Kabanata 3

Kabanata 3

PAWISAN ang katawan ni Alec dala ng pag-e-ehersisyo sa kanyang home gym. His muscles are flexing every time he's lifting the dumbbell. May asul na headband sa kanyang ulong pumipigil sa dulo ng kanyang buhok na bumagsak sa kanyang noo. The song "Photograph" by Nickelback is playing on the background while he's working out. His toned upper body in full display for the golden rays to kiss freely as the majestic sun bid its goodbye for the day.

Kahit sino yatang makakikita sa ampon ng mag-asawang De Vera ay aakalaing tunay itong anak. Marami na kasi ang nagsabing kahawig ni Alec ang presidente ngunit isa iyon sa mga bagay na napaka-imposibleng mangyari. Nonetheless, Alec was loved by the De Veras as their own, especially the first lady.

Ibinaba ni Alec ang dumbbell sa rack at pinunasan ang kanyang noo nang marinig ang pag-alingawngaw ng kanyang cellphone na nasa silya. He wasn't expecting any calls today from work and he keeps his contact number to only those whom he trusts. Napagod na siyang magbasa ng mga pagkahaba-habang mensahe mula sa mga babaeng pagkatapos niyang makasalo sa kama ay umaarte nang asawa niya. 

Alec walked towards the music player and turned it off before he answered the call. It was Dr. Hailey De Vera, the first lady of the Republic. Madalas namang tumawag ang ginang upang kumustahin siya at patuloy pa rin siyang kumbinsihing bumalik na sa mansyon, but Alec wanted to be independent already. Malaki na masyado ang utang na loob niya sa mag-asawa. But there is something about today that made him bothered. Hindi niya mawari kung bakit, ngunit may kutob siyang hindi pangungumusta ang pakay ngayon ng ginang.

"Ma'am?"

Ang hikbi kaagad ng matandang babae ang unang narinig ni Alec. Nalukot ang kanyang noo at namayani ang pag-aalala niya para sa babaeng kumalinga sa kanya mula nang pagsakluban siya ng langit at lupa.

He walked towards the glass wall and looked at the city, his sweat dripping down his toned chest and tummy. Mula sa kanyang penthouse ay tanaw niya ang paliparan kung saan siya dating nagtrabaho bilang piloto hanggang sa maluklok na si Vince De Vera bilang Presidente at kinailangan na siya nito bilang personal pilot.

"What's wrong, Ma'am?"

Baka kung normal na usapan ay sinita na naman siya ng matanda dahil ilang taon na siyang nakasunod sa apelyido ng mga ito ngunit ni minsan ay hindi niya tinuring na mga magulang ang dalawa. Not that he doesn't want them to be his parents. He loved them and he's grateful for everything they'd done to him. Napakalaki ng utang na loob niya sa mga ito dahil nagkaroon siya ng matiwasay na buhay. He wore signature clothes, ate the most expensive foods, and studied in schools only made for the elites. Sadyang takot lamang siyang gaya ng Mama Rodessa niya, malasin din sa buhay ang mga ito. 

"Alec... Your Papa Vince is having an affair. Isang taon na akong niloloko ni Vince..." Humagulgol ang matanda kaya nataranta si Alec. "Bakit ngayon pa niya nagawa sa akin ito?!"

"Calm down, Ma'am. Where are you? Pupuntahan ko ho kayo."

Suminghot ito. "Nandito ako sa mansyon, anak. Alec... Hindi ko matatanggap ito!"

Tuluyang naghisterikal si Hailey kaya kinuha ni Alec ang isa niya pang phone at tinawagan ang mayordoma sa mansyon, inutusan itong bigyan ng pampakalma ang matandang babae habang wala pa siya roon bago pa may mangyaring hindi maganda rito. May kumplikasyon na sa puso si Dr. Hailey ngunit pinili nitong huwag ipaalam sa asawa nang hindi pa dagdag isipin ni Presidente Vince. Ngunit ngayon, parang gusto na lang makialam ni Alec at sabihin sa Presidente ang kalagayan ng asawa nito nang makunsensya naman ito. 

Although Alec isn't totally convinced yet that the President is having an affair. Ni minsan ay wala siyang nakitang problema sa dalawa. Their marriage was envied by everyone at noong isang araw lang ay napaka-sweet pa ng dalawa dahil sa pagsurpresa ni President Vince sa asawa nito. 

Isa lang naman ang maaaring maging sanhi ng problema. Hindi kayang bigyan ng first lady ng anak ang presidente kaya nga mahal na mahal siya nito. 

But it just doesn't make any sense. After all these years that their marriage is strong even without their own child, what would even get inside President Vince's head for him to cheat on the first lady?

Hindi maintindihan ni Alec ngunit pinapangako niyang gagawa siya ng paraan upang makumpirma kung totoo ang sinabi ng unang ginang.

