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.
"Good morning, Ma," bati ko dahilan para mapatigil siya sa pagla-lakad at nilingon ako.
"Morning, iha." Lumapit ako sa gawi niya.
"Nandito ang mga kaibigan mo. Kanina pa sila'ng mga alas singko. Nandoon sila sa pool area. Puntahan mo sila doon. Dalhin mo ito sa kanila at nang makapag-breakfast na kayo," diretsang ani ni mama at pinasa sa akin ang plato.
Nilagay ko muna ang suklay sa bulsa ng aking shorts at inabot ang plato bago tinignan ang oras sa wall clock. Alas siete na pala! Bakit ang aga nilang pumunta? They've been here for 2 hours?
"Ba't hindi mo ako ginising, Mama?" tanong ko at sumulyap sa kaniya.
"Your father knocked on your room and tried to wake you up. You did not answer at naka-lock ang pinto mo." Bumuntong hininga siya.
"Puntahan mo na ang mga kaibigan mo at baka gutom na ang mga iyon."
Napalingon ako sa pinangga-galingan ng baritonong boses ni Papa at nakita siyang nagbabasa ng diyaryo habang may tasa ng kape'ng nakalapag sa kaniyang harap sa may sala.
"Yes, Pa. Good morning, by the way." I smiled at the both of them. Papa just nodded his head ang gestured me to go while his eyes were fixed on the newspaper he's reading. Mama also nodded before she went out towards the kitchen. Tumalikod na din ako at tumahak patungo sa pool area.
Ngumisi ako nang makita silang apat na nagu-usap at nagtatawanan habang may pinapa-lobong balloons.
"Hi guys!" I greeted at lumapit na sa gawi nila.
Nilapag ko ang pagkain sa bilogang lamesa malapit sa gawi nila na may nakatukod na sarong sa itaas. Nakapamewang ko silang hinarap at tinignan sila sa kanilang ginagawa pagkatapos.
"Elaine!" they exclaimed.
"Oh?" natatawang usal ko.
Before I knew it, I just saw myself in between the girls' arms as they squealed.
"Why are you guys acting like you haven't seen me for years? Teka nga! Hindi ako makahinga at mabibingi ako sa inyo!" awat ko sa kanila.
Bumitiw sila sa akin at naririnig ko ang mala-demonyong tawa ni Kenji mula sa kinatatayuan niya. Sinipat ko siya.
Lumapit siya sa gawi naming apat na may tinatago sa kaniyang likuran. When he stopped in front of me, nagulat ako nang bigla niyang inangat ang kaniyang kamay sa aking ulo at pinasuot ako ng kung ano.
"Happy birthday, Elaine!" they greeted.
Napahawak ako sa party hat na pinasuot nila sa akin at marahang natawa.
"What's this? A children's party?" I chuckled as I surveyed the place.
May mga bandaritas at party hats pa akong nakita along with the balloons sa puwesto nila kanina. What the heck? Just how old do they think I am?! Napailing nalang ako.
"Shut up! Pera naman lahat ni Kenji iyan kaya 'wag ka nang madaming satsat." Humalakhak si Belle.
"Ano pa daw gusto mo, Laine. Ibibigay daw lahat ni Kenji," nakangising saad ni Lily.
"Kapayapaan," I answered without any hesitation.
"Sige. Ipapaalis ko na itong tatlo'ng 'to." Pabirong tinulak ni Kenji ang tatlo paalis dahilan para makatanggap siya ng malulutong na hampas mula kina Belle.
We're still in the middle of joking around when my mother arrived and served as some rice and juice.
"Paki-dala dito ang mga baso, Elaine at kumain na kayo'ng lima," saad ni Mama habang inaayos ang lamesa.
"Ako na, Tita," presenta ni Belle.
Tumulong si Reina sa pag-aayos ng mga kubyertos habang pumasok naman sa loob si Belle para kumuha ng baso gaya ng sabi ni Mama.
