Since Childhood

47: A Wife's Anger

Before walking straight to the table, humila si Daniela ng isang waiter. She order for a dish and told the waiter to deliver the dish in their table na itinuro lang nya. Para syang sasabog sa galit. Nagiinit ang kamay nya. Naalala nya ang gabi na napagbintangan syang kabit. When the wife of her blind date attack her. Now alam na nya ang naging pakiramdam ng babaeng yon. Naiintindihan na nya kung bakit ganon na lang kung saktan sya noon sa pagaakalang she's a mistress.

"Pinagapang ko kasi yung paa ko sa legs nya, ayun, nagyaya umuwi." Daniela heard Tanya proudly said those and then their table become filled of laughter.

The veins in Daniela's fist showed up. Kaya ba nagyaya umuwi si Tim? Because she did that to him? Tanya did that while Rhein is around? While they are at the same table? Habang pinapakisamahan nya ng maayos si Tanya, she's doing dirty things na pala? Ang sagad naman pala ng kalandian nyang babae sya. Rhein couldn't help but to greet her teeth.

She loosened up her fist. Hindi sya biglang aatake. She's in the middle of reality show. She will play with her for a moment.

Daniela forced herself to smile. Then it was her turn to stand before them.

"Hi." She greeted with a smile. One of Tanya's friend was chocked dahil sa gulat. She turn red dahil sa kakaubo nya.

"Hey, Dan. Bumalik ka? Kanina ka pa ba jan?" Tanya asked. Hindi alam ni Daniela kung saan nanggagaling ang kakapalan ng mukha ni Tanya para bigyan sya nito ng nickname at para ngumiti.

"Ah, may nakalimutan lang ako." Daniela remarked. "Who are they? Is it okay for them to eat leftovers? You know what, I'll treat you girls." She look at the other two girls na kasalukuyang kumakain sa pinagplatuhan nila kanina.

"Oh no, Dan. Don't bother."

"No, it's okay, I insist. At saka, I already ordered something." Daniela look at the dish na nasa table. It's an octopus. Daniela grabbed a fork and then tinuhog nya ang sliced ng octopus na nakahain sa mesa. She put the seafood dish on Tanya's plate while stating,  "you know what,  Tanya. Octopus are like mistress, like whores. They have same characteristic of being sticky. Kahit saan dikit ng dikit, parang kabit na pilit na lumalapit sa mga may asawa na. But I feel bad for comparing them. You know why? Kasi mas decent pa ang mga octopus keysa sa kanila." Every words of Daniela have their mass. Mabibigat ang bawat bigkas nya sa mga salitang binitawan.

Tanya smirked. Dahil sa tingin nya ay may alam na si Daniela sa tunay na nangyayari, she said sarcastically, "you maybe right, Dan. Octopus are like mistress, they share same characteristics. Parehas silang masarap. Kaya nga laging nasa main dish ang mga octopus eh. Because they are too delicious and heavenly to set aside."

Tumingala si Tanya and she welcome Daniela's furry eyes. Mahigpit ang hawak ni Daniela sa tinidor. Sobrang nangigigil sya kay Tanya. She wanted to punch that smirk off her irritating face.

"Hearing those words coming from you, napaisip tuloy ako. Ilan na kaya ang nakatikim sayo? I mean, sorry, I mean this dish. I have this attitude kasi na I cannot hold back my words especially when that is how I see things." Daniela maintain her fakest smile.

Hindi makaimik ang dalawang babae habang nasa upuan nila. They are Tanya's friend but in trouble, they turn to bubbles, they fade away. Bigla silang nawawala for their own safety.

Tanya chuckles. Her laugh is toxic and noise to Daniela. Kanina pa sya nagpipigil ng galit nya

"Let me tell you a secret, Dan." Daniela feel humiliated dahil sa pagtawag ni Tanya ng "Dan" sa kanya. They are not close para bigyan sya ng nickname! After Tanya's short stop, she continue speaking. "Madami nang nakatikim dito. Isa na don ang asawa mo."

Their eyes are fighting. Both of them are like the positive and negative particles in electricity.

Habang nagtititigan sila, the waiter came.

