章節 33: 33
"Ma'am, I am sorry but I cannot give you an access to Mr. Cholo's penthouse. Wala po kayong permission. That's against our protocol po."
I rolled my eyes at the receptionist and crossed my arms in my chest. Umagang-umaga pero mukhang may masasampolan na naman ako. Why do people like her always barred my presence?
"Isn't the weather nice today? It's sunny and windy at the same time. Look at the fair blue skies outside. Everybody's smiling! The birds are chirping!"
Naging tabingi ang professional na ngiti nito sa akin na nauwi sa ngiwi kalaunan.
"Ma'am? Come again po?"
Hinubad ko na ang suot na sunglasses at nginitian ng buong tamis ang babae na nagngangalang Shane base na rin sa nameplate nito. Itinukod ko ang siko sa counter ng receptionist's area at nilaro ang buhok nito.
"Hindi ka ba nakikitsismis tungkol sa latest development ng dramarama sa hapon dito sa Cerro Roca? I heard there's a wicked scorning wife whose back in town to get her husband back from his princess mistress. Ah! And I also heard from a very reliable source
that this beautiful and wealthy woman is a devil incarnate. She loves to torture poor souls especially when that person is so hard to deal with." I flashed my bright smile at the woman whose turning pale and then clapped my hands in jubilee. "What do you think of the plot? Ang ganda 'di ba?" Tumingin uli ako sa labas ng residential condominium. "Ang ganda talaga ng panahon pero mas gaganda pa ang kapaligiran natin kung ibibigay mo ang susi." Inilahad ko ang palad dito. "Dali."
Yumuko ito sa akin at ilang beses na humingi ng pasensiya. "I'm really sorry ma'am but I just can't give it to you without Mr. Gastrell's permission."
"Why not? I'm sure you've heard the rumors. I'm Mrs. Gastrell. I'm Cholo's wife and I'm asking for my husband's keys. Oh you're doubting me?"
Itinaas ko ang kamay kay Celeste na nasa likod ko. Agad naman nitong ibinigay sa akin ang isang envelope. Binuksan ko ito sa harap ni Shane at binulatlat.
"Here's my marriage certificate and my birth certificate. I also have other IDs to prove my identity. Ano ba ang kailangan mo? Passport? SSS? PAG-IBIG? PhilHealth? Police clearance? Barangay ID? Barangay clearance? Name it and I will produce it for you."
"Ma'am, I'm really sorry but I cannot really give the keys to you. It's against our rules po."
Nagbuga ako ng hangin at napailing. Pinatunog ko ang dila sa loob ng bibig at ibinalik ang sunglasses sa pagkakasuot.
"Okay, lady. Naubos mo na talaga ang pasensiya ko. How about I call Chol-"
"Aren't you tired of doing this, Karina?" A voice interrupted me.
I smirked and faced Elizabeth who looks like an angel in her white executive suit. Muntikan na akong matawa nang makalapit siya sa akin kasi nagmukha akong demonyo sa suot na purong itim na blazer at trousers sa harap nito.
"Oh! The princess and the CEO is here! Hi Elizabeth! Could you please tell your employee here to have a better understanding of proper etiquette when dealing with guests? Or better yet pay for better training for your staff. Hindi kasi sila nakakaintindi. Simpleng instructions lang naman."
Binalingan ni Elizabeth ang babae at nginitian ito. "It's okay Shane. You can go back to work. Ako na ang bahala rito."
"Thank you po, ma'am." Saglit na tinapunan ako ng takot na tingin nito bago bumalik sa harap ng computer.
I grinned. This would be exciting. I felt giddy when I'm in front of Elizabeth. My blood boils in anticipation. My dream was to shatter that innocent and calm persona she evokes. I know she's only holding it in deep inside so I'll do a perfect job to provoke her.
Nakataas ang kilay na pinagkrus ko uli ang mga braso sa dibdib at hinarap si Elizabeth. "So? Where's my key?"
"Correction Karina. It's Cholo's key. Not yours. It's a personal property kaya hindi ko pwedeng ibigay sa iyo."
