Chapter 29: Friend
"Good morning, Madame." Bati nina Nikolas at Hawk.
It's the second week of investigation already. And it seems passably on going.
"So how's it?" I asked them in a soft tone.
"Well,.." Panimula ni Hawk, at inilabas ang mga folder sa suitcase niya.
I raised my eyebrows. "We found out that Klare was supposed to be married by now already." Tuloy niya pa.
I wasn't shock. I wasn't either that much interested.
"So we both concluded, na ang kinikita niyang lalaki ay ang dapat na lalaking pinakasalan niya." Sabi naman ni Nikolas.
Umawang ang bibig ko. And then thoughts started to pop out on my mind again.
This is making me frustrated, I might go insane after all of this.
"What about their marriage?" I asked them out of the blue.
"She was supposed to marry this unidentified man, we've been searching for, because of business affiliations that it has been equipped by her parents and as well as the other side's." Mariing eksplanasyon ni Nikolas. Tumango-tango lang kami ni Hawk.
This is getting intense, unti-unti nang bumubuklat ang libro ng mga sikreto ni Klare.
"Uhm, so you're meaning to say is.. hindi natuloy ang kasal niya? Nila?" I questioned out.
Tumango si Hawk. "Base sa aming mga konklusyon ay,. Dahil na rin ito sa pagkamatay ng mga magulang ni Ms. Klare Fausti." Hawk added.
I once again nodded. I carressed my belly, thinking about how the future will go.
"We'll try to dig out more informations about her." Sabi pa nila bago umalis.
How I wish the coming days we'll get better and smoother. How I wish, it'll be like the same. With Sed and the kids.
I'm hoping na maayos ang lahat nang ito, bago pa ako manganak. Sana kasama ko si Sed, kung mangyari man iyon.
*
It's weekend, and I decided to visit Sed at Klare's place. Hindi na ako nagabalang isama pa ang mga bata, dahil baka gabihin na rin ang paguwi namin, since tanghali ako bibiyahe, at baka mapagod lang sila.d
"Take care, mommy." Sigaw ni Ark habang nasa garden sila naglalaro with hos brother.
"Mmy! Pasalubong!" Pahabol naman ni Nathan.
I gave them a smile and nod. The driver started to run the engine, and drove to her place.
Bago pa kami makarating doon ay dumaan muna kami sa isang bakeshop, para kumuha ng cake at tumungo na rin doon.
Nag-park ang sasakyan, and I got myself ready before I stepped out of the car.
"Kuya, pahintay nalang ako." I politely said to him, since he's like years older than me.
I walked with elegance as I'm holding the box of cake with decor.
Patungo ako ng elevator nang makita ko si Klare na nakangiti kaharap ang isang lalaki sa café ng building ng kanilang condo. And that man is in an all black outfit, I'm assuming this is the man Hawk and Nikolas has been telling me.
I gulped. I might catch who this is, I should be careful. Ibinaba ko ang ang box ng cake sa isa sa mga tables sa labas ng café na ito. I sat and watched them.
Kinuha ko ang menu na nakalapag lang sa mesa ng table, and covered my face with it. I watched them, nakangiti lang si Klare.. I can't take a glance at who this man is.
Sa pagsilip-silip ko sa kanila ay parang biglang naging seryoso ang kanilang usapan, at nalukot ang mukha ni Klare.
Bigla akong napahinto sa pagsilip sa kanila. What am I afraid of? Bakit pa ba ako nagtatago?
Nilapag ko ang menu nang medyo malakas ang tunog, at tumayo with all my confidence. Dinampot ko na rin ang cake, and since wala akong bag na dala, it is easier.
Binuksan ng guard ang entrance ng café, at pumasok ako. Naglakad ako patungo sa table nila.
Nagtama agad ang mata namin ni Klare, while the man is on his back. I smiled at her, and her eyebrows almost met.
"A-Ayuna?!" Medyo wala sa sariling tawag niya sa pangalan ko.
I smiled with sarcasm not showing any hint of anger inside me. She has my man, and she's also seeing another guy. What a whore.
"Hey!" Painosenteng bati ko.
Halos mamutla siyang nakatingin sa akin. Bumaling ako sa lalaki, he's with his head down and not even making any sound.
"Hey, who are you with?" I asked her, referring to the man.
"U-Uh.." tugon lamang ni Klare. Why not talk?
"Bakit ka nakayuko--" tanong ko pa sakaniya ngunit tumayo na siyang nakayuko pa rin ang ulo.
Damn! I can't see his face. Yumuko rin ako para masilip ang kaniyang mukha. Ngunit muli niya akong tinalikuran.
"Klare, I gotta go." He said, and walked hurriedly.
Binilisan ko ang habol ko upang maabutan sana siya ngunit hinigit ako ni Klare.
"Ayuna! Hindi mo sinabing pupunta ka dito?" Pilit niyang sinigla ang tono ng kaniyang boses.
Nakatingin lang ako sa lalaking nakalabas na ng café at papalayo na.
"I-I wanted to surprise you though." Diverting my attention to her, not minding that man.
"Akyat muna tayo sa condo?" Aniya. I just nodded, and followed her.
Naabutan namin si Sed na nanonood ng TV. I smiled. He smiled a bit at me too.
Lumapit si Klare sa kaniya, at pinatakan siya ng halik sa labi. Mmy heart crumpled, ang sakit tignan.
I looked away, and search for anything to alter my attention. Nilapag ko na muna ang cake sa mesa. Nilingon ko ulit sila at mukhang nagkakaroon ng maliit ng usapan.
Lumapit naman sa akin si Klare pagkatapos n'on. She opened the box of cake and sliced it.
"I was really surprised you came." She said.
She served me a slice and sat in front of me. She smiled. A forced smile.
"How are you?" I asked, breaking the raging silence.
"Hmm, We're fine." Sagot niya bago sumubo.
Tumango ako, and pretended being interested. Tanging ingay lang mula sa pinapanood ni Sed ang rinig dito ngayon.
I drank the water she gave me earlier. And compiled all my aplomb. "So Klare, who's the man earlier?" I asked her.
Napatigil naman siya. Nakita kong unti-unting namula ang kaniyang mukha. What now?
"Hey," sambit ko at iminuwestra ang kamay ko sa kaniyang mukha. Para siyang nawawala sa sarili niya.
"H-He's a f-friend." Halata ang kaba sa kaniyang boses. I wanna laugh out loud, she's too obvious.
"Really?" I disputed with a smirk on my face. I can't help but to make fun of her.
"Why are you nervous, Klare?" I questioned her again. I can see it. I can see, she had no words to spill out.