Matilda forgot how long she cried. She woke up with a sore body, bruises on her wrists and hickeys on her neck, breast and inner thigh. Efren left her on the carpet like a crime scene uncleaned. Ni hindi man lang siya nito inihiga sa sofa o kinumutan. Nagising na lang siya sa lamig ng hangin galing sa terrace kaya kahit masakit ang katawan, bumangon na siya at hinagilap ang mga damit. Her dress was torn by the neck line but she had no other clothes to wear, so she wore it.
Pagka-upo sa sofa doon na siya nagsimulang umiyak ng umiyak.
You... deserve... this! naalala niyang sinabi ni Efren sa kanya.
"Do I really deserve this?" she coughed.
Jude was right. Hindi madali itong gusto kong mangyari. Wala pa sa malinaw niyang pag-iisip si Efren.
Her legs were still wobbly as she descended the stairs. Kailangan na niya makauwi, nag-alala na si Matilda kung nakatulog ba ang anak niya nang wala siya sa tabi nito o kung umiyak ba ito at hindi na nakatulog. Wala siyang nasalubong na katulong man lang, kahit si Efren hindi niya nakita. Naisip niya na baka umalis na ito at bumalik na sa Manila.
Her car was still parked in front of the mansion beside a white Chevrolet. Sumakay na siya sa driver's seat at napadaing siya dahil kahit ang puwitan niya ay masakit. She remembered being spanked last night. And Matilda felt worse that being hit by a paddle in a sorority initiation, kahit pa na hindi siya nakasali sa mga ganoon.
***
Efren just finished his bath. He slammed the sliding door made of fiber glass close.
What have I done? he let out a sigh. His head was finally cool. All the intense fiery lust in his body was washed away by the cold bath.
Now she will think that I still like her after all that I did to her body last night
Efren wrapped his towel around his waist and took his old shirt left in his cabinet and a blanket.
She must be already freezing there.
Nakaramdam na naman siya ng init sa pagitan ng mga binti niya. As he walked by the hallway wearing nothing but a towel around his waists, he began to feel the need for warmth.
That same warmth that Matilda's body could give to him.
Pero nang nakarating na siya sa penthouse, wala na ito.
That bitch, itsa nito sa hawak na kumot at shirt.
Efren returned to the office by the afternoon. He missed all of his appointments and as expected, Jude came to his office to preach him about that.
"Katrina did not remind me, okay?" sinagot niya iyon sa kuya niya na kahit kalmado ay bakas na ang pagkabwisit sa mukha nito.
"You just fired Katrina the other day, Efren," Jude gritted. "And you said you don't need a secretary."
Napa-ungol na lang ito. "Pwede ba, Kuya? Kahit ngayong araw lang, lubayan mo muna ako? My body is too sore to entertain you."
"Saang giyera ka ba sumabak? And don't complain to me about your body! Maaga ka raw umuwi kahapon!"
He just shook his head. "Stop monitoring me too, okay?"
Sukong-suko na si Jude sa kapatid. "Bahala ka! Pero pag itong Casped bumagsak, magkakaalaman tayo!"
He stomped out of his office. Pabalibag nitong sinara ang pinto.
He could not blame his brother. Ito ang nagtatag ng Casped, he was probably treating the company like his own baby.
Tumungo siya sa table niya para umidlip nang may kumatok na naman sa pinto. Pumasok na ito at nakita ni Efren na si Miggy pala iyon. He groaned as he sat straight.
"Efren, hi."
"Hi," sumandal siya sa kinauupuang swivel chair.
"I just dropped by to report about Casa Vida," umupo ito sa seat katapat ng kinauupuan ni Efren.
Ang Casa Vida ang pinakamalaking luxury liner ng Blue Liner. Isa itong luxury ship na may swimming pool, jacuzzi, ballroom at marami pang amenities. It was like a floating hotel-resort in the sea.
"What about it?"
"Tine-training na ang lahat ng employees at patapos na iyon next week. I am just informing you na after that week, we will need your go signal. I want to know kung kailan ka available para bisitahin yung barko."
"Why don't you ask Ka--" natigilan si Efren. Wala na nga pala siyang secretary.
"I'll check my sched," napabuntong-hininga na lang siya. "But I am glad to hear that the Casa Vida project is still ongoing."
"Thank you," patayo na si Miggy pero tinawag ito ni Efren para umupo ulit.
He did not sit. He just shoved his hands inside the pockets of his slacks.
"Yes?"
