CHAPTER 03

CHAPTER THREE

THIRD PERSON POV

Mabilis na nagtago si Erika sa balkonahe at nagtago sa likod ng kurtina na walang saplot. Makapal kasi ang kurtina at mataas kaya hindi rin mahahalata kung may tao ba o wala.

Nang makasigurong nakatago na si Erika ay tinungo na nito ang pintuan upang pagbuksan si Ellindria.

Gulat nitong nilapitan si Ellindria at kinompronta na para bang wala siyang ginawang masama.

Pagpasok ni Ellindria, una niyang pinansin ang makalat na kama. May nakita pang condom si Ellindria, pero hindi na niya ito pinansin at pinahalata na nakita niya.

"Messy," she said. Napatingin naman si David sa kung saan nakatingin si Ellindria. Napalunok naman siya ng sariling laway.

"Sino ang kasama mo kagabi?" seryosong tanong ni Ellindria.

"Where have you been? I have been searching all over you, last night... And someone told me that you went out with a random guy. Is it true?" he angrily said, his voice laced with suspicion.

Hindi nito sinagot ang tanong ni Ellindria, at agad na gumawa ng aksyon.

"And look at yourself. Kaninong coat naman 'yan, ha?" Turo nito sa coat na suot niya.

Ellindria looked at him coldly.

"Matapos mo akong iwan sa hotel, you have the guts to ask me where am I? With a random guy? If you're just concerned about me going out with a random guy, bakit nandito ka lang sa bahay? Hindi mo man lang ba iniisip na hanapin ako?" Malamig ang boses na salita ni Ellindria at tinitigan ito sa mga mata.

Natahimik si David, sabay pamaywang.

"Don't give that reaction, David. I know that you don't love me," she said, which made David's face pale in an instant. "But you can't just let your wife wander around like she's a free woman." Ellindria added.

"I am beautiful, and sexy, David. May mga lalaki talagang nahuhumaling sa ganda ko. See this coat I am wearing? Galing ito sa isang Uncle na nakilala ko kagabi."

"What the—ano ba ang pinagsasabi mo ha? Are you making me jealous? Ano naman ngayon kung maganda ka? At maraming nahuhumaling sa yo? You're still married to me, Ellindria. You're still, Mrs. Malcolm!" He shouted in rage.

" At sinong Uncle ang sinasabi mo? Are you really sleeping to an old man?" sigaw nito.

"Really? Mrs. Malcom?" Ellindria laughed. "You are joking, right? Kasi kung ganun nga ang tingin mo sa akin, bakit hindi mo ako hinanap kagabi?"

"And yes, I am sleeping to an old man. Ang sarap rin kasi ni Uncle bumayo..." Ellindria teased.

"What the fxck, Ellindria? That Uncle, you're talking? That's probably, your sugar daddy?" He said mockingly.

"Oh really? Pinapakita mo lang talaga sa akin na wala kang kwentang asawa..." Natatawang usal ni Ellindria.

David's palm landed on her face. Parang na bingi si Ellindria sa ginawa nito.

"You have no right to say that in my face... Ikaw ang mas walang kwenta. Look at yourself? You look like a whore..." Palad naman ngayon ni Ellindria ang dumapo sa pisngi nito.

"Wag mo akong pagsabihan ng ganyan, David. Alam na alam natin kung sino ang tunay na whore sa ating dalawa. Ano tingin mo sa akin bulag? Ikaw ang whore.... Nagdadala ka ng babae sa bahay natin, hindi ba sabi mo Mrs. Malcom ako. So, ano itong kalat niyo ha?" galit na sigaw ni Ellindria.

Tinalikuran nito so David, at naglakad patungo sa balkonahe na agad naman sinundan ni David, at pilit pa sana siyang pigilan.

"It's suffocating inside..." Elli said. Umupo siya sa sofa at hinubad ang coat na suot niya. Nagulat si David ng makita ang punit na dress na suot nito.

"What happened? W-why is your dress like that, and—is that hickeys?" gulat na usal nito. "Is that how your sugar daddy, f*cked you?"

