I'm The Substitute Wife [COMPLETED]

Kabanata 41

NASA bahay pa lang sila ay kinakabahan na si Imari. Ngayon na papalapit na sila sa kanilang pupuntahan ay mas lalo lamang dumoble ang kanyang nararamdaman.

"Your hands are cold, baby." Hinalikan ni Rouge iyon. Paanong hindi manlalamig kung matinding kaba at takot ang kanyang nararamdaman sa sandaling 'to? Rouge held her shoulder and made her face him. He looked at her intently in her eyes. "Relax, baby. My parents won't do anything to you as long as I'm by your side, hmm?"

"I can't help it, Rouge. Your whole family is there." Yes, they have a family dinner with his whole family, his parents and sister Reagan.

She has been here in the Philippines for more than a week already and just yesterday Rouge's mother called to him and said that they are back here in the Philippines. His mother talked to her also and invited her for a dinner that will happen right now. Naikuwento na niya kay Rouge ang nangyaring pagpunta ng ina nito sa event niya't pag-uusap nila. At first, he was surprised and couldn't believe it because the last time they talked to his mother she was furiously mad at them and their relationship. Masyado raw mataas ang pride nito para magpakumbaba at humingi ng tawad. Para sa kanya, mas doon niya naintindihan ang ina nito matapos sila makapag-usap at malaman ang saloobin at dahilan nito, kung bakit ganun na lamang ito kagalit sa kanila ng pamilya niya. No mother wants her child to end up with a bad woman or the wrong person for him, and that's a mother's instinct for her child, to protect him from them. Dahil sa mga nagawa nila at ipinakita sa anak nito, alam niya kung saan nanggaling ang galit nito para sa kanila, kaya gaya ng sabi niya sa ginang, naiintindihan niya 'to.

But right now, she regrets why she agreed to Rouge's mother's invitation.  If only she could take back what she answered to her without being rude, she would have done it. She thought she could, but here she is nervous and scared. Maayos man sila ng ginang at nagkapatawaran na, ngunit hindi niya alam sa mag-ama nito kung anong magiging trato sa kanya. Ang huling pagkikita nila ng ama at kapatid ni Rouge ay galit at pagkadisgusto ang ibinigay ng mga ito sa kanya.

"I am here. If you can't handle it later, we'll leave." He kissed her forehead, calming her down.

She didn't answer the last thing he said because her mind was the opposite of what her heart was feeling. Kung hindi ngayon, kailan pa? Kung hindi niya haharapin ang ama't kapatid nito, walang mangyayari. Kung hindi niya makakausap, hindi niya maaayos na katulad sa nangyari sa kanila ng ginang. She thanked her because she herself came to her and wanted to talk to her, so here they are now, they can talk properly without being angry with her anymore.

Pagkapasok ng kanilang sasakyan sa matayog na bakal ng gate ay ilang metro pa ang binaybay nila papasok bago huminto ang sasakyan sa harapan ng kulay puting mansion. Sa labas pa lang, tila nasa Italya na ang pakiramdam ni Imari dahil sa ambiance at desinyo ng buong mansion. In the front center of the mansion is an elegant and clean circular fountain with an angel statue.

Umihip ang malamig na hangin ng panggabi na siyang sumalubong sa kanya pagkalabas ng sasakyan habang inalalayan siya ni Rouge. They walked up a few steps of the stairs until they reached the big double doors of the entrance and a bodyguard guarding it opened it. 

"Good evening, sir, ma'am!"

"Good evening," nakangiti niyang sagot habang tinanguan lamang ito ng kanyang katabi saka siya iginaya papasok sa loob ng bahay.

If the house is amazing on the outside, it is even more so on the inside. She couldn't say enough about the beauty of its interior design and the expensive and luxurious furniture. Ilang sandali pa'y narinig na nila ang mga boses na nag-uusap sa loob ng dining area. She and Rouge entered the dining area and saw four people sitting at the twelve sitters table. Nang mapansin sila ng apat na kasambahay na nakatayo sa gilid ay agad sila binati na ikinalingon ng apat sa kanilang gawi. Hindi na nakuhang sumagot ni Imari sa pagbati ng mga kasambahay nang makita ang isang tao na naroon.