Zaldivar Series #1: Weaving Lies and Chaos

Kabanata 2

The tip of my stilettos made a synchronous sounds as I walked towards the hospital room of Timothea Zaldivar, Chaos's grandmother.

I took a glance on my phone to see if Chaos replied. 

Chaos:

You don't have to go, Hon. Grandma's fine.

Ibinaba ko ang phone at ibinalik iyon sa loob ng aking clutch. I'm here already.

As I walked nearer the room, I saw its door opened. Pamilyar na bulto ng lalaki ang lumabas doon at agad kong natantong pinsan iyon ni Chaos. Kasunod niya ay si Chaos na marahang hinila ang pinto pabalik. 

They faced each other and started talking. Tila may pinagtatalunan. Malaki pa ang distansya ko sa dalawa kaya't hindi ko tuluyang marinig ang usapan nila. 

"Hon," I called to get Chaos's attention. 

Napalingon ang dalawa sa aking direksyon. A frown immediately formed in Chaos's forehead when our eyes met. Sinalubong niya ako at agad na hinuli ang aking baywang, tila ayaw akong patuluyin. "You don't have to be here."

"Chaos, Grandma wants to talk to her," his cousin interfered, stopping us from walking away 

"I said no, Guerdon." My shoulders almost jump at Chaos's cold and authoritative voice. 

"That's an order from Grandma. You know how it works. It doesn't matter if you're against it. The moment they said, we have to follow. Besides it's just a talk," pilit ni Guerdon na pinantayan ang awtoridad ng boses ni Chaos.

Bumuka ang aking mga labi ngunit nasisiguro kong hindi nakita ng dalawa ang aking reaksyon.

"Talk my ass. You know how it will end." Igting ang pangang sagot ni Chaos.

Guerdon nonchalantly nodded. "We all know." 

"T–there's nothing wrong with that. Let me talk to her," I interfered using a low and soft voice. I have an idea why Chaos doesn't want me to talk to his grandma though. But I want to. I want to see the root of the Zaldivars, Abacus and Timothea.  

Yesterday, I talked to the both of them but it was just for greetings. We're all busy because of the engagement party, so we doesn't have a chance to talk for too long.

Sandaling sumulyap sa akin si Guerdon bago muling bumalik kay Chaos ang kanyang atensyon. "Your fiancee agreed. Let them talk now that you're here. Or else you want Grandma to talk to her without you on her side. You choose."

Wala ng nagawa si Chaos nang buksan ni Guerdon ang pinto ng hospital room at sinenyasan kaming pumasok doon.

I heard Chaos heaved a harsh sigh while still holding my waist. Lumapit siya sa akin at marahang humalik sa aking sentido. "Just ignore everything she'll say."

"Huh?" Nagtatakang tanong ko. "I can't just ignore them, it's your grandmother. Let's go."

Hinuli ko ang kamay niya na nasa aking baywang at marahang hinila iyon papasok dahil mukhang nag-aalinlangan pa rin siya.

I offered him a smile to assure him I'll be alright. 

But the smile in my lips wavered the moment we got in the room and saw lots of Zaldivar inside. I'm expecting Abacus and Timothea only but well, I'm here already. Mukhang hindi ako makatatagal sa silid na ito, kahit pa kumpara sa ibang hospital room ay mukhang mas malaki ang binayad dito. This seems a VIP room yet some people inside is merely a trash.

Agad naman akong nakabawi at muling nakangiti. "Good afternoon," I softly greeted while looking around, making eye contact with the Zaldivars. I felt Chaos's hand at my back but I remained busy greeting his relatives.