TUMAYO si Carly mula sa pagkakaupo sa may couch nang makitang papalapit ang taong sinadya nya sa malaking mansyon.
"Carly, anong ginagawa mo rito?" Her cousin asked. Tumingin ito sa may wrist watch at muling ibinalik ang tingin sa kanya.
"I'm sorry kung nakaistorbo---"
"No, you didn't. Don't apologize. Nagtataka lang ako dahil medyo malaim na ang gabi. It was really out of your character to visit this late. " Ngumiti ito sa kanya at niyakap say nang makalapit.
She smiled. Serena is so sweet.
"Please take a seat. " Saad nito.
"Do you want anything? Drinks?"
Umiling sya.
Kinuha nya ang isang invitation letter at nilapag sa may center table.
"It's Lolo's birthday party. He's expecting you, Chase and Dark to attend his party. " She said.
Kinuha ni Serena ang invitation at sinipat. Tumango ito at ngumiti.
"We'll be there. Thank you for this. " Nakangiting untag nito.
"Tinawagan mo na lang sana ako or pinadala mo na lang ito. Naabala ka pa. "
She shook her head.
"Don't worry about it. I want to personally give that to you. " She assuringly said.
Tumayo sya at isinabit ang bag sa balikat.
"I have to go---"
"Am I interrupting something?" Sabay silang napalingon sa baritonong boses na iyon.
It was Declan, Serena's husband.
Napatayo ang pinsan nya nang makita ang asawa.
Nakasuot ito ng puting long sleeves, three of the upper buttons were undone. Nakatupi ang mga sleeves nito hanggang siko habang ang coat naman ay hawak nito gamit ang isang kamay. Mukhang kakauwi lang nito galing sa trabaho.
Kumunot ang noo nya. It's already late in the evening. Siguro ay may pinuntahan muna ito bago umuwi.
Declan walked to his wife, encircled his arm on her waist and kissed her lips softly.
"Where's Dark?" Tanong nito habang nakayakap pa rin ang braso sa asawa.
"He's already sleeping. " Serena answered while gently brushing her husband's hair.
Napangiti sya habang tinitignan ang dalawa. This lovely couple. Hindi nya maiwasan ang makaramdam ng inggit. She keeps reminding herself the reason why she's with Train, a pragmatic marriage, a loveless marriage but still, she's hoping. She's hoping that maybe...it will become real.
"Naistorbo ko ba kayo?"
She was back from her deep thoughts when she heard Declan talked.
"No, you didn't. Paalis na rin ako. " Maagap nyang sagot.
"I didn't see your car outside. You took a cab?"
"Baka hinatid sya ni Train. I guess he will also fetch you, right?" Serena asked.
She forced herself to smile and she knows it didn't even reach her ears.
"I saw Train in the bar. He was having a serious talk with Elaine. "
Natigilan sya sa narinig mula kay Declan. So he really went there to meet his other woman.
She smiled bitterly and shook her head.
"Chase..." May babala sa tinig ni Serena nang kuhanin ang atensyon ng asawa.
"What?" He innocently asked.
"Where's your sensitivity?" Napailing ang pinsan nya at muli syang hinarap.
"I'm sorry about that. " She apologetically said.
"It's okay. " Pilit ang ngiti sa mga labi ni Carly.
May nakita syang emosyon na dumaan sa mga mata ni Serena. It was pity. Mabilis itong nawala at ngumiti sa kanya.
"Would you mind if I ask you to have some coffee with me? I know a coffee shop. You will surely love their coffee. "
Hindi nya inasahan ang narinig mula kay Serena.
"Yeah... I mean sure. Pero sigurado ka ba? Like what you just said it's already late. " Nag-aalangang tanong nya.
Serena smiled at her.
"I'll just get my keys. " Bago pa sila nito tuluyang talikuran ay pinigilan na ito ni Declan sa braso.
"Lalabas kayo?"
Serena nodded.
Declan scanned her from head to toe. He raised a brow then shook his head.
"Tss, as if I will let you. "
Tinignan ni Carly ang suot ni Serena. She's wearing a sleeveless top, shorts and flip-flops.
"I didn't stop you when you told me that you'll be drinking with your friends and now you're stopping me?" Sita ni Serena sa asawa.
Napakamot ito.
"I'm not stopping you baby. Don't be mad. " Ipinulupot nito ang mga braso sa asawa at hinalikan sa ulo.
"Sasamahan ko na kayo. "
"Magpalit na lang kaya ako ng damit?"
"Tss, kahit anong suotin mo, sasama pa rin ako. It's dangerous outside lalo na at medyo malalim na ang gabi. "
Aangal pa sana si Serena kaya mabilis na syang sumabat.
"I'm fine with that. Isama na lang natin si Declan. " Nilingon sya ng dalawa.
Declan smiled at her while Serena was looking at her with questions in her eyes.
She smiled and nodded to assure her that it was really fine with her.
Nagbilin muna ang dalawa sa mga kasambahay. They also checked their son before they decided to leave. Serena is now wearing a fitted white shirt and pants. Si Declan naman ay nakasuot na ng grey shirt at cargo shorts.
Matapos mailagay ang mga order nila sa lamesa ay biglang tumayo si Declan. Kinuha nito ang sariling kape at tinignan ang asawa.
"Mauupo lang ako dun. " May tinuro itong pwesto sa di kalayuan na malapit sa glass wall.
"It looks like you have an important thing to discuss. Just call me when you need something. " Declan planted a kiss on Serena's hair. Nilingon sya nito at ngumiti.
"Hindi lang kasi ako mapakali kapag lumalabas ang asawa ko lalo na at gabi na. After everything that happened, I can't help but to worry about her and our son's safety. "
Tumango sya.
"Naiintindihan ko. "
She truly understand. When she heard about what happened to Serena years ago, hindi nya maiwasan makaramdam ng awa para sa pinsan nya. She'd been through a lot. She suffered because of those greedy people around her. Declan and her both suffered before they got the happiness that they're experiencing right now. Naiintindihan nya kung bakit ganun na lang ang pag aalala ni Declan kay Serena. He's afraid to lose her again not that he will let that happen.
Hindi nya na napansin na umalis na si Declan at taimtim na nakatingin sa kanya si Serena.
She smiled.
"You're lucky to have him. "
"I know. I'm so in love with him. " Serena smiled and took a glance at her husband.
She's really happy for her cousin. Carly took a sip on her coffee.
"You can open up with me Carly. Alam kong may problema ka. Handa ako makinig. "
She stared at her for a moment. She sighed and put the coffee back on the table. Maybe all she needs right is someone who will listen to her.
"Can I ask you something?"
Serena nodded.
"Who's Elaine in Train's life?" She bravely asked.
She needs to know the truth. Alam nyang kaibigan din ni Serena si Train at Elaine pero umaasa sya na sasabihin sa kanya ni Serena ang totoo. She deserves to know the truth.
#hh