KABANATA 05

CHAPTER 05

ELLINDRIA'S POV.

I stepped a little bit closer and leaned a little. Mukhang kinakabahan siya at malalim na nag-iisip. Iniisip niya ba kung na-satisfy siya ni David? Kung ganoon nga ang iniisip niya, isa lang ang ibig sabihin nun. David can't satisfy her.

Parang hindi na ako tinakasan ng masamang elemento. Simula pa kaninang umaga hanggang ngayon ay hindi na ako tinatantanan ng kasamahan. Na para bang sinusundan ako lagi. Kasama ko pa ang dalawa.

"Ellindria, stop it. You are bullying your sister. Stop asking such questions. It's not appropriate for a woman to ask another woman about their personal and sexual life." Mahabang wika ni Iris at hinila ang anak palapit sa kanya.

Bigla akong natawa sa sinabi niya. Defensive!

"No one is bullying your beloved daughter, Iris," I said and seriously stared at them. "She just confessed her affair with my husband. It came from her mouth," I added.

"Erika is just joking. Don't take it seriously."

"Joking? Iris, you know exactly what is a JOKE and what is ADULTERY. So tell me, is sleeping with another woman's husband a joke to you?"

Hindi sila nakasagot. A mother is a mistress, and her daughter, who proudly says how my fake husband fucked her good, can't even say it in front of me.

"Let's stop this nonsense here, Ellindria. Stop it!"

"Stop the act, Iris. You taught your daughter so well."

Kita ko ang galit sa kanyang mukha. She's ready to hurt me or slap me, but the elevator stopped.

"We are here..." I said and immediately stepped out as soon as the door opened.

"You bitch. I am going to tell your dad how you disrespected me!" Iris shouted in rage.

"Edi, magsumbong ka. Diyan ka naman magaling, eh. Sumbungera slash HOMEWRECKER!" I said, emphasizing the word.

May ilang tao akong nakakasalubong. Akala ko ay titigilan na ako ng dalawa, pero mukhang hindi pa. Naririnig ko pa ang sigawan ng dalawa. Hindi na nahiya.

Dumeretso ako sa venue, and everyone is already sitting properly and elegantly in their seats. They were talking, and obviously—business na naman ang pinag-uusapan nila.

Ano ba ang aasahan natin sa birthday party ng mga business people? Puro trabaho lang naman ang laman ng mga utak nila. Mga plano kung paano nila maakyat ang tuktok.

Nakapunta na rin naman ako sa ganitong pa-birthday party ni Dad. He doesn't like noise. And everyone knows that, kaya ang party ngayon ay parang funeral lang sa sobrang tahimik. Tanging ang ingay lang ng mga taong nagsasalita ang nagbibigay-ingay sa loob ng kwarto.

"Mrs. Malcolm, pinapatawag po kayo ng asawa ninyo sa VIP room po, Ma'am," usal ng staff.

Tumango ako at sumunod na lang sa kanya. Hindi ko alam kung ano na naman ang pakulo ni David at kailangan pa niya akong hilahin dito sa kabilang kwarto.

"Here, Mrs. Malcolm. The other visitors are inside, and Mr. Thompson," the staff said and immediately left me.

Pagkaalis ng staff ay dahan-dahan kong pinihit ang doorknob. Nagulat ako nang marami palang tao sa loob, at halos nandito lahat ng anak ng mga business partner ng M Corporation. For sure, may ima-match na naman.

Nagsimula na akong maglakad at agad na hinanap ng mga mata ko si David.

I saw him, but he was too busy flirting with a young girl. I didn't bother and found a table to rest.

I was on my phone, talking to my best friend, Allhea. I opened the video call so I could see her. Allhea went to Venice with her husband, Cole.

"Ellindria, nandito ka na pala. Hindi ka man lang nagsabi..." galit na bulong ni David sa aking tainga.

"You are too busy flirting..." sagot ko.

"I am not!"

"Yes, you are. It's too obvious, David. No sane man is holding another woman by the waist like an obsessed man."

Pumikit ito at huminga nang malalim.

"Come here and meet my Uncle. Hindi mo na siya nakilala kagabi dahil kasama mo nga ang kabit mo," bulong nito. Natawa naman ako sa sinabi niya.

"Nice... Nagsalita ang walang kabit."

Humarap ulit siya sa akin. "Please, stop making a scene. You are not a kid anymore."

"Shut up, David. You exactly know that what I said is true. Nakasama ko pa nga siya sa elevator kanina. And she confessed in front of my face. Now tell me, sino ang may kabit?"

Hinila ako ni David sa isang table, kung saan may mga ilang kalalakihan na parang may mga edad na ang nag-uusap at nagtatawanan.

"Uncle Tim, you didn't get to meet my wife last night..." pagpapakilala sa akin ni David.

Nakatayo lang ako sa gilid ni Uncle Tim when he suddenly stood and faced me.

"Uncle?" I spoke out of nowhere.

"I mean, Uncle Tim, it was nice meeting you po..." I said and held out my hand for a handshake.

"Hmm... Uncle," mahinang usal nito. Hindi ko alam kung narinig din ba nila ang sinabi nito.

Kinakabahan ako na hindi ko maipaliwanag. Parang pamilyar sa akin. Hindi ko pa makita ang mukha niya dahil parang nahihiya ako. At nakayuko lang.

"Is your wife shy? She can't even look at me..." His voice is so deep, and so familiar.

Lumapit sa akin si David. "Look at him and be nice."

Mas lalong lumakas ang kabog ng dibdib ko.

I looked at him, and my eyes couldn't believe what I saw. He is familiar.

"Ellindria..."