Chapter Eight

“I CAN'T wait to finish my project and follow you there…” wika sa akin ni Ada na kausap ko sa video call. "Ang tagal ko na ring hindi nakakapagbakasyon sa Pilipinas." Narinig ko ang buntong-hininga niya. "I miss the beaches there. God, I think I already forgot what Boracay looks like."

"Don't worry. I'll bring you there once this family fiasco thing of mine is over." I smiled at her. 

Pagkatapos kong makapag-ayos ng gamit sa nilipatang unit ay tinawagan ako ni Ada. I rented the unit next to Dad's and his mistress. This was all part of my plan. 

"I'm already looking forward to it, Craig," she said, pouting her lips. "By the way, kailan ang alis nila Tita Arabella?" tanong ni Ada. Siya ang nagbigay sa akin ng idea na pagsamahin ko sa isang cruise ang mga magulang. 

"Tomorrow." Kinuha ko ang bote ng wine mula sa center table at nagsalin sa hawak na wine glass. 

I was sitting on my newly purchased couch while talking to Ada from the screen of my laptop. 

"So, you're really gonna stay there in Manila for good?" tanong niya sa akin pagkatapos humigop ng kape. She was having breakfast in the kitchen of her unit right now. It was morning there in New York. 

"That's depends, Ada." Pinaglaruan ko ang hawak na wine glass. Nakadepende ang lahat sa magiging resulta ng plano ko. 

Bahagyang kumunot ang noo ni Ada. "Oh, wait…wait, where are you , Craig? That's not your room."

I smirked when Ada finally noticed that I was not in my room. "I bought my own unit, Ada," sagot ko sa kanya. Hindi alam ni Ada ang buong plano ko. Even my mother doesn't know about this plan of mine. 

I knew my mother and Ada. They would both be highly opposed to my idea, so I just decided to not tell them everything. 

"Why did you buy a unit when you're not even sure if you're gonna stay there for good?" nagtatakang tanong ng babae sa kabilang screen. 

"I wanted to have my own space while I'm here," pagdadahilan ko sa kanya. "I wanted to avoid my parents, especially Dad." I disgustedly shook my head. "I couldn't even bear to look him in the eye."

"I understand, Craig," sagot ni Ada. I heard her sigh. "Well, I don't think I would be able to talk to my dad if he ever did that thing to my mother." She gave me a small smile before sipping from her cup of coffee. "So, have you met her already?" tanong niya matapos ibaba ang hawak na tasa ng cup. "Your dad's mistress?" 

"Yeah." Umigting ang panga ko nang maalala ang engkwentro namin ng babae ni dad. It happened earlier this afternoon. 

Sumulyap ako sa suot na relo bago ibinalik ang tingin sa gate ng St. Andrew University. I was waiting for my Dad's mistress. Ilang araw na rin akong humahanap ng tiyempo para makausap siya. Of course, bago ko simulan ang plano ko ay gusto kong malaman kung makilala niya ako. I had no idea if Dad showed a picture of me to her mistress or if that woman made a research about dad's family—which is obviously, my mother and me. 

Natigilan ako nang sa wakas ay matanaw ko ang kabit ni Dad. Naglalakad siya palabas ng gate ng eskwelahan. She was walking alone. I looked at her. She was wearing a simple floral blouse, faded maong pants and a pair of canvas shoes. Hanging on her shoulder was a white tote bag. 

She looked exactly the same with the picture my private investigator sent me. 

Mula sa bintana ng sasakyan ay sinundan ko siya ng tingin. Pumara siya ng taxi at sumakay doon. 

Binuksan ko ang makina ng sasakyan at sinundan ang taxi na sinakyan niya. I hope this time she won't go straight home. Ilang araw ko na siyang sinusundan paglabas niya ng university subalit palagi lang siyang dumidiretso ng uwi. It was like her fucking routine or something. 

Umangat ang isang sulok ng labi ko nang makitang nilagpasan ng sinusundang taxi ang Alexis Towers. 

Fucking finally, I said to myself. 

Patuloy kong sinundan ang taxi hanggang sa huminto iyon sa tapat ng isang supermarket. Bumaba roon ang kabit ni Dad at dumiretso sa entrance ng establishimento. 

Mabilis kong ipinarada ang sasakyan sa parking area bago sinundan ang kabit ni Dad sa loob. 

