THE SUBSTITUTE BRIDE (COMPLETED)

Chapter 20: Her Family

"Magandang araw po Mrs. Torrealba"
The guard greeted her after checking their vehicle.

Mrs. Torrealba. Sounds perfect. Ina can't help but smile at her silly thoughts.

"Magandang hapon din po. Tuloy na po kami."

"Sige po. Ay! ma'am, meron po kayong mga bisita." Napakunot ng noo si Ina. She wasn't expecting someone to visit her today. Well, maybe Kaiser's parents? Ina shrugged.  

"Thank you po."

Pagkatapos niyang bayaran ang taxi driver, masaya siyang naglakad papasok sa kanilang bahay. But, her smile was suddenly swept away upon seeing the familiar car at their garage.

"Oh! Finally! You're here." Her mother stand up to announce their presence.

Then her father spoke. "What took you so long? We've been here for a long period of time. And you're not even answering your phone."

Marahan niyang inabot ang kanyang bag sa isang kasambahay na nakatayo sa gilid ng pintuan. Saka humarap sa mga magulang.

"Why are you here? Nakasilent po kasi ang phone ko."

"Well, may business lang kasi kami sa labas, so we thought of dropping a visit here. So, how are you and your.." nagpalinga-linga sa loob ng bahay nila ang kanyang ina. "Your husband. Is he around?"

"No. Nasa office pa siya. Mamaya pa ang dating niya."

"Hindi kayo sabay? Well I can see why.  You're still not get used to each other."

Ina didn't mind her mother's remark.

"Bakit po ba kayo naparito?"

"Okay, Let's cut the chase. We need your help." diretsang demand ng ina niya.

"My what?" di makapaniwalang tanong ni Ina.

"You need to help us." ulit ng ina niya.

"Again? My help? What is it all about, Mom?" di na mapigilan ni Ina na mairita.

"Mind your mouth Ina. Your being rude to you mother." pagsali ng kanyang ama sa kanilang usapan.

"seriously Dad? We have a deal. Remember? You told me that after the last time na nagkita tayo. Yun na ang huli. But, what is it again? Kulang pa ba yun?"

Her father quickly stand then hindi na niya namalayan ang paglapat ng kamay s kanya ng kanyang ama. Her father's slap made her face turned. Sa sobrang lakas, lumabas ang kanilang mayordoma saka siya nilapitan at inaluhan.

She stand.  "Oh! Why am i not used to it? Slapping me over some little thing I've always done." Ina chuckled. "Ano na naman? Anong kailangan niyo na naman? May kulang pa ba? Hangang kelan niyo ba ako uubusin?"

Hindi na niya mapigilang magtaas ng boses. Habang pilit siyang pinapakalma ng kanilang mayordoma. At kanyang ama ay pilit pinipigilan ng kaniyang ina.

"You shut up Ina. Since when did you learn to speak like that? Huh? Dahil ba may kakampi ka na? Baka nakakalimutan mo, arrange marriage lang kayo ng asawa mo. Kahit na kelan pwede ka niyang iwan. At sa amin ulit ang bagsak mo. So don't be high on me. You should know better."
Singhal sa kanya ng kanyang ina.

"Bakit? Diba kayo naman ang may kagagawan nun? Diba kayo naman ang nagpakana ng lahat? Ginamit niyo lang ako na pamalit kay Irene. Bakit ngaun na nakikita niyong masaya na ko. Sisirain na naman ninyo?! Kelan ba kayo makukuntento?!"

"How dare you!" lumapit sa kanya ang kanyang ina saka siya hinila sa braso. "We are still your family. You have nothing but us. So shut the hell up and just help me." Nasasaktan na si Ina kaya di sinasadyang maitulak niya ng marahan ang kanyang ina kaya napaupo ito. Her father saw what happened kaya agad itong lumapit sa kanya para sampalin. Pero bago pa dumapo sa pisnge niya ang kamay ng kanyang ama, may isang kamay na pumigil dito saka naman nito hinila patalikod si Ina.

"Actually, you're not her family anymore. Ever since the day that she become married to me. You.don't. have. any. rights.left.on.her." may diin sa bawat salita ni Kaiser. Agad namang iwinisik ng kanyang ama ang kamay nitong hawak ni Kaiser saka lumapit sa asawa.

Dahan-dahan nitong inalalayan ang kanyang ina patayo dahil sa kanyang pagkakatulak kanina.

"So, are you proud now Ina? Nakapag-asawa ka lang, nagawa mo na kaming talikuran?!" marahas na sigaw ng kanyang ina.

"I didn't turned my back on you. You know I'm always there for you. You're just taking advantage of me!" maluhang sagot niya. Kaagad siyang niyakap sa tagiliran ni Kaiser.

"Huh! Smart mouth eh? This is the last time that we'll be seeing each other! After this. I don't want to see you anymore.!" takwil sa kanya ng kanyang ama.

Sasagot pa sana si Ina pero si Kaiser na ang nagsalita.

"She doesn't have any reason at all to see you either. You're claiming that you are family, but what have you've ever done to help her? Nothing! I am her family now. I don't want to see you harassing my wife again. Or else, I'll have the police handle you." banta sa kanila ni Kaiser.

"oh! I don't care at all. Matagal-tagal na din akong naiinip kung kelan ka na talaga mawawal sa buhay namin!" sigaw pabalik ng kanyang ina. "Kung hindi lang dahil sa kapatid ko, matagal na kitang.. " hindi na natapos ng kanyang ina ang dapat sana nitong sabihin dahil pinigilan siya ng kanyang ama.

Kaagad siyang kinutuban dahil sa pangyayaring yun.

"Please leave now. This is the last time na makakapasok pa kayo sa bahay namin ng walang pahintulot, otherwise I'll press a charge of trespassing the next time around." pagpapaalis sa kanila ni Kaiser.

Kaagad naman lumabas ng walang paalam ang kanyang mga magulang. At ng hindi na nila ito matanaw, kaagad siyang ikinulong ni Kaiser sa mga bisig nito. She can't help but to cry a river over what happened. Then Kaiser caress her hair gently.

"I'm sorry wife, I'm late." Kaiser pressed his lips on her head. Napatango na lang siya at patuloy na umiiyak.