Kabanata 8.1

“West…” I let out a sigh. “Didn’t I tell you to let me handle my own problem? Why… Why did you come? Dadagdag ka ba sa mga stressors ko?” Narito kami sa likod ng El Real. Axel knows that reporters are still waiting at the entrance, so he let West to walk through his secret passageway although they had their fight. He just doesn’t want to let this little fight they had to cause a bigger problem to the three of us.

“I’m sorry, I acted recklessly. It was not my intention to have a fight with him. I just… I just wanted to have a deal with him, that’s all.”

“Deal? What kind of deal?”

Ano na namang pustahan mayro’n ang dalawang ito at umabot pa sa suntukan?

“Nothing. Anyway, I’ll be gone for the meantime. Just in case that Morelli treats you unfairly, call me.”

“And? What will you do? Makikipagsuntukan ka ulit? West, bakit mo ito ginagawa? We’re close, yes, but that was in the past. We lost connection to each other, so I can’t find any other reason for you to stand by me. Ah! One more thing, kailangan mo pala ang investment ni President Blackmore, why didn’t you grab the opportunity?”

Ngumiti siya at ginulo ang buhok ko.

“You were a big part in my life and will always be. You were my very first friend, so now, I will be at your service. Anytime, Elle. And about President Blackmore, I have my solution. Don’t think about it.”

“Psh. Pero ngayon hindi tayo close. Kaya naman, President Kaden Weston, treat me as a stranger and live your life like how it was used to be.”

Pinisil niya ang pisngi ko. 

“Ouch!”

“You kicked me, so we’re now friends.”

“You—”

“Also, you’re still calling me West. So, I guess, our friendship is still present.”

“What—?”

“Believe me when I say I won’t leave you alone unless I’m still not sure why Morelli is keeping you.”

“Boss, nariyan na ang sasakyan.” Dumating ang sekretarya niya at sinusundo na siya.

“Alright, Elle. Until then.” Iniwan nila ako ro’n.

“Kulang pa ata ang sipa na ibinigay ko sa ‘yo. Tch. Kung may hindi sila pagkakaintindihan ni Axel, bakit damay ako?!”

After I kicked them, Axel walked out. He didn’t say a word. Kailangan ko pa nga siyang sundan at magmakaawa para lang sabihin niya sa akin ang ibang daan palabas sa kompanya niya. Hindi sa mas pinapaboran ko si West kaya ko iyon ginawa, ayoko lang talagang makita siya ng mga reporters na may pasa. Baka magkaproblema pa lalo.

“That Axel. Hindi naman pala siya marunong mag-basketball, why did he even bother to accept West’s challenge? Pwede naman niyang palabasin si West sa kompanya niya.”

Tumunog ang cellphone ko senyales na may tumatawag.

“Yes, sir! What is it?” I tried my best not to sound sarcastic as I answered Axel’s call. 

Alam ko kasing may kasalanan ako kung bakit napadalaw rito si West. Saka hindi ko sinabi kay Axel ang totoo na magkakilala kaming dalawa. Now, he thinks that Kaden and I have a specila relationship with each other.

[Balik. May pag-uusapan pa tayo.]

This is what I’m saying. He will surely interrogate me.

“I’m on my way, sir.”

Nagmadali akong pumunta sa office niya bago pa siya sumabog sa inis kakahintay sa akin. While I’m waiting inside the elevator, my mom called me.

[Your grandfather is on his way there, sweetie.]

“On his way where?”

[Nariyan siya sa Pilipinas, anak!]

“Ano?! Narito siya?! Bakit?! Mom, akala ko ba kasama mo siya?”

[Nabalitaan niyang tinanggal ni Axel ang ipinadala niyang magmasid sa inyo kaya siya na mismo ang nagpasyang pumunta r’yan. Narinig ko ang usapan nilang hindi raw maganda ang trato niyo sa isa’t isa.]

“Mom, bakit hindi mo binayaran ‘yong tao ni lolo para gumawa na lang ng kwento?”

[Sa tingin mo ba hindi ko ginawa ‘yan? Alam mo namang namimili ng mga tao ang lolo mo kaya hindi sila nabibili ng kahit kanino. Pero, anak, totoo bang hindi mo tinatrato nang tama si Axel? Anak, naman. Pumayag siya sa request mo but look what you’re doing to him.]

