CORMAC [TDH - IV]

Chapter 30

IMARI NOELLE

8 P.M mahigit na ng makatanggap ako ng text message galing kay Yakov. Kakarating ko lang sa town house niya at nadatnan kong nakabukas ang mga ilaw pero wala ni-isang ingay akong narinig.

Tinahak ko na ang papasok sa loob ng bahay at dumiretso sa kwarto ni Yakov. Baka nandoon lang siya nakatambay.

Nang mabuksan ko ang pinto ng kwarto niya ay wala ring bakas ni Yakov ang nahagip ko.

The atmosphere of the house felt heavy and melancholic.

Kahit na ganito na ang nararamdaman ko ay patuloy ko pa ring hinahanap si Yakov sa kada kwarto at nang mapagod na ang katawan ko ay napagpasyahan kong pumunta sa living room at umupo sa sofa.

I opened my shoulder bag and took my phone out. The messages of my friends popped onto the screen but I focused myself in dialing Yakov's cell number.

Bago ko pa man siya matawagan ay nakarinig ako ng mga yabag ng sapatos papalapit sa kinaroroonan ko.

I lifted my head hoping it was Yakov.

But it wasn't him.

It's his mother.

I immediately recognized who she was. I once saw her in Yakov's office and I couldn't forget her face. I wouldn't dare to forget everything she did to me not so long ago.

"Magandang gabi, po." I tried to remain calm and pretended that I'm not daunted with her presence.

Kahit hindi pa man siya nagsasalita ay hindi ko na mawari kung bakit ganito nalang ang kaba ko habang tinititigan ang kabuuan niya.

"We meet again, Miss Raymundo." aniya.

Yumuko nalang ako at nakinig sa kung ano pa mang sasabihin niya.

"I've heard so many unpleasant news about you after we met in my son's office, young lady." she continued. "And it angers me, a lot."

"Kung ang ikinagagalit niyo po ay ang pagiging kasal ko kay Yakov, huwag po kayong magalala dahil wala na pong bisa ang kasal namin." I tried to say things that might lift her dark aura towards me. "Matagal na."

"I know," she quickly responded and tried stepping few steps towards my direction. "But your connection with him doesn't end there." she smirked. "Am I right, Miss Raymundo?"

"Yes, Ma'am."

"A woman with the likes of you," she started. "Don't fit my son's world. You are way way way below him."

"I beg your pardon-,"

"Shut up!" she cut me off. I flinched with her sudden raise of voice. It made my heart skip a beat.

"I'm sorry." I apologized instantly.

"I don't wanna see you near my son, Imari Noelle. I want you to just disappear, live your own life without him, and forget that he ever existed to you."

Tinitigan ko siya ng malalim at hindi lubos makapaniwala sa sinabi.

Alam kong dati pa man ay hindi niya ako gusto para kay Yakov. She was hell-bent in pushing me away that it got through the point where she resorted in violence.

"Meron po ba akong nagawang masama sayo para tratuhin mo 'ko ng ganito, Ma'am?" nanlulumo kong tanong.

It took her a minute before she answered my question.

"You didn't." she replied.

"Minsan po ba naisip niyo rin na baka masaya si Yakov sa mga nangyayari sa buhay niya? Kaso hinahadlangan niyo lang po."