Sa Kama ni Bayaw

28

Claire’

The malicious photos were taken down from the internet with the help of Sebastian and his friend from the cybercrime unit. Niu called for a press conference and explained on the national television that it was an edited photo and the issue was not true, that it was made to destroy the company’s reputation, with Niu being the CEO of Oceanview Hotels and Resorts, he was the center of the company’s rival in business. Mabuti na lang talaga at naagapan nila iyon.

The media went crazy about it, it was a very hot issue for them, Antonius Altamirano is having an affair with a famous actress. Dinumog nila ang entrance ng subdivision at mabuti na lang naharangan kaagad ng mga security personnel.

It was trending even on Twitter about Antonius Altamirano’s infidelity kahit na sinabi na hindi totoo iyon at edited lang ang mga pictures. Some commented that it was all true and that we just covered it. Some showed their pity on me, saying that I should find someone better.

I pressed the stop button of the treadmill; I think I have enough exercise for today. I’ve been stuck here in the house for a week now. Hindi nila ako pinayagan na pumunta sa jewelry shop ko dahil na rin sa dami ng media na nag-aabang sa labas ng shop. Tinataboy naman sila ng security pero bumabalik rin kalaunan kaya hindi na muna ako pumupunta doon, total ay nadoon naman si Kate, I know I can trust her.

Walking out of the gym, I headed to the kitchen to get some water. This has been my daily routine since last week, I wake up in the morning and choose between doing yoga or swimming. Sa hapon naman ay nasa workroom lang ako or manood ng mga palabas sa entertainment room. I avoided surfing the internet or opening my social media accounts as per the advice of my in-laws. Masyado kasing harsh ang mga comments na binabato sa social media, and to think these people didn’t really know the real score.

Manang is in the kitchen when I entered, she was baking something and it really smells good.

“Manang, kaninong mga bagahe po ba ‘yung nasa labas?” tanong ko sa kaniya. I opened the fridge and pulled out a bottle of water. Pinunasan ko muna ang pawis ko bago ako umupo sa isa sa mga high stool sa kitchen counter.

“Ah, iyong mga gamit sa na nasa labas? Kay Sebastian iyon, hija. Tumawag siya kagabi, pina-empake niya lahat ng mga damit niya sa kuwarto at dadalhin daw namin sa condo niya,” sagot ni manang.

Napatigil ako sa pag-inum ng tubig sa sinabi niya. Aalis na siya dito sa bahay? Bakit? Parang tinusok ang puso ko sa nalaman. Bakit siya aalis dito? Dahil ba ito sa nangyari noong isang linggo? Nagbago ba isip niya?

Inihain ni manang sa lamesa ang kaniyang nilutong choco chip cookies, masarap ito at mabango pero nawalan ako ng gana.

Is he avoiding me?

Just thinking about Sebastian avoiding me made a sharp s***h on my heart. Pinaglalaruan niya lang ba ako? Now that he knew that he could easily seduce me, he’ll just drop me like a hot potato.

Tumikhim ako at pilit na nilabanan ang nginig sa boses ko.

“Ah, gano’n po ba. Nasabi niya ba kung bakit? Puwede naman siya dito tumira, ah. Okay lang naman sa amin ni Niu.”

“Ewan ko sa batang iyon, Claire. Tinanong ko nga kung bakit siya aalis, e okay naman na siya dito, aba at tinawanan lamang ako nito,” napapailing na saad ni manang. “Pinangaralan ko nga iyon na magtino na, aba’y hindi na siya bumabata, dapat tigilan niya na iyong pagiging mapaglaro,” patuloy na komento ni manang Lucing.

Tuluyan na akong nawalan ng gana. Sumama ang loob ko sa sinabi ni manang, siguro nga ay hindi talaga iyon seryoso. Gusto kong batukan ang sarili ko dahil ang dali-dali kong nadala sa mga maiinit niyang titig, I should have known that Sebastian Altamirano is a player.

“Manang, aakyat muna ako,” paalam ko sa kaniya.

“Hindi mo pa nakakain itong meryenda, hija,” habol niya pa.

“Busog pa po ako, itago niyo na lang, kakainin ko mamaya,”

Gago talaga ang Sebastian na iyon, kaya pala hindi man lang nagpa-alam na aalis siya patungong America noong isang linggo. Hindi man lang nag-text!

Ano ba ini-expect mo, girl? Seryoso siya sa inalok na relasyon sa’yo? Hello!? Si Sebastian Altamirano iyan! Hindi ‘yan maghahabol sa isang may asawa na katulad mo, no. Ang dami kayang babaeng naghahabol d’yan, iyong mga walang sabit!

I glared at the imaginary devil whispering and mocking at me.

Pumasok ako sa kuwarto at painis na hinubad ang leggings at sports bra ko, dumeritso ako sa banyo at nag-shower.

Hindi mawala sa isip ko iyong mga nangyari noong nakaraang linggo sa kusina. Kung hindi nagising si manang at nagpunta sa kusina, malamang ay may mangyayari talaga sa amin. I was so horny that time that all the rational part of my mind has completely been taken over by the sesnsation I was feeling. Hindi na ako nag-iisip ng tama, all I wanted that time was to feel him, and I still do now.