"Sumabay na kayo sa amin, Ma," pag-aaya ko at naupo. Pumwesto na din sila Kenji sa harap ng bilog na mesa.
"Tapos na kami ni Eleazar. Sige, dito muna kayo at may lakad pa kami. We'll be back later," Mama said before she left the pool area.
"Kailan dadating ang mga bisita mo, Laine?" tanong ni Kenji at saktong papalapit na din si Belle.
"Not sure. Some of them will come later before lunch, tapos ang iba mamayang hapon o gabi pa," sagot ko sabay abot ng baso'ng nilahad ni Belle.
Umupo si Belle sa tabi ko at tinaasan ako ng kilay. Sinipat ko siya nang may pagtataka.
"Sino ang pupunta?" tanong niya.
"Mga trabahante ko lang sa café at flower shop. Tapos iyong mga ka-trabaho ko na event organizers. Then some relatives and friends."
"Hindi ba pupunta si Z---" bago pa matapos ni Reina ang sasabihin niya ay naunahan na siya ni Lily.
"Let's eat! Marami pa tayong gagawin," she said a bit loudly. Napailing nalang ako at kinuha na ang aking kubyertos.
"I'm still talking," I heard Reina whispered in Lily's ears.
"Wala akong pake. Manahimik ka diyan," Lily whispered back.
Nagpatay malisya na lamang ako at nag-kunwaring hindi naririnig ang bulongan ng dalawa.
Alam ko kung sino at kung bakit ganoon ang inakto nila. These past days, I tried to neglect from my mind any thoughts about him to avoid myself from getting hurt. Pero kahit ano man ang subok ko, hindi ko palaging maiiwasan iyon. Because now, subconsciously, I was thinking about him...again.
Before my thoughts could even go deeper, I immediately stopped myself from thinking and focused myself on the other things, like these people in front of me.
Ngumiti ako nang marahan habang tinitignan silang apat na nagbi-biroan na naman.
We've decided beforehand that we would held a pool party for my birthday. The party will end up till night. I helped them on arranging things and instructing them on how to design the pool area. Belle and Reina was the one assigned with the foods and drinks.
Around 10:00 when we finished arranging the pool so we decided to help the other two from cooking. Nagsi-datingan na din ang iba hindi kalaunan.
"Happy birthday!" every one of them said whenever they stepped in the house. I chuckled and uttered my endless thanks to their endless greetings.
Kinuha ko mula sa bulsa ng aking shorts ang cellphone ko nang maramdamanng nag-vibrate ito. There was a text message from Travis. I immediately swiped the screen to open it.
Travis:
Sorry, Laine. Can't come. An emergency came up. Bawi nalang ako next time. Happy birthday ulit, Elaine Satanas!
Napangiwi ako sa nang mabasa ang Satanas. Could he please stop calling me that? I immediately typed my reply.
Ako:
Okay lang, 'no. Thank you, Trav.
Most of them enjoyed their selves on the pool and some enjoyed barbecuing and chatting with anyone else.
I even saw Kenji and Lily splashing the water on their faces and laughed with each other. Belle and Reina was still busy with the foods and joking as well with some visitors. Ako naman ay lumilibot sa bawat tables na nasa pool area para sumali sa mga usapan at makipag-biroan sa kanila.
Nagku-kulay kahil na ang kalangitan at nakasindi na din ang mga series lights na nilagay namin across the pool.
"Elaine," tawag ni Mama.
With a smile still plastered on my face, I faced her and raised my brows questioningly. Sinulyapan ko ang kaibigan ko as I excused myself and went towards my mother.
"Ano iyon, Ma?" I asked nang makalapit na sa kaniya.
She smiled at me gently and caressed my hair.
"May naghahanap sa iyo sa labas," marahang saad niya.
"Who?" nagtatakang tanong ko.
Kung bisita ito ay agad na itong pinapasok ni Mama o di kaya dumiretso na ito dito sa loob.