"You left me last night.. " Biglang humahagulgol ng iyak si Ellindria. "And yes, this is how my sugar daddy f*cked me... Like I said, Uncle is good at f*cking." And then she suddenly laughed.

"You're crazy." David said.

"You think I wanted this? Of course, I don't!" Ellindria acted—sobbing. Biglang nagbago ang ekspresyon ni David, na para bang nakonsensya ito sa ginawa nila ni Erika.

Hindi alam ni David ang gagawin. Si Erika naman na nagtatago sa likod ng kurtina ay nakaramdam na ng lamig. It's winter season na kasi, at sobrang lamig at mahangin pa sa labas.

Napatingin naman si David sa kurtina kung saan nagtatago si Erika. Nasa harapan naman nakaupo si Ellindria. Lumapit si David kay Ellindria at niyakap ito, habang sinisinyasan si Erika na lumabas.

Agad naman na sumunod si Erika at tumakbo palabas ng balkonahe.

"Please, help me find the man who did this to me." Hagulgol ni Ellindria, pero tahimik siyang sumilip sa pintuan at kita ang walang saplot na si Erika na lumabas ng kwarto.

"B*tch..." natatawang usal ni Ellindria.

"Anong sabi mo?"

"Help me file a report. Last night, when you gave me the last wine. I feel terrible... Did the waitress put something on my wine?"

Gulat naman si David, dahil silang dalawa ni Erika ang may pakana ng lahat. They planned to drug her, and ruin her reputation—pero mukhang wala namang nangyayari sa ginawa nila. At nakauwi si Ellindria na parang walang masamang nangyari.

"Shut up, Elli. Stop scheming. You left me last night, and sneak out to meet your man, right? And now, magpapakita ka dito na parang inaabuso ka, para hindi mahalata na may iba ka na! Kailan pa?" David twist the word again and again to make her the bad guy.

Tumayo si Ellindria, at malakas na sinampal si David. Gulat naman itong napahawak sa pisngi niya, at nanlalaki ang mga mata. Pangalawang beses na siyang nasampal ng asawa, bagay na akala niya ay hindi magagawa nito.

"What the—" he uttered.

"Wag na wag mo akong baliktarin, David. Alam mo kung ano ang ginawa mo!"

"Shut up! Magbihis ka na nga lang dahil pupunta tayo sa Mansyon. It's Dad's birthday party... At ikaw," sabay turo nito kay Ellindria.

"Behave yourself!" He said and left.

Taas-kilay naman na sinundan ito ng tingin. Galit ang nararamdaman niya ngayon. She was betrayed by her 'fake husband' and half-sister.

Huminga siya ng malalim at hindi mapigilan umiyak. Hindi niya inaasahan ang lahat. Ang lahat lang pala ay plano na nito. Hindi man lang niya ito nakita nung una palang.

Ganun nga niya kamahal ang tao, kasi hindi man lang niya napapansin ang lahat. She was still blinded by love.

_______

Timothy wakes up with a smile on his face, upon remembering what happened last night. He already expected that when he wakes up--she will no longer be by his side. He caressed the side where she was sleeping. Mainit pa ito at parang hindi pa matagal ng ito ay umalis.

He groaned, as he closed his eyes, sliding his hand on his hard thing. It was fully erect. "Ellindria.." He whispered.

He masturbated while calling her name, remembering what just happened last night, until dawn...

Pabilis ng pabilis ang pagtaas--baba ng kanyang kamay sa kanyang matigas na bagay hanggang siya ay labasan.

Hinihingal na inabot ng forty years old, Timothy ang tissue mula sa gilid ng kama.

He pressed the button, and a man came inside his room. "Yes, sir? Do you do anything?" His secretary said,

"What time did she leave?"

"Madame, left around nine-thirty, this morning sir. And I saw her wearing your favorite coat."

Tumango ito at senenyasan ito na umalis na.

"Nice move, Ellindria. What will your husband think—wearing another man's coat?"