Mercedez 3: Wildfire Games

28

Woman

Kung may mas ikinatahimik pa ang mesa namin kaysa kanina, ito iyon.

The smile I was preparing to offer everyone froze, then eventually fell. My lips quivered a little, feeling an intense shiver down my spine. My insides were cold and shaking.

Biglang naumid ang aking dila. Muntik ko pa nga na makagat. Nahinto rin ako sa paghinga. Pakiramdam ko ay inagawan ako ng ina niya ng hangin.

I almost flinched when Hadzri carefully placed the napkin on my lap. Our eyes met. He was gauging me. I just swallowed thickly for I couldn't smile nor open my mouth to speak.

Bumuntong hininga ito.

"I'm with my girlfriend, mom..." He slowly uttered in a low voice with a havoc undertone. Tila ba'y binabalaan ang ina niya na umayos. But I can still hear the respect he has for his mother from the way he said it.

Napasulyap ako sa ginang. She was still looking at the menu, browsing it nonchalantly. But she wasn't able to hide her face contorting and eyebrows flinching. Maybe because of her son's response.

Mas tumindi tuloy ang kaba ko.

I never thought I would be meeting my boyfriend's family today. More so, eat lunch with them. Hindi man lang ako nakapaghanda. I should have bought a gift for them, para naman sana ay makalma ang dugo ng ina niya sa akin.

Mukhang hindi ako makakapag pananghalian ng maayos ngayon. Magpapa order na lang siguro ako mamaya kay Zairus pagbalik ko sa opisina.

"Yeah, I can see that," she replied flatly. Ramdam ko talaga ang disgusto nito sa akin. Parang may asidong biglang natapon sa aking dibdib sa sakit ng paghilab noon. "I can't remember that I invited her, but you brought her here without even asking for my permission. Deal with it, I guess?" She scoffed sarcastically. "This is a family lunch. May isa na nga tayong karga, dadagdagan mo pa—"

"Hon..." tila balisa namang pilit na pinigilan ito ng kaniyang asawa sa pagsasalita. My eyes stayed on Sir Maximillian. He panicked as he held his wife on her elbows.

Nagkatitigan silang dalawa.

I shifted uncomfortably on my seat as I watched them fight through their staring contest. Kitang kita ko kung paano umukit ang pagmamakaawa sa mga mata ng ginoo habang pinapatay naman ito ng tingin ng kanyang asawa. Tiim din ang mga labi nito.

"Alejandra, love. Please... Let's order now, okay?" Panlalambing nito.

Hindi nagsalita ang ginang. Nanatili itong malamig na nakatitig lamang sa kanya.

Sir Maximillian sighed then licked his lower lip frustratedly. He nodded then kissed his wife's forehead.

"I'm sorry," bulong nito na nahagip ng aking pandinig.

My chest burnt.

Pakiramdam ko ay humihingi ito ng paumanhin dahil siya ang nagpatiunang isasama ako sa tanghalian nila ngayon. Nagkakagulo tuloy sila.

It's not unknown to the world how much Mr. Arculli is very in love with his wife. How... he can give the world to her in just a snap of a finger. They have always been so ideal... a picture perfect couple. A very loving family.

At ang makita silang ganito ka problemado ngayon dahil lamang sa aking presensya ay bahagyang nagdulot ng sakit at inis para sa aking sarili. I don't want to ruin a family. My boyfriend's family. I am not a home wrecker. And to see this picture perfect family crumble down right before my eyes... because of me... is a nightmare.

I think I should leave.

Tama si ma'am Alejandra. Hindi naman ako invited in the first place. Mas magiging komportable at matiwasay sila kung aalis ako. I don't belong here. Not at all.