Treacherous

Chapter Nineteen

All about Ireena

Ireena Consunji's

"IS he here?"

I had never been so excited in my life right now. For days, I didn't eat or sleep. I just stayed awake, feeling very excited about this plan of mine. Ang tagal – tagal kong pinag-isipan kung paano ko ba masasaktan si Manuel gamit si Andromeda and this idea came to my mind and because this came to my mind, it is a very bright idea.

"Yes, Ma'am, he arrived last night pero hindi ko na po kayo ginising dahil masyado nang late."

"Thank you, Everlyn." I smiled at her. Halos takbuhin ko na iyong distance noong front desk papunta sa lobby. I looked around. My heart is pounding so hard with too much excitement.

"Eris!" I heard a voice from behind, my ears clapped. I knew that I just have to look back and when I did, I jumped. I saw him – approaching me.

"Carlos!" I shrieked in excitement. He spread his arms – as if he wanted to hug me. I run straight to him, I fell in his arms and exchanged warm hugs. Pagkatapos noon ay tumayo lang kami sa harapan ng isa't isa, si Carlos ay ginulo ang buhok ko. Napahagikgik ako.

"You grew up." He told me. "And you grew up to be a really beautiful lady, Eris."

"Jeez, Carlos, thank you." I told him. Mula sa likuran niya ay iniabot niya sa akin ang isang yello na long stemmed rose. Napangiti ako pagkatapos ay kinuha ko iyon.

"I was really surprised when your secretary called that I had to fly in agad-agad, Eris." Nakangisi lang ako the whole time na nakatingin ako sa kanya.

Carlos is a childhood friend. I've known him since we were kids. Malapit talaga ako sa kanya at sa pamilya niya. His family are members of CLPH kaya tuwing summer, nandirito ang pamilya niya kaya palagi kaming magkasama.

I called him here, well because he is a part of my plan. Andromeda knows him – para silang great summer love affair. I could still remember those years. Dalawang taong magkasunod na umuwi sila Uncle Yvo dito sa Pilipinas at sa magkasunod na summer na iyon ay nagkaroon ng relasyon si Andromeda at si Carlos. I know that Carlos hasn't moved on yet – wala silang closure. Just months ago, nag-viber si Carlos sa akin para itanong kung nakauwi na ba talaga si Andy, and somehow, I felt like he was missing her, mula kasi noon ay palagi na siyang nag-viber sa akin.

I held his hand.

"Come, I can't wait for you to see, Andy." I told him. Hinatak ko siya palabas ng main building at dinala sa golf cart na naghihintay sa akin sa labas. I am so excited. Hindi naman ako sobrang sama.

Manuel pissed me off. He took advantage of me and I wanna get even. Hindi nga ako makapaniwala na may meeting siya with Uncle Gab bukas. Paanong napagbigyan siya? Hindi tama. Inis na inis ako at dahil sa nangyayaring iyon ay mas lalo kong ginusto na makaganti sa kanya sa pamamagitan ng pinsan ko.

And nope, I won't hurt Andromeda. I know, if people can read my thoughts, iyon agad ang iisipin nila, na sasaktan ko si Andy – I am not like that. Kahit bitch ako, at kahit pinatulan ko si Cassiopeia, hindi ko kayang manakit ng tao to the extent na ikamamatay niya ang sakit.

Sa iniisip kong plano, hindi naman masasaktan si Andromeda, pero si Manuel, sobra.

"What are we doing? Saan ba tayo pupunta? Ayaw mo bang kumain man lang?" Tanong sa akin ni Carlos.

"Kay Andy. I thought you'd want to see her. Kararating niya lang kahapon, I guess kalalabas niya ng ospital." I smiled at him. Ako ang nagda-drive ng golf cart. Napansin kong napatitig lang siya sa akin tapos ay biglang napailing. "Ayaw mo bang makita si Andy?"