"Miggy, last night, nag-usap kami ni Matilda."
His eyes narrowed. Miggy was sure of one thing, hindi maganda ang kinalabasan ng pag-uusap nila.
"And," patuloy ni Efren, "I forgot to control myself. Something happened. Do you think maghahabol siya?"
Miggy crossed his arms. Tuluyan na nitong hinarap si Efren. "What is that something?"
Nasuklay ni Efren pataas ang buhok. "Don't tell anyone--"
"What is it?"
"I fucked her last night."
Pinigilan ni Miggy na maging obvious ang sarili nitong reaksyon. But a sly smile escaped from his lips.
"What are you grinning at?" nagsalubong ang mga kilay ng matalik nitong kaibigan.
Miggy shrugged his shoulders. "Why are you even worried? She let you do it. It means the sex was mutual--"
"No," he gritted. "Not at all. Galit na galit ako. At the same time... I am so aroused with that innocent look she was trying to project. I don't know, maybe it's the alcohol."
Napailing na lang ito. "Ano ba talaga ang gusto mong mangyari sa inyo?"
"I want her out of my life." Efren finalized his decision as he closed his eyes tightly. "Can you believe it? May anak na siya..."
Hindi na nagulat doon si Miggy. "Well... so it means, hindi na talaga pwede, hmm?"
Efren nodded. Frustration was all over his face, and hate.
"Siguro naman magmu-move on ka na. It's been six long years, man. Sa sobrang tigas ng ulo mo, binigyan ka na ng go signal ng tadhana. Pinauwi na nila si Matti para magkaroon ka na ng reason to move on."
Binigyan ba talaga ako ng tadhana ng dahilan para mag-move on? When I saw her last night, it made me feel like I should push my cock deep inside her. And that's not how moving on is supposed to be.
"That will be the last time I am going to see her."
"Good, Efren," Miggy smiled. "Finally, you are willing to let go. Sige, babalik pa ako sa opisina. I just dropped by because you are not answering your cell phone."
Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Efren. Pasimple nitong hinagilap sa bulsa ang cell phone.
Where the fuck is that phone?
Lumabas na ng opisina niya si Miggy kaya hinalughog na ni Efren ang mga gamit niya at mga drawers. Naalala niya na huli niyamg ginamit ang cell phone na iyon para tawagan si Matilda.
Naiwanan ko pa yata sa Tagaytay.
Sumuko na siya sa paghahanap at bumalik na siya sa swivel chair niya. He planned to go back to Tagaytay by the weekend.
***
Jude excitedly came to that coffee shop in Tagaytay. Nakaupo roon si Matilda who wore bracelets on her both wrists and a red turtle neck sweater. He did not give a damn kung malayo ang byahe. He knew that meeting her would be important.
"Good evening," she smiled at him. "Pwede kang um-order muna."
He saw her sipping her frappe. Jude gently refused. "Hindi na. Hindi rin naman ako magtatagal dito."
She nodded. "Then, hindi na ako dapat magpaligoy-ligoy pa. I am accepting the job you are offering, Jude."
He grinned widely and leaned closer to her. "Just as I anticipated." He stared at the abnormal reddening on her bottom lip.
My body is too sore to entertain you! naalala niya na sinabi sa kanya ni Efren nung sinugod niya ito sa opisina nito.
"Kailan ko kailangang mag-umpisa?"
"Kung pwede sana, bukas na. Ilalagay kita sa Casa Vida. I hope you are not too late for the safety course and all the training. Nakapag-simula na raw sila eh."
"Well... I am not sure kung pwede na bukas. As you can see, may anak na ako, Jude. Hindi ko naman siya pwede iwanan ng basta-basta..."
"Oh, that's nice," nagpalumbaba ito. "How old is your kid?"
"Five," she smiled.
Hindi napigilan ni Jude ang mapasimangot. Automatic kasi na nag-calculate ang utak niya. He had the impression na nabuntis si Matilda at the age of eighteen or nineteen.
She's too young... I was expecting her son to be two or three years old...
"Well," he cleared his throat and smiled. "I also have a son, Raffy is his name. He's six years old, your kid might get along with him."
"Siguro," she laughed. "Napaka-kulit nga lang ni Ephraim."
"Ephraim," ninamnam ni Jude ang pangalan. "Sounds close to Efren, hmm?"
Her blush gave Jude a certain confirmation that Matilda was still after his brother.
