UNANG KABANATA
SAVANNAH
"PIER?! Where the hell are you?! Lumabas ka diyan?!" I shouted at my bestfriends doorstep. Bumukas ang pinto and I saw Ericka.
"Vannie? May problema ba?" she asked me pero tuloy lang ako sa pagpasok sa loob.
"Nasan si Pier?"
"Tulog pa,bakit?"
Dumiretso ako sa kwarto niya and slammed the door. Agad kong hinila ang kumot niya at tinakpan ang mukha niya ng unan.
"Oh my gosh Van!! Don't kill him!" sigaw ni Ericka ng makitang pumapasag pasag na si Pier. Tinanggal ko ang unan saka siya tinitigan habang humihinga.
"Bak-la ka!! Bet mo kong mamatay?!" Pier shouted.
"I will really kill you Pier! How can you be so careless?!!"
"Ano bang ginawa ko? Girl, natutulog lang ako and then you are blaming me for something that I didn't know?! Ano bang problema mo?!'
Naihilamos ko ang kamay ko sa mukha. I looked at the two them. Ericka looks really worried while Pier is a little irrated and bothered.
"Pinapauwi nila ako sa Pinas." I whispered but enough for the two of them to hear.
"What?!"
"Really?"
Magkasabay pang sigaw ng dalawa. I nodded and took an envelope and handed it to Pier.
"You signed a contract Pier. Telling them that our agency will send our top model there kapalit ng kontrata for the ad campaign." nanghihina kong sinabi. Pier snatched the contract and looked at it.
"You are the top model Vannie." Ericka said,almost to herself. I looked at her as she realized what is really happening around us.
"Wala akong pinirmahan na kahit na anong kasulatan about sending you back to those assholes Van. Trust me." Pier said as he scans the paper.
"Your secretary has your electronic signature. Baka siya yung pumirma?" Erica said. Namutla naman si Pier.
"You gave your secretary your e-signature? Pier that is insane!"
"Hindi ko naman alam na pipirmahan niya ito. I did not even know na may offer tayo sa company ni Xan--" he stopped at tiningnan ako.
"Hindi mo alam?" umiling siya. I looked at Ericka and she also shook her head.
"He has already found you Savannah." Pier said. Nanlumo naman ako ng marinig iyon.
XANDER
"How was it?" I asked my spy on California.
"Mr. Pier Rodriguez has already signed the papers Sir. Their company will send Ms. Andrade--"
"Mrs. Montreal." I corrected him. He cleared his throat and proceeded.
"Their company will send Mrs. Montreal just as you wish."
I can't help but to smile.
"Well done. And what about the pictures?"
"They are on your e-mail Sir."
I opened my computer and looked at it.
"Anything else Sir?"
"None. Thanks." and I turned off my phone. I opened the e-mail my spy sent me.
Well, the mail contains pictures of my wife while she is still in California. I immediately printed them out at inilagay sa lamesa ko para matingnan ng mabuti.
There were pictures of her taking pictures. So, she is also a photographer? I can't help feeling the sense of pride when I learned that. I touched her face on one of the pictures. Nakangiti siya habang kausap sila Pier at Ericka. I know the two of them dahil mga bata pa lang ay magkakaibigan na sila at ang asawa ko.
My intercom beeped at naputol ang pagtitingin ko sa mga litrato. I answered it immediately.
"Kathy?" I asked my secretary.
"Sir, your father is outside. Gusto raw po niya kayong makausap---" The door to my office flung open and in came my father.
"Where is my Vannie?" excited niyang tanong.
"Chill Dad." natatawa kong sabi. Umupo kaagad siya at kinuha ang ilan sa mga litrato.
"Oh my Vannie. She really became more pretty. Hiyang yata siya na malayo sayo." Dad said while grinning evilly. I snatched the picture from him saka ito itinago.
"Come on Dad. Ang supportive niyo."
Dad chuckled saka itinaas niya ang mga paa sa table. He rested his arms behing his head.
"Why would I support you? You have hurt my Savannah." he said and gave me a daggered look.
"Ako ba talaga yung anak ninyo? Why do I feel na mas mahal ninyo si Van?"
Dad laughed and threw the paper weight at me.
"I love Savannah more kasi mahal na mahal niya ang anak ko. But my idiotic son threw her away."
Hindi ako nakapag react sa sinabi ni Dad. I know. What happened between the two of us is my fault. Sinaktan ko siya.
"Kaya nga ginagawa ko ito Dad. To have her again." I told him. Dad just looked at me and shook his head.
