The Replacement Wife

Chapter 24

Chapter 24

Nang sumapit ang gabi ay dumiretso ako sa airport matapos magpalipas ng oras sa bahay ni Belle. Belle was out for her business and I was alone. My parents just arrived and since I have nothing to do, I'll fetch them.

Before going out of the car, I checked myself on the rear view mirror, making sure that there will be no traces of tears that I've shed earlier. I even put concealer on my face dahil masyadong halata ang namumugto kong mga mata kanina. Good thing it wasn't that obvious now. I can't let my parents see me like that.

Mahigpit kong hinawakan ang manibela at bumuntong hininga bago lumabas ng kotse.

Walking with my head held up and stomach in, I confidently traipsed my way towards the airport wearing a black culotte jumpsuit and  a black peep toe heels.

Mabilis kong nakita ang mga magulang ko dahil sa kakaunti lamang ang tao dahil gabi. Isa din siguro ang rason na hindi pa weekend at hindi pa bakasyon.

"Ma! Pa!" I greeted happily as I fastened my pace towards them.

They glanced my way and smile when they saw me coming to them. I immediately threw myself in their arms nang huminto sa harap nila.

"I missed you two." My lips slowly stretched for a smile.

"We missed you too, sweetie," Mama said.

Bumitiw ako sa kanila at ningitian sila. I then glanced at my father who's not smiling but was looking at me with serious and gentle eyes. I smiled wider.

"Tara na. Inaantok na ako. Where's your car, hija?" si Papa.

Agad akong tumango at kinuha ang bag ni Mama, pero kinuha iyon ni Papa at sinabing siya na and that I should just lead the way and let him. Napanguso ako at hinayaan siya. Nauna akong naglakad palabas ng airport. Sumabay na din sa akin si Mama. She's asking what I've been doing for the past almost 2 years and I told her what I've done until we reached the car.

Inuwi ko silang dalawa sa dati naming bahay. Napagpasyahan ko din na doon nalang din sa bahay ng mga magulang matulog sa gabing iyon at sa susunod na mga araw. I have spare clothes left in our house, so there's no need for me to go back to Zeiger's house just to get some.

I was laying on my bed and was staring blankly at the ceiling. My parents were probably asleep already at this moment, kaya nagulat ako nang marinig ang marahang katok sa pinto.

Napatingin ako sa pinto at bumangon nang bumukas iyon. Mama entered my room, wearing her night gown and a robe.

"Bakit, Ma?" I asked.

She smiled gently and seated beside me. She then gently combed my hair with her fingers as she stared at me.

"How are you?" marahang tanong niya.

Napakurap-kurap ako. Nagugulohan sa kaniyang tanong. She already asked me that earlier. Nag-kibit balikat nalang ako at sasagot na sana nang unahan niya ako.

"I mean you and your husband. You should invite him tomorrow for dinner, with us, Elaine," dugtong niya na ikinatigil ko.

Umiwas ako ng tingin. Mama held my hand at napa-buga ako ng hininga dahil doon.

"Is there something wrong, hija?"

"Ma... We... We're about to get annulled," I said underneath my breath.

I can feel how the words I said made my mom stunned. Tumigil siya sa pag-suklay ng akong buhok. Still, I did not looked at her.

"Why, hija? Akala ko ay maayos na kayo'ng dalawa. Magda-dalawang taon na kayong kasal sa susunod na tatlong buwan, hindi ba?"