Kabanata 22
Bitter
The mansion was tensed.
Daniella was still on the mansion.
Hindi siya mapilit ni Daxiel Gustav Jr. na umalis ng pamamahay na ito. Wala naman akong pakialam sa kanya. She can stay if she wants, but this house won't bend for her whims.
In this mansion, I'm the lawmaker and there couldn't be two gods. One is, for sure, playing the fool.
I am very much hospitable with guests and I always treat them with utmost care. The thing is, she isn't a guest. She's a trespasser who wants to takeover the house of the host.
It was harder for the people who are working for me.
Sila iyong naiipit sa trabaho. They were the ones being harassed when her requests weren't followed. I was tempted to give them a paid vacation, but they were the ones who refused.
Daxiel Gustav Jr. was the most stressed with the setup with his mother. They kept having arguments, loud on Daniella's part.
Mahilig siyang sumigaw kapag nakikipagtalo. She's always shouting whenever she wants her point to come across.
Napailing ako. Loud doesn't mean right. Naaawa rin ako kay Daxiel kung paano niyang tratuhin.
Is that the woman who raised him? Are mothers supposed to be like that? Iisa ang hulma nila ng aking ina. Bakit ba ang hilig mag-anak ng mga tao na hindi naman kayang mahalin ang ibang tao bukod sa sarili?
As a woman, I was sad for my mother's misfortunes in life and the things that she had endured in a society catering men. I sympathized with her. But as a daughter, there was a resentment I felt growing up...
Ganoon pa man, ginawa ko lahat para ipagamot siya noon at para bayaran ang mga utang niyang naiwan. I still did what I had to do even if it wasn't my responsibility... even if she didn't do her parenting right.
Honestly, I'm glad she was dead.
It was already late at night. Hindi ako makatulog ng wala si Daxiel sa tabi ko. Mula nang dumating siya at kumain ng hapunan, tumungo agad siya sa opisina. There seemed to be a problem.
Most of the time, he doesn't bring his work at home.
Madalas na naglalandian na lang kaming dalawa tuwing gabi at nagsasalo sa mainit na halik at pag-iisa ng katawan.
Bumangon ako at nagsuot ng roba upang takpan ang manipis kong nightie na suot. Lumabas ako ng aming kuwarto, nadaanan ko pang bukas ang ilaw sa opisina kaya bumaba ako upang magtimpla ng coffee at tea... tea para sa akin.
Tulog na ang mga tao sa buong kabahayan. Daniella was sleeping on the guest bedroom where Daxiel stayed in the early stage. Lumipat na siya sa aking kuwarto kasama ako.
Her companion, Raciela, didn't try to come back in the mansion.
I was smirking.
Pilyo rin naman talaga ang aming furbaby na sumunod sa aking utos. I pampered him with treats right after that.
Nang matapos akong magtimpla ng kape, muli akong umakyat at binaybay ko patungo sa opisina. I knocked on the door before opening it. Daxiel heaved a sigh of relief seeing me.
"Are you busy? Hindi ka pa ba matutulog? Ipinagtimpla kita ng kape."
Tinanggal niya ang suot na salamin. Tumayo siya upang salubungin ako. Ibinaba niya ang tray sa mesa at hinigit ako para sa isang mahigpit na yakap. Hm, ang bango naman ng boyfriend ko.
We stayed hugging like that for a few minutes. Pabor na pabor naman iyon sa akin.
"Mayroon bang problema?"
"Well, there is a problem..." He sighed. "In my father's company."
Oh.
"Hindi ba p'wedeng hayaan mo na lang mag-bankrupt kaysa mamroblema ka?" I asked stupidly.
Well, hindi naman sa akin mapupunta ang perang iyon... So, why would I care?
He chuckled hearing my question. Pinisil niya ang magkabila kong pisngi.
"I have to go to the site before it escalates to a media coverage. Do you want to go with me? You and Gustav the Third."
Naupo siya sa swivel chair, pinaupo naman niya ako sa kanyang lap. I saw the screen of his laptop. It was pictures of the things I have no idea with.
"Hm, are we eloping?" pabiro kong tanong. "Hindi ka makakapagpokus kapag andoon ako dahil puro landi lang ang aatupagin ko. Why don't you go and resolve the issue without me? Alam kong nag-aalala ka sa akin dito, but I'll be fine."
