Million Dollar Marriage

twenty three

"Your main goal to be there is to lie low on the mess at hand! Who in the hell thought that a scandal is all we needed to get you a job?" Nathalia said.

Oh my gosh, the way she put the words together is making my headache. "Don't put it like that!"

"Eh, how do you want me to say it ba?" She mockingly answered back.

I just rolled my eyes at her and threw the nearest thing beside me, and that would be her Hermes Piano Black Baguette. And immediately, even before the bag lands on the tiles floor, she lays herself on it and makes it land on top of her boobs, producing a squeaky sound.

"Ouch, fuck!"

"You started it, Nathalia! You knew it was coming your way..." Pikon kong sabi bago ito pinandilatan.

We've been talking around circles now about me, working in the airline, with Yago, of course. Naka-receive na ako ng complete documents about my employment at the company. At talagang nakalagay doon na 'for publicity and solely the benefit of both parties involved', dahil nakita 'rin naman nila na advantage 'rin talaga if I would be working under them.

I really don't have much say on this. Kaya even if I don't want to, I need to. So, suck it up, Milana.

The past few days after my confrontation with Yago was solemn, though scary because I never really had times like this. Just pure me-time, and Nathalia on the side. But really, after what he said to me on that day, I felt somehow relieved.

His texts were consistent, the only time he doesn't text me was when he was on board na. He still has flight for two to three days. He kept on updating me about his whereabouts and I would reply to him dryly. And just like this morning. I received another text from him.

Yago:

Good morning! Have you received the documents for your job at the airport? I'll be there at 9 PM. Ano ang ginagawa mo ngayon?

Are you busy, Milana? Let's have dinner later, my treat.

Me:

Yes, I already received the papers. Pero hindi naka-indicate kung ano ba talaga ang trabaho ko sa airport.

I sighed. This is becoming a routine for me- and I'm starting to feel a bit normal about this. My trust issues are still on the line.

Yago:

I'll be explaining the other matters to you. Hindi ko talaga pinalagay at pinasama sa ipapasa nila sa'yo. I want to personally discuss that with you. We should talk about this over dinner.

Talagang sinadya niya hindi mailagay lahat ng details? He's loud and so damn proud. Kaya naman I agreed on it, he said he'll text or call me whenever he lands.

Kaninang tanghali pa ang text niya sa akin at ito ay tungkol sa departure ng plane from Singapore, matatagalan because of the stopovers, he says.

I am with Tita Bernice and Dad here at Kohler's branch in Pasig. They said that Lola wanted a new bathroom fixtures for the mansion kaya naman silang dalawa ang inutusan. The staff was busy explaining the features of the bathroom accessories for their newest release when my eyes wandered around the shop and saw someone familiar!

My eyes were about to pop out of their sockets when I realized who was at the end of the room across us! Why is it none other than Moesha Charito! Oh, fuck me.

We are then escorted towards her, because Tita Bernince wanted to take a look at the other designs, and it just happened that my Lola was also a sucker of gold and marble designs, just what Ma'am Moesha's looking at right now. I was about to excuse myself when Dad suddenly decided to talk.

"Milana, how about that one?" He said, while then dragging me with him, passing by Moesha Charito's deadly glare.

I can't fucking concentrate! With Yago's grandmother around, adding to the fact that she's with her amigas! I am becoming more and more conscious, kaya naman wala akong nasabi kay Dad kung hindi ang tumango lamang.

"A-ah, yes, Dad! S-sure.." Was all I could reply to my father. Clutching my purse closer than necessary.

Dad called out Tita Bernice's attention and the staff to accommodate him. Ang mga mapanuring tingin ni Tita Bernice sa grupo ng Lola ni Yago ay hindi nakalagpas sa aking mga mata. Tahip ang hinga ko nang magkasalubong ang dalawa sa gitna at nagtinginan. It was for a few seconds before Tita decided to continue her way to us, but in the middle of her tracks, she stopped and turned around.

"Excuse me? Were you saying something, Miss?" Tita Bernice asked with irritation evident on her tone.

It was, if I get it right, someone from Ma'am Moesha's friend. Dahil and matandang Alejandro ay kakalingon lamang, hindi tulad ng kaniyang mga kasama na kanina pa nakamata kay Tita.

The middle-aged woman, looking all dolled up from her red-bottom heels up to her polished sleek hairstyle, was ready to pick on Tita. "I was talking to my friends, hija, and not you. So, sush." She dismissed Tita Bernice in a very displeasing manner.

"Don't you ever mention my Mother's name using that dirty mouth of yours, Ma'am. I'd rather you keep your mouth shut, you're pretty that way. Let's maintain that, shall we?" Tita Bernice fired back.

Her other amigas literally dropped their jaws! Kahit ang staffs na nakarinig noon ay hindi napigilang manlaki ang mata sa narinig. Narinig ko ang mumunting pagpipigil ni Dad ng tawa, kaya naman tinignan ko ito ng hindi makapaniwala.

"Dad!" I hissed silently at him, while he just shrugged his shoulders at me. "Help Tita Bernice out, we should leave..."

"She doesn't need the saving, hija. As you can see, she's clearly got it..." Dad pointed out. Pagkatapos ay prenteng tumingin muli sa mga nakahayang na gamit sa tapat niya.

I can't believe this!

"Wh-Why y-you!" Ang matandang babae ngayon ay nawala na sa postura niya at umambang sasampalin si Tita Bernice ngunit napigilan nang magsalita si Ma'am Moesha.

"Stop it, Renea. You're making a scene." She said while dismissing Tita Bernice. Not even bothering to look at her side.

"This lady has no manners, Charito! Clearly, her mother taught her nothing! This scandalous family really just wanted the attention of all. Mga hayok na hayok sa atensyon." Asik ng matandang babae.

Bago pa makalapit muli ang babae kay Tita Bernice ay pumagitna agad ang mga security na biglang nagsulputan. Ilang unipormadong staff ay bigla 'rin nagdagsaan at pumalibot sa grupo. 

When I looked at my father, he was busy minding his business. Hindi manlang tinatapunan si Tita Bernice ng tingin kahit na hindi na magkamayaw ang mga tao sa loob nitong store. Everyone's attention is on them

I walked towards Tita Bernince's side and tugged her arms lightly, "Tita... let's go na po."

I was about to pull her away from the center of the crown when the old lady turned to me and pointed her finger at me, "You don't meddle in the middle of a conversation of the adults! At tignan mo nga naman at pare-parehong may ugali ang pamilya ni Irina." Iling-iling na saad nito.

Oh my gosh, can someone shut her up?

I am this close on talking back at her but I have decided to keep my cool. Her attitude defines her, not me.

"You should be very thankful that my Mom taught me manners, Ma'am. Because if she didn't, like what you're implying, I could have slapped you and even pulled all of those tiny hairs left on your scalp." Tita fired back at them before finally letting me lead the way out of the store.

And when we reached the parking lot, my phone was bombarded with calls and text messages from God knows who! Nang nasa loob na ng kotse ay tsaka tumawag si Tita Bernice kay Lola upang sabihin at ikwento ang nangyari sa store. Dad was even laughing while recalling the sagutan part! Inirapan lamang siya ni Tita Bernice at siniko upang matigil at naghihisterya na ang Lola.

In the middle of the call, my phone rang once again. Just as I was about to turn my phone off ay biglang bumungad sa akin ang pangngalan ni Yago sa screen ng aking cellphone.

Oh, for fuck's sake! I almost forgot about the dinner!