Hello! This is the last chapter of Hussein De Russo's Chattels. I had fun writing this and I hope you had fun reading it too. Thank you so much for reaching this far!
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KaoriFacing the mirror while wearing my wedding dress, a smile escaped my lips. Hapit iyon kuhang-kuha ang kurba ng katawan ko. A silver crown made out of real diamond is also placed in my head as a support for my veil. My make up is also done by one of the highest paid make up artist in US. Mom and Dad really helped us a lot.
Kady is my maid of honor and Aoki is her partner. Ang dating mga kaklase ko, including Gel, at kaibigan ng mapapangasawa ko ay kasama sa mga bridesmaids at groomsmen. Sa totoo lang ay kinakabahan ako. I am wearing a three inch heels. Baka sa sobrang kaba ay makalimutan ko kung paano lumakad mamaya. Hussein really spent a lot for this wedding.
"Ang swerte mong hinayupak ka, ah! Ang engrande ng kasal mo." Ani Kady.
"A queen like me deserve this kind of wedding. Gusto mo sponsor ko na rin 'yong sa 'yo. Engrande, ganito rin."
She scoffed. "Huwag na! Wala akong balak. Ayoko sa mga lalaki. Lason. Tetano."
"Huwag mong lahatin. Look at me, I'm marrying a good man."
"Syempre, obsess sa 'yo 'yong tao kaya mo nasasabi 'yan." Irap niya.
"Hindi, ah! Imbento ka." Tawa ko.
"Talaga lang ah? Kaya pala 24/7 nakabantay sa 'yo. Ako pa binabagabag kapag hindi ka nakita at muntik ng mabaliw no'ng nawala ka. Kahit ngayong may anak na kayo, mas tumatag yata ang siguridad. Bakod kung bakod, kulang na lang pag-isahin niyo 'yang mga katawan ninyo," litanya niya.
"He's just like that. Come on, Kady. Don't be too bitter, mahahanap mo rin ang para sa 'yo." Pampalubag loob ko.
She rolled her eyes and fixed her dress. "Seriously, Kao, I don't want to date anyone. Wala ng pag-asa ang love life ko dahil ayoko nga sa mga lalaki. My father was the first man who gave me trauma, and now I feel like every guy is like that. Sana tuloy-tuloy at walang hangganan na ang pagmamahal ni Hussein sa 'yo. Kapag sinaktan ka niya, mananagot siya sa 'kin. Kahit maldita ka mahal pa rin naman kita."
"Aw, that's so sweet of you, Keyds." I chuckled.
I feel bad for her though. She witnessed how her dad cheated with her mom and it gave her trauma. Aniya ay papalit-palit daw ito ng babae noon. Maybe her mom had enough and left her dad. Kady is striving really hard to achieve her goals in life. Kahit may permanenteng trabaho ay may gig pa rin. I badly want to help, but she hates it when I does.
"Ang ganda mo, bobita ka. Palit tayo ng mata? Ayoko dito sa 'kin, bilog na bilog parang sinumpa."
"Ang ganda nga ng mga mata mo!"
Kady is a real beauty. Pasok na pasok sa modeling industry kung gugustuhin niya. Matangkad rin at balingkinitan. Matangos ang ilong at natural na pula ang labi. Hindi ko alam kung bakit palagi niya dina-down ang sarili niya pero bahala siya, hobby niya 'yan eh.
"Ayos ka na? Aalis na tayo mayamaya. Balita ko umiiyak na si Hussein. Ano ba naman 'yang boyfriend mo, hindi pa nagsisimula umiiyak na."
"Tumahimik ka na, Kady, please. Baka hindi kita matantiya," nanggalaiting sabi ko.
Natigil ang usapan namin nang pumasok si Mommy, Daddy, at Nev. Maybe Maize is with Papá, hindi kasi nila kasama. Also Nev's son, baka nasa simbahan na sila.
"Ang ganda ng anak ko. Hon, look at her." Mom wiped her tears.
"Mommy, huwag ka munang umiyak. Naiiyak rin ako," marahang natawa ako at hinawakan ang kamay nito. "I am so grateful to have you as my mommy, you too, daddy. Sino ba namang mag-aakalang ako pala ang mananalo sa karera namin papunta sa fallopian tube mo, Mommy?"
"We're happy for you, Kaori. Kailangan ka na nga talaga naming pakawalan. Spread your wings, baby. Reach your new goals in life together with your family. Nandito lang kami palagi para sa inyo." Mom smiled.
"One call and your superhero dad will surely be there to save you." Dad said.