I don't know what kind of game you are playing. But as long as mapapakinabangan kita, hahayaan kita sa gusto mong gawin.
"Yeah..." Matilda smiled.
"Miss Matilda, I hope you don't mind if I ask, kung nakausap mo na ba ang kapatid ko?"
She lowered her head.
Jude continued. "Parang kailan lang kasi, ayaw mo tanggapin ang offer ko. Sabi mo madali lang makausap si Efren."
"I was wrong," her tone was apologetic. "You are right about Efren. Hindi ko siya makakausap ng maayos sa isang gabi lang. Sa tingin ko, kailangan ko na makuha muli ang loob niya para pakinggan naman niya ang explanation ko."
"Pwede ko bang malaman kung ano ang gusto mo sabihin sa kanya? You know, I might be able to help."
Umiling ito. She took a sip of her drink before she replied.
"You have already helped me with your job offer, Jude. I am really grateful for that. Yung problema namin ni Efren, ako ang nagsimula n'un, kaya ako na lang din ang bahala na mag-ayos."
"Well..." Pinili na lang nito na huwag na kulitin si Matilda. "I want you to start working tomorrow. What holds you back?"
"My son," she smiled. "I don't think pwede ko siyang iwanan sa bahay... Malayo ang loob ni Mama sa kanya eh. Kahit na inaalagaan pa siya ng mga katulong doon, minsan busy rin ang mga iyon. Baka mapabayaan siya. Hindi rin naman siya maaalagaan ni Kuya Hermes kasi busy din siya sa negosyo namin."
Jude grinned. "We can take care of him for you. Remember, Ellen?"
Her eyes widened. Naaalala ni Matilda si Ellen. Ito ang photographer noon sa debut niya, since then, naging parang magkaibigan na rin sila.
"Yes," natawa siya. "But... Oh, my God, Jude, ayoko na dagdagan ang sakit ng ulo ni Ellen."
"Hindi iyan no, she loves kids. She actually wants us to have five kids!"
"Wow," nailing na lang si Matilda habang natatawa.
***
"Are you serious?"
Nanggigil si Ellen sa asawa dahil sa dalawang rason. Una, alas-once ng gabi na ito nakauwi at pinuyat siya nito sa kahihintay. Pangalawa, nagkuwento ito na may aalagaan silang anak ng iba-- anak ni Matilda.
"Please, Ellen, do this for me, my dear wife," yumakap si Jude dito pero tinulak lang siya nito palayo.
Nag-usap ang mag-asawa sa pool side para wala silang magising na bata o katulong sa loob ng bahay.
"Aba, Jude, what are you really planning? And why are you helping that Matilda so much just to hurt your brother?" namewang ito. "I have nothing against Matilda. Ang sinasabi ko lang, huwag na tayong makialam sa kanila, okay?"
"He's my brother, kaya makikialam ako. At saka nagiging interesting na ang mga pangyayari. Alam mo ba, five years old na ang anak ni Matilda?"
"So?" nagtaas ito ng kilay. Umatras na naman ito nang tangkain ni Jude na yumakap sa kanya.
"Imagine, eighteen siya or nineteen nung nabuntis siya."
"Okay?" she crossed her arms.
Jude groaned. Minsan pakiramdam niya ang slow ng asawa niya.
"Hindi ka man lang ba nag-wonder? The kid's name is Ephraim! Oh, 'di ba? Parang Efren yung pangalan. It makes me think, what if anak nila yun ni Efren? What if pamangkin ko pala yung Ephraim na iyon, 'di ba?"
So ito pala yun. Naka-activate na naman pala ang Sherlock Holmes mode niya. He loves investigating stuff.
"I have to know," determinado na patuloy ni Jude sa paglilitanya nito. "And then I will know what to do with my brother."
Akmang yayakapin na naman ni Jude ang asawa pero umatras si Ellen. Sa pag-atras niyang iyon, nahulog na siya sa swimming pool.
"Ellen!" he gasped. Then he laughed.
Her head popped out of the water, she was gasping and thankful at the same time dahil sa mababaw na parte ng pool lang siya nahulog.
"Walanghiya ka! Tatawa-tawa ka pa!"
"Hey, kasalanan mo iyan, akala mo hindi ko nahahalata na ayaw mo magpayakap! That's karma for you, my dear!" tumawa pa ito bago iniwanan si Ellen sa pool.
"Grabe ka talaga! Kinasal lang tayo ginaganito mo na ako!"
"Wala akong naririnig!" he hollered from inside the house.