Arrange Marriage

Chapter 51

After 1 year

Mikhael's POV

"Yeah, I just arrived" I said on the other line while talking to Denise.

"I'll text you na nga lang, hindi kita maintindihan" I added and hung up.

Denise
What did you said? I'm sorry hindi kita maintindihan, mahina signal

Mikhael
I said kararating ko lang, I'm at the airport right now.

Denise
Oh great! Come here sa SM aurora, nandito ako ngayon

Denise
I'll text you the exact location, pakita mo nalang sa driver ng taxi, bye ingat!

Mikhael
👍🏻

Pumara ako ng taxi and showed manong the location Dj told me.

I felt so bored at the beach house sa hawaii so I decided na bumalik na ng Philippines. Wala namang masyadong nakakakilala sa akin I guess, pero I'll hide myself. I'm wearing a gray hoodie and a black baseball cap, maaraw kasi. Nakasuot din ako ng shades pero hinubad ko yon, nasa loob naman ako ng sasakyan.

After a few minutes we arrived at the mall, this mall is big and I feel like maliligaw ako. Nagbayad ako kay manong driver pero sinobrahan ko.

When I arrived right in front of the mall, I texted Denise to ask where she was but she didn't reply. Naiinitan ako kaya pumasok na ako, I put back the baseball cap I was wearing as well as the shades, I feel like I look like a spy. I walked around inside the mall, hoping to catch Dj's eye, I texted her again but she didn't really reply. Nakarating na ako ng 2nd floor, I used the stairs instead kasi wala akong makitang elevator.

When I got to the 2nd floor, naisipan ko nang tawagan si Denise and seconds later nang sagutin niya ang tawag ko.

"Buti naman sinagot mo" I said.

"Where the hell are you? I've been going circles in this mall, I think I'm lost" I added while having a phone call.

"Sa tapat ng foodcourt, hurry up!" Binilisan ko ang paglalakad ko at muntikan pang madapa dahil sa tire ng stroller na nadaanan ko.

"Oh God I'm sorry" I said at sinulyapan ang babae na nagtutulak ng stroller, niliitan ko ito ng mata, she somehow looks familiar. Is she the mother of this twin? She looks like no mother, more like a sister to this twin.

I knelt in front of the twin and stared at them.

"Hi there little ones, I apologized on my behalf because I don't look at what I'm passing by" I apologized while looking at them and gave them a smile.

The young girl was staring at me deeply so I stood up and walked away, I might have scared her while having an eye to eye to that adorable girl and plus, I was in a hurry.

Is it just me or does the baby boy look like me?

Swerte naman ng tatay, pogi ng anak.

"Hoy kanina pa kita tinatawag hindi ka nasagot" Denise shouted on the other line.

"Oh sorry, I bumped into someone and tsaka nandito na ako sa tapat ng foodcourt, nasaan ka ba?" I asked, kanina pa kasi ako palakad-lakad.

"Lingon ka" Denise said at hindi na ako nagdalawang isip at lumingon.

"Hi!" Denise said cheerfully to me and hugged me.

"Not too close" I said at hinawakan ang ulo niya sabay nilayo siya.

"Woah tumangkad ka ng isa and why are you wearing shades and cap?" She asked. Tatanggalin niya na sana pero pinigilan ko siya.

"Don't touch my cap" sabi ko at hinampas ang kamay niya.

"Let's go kain tayo, my treat" Denise responded and pulled me.

"Wala kang dalang maleta?" She asked habang naglalakad kami.

"Wala, backpack lang, why?" I asked back.

"Wala lang din" tugon niya.

.

Denise drove me to my condominium, she even took me to her house just to teach her how to cook the steak that I cook for her at the beach house in Hawaii. I said there is still tomorrow but she said she will cook it tomorrow to take it to her friend.

When I arrived at my condominium around twelve o'clock, the guard fell asleep while sitting. There was no one at the reception either, maybe nag restroom or something.

I used the elevator para mas mabilis because I wanted to rest na. When I got to my condo, I didn't have a key. A staff member just happened to pass by so I called him.

"Sorry to bother but can you open my room? I have no spare key kasi" sabi ko habang nakatingin sa akin yung lalaki.

"Uhm excuse me sir, who are you? Hindi ko po pwedeng buksan ang condo na iyan unless you're the owner" the staff said.

He called me sir. Wow.

I removed my hoodie and cap, pati na rin ang shades ko.

"There, much better? Now can you please open the door?" Pag-ulit ko, tumango ang staff at binuksan kaagad ang pinto.

Humingi ako ng spare keycard para sa condo ko dahil hindi ko alam kung nasaan ba ang mga iyon.

I opened the lights sa entryway, living room at kitchen. The atmosphere was awkward, it gaves my goosebumps every steps I make pero hindi ko matukoy.

Inaalikabok na condo ko, 3 years ba namang napabayaan. Imbis na magpahinga ako ay nilinis ko ang buong condo ko, I hate it when my place is very madumi, mabilis mangati katawan ko kahit alikabok lang yan.

Mag a-ala una na nang matapos ako sa baba, it's time to head upstairs. Pagkadating ko ng 2nd floor, inaalikabok na bookshelves ko pati ang mga books ko. I continued cleaning.

When I finished, I went to the end of the room on the 2nd floor, I knew there was a lot of dust there because hindi ko na talaga pinapasok yon.

Fuck. Where's the key for this room?

Tinignan ko sa mga bookshelf kung nandoon ba ang susi pero wala. Lumingon ako pabalik sa pinto ng kwarto and noticed the the carpet was upside down.

Tinaob ko yung carpet and saw a small storage sa lapag. Binuksan ko ito and saw nothing. I expected na nandito yung susi for this room.

Ita-try ko sanang buksan yung pinto pero nagulat ako nang magbukas ito.

No way.

I locked this door.

Who the hell opened this god-damned room?

Pagkapasok ko ay binuksan ko ang ilaw pero hindi ito gumana kaya kinuha ko ang phone ko sa pocket ko and opened my flashlight. The room was dark dahil natatakpan ng double curtain ang bintana. When I turned on my flashlight I was surprised nang tumambad sa akin ang magulo at punit-punit na papel.

No..no, this can't be...

Lumapit kaagad ako sa mga punit na papel at pinulot ito. Maliliit ang pagkapunit kaya there's no way that a scotch tape can fix this mess. I clinched my fist, feeling rage inside me.

Even the large canva ay puro painting na ng black.

I don't remember and I don't know what and who was drawn on the canva and the torn drawing paper pero ang sikip sa dibdib.

Why?

All I know is that I poured my effort into it for those, then someone will just tear my works.

________________

Hi guys haha mag aalas-tres na, goodnight sainyo - Author