Chapter 5: Chatting with Sister in Law

After helping Yaya Santina she went back into the master’s bedroom and freshen up herself. It was past 11 in the morning and some of the servants were busy preparing for lunch. Nagpalit siya ng bagong damit na pambahay matapos maligo. She opted to wear a floral dress above the knee length that exposed her snow-white skin and curvy body. Pagbaba sa dining room nadatnan niyang abala sa pagluluto si Yaya Santina, lumapit siya rito at tiningnan ang ginagawa nito.

“Oh, andyan ka pala, sandali nalang itong niluluto ko, umupo ka na roon at mamayang konti maghahain na ako para makakain na tayo at tanghali na rin,” masayang sabi nito ng lumingon sa kanya.

“Yaya okay lang po maaga pa naman, past 11 o’clock pa lang at busog pa naman din po ako, medyo marami-rami ang nakain ko kaninang breakfast. Pwede po bang tumulong ako? Marunong po akong magluto kahit papaano,” sagot niya.

“Ganon ba? Naku, nakakatuwa naman at marunong ka pa lang magluto, at least hindi na kami mag-alala kapag kayo nalang ni Brielle ang maiiwan dito sa Beijing kasi marunong ka namang maghanda ng pagkain,” turan nito.

“Huh, bakit po aalis na po ba kayo?” tanong niya rito habang tumutulong sa paghahanda ng lamesa.

“Babalik na ako ng Singapore sa makalawa kasi tumawag kagabi si Ma’am Shantal at Sir Brent, pinapauwi na ako dahil walang naiiwan at mag-aasikaso sa kanila. Alam mo naman sanay sa akin ang mga magulang ni Brielle, ako na halos ang kasama ng dalawang iyon mula pa noong mga bata pa sila,” sabi nito ulit.

“Ah, kaya pala malapit kayo sa kanila at tinuring nyo talaga silang pamilya. Maswerte sila dahil nandyan ka po parati,” nakangiting sabi niya.

“Noon masiyadong masalimoot din ang kwento ng buhay ng magulang ni Brielle, one-sided love noong una sina Shantal at Brent kasi medyo spoiled iyong Mommy ni Brielle. Pero kalaunan nalampasan din nila dahil mahal na mahal ni Brent si Shantal. Love is amazing for those who believe it!” 

Bigla siyang natahimik sa narinig dahil tulad din niya, ang sitwasyon ng pagsasama nila ni Brielle a one sided-love. She doesn't have enough courage to tell her husband that she deeply in love with him since childhood. Tila lumutang ang utak niya at di na halos narinig ang mga kwento ni Yaya Santina.

Her mind was occupied with her own thoughts and fear. Early today, Brielle had reminded her that they’re not a normal couple as it used to be, she blackmailed him using those taken photos and video, the night at Brielle’s hotel accommodation. She gives no reason to Brielle not to marry her. In other words, she threatened him to ruin his reputation in case he will not do what she wants. 

“I couldn’t believe that Sir Brent will do everything to win his wife’s love. They are meant for each other and definitely let the misunderstanding go after a few years passed by. Natatandaan ko po noon, unang nakita ko si Ma’am Shantal noong nanganak po siya kay Denise kasi iyon mismo ang araw na iniwan kami ng Mommy ko,” may halong lungkot sa boses niya.

“Ganon ba? Nakakalungkot naman na nawala ang Mommy mo noong maliit ka pa,” simpatya nito sa kanya.

“Opo kasi siya ang nagbibigay lakas sa Daddy ko. Noong nawala siya parang gumuho ang mundo ng Daddy ko at halos napabayaan na niya ang business namin. Maswerte ako ng araw na iyon dahil nakita ako ni Brielle sa corridor ng hospital, nilapitan niya ako at binigyan ng candy dahil umiiyak ako ng mga oras na ‘yun,” biglang pumatak ang ilang butil ng luha sa mga mata ni Ivanna ng maalala ang araw ng pagkamatay ng Mommy niya.

“Naku, huwag ka nang umiyak, Ivanna. Nakalipas na iyon ang mahalaga ay ang ngayon,” alo ni Yaya Santina sa kanya sabay lapit nito at pinahid ang ilang patak ng luha sa pisngi niya.

“Alam nyo po ba doon ko unang nakita at naramdaman ang concern ng pamilya ni Brielle sa akin kaya lagi akong pumupunta sa bahay nila noon. Ang bawat lungkot na nararamdaman ko noon ay napapawi po kapag kasama ko si Brielle, lagi niya akong pinapangiti. Iyong candy na binigay niya po sa akin noong unang araw na nakilala ko siya itinago ko kasi kahit na maliit man na bagay mula sa kanya, para sa akin ang candy na iyon ay isang malaking bagay na nagbibigay sa akin ng panibagong pag-asa,” tears falling continuously from her eyes.

“Tama na ang iyak dahil tulad ng sabi ko nakalipas na iyon ang mahalaga ay ang ngayon. Kung anuman ang hinanakit sa puso mo kapag pinakawalan mo na gagaan ang kalooban mo,” 

“Thank you, Yaya Santina for accepting me as Brielle’s wife. Please, keep it secret for the meantime because I still have some personal issues to be settled before showing up myself in front of Brielle’s family,” she said.

