Freed Heartaches (Demetriou Legacy #1)

Chapter 37

Freed Heartaches
Kabanata 37: Deserving

"I'll have ceaser salad and one iced tea, no actually, make it one bottle of wine," Racella said to the waiter before looking at me, "Ikaw?"

"Uh, h-hindi ako gutom..."

She sighed and looked at the waiter again, "Make that two."

"Yes, ma'am," the waiter took the menu before he left.

"So, how's being Kale's secretary?" She asked.

"U-uh, okay naman.."

I looked at her. She's wearing a sophisticated pair of white suit and slack, ang panloob niya'y isang itim na lace top, her long hair is perfectly fixed in a high ponytail, she look radiant and fresh in her light make up. She really looks rich and classy.

"Good to know, is he giving you a hard time?"

Umiling ako ulit, "Hindi din. Maayos naman siyang boss."

She raised her eyebrows and nodded, "Hmm, okay. How about... your daughter, how is she?"

"Mabuti naman," sagot ko. Nangungunot na ang noo ko sa pagtataka kung bakit ganito ang mga tinatanong niya.

"How about Kale's family? Are they... treating you nicely?" She asked again.

"Oo, sobrang babait nila. Kapag naiimbitahan ako ni Tita Bella sa kanila na maglunch, maayos naman silang makitungo."

"Tita Bella invites you for lunch?" She raised a brow.

"Oo, sila ni Tita Emersyn, or minsan sina Gaia at Artemis ang nagyayaya."

Huminga siya ng malalim, "So, you're close with them."

"H-Hindi naman gaano, bihira lang din kasi ako magpunta sa kanila."

"Hmm," she tilted her head and looked at me. Nakakailang siya tumingin.

"You know, I admire you."

Kumunot ang noo kong sinalubong ang tingin niya, "Ha?"

"I admire your gut," inabot niya ang baso ng tubig at uminom bago muling tumingin sa akin, "You being a single mom from the province, lived there for all your life, no degree but still managed to move here in the city to.. uh? Live your dreams?"

"Hindi lang naman siya basta pangarap, nandito rin ako para sa pamilya ko, sa anak ko. Mas marami kasing oportunidad dito kaysa doon sa amin," sagot ko.

"You mean, Kale?"

"Ha?"

"I mean, he gave you a good opportunity, right? You're his secretary, mataas ang sweldo mo, unlike any other employees..."

Hindi ko alam kung anong punto ba ang gustong iparating nito.

Ilang minuto pa ay dumating na ang order namin. Racella started eating. Ako nakatitig pa rin sa inorder niya, pakiramdam ko kasi hindi ako mabubusog sa dahon.

"Why? Don't you like the food? You don't eat salad?"

Tipid akong ngumiti, "Kumakain naman," sagot ko bago sinimulang damputin ang tinidor at kumain.

Tahimik kaming kumain. Ang awkward kasi panay ang titig sakin ni Racella sa tuwing iinom siya doon sa wine niya. Parang yung napapanood ko sa mga teleserye na kontrabidang may balak. Nakaka-intimidate siya.

Pagkatapos namin kumain ay tumikhim ako.

"May pag-uusapan pa ba tayo?" Tanong ko.

She tilted her head and put the glass of wine down. Inangat niya ang ulo niya sa akin at tipid na ngumiti.

"I know," sabi niya.

Kumunot ang noo ko, "H-Huh?"

"I know about you and Kale," ngumisi siya, "No one ever told me but I know. I guess they think they don't want to hurt my feelings because they know that Kale has been very important to me and I love him, not just a friend."

Pinulot niyang muli ang wine glass at uminom doon.

"I think that you're wrong for Kale, Leonora."

Napa-iwas ako ng tingin at tumikhim bago muling binalik ang tingin sa kanya, "Kaya mo ba ako pinapunta dito para sabihin sakin na hindi kami bagay?"

"You could say that," she looked at me, "You know, Kale is a very ambitious man. He works hard for what he wants and he has big dreams. People often think he won't settle anytime soon because he is such a career driven. But you..."

