The Substitute Bride

Chapter 6

"You must be, Cassandra. My grand daughter in law."

She never thought she would be acknowledged by this elegant woman. And upon hearing how classy her voice was despite being casual is indeed inspirable. Para itong isang royalty sa tono na meron ito.

"Good afternoon po." Pagbati niya at minaiging ngumiti.

"Come on, sweetheart. Hug your granny." The old woman opened her arms for Cassandra. Naiilang man si Cassandra ay lumapit siya dito at niyakap ito. "Oh, I can tell that you're still uncomfortable with me. But don't worry, we'll get to know each other later. Don't be scared and act casually with me." Even if granny reassured her, she just can't help herself but feel intensified. Some of her flesh were shaking.

"Okay po..." tanging sagot niya, hindi niya kasi alam kung papaano ito e address.

"You can call me, Lola or Granny. Your choice to choose as long as you're comfortable." Anito habang pinakatitigan siya ng maayos. As if, sinusuri siya nito, mula sa mukha pababa sa kaniyang paa. Nang matapos ay, saktong lumabas si Sawyer.

Kay tagal ng loko lumabas. Halatang takot makipagsalamuha sa sariling abuela.

"Hijo, ba't ang tagal mo lumabas? Didn't you miss me?" Hindi naman nakaligtas si Sawyer sa katanungan ng abuela at magsasara pa lang siya sa kotse ay binato kaagad siya.

"Napagod lang sa pag drive, La. Nag stretch lang ako ng mga galamay bago bumaba." Palusot nito na ikinatawa ng marahan ng matanda.

"Alright, let the maids take care of your things. Pumasok na tayo at nagpahanda ako ng hapunan para sa'tin habang wala kayo kanina." Sabi nito at inaya si Cassandra na pumasok by holding her hand. "Let's go, hija. Alam mo, I have so many things I want to know about you." Tila ito'y nananabik na makilala siya. Ang Lola kasi ni Sawyer na si Doña Amelia ay mahilig makipagkuwentuhan. Lalo na ngayon na matanda na ito at bilang na lang ang mga bagay na pwede nitong gawin.

Napapasulyap si Cassandra kay Sawyer habang silay naglalakad papasok ng bahay. Sumunod naman si Sawyer at kalaunan ay naupo na sila sa hapagkainan. The table is good for six person, kaya't magkakalapit lang sila.

"Let's eat. Huwag mahiya." Sabi ni Amelia sa kaniyang mga apo. Lubos siyang natutuwa na makita ang dalawa. Honestly, she's relieved that her grandson showed improvement. Lalo na sa kaisipang sinundo nito ang asawa upang ilipat ang mga gamit nito dito sa bahay nila.

"What do you want to eat?" Tanong ni Sawyer kay Cassandra. Pero sa katunayan ay busog pa silang pareho dahil kumain naman sila bago umalis sa condo.

"Yung afritada na lang, please." Her voice is soft and tender. And the way she says 'please,' could eventually make the person wants to do her favor.

Ikinuha siya ni Sawyer ng natipuhan niyang ulam. Marami kasing ulam at parang pang buong angkan ang hinanda.

"How about rice?" Sawyer suggested.

"I'll take two servings." She simply said. Nagsalin na rin si Sawyer ng kaniyang kanin. And since, nasa banda ni Cassandra ang adobong humba na baboy he asked her to pass it to him.

"Can you hand me the adobong humba for me, hon?"

"O-Okay," nautal si Cassandra sapagkat biglaan na lang siyang tinawag ni Sawyer sa isang call sign na hindi siya na inform na gagamitin nila. Buti na lang at hindi pa siya nagsimulang kumain at baka mabulunan pa siya kung sakali.

"Thanks. If you want to get something near me, just tell me, ha?" Cassandra thought, 'ganito siguro si Sawyer kay ate,' mukha namang mabait, pero masungit kapag sa ibang babae.

Too bad, nagpapanggap lang sila.

"Noted, hon." Sagot rin niya na ikinaubo ni Sawyer.

Wala naman siyang ginawa di'ba? Bakit nabulonan?

Mabilis siyang nagsalin sa baso nito ng tubig, "Kalma lang sa pagkain, hon. I know you're hungry and tired, pero huwag sunod-sunod." Mukhang hindi maging boring ang pag stay niya dito kasama ito, dahil sa kanilang ginagawa ay naaliw na siya.

Now, he knows how it feels to be surprised, kagaya ng naramdaman niya ka-bago lang.

Si Amelia ay tila naaalala ang kaniyang kabataan habang pinanood ang dalawa kung papaano inaasikaso ang isa't-isa.

"Alam niyo, ganiyan din kami ng Lolo niyo dati. We used to care for each other." She shared with a big smile on her lips. Her eyes are sparkling.

"Bakit wala po siya, Lola?" Inosenteng pagtatanong ni Cassandra, it is to forget how uncomfy she is in her current state.

"He's gone, hija. Matagal na, three years ago."

Napapitlag si Cassandra at parang gusto niya na lang ibaon ang sarili sa sahig, "P-Pasensya po..."

Sawyer saw how it intensifies her, kaya naman he held her right hand na may hawak ng pork. "Wala na 'yun kay Lola. She moved on and just want to enjoy life while she still can." She looked at their hands.

"Sawyer is right, kaya don't worry about it, hija." Pagsisiguro naman sa kaniya ng matanda na ikinahinga niya ng maluwang. Na guilty ba naman siya agad.

---

AFTER eating their dinner sa dining, they are now at the living area having their desserts.

"How does it feel to finally tie the knot?"

Sawyer felt his hand sweating, "Magaan sa pakiramdam, La. Dahil finally, we got to make it legal." Tumingin siya kay Cassandra na katabi niya. Tila nagustohan ng asawa niya ang kinakain nitong fruit salad dahil napakatahimik nito kung kumain. "In front of everyone, by the witness of our Lord, di'ba hon?"

Nag angat ng tingin si Cassandra, hindi niya alam itong pinagsasabi ni Sawyer, pero tumango at sumang-ayon na lang siya. "It was."

"I've heard from Sawyer that you guys are in a relationship for six months, for me, the transition and the process were too short and too fast."

At this point, Cassandra can't think of something para maisagot sa katanungan ng abuela nila. Dahil first and fore most, she was not the one who were with him.

She was not the one who fell in love.

She was not there with him to experience how would Sawyer Valdez loves a woman.

And she's not the one to make realization as to why they end up in the situation.

"Yes, La. It was surreal that in just six months, nag decide kami na magpakasal. It's just that, pareho na kaming sigurado sa isa't-isa. We love each other. Kaya bakit kailangan patagalin, kung pwede naman e secure agad?" Paliwanag ni Sawyer, but Cassandra's silence bothers the old woman.

"Cassandra, can you tell a moment where you able to realize that my apo is the one? I would love to hear it."

And in just a snap, her sanity almost crashed. Anong sasabihin niya? Kahit isang ka relasyon ay wala siyang ma e relate, kasi nga she never engage one!

How?

Ngayon lang yata siya naging bobo. Wala siyang maisip na kung ano. Namutla siya and Sawyer could see it. Nataranta na naman ito deep inside at hindi niya maiwasang hindi mag-alala.

He held her hand and eventually took the bowl in her hand and placed it on the midi table.

"I'm sorry, La. Can we talk later? I think, my wife should take a rest since we've been transferring her things right after her work was done."