Chapter 15
Akala ko simpleng party lang ang pupuntahan namin, hindi ko inakala na bigatin pala. Nagulat ako kanina nang may dumating na mga stylist at make up artist sa bahay. Akala ko kung anong meron, yun pala tinawagan daw sila ni Trei para ayusan ako. Mabuti pa yung mokong tulog lang maghapon at nung malapit na mag alas syete saka lang siya naligo at nag bihis tapos tapos na, ako buong hapon akong inaayusan. Halos nakatulog na ako sa sobrang pagka bagot.
Ang hirap talagang maging babae, daming arte sa katawan.
"Maam hinihintay na po kayo ni Mr. Zouwen sa baba." I nodded my head at one of the stylist. I looked at the mirror once again. They've put me in a blush floor length gown. It is plain and the designs are too simple but it screams elegance. Ang sabi din nila, natural make up lang ang ginawa nila since my facial features are enough to be pretty. Di ako naniniwala.
"Don't worry, you look better than before. Mas mukha ka nang tao." Hindi ko alam kung matutuwa ako sa head stylist na to na kinuha ni Trei or maiinis pero mas pinili ko na ngitian nalang siya. Kapag tinignan mo siya hindi mo din naman aakalain na stylist siya. Mas mukha pa siyang principal kesa stylist.
She fixed her glasses as she stares at me. "Stop insulting me in your thoughts. Trei's waiting."
Napaatras ako at tinitigan siya habang naglalakad palabas ng kwarto. Nababasa ba niya ang nasa utak ko? O masiyadong obvious sa mukha ko? Inirapan niya lang ako at mahinang itinulak palabas ng kwarto.
"Wow.. you look..." He wasn't able to finish his sentence as he just stares at me with those admiring eyes.
"Babae na ba ako ngayon sa paningin mo?" I joked and he threw his head back as he laughed. This will be our inside joke. Him, thinking that I prefer women than men. Hindi ko talaga gets kung bakit ganon ang akala niya... kung sabagay, mas siga pa ako sa kanyang gumalaw minsan.
"Damn, thank God you're not a lesbian. Mahihirapan sana akong akitin ka." Inirap ko ang mata ko at pasimpleng siniko siya na ikinatawa niya. Medyo malakas yun ah, pero feeling niya ata kiniliti ko lang siya. "From battered boyfriend to battered husband"
"At least may improvement. You're my husband now." He grinned as I took a moment to look at his handsomeness. He looks good in his black and dark blue three-piece suit that matches his white skin. His hair is also slicked back that gave every woman an access to stare at his beautiful chinito eyes.
Iginaya niya ako palabas ng bahay papunta sa sasakyan namin. I have a feeling that, like any other rich guys, he has a lot of cars that I still haven't seen kagaya nalang nito na ngayon ko lang nakita. Marunong kaya magtipid ang lalaking ito? Before I could even think, I realized... no. Hindi siya marunong magtipid base na din sa pinagsamahan namin sa U.S. To think na namroblema pa ako na baka wala na siyang ipon.
"Why are you shaking your head?" Napatingin ako kay Trei dahil sa tanong niya. He glanced at me while he drives. Hindi ko napansin na umiling na pala ako dahil sa iniisip ko. "What are you thinking?"
"Iniisip ko lang kung bakit namroblema ako noon na baka wala ka nang ipapakain sa akin yun pala maraming laman ang bank account mo... Ilan laman ng bank account mo?" I asked and leaned near him. Trei's lips lifted to one side as he glanced at me again.
"How much do you think there is?" There's a hint of amusement in his voice. Imposible namang milyon lang dahil kung kasama ito sa grupo at kaibigan ng asawa ng pinsan ko, malamang marami rin itong pera kagaya nun.
"A billion?"
"Billions." He corrected. Napakurap ako dahil sa sinabi niya at tulalang sumandal ulit sa upuan ko.
"Billions." I breathed. So yun na yun? Mayaman na mayaman pala talaga siya at pinakasalan ko siya ng hindi ko alam ang tungkol doon... "Hindi ba tayo gagawa ng prenup agreement?" His face fell and he frowned.
"There's no need for that."
"Trei, I think we need a prenup. We can still make it. Ilagay nalang natin sa date bago tayo ikasal." Hindi pwedeng walang prenup. Ate Jules warned me about his family and based on what I heard about them, alam ko na na mahuhusgahan ako ng dahil sa pera ni Trei.
"No, we don't, Jude. End of discussion." I was about to say something but I saw him gripped the wheel in front of him. Sa party kami pupunta at ayoko naman na masira ang gabi niya so instead of having an argument with him, I kissed his cheek.
