Chapter 43
1690 Words
Damian's POV
"Damian, hello? Nandito ako."
Napatingin ako sa harap ko. Damn! I forgot that I'm with Audrey right now.
"I'm sorry. What is it again?" Ani ko at sinulyapan ang phone ko.
I was busy looking at my phone, specifically, I was busy looking at my Muffin's pictures. She's really beautiful. God! I love her smile. I also love her face when I'm on top of her in my bed.
Mas lalo akong napangisi sa naisip ko.
"This f*****g Damian is f*****g insane!" Naiinis na wika ni Audrey.
I laughed.
"Do I look like that just now?"
I really can't help myself from smiling. Our car fun was really FUN. It was thrilling, exciting and addicting. We need to do that often.
"Para kang tanga, alam mo ba 'yon?" tumaas ang kilay nito, "you're just like Alejandro." Napairap ito.
"I heard from del Valle that he is hiding a woman." Sambit ko.
Pagkatapos mamatay ng dati niyang asawa ay hindi na ito sumubok na magmahal ng ibang babae. He loved his wife more than anything. Ngayon ay parang nag-iba ang ihip ng hangin.
"He is more on protecting that girl. But I think he really likes her." Sagot nito sa akin.
I remember that he saved a woman working in The Shire where Bella was working. Maybe Bella knows her.
"Mmm. Maybe?"
Kahit ako ay napapaisip. Hindi naman imposible na hindi magkagusto sa iba si Alejandro. He is still a human.
"So, who's the unlucky girl you're with?"
I grin, "I think she is lucky to have me."
Napairap naman ito sa akin, "really, huh? Tell me, may bago ka na bang girlfriend?" She curiously asked.
I smiled at her, "you'll meet her soon." Sagot ko sa kanya.
Napatango na lang ito sa akin habang nakangiti.
"Oh, your ex-fiancée is back. That b***h!" she scoffs, "I read an article saying that she left the restaurant crying because you called off the wedding." Aniya.
Napailing ako, "more on fake crying to gain sympathy from others. She was the one who called off the wedding the moment he denied me in that interview years ago."
"Yeah, yeah. She's always like that. Hindi ko nga maintindihan kung bakit mo 'yon nagustuhan, to think na nagpropose ka pa sa kanya? Like, ew! She's not that even pretty." Aniya na para bang diring-diri ito kay Francine.
Since then ay hindi niya talaga gusto si Francine. I don't know why. Francine used to be sweet and caring before. I think that's why I liked her before. Simula ng naging modelo siya sa New york ay nag-iba na siya. She became wild.
"Anyway, I need to go now. Alejandro is waiting for me in his office." Aniya at nilagay ang phone sa loob ng bag niya.
"I don't understand you, Audrey. You have a company of your own and other businesses. Why the hell are you working with Alejandro?" Kunot noo kong tanong sa kanya.
"I hate sitting in my office ng buong araw. it's suffocating me. I have trusted men naman who are working for me. Ngayon pa lang ay sumasakit na ang ulo ko thinking that someday I'll take over my company and my parent's company." Paliwanag nito sa akin.
Tumayo na ito mula sa pagkakaupo.
"I'll see you around, Audrey. Take care." Malambing na wika ko.
I hugged her and kissed her cheek. Humalik din ito sa pisnge ko bago lumabas ng opisina ko.
Kinuha ko ang phone ko at tinawagan ang girlfriend ko. Nakailang ring lang at sinagot niya ito kaagad.
"Hi." Nakangiting bungad nito sa akin.
Nakaupo siya sa couch sa living area.
I instantly smiled when I saw her face.
"Hello, Muffin. Kumain ka na ba?"
Tumango ito sa akin, "yes, tapos na ako. Ikaw?"
"Tapos na rin ako. I'm with Audrey. Kakaalis lang niya." Saad ko.
"Hindi ka ba busy ngayon?" Tanong nito sa akin.
"Not really. Wala akong hearing ngayong hapon. May meeting lang ako mamaya. I will be home early later." Sagot ko sa kanya.
Mas excited na akong umuwi ngayon dahil alam kong girlfriend ko ang sasalubong sa akin. Kahit anong pagod ko sa trabaho ay nawawala ito kaagad kapag nakikita ko ang ngiti niya. She's like my source of energy.
"May gusto ka bang kainin mamaya? Ipagluluto kita." Tanong nito sa akin.
"You know what I like to eat every night, Muffin." Nakangisi kong sagot sa kanya.
She rolled her eyes, "seryoso nga."
"Anything, Muffin. I'll eat it basta ikaw ang nagluto." I smiled at her.
My girlfriend is a good cook. Kahit anong lutuin niya ay pasok ito sa panlasa ko.
"Okay. Mag-iisip na lang ako ng lulutuin ko mamaya," aniya, "balikan ko muna ang laundry ko, Damian. Mukhang tapos na."
"All right, Muffin. I'll see you later, okay? I love you."
Ngumiti naman ito sa akin, "okay. I love you." Sagot nito.
Binaba ko na ang tawag. Sakto namang may pumasok.
"Mom!" Nakangiting sabi ko.
Mabilis akong lumapit sa kanya at niyakap siya.