Nag-aalinlangan siya dahil ayaw niya akong iwang mag-isa sa mansyon kasama ang kanyang ina. I'm not totally alone, I have friends in the house. Isa pa, hindi naman ako nagpapaapi.
Ayokong makasagabal kay Daxiel pagdating sa mga kailangan niyang gawin sa kompanya. I want him to succeed in everything he does.
Of course, success in business means more money to come.
"Are you sure? Millaray, I'm worried." Pinaulanan niya ng halik ang parteng batok ko.
"Yes, you don't have to worry about me. I can surely handle fights."
Lumingon ako sa kanya at unti - unti kong nilapit ang aking mukha. I aimed for a kiss and bit his lower lip. Hinaplos ko ang kanyang pisngi.
"Hindi nga ako nagpapatalo sa'yo, sa mommy mo pa kaya?" Ngumisi ako.
"Are you sure about that, Millaray? I'm a loser, maybe. But I still got you." He winked at me.
Muli ko siyang hinalikan sa labi.
He got me... because I wanted him to.
That was basically the plan. It was a win-win for me.
Ininom naman niya ang tinimpla ko sa kanya habang ininom ko rin ang tsaa. Nanatili ako sa opisina niya ng ilang minuto.
Isa sa paborito kong upuan ang lap niya habang nakapulupot ang kanyang kamay sa aking baywang, samantalang ang pinakapaborito ko namang upuan ay ang kanyang mukha.
Hinatid niya ako patungo sa kuwarto namin. Siya na raw ang bahala sa hugasin. He stayed for awhile until I could sleep. May kailangan pa siyang tapusin sa trabaho. Sinubukan kong muling matulog sa kanyang presensya.
Surprisingly, it was easier than earlier when I was alone.
He's really a comfort I needed at night to sleep.
***
Inihatid ko si Daxiel sa airport, maaga kaming umalis ng bahay. I was the one who packed his suitcase. I think the problem is rooted with the quality of materials produced by the construction company of my deceased husband causing accidents in the workplace.
Medyo selective ang napakinggan ko.
Wala naman akong alam gaanong alam sa pagpapatakbo ng negosyo. There are people who do it for me. Isa pa, hindi ko iyon responsibilidad dahil hindi ko naman minana ang kompanya.
Maybe, it was a good thing I didn't get the business... Hindi maganda sa beauty ko ang ma-stress sa iba't ibang isipin sa buhay.
"Will you be really okay? I'll maximize my time to get back here." He squeezed my hand.
Ilang beses na niya akong tinanong niyon, hindi ko na mabilang sa daliri ko. Alalang - alala siya para sa akin. Kung tutuusin, dapat siyang mag-alala sa nanay niya. Hindi ko sasantuhin si Daniella.
Gusto niya ng away? Hindi naman ako madamot, pagbibigyan ko siya.
Konti na lang mahuhulog na ako sa patibong.
His worry was convincing enough. Pakiramdam ko'y totoo ang lahat ng ginagawa niya para sa akin.
"Daxiel, aren't you worried about your mom?" Hindi siya sumagot sa tanong ko. "I'll be fine. Focus on your work while you're there. Call me anytime you're free. Inform me if something happens. 'Wag masyadong pagurin ang sarili, mas mabuti kong may pahinga ka rin, okay?"
Pinisil ko ang kanyang kamay. Humilig ako sa kanyang balikat.
"I'll miss you..." Ngumuso ako. "You. Your tan skin, your sweet smile, so good to me, so right."
He chuckled.
"You're making me fall for a lyric of a song, huh? But I'll miss you so much, baby." Napabuntong hininga siya. "It's going to be for a short while, I'll be back soon. Mabilis lang ako."
Tumango naman ako. Hinaplos niya ang aking pisngi.
"But if mom does something crazy, don't hesitate to call me, I'll come back for you the soonest."
"I will, I promise." Binigyan ko siya ng padamping halik sa pisngi.
Kinabig niya ang ako palapit sa kanya para bigyan nang nararapat na halik sa labi. We kissed passionately as the boarding was announced. He also gave our furbaby a goodbye kiss.
Pinanood ko siya paalis habang buhat ko si Gustav the Third. We were waving at his daddy. Kami lang ang magkasama ng ilang araw sa mansyon at saka iyong ina ni Daxiel.
