CHAPTER TWO

"Liv."

Napaangat ang tingin niya mula sa study table kung saan siya nagsi-sketch ng damit na disenyo niya. She had a lot on her mind, and sketching was one of the things that made her mind calm down.

"I heard, wala ka pa daw tulog," sabi ni Madeleine habang nakaupo sa tapat niya.

"Marami akong iniisip."

"And, I also heard that your mom is getting married," anito.

Nahinto siya sa ginagawa. "Yes. That is why it is important na walang ni katiting sa kayamanan ni Papa ang mapupunta sa babaeng iyon, do you hear me, Madeleine? I don't want that bitch to have anything from Papa dahil wala siyang halaga sa buhay ni Papa."

Nagbuntong-hininga ito. "Liv."

"That bitch. Ang kapal talaga ng mukha niya. After everything Papa have gone through. Now, she's re-marrying in a month. In a month! It's like she's just waiting for Papa's death. Dahil heto siya, three weeks after his death, marrying whoever she wants to marry, and in a month," galit pa rin na sabi niya.

"They were separated a long time ago, Liv. I think you need to let it go. For her happiness. For your happiness."

"Hindi. She left us! She left me! Walang karapatan ang babaeng iyon na maging masaya," tutol niya.

Nagbuntong-hininga si Attorney Ramsey. Alam nitong walang patutunguhan ang usapan nila dahil hindi magbabago ang isip niya.

"Okay," Madeleine gave up. "But aren't you at least curious kung sino ang pakakasalan ng mama mo?"

"No. Why would I want to know who the unfortunate guy she wants to marry?"

"Well, she's invited you to her engagement party. Ayaw mo bang pumunta doon?" tanont nito.

"Bakit naman ako pupunta?"

"So that you can congratulate your mother and meet her new husband-to-be," Madeleine curtly answered.

"And why would I want that? Para ko na ding sinabi sa kanya na masaya ako para sa kanya, hindi ba?"

"Liv..."

"Madeleine... Give it a rest, please. Hindi ako pupunta doon."

Nagkibit-balikat nalang ito. "Well, I'm just saying. Kasi kung ako ang nasa lugar mo, dadalo ako. Why? Because I want that "bitch" you call your mother to see that I am not affected by her totally. I'm gonna congratulate her. And most of all, I am gonna congratulate myself that she's finally out of my hair. And to remind her that she's not gonna get a single penny of my father's estate."

Napatitig siya dito.

"But you know, that's just me."

Napaisip siya. Hindi naman ito mali. May point si Madeleine. If she was there, she could end her relationship with her mother once and for all. She could congratulate her, and bid her goodbye. Her mother will be out of her hair for good.

Can she do it? 

"Do you happen to know where this engagement thing will be held?" tanong niya kay Madeleine.

"The invitation is in your room," sagot nito.

She curtly nodded. "Okay, then. Now, let's talk business, Attorney."

Tumango naman si Madeleine, pero bakas sa mukha nito ang maliit na ngiti.

__

"What am I doing here?" mahinang tanong ni Olivia sa sarili. Nasa likod siya ng sasakyan at hinihintay na ma-drop sa entrance ng hotel kung saan gaganapin ang engagement party ng mama niya at ang bagong fiance nito.

Kinuha ni Liv ang cellphone niya mula sa bag at tinawagan si Madeleine.

"Hello?"

"This is your fault. I shouldn't have let you convince me to come here," bungad niya dito.

Narinig niya ang mahina nitong tawa sa kabilang linya.

"This is not fun. I'm going home," anunsiyo niya.

"I'm already inside the hotel, by the entrance," sagot nito.

"What? You're here?"

"I'll see you. Okay?"

Iyon lang at binaba na nito ang telepono. Kaya pala kinumbinsi siya nitong pumunta doon, dahil nandoon din ito. 

Mga ilang minuto lang ay nakababa na siya ng kotse. Nakapasok na siya ng hotel pero walang Madeleine siyang nakita.

In case you're wondering where I am, I am with some of my classmates back in Law school. I'll see you at the ballroom, read the text Madeleine had sent to her.

Napabuntong-hininga siya. She hates being alone at parties. Sana ay isinama nalang niya si Anna since ito naman talaga ang mahilig sa mga parties. 