"Malapit lang ako rito kaya pinuntahan na kita." Malumanay na sabi nito.
We sat in the couch. May dala itong paper bag at may lamang tea. Mukhang namiss niya ang paborito niyang tea.
"Wala ka bang kasama? Where's Dad?"
"He was sleeping when I left, Son. Alam naman niyang aalis ako," sagot ni Mommy, "by the way, kaya ako nagpunta rin dito dahil may gusto akong itanong sa 'yo."
"What is it, Mom?"
"It's about your girlfriend. Sa nasaksihan namin ng Daddy mo nang nakaraang gabi ay sigurado akong seryoso ka sa kanya. What made you chose her, Son?" Seryosong wika ni Mommy.
I smiled at my Mom, "she's different, Mom. Matapang siya at hindi madaling sumuko. She value and loves her family very much. She's willing to sacrifice for them. Kahit nahihirapan at nasasaktan na siya ay hindi niya sinukuan ang pamilya niya. Sobrang bait din niya at maalaga. She's a good cook, too, Mom. She's beautiful inside and out, Mom." Sagot ko kay Mommy.
"I heard she's working for you as your helper?"
"Yes. That's the only thing I can do to help and protect her," sagot ko sa kanya, "dahil doon ay mas nakilala ko siya, Mom. And I think that was my way before to be with her."
"Why do you need to protect her, Son?" Nagtatakang tanong ni Mommy sa akin.
"Muntik na siyang ma rxpe, Mom, twice. Ilang beses na rin siyang hinarass ng ex-boyfriend niya. Muntik na rin siyang ipangbayad as colateral sa utang ng kanyang Tiyahin. I can't imagine kung gaano siya kadurog ng mga oras na 'yon. She was helpless, Mom. I can't stand to see her in that situation again." Matigas na sabi ko.
Naalala ko ang unang beses ko siyang nakita. She was helpless. Paano nalang kung hindi ako ang nakakita sa kanya? Paano kung walang tumulong sa kanya noon?
Nakita ko ang pagkagulat ni Mommy.
"Oh my, God! I can't believe na naranasan niya 'yon lahat," malungkot na sabi ni Mommy.
"Ganoon siya ka tatag at katapang, Mom. Kahit ganoon ang nangyari sa kanya, hindi siya bumigay. She cried but she stood and fought for herself and justice. Diego represented her in Court and she won. Binayaran ko na rin ang pagkakautang ng Tiyahin niya para lang hindi siya ang gawing colateral. I don't want to imagine kung ano ang gagawin sa kanya kapag nangyari 'yon." I gritted my teeth.
Malungkot akong tiningnan ni Mommy, "I feel sorry for her. Hindi halata sa kanya na ganoon ang naranasan niya noon. She's really that tough huh?"
I smiled at my Mom, "yes, Mom. She is. Pinagtangkaan na rin ang buhay niya. It was a miracle na hindi siya tinamaan ng bala nang binaril siya. It was really close, Mom. They were face to face. Nang sandaling 'yon ay palagay ko tumigil ang mundo ko. Ang akala ko ay mawawala na siya sa akin ng hindi ko man lang nasasabi ang nararamdaman ko."
God knows how terrified I was that night. Hindi ko maipaliwag ang kabang naramdaman ko ng sandaling 'yon. I thought I'm going to lose her. Thank, God at hindi siya tinamaan.
Napasinghap si Mommy, "nadakip na ba ang mastermind?"
Napailing ako, "I have suspect but we don't have enough proof, Mom," sagot ko sa kanya, "kaya ang ginawa ko na lang ay hindi ko siya pinapalabas sa condo ko. I need to protect her and her family. I can't lose her."
"My Son, you really love her that much?" Ngumiti si Mommy sa akin.
"God knows how much I love her, Mom. I'm happy when I am with her. Bella, she is my safe haven," ngumiti ako kay Mommy, "hindi ka naman siguro tutol sa kanya bilang girlfriend ko, 'di ba?"
Napailing ito, "as long as you're happy, Son. I will always support you. And I think she's a good woman. Alam kong ipaglalaban mo siya kahit hindi ko siya magustuhan," aniya at inabot ang kamay ko, "I can see that her feelings for you is genuine." Ngumiti ito sa akin at hinawakan ang kamay ko.
Napangiti rin ako kay Mommy, "thank you, Mom. I know you'll like her."
That's a relief!
"Do you see your self with her in the future?" Tanong ni Mommy.
It was unexpected.
Natigilan ako sa tinanong ni Mommy sa akin? Biglang pumasok sa isip ko ang nakangiting mukha ng girlfriend ko. My Mom is looking at me seriously waiting for my answer.
I know my answer is. I can't imagine myself without her. When she left my condo because she thought that Francine is my fiancée, I felt that my whole world shattered. Hindi ko alam ang gagawin ko nang mga araw na 'yon. I was nervous that I coudn't find her, or if makita ko man siya, what if ayaw niya ng bumalik?
I was glad that I found her and cleared everything and ngayon ay masaya na kaming dalawa.
"Yes, Mom. I can't imagine myself without her." I said while smiling at my Mom.
"Tell me more about her. Gusto ko siyang makilala pa." Ani Mommy.
I looked at my Mom then I started to tell stories about Bella.
- Writer
