Pinagsoltada

71

JOAN slowly closed the laptop. It had been four . . . five years, but she could never forget such face.

It was the beautiful face that represented Reina Elena years ago.

It was the beautiful face that introduced her to what regal and class should look like.

Joan could not believe that she was in the same room with Allyssa again.

Sobrang lakas ng pagkabog sa kaniyang dibdib. Parang tumigil din siya sa paghinga dahil hindi niya napaghandaan ito. Bumalot ang tensiyon sa buo niyang katawan sa isiping kaharap niya ang legal na asawa ng lalaki na may lihim siyang relasyon.

Seeing Allyssa made her feel small . . . humbled. Who wouldn't ? Napakaganda pa rin nito. Maganda pa rin ang kurba ng katawan nito. She looked thicker than before though, especially from her hips down. Her shape could easily be seen because of her tight jeans and fitting blue sleeveless, button-down shirt with box collar. Her hair was still black and silky, straight yet already mid-length, styled in a V-layer and swept to the side, showing off her side bangs.

Her almond eyes were still sharp, piercing with a gaze like a cat's. Her lips curled into an amused smile.

"Whoa. You're still here?" she said sourly.

Inilapag ni Joan ang laptop sa couch at tumayo. She smiled as politely as possible.

"Last year lang ako nakabalik dito. . . ." Damn. What should she call her? 'Señora Allyssa' pa rin ba? Ma'am Allyssa? For some reason, it didn't feel right to call her the way she used to call her. Pero nagkasundo sila ni Ernesto na hindi puwedeng may makahalata sa relasyon nila hanggang hindi pa ito naa-annul, kaya naman . . .

"Oh, really?" Allyssa reacted, sounding sarcastic. Inekis nito ang mga braso at humakbang nang dahan-dahan palapit sa kaniya. She stepped so slow, she could hear the heavy tapping of the heels of her wedge sandals against the floor.

"Yes," Joan lowered her eyes, "Ma'am Allyssa."

Nagsalubong ang mga kilay nito. Napahinto ito sa paglakad at nagtatakang inihilig ang ulo. "Ma'am Allyssa? Bakit ganyan ang tawag mo sa 'kin?"

"Well," Joan breathed and tried to look more relaxed, "what else should I call you, ma'am?" She clasped her hands close to her abdomen and looked at Allyssa coolly. "I mean, nagtatrabaho lang ako rito at—"

"You don't know?" gusot ng mukha nito.

"Don't know what?"

Tinitigan siya nito nang matagal-tagal bago napatuwid ng pagkakatayo at napailing na lamang. "Nothing."

Then, Allyssa's head slightly moved. Napagtanto ni Joan na pinapasadahan na siya nito ng tingin mula sa paa paakyat sa kaniyang mukha. Medyo na-self conscious tuloy siya dahil sa kaniyang suot na jeans at halter neck na pulang top, lalo na't may kababaan ang neck line nito. Gusto niya tuloy pasadahan ng suklay ang naka-half ponytail niyang kulot na buhok, pero hindi niya magawa dahil baka mahalata ni Allyssa ang nerbiyos niya.

"What's your work here?" Allyssa asked, meeting her eyes.

"Marketing staff."

She released a dry chuckle. "Marketing?"

Joan nodded.

"Why?"

"Nakapag-aral na po ako. Naka-graduate ng Business Ad—"

"Nononono!" mabilis na interupsiyon nito. "Pagkatapos ng mga nangyari sa 'yo rito . . ." Napailing si Allyssa bago ipinagpatuloy ang paghakbang palapit sa kaniya. "Bakit bumalik ka pa?"