"I don't know who she is but I think I saw her somewhere. Mukhang importante ang pakay," she said.
Napaisip ako doon. Was it Mathilde? Kung siya man, ano na naman ang pakay niya? Napalunok ako at tinignan si Mama bago tumango.
"Okay. Pupuntahan ko po. Where's Papa, by the way?"
"Nagi-impake. Nag-impake ka na ba? Maaga tayo bukas," pagpa-alala niya. Sinagot ko siya ng isang tango bago nagpa-alam na pupuntahan muna kung sino man iyong nasa labas.
Wala sa sariling tinahak ko ang daan palabas ng bahay, kakaisip ng mga posibilidad kung sino man iyong naghahanap sa akin. My heart was booming undeniably loud and fast. I know I shouldn't bother thinking too much about this, but I feel like whoever the person is, he or she won't tell something good.
All the possible people I thought about vanished and my mind went blank when I opened the gates and saw no one from what I supposed to see. Instead, I saw the person I least expected.
"Oh," I uttered surprised---no, more like stupefied.
"Good afternoon, Ma'am Elaine."
Hindi ko mapigilan ang sarili ko at halos mapaatras sa gulat at pagtataka. What is she doing here? Ano'ng kailangan niya sa akin?
In front of me stood Zeiger's secretary, still wearing her business attire; slacks, coat, and a polo shirt beneath. Bumaba ang tingin ko sa brown envelope na hawak niya bago ako ulit nag-angat ng tingin sa kaniyang mukha.
"G-Good afternoon." Tumikhim ako.
"Ano'ng maitutulong ko sa iyo?" I asked as I tried to stretch a smile on my lips.
Nilahad niya sa akin ang envelope kaya napatingin ulit ako doon. With trembling hands, I slowly tried to reach for it.
"Ano 'to?" I asked nang makuha na ito.
I flipped it to its back to search if there's something written on it, but there was none.
"Hindi ko po alam. Pinapabigay po ni Mr. Alcante," marahang saad niya.
Sumulyap ako sa kaniya at agaran siyang yumuko para umiwas ng tingin. Bumuntong hininga ako at nagbaba ulit sa envelope na hawak-hawak ko.
I stared at it blankly. I don't want to open it, but I know that I have to.
Pumikit ako at napabuga ng mabigat na hininga bago ito dahan-dahang binuksan. When the envelope opened, I immediately took the paper from it. And for what I saw, I thought my heart dropped.
Napa-uwang ang labi ko habang mabilis na pinasadahan ng tingin ang nakasulat sa papel. Bumigat at bumilis ang aking hininga. Unconsciously, I slightly held onto the paper and envelope tightly dahilan para magusot ito ng kaunti.
Napakagat ako sa pang-ibabang labi ko at mapaklang tumawa. My eyes heated up. My heart's clenching painfully. I even need to swallow because I feel like there's a lump on my throat hindering me to breathe properly.
Decree of Annulment. What a nice birthday gift you got for me, baby.
I gulped a sob before I slowly looked into Zeiger's secretary. There was curiosity etched in her eyes and it was like she was stopping the urge to ask about what did Zeiger sent to me.
"Do you have a pen?" napapaos na tanong ko.
Agad siyang tumango at natatarantang kinapa ang bulsa ng coat at slacks niya. She pulled a pen from her slacks and immediately gave it to me. Tinanggap ko ito bago naglakad patungo sa hood ng kotse niya bilang suporta para maka-pirma.
Biting my lip as I tried to kept back the tears in my eyes, I swiftly signed above my name. Nakita ko ding nakapirma na si Zeiger.
Pinasadahan ko ng huling beses ang papel bago ito pinasok sa loob ng envelope at humarap sa secretary na nanatili sa kaniyang kinatatayuan at tinatanaw lang ako.
I smiled at her and handed her the pen and the envelope. Lumapit siya sa akin at tinanggap iyon.
