The Savage Casanova [Published under LIB] had been a mini series on TV5

Chapter 15

He is as surprised as his wife. Those hazel eyes are looking at him with shocked expression. Hindi na nagtaka si Ivo kung bakit pinag-uusapan sila ng mga tao sa Thanksgiving ball. Malaking usap-usapan na ang biglaang pagpapakasal niya, pero mas pinaigting 'to nang malamang si Moira ang pinakasalan niya.

Hindi makapaniwala si Moira sa koneksyon nila ni Ivo. Kaya ganoon na lang ang pagkagulat ng Tita Beth niya nang makitang si Ivo dela Rosa ang asawa niya.

"Are you sure, my mother was your father's mistress?" She can't believe what she has just heard from her husband. Ang naririnig lang niya noon, may kabit ang mama niya kaya sila iniwan sila nito. Hindi masyado nagkukwento ang ate niya sa kanya dahil masyado pa siyang bata noon. Hindi niya rin alam ang lalaking sinamahan ng mama niya.

"Yes. Pero hindi seryoso ang daddy sa kanya. Ang alam ko lang siya ang pinakamatagal na naging mistress ni daddy," bumuntong hininga si Ivo, "madalas kong marinig ang pangalan ng mama mo kapag nag-aaway sila."

"No wonder we were making a big spectacle at the Thanksgiving ball," napangisi at napailing si Moira, "and my aunt's expression was priceless when she found out you were my husband."

"Alam kaya niya ang tungkol sa mama mo at daddy ko?"

"I think so. Naging malapit sila ni mama noon. Siya din ang nagsusumbong kay papa ng mga ginagawa ni mama. Kaya nga nahuli nitong may kasiping si mama sa kwarto nila," napatingin sa malayo si Moira at bumuntong hininga, "siyempre mas poprotektahan niya ang kapatid niya. Pero sinira naman niya ang pamilya namin."

"Damn," he buries his head in both hands.

"Yes, that is also my reaction now."

He gives out a sarcastic laugh. "Our union created a lot of speculation because of our parents," he shakes his head, "the shock value that we have caused in the Thanksgiving ball is priceless. Talagang pag-uusapan tayo ng mga tao."

"Yeah-we get more than we have bargained for-the most popular pair of the century." She shoots an eye at Ivo. "Kasalanan mo 'to eh. Bakit sa dinami dami ng babae sa Santorini, ako pa talaga ang napili mong pakasalan?"

"Ikaw lang kasi ang nagdedeliryo ng mga panahong yun. Akala ko mamatay ka na."

He sees that she is doubting his answer, "I didn't know that your mother is Anastasia," he grins at her, "besides, people will think that you married me to get even because of your mother."

"I think it's more reliving our parent's liaisons," she gives out a deep sigh. "I am really stressed out now," she added.

"Moira," he started to say, "You will much happier when you learn to ignore what people will say," he lets out a sarcastic laugh, "I've learned that while gossip about others is often true, it's never true when it is about oneself."

"Well," she lets out a sigh of relief, "this marriage is only temporary. Tama ka, wag na lang natin sila pansinin. Kapag natapos ko na ang manuscript ko, pwede na ako bumalik sa Benguet. Pero..." Naisip niya ang magiging reaksyon ng ate niya kapag nalaman nito ang pagpapakasal niya kay Ivo dela Rosa. Nakikinita na niya ang magiging reaksyon nito.

"What is it now, tims?"

"Si ate...hindi ko pa nasasabi sa kanya ang tungkol sa pagpapakasal ko," napahawak siya sa sentido niya. "Hindi ko alam kung paano sasabihin."

"Try calling her. Or better yet, puntahan natin siya sa Benguet." She blankly looks at him while thinking of his idea. Maybe it is better to pay a visit to her ate and tell her the truth.

...

She had a tough day.

That is her realization while combing her hair in front of her dresser. Masyadong maraming nangyari sa kanya. Una, nang makita niya ang mama niya sa grocery store at ang mga nangyari sa Thanksgiving ball. At panghuli, ang confession at revelations tungkol sa mga magulang nila ni Ivo. She thinks that destiny is to be blame why she and Ivo met. But why? Bakit sila pinagtagpo ni Ivo? Ayaw na niya isipin pa ang dahilan. Susunod na lamang siya sa agos at paghandaan ang mga susunod na mangyayari. All she needs now is a sound sleep. Tomorrow she needs to work on her manuscript. Then the image of their dances comes to her mind. Those seductive little eyes makes her feel beautiful. Uncanny feeling is what those sensual gazes bestow at her. Hindi siya dapat makaramdam ng ganito kay Ivo. Dapat pigilan niya ang sarili. Hindi siya pwede mahulog sa isang savaged casanova dahil alam na niya ang mangyayari sa kanya. Magiging katulad siya ng papa niya. He died of a broken heart. Hindi niya gusto sapitin ang pait na pinagdaanan ng ama niya.