And I was a fool for thinking that Seb wanted a relationship with me. Maybe he just wanted to f*ck me, tastes his brother’s wife. Maybe he just wanted to prove to himself that he could get any woman he wanted, even a married woman like me.

Mas lalong nadagdagan ang inis at sakit na naramdaman ko. Oo, nasasaktan ako. Because I was expecting something from him. I was such a fool to believe that he’s serious. And I admit that I was hurt because I like him. So much.

Pagkatapos kong mag-shower ay nagbihis ako ng pambahay.

Inis na kinuha ko ang remote ng TV at wala sa sariling pinaandar ito. I scanned the channels and settled on the international news station.

I stayed in the room for an hour before going down for dinner. Niu texted me that he’ll be late because he’s visiting a branch in Bicol. Tutulungan ko na lang si manang sa paghahanda ng dinner.

Pagkapasok ko sa kusina ay nando’n na sina manang at Girlie, ang bagong katulong na kinuha ni Niu. He said manang Lucing is old and needed a hand in the house.

“Hija, gutom ka na ba? Niluluto ko pa ang ulam,” sabi ni manang ng makalapit ako, ningitian ko lang si Girlie na nahihiyang tumingin sa akin.

“It’s okay manang, hindi pa po ako gutom. Tutulungan ko lang po sana kayo dito sa kusina, nababagot na kasi ako dito sa bahay, e,” natatawa kong saad at tiningnan kung ano ang niluto nila.

Manang Lucing’s cooking skills is one of a kind, bukod sa masarap siyang magluto at napakabait pa, she’s like the grandmother I never had. Matagal na siyang naninilbihan sa mga Altamirano kaya malapit siya sa magkapatid.

“Naku, hija. Maupo ka na lang d’yan at ito’y malapit ng maluto. Girlie, pakiayos ng lamesa at ihahain ko na ito,” utos ni manang.

“Cge, po, ‘nang,” Agad na tumalima si Girlie.

Hindi na ako nagpumilit pa at ningitian na lang sila. Sa high stool lang ako umupo at nanood ng balita sa TV. Pinalagyan kasi ni Niu ng flatscreen TV dito para may makapanood sila manang ng programa habang nagluluto.

Gusto ko sanang ilipat sa ibang channel pero baka ito ang gusto nila kaya hinayaan ko na.

“Kamusta ang unang linggo mo dito, Girlie? Hindi ka ba nahirapan?” tanong ko kay Girlie habang inaayos niya ang mga pagkain sa lamesa.

Nahihiya itong ngumiti sa akin bago nagsalita, “Okay naman po, ate, hindi naman ako nahirapan dahil sanay po ako sa gawaing bahay,”

“That’s good to he—” I was not able to finish what I was about to say when I saw photos flash on the screen.

Nanigas ang buong katawan ko sa balita. It was Sebastian with another woman. Pictures after pictures were shown on the screen. Unti-unti ay parang hinihiwa ang puso ko sa sakit na naramdaman habang pinapanood ang balita.

“Mia Alfaro was spotted with her rumored boyfriend, Sebastian Altamirano, the founder and Chairman of Paradise Hotel. Though the couple didn’t confirm it yet, they were seen holding hands in a beach which rises the speculation that the two are dating. The photos of the couple circulated on the internet when Sebastian was spotted at Mia’s residence in Hawaii.”

Sebastian was holding hands with a woman while going out of a house, another picture was he’s laughing with her while they were in a beach, the woman was wearing a skimpy red bikini.

Nanginig ang mga labi ko sa pagpigil ko sa mga luhang gustong kumawala sa mga mata ko. I didn’t know I would be hurt like this if I saw him with another woman. Parang sinaksak ni libo-libong punyal ang puso ko. Nanikip ang dibdib ko.

Gusto ko siyang sumbatan! Is this the reason why he flew out of the country without even telling me? Is she the reason why he's moving out?

“Ate, okay lang po ba kayo? Namumutla po kayo,” nag-alalang tanong ni Girlie sa akin.

Hindi ko na nainitindihan ang mga sinasabi niya, ang tanging alam ko ay nasasaktan ako ngayon.

“Hija, bakit? Ayaw mo ba sa niluto ko? May iba ka bang gustong kainin?” si manang. Nilapitan nila ako pero hindi ko kayang sumagot sa kanila.

Kusang tumulo ang luha ko, hindi ko kaya ang sakit. He looked so happy while smiling at the woman, it was like she was everything to him. He never looked at me that way. The way he held her; it was like she’s a fragile crystal that needs to be handled carefully. Kahit kailan ay hindi ko naramdaman ang gano’n kapag kasama kami.

Is this the confirmation I needed?

Then the realization hit me, he just used me for his own pleasure. Pampalipas oras lang niya ako habang nasa malayo ang babaeng mahal niya. There’s no denying in those photos, one can clearly see the emotions in those pictures.

“Okay langpo, manang. Excuse me,” hindi ko na sila hinintay pa na magsalita. Mabilis akong tumakbo paakyat sa kuwarto.

I was such a fool to fall for his advances!

You are his brother’s wife; he will never take you seriously!