Chapter 4: Smile

Jasmine has already moved in to Asnawi's villa. As soon as the car stopped, she immediately walk towards the main door and breathed deeply. Finally! Magsasama na sila saiisang bubong.

Lagpas langit ang saya ng dalaga. Tila lahat ng pag-hihirap nya'y nasuklian rin sa wakas!

She stepped outside the car and breathed the fresh air coming from Asnawi's villa.

Sa pintuan ng malapalasyong bahay ay lumabas ang isang lalake. Sa kanyang postura ay halatang may edad na ito, ngunit matikas parin ang pangangatawan.

“Good morning Madam, I’m Butler Yao, the caretaker of this house.”

Napataas ang kanyang kilay. Kung gayon ay empleyado sya ng kanyang nobyo?

Napasingisi sya sa kanyang naisip.

"Old Butler Yao, please carry my bags inside the house." Jasmine commanded the Old Butler.

 Old Butler Yao raised his left brow. Even the legitimate wife of Asnawi has never commanded him like this. He could only frown in discouragement.

'How can Asnawi chose this woman and exchange the very simple madam he used to serve?' He thought.

 The Old Butler have concluded that this woman is going to be a pain in the ass in the future.

 Straightening his back he could only ignore her orders and ordered his men to carry the luggage instead.

In the Linganay Family, Asnawi's mother and grandmother were heartbroken. They have loved Jerica because of her simplicity, intelligence and good character. Not to mention that she was very beautiful, they have cherished her.

Siguro’y ang mas nagustuhan nila dito ay ang pagiging independent nito.

“Bihira lamang ang isang babae na kayang tumayo sa sariling mga paa at di nakadepende sa pera ng asawa Amaro.” Pagwika ng ina nito.

"There is no need for these sad faces. I agree that she had been a good wife, yet she cannot give us grandchildren. The blood of the Linganay family cannot continue if Asnawi stays with her." Asnawi's father Amaro replied.

The Old Man also nodded. Ang lolo ni Asnawi ay kilalang magaling na negosyante. Para sa kaniya, as long as makakatulong sa kompanya ang gagawing desisyon ng kanyang apo ay tiwala sya rito.

 "What Amaro said was right.” He scoffed. “I think five years of nurturing that woman is enough. Let us accept this fate and let Asnawi marry Jasmine at once." Old Man said while thinking of the reputation of the Linganay family.

“Jerica was a tree; strong and slender but couldn’t give a fruit.” dagdag ng kanyang matandang lalake.

The two ladies could only heave a sigh and agree. What the two elder men said was rational enough.

"We can arrange the marriage a month from now." Old Mrs. Linganay said.

At the small apartment. Jerica was already feeling better after she had slept.

Ilang araw na rin syang nakahilata lamang. Tila pagod ang kanyang buong katawan, bumabangon lamang sya upang kumain ngunit pagkatapos ay hihiga ulit.

 Although her heart was deeply broken, there's nothing she could do but continue her life and live it to the fullest.

“Alam mo self, maganda ka! Matalino, di ka lang katangkaran pero maganda ka!” Puri nito sa sarili.

“Taena! Nagse-self love na'ko!” biro nitong muli sa sarili.

Sa isip nito’y nais na nyang baguhin ang sarili nya habang nag-susulat ng nais nitong gawin ay biglang tumunog ang kanyang tiyan.

She searched for her wallet to buy vegetables and fruits at the market when papers fall out of her backpack.

 Tinitigan nya ng mariin ang mga ito. Hmmm.. saan nga ulit ito galing?

Right! She haven't read the fertility results back then!

She was afraid of seeing another negative news again so she put down the paper at the table and went first to the supermarket.

'Abay alam ko namang negative lang din yan. Mamaya na kita babasahin ha?' pagwika nito sa kanyang isipan.

Tumayo sya at saka umalis.

At the supermarket, there are different kinds of vegetables that she had a hard time choosing what to cook.

"I think I'll make a hotpot today. I'll also boil some seafoods. Char! Nakakamayaman yung seafoods," she said smiling.

She picked vegetables and fruits. On the shrimp aisle, she suddenly felt nauseous.

"Ang langsa naman! Parang amoy ari na yun ng babaeng isang taon di naghugas ah!” sambit nito habang hawak-hawak ang kanyang ilong.

“Ganda! Bili ka na sariwang-sariwa! Bagong huli pa ito.” wika ng tendera.

Napatawa na lamang sya ng tawagin sya nitong 'ganda'.

Abay kung ganito din lang bibili sya ng isang kilo kahit maamoy pa ang hipon na binebenta nito.

She then picked up drinks, snacks and rice. At last, the trip to the supermarket came to an end. When she got back to the apartment, she cooked immediately.

She was starving because of last month's sad news. Yes, she couldn’t believe that it was already a month. The exhausted look on her was obvious. Pero pilit nyang pinapatawa ang sarili at inaaliw ito.

  The smell that accompanied the smooth wind crept into the neighborhood that made their stomachs growl. Her cooking were just too good.

Jerica was already eating when someone knocked on the door. As soon as she opened it she saw two children.

"Auntie, ang bango po ng niluluto nyo pwede po ba makahingi kahit konti? Gutom na kasi mama namin. Buong araw syang naglabada." wika ng dalawang bata na tila nahihiya.

She was overjoyed. She always loved little children. At ang marinig na nag-aalala ang mga ito sa kanilang ina ay mas ngapaantig sa kanya.

"Of course you can! Wait here okay?" Jerica said as she immediately got a bowl of hotpot for them. "Be careful on your way, it's too hot." she reminded.

"Salamat po ate! Ang ganda nyo po." they said in unison and walked back inside their house.

After what happened today, her heart seemed to smile. There’s still something good everyday. We just have to be grateful to see it.