Married by ACCIDENT

Chapter 32

*You already have my heart, and it was up to you to either take it or break it. But unfortunately for me, you ended up choosing to do the latter.

“Do you need any assistance, Ma’am?” Mungkahi sa akin ng saleslady na naka-assign sa department store nung umagang iyon, giving me a small and friendly smile as she turned to gaze at me.

Dagli naman akong napayuko at madaling inilayo ang aking tingin sa kanya.

“There’s no need. I was only looking through the bags being displayed here.” Sambit ko.

Napatango siya nang konti pagkatapos, at muli niyang pinagmasdan ang aking mukha. Mas lalo lang akong napayuko, pilit na talagang inilalayo ang aking tingin.

“Well, in case that you need any accommodations, just feel free to call my attention.” Pagpapaalala naman niya sa akin.

Tumango na lang muli ako sa kanyang direksyon, at pagkatapos ay madali akong tumungo papunta sa isa pang stall na may naka-display ring mga handbags. Nakita kong napatitig muli sa aking gawi saglit ang saleslady, pero mamaya-maya ay tumalikod na rin siya sa akin at lumapit sa isa pang costumer, who was an old lady that looked like she was around the age of seventy-five or so, and was clearly in need of complete assistance.

Huminga naman ako nang maluwag pagkatapos, at nagpatuloy na lamang sa pagmamasid at pag-che-check out ng mga handbags na naka-display doon.

Dahil wala rin naman akong kailangang pagkaabalahan ngayong araw na ito, minarapat ko na lamang na pumunta dito sa mall at mag-shopping. Although unfortunately for me, ako lang namang mag-isa ang libre ang schedule ngayon. Dumalo kasi sa isang convention sina Bliss at Blair, coming as my representatives for the event. Busy naman sa kani-kanilang mga business trainings sina Levi at Ate Margaux, at kahit sina Piper at Valerie ay pawang may kanya-kanyang pinagkakaabalahan rin. Hay. Sad life, isn’t it? Kung kailan pa ako naging available, saka naman walang libre sa mga kasamahan kong mga babae. Sigh. ( _ _ )

Nagpatuloy na lang ako sa aking pagmamasid, sinisigurado ring walang makakahalata sa aking disguise at walang makakapansin na nandito pala ako sa loob ng mall. Ayoko rin naman kasing magkaroon pa ng kaguluhan ngayong araw na ito, most especially since this might be the only day that my schedule will completely become available.

Kakagaling ko lang rin kanina sa stall na kung saan naka-display ang iba’t ibang klase ng mga leather accessories, from belts to wallets to clutch bags, and I even saw some of the products made and showcased by LDCG Industries, the company formally owned by my uncle and Mom’s older brother, Tito Drew, and is now being managed by his children and my two older cousins, Kuya Charlie and Ate Angeline (refer to My Boyfriend by Accident).

Tumungo muli ako sa isa pang stall doon sa bags section, na kung saan naka-display naman ang mga products na ginawa at ineendorso ng Rodriguez Corporations, ang kumpanyang ipinagmamay-ari ni Tita Naomi, na ngayon ay pinagtatrabauhan na rin at siguradong mamanahin balang araw ni Ate Margaux.

After checking out a few of the bags displayed on some the shelves, a particular handbag immediately caught my eye, which was displayed on the front most part of the stall. I immediately went towards its direction afterwards, planning to look at it through a closer view. Pero nang kukunin ko palang ito para pagmasdan nang malapitan ay bigla na lang may lumitaw na isa pang kamay, which immediately collided with mine.

“Lyka Santiago?” Ang tila gulat na gulat na sambit ng walang iba kundi ni Denise Raymundo, na siyang nakatitig sa akin at tinitingnan ako nang maigi pagkatapos.