"Thank you," I said.
"Walang anuman po, Ma'am Elaine. I'll be going now," pagpaalam niya na agad kong tinanguan.
Lumapit ako sa gate at tinanaw nalang ang pagpasok ng sekretarya sa kotse mula doon. Bumisina siya bago tuloyang umalis.
Nang hindi ko na matanaw ang kotse ng sekretarya niya, tuloyan na akong nanghina at napaupo sa tabi ng daan. I hugged my knees as I leaned my forehead on it. The tears that I've been holding back, fell profusely. The sobs that I tried to gulped down was now uncontrollable. My heart that I thought was now fine, felt like it was stabbed by a thousand of knives, making it bleed more than it already was.
The pain was unbearable. I just want it to end already. I just want everything to be fine. I want myself to be fine as I was before.
I thought if I end this marriage, it would at least end the pain I'm feeling as well. But I was wrong. Even though I knew he'll gave me an annulment paper to sign since the beginning of all of this, I still didn't expect that it would hurt like this. That it would break me like this.
I also thought that I would be facing him in the court but I almost forgot that he's Zeiger Drake Alcante. He can do everything and with just a simple pull of a string, everything would fall and go as he please.
Nag-angat ako ng tingin at pinunasan ang aking mukha nang nanginginig ang kamay. Tuloyan nang sinakop ng kadiliman ang buong paligid. Ang tanging nagbibigay ng ilaw ay ang buwan at mga ilaw ng bahay.
I looked up and stared at the night sky. The moon was shinning bright along with the stars beside it.
I promise, this would be the last time that I'd cry for him. For Athena, myself, and for anyone around that cares for me.
Tumayo ako at pinagpagan ang shorts. I shouldn't stay here and keep sulking and weeping over and over again. There's a joyous party held inside the house for me, and yet I am here crying my sadness out. I have to get inside and join them.
Lumingon ako sa gate at magsisimula na sanang maglakad, but I halted when I saw Papa, standing near the gates as he gazed at me icily.
"P-Pa, kanina ka pa po diyan?" gulat na usal ko.
Lumapit siya sa akin. Before I could even said another word, my Papa pulled me and slammed me on his chest as his warm arms embraced me. He then gently caressed my head.
Nanlalaki ang mata ko sa gulat ngunit kalaunan ay nanginig na naman ang labi ko at tumulo na naman ang panibagong luha. Damn it! Bakit ba ang bilis kong umiyak?!
"Papa... I... I'm...I..." I hugged him tighter.
"Shh. It's okay. Just tell me about everything tomorrow. Calm down, Elaine. It's your birthday, you should be happy," he said.
Napabitiw ako sa kaniya at tinignan siya. That wasn't the reaction I expected from him. I expected that he would tell me how stupid I am and how right he is that it's not right marrying Zeiger. But then he's looking at me now with gentle eyes.
"Go on inside. You shouldn't leave the party dahil ikaw ang selebrante." He pointed the gates.
Napalunok ako at pinunasan ulit ang aking mukha. I smiled at him weakly and hugged him one last time.
"Birthday, anak," Papa said.
"Where's the happy?" I asked.
"Are you happy?"
"Not really," I admitted.
"Now you know why there's no happy," he answered. I chuckled with that as I let go.
"Thank you, Papa."
"Sure. Let's go inside," saad niya at nilagay ang kamay ko sa kaniyang braso para alalayan ako.
Surprisingly, the night ended fine. And I could say that I genuinely felt better with those warming smiles I've seen from my friends.
It wasn't the happiest birthday I have, but it made me somewhat happy having everyone here with me even though the two most important people in my life wasn't here beside me.
_________
A/N:
(Belated) Happy birthday, my Elaine!
Dapat talaga kahapon ako maga-UD. Pero na-busy ako kasi birthday din ni Mama haha. So, yeah! Hope you like it po.