9. Caught on the act
Halos dalawang linggo na ang makalipas matapos bumisita ang mga magulang at kapatid ni Tyrell sa mansion, wala masyadong nangyari sa dalawang linggo na ito dahil busy si Tyrell sa pag-atupag ng negosyo niya, humugot ako ng malalim na hininga. "I will go to my friend's place." Saad ko kay Ty, "and please don't even try of thinking about assigning people to be my bodyguard. Hindi ako tatakas. Ok?"
Tumaas ang isang kilay niya, "then I'll come."
Bigla akong natigilan. There's no way in hell that I'll let him come with me, not when I'm going to visit Kris and LaCharlotte.
"No thanks. I can take care of myself." Saad ko sa kanya, "and your busy with running your business and also my company." Sarkastik na tugon ko.
He smirked. "Whatever you say, make sure to be home before 12 because at 1 sharp, we'll have a late lunch at Height's place, it's his birthday today."
I just nodded and smiled. "So... no guards?"
He smirked playfully. "Unless you want."
Umiling ako, "I'll pass," ngumiti ako, "I'll only say this once, thank you."
Natigilan si Tyrell, he looked at me as if he misheard things. "Can you repeat it, wife?" Hindi ko alam kung nang-aasar ba siya o sadyang gusto lang ulit niyang marinig iyon dahil hindi naman ako karaniwang nagpapasalamat.
Namula ang pisngi ko, "ayoko nga!"
~*~
Tinignan ko ang paligid, making it sure Tyrell won't pull a stunt and let his men follow me secretly, good thing I wasn't followed nor nobody followed me. I sighed in relief as I hop out of my car which is parked in front of a modern house.
Kinapa ko ang cellphone ko sa aking sling bag at hinanap ang contact ni Kris, upon seeing it, I pressed the dial button.
Sa ikatlong ring ay may sumagot, "hello?"
"Kris!"
"Dea?"
"Nasa labas ako ng bahay mo." Saad ko.
"Oh. Really? Sige. I'm sure matutuwa si LC. Ok. I'm going down and open the gate. Maghintay ka lang." Matapos iyon ay tinapos na niya ang tawag, it took several seconds before the front door of his house opened, bumungad sa akin si Kris.
"Bakit ang tagal mo bago bumisita ulit? LC missed you so much." He said while walking towards the gate, binuksan niya ang gate at lumabas.
I sighed, "long story short, nangyari na ang kinakatakutan ko sa lahat. Tyrell is back and he took all of my properties, right now I'm living again with him."
Halata ang pag-aalala sa kanyang mukha, "did he hurt you?!"
Umiling ako, "as if naman kung papayagan ko siya."
Tumawa siya, "then you're fine."
Umiling ako, "he's taking away my freedom, Kris! Bantay sarado ako doon sa mansion, mabuti nga at good mood ata siya ngayon kaya pinayagan niya ako na lumabas without a bodyguard."
"Ok. Chill. Pasok ka muna, your daughter is watching anime sa living room."
"I'm sorry for the trouble, Kris."
He chuckled, "it's ok, parang anak na rin ang turing ko kay LC at parang kapatid na kita. I told you before that if you need help, I'm just here."
Hindi ko maiwasang maiyak dahil kahit na lahat na ay nawala na sa akin, I still have Kris and LC to make me continue fighting, he suddenly pulled me for a hug to comfort me while carressing my back. "Shh, tahan na. You wouldn't want your daughter to see you crying, don't you?"
Ngumiti ako.
Papasok na sana kami nang may biglang humablot sa kamay ko. Lumingon ako only to meet those familiar blue-green eyes na may matatalim na tingin sa akin. Nagulat ako nang hilain niya ako at tinulak kaya naman napaupo ako sa sementadong sidewalk, lumingon si Kris to see what happened but his face was punched byTyrell.
"Kris!"
Tumayo ako at daling tumakbo papunta kay Kris, tumingin siya sa akin, putok ang labi niya at may tumutulong dugo.
"Ano ang ginagawa mo, Tyrell?!"
Tinignan niya ako ng masama at huminga siya ng malalim, "I trusted you and let you go out by yourself, and this is what I frigging get? Mabuti na lang at sinundan kita, who knew you'd cheat on me!"
Pinunasan ni Kris ang dugo sa labi niya at tumingin ng masama kay Tyrell, "look whose talking." Sarkastik na tugon niya. "Aren't you supposed to be saying that to yourself, Tyrell?"
Tumaas ang isang kilay niya at saka tumingin sa aming dalawa, "get away from my wife!"
Suminghap ako, Tyrell was about to land a punch on Kris again but he dodged, gumanti si Kris ng suntok kay Tyrell na napaurong dahil nasikmura.
"Ano ba! Itigil nyo na 'to!"
Nagkatinginan sila ng masama, tumingin ako kay Kris, "I'm so sorry." Nakayukong sabi ko sa kanya.
Tinignan niya ako at nanlambog ang ekspresyon niya, "it's ok, Dea."
"Tsk. At siya pa talaga ang inuna mong inalala, hah?" Galit na sigaw ni Tyrell sa akin. "Sa harap ko pa talaga kayong naglandian, ha?"
Tinignan ko si Tyrell, "napaka-immature mo! Kris is my bestfriend, you prick!"
"Friend? Hah! Nagpapatawa ka ba?! You are crying and hugging him, and you fucking call him your bestfriend?!" He faked a laugh, "no wonder, malandi ka talaga." Galit na saad niya.
Ang kanyang huling tinawag sa akin ay umalingawngaw sa aking isip... it stung me, biglang nagsitulo ang mga luha ko. Tumayo ako at saka ko sinampal si Tyrell sa kanyang pisngi.
Siya pa talaga sa lahat ng tao ang may ganang tawagin akong malandi? Hindi ba't mas malandi pa siya sa akin dahil nakabuntis siya ng ibang babae? Akala siguro niya hindi ko alam 'noh? This bastard! He doesn't know that I know he was hiding from me all the time that he got his secretary pregnant. I don't know where they are now but I know he is supporting them secretly.
Saktong iyon ay bumukas ang pinto ng bahay ni Kris... nanlaki ang mga mata naming dalawa ni Kris, there are only two people living on his house, only him and...
My heart begun to beat so fast as Tyrell look at the front door, lumingon rin ako para tignan siya.
LaCharlotte...
* * *