He drove to the De Vera mansion. Bumungad ang humahagulgol na ginang nang makapasok siya sa receiving area. Hindi ito mapatahan ng mga kasambahay at nang makita siya ay kaagad nitong inalok ang kamay upang lumapit siya.

"Ma'am..."

Hailey sobbed. "Pangit na ba ako, Alec? Am I fat? Didn't I become a great wife?"

Lumamlam ang mga mata ni Alec. That's the thing about cheating. Women often question themselves not their partners. Kaya takot na takot si Alec na pumasok sa relasyon dahil alam niya sa sarili niyang hindi pa siya handa sa habambuhay na responsibilidad bilang isang committed man. 

He knew he will still crave for other flavors so he'd rather not use the goddamn label so his woman can have the assurance that he will never cheat. That's just so unfair. Binigyan ng label para siguradong sila ang sa isa't-isa pagkatapos ay titikim ng iba? He really cannot find the logic so he'd rather just date casually.

He'd seen his Mama Rodessa got cheated on, and now he's watching the first lady break down in front of him and question her own worth instead of asking what the hell is wrong with her husband. Why does it always have to be this way?

"You're not, Ma'am. Look at you? You're like a fine wine." He sighed. "Sino bang nagsabing nagloloko si Sir Vince?"

"Nakita ko ang mga larawan, Alec. He's having an affair with a young woman. I hired a private investigator dahil noong nakaraang buwan bago ang birthday ko, he purchased something very expensive from a jewelry shop in France. Akala ko ay regalo niya sa akin but when he gave me something else, I asked him about it and guess what? He denied it! Ano pa bang dapat kong isipin?" Hinawakan nito ang kanyang kamay habang patuloy ang pagluha. "Alec... Alec, get rid of that filthy woman. I cannot lose you Dad. I love him so much. I'd even beg her to stay away from Vince if I have to!"

Umusbong ang inis ni Alec. "What are you talking about, Mama?" Sa unang pagkakataon ay natawag niya ito sa ganoong paraan dala ng pagkapikon. 

"Alec..." She shook her head. "I can't... Lose him..."

Gumalaw ang panga ni Alec. "You're the legal woman in Sir Vince's life. Bakit ikaw ang magpapakababa sa sarili mo, Ma? That's not fair. None of this is."

She sniffed. "I'm forty three, Alec. Your Papa must've gone tired of me already. Maybe I am no longer beautiful in his eyes."

"Enough, Ma!" Dumilim nang tuluyan ang ekspresyon ni Alec dahil pakiramdam niya ay naririnig niya ang kanyang Mama Rodessa. "Don't even say that. You go to salon every week, kept your diet strict, made sure he always gets your support. Kung totoong nagloloko ang Presidente, wala sayo ang problema so stop putting this on you."

Muling humagulgol ang ginang. "Alec, help me. Help me get rid of that woman. Baka nauto lang ang Papa mo. She probably tricked Vince to milk his money. Alam mo naman ang Papa Vince mo, masyadong maawain. I can't let someone else have my Vince, Alec. Tulungan mo ako, anak tulungan mo ako..."

Yumakap nang tuluyan ang ginang kay Alec. Naisara na lamang niya ang kanyang mga mata habang hinahagod ang likod nito nang kumalma.

"I'd like to see those photos. Kailangan ko rin makausap ang private investigator para malaman ko kung sino 'tong nangangahas na sumira sa marriage niyo. Stop crying, Ma they're not worth your tears. Let me take care of it."

It took long before the first lady calmed down. Nang maigiya niya ito sa silid ng mag-asawa upang magpahinga, saka niya kinuha ang envelop na tinutukoy nitong naglalaman ng mga larawan at impormasyon tungkol sa private investigator.

He went to his own room in the mansion and opened the envelop, but the moment he laid eyes on the brunette woman whose wavy locks almost reached her lower back, something inside Alec suddenly lit up, as if a wild fire just started consuming him.

May kaliitan ang mga mata ng dalaga, morena ang kutis na bumagay sa payat ngunit may kurbang pangangatawan. Her nose is narrow and pointy, and her lips were thin and so, so inviting.

Despite the sexy body hugging crimson dress she's wearing, Alec cannot see nothing but innocence. An innocence that wasn't supposed to suit a home wrecker like her.

Naibaba ni Alec ang larawan saka niya hinilamos ang kanyang palad sa kanyang mukha. No wonder why his Papa Vince got attracted to her. She's such an effortless seductress. Sa larawan pa lamang niya ito nakikita ngunit hindi na niya maipaliwanag ang naging epekto nito sa kanya.

He breathed out heavily and then folded his arms in front of his chest as his eyes narrowed at the photo where President Vince was looking at the woman as if she means the world to him.

He needs to do something about this. By hook or by crook, he's going to get rid of the president's mistress...