Kumunot ang noo ko nang biglang bumalik sa direksyon namin si Daxiel. Parang mayroon naman siyang hinahanap. Agad akong nagtanong nang tuluyan siyang makalapit.
"May nakalimutan ka ba?" tanong ko.
"Yeah," he said.
Without warning, I was met with his lips again. Napapikit ako at ninamnam ang bawat hagod ng kanyang labi. Muntikan ko pang mabitiwan ang anak naming nasa mga bisig ko.
I would really miss him... his kisses... his thrusts...
Ramdam ko na agad ang pag-uga ng kama sa pagbabalik niya. Baka buong magdamag kaming nagsasalo sa init ng katawan.
Humanda ka, Daxiel Gustav Jr.! Matitikman mo ang galit ng isang tigang! Charot.
After going to the airport, I went to a restaurant to meet with someone.
***
Patuloy ang komunikasyon namin, agad siyang tumawag nang makalapag ang eroplanong sinasakyan.
Bumalik naman ako sa mansyon na nadatnang inuutos - utusan ni Daniella ang mga kasama namin sa bahay na itapon ang mga kagamitang hindi kaaya - aya sa kanyang paningin. She wanted to renovate the house.
Eh, kung siya itong ipatapon ko? Hindi naman siya kaaya - aya sa paningin ko.
When no one listened to her requests, she threw tantrums.
Sakit sa ulo talaga ang hatid ng matandang walang pinagkatandaan. Napailing na lang ako.
"I was right about you..."
I looked up to see Daniella peacefully interrupting my peace in the living room while playing with our furbaby.
Habang andito siya, madalas ay nasa labas ako ng kuwarto upang bantayan ito sa kanyang kilos. Ayokong madamay sina Maricel sa kanyang pagiging matapobre, demanding at wala sa lugar na panghihimasok.
She wasn't even a visitor in the mansion.
"I knew everything about you... Hindi na ako nagtaka kung bakit mo nakuha ang dati kong asawa---"
"Still bitter about it, Daniella?" Tumaas ang kilay ko. "Ikaw ang lumayo, hindi ba? You wanted your marriage be annulled when Gustav didn't approve of your affair with a business partner who later dumped you because he was exposed and his company could face terrible consequences. You took your son with you... without knowing a single thing."
I smirked seeing her shocked expression.
"You underestimated me," I shook my head slightly. "Mahilig ako sa mga telenobela kaya alam ko ang kalakaran n'yong mayayaman. I knew all about you, too. Everything."
Tumayo ako upang pumantay sa kanya. Actually, I was taller than her even if she got her heels on. I was towering her.
Ngumiti ako.
"Daxiel knew everything about me. Wala akong tinago sa kanya. My past... that I was a dancer at a club and it used to pay my bills. He knew all about it. Even your ex-husband. And you know what, tanggap nila iyon."
Humakbang ako papalapit sa kanya.
"How about you? Does Daxiel even know about it? If he knows, will he accept you despite all your lies?" Hindi nawala ang ngiti ko sa labi. "Hindi mo ako mahahawakan sa leeg sa impormasyong alam ng lahat ng tao sa bahay na ito. Don't threaten me with it."
"You're just the woman who birthed him, Daniella... Ako 'yong gusto... Ako 'yong pinaglalaban kahit mali sa mata ng ibang tao..." buong yabang kong sinabi. "Tone down your bitchiness in my own home, or I'll put you in place."
Her eyes looked angrier than the first time.
"You think I'm gonna let you my son's future for a gold-digging bitch like you? I would never let you win!"
"Hanggang salita ka lang naman. Clearly, I'm winning..."
I just made faces to annoy her more. Umuusok na ang kanyang ilong. Padabog siyang umalis sa harapan ko.
That's my plan.
Before she could say something, I would catch her off guard. Para hindi na humaba ang usapan. I didn't know where she went, but I stayed in the living room to play with Gustav the Third.
I met with the private investigator I hired to dig deeper with Daxiel's mom life story. Mayroon naman akong background nang makasalamuha ko ang pinsan niya na ikinuwento ang babae.
I was shocked with the things I found out.
Daxiel seemed to have no idea with what happened years ago. He was fed with a different information of her mother. Hindi naman si Gustav o pagiging babaero nito ang totoong hiwalayan ng dalawa.
It was his mother who cheated.
And when she couldn't get his money, she went away with Daxiel.
Oh, pak! P'wede na sa MMK!