"Sorry na, wag ka na magalit." His frown started to dissolve and I bit my lips to prevent myself from smiling. Marupok din to pagdating sakin eh. Di naman ako nito matitiis.
It didn't took long before we arrived at the party. Napahawak ako ng mahigpit sa kamay ni Trei nang makita ang mga tao na pumapasok sa loob. Everyone looks like they wore every expensive thing that they can afford. Akala ko talaga simpleng party lang kaya ako pumayag.
"Don't worry," Lumingon ako kay Trei nang kunin niya ang kamay ko bago iyon hinalikan. "You're with me, nothing could go wrong."
When it was our time at the entrance, a valet opened the car door for me. Agad naman na naka-ikot si Trei at binigay sa valet ang susi upang tulungan akong bumaba ng sasakyan. Huminga ako ng malalim bago lumabas ng sasakyan. He was smiling ay me while he put my hands around his arms.
Pansin ko ang tinginan ng nga tao sa aming dalawa nang makapasok kami sa loob. It almost feels like everyone stopped on what they were doing just to turn around and look at the two of us.
"Bakit sila nakatingin sa atin?" Kinakabahan na tanong ko sa kanya.
"They are looking at you." Mabilis na lumingon ako sa kanya at tumingin naman siya sa akin. "It's the first time I bought a girl at a party since... you know, I broke up with my ex."
I was about to ask him about his ex dahil hindi pa nga pala niya yan sa akin nakukwento pero biglang may tumawag sa kanya na lalaki at lumapit. They made a handshake and man-hugged each other before Trei turned at me and the guy he was talking to was watching me as my husband wrapped his arms around my waist.
"This is my wife, Jude. Babe, this is Malcom, my cousin." Ngumiti ako kay Malcolm na tinaasan lang ako ng isang kilay. Malcolm was
"Uhm, may problema ba?" Hindi ko mapigilan ang magtanon. Sa klase kasi ng tingin niya sa akin parang hinusgahan na niya ang buong pagkatao ko simula nung ipinanganak ako. Bwiset na to.
"Did a beautiful woman like you really married this fucker?" Gusto ko sanang ngumiti pero mukhang ngiwi ang nangyari dahil sa choice of words niya. I awkwardly looked at Trei who just chuckled and lightly smacked the back of Malcolm's head.
"Don't question my wife's wisest moment, right babe?" Nakangising tanong ni Trei. Inirapan ko naman siya.
"Di rin." Tipid na sagot ko na nakapag-patawa kay Malcolm.
"I like her." He said as he point his finger at me na agad na tinapik ni Trei.
"No man's allowed to like my wife besides me. Baka gusto mong isumbong kita sa asawa mo?" Trie's eyes landed on Malcolm's back when a lady in red walked to his side. Hindi ko mapigilan ang mamangha sa ganda ng babae lalo na nang makalapit siya at humarap sa akin. Her pointed nose and full lips is so natural. Halatang hindi makapal ang make up niya, tamang-tama lang para i-enhance ang dati nang maganda na facial features niya.
"Hi, is he annoying you?" Nakangiting sabi ng babae. Matamis na ngumiti siya kay Malcolm na napakamot sa batok bago humarap ulit sa akin. "I'm Chinna, this stupid guy's wife." Inabot ko ang nakalagad niyang kamay.
"Judea." Pinipigilan ko na amuyin yung kamay ko pagkatapos ng handshake namin. Feeling ko kasi ang weird ko kapag ganon pero ang bango kasi talaga niya.
"Aah, Terrence's wife." Sumulyap siya kay Terrence kaya naman sinundan ko ang tingin niya and Trei just winked at me. "Anyway, the two of you are asked in that table. Ako na muna ang bahala kay Jude."
Alanganing tumingin sa akin si Trei. Iniisip siguro nito na ayaw niya akong iwan dahil alam niyang wala akong kakilala pero nang tignan ko si Chinna na nakangiti lang sa akin, panatag naman ang loob ko kaya tumango na ako sa kanya.
"Sige na. I'll be fine with Chinna." I assured him. He sighed.
"Alright, but if anything happens I'll just be at that table." Itinuro niya ang isang lamesa sa di kalayuan na puro lalaki ang nakaupo. He pulled me closer to him, wrapped me in his arms before he kissed me on the forehead. "I love you."
Hindi na niya ako hinintay na sumagot at umalis na siya kasama si Malcolm patungo sa lamesa kung saan nakangiting nakatingin sa amin ang mga lalaki. Napansin ko pang inasar nila si Trei nang makalapit ito sa lamesa.