“Makakaasa ka na hindi ako magkukwento sa magulang ni Brielle. Nirerespeto ko ang desisyon ninyong dalawa. Uuwi na ako sa makalawa, aalagaan mong mabuti si Brielle. Maging isang butihing asawa ka sa kanya at kahit may sumpong ang batang iyon minsan, huwag mo nalang patulan,” tinapik nito ang balikat niya bago bumalik sa pagluluto.

Gumaan ang pakiramdam niya ng marinig ang sinabi nito. Nabawasan ang alalahanin niya sa biglaang desisyon nila ni Brielle. She’s still not prepared to face Brielle’s parents after she had forced him into this kind of marriage. Hindi rin niya nararamdaman ang seguridad sa pagsasama nilang dalawa dahil hindi magaan ang pakikitungo ni Brielle sa kanya. They got their marriage certificate in an instant but Brielle doesn’t even buy, a couple-ring for them. Brielle wanted to hide their status in public since he is a well-known business tycoon while she’s an heiress of the empire that was taken away by her relatives. She had nothing left, and she gambled her own life and sold herself to the man whom she loved for how many years yet in a secret way.

Pagkatapos ng tanghalian bumalik siya sa kwarto nila ni Brielle at kinuha ang sketch pad niya at sumalampak ng upo sa kama. She began to draw another batch of jewelry into it and she’s seriously pouring her full attention because it is her dreams in life that she hasn’t fulfilled yet after the tragic incident happened to her parents. 

When her father died and their lawyer came into their villa, she was shocked by hearing the content of her father’s testament. Saying their business has been transferred into her uncle’s name. She was thrown out of her own mansion by her relatives, luckily she got her personal savings and she’d rented a condo unit in the central district. She packs a few of her personal belongings the day she’s dumped by her Uncle’s wife and her cousin. 

Tumunog ang cellphone niya na nakapatong sa ibabaw ng bedside table. She quickly jumps out of bed and picks it up. She saw a video call coming from Denise.

Video Call conversation:

Denise: Hey babe, where are you now?

Ivana: Babe I’m here at your Brother's villa. We got our marriage certificate this morning!” she said in a smiling face

Denise: Wow, really? Congratulations babe, you’re now officially my sister-in-law” a hint of happiness heard in Denise's voice

Ivana: Thank you, babe, for helping me to fulfill my plan. I am so grateful to you all the time because you always extend your helping hand to me. 

Denise: Hey, don’t say that!! we’re best friends. And I like you to be my brother’s wife ever since. Basta happy ako for you babe, sana kahit anuman ang mangyari mabawi mo lahat ng para sayo at hindi ka pababayaan ng kuya ko. 

Ivana: I promise babe, I will serve your brother with all my heart. 

Denise: I know babe, it’s your most dreams in life to be his bride. Dapat sa susunod kong tawag sayo may magandang balita kana sa akin. Dapat may pamangkin na agad ako sa mga susunod na buwan,” biglang sabi nito sa kanya.

Her beautiful face turned red and she smiled shyly in front of her. 

Ivana: I think having a baby is too early to discuss. Alam mo naman ang kuya mo ayaw noon sa akin. Ang sungit nga kaninang umaga ng pumunta kami sa city registrar’s office,”

Denise: Naku, huwag mong pansinin iyon nag-iinarte lang iyon. Mahal ka noon, maybe he had a cold attitude towards you in the past few years but I believe you can capture his heart.

Ivana: I will try to please him so that I could catch his attention. Hey, teka nga nasaan ka ba ngayon?

Denise: Hush! Babe umuwi akong Singapore kasi sa susunod na buwan pasukan na naman. Ilang taon pa ang gugugulin ko sa college to finish my studies. Saka alam mo namang tumakas lang ako kela Mommy at Daddy para tulungan ka. Hindi nila alam ang mga plano natin.

Ivana: I know babe, thank you so much for being there for me. In case you need someone to talk to don’t hesitate to call me, okay?

Denise: Sure! But do not worry, I am old enough now and my parents send someone to accompany me all the time. Sabi ni Mommy uuwi na si Yaya Santina sa makalawa para magbantay sa akin.

Ivana: Oo nga sinabi ni Yaya Santina sa akin kanina lang.

Denise: Hmm! Ginawa na naman nila akong bata. I hate being treated as a child.

Ivana: Babe, it’s for your own good! You’re still young and there’s a lot of possible trials that might come along your way. Your parents are only protecting you. Nakakainggit ka nga dahil kumpleto ang magulang mo at mapagmahal silang pareho.

Denise: Naku, huwag na tayong magdrama pa, baka magka-iyakan pa tayo. 

Ivana: I'm afraid I may end our conversation now because I’m doing a few sketches of jewelry design. Look! I’ve drawn almost 30 different designs.

Denise: Wow babe! You’re such an amazing woman. I like all the new designs you made. 

Ivana: I have one of the most beautiful and elegant designs, I called it, Starry Night! Take a look at this one!” she pointed out the drawing that she showed to her.

Denise: Babe, it’s amazing! If one day you’ll get your own company and pursue it believe me lots of elite people will grab that best jewelry design of yours.

Ivana: I will keep this one for myself. Hindi ko ibebenta, Babe saka-sakali man.

Denise: Well, it’s your own decision. But for now, I will be going to cut our conversation. My mom will come soon to pick me up. Mag-sa-shopping kami. Bye for now! Take care babe!

Ivana: Bye babe. Take care too! Muah!