"What's his is mine too. I'm his wife," hindi papatalong wika ko.
Umiling ito. "No, I can't. It's against our policy. I'm sorry but if you keep on insisting, I have to ask you to leave the vicinity. Ayokong makaabala ka pa sa mga guests namin," kalmadong wika nito.
"No, I don't think you understand me, Ely. When I say that you give me my husband's key to his room, you will give it to me unless you're ready to face Cholo's wrath."
Hindi naman ito natinag sa sinabi ko dahil nagkibit-balikat lang ito. "I don't think it's me who needs to prepare for his wrath. Sa ating dalawa, ako ang mas pinagkakatiwalaan niya. Why can't you just ask him for permission. I'm sure hindi naman mahirap gawin iyon dahil ikaw ang asawa unless may binabalak kang gawin?"
"Tiwala? You're talking about that now? Wait 'till he knows who you really are then come tell me again that he trusts you." Lumapit ako sa kaniya at bumulong. "Wait 'till he hears about what you have done on that day, August 24, 10:35 am, in your Cadillac plate number..." Sinadya kong bitinin ang sasabihin at binigyan ito ng nakakalokong tingin.
Napasinghap ito sa narinig at itinulak ako palayo. Nanlaki ang mga mata at umawang ang mga labi nito sa gulat. Tinakasan ng kulay ang mukha nito at agad na tumaas ang kamay sa dibdib para kontrolin ang paghinga.
I smiled triumphantly. Nakuha ko rin sa wakas ang gusto kong emosyon mula rito. "Bakit? Nagulat ka? Do you really think you can bury everything you did, Ely? Do you really think you can forever hide behind your family?" nagsisikip ang dibdib na saad ko nang manariwa ang isang napakasakit na alaala na gabing-gabing pumapatay sa akin. "Karma will catch up on you and the rest of your clan and I'll be the first one to do that starting with no less than your brother."
Kita ko ang panic sa mga mata nito at ang paghugot nito ng hininga. "I... didn't mean it, Karina. I swear, I didn't mean to do it!" mangiyak-ngiyak na usal nito.
"Regardless if you mean it or not, nangyari na ang mga nangyari. Narito ako para singilin kayong lahat lalo na ikaw but... that would depend on your decision now. Keys or I'll go straight to Cholo now to tell him everything as in everything. You choose, Ely."
Umiling ito, ang mga mata ay nangingilid na sa luha. "Karina, please believe me. I didn't mean to do it. Hindi ko kayang gawin iyon." Nanginginig na ang tinig at buong katawan nito. Lumapit na rin ang security nito pero pinigilan ito ng babae na makialam.
"Ang susi, Ma'am Elizabeth," ulit ko.
Lumunok muna ito bago unti-unting tumango, ang tingin ay nasa sahig lang. "S-Shane, give her what she wanted."
Napangiti naman ako. "Good. Thank you for understanding." I looked at Shane and raised my brows at her. "You heard your boss. Give me the keys."
Nagkukumahog na may binuksan na drawer ang babae at kinuha ang susi saka nanginginig na inilagay niya ito sa palad ko.
"Good," nakataas ang noo na saad ko. "Celeste, let's go."
I walked slowly past Elizabeth who is still struggling to recover herself.
"I'm a crazy and a wicked person. And you of all people should know why I became like this, Ely," sabi ko sa mahina pero mariing tinig. Mas namutla ito sa narinig na ikinangisi ko. "Good. Now you remember it for the rest of your life and I hope that you will never ever forget any scene of it. Live your life forever in guilt. And oh, before I forget, don't ever tell anyone I came here especially Cholo. If you do then you know what's at stake."
'Cause I'll live my entire life hating you and your family forever.
We marched out of the lobby and into the elevator. I punched the top floor button and leaned on the cold wall. Doon ko pa pinakawalan ang tinitimpi kong emosyon. I sighed continuously and fought back my tears until I feel like functioning again. I let myself be in chaos for a while. I breathed in and out as I have always practiced it.
