His Runaway Bride (His Series #2)

Kabanata 31

Kabanata 31
Divorced

I SMILED at her. "It's okay. Are you alright?"

She nodded and smiled to me too. "I'm okay po! You're so gorgeous. I'm Summer po, what's your name po?"

I chuckled because i was about to ask her name too but she asked me first. "Summer is a nice name. I'm Kaliyah."

As i look at her, she look so familiar. I don't want to admit that to myself but they are married, right? It's not impossible for them to have a child or children if they want to. The child is smiling at me and I can't deny that the smile looks like Camille.

A hundred percent look alike.

We're both shocked when someone grab her wrist. Nang mag-angat ako ng tingin ay hindi na ako nabigla nang makita si Camille pagkatapos kong makita ang anak niya.

"Kaliyah," sambit niya sa pangalan ko na may halong gulat. Pilit siyang ngumiti kahit gulat pa rin siyang makita ako. "How are you? It's been a while. I last saw you at our wedding."

"I'm fine," i turned my gaze at Summer. "It's nice to meet you, Summer."

"Mommy, you also know her? Because i know her na!" tanong ni Summer kay Camille.

Napalingon ako saglit kay Ellery nang makabalik na siya sa tabi ko dala dala ang dalawang dosena ng chuckie na favorite namin pareho. Binalik ko rin agad ang tingin sa mag-ina at naghintay din ng sagot mula kay Camille.

"Yes, baby. Friend ko siya before but i last saw her at my wedding. Ngayon ko lang uli siya nakita, that's why i was shock to see her."

"She's nice and kind, mommy!"

"She is," ani Camille sabay tingin sa akin nang nakangiti. "That's why your tito Ryker fell inlove with her years ago," napansin yata ni Camille ang gulat sa mga mukha namin ni Ellery dahil parehas pa kaming napasinghap sa tito Ryker na binanggit ni Camille. Natawa siya saka umiling. "No, it's not what you think it is. Summer is my niece. Also, she's already seven years old so it was impossible for me to have her as my daughter. She is Sean's daughter. Do you remember him, Kali?"

"Oh, yes! I totally remember him. May anak na pala siya nang magkita kami sa wedding niyo ni Ryker."

"Yes, exactly. Nasanay siya na tawagin akong mommy dahil lagi niya akong kasama noong baby pa siya. Spoiled sa akin itong batang 'to, e," she laughed. "Pinaglihian din ako ng mommy ni Summer kaya kamukhang-kamukha ko siya kahit sa smile."

"She's pretty like you," komento ko sabay tingin kay Summer saka nginitian ko muli ito.

May kinuha na kung ano si Camille sa wallet niya saka iniabot sa'kin. "Here's my calling card. Call me if you have some spare time. I have something to tell you."

Tumango lang ako na naging hudyat ni Camille para hilain na palayo sa'min si Summer.

"Akala ko anak na niya. Akala ko anak na nila ni Ryker. Akala ko Hescavio ang batang iyon," pagsasalita ni Ellery mula sa gilid ko.

Nilagay ko ang calling card ni Camille sa bag ko saka umiling. "Akala nating mali naman pala. Ayon sana ang first baby ng mga Hescavio na buhay. The first baby Hescavio is never been born nor seen by the Hescavio's."

Kumunot ang noo ni Elle. "What happened?"

"Dead. She died around 7-8 months of pregnancy,"

"Oh. Sana may baby na uli na dumating sa pamilya nila. Sa kabila ng yaman nila, they also have their own pain. Maybe it was really tragic for them to lose a baby, accidentally. That sucks."

"HELLO, Camille?"

I've been so curious about what Camille said earlier so i decided to call the number on her calling card to reach her out.

"Hi, Kaliyah! You already have some spare time to talk about something important?"

"Uh, yes. See you at La Delya Restaurant tomorrow at 10 am."

"Okay! See you tomorrow!"

