Marriage and Maintainability

Chapter 29

"OF COURSE, you can!" Pilit na natawa si Claire para mapantastikuhan si Isabella sa kinatatayuan. Nang tumikwas ang kilay nito ay pinagbuksan niya ito ng pinto. "Come in," dagdag niya at sinikap na huwag ipahayag ang kaba.

Nilampasan siya ni Isabella at nanatili siyang nakatalikod, nagdasal na sana ay walang mangyaring masama sa kanya o wala siyang masabi na kung ano para paghinalaan nito ang relasyon niya kay Leon. Hinanda niya ang matamis na ngiti bago hinarap si Isabella na ngayom ay seryoso na nakatitig sa kanya.

"Oh, spare me with that smile. No matter how much you and Leon hides it, I know that you two are just pretending," wika nito para kumunot ang kanyang noo.

"We're not pretending," giit niya at tinagpo ang mga naghihinala nitong mga mata.

"Then let me tell that I don't believe you," diretsahang wika nito sabay pinaningkitan siya ng mga mata. "But you don't need to worry, my dear sister-in-law. I won't tell a soul."

"You won't because you have nothing to tell," pagmamatigas niya at matamis na nginitian ito. "Please, let us be happy with each other. We just want a happy marriage."

"Since when did you two will open your eyes, huh?" nanunukat na wika nito. "I am with your side. I won't tell mom and dad, so you won't need to pretend. It sucks always to get mistaken or to be wicked when I am not. It's very unfair."

"You brought his ex that day," pagpapaalala ni Claire para mapakibit-balikat dito. "How are we supposed to trust you? You know how much it would hurt Leon but you still did. You're supposed to be the big sister here but you act like a child."

Natigilan nang sandali si Isabella bago ito napangisi. "Wait, do you really care for Leon?"

"W-What?" tanong niya dito at nag-iwas ng tingin nang maramdaman ang pag-init ng kanyang pisngi. "I do. I mean, I have every right to be. I am his wife."

"Oh, drop this act because I know Leon is not capable of loving someone unless it's Sophia," diretsahang wika nito para maestatwa siya sa kinatatayuan.

Hindi niya alam kung bakit bigla na lamang siyang nakaramdam ng pagka-irita at pagkainggit. She wasn't certain even if it was her own emotion. It was very frustrating, she could literally feel her heart beating faster than it usually does. She may not know what's the reason behind her frustration, but she knew one thing. Isabella has said something she didn't like.

"As his wife, it is offending to open such a topic. Please, refrain from mentioning that woman's name when you are talking to me," she demanded with her head high. "We should not look over the past because we have a future to anticipate now. And I will gladly, definitely spend it with my husband peacefully."

"Jealousy, that's what it was," wika ni Isabella sabay napangisi. "Do you want to not feel jealous?"

"I have every right to be jealous because I am Leon's wife," pagmamatigas niya para mapaungol ito, marahil nairita.

"Okay, fine. You are Leon's wife and I will pretend that you love each other and not to get the company, happy?" tanong nito at eksaherada na nagpaikot ng mga mata. "I didn't come here to pick a fight, Claire. I came here to visit you as your sister-in-law."

"Then thank you for visiting me then," sagot niya para mapangiti ito ng nakakaloko.

"You know, what. I like you, Claire," wika ni Isabella at lumapit sa kanya. Itinaas nito ang kanyang baba. "You're feisty. Leon made a good choice for making you his wife."

"As much as I did on choosing him as my husband. Love has brought us together," pahayag ni Claire, nagbakasali na malinlang niya pa ito.

Itinaas ni Isabella ang mga kamay sa ere at tumango. "Fine. But don't you want to make him fall for you?"

"He loved me already, I don't need to do such things," pagtutol ni Claire.

"Oh, believe me. You will," Isabella said proudly, making her eyebrows furrowed. "Drop the act, Claire. I know my brother my whole life and this plan of mine will make you win if you just trust me. I know you want my brother. I'm a woman, I can see it in your eyes. Don't you want my brother to want you, too?"

Leon and Isabella are the same. They are manipulative and will do everything according to their plan. Magkapatid talaga ang dalawa, hindi iyon makakaila... sapagkat, may parte sa kanya na gusto rin na sumang-ayon sa kagustuhan ni Isabella.

"Why are you doing this?" tanong ni Claire.

Humakbang palayo si Isabella at tumungo sa sala para mapasunod siya dito. "Clearly, Sophia didn't work on breaking the engagement off. I just thought Leon was being impulsive about his actions toward marriage. He was still my little brother, you know. I don't want him to be like me."

Tila ang paghihinala niya para kay Isabella ay nawala nang marinig ang kataga na iyon. She can't seem to fully trust her but she sounded genuine saying those words.

"I used Sophia to change his mind but it became useless because of you. After seeing you, I didn't feel like I lose," wika nito para mas lalo siyang maguluhan. "In fact, I was relieved. I am a victim of arranged marriage, you see. I don't want it to happen to my little brother so I brought Sophia since he loved her so much. But then... you came."

"What about me?" tanong ni Claire.

"You are as dumb as my little brother," pagaka na wika ni Isabella at lumapit sa kanya. "Do you want me to style your hair?"

Isabella was weird just like Leon. Not in bad way but in a good way somehow. She doesn't know what is going on Isabella's mind but she do know one thing. isabella cares for Leon. Hindi nga lang nito napapahayag nang maayos para sa kapatid. Ang buong akala niya ay wala itong pakialam, lalong-lalo na noong sinabi ni Leon na dapat siyang mag-ingat sa nakakatanda nitong kapatid. Subalit, habang nakakausap ito nang matagal ay unti-unti nang mapawi ang kanyang paghihinala para dito. She seems like she was just misunderstood. Parehas lamang ito ni Leon na hindi marunong magpahayag ng totoong saloobin.

Isabella at Leon has always been misunderstood by many. Hindi lamang sila kundi ang iba ring mayayaman na lagi na lamang napapagpiyestahan ng nakakarami base sa kung paano ang mga ito mantrato ng tao. They were always treated like they are incapable of doing what the average people can do. Tinuturing ito ng lahat na parang maharlika at itinitingala ng lahat. Pero kung mapapakitungahan ito ng iba ay malalaman ng iba na tao rin ang mga ito at may kakayahan na masaktan.

"Fine..." sagot niya para mapangiti ito nang malawak sa kanyang harap. "But don't overdo it, please."

"Call me, Ate. I have been wanting to have a little sister but Leon came instead." Umingos ito at ngumiti sa kanya sabay salat ng mabini sa kanyang pisngi. "So, please. Let me treat you like my little sister."

Napapantastikuhan na napatingin siya kay Isabella bago napilitan na tumango. "S-Sige po... Ate."

Dahil sa kanyang sinabi ay nagningning ang mga mata ni Isabella na para bang may sinabi siyang napakaganda. Walang ideya na napatingin na lamang siya rito bilang tugon at naikiling ang ulo. If Leon is odd, Isabella, on the hand, is the unearthly one. Magkapatid nga talaga ang dalawa.