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12: Villain

12: Villain

I had a tea session with the Duchess in the afternoon. Kasama niya rin 'yong mga kaibigan niya at isa lang ang masasabi ko. My life of being a single woman has finally come to an end, because I've been surrounded by married women. Not that I complain about their companionship, sadyang naiilang lang talaga ako tuwing ang hain ng topiko ay ang aming mga asawa.

I was shocked that they asked me about the marital night. Para tuloy akong kamatis na pinipiga sa bawat tanong, at halos hindi rin nila ako tinantanan. Gusto ko nga umuwi sa sobrang hiya, pero hindi ako pinayagan ng dukesa hangga't hindi ako sinusundo ng aking asawa.

Paano ako susunduin ng lalaking 'yon kung hindi niya nga alam kung nasaan ako at hindi ko rin alam kung nasaan siya. Wala naman siyang pakialam sa aking pagkatapos ng ginawa niya kagabi, ni hindi man lang siya nagpakita para magpatawad.

Aba, sino siya para ako ang magpakumbaba? Gago lang.

Pinagmamasdan ko lang ang mga bulaklak sa hardin ng ducal couple. Humingi kasi ako ng personal na oras para mag-ikot-ikot sa mansion nila. Malapit na maggabi pero ayaw kong umalis dito at umuwi sa kastilyo dahil tiyak akong wala akong aabutan na asawa don.

"Lady Isabella."

A woman's voice called me by the name I hate being called at. Napako agad ang aking tingin sa kanya para sana sabihin na hindi ko gustong tinatawag ako sa pangalan na 'yon, subalit napamaang lamang ako ng makita ko ang kabuuan niya.

Brown curly hair that rested on both sides of her slim shoulders, her clothes were in different shades of white that made her look like a goddess. Maganda naman siya pero mas maganda ako. The only downside about this unfamiliar beauty in front of me is that her face expressed a bitch expression.

Hinahamon ba ako ng babaeng 'to?

"May I know who you are?" I asked, trying to be polite when I wished to show her I am not someone to be messed up with. Ayaw kong magkaroon ng kalaban dito dahil hindi 'yon ang sentro ng kwento.

"Lady Ruwena of the House of Hampress. I am Lord Raffaello's cousin from his father's side," she said and plastered a fake smile. She may look sweet and daring in the eyes of the people who are easily fooled by such an act, but not me. That sly smile makes me think she's someone who has an upper hand here.

And what? Hampress, again? Kailan ba ako tatantanan ng mga tao sa County na 'yan? Parang gusto ko ng magpalunod na lang sa sapa para tuluyan silang iwasan. If she is that Raffaelo's cousin, I am pretty sure they share the same bird brain.

"Okay, nice to meet you. Hindi naman siguro kailangan ipakilala ko pa ang aking sarili dahil mukhang alam mo na. If you were at our wedding, I am sorry if I didn't recognize you," nakangiti kong saad. Peke rin ngiti ko, hindi lang siya marunong mag-asal mabait kahit hindi.

"It is alright, Lady Isabella. However, why is it that the newly married couple doesn't go together on their first day of marriage?" tanong niya.

See, a sly bitch always has a sly intention.

"My husband is training for the Horseback Riding Competition. He has been planning that agenda before my entrance, and I don't want to intervene just because I am married to him," agad na sagot ko.

"But isn't it your duty to look after the young master? If he is training, then why didn't you aid him with a towel or a snack, instead, you went to a tea session? That negligence can give birth to misunderstanding, and it is your duty to not abhor such a reason for conflict, am I right?" she asked.

Bakit ang dami niyang tanong. Why is she concerned by Hendrix, is she his lover before my entrance? Pinagmasdan ko lamang siya mula ulo hanggang paa. She is a noble, and her proper figure could match the preference of Hendrix towards women. Did I ruin a relationship without my awareness?!

"I do not fathom why you are concerned with the health of my husband. What are you to him?" tanong ko. Minsan ang pagiging prangka ko talaga ang tatapos sa akin, dahil bigla siyang ngumisi. Dahil d'yan nawala ang mala-anghel niyang ekspresyon.

"Why don't you ask him?" she replied with a question.

Napataas ang kilay ko. "He didn't say he had a lover."

Her lips gaped and I want to congratulate myself for aiming for a hot spot. Because of her reaction, I concluded that she's not part of his life. More of a leech that he wished to get off but kept on sucking his life. If she's not like that, what else then? An obsessive bitch?

"I am sure that did not make it out of his mouth," she countered.

I fake a smile. "I asked him once, he never mentioned you."

Lady Ruwena scoffed like her dignity has been stumped by a giant foot, and I am that giant. She lost her composure and tried to act like she wasn't affected. Bakit parang nag-eenjoy akong asarin siya? If she is a lady of my husband in whatever aspect they prefer to label their relationship, it makes me itch to nag her nonstop.

"Theft..."

I heard her whisper clearly. Hindi 'yon bulong kundi sinadya niyang marinig ko 'yon. I rolled my eyes before my arms crossed in front of me. "I don't know what your relationship is with my husband, but just so you know I am now his wife. I do get your point, but your affiliation shows disrespect to the married couple. Hindi ka kasali sa kung anong namamagitan sa amin, kaya huwag mo akong bigyan ng rason na patulan ka."

A corner of her lips raised. "I did not do anything."

"Of course you did, but you're acting."

Biglang nanglambot ang mukha niya, na parang ilang segundo ay iiyak na siya. At hindi nga ako nagkamali, she burst into tears like a baby and even made her face look scared looking at me.

"W-what did I do, Lady Isabella?" she said in her trembling voice. "I am sorry for what I did, I am truly sorry."

Ay piste. Best actress ba gusto niyang makuha? Hindi niya magagawa 'yon. Ako lang dapat ang magaling umakting, kaya hindi ako magpapatalo.

"Cut the crap, Ruwena. Ang panget mo umakting," I said in the most sarcastic way I could master. I walked towards her, and was supposed to reach her hand when she suddenly screamed and crumpled herself on the grass, looking at me scared. Shit, if someone sees her right now, they will think I bully her!

"Bella..."

I heard Hendrix called me.

"My Lord!" Ruwena exclaimed and showered her acting skills towards my husband. "We were just talking, and she pushed me!"

Oh, come on. May ikaka-improve pa ba ang akting na 'to?

I turned and crossed my arms before I focused my eyes in the face of my beloved husband. His crossed eyebrows and confused eyes met my emotionless stares. Galit ako sa kanya, kaya pagbibigyan ko lahat ng gusto akong saktan ngayon.

"Yes, Hendrix. I pushed her. Save the Lady and reprimand your wife for being a villain of this fucking story," I said nonchalantly. I turned my head towards Ruwena who's mouth gaped. "I should have pulled your hair if I wanted to, but instead, I pushed you. That is the basic plot of the route to villainy. Hindi lang ikaw ang alam 'yan, pa-victim."

I marched away with my head held high. I was a villain too, how dare she!

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