The Villainess Ran Away

XXVI

Pagmulat ng aking mata, sumalubong ang view ng kisame ng kwarto na pinaglalagian ko dito sa pamamahay ni Dion. Umupo ako sa kama at nag-unat ng kamay kasabay ng aking paghikab. That was a good sleep.

I did my usual morning routine. Inayos ko yung kama, pagtapos ay naghilamos muna ako at nag-toothbrush. I gotta give it to the author because if we're being critical with accuracy ang pinang-sisipiliyo ng mga tao sa era na ito ay buto ng hayop, asin o 'di naman kaya'y uling. It's either she wasn't aware so she let her imagination run wild or she was aware which is why she actually put decent replicas. I mean, who would want to read a book where the main character is brushing her teeth with a hog's bone? It's definitely something I wouldn't dream of trying so for whatever reason, bless her for putting proper toothbrush and toothpaste. Shempre, makaluma ang istura ng toothbrush. Gawa sa kahoy ang handle at hindi ko naman alam kung anong ginamit nila for the bristles. I trust it's not something horrible. The toothpaste is white and didn't taste like anything at all. My theory is since the author didn't deem the information relevant, she didn't try to describe how the toothpaste tastes like which is the reason that it has such a bland flavor. It's not perfect but I'll take what I can get kesa naman sa mga bagay na binanggit ko kanina. Hindi ko talaga kakayanin, mabungi na kung mabungi. Hindi ako gagamit ng buto ng hayop as a substitute for a toothbrush, as in ever! Kahit pa sabihan akong maarte, eh tama naman talaga.

Nakarinig ako ng katok mula sa kabilang side nung pinto. Napangiti ako, "Finally!" Pagbukas ko ay bumungad si Lyliane sa'kin.

"Magandang umaga," bati niya.
"Ito na nga pala yung hinihingi mo sa'kin kagabi," dagdag niya pa at inabot yung pantalon.

"Maraming salamat Lyliane at magandang umaga rin sa'yo," sambit ko at tinanggap ito.

"Buti nalang at may nabili si lola na may kalakihan sa'kin kung hindi wala sana akong maibibigay sa'yo. Mas matangkad ka pa naman sa'kin," kwento niya pa.

"Tatangkad ka pa naman. Manalig ka lang," natatawang saad ko.

"Hay nako! Kaduda-duda 'yang pananalig na 'yan. Baka mapaasa lang ako sa wala. Oh s'ya, hinatid ko lang naman yung pantalon dito. Sisimulan ko na rin mga gawaing bahay na nakaatang sa'kin," paalam niya. Nagpasalamat ako muli at sinara na ang pinto.

Matapos kong maligo at magkapagbihis, tinignan ko ang aking kabuuan sa salamin. Hindi na dress ang suot ko ngayon. Ito yung pantalon na hiningi ko pa kay Lyliane. Wala kase akong sariling pair. Sa mundong ito, big deal ang mga dress sa kababaihan para i-display ang kanilang karangyaan at kapangyarihan. Mas magarbo ay mas v.i.p ang dating nila lalo na kung napalilibutan pa sila ng samu't saring alahas. During these times, masyado pang conservative ang society kaya ang tanging mga babae na nakakapag-suot ng pantalon ay mga commoner.

Buti nalang nagkasya sa'kin yung pantalon. Pinartneran ko ito ng shirt ni Dion na tinali sa bandang harapan dahil masyado itong malaki sa'kin. Tumagilid ako para sa mas maiging inspeksyon.

"Oh my," I giggled, "I'll surely be labeled as scandalous if anyone were to see me like this."

Yung asset ko lumalabas. Yung curves ko na hindi maitago kahit sa ilalim ng dress ay mas lalo nang nakikita ngayon. Napailing nalang ako. Tama na nga, masyado nang nagiging narcissistic labas ko nito. I tied my hair into a effortlessly, messy bun then I chose to wore my only pair of sandals to finish off the look.

"Good morning," bati ko kina Amber at Dion na nauna na sa hapag.

"Mama! Good morning din po," as always energetic ang bati sa'kin ni Amber. Tumayo siya upang salubungin ako ng yakap at halik sa pisngi and I did the same for her. When we settled from our seat, doon ko lang nabigyang pansin si Dion na nakaupo sa tapat ko. From the looks of it, kanina pa siya nakatitig sa'kin.

"Baka matunaw ako n'yan," sambit ko at tinignan siya direkta sa mata. Trying to catch him off guard.

