Gold Ring of Betrayal

Chapter X

Chapter X - Doubts. Mistrust. Misgiving

“I HAD lunch meeting beside your firm kaya dumaan na ako dito.” Helise was sipping her coffee, kakatapos lang ng lunch meeting niya outside her office at dahil malapit ito sa law firm ng kaibigang si Monica ay minabuti na niyang dumiretso dito. Marami kasing gumugulo ngayon sa isipan niya, hindi niya rin nakausap pa si Emil para magtanong tungkol sa mga reports ng mga papeles na inaayos ng asawa dahil nga biglaan siyang nagkaroon ng business meeting outside her office early.

“Are you busy? Am I disturbing you?” tanong pa ni Helise.

Umiling ang kaibigan habang papaupo sa katapat na sofa. “Nope. Natapos ko na rin namang basahin yung kasong hinahawakan ko ngayon. Good thing dumaan ka, para makapag unwind naman ang utak ko kahit saglit.”

Tipid na ngumiti si Helise. “Come with us this Sunday to unwind, nagyaya si Jelly mag-golf.”

“Ugh! May hearing ako ng Monday kaya hindi ako pwede sa Sunday. I need to review my case.” sagot nito bago humigop ng kape.

“You’re always busy.”

“Nagsalita!” buwelta nito sa kanya.

Nagtawanan sila.

“Oh, right. One of my client is Tristan’s former classmate wayback college.”

“Really? How’d you know that?”

“While checking his background kasi, nakita ko na parehas sila ng university na pinasukan ng asawa mo, same course. My client confirmed it and Oh! He also said that Tristan bought a condo a few weeks ago? Condominium owner kasi iyon at kaya ko nabanggit sayo dahil ayaw mo ng condo diba? Bakit kayo bumili?”

Tristan bought a condo? Why? Helise didn’t like it because its such a waste of space and money! They already had five mansion and seventeen vacation house! Para saan pa ang condo?

Napansin yata ni Monica ang pagkalito sa mukha ni Helise.

“Don’t tell me you didn’t know about it? The condo isn’t that far from your hotel main branch. I thought....”

“Maybe Tristan bought it for his distant relative? He never mentioned it to me.” pag-amin niya.

Lumipat si Monica ng upo sa tabi ni Helise, hinaplos nito ang balikat niya. “Are you and Tristan okay?” she said with a hint of concern in her voice.

“Yeah...” parang hindi na sigurado si Helise sa sagot. “Maybe... It’s just a misunderstanding. I’ll ask him about the condo later.” aniya bago tumayo. “Thanks for the coffee, Monica. I have to go.”

Hindi na niya hinintay pa ang sasabihin ni Monica, dali-dali na siyang lumabas sa opisina ng kaibigan.

Bigla siyang kinabahan, hindi maintindihan ang nararamdaman. Bakit pakiramdam niya napakadami ng tinatago ni Tristan sa kanya? He wasn’t like that before? At alam nito kung gaano kasinop si Helise sa pera. Why buy condominium? She’s planning to confront him but she stopped herself, she needs to investigate further dahil baka kapag tinanong niya kaagad ang tungkol doon baka mas lalong hindi malaman ni Helise ang totoo.

She acted like it was nothing when they’re at home having dinner. It was the first time Tristan came home with her. She was looking at him carefully, barely touch her food while her husband was busy eating his dinner.

“You have plans with your friends this Sunday right?”

“Yes.” tumango si Helise sa asawa. “You said I should take a break every Sunday.”

“Yeah hon, you need that.” bumaba ang tingin nito sa pagkain ni Helise. “You’re not eating hon. Didn’t like the food?” tanong ni Tristan nang mapansing hindi masyadong kumakain si Helise.