KABADO man ay naglakas loob pa rin akong pumasok sa restaurant na sinabi ko. Sa gitna ng maraming tao ay natanaw ko si Camille na napalingon agad sakin pagkapasok ko ng restaurant. Tipid siyang ngumiti nang makitang nakarating na ako. Umupo ako sa upuan na nasa harapan niya saka matipid na ngumiti.

"Tungkol saan ‘yung paguusapan natin?" diretsang tanong ko dahil kahit anim na taon na ang nakakaraan, nandito pa rin ang sakit tuwing naiisip ko ang mga nangyari bago at pagkatapos ng kasal nila at ang makaharap ngayon ang asawa ng lalaking minahal ko noon ay may kirot pa rin sa puso ko.

"Don't you want to order first?" alok niya.

Umiling ako. "Pumunta lang talaga ako dito para alamin kung anong sasabihin mo."

"Kay Ryker," sagot nito.

Kumunot ang noo ko at nagsimulang umusbong ang maraming tanong sa utak ko.

"We're divorced already," she didn't even hesitated to drop off the second bomb. She told me that directly. My jaw literally dropped. I know Ryker. He won't do such things to make Camille do an annulment. "1 year ago."

"W-Why?" umiling ako. "I mean, why did you divorced him? He cheated? Sinaktan ka niya physically? He tortured you mentally?"

"Nah," natatawa siyang umiling. "We both know that Ryker won't do that things. The reason why we divorced is... you."

And for the second time, my jaw dropped again. The third bomb was ten times more shocking than the first two bombs she dropped!

"Why me? I didn't have any contact at Ryker. I also cut the connections between me and his family. I didn't have the thoughts to flirt with him after you two got married," depensa ko.

"Mahal ka pa niya, Kaliyah,"

For the third time, my jaw dropped again. The fourth bomb was the severe bomb, i swear! The bombs was dropped right into my face for Pete's sake. I didn't have enough time to process everything. Damn it! What had just happened?

Their marriage messed up because of me? Shit.

"Before the wedding, he confessed to me. Mahal niya ako pero mas mahal ka niya. Anong laban ko sayo, hindi ba? Ako ang unang girlfriend pero alam kong puppy love lang ang nangyari between sa'min. It's not that deep. Hindi gaya ng love niya for you. Ikaw ang first at greatest love niya. Nagmakaawa ako sakanyang subukan niyang mas mahalin ako kaysa sayo and he agreed. Nag-push through pa rin kami sa wedding and we got married. But after two weeks, it messed up. Di ka na nagpakita sa kahit sino sa pamilya niya o sa'ming dalawa. Halos mabaliw siya kakaisip kung ano nang nangyari sayo pagkatapos noon, Kali."

She paused for a while and continued talking after a few minutes. "Nakalimutan niyang meron pa siyang ako," nabasag ang boses niya at may ilang luhang tumulo mula sa mga mata niya na agad niyang pinunasan. "Masakit. Halos three weeks din siyang hindi nagpakita sa'kin pero bumalik din naman siya noong na-realize niyang meron pa siya ako. He became a good husband after that. He cares for me all the time, cook a food for me, date me when we both have spare time and give me everything i want. He never failed for being good to me but my mind was always surrounded by the thoughts that one day, i need to let go of him for him to be happy with you. I-Ikaw kasi ‘yong happiness niya... hindi ako at hindi naman magiging ako, d-diba?"

"No," umiling ako at hinawakan ang kamay niyang nakalapag sa mesa. Pinisil ko ‘yon ng marahan. "I know he was genuinely happy with you."

"But it will never be as genuine as his happiness with you," nag-iwas siya ng tingin at ngumiti ng mapait. "Pero sino ba naman ako to demand on him, right? So i told him that he can find where you are and talk to you before we get annulled but he never dare to find you. His first and last received news about you is... you winning the Binibining Pilipinas and Miss Universe. He was proud and so am i because on a short time, i treated you as my friend. You were so kind, understanding and... you are beyond perfect."