"I hope not. I wanna keep staring at you for a little while longer," he didn't even back down so in the end, ako yung nag-iwas ng tingin. Nagsimula na akong kumain at 'di nalang siya kinibo. Halfway through eating, may bigla akong naalala.

"Nga pala, after her tutoring session I'll bring Amber with me sa waterfall. It's up to you if you'll join us or not," pag-i-inform ko.

"Of course I'll go. I'll finish up the meeting quickly so I can be here for lunch," sambit niya.

"Suit yourself," I tried to make it sound nonchalant because of course, I want him to be there. Walang magbabantay sa'min ni Amber if something happens. Hindi ako marunong lumangoy, remember?

"Then what are your plans this morning?" He asked. I shot him a ‘really?’ look.

"Reading," I said as if it's the most obvious answer in the world.

He sighed, "Alright".

There are more or less fifty pages left on the book I'm reading when I heard steps coming to my direction. From the way it sounds, I can tell it's Lyliane. Inalis ko ang tingin sa libro at tinignan ang taong nakatayo sa harap ko, and I was right.

"Oras na ng tanghalian," pagbibigay-alam ni Lyliane. I looked out the ceiling to floor glass window of the library. Ang bilis ng daloy nung oras hindi ko manlang napansin. Nilagay ko yung D-I-Y bookmark ko sa page kung saan ako tumigil at nilapag ang libro sa mesa. D'yan muna 'yan, babalikan ko naman eh. Gaya ng nakasanayan, sasalubungin ko si Amber matapos ang kanyang tutor session.

"Gusto mo samahan kita para may back-up ka?" Tanong ni Lyliane.

"Pfft— silly! Anong back up ka ja'n? Wala namang magaganap at kung mayroon man kaya ko na ang sarili ko," sambit ko.

"Hmp, sabi ko nga eh," she remained inside the house, sulking. Napailing naman ako.

Nang makita ako ay agad na tumakbo papunta sa'kin si Amber, "Mama!"

Batang 'to, hindi manlang magsawa sa pagmumukha ko.

"Great job today, sweetie. Tell me all about it during lunch, okay?" sambit ko. Nung umayos ako ng tayo, I've come face to face with Tatiana. She looked at me from head to toe with her judging eyes.

"Disgraceful," she hissed and deliberately glared at me.

"Why you look mighty lovely as well," my words were dripping with sarcasm while I flash my intoxicating grin.
"By the way, you're welcome to join us for lunch," dagdag ko pa. I only said it for the sake of formality. Isa pa, alam ko na rin naman magiging sagot niya—

"Sure! It'd be my pleasure," mga katagang hindi ko kailanman in-expect na manggagaling sa bibig niya. My ears must be playing tricks on me.

I scoffed in disbelief, "Really?"

"Yes, of course. You went out of your way to invite me so wouldn't it be rude of me to refuse?" she said with a dreadfully sweet smile. What the—

Before I could further question my sanity, I felt an arm wrap around my waist then the realization hit— of course! How could I be so stupid? I have to admit, she got me there. For a moment, I was prepared to ask Lyliane to seek an exorcist. Imposible talagang biglang bumait siya sa'kin ng gano'n, eh kanina lang halos sunugin niya gamit ng tingin ang kasuotan ko at presumably kasama ako.

"Tiana," he acknowledged her presence then binalik ang atensyon sa akin. Ni hindi niya hinintay kung sasagot ba yung dalaga.

"You're taking too long. Nauna na si Amber sa loob," mistulang nagmamaktol na saad nito.

"Sorry, kanina ka pa ba naghihintay?" naninimbang na tanong ko. Umiling naman siya bilang sagot. Hindi ko alam kung paano ako aakto. I mean, Dion's always held me by the waist and I got used to it somehow pero ibang usapan ang sa ngayon. Pasimple kong sinipat si Tatiana. She may get into my nerves but I don't wish to make an enemy out of her. Gusto ko lang naman ng tahimik at kumportableng buhay.

I saw her balling her fist from my peripheral vision. Hindi naman siya tanga para sapakin ako sa harap ng lalaking gusto niya dahil lang nagseselos siya, hindi ba?

"Oh, by the way, sasaluhan tayo ni Miss Tatiana ngayon sa pananghalian," pag-iimporma ko. Doon lang uli tumingin si Dion kay Tatiana.

"That would be nice. Let's get going then," sambit nito at niyakag ako. Nauna kaming naglakad at hindi na ako nag-abalang lingunin si Tatiana dahil ayokong salubungin ang galit, inggit at selos na maari kong makita sa mata niya.