She picked up her phone and searched for her number. She almost dialed her number when she decided at the last minute not to pursue the call. Nakalimutan niyang wala pala ito sa siyudad. Nagtungo ito sa Tagaytay dahil may photoshoot ito doon. Anna was a model, that's why it's not hard for her to mingle around.  

Napabunong-hininga siya. This would mean the she was indeed alone at that party.

Oh, well. Hindi naman siya magtatagal, isip niya. She would just be there and be a spectator to the engagement party of her "mother". Because she may deny it, but it is true that she is indeed curious as to who is the new "man" in the life of her "mother". Kung pagpalain pa nga, it would be a pleasure to personally congratulate and meet the man out of spite to her mother. Kasi alam nitong wala siyang gagawing maganda sa harap ng bagong husband-to-be nito.

So, she decided to walk gracefully towards the ballroom of the second floor, where the engagement party will be held. Pero hindi paman siya nakapasok sa ballroom ay may tumapik na sa balikat niya.

"Well, well, well... Look what we have here. It's Miss Spoiled Little Bratty from high school," bati ng isang lalaking nakapamulsa habang nakangiti pa sa kanya. May kataasan ang buhok nito. Nakasuot ito ng eyeglasses. Pero kahit ganoon ang hitsura nito, hindi pa rin maitatagong gwapo ito sa likod ng salamin nito.

Napataas ang kilay niya. "And you are?"

Eksaheradang napatapik ito sa dibdib nito. "Ouch. Hindi mo ako kilala? And here I thought na close tayo noong high school."

Napakunot ang noo niya. It was transparent that the guy was teasing her. At halatang nage-enjoy din ito sa ginagawa. But she swear, hindi talaga niya ito kilala.

Mas lalong lumapad ang ngiti nito. "Well, I take that as a compliment."

Wala pa rin siyang naiintindihan sa sinabi nito.

"So... what are you doing here, Liv?"

"I should be asking you the same question," sagot niya dito.

"But I was the one asking first. So you answer first, and then I'll answer second," sagot din naman nito. "Hindi ka pa rin nagbago. Nacha-challenge pa rin ang english ko sa iyo. No wonder my cousin can't get over you."

"Your cousin? I also know your cousin?"

"Liv!" 

Napalingon siya kay Madeleine. Papunta ito sa kanya.

"Well, that's my cue to leave. I'll see you around, Olivia," anito at walang salitang umalis na doon. Hindi na ito naabutan ni Madeleine.

"Was that Marcus you were talking to?" tanong ni Madeleine sa kanya.

"Marcus?"

"Yeah. Marcus Aldeguer. You know, from Aldeguer Constructions?"

Napaisip siya. His name does ring a bell. Sadyang hindi lang talaga niya matandaan sa panahong iyon.

"Come on," sabi ni Madeleine sabay hila sa kanya papasok sa loob ng ballroom. "Let's go and take our seats."

Nagpahila lang siya kay Madeleine patungong upuan nila. Mula sa malayo ay namumukhaan na niya ang mga bisitang kasama nila sa table. She inwardly sighed. Sa lahat pa ng maka-table niya, iyon pa talagang mga kaibigan ng mama niyang mga chismosa. She's already sure what they were thinking. She knows that they were pitying her. 

To them, she was the poor daughter. Kamamatay lang ng papa niya, pero heto ang mama niya at magpapakasal na sa ibang lalaki. Kawawang anak.  

Nakita ng mga ito na papalapit na siya sa table. Bakas sa mga mukha nito ang pagkagulat nang makita siya. She couldn't bear to face them and their reactions, so instead, she stopped in her tracks and faced Madeleine.

"Mads, I think I'll approach my mother first. I want to congratulate her so I can leave already," paalam niya dito.

"What? But - " 

Hindi na niya tinapos ang sasabihin nito at lumakad na sa kabilang direksiyon. Tamang-tama naman na nakita niya ang mama niya kaya ay nilakasan niya ang loob at nilapitan ito.

Halatang nagulat ito nang naharap sila. Her mother was probably not expecting her to come. Pero ang gulat nito ay napalitan agad ng malaking ngiti nang niyakap siya nito, which baffled her. Her mother was not one to lose composure like that. 