"Hi, Sir, free taste po," pagpasok ko sa supermarket ay binati ako ng isang saleslady. She was holding a tray of cookies and offering them to me. 

I smiled at her and picked up a cookie from the tray she was holding. "Thanks for this."

Isinubo ko iyon bago kumuha ng isang bakanteng grocery cart. Pagkatapos ay iginala ko ang tingin para hanapin ang kabit ni Dad. 

It only took me a few seconds before I located her. There. I saw her. She was pushing an empty rolling cart while heading towards the canned goods section. I noticed her bag was placed on her grocery cart. 

I smirked as I slowly follow her. She was a bit taller in person. Maybe around 5'5. I watched her as she tiptoed and reached out for an item on the top shelf. Bago niya mailagay ang hawak na delata sa cart ay itinulak ko ang sariling cart para bungguin ang cart niya. 

Kasabay ng pagharap sa akin ng babae ay ang paggulong palayo ng cart niya. 

"I'm sorry." I said. 

My dad's mistress looked at me. And I have to say that she's even more beautiful upclose than in the picture. She looked… innocently beautiful. Her eyes were almond shaped and they were adorned with long and thick eyelashes. Her nose was small and upturned and it suited her heart shaped face. She was really attractive. 

"I'm sorry, Miss," I repeated, this time giving her an apologetic smile. 

Kumurap-kurap siya habang nakatingin sa akin. Did she recognize me? No, I don't see any recognition in her eyes. 

"Okay lang." Her lips curved up in a small smile. Napatingin ako sa mga labi niya. It was naturally pink. I don't think she was wearing any lipstick right now. 

Her soft voice matches her angelic face. Ngumiti ako sa kanya bago ko siya lagpasan para habulin ang cart niya. 

I smirked when I saw her tote bag sitting on the cart. It was already open. This woman, she's a bit careless, huh? She's making things easy for me. In one swift move, I grabbed her wallet and hid it under my shirt. It was a trick I learned when I was in college. One of my roommates in MIT works as a part time magician and I learned some tricks from him. 

I smiled to myself before I turned around. Itinulak ko ang cart pabalik sa babae. 

"Here. I'm sorry again." I said after handing her back her cart. 

"No. It's okay." Bahagya siyang ngumiti sa akin. "Sige, uh…una na ako." She cleared her throat and pushed her cart. She walked past me. 

Sinundan ko siya ng tingin hanggang mawala siya sa paningin ko. Nang masiguro kong tuluyan na siyang nakalayo sa akin ay inilabas ko ang wallet niya at binuksan iyon. It contained some of her IDs and debit cards. There's also a couple of bills there. I wonder if those cards and money were provided by my father. 

Muli kong itinago ang wallet at hinanap ang babae. I found her in the meat section of the supermarket. I kept my distance from her as I continued to follow her. Nilagyan ko rin ng laman ang cart ko. I was already here at the grocery so might as well buy something. Besides, I didn't want to look suspicious. I picked up a pack of fettuccine pasta and put it in my cart. Maybe I'd have some pasta and wine for dinner later. 

Nang mapansin ko ang kabit ni dad na nagpunta sa counter ay itinulak ko ang cart at sumunod sa kanya. I stood behind her at the counter. I glanced at her cart. It was mostly filled with fresh goods. 

The woman didn't look at me until it was her turn on the counter. 

"Four thousand fifty, Ma'am."

I watched my dad's mistress as she scrambled looking for her wallet. I stopped myself from smirking. 

"Miss, teka lang, ah."

Now I could sense the panic in her voice. She realized her wallet had gone missing. 

I cleared my throat and decided to finally speak. "Miss, may problema ba?" 

Bumaling siya sa akin. Nakita ko na bahagya siyang natigilan nang makita na ako ang nasa likod niya. "Uh…sige muna ka na. Hindi ko pa kasi mahanap iyong wallet ko." Tumingin siya sa cashier. "Miss, unahin mo na siya."

I looked at the cashier in front of us. "Miss, magkano lahat ng pinamili niya?"

Napakurap sa akin ang cashier. "Four thousand fifty, Sir."

Kinuha ko ang wallet at naglabas ng cash. I couldn't use my credit cards in front of dad's mistress. She might see my name. I couldn't let that happen. Inabot ko sa cashier ang pera na mukhang nabigla sa ginawa ko. 

