Chapter 2

"Hindi ba sabi ko sa'yo noon pa, hiwalayan mo na 'yang asawa mo? Bakit parang baliw na baliw ka diyan eh marami ka rin namang pera?" Napapikit na lang ako dahil sa sinabi ni Sanna, ang nag-iisa kong kaibigan na hindi ako iniwan mula noon hanggang ngayon. Siya ang naging sandalan ko kapag marami akong problema, siya rin ang kasa-kasama ko kahit masaya ako. We're friends since elementary, I can consider her as my childhood bestfriend.

"Hindi naman akin ang pera na 'yon, Sanna, sa parents ko 'yon. At tiyaka, mas mayaman ka no! Grabe ka naman sa maraming pera eh ikaw nga 'tong may itinayong dalawang restaurant dito sa Manila." Nguso kong sabi sa kaniya na siyang ikinasimangot niya naman. 

Sanna Rosales, one of the successful tycoons here in Manila. Her family owns the Rosales Jewelries and I can say that it is all over the Philippines. Kahit saang panig ka man ng Pilipinas, makikita't makakasalubong mo ang mga branches nila lalo na't isa sila sa mga mayayaman na tao sa buong bansa.

Hindi ko nga maintindihan kung bakit kami naging magkaibigan nito. 

She is a party goer, I am not. She's bubbly, I am not. She is a garrulous kind of person, I am not. In short, she's my opposite and same goes with her. That's why until now, I am still confused why we clicked.

"Alam mo, ayoko na ngang pag-usapan ang tungkol sa pera-pera na 'yan! Naiinis lang talaga ako diyan sa asawa mo! Akala mo kung sino ng magaling! Akala mo kung sino na nang makuha niya ang kompaniya!" Natahimik ako dahil sa bigla ko na namang naalala ang nangyari no'ng isang araw. Basang-basa akong nakauwi sa bahay namin at halos sipunin pa ako at lagnatin. Mabuti na lang nakainom agad ako ng mga gamot. 

"Hayaan mo na, baka pagod lang." Mahina kong sambit pero agad akong nagulat dahil sa malakas niyang hinampas ang lamesa dito sa sala. 

"Ayan ka na naman sa pagiging mabait mo!" I was stiffened. "Anong pagod do'n, ha, Rowena?" Hindi ako nakapagsalita at napayuko na lang dahil alam ko naman sa sarili ko na hindi pagod si Lucas. Ayaw lang niya talaga akong pumunta sa opisina niya. "Sige, sabihin nating pagod ang asawa mo pero grabe naman ang ginawa niya sa'yo! Kinaladkad ka papalabas at pati ng mga guwardiya niya! Sinabihan ka pang manlilimos! Tangina, pagod lang 'yon?" Malakas na nitong sigaw na siyang dahilan kung bakit tuluyan akong napatahimik.

Sanna is always like this, she is so protective of me and I am grateful that she's always in my side. I don't know what will happen to me if she's not there.

"Jusko, ako pa nag-ship sa inyo noon tapos ito lang ang gagawin niya sa'yo? Tignan mo, puno ng mga pasa ang mga braso mo! Paano mo 'yan ipapaliwanag kina Tito at Tita, Rowena?" Agad nanlaki ang mga mata ko at hinawakan ang dalawa niyang kamay. Nagmamakaawa akong tumingin sa mga mata niya.

"Please, Sanna, don't tell them. I can't afford to lose my husband, you know that. I love him so much that I am willing to do everything just to bring the old him." Hindi ko maiwasang hindi mapaluha dahil sa sakit na nararamdaman ko ngayon. Umaasa na babalik pa ang dati naming relasiyon.

Kapag nalaman nina Mama at Papa ang nangyayari sa akin ngayon, sigurado akong ipahihiwalay nila ako kay Lucas at ayokong mangyari 'yon. Wala silang alam na ganito ang nangyayari sa akin at wala silang alam na pinagbubuhatan ako ng kamay ni Lucas. But they doesn't need to know because I'll work hard for our relationship. I won't give up... yet.

"They are always asking me about you, Rowena, at quotang-quota na ako sa pagsisinungaling. How will you face them with that state of yours?" Inis na tanong sa'kin ni Sanna at inis ring napaupo ulit sa sofa.

Gladly, our maids aren't here. They had their weekends off duty and supposedly, this is our bonding time. But how hapless of me, he's not here with me and still drowning himself to his work.

"A-Ako na ang bahala, tatawag ako sa kanila bukas na bukas. Sanna, alam mo mga ugali nila. They are more protective of me. Mom is the strictest woman alive when it comes to my surroundings and Dad is way more dangerous. He'll gonna punch Lucas nonstop if he'll know." Litaniya ko na siyang nagpahinga sa kaniya ng malalim. Nanghihina akong napaupo ulit sa sofa at tinignan ang sarili sa malaking salamin na nasa gilid ko, nakadikit sa dingding na may painting sa itaas nito.

I am wearing lousy white floral sleeveless dress that almost reaching the ground... where it's revealing my bruises in my both white arms. My long natural brown wavy hair is almost covering my whole small face because of being stressed and there, my big glasses. I can't see clearly so I have to wear them everyday and everynight.

"Make sure to do that, Rowena, they are concern. Alam mo kung gaano sila nag-aalala sa'yo kapag hindi ka sumasagot sa tawag nila, even a day!" I sighed deeply and stared at her again.

Unlike me, Sanna is way more gorgeous. She has this long black shiny and straight hair, small face just like mine, a button kind of nose and small lips. She has natural brown eyes and well-defined jaws. She is sexy as well and she looks sophisticated when it comes to her dresses and gestures. In short, a living barbie doll. She already knew her dreams and that is to become a chef and she already achieved it, while me, still having confusion.

I graduated in college with flying colors. With my course, BSED. I didn't listen to my parents' suggestions, and they didn't force me too. But when I saw how hard for Lucas his work is, I want to study again so I can help him in their business... my parents' businesses too.

It is like hitting two birds with one stone.

"O-Oo, bukas. I'll just cover up my bruises, I'm scared that they will notice it." Mahinang sabi ko pa na siyang nagpatango sa kaniya.