Sandoval Duology 1: Unwanted Wife (Self-Published)

Kabanata 20

Iniling ko ang ulo para mawala ang mga naiisip. It's been years and yet the pain is just like yesterday. And through that pain, I lived stronger. Kahit na ba bawat araw ginugusto ko na lang sumuko sa lahat, hindi ko pa rin magawa. Siguro dahil kino-consider ko pa rin ang mga taong nasa paligid ko.

Inabala ko ang sarili sa pag tatrabaho. Ganoon naman ang routine ko kapag nakikita kong bumabalik balik na naman ako sa mga ala-alang ganoon.

Kung pwede lang, pahihintuin ko na ang oras, kung saan lang ako masaya. Pero kailan ba ako naging masaya? Naging masaya nga ba ako?

"You should've hired an interior designer to make your office more... you know."

Umangat ang tingin ko kay Mama. Wearing a famous designer dress and shoes, Mama walked into my office like a Queen as she strolls around it. My office is small. Two book racks on the left side and a large mahogany desk in front of me.

"Mama," Sagot ko

"Oh darling, I've been calling you since yesterday pero hindi ka sumasagot." Tumigil ang tingin niya sa akin bago bumaba sa desk plate.

"Sorry, I was busy. Kailan ka pa umuwi?" Tanong ko bago tumayo at lumapit sa kanya at humalik.

Maarte niyang ibinaba ang latest model bag ng Hermés sa aking table bago muling bumaling sa akin.

"Just yesterday. Hindi ba sinabi sayo ni Bench? Buti pa ang batang iyon ay naalala ako." Umirap siya sa akin

Humilig ako sa lamesa, "Bench didn't tell me. Alam mo naman iyon."

She waved her hand dismissing, "Oh, by the way, are you free tonight? Gusto ko sanang makasama ka sa dinner, of course, with Bench."

Humalukipkip ako at nilingon ang desk plate ko, "I'll ask Craig if I can borrow Bench for an hour."

Tumango tango siya, "Hija, I have nothing against your taste but... really? Mukha kang hindi president ng sarili mong kompanya. It's too shallow..."

Bumuntong hininga ako at lumingon sa likod, "Ayaw mo ba ang picture mo dito?"

An oil painting of the young Isabella Naomi Aguirre - Madrigal, beautiful and sophisticated wearing a white ruffled off shoulders, revealing her perfectly carved collar bones and a necklace. Her hair in beautiful straight behind her. Makes her looks like her own version of Belle in Beauty and the Beast is hanging behind my desk.

"You can bid that for a hundred million if you need money." She said in sarcasm

I chuckled. And yes, someone will have that painting for more than a hundred million.

"I'll call a designer for this. Mas maganda pa ang opisina ni Craig kesa sayo!" She said in horror.

Tumawa ako, "Since when did you and Craig start to be close that you kept on mentioning him?"

Naging maayos ang pakikitungo ni Mama sa akin. I don't know when did it started but when I ran to her, crying and weeping for my lost, she's there for me. Holding me and standing up beside me when everything starts to fall.

She cried and weep in pain with me. Sinabayan niya ako sa kahinaan ko at tinulungan bumangon ulit pagkatapos nang masasakit na pangyayari sa buhay ko.

Iyon ang naging dahilan kung bakit mas maayos na kami ngayon. I understand her sentiments and stressed kaya naibibigay niya sa akin lahat ng iyon noon. Naiintindihan ko na lahat sa kanya ngayon. Kung bakit ganoon ang pakikitungo niya, kung bakit may mga hinaing siya, kung bakit sa akin niya inilalabas ang lahat nang sakit at sama nang loob niya sa buhay.

But despite all of that, I can say that she loves me. She loves me like her own child.

Umirap si Mama sa akin bago hinawi ang buhok, "I bought a new dress for you. Mas okay yun kesa sa mga sinusuot mong ganyan."