KUMATOK SI Dana sa pinto. Kelly sighed and rolled to the other side of the bed.
"Ma'am, may pinabibigay po si Sir Caleb sa inyo, " sabi nito. Napatigil siya at sinilip ang oras sa bedside. 7:00 am. How early is that.
She took her lotus silk robe before she opened the door. Bumungad sa kan'ya si Dana na malaking ngiti ang nakaplaster sa labi habang may buhat-buhat na malaking kahon.
"He went here?" she asked and opened her phone, wondering why he didn't call or message.
"Kanina, Ma'am. Pero umalis rin po agad. "
Tumango siya at kinuha ang dala nito. Ilang beses niya pa iyong tinitigan, nag-iisip kung anong nasa loob. In her excitement, she immediately went to her wash room to do her morning routine before opening the box. Her forehead creased when she saw that it was an international package.
Her eyes glistened when she saw the shiny mulberry silk pillowcases in variety of colors. She even saw some silk chemises nightwear. Well, she doesn't know how to react to that last one.
She was over the top because of the sleep products. She's really careful with her skin and hair that she only use expensive silk, sometimes Cashmere, Vucanna or Momme. She really wanted a mulberry silk but sometimes, it was hard to avail the hundred percent authentic given that it is one of the rarest, finest and expensive silk. It was usually used in royals' sheets and clothings.
Thank you for the presents. I'm in felicities now.
She was shocked to see how fast Caleb replied to her.
Caleb:
No worries.
Caleb:
I'm going to Vietnam today. Take care on your out of town.
Ngumuso siya. Matatagalan ba?
Ako:
You should've wake me up.
I didn't say my goodbyes! What if he's going to stay there for a week?
Caleb:
It's 6 in the morning when I went to your house. Don't want to disturb you at your rest.
Nag-isip siya bago muling nagtipa ng mensahe.
Ako:
Kailan ka uuwi?
Katulad ng mga nagdaan nilang palitan ng mensahe, sa tanong niyang 'yon ay natagalan itong sumagot. Baka matagal talaga itong uuwi at ayaw lang sabihin sa kan'ya.
Minutes passed, she was already annoyed for waiting like a fool so she just left her phone on her bed and fixed her luggage. Mauuna ang Kuya niya at ang pamilya nito sa pag-alis. She was really against at it because it would be the kids' first time in normal flights. Wala na siyang nagawa nang si Eli na rin ang nagdesisyon na ganoon.
While she, her parents.. and others, would ride in their private plane. Hindi niya kilala ang others pero may idea naman siya.
Hindi na rin siya nakatiis at binalikan ang cellphone. Nang makitang may message notification sa locksreen ay agad niya itong binuksan.
Caleb:
Tomorrow. I'll go home tomorrow.
Nanlaki ang mata niya sa nabasa. Bukas!
Caleb:
Can't use my phone now. Plane's starting.
Kaya naman sa mga sumunod na oras ay pasulyap-sulyap lang siya sa cellphone. Maybe he would text or dm her when his flight is over.
"Your Tita Erina is here together with her family, Kel. Stop looking at your phone and greet them, hija. " Napatingin siya sa ina nang marinig iyon at awtomatikong napalingon sa gilid. She saw her Tita Erina, Eli's mother together with Eli's sister. Natanaw rin niya si Lily palapit na may kasamang pamilyar na lalaki. She doesn't know if she clearly knows the guy.. pero hindi na lang siya umimik.
"It's nice to see you again, Tita. " Ngumiti siya sa ginang na agad naman nitong sinuklian. She's somehow close to Eli's mother because she usually hang out at Eli's house before.
Hindi siya ngumiti kay Lily at umirap lang din ito. Attitude.
"Hi. I'm Kelly, " abot niya ng kamay sa lalaki.
The handsome guy with blue eyes smiled a little. "I know. We've met before. "
Doon siya nagulat. Kaya pala pamilyar. Pero saan?
"Saan?" singit ni Lily. Siya naman ngayon ang napairap. Iyon din naman ang itatanong niya.
"At Africa. " Umiwas ng tingin ang lalaki.
Siya naman ay napaiwas din ng tingin, halos gusto na niyang umalis. She remembers now. Because she's a bitch, she once went to Lily's fashion event in Africa to see if the girl's really deserving for the sudden fame. Malapit siya venue noon kaya't pumunta siya. Well, she's just curious. Doon niya yata nakilala ang lalaki. Parehas silang nasa dulong seat ng venue. Siyempre, she was hiding. She's popular. And she doesn't want Lily to know that she was there.
"Oh. I didn't got your name before, that's why. But you're a surgeon, right?"
