WIFE SERIES: Tears Of A Wife

Kabanata 19

Halos hindi ko na marinig ang lahat ng ingay na nililikha ng sasakyan mula sa trapiko sa kahabaan ng EDSA. Halos hindi na rin ako makahinga sa antisipasyon na dulot ng pangyayaring naging dahilan kung bakit kami magkasama ni Daddy ngayon sa loob ng kaniyang sasakyan.

My heart was beating wildly. Mas mabilis at mas malakas na hindi ko alam kung ano ang dapat kong gawin. I was out of words when my Dad asked me to go out with him. Mabilis akong nagbihis. Iniwan ko rin si Jenny sa unit na tulog. Nag-iwan lang ako ng note para sa kaniya. I knew it was crazy trusting a person that you just met but my instinct was telling me to. The fact was . . . I saw myself to Jenny. The pain and suffering. We may had different sentiments, but we were the same. We were wounded. We were wounded by the man we love.

Habang nasa biyahe ay panay ang sulyap ko kay Dad. Naroon pa rin ang awra niyang galit ngunit alam kong pinipigilan niya ang sarili para na rin sa akin. As much as possible, he wanted to talk to me in private, which I know was the best for the situation where I was in. Hindi ko man alam kung paano niya nalaman, ang importante ay matapos na ang lahat ng pagpapanggap ko. Kinakabahan man ngunit tanggap ko na kung ano man ang magiging pasya ni Dad para sa akin.

We arrived in our home at Corinthian Gardens in QC. Tulad ng dati ay tahimik pa rin ang mansion at pawang caretaker lamang ang naroon. It was a one-story house. Fully furnished at renovated na ang bahay kaya mas lalo pang gumanda ito nang palitan ng glass wall ang halos kalahati ng bahagi nito. May malaking fountain sa malawak na entrada ng bakuran na napalilibutan naman ng bermuda grass at mga bougainvillea plants sa gilid ng gate maging sa palibot ng bahay.

I kept my silence when we entered the mansion. No doubt of its grandeur. The modern Victorian style interior was what impressed me the most. White and black combination with a touch of gold. A big chandelier on the ceiling and the beautiful painting of my mother tagged on the wall.

Four rooms and all in old Victorian style. One office room which was personally requested and designed by my father. A wide kitchen room was connected to our greenhouse. Two living rooms for any special occasions and one liquor room.

Napakaenggrande at nakamamangha kung maituturing ang aming bahay. Ngunit napakalungkot naman nito kapag wala ako at si Daddy. My dad usually spend his night in my grandmother’s house. Sa ganoong paraan man lang daw ay maipakita niya sa lola ko na kahit kailan ay hindi niya papalitan si Mommy. Habang ako naman ay minsan lang din kung dumalaw.

Lahat din ng parte ng mansion ay may bakas ni Atlas. He was the one who designed the new renovation. Atlas was an architect and a superior in his league. Mula pa noon, alam kong magaling siya at magtatagumpay. Na hindi ako nagkamali. He was well-known in his job. Isa sa pinakabatang arkitekto sa buong Luzon. He got an offer abroad. Ang pinakahuli ay ang Burj Khalifa sa Dubai.

“In my office, Olive.”

Natigil ang anumang iniisip ko nang magsalita si Daddy. I instantly looked at him behind me. Mariin ang titig nito sa akin. Para bang inaarok ang aking buong pagkatao. My dad was a good man, but he was dangerous when needed.

“Y-Yes, Dad,” sagot ko. Kinagat ko pa ang ibabang labi dahil sa pagkakabulol. I might be strict in aura but I lost words when it comes to my father. Iginagalang ko rin ito dahil iyon ang dapat para sa isang ama.

“Good. Wait for me inside,” wika nito. Kapagkuwan ay hinarap naman nito ang bodyguard at minanduhan.

Tumango ako kahit hindi na iyon nakita ni Daddy. Iniwan ko rin ito sa sala kasama ang mga bodyguard nito. I walked directly to his office near the guestroom. Mabagal ang mga hakbang ko nang tuluyang makapasok sa loob. Bumungad kaagad sa aking mga mata ang aliwalas ng lugar maging ang kasimplehan nito.