Substitute Bride: Marrying Dark De'Longhi

PAGOD galing trabaho na umuwi ako. Nang huminto ang sinasaktan kong taxi sa harap ng aking bahay ay agad kong binayaran ang taxi driver at tsaka ako bumaba.

Papasok na sana ako gate ng mapahinto ako nang makita ko ang isang lalaki na naghihintay sa harap ng bahay ko. He's wearing a black long sleeve polo while he was leaning on his expensive black car.

Tumikhim ako dahilan para sa'kin mabaling ang atensyon ng lalaki na ang mga mata ay nasa hawak niyang cellphone. Nang makita niya ako, tumayo siya ng diretso at maayos na humarap sa akin.

"Miss Rivera," anito.

He knows me?

"Sino ka?" tanong ko habang naka kunot ang aking noo dahil hindi ko kilala ang taong ito at lalo na sa dis-oras ng gabi ito pupunta.

"I'm Calil Abruzzo. I'm Dianna's personal secretary," aniya na may accent. Halata sa boses niya na hindi siya Filipino.

Pero hindi iyon ang talagang nakakuha ng atensyon ko kundi nang banggitin nito ang pangalan ng kakambal ko. Ilang taon na ba nang huli kong marinig ang pangalan ng kakambal ko? Fifteen years ago? Ang huling tanda ko umalis ng Pilipinas si Dianna at sa ibang banda na nanirahan, and that's when she was ten years old.

"K-kilala mo ang kakambal ko?" hindi ko makapaniwalang tanong.

Tipid siyang ngumiti. "You look exactly like Signora Dianna."

Napatingin ako sa sasakyang dala nito. Iniisip ko na baka nasa loob ni'yon ang kakambal ko.

"Your sister is not with me. If you want to know what happened to your sister, let's talk inside your house," aniya na para bang nabasa niya ang nasa isip ko.

Mukhang seryoso ito at mukhang mahalaga kung ano ang sasabihin nito kaya inimbitahan ko siyang pumasok sa loob ng bahay ko.

Ito ang unang pagkakataon na nagpapasok ako ng estranghero sa bahay ko. Kung hindi lang dahil kay Dianna, hindi ko iimbitahan ang lalaking ito na pumasok.

"Maupo ka—I mean have a sit," aniya na iminuwestro ang kamay sa upuan.

"Wag kang mag-alala nakakaintindi ako ng tagalog, but not too much," aniya sa barok na salita.

"Ganu'n ba? Umh...What would you like to drink? Juice or coffee?"

"I'm good," aniya na naupo sa pang-isahang sofa.

"Okay." Umupo naman ako sa kaharap nitong upuan. " What do you need and where's my twin sister?"

Humugot ito ng malalim na buntong-hininga tsaka iyon marahan na ibinuga. "Fifteen years ago, I know you know that Signora Dianna lived in another country with her father. Nasabi niya sa'kin iyon." Slang niyang sabi pagdating sa Tagalog.

"Pwede bang deretsahin mo na ako?" sabi ko dahil mas lalo lang akong kinakabahan kapag papahabain pa niya.

"More than five months have passed since Signorina Dianna was agreed to marry Dark De'Longhi. He's multi-billionaire and famous busimessman in Sicily. But after a month of engagement, Signora Dianna suddenly disappeared and has not been seen since that day." pag-uumpisa nito.

"Why did my sister suddenly disappear? Did she tell you where she was going?" tanong ko naman.

Umiling ito. "She didn't tell me anything. I was just surprised when she didn't show up. Even your father was shocked by the loss of your sister."

"Umh... Why would Dianna agree to marry this Dark De'Longhi?" curious kong tanong.

"Signorina Dianna agreed to marry Signore Damon to save your father's failing business in Sicily.," sagot naman nito.

Hindi ko akalain na mararanasan ng kakambal ko ang ganu'ng klase ng buhay. Hindi ko rin akalain na papayag ito na magpakasal para lang hindi mawala ang karanyaan nila sa buhay.

"Maybe Dark De'Longhi knows where my sister is?"

"He didn't know. He is looking for your sister too."

Lalong napakunot ang aking noo. "Kung ganu'n nasaan kaya ang kakambal ko?"

"We think... maybe she's dead," mabilis niyang sagot.

Tila naman ako binuhusan ng malamig na tubig sa narinig ko. Hindi kaya nagkamali lang ako ng pagkakarinig? Imposible naman na patay na ang kakambal ko diba?

"You're joking right?" nanginginig ang boses na tanong ko sa kanya.

"I hope this all just a joke, Miss Rivera."

"B-but how?"

"We think someone killed her."

"Who would do that to her?"

Nagkibit siya ng balikat. "I don't know. But I can be sure that whoever they are, they're just around."

Bigla akong nakaramdam ng pagkalumo. "Why would they want to kill Dianna?"

"I don't see any other reason than money."

"Oh...god..." anas ko.

"Before that happened, Signorina Dianna ran away from the mansion because she and Signore Dante had an argument. When I went to see her at the hotel where she was staying, she asked me to go to the hospital with her because she wanted to abort the baby she was carrying."

"W-what? Why she wanted to abort the baby? Is Dark De'Longhi the father of the baby?"

"I don't know. She didn't tell me about it. And after that, she suddenly disappeared from the hospital."

"Why you came here?" maya'y tanong ko.

"Signore Damon knows that your twin is still alive and he still looking for Signorina Dianna. I don't want you to sympathize with your sister's problem, but I want to find Signorina. Your twin sister is a good person, Miss Rivera."

"What do you mean?"

"If you'll agree, please pretend to be Dianna Rivera."

"What?! Gusto mo na magpanggap ako bilang si Dianna? Paano mangyayari 'yan?"

"No one would think you weren't Signorina Dianna because you look exactly like your twin sister, Miss Rivera."

"But..."

"I won't force you to agree to my plan. All I really want is to find Signorina Dianna.."

Nakuyom ko ang aking kamao. Nag-aalala rin naman talaga ako sa pagkawala ng kakambal ko, pero hindi ko naman gustong maging magulo ang tahimik kong buhay.

"Nag-aalala ako sa nangyari sa kakambal ko, but I can't risk my own life just to find my sister, mister Abruzzo."

"I understand," aniya na mapait na ngumiti. Pagkatapos ay tumayo na siya. "But expect Signore Dark De'Longhi to be here to get you."

"T-to get me? Why he would do that?"

"Because he will think that you are his fiance."

Napatayo na rin ako. "Pero hindi talaga ako ang asawa niya!"

"Do you think you can convince him just like that?"

"Why not? There is a document that will prove that I am not Dianna!"

"You're wrong, Miss Rivera. I didn't tell you that Signorina Dianna used your name when she live in Sicily."

"Ano?!"

Nagulat ako sa sinabi niya. Paano nagawa ng kakambal ko na gamitin ang pangalan ko? At ano naman ang dahilan kung bakit pumayag ang ama namin na gawin 'yon? Gusto kong magalit sa ginawa nila dahil hindi makatarungan!

Napatingin ako sa calling card na inilapag nito sa center table. "Call me if you need help," anito na umalis na.

Habang ako ay naiwang tigagal. Hanggang ngayon hindi ko pa rin magawang maiproseso sa isip ko ang mga nalaman ko kanina lang.