The Replacement Wife

Chapter 24

I nodded as a reply. Mama sighed.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Mama said, almost a whisper.

Napakagat ako sa pang-ibabang labi ko at marahang umiling.

"I... I still not ready to talk about it now, Ma..."

Bumuntong hininga muli siya.

"Alright. Some other time, then. But sweetie, please tell me what are you going to do? What's your plan? So I could see if there's something that I can do to help you, anak."

Finally, I faced my mother. I then smiled at her weakly and shook my head.

"Don't worry, Mama. I'm planning to go with you when you go back to States. To take a break from all of this. To have time for myself, to heal, to be able to accept everything, and the sort."

Bumuntong hininga ako. I showed her an assuring smile when I saw how worried her eyes were. I put my hand above her hand that's holding mine, and squeezed it gently.

"I'll be fine, Mama." I shifted and hugged her. She hugged me back tightly.

"My baby has been grown up as a strong lady. I'm proud of you, sweetie."

"Because I was raised by a strong woman as well," I said and she chuckled.

Bumitaw ako sa yakap at tinignan si Mama nang nakangiti. She has this gentle smile as she tuck some strands of my hair behind my ear.

"You should sleep now. You look tired," she pointed out.

Tumango ako. I kissed her cheeks before she stood up and said good night. Huminga ako ng malalim nang sumara na ang pinto at nahiga sa kama.

Now, my problem is how should I tell my father about this. Mas mahirap kasing kausapin si Papa kaysa kay Mama. And I'm sure he would overreact or would do something impulsively.

The next day, I just saw myself in front of Zeiger in my café. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang ginagawa niya dito. Sana hindi nalang muna ako pumasok sa trabaho! What does he want? Klaro naman yata iyong sinabi ko kahapon, hindi ba?

"Ano'ng ginagawa mo dito?" walang ganang tanong ko.

Tinitingala niya ako habang marahang sumisimsim sa kaniyang kape. Nakaupo kasi siya at ako ay nanatiling nakatayo sa harap niya.

"Coffee," he answered nonchalantly.

Nagtiim bagang ako. I don't have time to mess with him. Bumuntong hininga ako at aalis na sana sa harap niya nang may maalala ako.

Hinarap ko ulit siya. He put his coffee on the table habang malumanay ang tingin sa akin. Nagpangalumbaba siya habang nakataas ang isang kilay sa akin.

I bit my bottom lip and looked away. "The annulment---"

"It's still on the process. Why?" he cut me off.

Napalingon ako sa kaniya at nakitang sumeryoso at dumilim ang kaniyang mukha. His eyes darkened and his chiseled jaw was clenching. Umayos din siya ng upo habang mariin ang tingin sa akin.

"K-Kailan matatapos ang pagpo-proseso nun?"

Pinagmasdan ko ang bawat kilos niya. Mula sa pag-abot niya ng kaniyang kape, pag-iwas ng tingin, pag-inom, at pag-igting muli ng kaniyang panga.

"Do you want it as soon as possible?" he asked silently.

Natigilan ako. I didn't expect him to asked me that! Nagpakawala ako ng malalim na hininga at sinalubong ang madilim niyang tingin.

I know that he can pull some strings to finished the process of our annulment earlier than expected. I chewed my lower lip.

"Yes," mariing sagot ko.

I just watched him closed his eyes and as he let out a breath. His Adam's apple moved sa paglunok niya.

"Okay. Give me a week or 2, Elaine. I'll make a way," he assured.

"Okay, then." I turned around and walked away, leaving him.

Binilin ko kay Natalie ang café at kinuha ang gamit ko bago umalis. I even saw from my peripheral vision how Zeiger eyed me as I walked out of the café. Hindi ko siya binigyan ng pansin.

"Malapit na ang birthday mo, Elaine! Any plans?" Belle asked.

Nandito kami sa opisina ni Kenji ngayon. They're all complete. Hindi yata busy itong mga 'to ngayon at may gana pang makipag-kita sa akin sa opisina ni Kenji para maki-chika.

"I don't have any. Siguro magpapakain lang ako. Or I'll throw a small party sa bahay?"

"Saang bahay?" may panunuyang tanong ni Kenji. Agad ko siyang sinipat.

He cackled and raised his hand to surrender.

"Ano'ng party sa bahay?! Ano ka? 7 years old?! Let's go to a bar!" Lily argued.

"Alam mo Lily, bad influence ka," saad ko at umirap.

"Tama! Bad influence, yuck!" puna ni Kenji.

"Wow naman itong bakla'ng 'to! Parang hindi linggo-linggong pumupunta sa bar, ah?" Umismid si Lily.

"Mapag-panggap naman pala." Reina laughed.

"Bakit ka ba linggo-linggong nandoon sa bar na iyon, ha? Bet mo ba iyong bartender na babae doon---"

"Manahimik ka, Lily!" Kenji said firmly. Humalakhak si Lily.

My brows shot up as I gazed at Kenji and Lily alternately. Bartender? Which bar?

Magtatanong na sana ako nang magsalita si Belle. Well, I'll just going to ask him some other time, then.

"Pwede naman siguro sa bahay na nila Elaine mag-inoman, no? Magbagong buhay na kayo, uy," sabat ni Belle.

"Isa pa 'to. Mapag-panggap din," saad ni Kenji habang tinuturo si Belle.

Tinampal ni Belle ang kamay ni Kenji. Nagkatinginan silang apat, and they laughed. As I stared at them, I gentle smile made its way on my lips.

"Sa bahay, 10 days from now, then," I confirmed.

"Sige! Tutal na-miss ko sila Tita Sunshine at Tito Eleazar," Reina said and took a bottled water from the table.

"I'll clear my schedule for that day and the next day," si Lily.

Lily is one of the designers of a well known clothing company, while Reina is an interior designer.

"Ako din," si Belle habang may kinakalikot sa kaniyang cellphone.

Tinignan ko si Kenji na tinitignan ang maliit na calendar sa kaniyang lamesa.

"July 23 is Friday. Magli-leave na lang muna ako." Nag-angat ng tingin sa akin si Kenji at ngumisi.

"Pwede naman sa gabi na if may trabaho kayo---"

"No! Dapat sulitin 'to, ano! After your birthday, aalis ka na, hindi ba?" Belle asked. Tumango ako.

"Huwag kang pala-desisyon, Elaine. Si Belinda lang dapat ang pala-desisyon dito," saad ni Kenji.

Umiling ako at hinayaan nalang sila sa gusto nila.

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