I'm The Substitute Wife [COMPLETED]

Kabanata 35

IMARI knocked on Valeria's room before she heard that she could come in. Binuksan niya iyon saka pumasok. Napatingin sa kanya ang mga batang tinuturuan nito.

"Bonjour, Miss Imari!" sabay na bati ng lahat sa kanya. Nilapitan siya ng kaibigan habang suot nito ang apron na may mga marka ng iba't ibang kulay ng pintura.

"Bonjour!" magiliw niyang bati.

"What's that?" Valeria pointed to the paper bag she was carrying.

"Souvenirs." Inilagay niya iyon sa mesa nito.

"Souvenirs? From where? Did you go on vacation abroad without my knowledge?" Valeria furrowed as she examined the paper bag.

"Nope. That's local wine and food from Kaysersberg. Rouge and I went there yesterday, went for a stroll. Try them all later and they taste so good, especially their champagne."

"Is this raisin brioche?" Pakita nito sa bun na nakalagay sa brown paper.

"Yes. I know we have that here in the city in the pastry shops, but believe me, it tastes different, Val. Alsatian wine and raisin brioche are just one of the town's well-known foods among their local specialties."

"Okay, as you say so. Merci, Ims."

"Je t'en prie, Val. I also gave others-" napahinto siya sa pagsasalita nang makarinig sila ng pagkatok. Bumukas iyon at sumilip ang isa sa mga tauhan niya, may hinahanap.

"Oh, there you are, Miss Imari," anito nang magtama ang kanilang paningin. "There is a woman looking for you, miss, she is waiting in the visitors lounge," dugtong nito.

Nagkatinginan sila ni Valeria. Kumibit balikat ito habang may pagtataka naman sa kanyang mukha. Nagpaalam siya rito't sa mga bata saka lumabas ng silid. While walking down the hallway to the visitors lounge area, Imari wondered who her guest would be. Maybe not her grandparents and especially her sister because every time they visit her, they go straight to her office or call to visit her.

The smile that was plastered on Imari's lips to greet whoever was her guest suddenly disappeared when she recognized who it was. Tila napako ang mga paa niya sa kinatatayuan, kinakabahan na natatakot siya habang nakatingin rito. She didn't know how to deal with her, after what happened the first time they met. Wala man lang siyang kaalam-alam na ang nasa harapan na pala niya nang sandaling iyon ay ang ina ng nobyo. Mali din niya dahil hindi man lang siya nagtanong sa kung ano ang hitsura nito, naghanap ng mga larawan upang sana kahit papano ay may ideya siya. Hindi na siya magtataka kung paano nito nalaman ang pinagtatrabuhuan niya. But, is she in good shape already?

The madame was busy looking at the paintings hanging on the wall. She still looks as elegant and sophisticated as it did when they first met unexpectedly. Tumahol ang aso nito pagkakita sa kanya. Tumalon iyon na ikinawala sa pagkakahawak ng amo at mabilis na tumakbo palapit sa kanya.

Imari turned away her attention from the madame and looked at the dog at her feet, looking up at her as it barked and wagged her little tail. She bent down so that the dog wouldn't look up at her too much.

"Hi!" masiglang bati niya sa aso. Gusto sana niyang haplusin ang ulo nito, ngunit nagpipigil siya dahil baka magalit na naman uli ang amo nito. Mukhang hindi pa naman nito gusto na may ibang humahawak sa aso nito, base na rin noong huling tagpo nila.

Tumahol ang aso, tila gumanti sa pagbati niya. Lumapit lalo ito sa kanyang binti at kumiskis roon. Agad niya naiangat ang paningin sa ginang, na ngayo'y nakatingin na pala sa kanila. Wala siyang reaksyon na nakikita sa mukha nito, kaya hindi niya alam kung galit ba ito o ano dahil lumapit ang aso nito sa kanya.

"Good morning, Miss Romano," the madame greeted her formally, not smiling. 

Even though she was nervous, she still answered properly out of respect. "Good morning, Madame Altavilla." Tumayo siya at bahagyang yumuko, inalis ang atensyon sa aso nitong nagpaikot-ikot sa kanyang paanan.