"Ano bang gusto mong palabasin Racella?"

"You still don't see it do you? I know Kale is a man of honor kaya kung sinabi niyang mahal ka niya, he really does."

"Mahal ko rin naman siya."

"Really? How much? Do you love him enough to see his dreams crash? Is that it?"

"Sinasabi mo lang iyan para paghiwalayin kami. Atsaka, medyo OA ka naman yata sa part na 'crash his dreams'. Alam ko na iyang ganyan, Racella, laking probinsiya ako, alam na alam ko na ang hilatsa ng lahat ng palabas sa tv."

"Do you know that he's been stressed out lately dahil hindi natuloy yung Restaurant sa tagaytay? That the hotel owner is suing him? And yet he still chose to go on a mini vacation with you in your province?"

Nagulat ako sa sinabi niya, napalunok ako. Hindi natuloy yung deal sa tagaytay?

"I guess you don't kasi ang nasa isip mo lang nagmamahalan kayo, at dahil nagmamahalan kayo, okay lahat. See, Leonora, he is so infatuated that you could be his downfall. Ganyan ba yang pagmamahal na sinasabi mo? I have been with him for all his life and it's safe to say that I knew him better than you do."

"Huwag kang mag-alala, kakausapin ko siya," sagot ko. Nagugulo na kasi ang utak ko sa pinagsasabi ni Racella, kailangan kong makausap si Archaelus.

"Para ano? Para ipaglaban ka niya? Para piliin ka niya kaysa sa pinaghirapan niya? If you really love him, hindi mo hahayaan na bumagsak siya ng dahil sayo."

"Kung totoo man iyang sinasabi mo, sige. Salamat sa pag-inform sa akin, pero desisyon ko naman na siguro kung paano ko bibigyan ng sulusyon. Relasyon namin ni Archaelus ito, ma'am. Kung hindi mo sana mamasamain, kasi base sa nakikita ko, gusto mong hiwalayan ko agad. Matalino kang tao, alam kong alam mong may tamang paraan," sagot ko.

Nagtaas siya ng kilay at uminom muli ng wine. Tumikhim siya at tumingin sa akin.

"Did he tell you that we're getting married?"

I pursed my lip, huminga ako ng malalim at nag-iwas ng tingin.

"I guess he didn't."

Ganito talaga siguro sa mga mayayaman, 'no? Parang laro lang ang kasalan, magpapakasal para sa kapangyarihan.

Huminga ako ng malalim, "Sabihin man niya o hindi, wala na akong magagawa sa kung ano mang desisyon ang gagawin niya. Kung magpapakasal siya sayo, edi congratulations. Kung hindi, edi sorry? May sariling isip na si Archaelus, hindi na siya two."

"This isn't a joke, Leonora. Our marriage has been long overdue. Besides, between the two of us, hindi mo naman madedeny kung sino ang mas deserving diba? I have a great life, a company, a degree. I can help him grow the business his great grandparents built. I have a lot to offer, Leonora. Eh, ikaw? Anong maibibigay mo sa kanya? His family likes you because they're all kind. But that doesn't mean, you're suitable for him. Magising ka na sa panaginip mo bago ka pa mabangungot."

Tulala akong sinundan siya ng tingin palabas ng restaurant matapos maglapag ng libo-libong pera sa lamesa. I bit my lip trying to stop myself from crying.

Lahat ng sinabi ni Racella ay totoo. All I could give Archaelus is my love and loyalty for now. Pero sa panahon ngayon hindi nalang iyon sapat.

I had great plans before I came here. Mag-iipon, mag-aaral, magtatapos. I should've just stick with that. May anak na akong umaasa sakin. Dapat siya at plano ko ang mas pagtuunan ko ng pansin.

Tumayo ako at naglakad na palabas ng restaurant. Bukas na bukas rin ay kakausapin ko na si Archaelus. I should focus on my goals first. Dahil iyon naman talaga ang ipinunta ko rito.