Pasulyap-sulyap tuloy si Lily sa kan'ya. Napangisi na lang siya lalo nang abutin ng lalaki ang kamay niya.
"I'm Sevi. And yes, I'm a surgeon. General surgeon. " Namamangha siyang tumingin kay Sevi. Iyon ang pangarap niya noon. Makapangasawa ng doctor. Napahagikhik siya sa naisip.
"Then should I call you 'Doc'?" Pang-aasar niya pa kay Lily.
He chuckled, his dimples showing. "Whatever suits you, Ms. Brandon. " Oh my god. He's too handsome! He'll probably be rated as a top tier in charming department! Dagdagan pa na doctor ito.
Siya naman ngayon ang marahan na tumawa. "Kelly na lang, Doc. I guess we're friends, right?"
Tumawa ito, sumasang-ayon. Napatingin tuloy siya kay Lily na nakabusangot lang at kanina pa irap ng irap sa kan'ya.
Don't worry, Lily. I have my own man.
The travel went well. Maliban na lang siguro sa paminsan-minsang pang-iinis sa kan'ya ni Lily. Katulad na lang ng..
"My, I eat well, Tita! Mom told me to start my diet but I really like eating. Well, it comes with exercise too. Gym and all. " Parinig nito matapos sabihin ng ina niya na nagdidiet siya.
"Diet is a basic habitual health nourishment. It is consumed according to prescribed rules. Meaning, it's a must to eat in balance. I mean, too much is bad, right?" Siya naman ngayon ang sumagot.
Nakita na lang niyang napabuntung-hininga ang ina niya at hindi na umimik. Mommy knows their rivalry so she's pretty used to it. Ganoon rin si Tita Erina at Mayumi na tahimik lang. Si Sevi naman ay may nakasalpak lang na air pods sa tenga at sanay na sanay na rin yata.
Lily scoffed. "A one piece of broccoli for lunch isn't a balance at all. " Gumanti pa ito.
She smiled shyly, itinaas ang shades na suot. "Oh, I'm sorry. I don't eat broccoli for lunch kasi. I can't relate.. "
Bahagyang bumuka pa ang bibig nito at sasagot pa sana ulit ngunit kalaunan ay nagdabog lang ito at pairap na nagsuot ng cartweel hat. Natawa na lang siya at bumaba ang tingin sa suot nitong scarf.
"Where did you buy your scarf?" tanong niya nang makitang gusto niya iyon.
Tumingin si Lily sa suot, nag-aalinlangan pang tumingin sa kan'ya.
"Uh, somewhere.. "
Kumunot ang noo niya. "Saan nga?" She wants that one. Wala siyang pakialam kung may kaparehas siya. Basta gusto niya.
Lily rolled her eyes. "You can ask Eli. She gave this to me. This isn't branded like your hermes and cashmeres. Also, look, it's an eco-friendly scarf. " Tila proud pa itong tinanggal ang scarf at pinakita ang bawat hibla sa kan'ya.
Annoyed, she just crossed her arms, hindi na namansin. I promise, once I arrived at the hotel, I'll ask Tito Rex to buy me one! Maghahanap iyon kahit saan!
"Or.. do you want me to ask her?" daldal pa ni Lily sa kan'ya.
Binato niya tuloy ng apple cord si Lily. Umaray ito kaya't nagingiti siyang umayos ng upo. That's what you get for being noisy.
"Attitude.. " bulong pa nito.
Agad siyang tumungo sa hotel suite pagkalapag ng eroplano. Hindi pa man siya nakakapagpalit ng damit ay agad siyang nagbukas ng Instagram para tingnan kung nag message ito.
Pero napatigil siya. They are not following each other!
Kaya naman hinanap niya sa following ni Journey na agad naman niyang nakita.
Wait, why would she the one who will initiate? Pero sige, ayos lang. Ngayon lang naman.
But after three hours, he didn't followed her back. Like.. really? In annoyance, she ended up cancelling it.
"Jerk.. " bulong niya sa hangin bago padabog na hinagis sa kama ang cellphone. Halos lumuwa pa ang mata niya sa kaba nang muntik na itong gumulong pababa sa kama dahil napalakas yata ang hagis niya.
She ended up wearing a Bohemian printed dress for her beach walk later. She doesn't have any plans to swim but she's wearing a two piece under her dress, for many possibilities. Wala rin naman siyang plano makisaya. She's actually here just for formality. It'll be too awkward to join the fun or whatever you call that. She doesn't have anymore hatred towards the pips in the circle but you know, some things won't change overnight.
