Mamihlapinatapai

Chapter 13

Cray

I was about to get out of the cubicle stall when I heard a loud group of people entering the washroom.

Napatigil ako sa akmang pagbubukas ng lock nang marinig ko yung pinag-uusapan ng mga ito.

"Why do they have to come here in the first place? They could have stayed in the jungle."

"C'mon, they have that yearly toast every year. So they were expected to be here. They've been doing that for ages."

"The Silva's are hot though."

"Who? The head of the family? Iba pala talaga yung charisma nung sinasabi nilang Grant Silva no? Kaya naman pala ang daming nabaliw doon."

"Mayaman din yang mga yan hindi ba? Dapat yung anak ko makilala yung anak nila. Yung panganay yata yung pinakamadaling makuha. See all the attention she's getting from the crowd? She's so charming. Ipapakilala ko yan sa unico hijo ko."

"Aba. Hindi naman yata pupwede na ikaw lang?"

"Dun ka na lang sa isa pa. Yung sumunod na babae. Yung mas bata ng konti. Saka hindi ba babae yung anak mo? Ipakilala mo dun sa lalaking Silva. Yung bunso yata iyon."

"No. Ayoko. Nakakatakot kaya yung itsura noon. Laging matalim tumingin sa mga tao. Pero gwapo nga. Mayaman pa."

Dinig ko pa yung hagikgikan at malakas na tawanan ng mga babae sa labas ng cubicle.

So they were really pertaining to the Silvas. Pati pala sila Eris at Essex ay isinama nila.

At si Ember?

Anong ginagawa nya dito? Hindi ba at malinaw na sinabi nya sakin na gusto nya ng manatili sa isla? I left her there two months ago. So why is she still coming back here in the city?

It's just Ate Sammie's birthday. They weren't even expected to be here aside from their parents.

"Totoo ba yung kumakalat na balita na kasal na daw yang panganay na Silva na yan?"

"At kanino naman daw?"

"Aba, malay ko. As I've heard someone got her pregnant kaya biglang nagtago ulit pauwi sa pamilya nya."

"Does she look like expecting a baby soon? Her body doesn't look like it."

"Malay mo naman pinalaglag? Biglang naglahong parang bula e. Samantalang noon ay laman ng kung saan saang party kasama yung panganay na Alleman."

"Ah, si Rainey Alleman? Nako, don't let your kids to associate with that woman. She's into drugs. Hindi nga ba at kaya laging sinasa-"

Halos pabalibag na binuksan ko yung pintuan ng cubicle. Yung mga taong nandoon naman sa harap ng powder area ay napatingin sa akin sa sobrang gulat.

I don't care about them. I'm mad. No. I'm furious!

How dare that Ember to drag Rainey! Pati ba paggamit ng drugs ay itinuro nito doon sa isa? What a shame!

Gigil na lumabas ako ng comfort room. Hoping to find Ember soon. That woman really doesn't know on how to keep her words. Ang sabi nito ay ayaw na nitong bumalik dito sa syudad. Pero heto, nandito na naman sya. Hindi nya ba naisip yung magiging epekto ng presensya nya kung sakaling makita sya ulit ni Rainey?

Rainey is even mad at me until now. Ayaw ako nitong kausapin at tanging si Elle lang ang hinahayaan nito na pumunta sa bahay ng mga ito. Even though I had already explained my situation on her kung bakit kami napilitan ni Ember na magpakasal. Mas lalo pa nga nitong ikinagalit iyon. Dahil pinapalabas ko pa daw na si Ember yung naghahabol sakin.