"I've never seen him that happy." My attention went back to Chinna and she was looking at Trei then she focused her eyes on me. "Trei is a warm person but he was never that happy."
"T-talaga ba?" I looked back at Trei who was laughing heartily at what the other guy was saying. Ganyan naman siya nung nagkakilala kami. He always jokes with other people.
"So how'd you meet?" She ushered me to an empty table. Nagtaka pa ako na nasa pinaka dulo at pinaka tago na parte pa kami pumwesto. Hindi din kasi ako mapakali na medyo malayo ako kay Trei dahil wala naman akong kilala dito bukod kila Malcolm at Chinna na kakapakilala palang sa akin kanina.
"Trust me sweetie, this is the safest part of the party for the both of us." She must've noticed my uneasiness when we took a sit because I kept on looking back to where Trei is. "It's the same for the ladies that's coming this way." She waved her hand as two women who looked at elegant as Chinna walked their way gracefully to us.
"So, who's the newbie?" Tanong ng isang babae na may magandang mukha, matangos na ilong, at bilog na mata. She's wearing a yellow tube gown that shows her collar bone. Grabe, ang ganda.
"Who's wife or girl is she?" Tanong naman ng isang singkit na babae. She wears a green off-shoulder gown that looked so good with her porcelain skin. Feeling ko tuloy hindi ako belong sa grupo ng magagandang babae na to.
"Trei's." Chinna simply asked and the two girls mouth turned into a small o as they nod. "This is Jude, Jude this is Mercy and Lira." Mercy waved her hand and smiled at me while Lira didn't even bother looking at my direction.
"Care to tell us kung paano kayo nagkakilala ni Trei?" Mercy, the girl in yellow asked.
"Common friends. Then we live in the same apartment. Akala ko gusto niyang tumira at makipag hati sa apartment ko dahil nagtitipid siya at walang pera... turns out, he was just hiding from his parents." Nahihiyang kwento habang sila naman ay binibigyan ako ng glass na may champagne.
"Gago talaga itong si Trei, gusto lang naman yata maka-score eh." Natatawang sabi ni Chinna. Umiling ako.
"Actually, hindi niya alam na babae ang roommate niya kasi Jude ang nickname ko." All their faces lightened—evern Lira—and they all turned at me looking so interested in my story.
"Kwento ka pa, dali." Mercy asked excitedly. Kahit papano ang gaan ng pakiramdam ko na makipag kwentuhan sa kanila. Maybe we all have something in common. Hindi ko lang makuha kung ano. Although, si Lira kanina pa tahimik at nakikinig lang.
"Akala ko wala siyang pera at tamad, nag aalala nga ako na baka wala siyang ibayad sa renta kaya hinanapan ko siya ng trabaho bilang waiter." Napatingin ako kay Chinna nang bigla nalang itong tumawa.
"I'm sorry. Hindi lang ako makapaniwala. Si Trei? Waiter? Ni ayaw nga niyan madumihan." Naiiling na sabi niya. Talaga ba? Hindi kasi ganon ang pagkakakilala ko kay Trei, ni wala nga siyang arte nung magkasama kami.
"How did you found out that he was... you know, super rich?" Mercy asked.
"After our wedding—"
"You found out after the wedding? He didn't tell you?" Umiling ako. "Wow."
"And how long was your relationship when you married him?" It's the first time Lira talked kaya medyo na intimidate ako.
"Uhm, less than a year?" I answered hesitantly.
"Whirlwind romance!" Bulalas ni Chinna at hindi makapaniwalang tinignan ang direction kung nasaan si Trei at yung asawa niya. Napatingin din ako sa direction at nakita kong lumingon si Trei sa direction namin at kumindat. Kung walang make up, siguro kitang kita ang pamumula ng mukha ko.
"Hindi ako makapaniwala." I turned my head at Lira's direction. "That guy was in a relationship with Bianca for years and he didn't even proposed." Napakunot ang noo ko nang marinig ang pangalan na Bianca. It's my first time hearing Trei's ex's name.
"Right, I remember when she almost proposed to Trei. Gustong-gusto na niyang magpakasal pero itong isa, ayaw pa eh. I pity that girl." Naiiling na sabi ni Mercy. "Tapos ikaw? Ang bilis niyang nag propose sayo and he even married you in a short period of your relationship!"
We all turned to Chinna when she sighed and massaged his head. "Girls, you shouldn't mention a devil's name because it summons the demon." My forehead turned into a knot. "Look over there, the demon has arrived."