38. My Ex-Husband Proposes
Tyrell was true to his words, as soon as nakalabas siya sa hospital, he started sending me chocolates, flowers, stuff toys, and typical things that you give kapag may nililigawan ka. Sad for him, magpapakipot muna ako para tignan kung seryoso ba siya... o ang kayamanan ko na naman ang habol niya.
Kakatapos lang ng construction ng mansion ko, all that's left are furnitures to fill the spaces, andito ako ngayon sa isang furniture shop at naghahanap ng eleganteng furniture na maaaring mailagay sa mansion ko. I wanted to keep things simple but elegant and comfy sa mansion ko.
Marami na akong malalaking paintings na binili, "how much is this wooden chair?" Tanong ko sa saleslady.
"15K po, Miss." Sagot naman niya.
"How much set do you have?" Tanong ko ulit.
"5, Ma'am."
"I want to buy them all." Sagot ko sa saleslady na agad namang tumango, nakabili na ako ng queen's bed, master's bed, at guestroom bed. Tumingin ako sa secretary ko, "you know my taste in things, right?" Tumango siya, matagal na kasi siyang nagtatrabaho as my secretary. "Then, ikaw na ang bahala sa ibang kakailanganin ng mansion ko, I'll pay you for this critical job. Here's the debit card. May pupuntahan kasi ako at aasikasuhin na mahalaga." Saad ko at saka ko iniwan ang sekretarya ko.
Ngayon ang araw na made-determina ang pagkabulok ni Monique sa kulungan, she have too many crimes that even a bail out won't work out. Noong nasa korte na ako ay nakasalubong ko ang lawyer ko, isa siya sa mga pinakamagaling na lawyer sa Pilipinas and I am proud to become his client.
"Miss Esperanza." He acknowledged, I flashed him my sweetest smile at sabay na kaming pumasok sa loob ng court, like all court, the judge was already placed at the center, may two sides ang group, parang debate lang ang setup.
Umupo ako sa pwesto ko at nilabas na nila si Monique na nababantayan ng mga police, tumingin si Monique sa akin saka siya ngumisi.
"We, today, hereby formally announce whether Monique Rosario is guilty charged of her own crimes or innocent." Panimula ng isang lalake, I was bored so I secretly yawned as I laugh at his intro, innocent? Hindi rin.
Nagkaroon ng labanan, hindi ako nagsalita pero nakakarindi ang tawa ni Monique kaya naman napahampas na ako sa table sa harap ko, "you crazy bitch, shut up!" Inis na sigaw ko. Ugh. She's giving me headache!
Suminghap ang mga Rosario Family sa ginawa ko but I recomposed myself at inagaw ang microphone sa kamay ng abogado ko, "years ago, I got married with Tyrell Zeus Cassiopea, my parents decided to go to Italy for a little break, and I have proofs the person behind the airplane crash of my family, somebody planted a bomb sa eroplano ng mga magulang ko." Tugon ko sabay labas ng isang folder, lahat sila ay suminghap, "this will surely make Monique guilty for murder and property damage, not to mention she still have a lot of crimes to pay today, for kidnapping my daughter, for attempting to kill my ex husband and for attempting to kill me as well." Saad ko.
"Hindi totoo 'yan!" Monique shouted then she suddenly begun laughing, "oh yes, naaalala ko! Pinatay ko nga ang mga magulang mo! They are worthless hags!"
Kumuyom ang kamao ko.
"Silence in the court!" Sigaw ng judge ngunit tawa pa rin ng tawa si Monique, "Monique Rosario, is hereby proclaimed guilty of her crimes! She will have to spend 80 years in prison forever to atone her sins." There was a loud bang on the judge's table, so it ends here? That was the judgment? Bakit hindi life sentence? Well ayos na 'yon kesa naman sa hindi siya mabilanggo all her life.
Ngumiti ako, tinignan ako ng masama ng mga magulang ni Monique pero wala na akong pake sa tingin nila, they could hate me for all they want, I won't give a care.
~*~
Dahil tabing-dagat ang backyard ng mansion ko ay naglakad muna ako sa may buhangin para magpahangin, pinikit ko ang aking mga mata at naalala ang resort noon... ilang taon na ba ang lumipas?
Bigla akong nakarinig ng tunog ng gitara kaya naman napatingin ako sa paligid, lumingon ako at nakita ko doon si Tyrell na naglalakad habang nakahawak ng gitara.
"I thought that I'd been hurt before..." He sang, "but no one's ever left me quite this sore..." He was in sync with his guitar, naalala ko 'yong guitar na 'yon, it was the same guitar he has when he serenaded me, "your words cut deeper than a knife, now I need someone to breath me back to life..."
"Got a feeling that I'm going under, but I know that I'll make it out alive, if I quit calling you my lover, move on..."
I smiled, he closed the distance between the two of us and he let go of the guitar, letting it fall into the sand. "Panira noon ang tawag... sana wala nang sumira ngayon..." Tugon niya sabay luhod, "I may not be the best husband, but I want to be your best man ever who will love you with everything he got, the past may still remain but who cares? What's important is that there's a future for us."
Humugot siya ng malalim na hininga.
"Dea Ver Saturnina Esperanza, will you take my ring, be my wife, take my last name, marry me?"
I closed my eyes, I pinched myself to ensure this is real and I felt the pain from my pinch, tinignan ko si Tyrell sa kanyang mga mata. It was full of hope.
"Yes."
"H-Hah? Hindi ko narinig..." Pagpapaulit sa akin ni Tyrell.
"Bingi ka? Sabi ko Yes! Oo! Papakasalan kita!" Sagot ko sa kanya. I braced myself as I felt him insert a ring in my finger, it was the most beautiful ring ever.
Tumayo si Tyrell at hinila ako, for a brief second, our lips met but it felt like forever as our lips crash against each other hungrily, kelan pa ba kami huling naghalik? That was years ago. I closed my eyes and savored the moment, pinulupot ko ang mga kamay ko sa batok niya para supurta, my knees suddenly felt like they were jellies.
Noong natapos ang halik ay hinihingal kaming dalawa, ramdam ko ang paghampas ng alon sa paa namin. "I love you, Dea... I... I always did."
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