"Hangin! Superhero, eh, kapag may nalapit lang kay Mommy na ibang lalaki nagiging masama ka. Seloso!" Asik ko.
"Syempre, akin lang 'tong mommy mo," Dad's face softened.
"Ewan ko nga sa inyo." Irap ko. "Aalis na ba tayo? Ang bigat ng wedding gown ko."
"Kaya nga tiis ganda, Kaori. You look fabulous, by the way. Ganda mo," Nev approached me.
"We'll get the car ready. Baka magwala ang boyfriend mo sa simbahan kapag isang minuto kang na-late." Dad's laughter echoed inside the hotel room.
I was left with Nev and Kady by my side. Inayos nila ang dress ko habang ako naman ay nakatayo lang.
Nasa plano ko na noon pa man ang i-explore ang mundo mag-isa. Hindi naman napurnada ang planong iyon kasi matutuloy pa rin naman. And this time, my new found family is coming with me. It'll be a lot more fun. I wouldn't be traveling alone. I'll have Hussein and Maize with me.
I'm still going to enter the field of nursing... or maybe business as well. Since I was taught things about business too. Royals needs to socialize and I was expected to handle everything after Mom and Dad retire. Papasok ako sa mundo ng pagnenegosyo para hindi masayang ang itinuro sa 'kin. I might as well use my specialized skills in medical field too.
"Ready ka na? Lalabas na tayo. Papasok kang dalaga sa simbahan at lalabas na may asawa. Good luck to the new path you'll be taking, Kaori. I wish you all the best." Kady held my hand. "Hindi kita pina-plastic, ha? Baka akala mo na naman. Seryoso 'to. Masaya ako para sa 'yo, super. Kapag nangangailangan ka ng tulong sa kahit ano, kapag kaya ko, tutulungan kita. Huwag mo akong kakalimutan."
"Tanga. Para namang mamamatay ako. Ikakasal nga lang. Of course, I won't. You're my favorite enemy."
"Bastos!"
Tawa lang ang isinagot ko kay Kady. Everyone helped me with my gown as I enter the car that will take me to church. Sa kabilang kotse naman ay sina Mommy, pati na rin si Nev at Kady. Napahinga ako ng malalim dahil sa lakas ng kabog ng dibdib ko. It's as if I'm in the middle of running. Malakas at maingay.
Hussein wasn't entirely my sugar daddy. Ginagago lang talaga ako ng tadhana. At habang ginagago ako ng tadhana, naging pabibo naman ang puso ko. It started beating erratically for one person. I am naive that I didn't even realized it sooner. It took time. But I must admit, I was really attracted to Hussein way back when I first saw him. Sinong hindi? Eh, ang gwapo no'n.
I let myself fall for his charms. I've fallen in love with him for a very long time. Even though my mind was against it. Naguluhan rin naman ako. Gusto kong piliin ang bagay kung saan magkasundo ang puso at utak ko. At ang bagay na 'yon ay ang piliin si Hussein. But then at the last minute, I also found myself leaving him and choosing a different path.
Pero kahit gano'n, sa kaniya pa rin ako bumagsak. Sa kaniya pa rin ako bumalik. I made a mistake when I left him, but it was somewhat a blessing in disguise. We understood each other clearly.
Hussein is selfless. Salungat kaming dalawa. Hindi siya nagdedesisyon para sa 'ming dalawa, hindi katulad ko. I make decision for the both of us. While him, he would ask for my thoughts first. At kung anong gusto ko, iyon ang masusunod. Maliban sa isang bagay, ang iwanan siya.
"Ma'am, may nakaharang po."
Nagising ang diwa ko dahil sa sinabi ng driver. Maraming tao sa labas at may nakaharang na mga kotse. They were unfamiliar. I'm sure I haven't seen them before.
"Hindi ba tayo makadaan, Manong? Checkpoint?"
"Hindi, Ma'am. May dalang armas pero hindi naka-uniporme."
Before I could even speak a word, the door at the backseat where I am sitting harshly opened. Hindi ko na napigilang sumigaw sa gulat. The man who opened the door pulled me outside by force. Ngayon ay tuluyan nang nilukob ng takot ang sistema ko.
"What do you want?!"
"Sorry, princess. But I guess you're not marrying anyone today."
The last thing I heard before I felt something being injected in me. Darkness enveloped me and all I could think of is the safety of my man.
*****
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Hussein De Russo's Chattels
De TodoKaori is one of those self-sufficient women out there living in a chaotic city. To pass her time, when a man named 'Hussein' messaged her, asking if she wanted a sugar daddy, she immediately replied yes thinking it was a joke. What would become of h...