Pagbukas ng elevator ay parang walang nangyari na hinarap ko na ang dapat na gawin. Hindi ko na kailangang hanapin ang pinto dahil nag-iisa lang ito sa floor. Dating pagmamay-ari ng isang Asturia ang penthouse na binili ni Cholo courtesy of Elizabeth.
"Celeste, stay here and don't let anyone interfere me inside, okay?"
Yumuko ito. "Yes, Ms. Karina."
Itinulak ko na pabukas ang pinto matapos susian at pindutin ang kombinasyon ng mga numero na nakaukit sa dulong bahagi ng susi.
Automatic na bumaha ang liwanag at tumambad sa akin ang high-ceiling fully-furnished na unit. I looked around and see nothing but opulence.
"Now what were you hiding from me, Cholo."
Una kong pinuntahan ang kusina. Malinis ang lahat ng gamit patunay na araw-araw ay may nagpupunta dito para sa maintenance. Sunod kong binuksan ang nag-iisang silid at tinungo ang banyo. There were feminine products on the drawers which brought a bitter taste to my tongue. So this is their hideout.
Lumabas ako at pinagbubuksan lahat ng drawers at cabinets para makakuha pa ng ibang impormasyon but I found nothing. But I didn't easily give up. I wasn't born to give it up easily. Hinubad ko ang sandals at pahigang sinilip ang ilalim ng kama pero wala pa rin akong nakuha.
"Where the fuck did you put it?" angil ko.
Just when I was about to quit, I remembered what Vishen told me about the time of arrival of that man. According to him, the man met Cholo in his office before coming here last week.
"Books. He hid it in the books."
Binalikan ko ang mga drawers kung saan nakakita ako ng mga libro. I leafed through the pages and the things I'm looking for fell on the floor. Inipon ko ang mga nalaglag na pictures sa kamay at napailing na lang nang mapagmasdan ang sariling mga litrato.
Kuha ang lahat noong isang linggo. Naroong nasa restaurant ako kasama si Celeste at Vishen. May mga stills naman na nasa cafe ako, sa mall, at sa salon. But the last photo of me made me sigh in finality. It was taken up when I was still living in France which was five years ago.
Naupo ako sa sahig at tinitigan ang sarili sa mga pictures. Gaano na kaya kalalim ang narating ng imbestigasyon mo? Is it safe to assume that you haven't find out everything? But still, you're so close in finding out my past, Cholo. Ilang hakbang na lang ay maaari mo nang malaman ang lahat kung bakit ko ba ginagawa ang lahat ng ito pero bago ka pa makarating doon, kailangan ko nang maisagawa ang plano. I have to do what I came here for even if it means digging up my very painful past which you have been a part of.
Dito na magtatapos ang laro ko. Alam ko namang darating talaga ang panahon na mauungkat ang nakaraan dahil ang nakaraan naman natin ang dahilan ng pagbabalik ko.
But the more I think about it, the more I have the urge to delay everything because I love you. I love you that it comes to the point that it hurts. I never stopped loving you which is why I loathe myself.
I was a daughter first before I loved you. I was a sister first before I gave my all to you.
But you made me a mother which is the best thing I experienced in this world.
But that alone cannot compensate for everything I needed to do. Matagal ko ng alam na may masasagasaan akong mga tao. Alam kong makakasakit ako, makakapatay kung kinakailangan.
Sa loob ng mga taon ay inihanda ko na ang sarili at kinalimutan ang sariling konsensiya. Nagpakalasing ako sa buyo ng paghihiganti dahil ito na lang ang tanging pinanghahawakan ko para mabuhay.
Hindi ko lang inaasahan na sa muling pagbabalik ko rito ay mas nabuhay ang natutulog na pag-ibig ko kay Cholo kahit sabihin pang galit at pait ang nakapagitan sa amin. It's as if I came home into his arms no matter how uninviting he is.
Ibinalik ko na uli sa ayos ang lahat bago lumabas ng silid. Nagtuluy-tuloy ako sa pinto at itinaas ang kamay para buksan ito. But before I could pull it open, I felt a lingering presence in my back. A man sitting on the couch with a stoic face made me retract my steps. Tumayo ito, namulsa, at tinitigan ako.
"It's been a long time, Karina."
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