Intrepid

Chapter 40

Mydeva

I saw them in one room. Altogether.

For some unknown reasons, I felt truth. I felt the truth lingering just beneath their flustered, anxious, bothered, skeptic and intrigued countenance.

Wala akong pag-aatubiling naglakad palapit sa kanila nang may ngiting naglalaro sa aking labi.

"Mydeva Divinagracia." I looked at the woman. She's in late 40s. But, still she's beautiful... Not sophisticated but still beautiful...

Kaya nga muntikan nang maghiwalay sina Lysandro at Alaine Dilaurentis. Alaine left Lysandro for the U.S. just because Mydeva Ortega-Divinagracia. was so beautiful for Lysandro to almost leave her. It happened back when we were not born yet. It was a rumour when we were growing in Tobias Fornier. At ang anak daw ay si Luiz Divinagracia isa sa mga kaibigan ni Leander noong highschool.

Anak siya nang isang Portuguese, sabi ni Mydeva noon. People let her tell her story. Ngunit, hindi nagsisinungaling ang anyo ng anak niya. Ang kulay ng balat at ang mukha ni Luiz ay halos kawangis ni Leander.

Mydeva Divinagracia's hand loosened on the arms of Leander.

Naningkit ang mga mata ni Mydeva Divinagracia. She stepped forward, meeting me halfway.

"Fajline Salvani." Mydeva said my name. My name escape her mouth with an icy indifference.

Ngunit, mas lalo lamang lumapad ang aking tingin.

"Kamusta si Luiz?" Tanong ko na parang nangangamusta ng isang kaibigan.

Sa gilid ng aking mga mata ay nakita si Leander na tila pinapawisan sapagkat hindi na siya kumportable.

At, nararamdaman ko rin ang mga tingin ni Miguel, Raphael at Sera. Nagtataka.

"Luiz is working abroad," Mydeva answered.

Ibinaling ko ang tingin kay Leander. na napayuko at hindi kayang tingnan din ako sa mata.

"Where? Canada?" Matamang kong tanong. Itinaas niya ang kanyang kilay. "Or is it Dubai?"

Bakit ka nakayuko Leander? Why can't you meet me in the eye?

"He's in Portugal," sabi naman ni Mydeva. "With his father."

Tumango-tango lang ako at lumapit kay Phil.

I clung my hands on Raphael's arms.

"We have to go," pagpapaalam ko. "Nice meeting you again."

I can't let them spit out the truth, can I? Hindi ko basta-bastang matutuklasan ang tagong lihim.

"Kilala mo ang babaeng iyon?" Tinanong ako ni Phil nang pabalik na kami sa law firm.

Tumango ako. "She used to be Lysandro's secretary as they say but she left for abroad. Bumalik siyang may anak na. Si Luiz Divinagracia, although a legitimate son of a rich Portuguese, he was also rumored as Lysandro's bastard."

"And, Luiz Divinagracia?"

"Batchmate ko noong highschool sa Tobias at matalik na kaibigan ni Leander."

Nilingon ko si Raphael na tila malalim rin ang iniisip. "Bakit, Phil?"

"Nothing," sabi niya. "It was just that..."

Napaismid ako sa kanya. "Natural lang na kilala ni Leander ang mga kilala ko. We grew together until we reached Highschool. Our families were sticking to each other like bread."

"Kaya nga parang may sariling mundo kayo kanina," sabi niya. Pinaningkitan ko siya ng tingin. Frustration was showing in his eyes.

"Ano ba, Phil? You only confessed," I told him. "That doesn't mean we're in a relationship. Hayaan mo, kapag tayo na, ipapakilala kita sa buong angkan ko."

Bahagyang umangat ang gilid ng labi ni Raphael. He smirked inwardly for a split seconds before he regained his stern expression.

Napairap ako sa kanya. Akala ko ba gusto niyang magpokus ako?

Gusto kong mairita sa kanya! Ngunit, nakakainis ang nagbabadyang ngiti sa labi ko!

Argh!

I bit my lips.

May mga iniisip ako. And, he's there ruining my line of thoughts!

We never made anything official between us. I think it's already a mutual understanding for the both of us.

But, right after that night, it was already easy for him to distract me!

Por dios, Fajline?!

"Natagalan ka sa banyo kanina, ano ba ang nangyari?" Tanong niya. Ngayon ay napalitan ng pagiging seryoso ang kanyang mukha.

"Sera asked me if I met with his brother that's all. Nalaman kong nandoon din pala si Leander. I was just curious that's why so I asked the manager to show me their clients in the private rooms," I explained.

He cocked his brow. "And, what have you found?"

Napalunok ako. Gusto kong isipin na may kakaibang nangyayari ngunit ayaw kong magpadalos-dalos sa aking mga kongklusyon.

"Seems like Mydeva and Leander was there not for business but something personal," sabi ko.

Parehong kumunot ang aming mga noo. Nag-aalala ako sa susunod kong sasabihin habang si Raphael naman ay mainip na hinihintay ang kung anuman ang sasabihin ko sa kanya.

"I... I checked their room, Phil..." I trailed off. "... the room reserved by Mydeva."

Napalunok ako at napasinghap.

Iniwas ko ang mga tingin kay Raphael. Napayuko ako.

"There was a small untouched cake," I told him. "Today is Luiz's birthday."

"Bakit hindi si Luiz na iyon ang pinuntahan ni Mydeva sa Portugal para sa kaarawan nito?" Tanong ni Raphael.

Iyon din agad ang naging palaisipan para sa akin.

Bakit? Bakit si Leander ang kasama ni Mydeva?

🥀