With Strings Attached

Chapter 6: Unhand

She lowered her head.

I turned to Johann. "I know you're just being welcoming and I appreciate it. It is my fault that my husband reacted the way he did. Sinabi ko kasi sa kanya na hindi ako komportable nang hinahawakan."

"Oh, no, it's okay. You don't have to explain, Aiyla—is it all right if I call you Aiyla?"

"Ate Aiyla."

"Ate Aiyla," he repeated. "Pasensya na po, Ate, kung feeling close ako."

"Close naman talaga tayo because we're cousins by marriage. Anyway, I am curious about this Chinese actress you told me about—"

"Well, well, well...look who's here?" a tall, elegant woman in black jumpsuit appeared. Her hair was short with blond highlights and she was wearing a pair of gold hoop earrings. "Bakit ngayon ka lang nagpakita sa akin, ha?" she asked before hitting Ayden lightly on the shoulder.

My husband laughed. "Aba, teka, ikaw itong tatlong taong nagtago sa New York 'tapos ako ang may kasalanan?"

"At sa tatlong taon na 'yun ay hindi ka man lang tumawag," the woman whose voice I recognized said.

So, this is Crystal...

"Hi," she said turning to me. "I am Crystal, Ayden's cousin." She bumped her cheek against mine.

Sounds like a gold digger to me... her words repeatedly played inside my head.

I smiled. "I'm Aiyla, Ayden's wife," I replied.

I saw how her brow slightly rose before she returned my smile. "It's great to finally meet you," she uttered with saccharine sweetness before she turned to Ayden. "Anyway, nakalimutan kong sabihin, hinahanap ka pala ni abuelo kanina."

"Bakit daw?" my husband asked.

"I don't know."

Ayden took my hand in his. "Sweetheart, let's go find Lolo Felipe—"

"Leave your wife with us, ano ka ba naman?" Crystal said. "Are you going to bore her to death by having her listen as you men talk about business? Take Johann with you at hayaan n'yo kaming mga babae rito."

"But—"

"Go. Papaghintayin mo pa talaga si abuelo?"

Ayden kissed me briefly on the cheek. "I'll be quick."

I nodded.

"Can we talk?" Crystal issued as soon as the men were out of earshot.

Without a word, the three other women left.

"I hope my frankness does not offend you. I know that you heard everything. Nakita kitang lumabas ng banyo kanina," she said without preamble. "So, what are you going to do now that you know that Ayden loves someone else?"

I smiled at her. "Why is that any of your business?"

My reply took her by surprise. "Excuse me?"

"Why would I take your word over my husband's?"

"Are you going to keep up with the façade that you and my cousin are in love? That yours isn't a marriage of convenience? That because of your ambition to be a part of our family, you are hurting another woman in the process?"

"As far as I know, I am the only woman in my husband's life. Whatever you want to call our marriage is up to you but it does not change the fact that he married me. And what made you think that we are not in love?"

She started laughing. "Oh, my...you are something else..."

"You got that right. If you think that I am going to leave my husband just because you said so, you're in for a rude surprise. Bakit, sino ka ba?"