The Replacement Wife

Chapter 25

Chapter 25

The days passed by like a blur and like as usual. Waking up every 7:00 in the morning, help my mother prepare for breakfast, getting myself ready for work, come home at 5:00, cook for dinner, and sleep, and then wake up the next morning doing the same routine. I thought this day would be the same, but I guess not when I was awakened by the loud ringing of my phone on my bedside table.

Naalipungotan ako. Bumuntong hininga muna ako bago sinipat ang wall clock at nakitang ala una pa ng madaling araw! Sino ba'ng timang ang tatawag sa ganitong oras?!

Bumangon ako at inabot ang aking cellphone. Hindi ko na tinignan kung sino ang tumawag dahil sa antok at wala sa sarili kong sinagot ang tawag.

"He... hello?" bangag at inaantok pang bati ko.

"Happy birthday daw sabi ni Facebook, Elaine Satanas!"  The person greeted from the other line, enthusiastically.

Kinusot ko ang mata ko habang naka-kunot ang noo.

"Sino ka?" I asked sleepily.

"Bangag ka pa din, girl? Did I wake you up?" He chuckled.

Mas lalong kumunot ang noo ko at tinignan ang cellphone ko. Muntikan ko pa itong mabitiwan nang makitang si Travis ang tumatawag. Tuloyan nang nagising ang diwa ko nang ibinalik ko ulit ang cellphone sa aking tenga.

"Travis!"

"The one and only," mayabang na ani'ya.

"I didn't expect that it would be you! How did you know it's my birthday?" I asked, surprised.

"Sa Facebook. Nag-notif. Ano? May nomi ba mamaya?"

"Don't tell me you called me in the middle of the night just to asked for that?"

"Hindi ka naman mali." Humalakhak siya.

"Bwesit ka. Punta ka nalang dito mamaya kung gusto mo," I said and yawned.

"Sure. See you later, then. Happy birthday, Elaine. Sorry for waking you up," malumanay na ani'ya.

"Nah, it's fine. Thank you, Travis. See you!"

"Bye na! Ayaw ko pa ma—," his voice was then suddenly placed by the tooting sound.

Ngumiwi ako at binaba ang cellphone. Humiga ulit ako at tumitig sa ceiling. What now? Nawala na ang antok ko. Pahirapan na naman ito sa pagtulog.

I then glanced at the mini calendar on the bedside table. July 23. I heaved a sigh and smiled gently. I'm already 25 and yet I still felt like I'm not.

I wonder how this day would turn out?

Hindi ko namalayan na nakatulogan ko pala ang pag-iisip. Nang magising ako ay mainit at maliwanag na ang paligid at maingay na sa baba.

Unconsciously, I took my phone from the bedside table and turned it on. I scroll through the messages I received from other people who greeted me, and replied them my gratitude. But then I sighed. No matter how many texts I have received, nararamdaman ko pa ding may kulang. I don't know what it is or I just don't want to admit myself what is it.

I sighed again as I lazily got myself up and walked towards the bathroom to take a shower.

Nang matapos ako sa pagligo at tuloyan nang nakapag-bihis ay saka na ako bumaba. Combing my hair as I made my way down the stairs, I saw my mother holding a plate of foods as she's about to tread towards the pool area, kung saan din nagmula ang mga boses ng kung sino.