From the corner of my eyes, I saw dad's mistress parted her lips. 

"Ma'am, okay na po." 

Mukhang natauhan siya nang magsalita ang cashier sa harap namin. Dad's mistress finally looked back at me. Her face was in a mixture of disbelief and shock.

“T-thank you. B-babayaran kita… hahanapin ko lang iyong wallet ko."

I smiled at her. "It's okay, Miss."

Her forehead formed a deep line. "Ha? Naku, hindi iyon okay." She shook her head before her eyes went back to the bag on her shoulder. "Nasan ba kasi yun?" I heard her mumble in frustration while she continued to search her bag. 

I looked at her as I unloaded my groceries at the counter belt. "Miss." 

She stopped what she's doing and turned to me. "Uh…teka sandali."

Kinuha niya ang grocery bag at tumabi sa isang gilid ng counter. Doon niya ipinagpatuloy ang paghalungkat sa bag.

Pagkatapos kong bayarin ang sariling pinamili ay nilapitan ko siya. She was so preoccupied she didn't even noticed me. Pasimple kong inilagay ang wallet niya sa grocery bag bago ako nagsalita. 

"It's okay, you don't have to pay me."

She turned to me. I noticed the beads of sweat on her forehead. She looked really distressed and bothered. 

"Hindi. Nakakahiya." She shook her head. 

Nakakahiya? What an irony. I almost smirked at what she said. 

I stared at her innocent face. I'm sure it was all a facade. Looks could be really deceiving. No wonder my stupid father fell for her tricks. 

"Well, if you really insist. You can pay me with a cup of coffee." I said with a shrug. 

She bit her lower lip. "Pero hindi ko pa nahahanap ang wallet ko."

"I'll pay for the two of us."

I saw the shock registered on her face. Then she looked at me with her conflicted eyes. "Uh, ano kasi…hindi ako nagkakape," she replied. I saw how her eyes looked away from me. "At saka may pupuntahan ako after nito." She bit her lower lip. "Sorry."

Of course I knew she's just made up an excuse. It was written all over her face. She's not a very good liar. I wonder why she refused me? Was she that loyal to my father? 

"Oh." I didn't expect that. I was thinking of an answer when she smiled at me. “Ganito na lang. Kunin ko na lang account number mo, tapos doon ko na lang i-deposit iyong bayad ko," she suggested. "Okay lang ba?”

“Nah. No need." I lightly shook my head  and brought back my smile. "You really don't have to pay me. But maybe, if we bump into each other next time and I forgot my wallet, you can pay for my groceries."

"Uh…Sure," she replied. "Thank you ulit, ah." She gave me a grateful smile. 

"You're welcome." I said. "By the way, how are you getting home?" I asked her. "May sasakyan ka ba?"

She smiled. "May pang-taxi pa naman ako."

"I'll go ahead, then." I slightly waved my hand as I turned my back from her. 

I left her. I smirked as I walked my way out of the supermarket. 

Now, I was finally sure she didn't know who I was. She had no idea I'm my father's son. That's great. Everything is happening according to my liking. 

Next time, I'd make sure she wouldn't be able to refuse me. 

"What's your plan now, Craig?" 

Bumalik ako sa kasalukuyan nang magsalita si Ada. "I'm still thinking," pagsisinungaling ko sa kanya. The truth is, my plan has already started. I brought the wine glass to my mouth and sipped red wine from it. 

I saw Ada pursed her lips. "I know you hate the woman, Craig. But don't do anything stupid to her."

Ada was like my mom. She was soft hearted. That's why I chose to lie to her rather than tell her my plan. 

I smiled at her. "Just trust me on this, Ada." I told her the same thing I said to my mother. "I know what I'm doing."

Two months. I’d make sure that in two months time, dad's mistress would be wrapped around my fingers. When Dad came back from his vacation, his bitch was already ruined. I’ll make sure of that… I will make her pay. 

"Fine. I have to go now. I have to prepare for my work." sagot niya sa kabilang linya. 

"Alright," paalam ko sa kanya sa dalaga. "I still have to cook dinner, as well."

She smiled at me. "I miss you, Craig. Update me soon."

"Miss you, too." I returned her smile. "Good luck on the upcoming fashion week."