CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER TWO

Matapos ang gabing iyon ay nakatanggap na ako ng bouquet of bulaklak, everyday. Minsan pinapadala pa sa office ko, with sticky notes pa. I couldn't hide my happiness, I wanted to cherish every moment of him, so I kept the notes and put them in a notebook. I want to keep it. It's a sign of love.

I believe that he’ll like me, agad. I am hardworking. Ideal woman, and definitely a wife. I will make Diego happy, and give him all my heart, and love.

“ Happy ka girl? ” biglang sabat ni Dina, ang aking secretary, slash best friend. Ano na naman kaya ang nasagap nitong balita?

“ Anong chismiss meron ka today? ” agad na tanong ko. Sekretarya kong marites kahit kailan, pero mabait naman yan at maasahan sa lahat.

“ Hmm.. I just found out something intriguing, ” she said, and put the envelope in my table. Hindi ko alam kung ano na naman ang nasa isip nito, minsan kasi gumagalaw lang ito ng walang utos.

“ Open it, sis. ” aniya. Bumuntong hininga pa ako bago ko pinulot ang envelope at binuksan ito. Nagulat ako sa aking nakita. I confusedly look at Dina.

“ What's this? ” gulat na tanong ko sa kanya. She just shrugged her shoulders. “ Dina, ano to? Where did you get all of this? ” tanong ko ulit.

“ I just want you to know that your future husband has a girlfriend, can't you get that? ” Hindi ko alam kung bakit ito ginawa ni Dina. Kinunan niya nang mga litrato si Diego, it's illegal.

“ Dina, it's illegal, maaari kang mapahamak sa ginawa mo? ” Nag-aalala na wika ko, na may halong sakit sa natuklasan.

Hindi ko alam kung totoo ba ang sinabi ni Dina, but why would Diego show interest in me if he has someone else? And why would he accept the marriage if he has someone else? Base sa litrato, they're sweet. The way he stares at her, shows how much he loves her.

“ Baka kaibigan lang, Dina. Friends can be sweet, and clingy sometimes. ” kalmado na wika ko sa kanya. Inirapan niya lang ako, at halatang naiinis. I know why she doesn't like Diego since the day I confessed to her that I have a crush on him.

“ Kaibigan? Girl, may kaibigan ba na nag se-sex? ” Nagulat ako sa sinabi niya. Mas lalo akong nasaktan sa aking narinig. “ Tulala ka jan, believe it or not, that Diego won't take you seriously. You're just blinded by love, ” galit niyang salita.

Hindi na ako umimik dahil alam ko na lalaki lang itong usapan namin, at baka hindi na naman ako kausapin nito. Kaka-ayos lang namin kahapon, after I tell her that I accepted to marry Diego. It was not my plan to marry him, pero I want to give it a try and to make dad happy. After all, dad sacrifices everything for me. And helped me with my business, and I have learned a lot from him. Makabawi man lang ako, and sa deal nila ni Tito Edgar, bahala na si batman kung ano man yun.

Lumabas na ng opisina ko si Dina. I keep staring at the picture, and wishing that one day I will also be part of him. Na makikita kami ng buong mundo na ikinakasal. I have been wishing to have an extravagant wedding, to let the whole world know that I am getting married to Diego Solise, isang anak ng sikat na bilyonaryo. And he is a billionaire himself.

It's already eight in the evening, I haven't noticed the time because there is a lot of paperwork. I hurriedly left my office.

I was in the parking lot, when I bumped into someone. Dahil sa pag mamadali ko hindi ko namalayan na may tao pala.

“ Hala, sorry po. ” agad kong salita, and picked his cellphone. He wore a black suit. Leather jacket, and a helmet on his right hand.

“ I was in a hurry, kasi eh. Pasensya na po talaga, hindi ko sinasadya, ” I said. He got his phone, and put it inside his pocket. He is tall. Has broad shoulders, has long legs. But, I can't clearly see his face, nakasuot kasi siya ng black mask.

I smiled at him. But he didn't even bother to respond to me, and left me. Napangiwi naman ako sa ginawa ng lalaki na yun. Mukhang suplado. Medyo naiinis ako sa pag ignore niya sa akin, hindi ako sanay na ini ignore. Fame and everything is me. Fame. Money. I have it all.

Agad na akong pumasok sa kotse ko, at umalis. Nakakainis yung lalaki kanina talaga. Hindi talaga ito mawala sa isip ko, lalo na ang mga mata nitong kulay asul. Infernes ang pogi niya kahit hindi ko naman talaga nakita ang buo niyang mukha. Hanggang dibdib lang ata ako nun, super tangkad din niya. Mas matangkad pa kay Diego. Pero mahal ko naman si Diego kaya height doesn't matter.

Kinilig na naman ako sa tuwing naiisip ko siya. I badly want to see him, kaya lang busy siya these past few days. Kaya tanging papa-deliver na lang siya ng flowers. And sa picture, let's torment it kasi wala naman yung kwenta. Diego will be mine din naman, so I don't have to worry about it.

Dumeretso na ako sa bahay nang madatnan ko ang mga kapatid ko na seryosong seryoso. Ano na naman problema ng magkapatid na ‘to?

“ You're home, Ate. ” napa-taas kilay ako ng bigla akong tawagin na Ate ng bunso kong kapatid. Parang gusto kong matawa. Baka prank na naman to nila.

“ Yes, why? ” Taas kilay kong tanong kay Mikey.

“ Ate, since you're going to marry na, gusto namin na maging okay tayong lahat. I talked to ate Atacia, and Kuya Clifford. They agreed naman, Ate. ” Mikey said. Hindi ko alam kong totoo ba ‘to, pero kung plastikan naman pwede naman ako makipag plastikan.

However, ayaw kong plastikin ang mga batang ‘to. They are too young, I have to be their role model. I have to discipline these brats, habang nandito pa ako.

“ Mikey, Clifford, and Atacia. Umupo kayo. Nasaan si Tita Mel, and dad? ” tanong ko muna sa kanila.

“ Dad, went to Batangas for a business meeting, and mom, she probably be in the salon again. ” Clifford answered. My forehead creases.

“ Guys, ” simula ko. Tahimik naman sila. Atacia didn't even bother to look at me. Clifford was in his serious mood, and Mikey was listening attentively. “ As the oldest of this family, I am not against a villain na lagi ninyong sinasabi sa akin, ” simula ko.

“ I am the daughter of Dad’s girlfriend, however my mom died before they could get married, so basically I become your illegitimate Ate. Ngunit hindi iyon dahilan upang magalit ako sa inyo, o sa mommy niyo. ” Mahabang wika ko.

Atacia stares at me. She was the one who is good at scheming kaya lagi kaming nag-aaway ni Tita Mel. She's a spoiled brat. Atacia is a college student, together with Clifford. While Mikey is in grade 10. To be honest, I envied them. They had parents who raised them together, while me. I was raised by my nanny for 25 years.

“ Ate, why are you saying this? We want to have a small talkie talkie, ” Mikey said. I secretly wiped my tears.

“ I am saying this, dahil gusto ko lang malaman niyo na mahal ko kayo. Kahit hindi tayo magkasundo lahat. I understand. I don't want to get in your way, the reason why I always avoided you guys. Ayaw ko din na mag-away kami ni Tita Mel. Mahal ko si dad, and mahal ko kayo. I respect Tita, but I become a crazy person once I am being disrespected, ” ani ko.

“ Ate, sorry. ”