Her eyebrows furrowed when her phone beeped while she was having a talk with the bellboys who recognized her. She excused herself before opening her phone.
calebjahid: Hey, sorry it took me long. I had an important talk with Madonna.
calebjahid: You having fun there?
calebjahid: Saw a nice ceramic pots here. Do you plant? I'll bring you some.
Napairap siya.
iamkelly: I don't know how to plant. And yes, I'm having fun here. I saw lot of hot foreigners and I heard there's gonna be a party later. I'm thinking of joining.
She replied, clearly ignoring his first message. She doesn't give a care with the first one.
She saw that there's a moving dots, he's probably typing.
calebjahid: Okay
She groaned and didn't reply anymore! He's probably having a nice conversation with that Madonna whoever is that so his response was bland! Anyway, she's pretty. She can't be insecure with some plain girls. Alright, alright, Kelly. You're beautiful so stop thinking about the girl.
Kelly saw her family having fun near the cottages they rented so she didn't bother going there. She can't relate with their topics naman. Nakita niya rin si Lily at Doc Sevi na nag-aaway yata sa gilid-gilid pero hindi na lang niya pinansin. She doesn't have a time to worry about someone else's love whatnots.
"You didn't changed at all. It's still your hobby to push people away.. " rinig niyang usapan ng dalawa. Halos masuka siya because it's cringe. Nagmadali tuloy siyang lagpasan ang dalawa. Unfortunately, her phone beeped. Napatigil siya sa paglalakad. Nakatingin na ang dalawa ngayon sa kan'ya. Si Lily, namutla nang makita siya. Si Doc Sevi naman ay parang wala lang.
She exaggeratedly gasped like she was really shocked to see them. Napatakip pa siya sa bibig at napalinga-linga sa paligid. Kunwari balisa.
"Oh my.. " she softly muttered. "Oh no.. you guys can go on. I didn't hear anything, I swear.. " Nilagay pa niya ang palad sa dibdib na parang nangangako.
Lily glared at her before walking away. Halos pigilan niya ang tawa dahil sa nangyari. Doc Sevi looked at her apologetically.
He went to her front, like he wanted to say something.
"Do you like me?" he asked straightforward. He was looking at her, his forehead creasing and serious.
"What?" bulalas niya. She was offended! Oh my god.. Who the hell told him that?
He shrugged, like he didn't ask her something confusing.
"Lily told me you like me. I said no but she kept on insisting it. So.. you like me?"
Her lips parted, unable to respond with his question. The hell with them? And Lily! That fake news bitch!
She sighed. "I don't. Lily was mistaken. "
He nodded. "Thanks. See you around. "
Tulala parin siya habang naglalakad ito paalis. This is what she's talking. Thinking about someone's relationship is exhausting!
She was about to go near the kids playing at the sand but she didn't when Eli went to the kids' direction.
"Kuya!" tawag niya sa kapatid. He was sitting at the rattan chair while looking at his family.
He looked at her. He waved his hand at her and tap the space beside him. Umupo siya doon at inalok siya nito ng soda in can.
"Thanks, " kuha niya roon at agad ininom. Ngayon niya lang narealize na sobrang layo pala ng hotel room niya. She's pretty tired already.
"You won't swim?" her brother asked.
She shook her head. "I don't know, maybe. The sun is still up so I won't probably enjoy it. "
Tumango ito. With the silence, she realized that she never apologize to him for badmouthing his wife. She thought it wasn't necessary because she knows that her brother won't get mad at her that long.
"How's the.. a-annulment going?" she carefully asked.
"Hmm. It's going smoothly. "
"Ah.. " nasabi niya na lang. "Y-You won't reconsider it?"
Well, she admits that Eli was not really her cup of tea because of what happened but she can't also imagine her brother getting married again to some.. whatever.
Her brother glanced at her. It feels like he was teasing her!
"I mean, I-I think you both need time to think about it—
"I thought you don't like her?" he cut her off.
Napaismid siya. "I'm just suggesting!" she defended herself.
Ngumisi ito. "That's what Eli wants. "
She rolled her eyes. Fine! She won't bother them anymore!
"I didn't like what you did the last time, Kelly.. " bigla nitong singit sa usapan.
I know. I regret what I did too.
"Just don't get mad at her. She's still my wife.. " sabi nito. It's enough for her to feel bad.
"Fine! Fine! I won't do it again!"
Her brother started telling her what happened in their marriage. It was.. sad. She was listening to him the whole time. She kept on thinking if it will happen to her too. Entering complete in a relationship and exiting broken.
He stood up and patted her head. Bumusangot siya doon dahil nagulo ang buhok niya!
"You should apologize, Kelly. Take your time though. "