CHAPTER 5

I smiled at him sarcastically. Ang lakas ding manumbat ng isang 'to. Masyado siyang mapanghimagsik ng salita.

"If you are wearing the same shoes I am wearing and try to walk a mile, man, you'll understand me."

He's still shaking his head with dismayed. Malayo ang tingin niya sa akin at wala ring ibang ginawa kundi ang ngumuso.

"Hindi na tayo bata para maglaro," sabi niya.

"You'll have a price," agad kong sinabi.

I wanted to hit my head in the wall. If he hadn't seen and heard me, I would've done something better to divert his attention.

"And what would it be, Audra? I am not a materialistic, though. Don't be so arrogant."

Kung maaari ko lang sanang sabihin na hindi ang inaasahan niya ang kapalit, sinabi ko na. Kailangan din niyang matutuhan na ang isang bagay na minsang nangyari ay may kapalit. Hindi pa ito ang tamang panahon dahil marami pang bagay ang hindi handa. 

"Naiintindihan ko ang gusto mo. You are good at that. Manipulating my feelings that your feelings are valid than mine..." 

Para niya akong binuhusan ng malamig na tubig dahil sa masyado niyang pagpapamukha sa akin na makasarili ako. 

"We don't deserve each other, Gustavo. We fucked up once-" 

"And you want to mess up twice, baby," he cut me off. 

I gasped violently. Hindi ko kinahiya na napatigil ako sa sinabi niya. I gulped and looked at him. Kanina ko pa nga itinataboy ang bawat hagip ng kanyang mga mata. 

"You can do whatever you want. Just this time. Hindi mauulit ang pagkakamali at hindi magiging kumplikado para sa 'yo," I said convincingly. 

Nagpakawala siya nang malalim na buntong-hininga bago niya binagsak ang balikat bilang tanda na ako ang nanalo. The smile on my face is beyond and it concealed the disappointment I have felt these past few days. 

"Pag-iisipan ko," he said dismissively. 

Napawi ang abot-tainga kong ngiti. Ang ginawa ko ay iniwan ko na lang ang lahat ng stress ko sa Baguio. 

Dahil pag-iisipan pa niya, nakapag-isip na ako nang paraan para mapadali ang lahat. Hindi na rin gusto ni Ellie ang tumigil sa mga bagay na nakasisira sa akin kaya naging creative ang aking isipan sa mabisang paraan. 

Kahit na hindi ako mahilig sa balita, nabalitaan ko pa rin na kalat na ang nangyari kay Ellie kagabi. Ang bilis. Parang wala siyang ginawa sa akin na kinaganda ko lalo. They didn't spread the news that I was also with Gustavo. Gusto lang niyang ibinabalita ang pagiging third party ko sa relasyon nila ng asawa niya. 

That bitch triggers my brain cells. Tumatalino ako lalo sa kung paano ko mapapakasalan sa lalong madaling panahon ang lalaking inaasahan niyang magsasalba sa kaniya sa isang krisis ng kanilang kumpanya. 

"Attorney Graciano!" 

I was about to walk straight to the elevator to visit Gustavo on his office but a familiar voice called me. Nice timing, naabutan ko si Tito Koko. Ngumiti ako at bumati nang bahagya. Hindi ko na nga sana papansinin ang mga nasa paligid dahil alam kong kaunti lang ang aking oras ngunit para kay Ellie na naghahabol na naman kay Gustavo, maglalaan ako ng kaunting oras. 

"Gustavo mentioned the case that you'll be handling," sabi ni Tito. 

Ellie finally walked out. Para naman siyang kinakawawa dahil ako ang unang pinansin ng future in law ko. Confusion etched my face when I gave my full attention to what Tito was saying. 

"Is the case okay?" 

I laughed awkwardly. "I can't give any information in the meantime, Tito." 

Tumango pa rin siya at nagbigay ng respeto sa aking sinabi. "So, how are you and my son? Nag-usap na ba kayo o may dapat na ba kaming paghandaan?" usisa niya. 

I smiled. "We're pretty fine, Tito..." 

I spotted my future husband trying to stop me from the clerk desk. Gustavo knows that in just the blink of an eye, he will kiss his position goodbye. He aspired this from the very first time we met each other. 

"Sabihin mo lang hija kung hindi niya kayang panindigan ang kundisyon ko sa kanya. I've had enough with that playboy. I can see something that you have the ability to tame his inner demon." 

My eyes landed at Gustavo slightly. Napangisi ako nang nakakaloko dahil ito na talaga ang pagkakataon ko. 

"Hindi lahat ng babae, kaya siyang baguhin. Do you know that every time we try to mention you, he's trying to avoid the topic? So I did my next agenda to reach out to your father... you have the ability to tame why he was rebelling, hija." 

He was rebelling because we hurt each other in a long endless highway, although I was the one who found comfort. I was so stunned and a little bit distracted with Gustavo's presence from afar, but my ability to be careful enough with my actions, I gave my sarcastic smile. 

"I'll do my best to be a good wife for him, Tito." 

Gustavo rolled his eyes on me and walked out with obvious anger and irritation. I followed him professionally and readied myself for a possible argument.