Dance Forever

Chapter 10

Chapter 10
Hindrance

"Belle doesn't take a bath everyday. Tuwing makalawa mo siya paliguan. May banyo na sa loob ng kwarto ni Belle. Nandoon ang shampoo niya. Just read the labels."

I'm lecturing Belle's nanny right now bago ako pumasok sa trabaho. I can't just leave nang hindi niya alam kung ano ang mga tama at dapat gawin kay Belle.

"Belle likes to drink milk every morning, afternoon and before she goes to sleep. Hindi mo na siya kailangang painumin ngayong umaga dahil nagawa ko na 'yon kanina." sabi ko. "Feed her some treats after she drinks her milk tapos saka po painumin ng kunting tubig. Nasa top cupboard ang treats ni Belle. Makikita mo naman yun agad. Kunti nalang 'yon pero bibili kami mamaya."

Tumango-tango naman siya habang nagt-take note nang mga sinasabi ko. It's great that she's an attentive listener.

"Belle's wearing her everyday clothes right now. May pantulog din siya at may pang-alis. Pero kapag nakita mong parang tinatanggal niya ang damit niya, tanggalin mo agad. It means she wants to be naked." sabi ko. "Always pet her, okay? Para na rin malaman niyang ikaw ang mag-aalaga sa kaniya. She doesn't bite so don't worry. Mahiyain lang talaga siya sa ibang tao."

Nang maging panatag na ang loob ko na iwan si Belle sa kaniyang nanny ay niyaya ko na si Vini. He still waited for me para sabay parin kaming pumasok at maihatid niya ako.

"You look so constipated." natatawang sabi ni Vini.

"Kinakabahan lang ako." sabi ko. "First time nating iiwanan sa Belle sa isang taong hindi natin kilala."

"You don't have to worry, Bells." he said. "I hired a nanny from one of the best companies here in the Philippines. She's well trained. Calm yourself down." he assured me.

I did what he told me. I calmed myself down.

When we got to Belle Danse, he bid me a quick and soft kiss on my lips before I went out of the car.

"Ma'am, there's someone waiting for you inside your office." my secretary informed me.

Napatigil naman ako nang dahil sa sinabi na 'yon ng secretary ko. There's someone waiting for me? Ang alam ko'y wala naman akong naka-schedule na meeting ngayon. Wala rin namang nagmessage sa akin na may makikipagkita sa akin.

"Sino daw siya?" I asked her.

"She said that she's Ms. Buenaventura, Ma'am." magalang na pagsagot nito sa akin.

Bahagya namang nanlaki ang aking mga mata. What is she doing here?

Nagmadali akong buksan ang pintuan ng aking office. And there I saw her, sitting in my office's couch.

"Valeen." I called her name.

She smiled when she saw me and stood up from her sit.

"Bella... It's nice to see you again." pagbati niya sa akin.

"Uhm... Same." sabi ko nalang. "Upo tayo." pag-aya ko't umupo na ako sa kaniyang tabi.

"Thank you." she said bago humarap ng maayos sa akin. "Kamusta kayo ni Vini?" she asked me.

"Okay naman kami." nag-aalangan kong sagot.

"That's great then." tumango-tango siya. "Your husband's still not talking to me. He's still so distant."

Napalunok naman ako sa kaniyang sinabi. Is she here to talk to me about my husband?

"Have you tried reaching out or contacting him?" I asked.

"Yes, I did but... I guess hindi niya pa rin ako napapatawad sa nagawa ko sa inyong dalawa noon." she said and tried to smile.

Tumango-tango naman ako. "How 'bout Kaileen?" I asked her about her daughter.