"I doubt that Alexander. Pagkatapos ng lahat ng ginawa mo sa kanya, sa tingin ko ay malayo ng tanggapin ka niya ulit."
I felt a pang of pain when I heard my father said that. Pero hindi ako susuko. I can't lose her.
"I have to go. May meeting pa ako." Dad left me there. I looked at my ring finger. Suot ko pa rin ang singsing naming dalawa. I touched it and smiled.
"I'm going to have you again Savannah. By hook or by crook magiging akin ka ulit. Mine. Just mine."
SAVANNAH
"Mag iingat ka ha? Keep your distance fron that bastard!" Ericka said while fixing my luggage. Pier just sat at the edge of my bed.
"Are you sure you'll be alright? Hindi mo talaga kami kailangan dun?" Pier asked me. Umiling ako. I am not in the mood to talk. Lolo just called me dahil parating na raw ang private jet ng pamilya namin para sunduin ako. And up until now ay naiinis pa rin ako dahil pinapauwi na ako.Pati Lolo at Lola ay sumama sa kalokohan ng demonyong iyon!
Napabalikwas ako ng marinig ko ang katok sa may pintuan ng unit ko. I stood up and saw three guys wearing black. They have the Montreal emblem on their collar.
"Lady Savannah. The jet is ready." sabi nung lalaking pinakamatangkad sa kanila. Pumasok yung dalawa and took my luggages. The other man stepped back.
"Take care there Vannie. Tawagan mo kami pagkarating mo." Ericka said. I went to her and hugged her. I started sniffing. Naiiyak ako.
"Savannah Mikaella! Stop! Wag kang iiyak!" Pier scolded me. Siya naman ang nilapitan ko and hugged me.
"Bakla, I'm scared." I told him. He just hissed and hugged me tighter.
"Aba!! Hindi pwede yan! You are no longer the sweet girl seven years ago! Hindi ka na mahina! Kaya wag ka ng matakot!" he shook me. I brushed my tears away saka siya nginitian.
"Tatlong buwan lang Vannie. After that, you can come back here as if nothing happened." Ericka said while caressing my back. Tumango ako.
"Kayo ng bahala dito ha?" nginitian lang ako ng dalawa. Sumama na ako kay kuyang naka itim. Dinala niya ako sa helipad ng building namin. I roamed my eyes and saw the jet. I squinted ng mapansin kong iba ang jet na iyon.
Alevannah
I exhaled sharply. Talagang pinagsama niya pa ang pangalan naming dalawa? The.nerve of that guy!
"Lady Savannah?" the guy approached me at inalalayan akong maka akyat sa eroplano. He started doing some safety checks. I put my headphones on saka pumikit. I wish I could have a great night sleep and all of this is just a part of a nightmare.
I felt someone rubbing my cheeks. Dinilat ko ang mga mata ko. I literally jumped out of my seat.
" Savannah, iha.. kamusta?" Mommy Alessa asked me. Napakurap kurap ako. She hugged me tight at doon lang ako napabalik sa sarili.
"Mom.."
" I am so glad you are back Savannah." I heard her choke in her tears. Hinagod ko.ang likuran niya. May narinig akong nagbikas ng pinto and I saw Daddy Alfonso rushing in.
"There you are!" energetic niyang sigaw ng makita ako. Hindi pa rin nagbabago si Dad. Natawa ako at nilapitan siya para mayakap.
"Daddy."
"Vannie. My Vannie. Akala ko hindi ka na uuwi." he accused me. Natawa ako.
"Hindi naman ho ako magtatagal dito."
"Babalik ka sa California?" Mommy asked me. Gulat ring napatingin si Dad sa akin.
"But why?" he asked.
" Wala na ang buhay ko dito sa Pinas Dad. Nasa California na."
"Pero Savannah--" Mom said. Tiningnan ko siya saka ngumiti.
"Ma, sorry. I don't want to stay here. Alam ko rin namang wala ring may gustong manatili ako dito except for my grandparents and the two of you."
Umiling si Mommy and took my hand.
"That is not true. Xander wanted you to stay here."
I scoffed. Umiling ako.
"Xander and I are already over Ma. Siya pa nga ang nag paalis sa akin eh. So why would he want me to stay?" I just couldn't find the logic. Xander never wanted me. Si Sabina lang ang mahal nito at ang mamahalin nito.
"Because you're my wife. Dapat manatili ka kung nasaan ang asawa mo."
I looked at the door. And there I saw him.
The man who I had loved first.
The man whom I married.
The man who loves my sister.
My husband.
Alexander Montreal.
*pen