"Here's your order ma'am." Anito at inilapag nya ang isang pinggan na puno ng tahong na hilaw. They are out of shells already but Daniela purposely order uncooked tahong.

Mabilis na umalis ang waiter dahil napansin nya ang ambiance sa table na iyon.

"And you know what, Dan? Hindi lang ang octopus na to ang nasarapan. Your husband is like this king lobster. Matigas, pero masarap." Habang sinasabi yon ay nakangiti si Tanya.

Daniela stand a littke farther from her. She hold back her tears. She won't cry. No way. Not in front of this whore.

"You are such a dirty woman." Daniela muttered thru her gritted teeth.

"Dirty but not boring."

"Tanya! Tama na yan, ano ba?" One of the forgotten woman said.

A waiter is about to pass by habang may dalang tray ng wine na may ice cubes. Hinarang ito ni Daniela and she picked up one glass.

"Stay here." Utos ni Daniela sa waiter. Walang ibang nagawa ang lalaki kundi tumayo sa tabi ni Daniela habang hawak ang natitirang tatlong baso ng wine.

Slowly, Daniela pour the wine just above Tanya's head.

The people who witnessed the act gasps. Kasali na doon ang waiter at and dalawang kaibigan ni Tanya.

Tanya bath with cold wine and ice cubes.

"Do you know that wines contain reasonable amount of alcohol? Heto, have a shower with this para naman maalis yang kakatihan mo. The bill is on the house." After pouring all the wine, ang sunod na kinuha ni Daniela ay ang plato ng tahong.

She did the same process. Pinaliguan nya si Tanya ng hilaw na tahong.

"The wine could not suppress your rotten smell. Ito ang mas bagay sayo, tahong na hilaw. Mas mala sa ka pa nga dito, Tanya."

Hindi makapaniwala ang lahat sa napapanood nila. The scandal is reay interesting to watch lalo pa't humans are naturally a curious beings.

"Hah!" Tanya sighed but with a mixture of laughter. The humiliation she got from Daniela angers her kaya she slam her hand in the table and stands up. "Hayop ka!!" Tanya scream right in front of Daniela's face.

"Are you sure about that? Have you forgotten that between the two of us, ikaw itong pumapatol sa lalaking may asawa like a bitch of a dog that you are?" Daniela didn't scream, didn't lost her sanity. Kalmado nyang hinarap si Tanya na halos magwala na.

"Ang kapal ng mukha mong babae ka!! Kasalanan ko bang pumatol naman yang asawa mo?! Papatayin kitang babae ka!!" Tanya attacks Daniela but she was immediately suppressed by two waiters. Sa likod ng mga waiter, nakatayo ang manager nang restaurant na galit na galit sa eskandalong ginawa ng sariling empleyado. "Bitawan nyo ko!! Bitawan nyo ko kakalbuhin ko yang babaeng yan!!" Sigaw ni Tanya as she struggle from the men's grip.

"Tanya!" The manager shouted. When she heard his voice, she seem to find her way back to sanity. "You are fired! Ilabas nyo na dito yang babaeng yan. Drag her out now!"

The waiters did drag her out dahil sa eskandalong ginawa nya. The manager ask apology for the public for the scandal and blame all the fault to Tanya. After saying sorry to the public, the manager turn to Daniela and said that they were sorry for having a bad time in the establishment.

"No, don't ask forgiveness." Daniela tried to compose herself pero naiyak na din sya dahil sa sobrang galit. "P-please charge the damage to me."

"Wala naman pong damage, ma'am."

"O-okay. But if you found out later na may damage, y-you can contact me." Daniela pulled out a calling card na ni minsan ay hindi nya inaakalang magagamit nya. She was crying while talking to the manager.

As she walk out, all eyes are on her. Mga naaawa at humahanga sa ginawa nya. The peoole who witnessed the scandal admire her for not loosing her cool. May iba nga na nakukulangan sa ginawa nya kay Tanya. The group of woman at the other table are talking na dapat daw sinampal sampal pa dapat ni Daniela si Tanya.

"I'm sorry..." Napatingala si Daniela. Timothy is standing in front of the entrance. When he saw that Tanya was being drag out, alam na nya ang nangyayari.

Daniela shed more tears.

"It's o-okay. I'm okay." She bite her lips. "L-let's go."