“Nothing."

"It's just…” sabi ng isa sa mga babae. “You're really obedient, aren't you?”

Hindi iyon compliment, isa iyong panunuya sa akin.

Ngumiti si Tiana.

“She's always been like that.”

“Hindi ka ba napapagod?” tanong ng isa pa.

Napatingin ako sa kanya.

“Sa alin?”

“Sa pagiging utusan.”

Natahimik ako. Tiana giggled.

“Don't be like that.”

“I'm not.”

“But it's true.” Bahagya niyang ikiniling ang ulo. “Enzo tells you to do something, and you immediately do it.”

Ngumisi ang babae sa tabi niya..

“I guess some women are just born to follow orders.”

Nagtawanan silang tatlo.

Okay, so bullying na talaga ang ganap natin ngayon?

Muli akong napayuko, hindi dahil nasaktan ako. Actually, kabaligtaran. Natatakot akong makita nila ang ekspresyon ko.

Because I was trying very hard not to smile. Hindi ko kasi alam kung kaya kong maging polite habang iniisip kong....

'I hope pare-pareho kayong maubusan ng foundation sa pinakamahalagang araw ng buhay ninyo.'

But I remained silent. I had learned my lesson months ago. Hindi ako puwedeng basta sumagot. Hindi ako puwedeng biglang maging ibang tao sa mga eksenang mahalaga sa kuwento.

Because whenever I went too far from the original Serafina's behavior, the story punished me.

Minsan pakiramdam ko may invisible force na humihila sa akin pabalik, back into character. So I played along, for now.

Tiana looked at me expectantly.

“Wala ka nang sasabihin?”

Dahan-dahan kong itinaas ang ulo ko pagkuwa'y kiming ngumiti.

“Wala.” sagot ko. “Ikukuha ko na ang asawa ko ng tubig.”

I deliberately emphasized the last word.

Asawa.

For a second, nawala ang ngiti sa mukha ni Tiana. The women beside her suddenly became quiet. And me? I almost laughed.

Oops. Did I hit a nerve?

Tiana's eyes narrowed.

“Of course.”

Magalang akong tumango bago naglakad palayo. Hindi na ako lumingon hanggang sa makailang hakbang na ang layo ko mula sa kanila.

Saka ako bumulong.

“Akala mo naman kung sinong dyosa…”

Palihim akong tumingin sa paligid. Mukhang wala namang nakikinig kaya itinuloy ko.

“Kung makangiti, akala mo perfect ang teeth. At yung makapal niyang nguso? Mukhang may permanenteng hinahanap na straw.”

Pinisil ko ang mga labi ko upang pigilan ang pagngiti.

Hmm... ang sarap pala sa pakiramdam.

I was still trying not to laugh when afaint chuckle reached my ears.

Napatigil ako sa paglalakad. Nanlaki ang mga mata ko, may tumawa. Mukhang may nakarinig ng sinabi ko.

Dahan-dahan akong lumingon pero wala naman. There were people everywhere, but no one appeared to be looking at me.

A waiter walked past. Two businessmen were talking near the window. May mga babae namang abala sa pag uusap at tawanan.

Nagsalubong ang mga kilay ko.

Did I imagine that?

Maybe.

Nagkibit balikat ako.

“Whatever.”

Saka ako nagpatuloy sa paglalakad papunta sa drinks station.

Hindi ko napansin ang lalaking nakatayo ilang metro mula sa akin.

The same man I had been staring at earlier.

Cassius Cole Aristotle.

He remained where he was, one hand casually holding his glass.

His expression remained unreadable.

But there was something different in his eyes now.

A faint amusement.

Because apparently…

The quiet and submissive wife everyone thought was boring had a surprisingly sharp tongue.

And Cassius had just discovered that Serafina Carvajal was far more interesting than the woman she pretended to be.