"Liv, what a surprise!" exclaimed her mother. "I did not expect you to come."

Peke ang ngiting isinukli niya dito. Napatikhim pa ito bago nito hinarap ang lalaking katabi nito at ningitian nang pagkatamis-tamis. Napatingin din siya dito.

So this is the guy she's marrying. She scanned him from head to toe.

Not bad. Her mother clearly has taste. He was surprisingly handsome, despite the fine lines that were already showing on his face. Para ngang may kahawig ito na mukha. She just couldn't fathom out as to who. Pero feeling niya parang may kakilala talaga siyang kamukha nito.

"Darling," tawag nito sa fiancé nito.

Saka lang ito napatingin sa kanya. Malaki ang ngiting sumalubong sa kanya mula dito.

"Henry, darling... I would like you to officially meet Olivia, my precious daughter."

Halos masuka siya sa iniakto ng mama niya.

"Olivia," baling ng mama niya sa kanya. "This is Henry."

Iniabot niya ang kamay na inilahad nito.

"It's very nice to finally meet you, Olivia," ngiting bati nito. "I've heard so much about you."

"I wish I could say the same," sagot niya dito.

Tumikhim ang mama niya, sabay pinanlakihan siya ng mga mata.

"I swear, you look like someone I know," wala sa sariling sambit niya dito.

"Really?" tanong nito.

"I just can't point it out. But, yeah, definitely... you really look familiar," sagot niya dito.

"Well... maybe because - "

Biglang natigilan ito at napatingin sa tabi niya, kaya ay wala sa sariling napalingon din siya sa tabi niya. To her surprise, she saw one of the most handsome man she had ever laid eyes on. Ilang beses pa siyang kumurap-kurap para siguraduhing tama ba ang nakikita ng mga mata niya. And when he faced her wearing that familiar devilish smile, she almost couldn't control her gasp.

"Hello, I'm sorry that I'm late," sabi nito na siyang nakapagpabalik sa kanya sa tamang huwisyo.

What the heck just happened to her?

"Well, that's not a problem, son," sagot ni Henry dito.

"Son?" She couldn't contain her shock. He faced the man beside her. "You're his son?"

"Yes, Liv. I'm his son," sagot nito.

Napatingin din naman siya kay Henry. "You're his father?"

Lito ang naka-rehistro sa mukha ni Henry. "Yes? Andrew is my son."

"I don't understand what's really happening right now," nalilito ding sabi ng mama niya.

"Well... then, I guess introductions are in order," sagot ni Andrew, sabay harap sa ama nito. "Dad, I want you to meet Liv."

"Yeah, I know. She's Rosalie's - "

"Liv's my fiancé."

Gulat na napabaling siya kay Andrew dahil sa sinabi nito. Nakatingin na din pala ito sa kanya at tila hinihintay ang reaksiyon niya. Walang ni isang salitang lumalabas sa bibig niya. For the first time in her life, hindi niya alam ang sasabihin niya.

"Liv? Is this true?" gulat din na tanong ng mama niya sa kanya.

Hindi pa rin siya makasagot, nang biglang hinapit ni Andrew ang bewang niya at malaki ang ngiting hinarap ang ama nito at ina niya.

"We're getting married this weekend," anunsiyo pa nito.

"What?" Mas lalong nagulat ang mama niya. 

"Wait, Andrew... you never mentioned this to me," sambit ni Henry.

"Well, I'm telling you now," sagot ni Andrew dito.

Naipaypay ng mama niya ang kamay nito sa mukha. "I can't believe this. I can't believe this! Can you believe this, Henry?"

Napabaling si Henry sa ina niya. "Rose, calm down."

"Your son... And my daughter... Are getting married!" 

"Calm down, darling," pagpapakalma ni Henry sa ina niya.

"Liv and I have to go," sabi ni Andrew. "We'll send you the invites before the weekend."

Wala pa rin siyang imik, kahit na hila-hila na siya ni Andrew palabas doon. Napatingin siya ng huling beses sa direksiyon na kinatatayuan ng ina niya. Nakita niya itong nakasalampak na sa sahig ng ballroom. Walang-wala na ito sa poise. Nang makita niya ito sa ganoong estado, wala sa sariling napangiti siya.