Versailles Series Book 6: The Florist [COMPLETED]

CHAPTER 24

=== A M A R A ===

Lumabas ako ng apartment kinabukasan at nakita ko si Tabi na nag-aantay sa akin.

"Iba na talaga ang nagagawa ng pagmamahal. Alam mo, pwede naman kitang turuang lutuin iyung sinigang. Tignan mo nga ingredients hindi mo pa alam."

Napakamot ako sa ulo ko. "Tinuruan na kasi ako ni Chael. Nakalimutan ko lang iyung ingredients."

"Sigurado kang kaya mong lutuin?"

"Oo. Saka may fire alarm naman kung sakali man."

Siniko ako nito bago nag-peace sign dito.

Sinamahan ako nito sa grocery para bilhin ang mga ingredients. Dumaan muna ako sa flower shop para kumuha ng bulaklak pang-peace offering ko rito.

I played the video on youtube on how to cook sinigang. Himala nga na nagmukhang sinigang iyon kasi hindi ko alam ang tamang hiwa ng mga rekado.

Nilagay ko iyon sa lalagyan bago inayos ang mga bulaklak na dadalhin ko rin. Tinignan ko ang oras. It's 9AM. Nasa bahay pa naman ito minsan ng ganitong oras. Sana ay matiyempuhan ko.

As I stood on his front door, huminga ako ng malalim. I decided maybe its time I confess my feelings for him. Ayoko ng malabo kung ano kami. Fuck buddies don't do this. We've done things beyond that. And with my newly discovered feelings, I guess its time to put it all out there.

I saw his car so nandito pa nga ito sa bahay. I keyed in the pin and it opened. Dumiretso ako sa kusina para ilapag doon ang sinigang na dala ko. Ihahanda ko sana ang hapag nito nang marinig ko ang mga yabag nito.

Dala-dala ang mga bulaklak ay lumabas ako mula sa kusina. He woke up on the wrong side of the bed. He has bed hair and his facial expression indicated he didn't have a great morning.

"What are you doing here?" Still cold as ever. Bumabagay na rito ang klima ng Baguio.

"I just want to explain. Akala ko hindi na kasi siya big deal."

"Hindi big deal-"

I stopped him. "I just want to explain myself okay? I wasn't sure I was going to enjoy my stay here kaya 1 year lang muna which is a month from now. But I'll talk to Carrie because I wanted to stay longer. And yes, I will go back home just for a bit pero babalik din naman ako. You can actually go with me if you want. And since I am on a roll this morning I just want to tell you that Chael...I am in-"

Sabay kaming napalingon nang bumukas ang pinto. May pumasok na babaeng may katandaan at isang babaeng matangkad at balingkinitan. The lady was dressed very elegantly na tila nagmukha itong donya sa mansion. The lady she was with was wearing a red dress that fitted her slender body. Base sa body language nito, mukha itong mahinhin o refined ang mga galaw.

"It's about time I came here! This is long overdue. I brought Kathy with me."

"Mom?"

Ah, so ito siguro ang mommy ni Chael. I haven't seen any photos of her. Kapatid ba nito si Kathy? There was no resemblance though. Baka pinsan?

"It's past your birthday and I came to claim my end of the bargain, anak. I hope your done with that fling or some whore or whoever it is you've been sleeping around with. Here's Kathy, your fiancee. I really searched for someone like her. Your type, anak. We better get the preparations started. Gusto ko pa maabutan ang mga magiging apo ko."

Para akong nanigas sa kinatatayuan ko. Hindi ko alam kung saan ako mas nasasaktan. Na tinawag ako nitong whore o parausan lang ni Chael? O dahil may fiancee na pala ito all this time? I suddenly felt out of place.

Doon lang yata ako napansin ng ginang. "Oh sorry, I didn't notice you there hija."

Inipon ko ang lakas ko at lumapit sa mga ito. Iniwasan ko ang tiganan ang mukha ni Chael. I also plastered a fake smile on my face.

"Good morning po, Ma'am. Uhm, ide-deliver ko lang po sana itong flowers kay Sir Chael. Pero mukhang para sa inyo po talaga." I can give myself an award for this.

The lady accepted and was awed by the beautiful flowers. "These are beautiful hija. Dito ba galing sa club ito or imported?"

"Dito po."

"Oh you know what? You can be our supplier for my son's upcoming wedding. Only son ko lang kasi itong si Chael and I only want what's best for him."

Tumango ako. Tinignan ko si Kathy. "Bagay na bagay po kayo."

The lady laughed and covered her mouth. "Thank you."

I needed air. I have to get out.

"Mauuna na po ako Ma'am. Enjoy your stay sa club po."

I kept a straight back as I walked myself out. Sumandal muna ako sa dingding niyon kasi parang nawala ang lakas ko. I jogged myself back to the apartment grateful that I didn't have to anybody on my way.

Nakayuko akong naupo sa kama. He's getting married to that beautiful woman. While I am just...his whore.

I've never felt so low. I felt like garbage. The least he could have done was tell me.

My thoughts were interrupted by a call. It wasn't Chael. It was one of my staffs.

"Ate, dumating na po iyung decors para sa debut sa garden bukas."

Maybe it was a good time to drown myself in work for now. Mamaya na lang ako mag-iisip.

Nang makarating ako sa site ay naroon na nga ang mga decors. I kept my smiling facade kasi ayokong mapansin nila na malungkot ako. That will probe more questions I can't answer right now.

Unconsciously, I kept checking my phone but there were no messages nor missed calls from him.

Inabot na kami ng gabi sa pag-lagay ng decors roon. Bukas ay ilalagay na namin ang mga bulaklak. I was just checking the final arrangements before heading back to the apartment kaya pinauwi ko na ang mga kasama ko.

I did a final check from my tab when I got a call from an unknown number. It was an international one and based from the area code, mukhang sa Amsterdam ito galing.

"Hello?"

"Is this Amara?" A guy's frantic voice was talking to me.

"Yes...? Who is this?"

"It's Gilbert." Napatango ako. Sa pagkakaalam ko ay isa ito sa mga kaibigan ni Willem.

"Oh. Sorry I didn't recognize your voice."

"It's Willem."

Kinausap ako ng kaibigan nito at mukha mapapaaga ang uwi ko sa Amsterdam. I placed my phone in my pocket and started to gather my things when I heard someone.

"Amara..."

CHAPTER 25 >>