Mom, kung alam mo lang. Siya nga itong halos palayasin na ako sa bahay. 

“I’m not that evil, mom! By the way, I gotta go. I need to inform Axel. Bye!”

Nang magbukas ang pinto ay patakbo kong pinuntahan si Axel.

“Now, explain,” bungad niya.

“Later! May pupuntahan tayo.” Hinila ko siya palabas.

“I need an explanation right now.” Iwinaksi niya ang kamay ko.

“Gosh. Please. Next time, okay? Isusulat ko pa sa isang buong manila paper. Sa ngayon, kailangan nating pabalikin si lolo sa Paris.” Hinila ko ulit siya.

“Don’t touch me.” Umiral na naman ang pagkasungit niya.

“Waaah! Please, set aside that thing. Okay, ganito, kapag napabalik natin si lolo, I promise, gagawin—no I’ll grant you three wishes. Are you okay with that?”

“Pag-iisipan ko.”

“Ayaaa. Huwag mo nang pag-isipan pa. Just say yes!”

“No. My answer is no. Come inside. You have a lot of explanation to do.” Hinila niya ako papasok.

“Bakit ba kasi ang hirap mong pakiusapan??” Nagpapapadyak na ako sa harapan niya.

Kapag dumating si lolo, mas mahihirapan akong makahanap ng ibang trabaho kasi kailangan ko pang ipakita sa kanya na walang problema kahit itago namin ni Axel ang tungkol sa kasal namin. Yes, I’m planning to resign as Axel’s secretary once I found a suitable job for me. I want to work away from him.

“What’s your relationship with Weston?”

“Bakit ko sasabihin sa ‘yo?” Naupo ako sa sofa. Kung hindi siya madadala sa pakiusap, okay. I won’t force him. Mag-iisip na lang ako ng ibang paraan para mapabalik si lolo.

“You told him our marriage? Then why don’t you tell the world about it?”

“Kababata ko lang siya.”

Why do I have to tell the world about it? Is it that important?

“Kababata. Alright. Why is he acting like a boyfriend who got his girlfriend taken away from him?”

“What? Wait, are you sure you don’t like me?” I teased him. “You seem like a jealous husband. Aminin mo na kasi, hmm? Malay mo, magbago ang isip ko at ipagsigawan kong kasal tayo.” Pero hahanap muna ako ng trabahong hindi basehan ang status bago ko ‘yan gawin.

“I’m your husband, but I’m not jealous. I want to remind you, I have my pride. I don’t want those people who attended my wedding to gossip behind my back.”

So, this is all about his pride after all. Tch! What should I expect from him?

“Mind your attitude. Don’t let me see Weston again. I don’t care if you have a relationship with him, just don’t let him cause a damage to me. Kung iniisip mong ikaw ang dahilan kung bakit ko tinanggap ang hamon niya, you’re wrong.”

After hearing what he said, I somehow felt a strange pain inside my chest. He doesn’t care even if I have a relationship with others. Does he mean, I’m nothing but just a pawn to him? Na ako ang alas niya para matalo si West?

“Masakit ba? Masakit ba na natalo ka niya? Kaya ka nagkakaganyan? Of course, you are! The almighty Axel Min Morelli was defeated by Kaden Weston. Wow. Unbelievable, right?”

“Get lost.”

“You want me to get lost? Bakit? Kasi hindi mo kayang marinig na sa lahat ng bagay, hindi ikaw ang laging panalo.”

“Get out!”

“Axel Min Morelli, you are not capable of everything. I’m telling you, one day, you will learn how to accept that you can’t do anything even if you wish it to happen.”

Tumayo ako at lumabas sa office niya. Dahil sa pag-uusap na ‘yon, nasira ang mood ko.

“Hey.” 

Nag-angat ako ng tingin at nakita ko si Elix.

“Hey. Bakit hindi ka pa umaalis? Aren’t you busy?”

“What are you doing here? Nag-usap na kayo?”

Magkaibigan nga sila. Hilig nilang magbato ng isa pang katanungan sa halip na sumagot.

“Uh, oo. May kailangan ka sa kanya? Nasa loob siya. Kaso mainit ang ulo niya kaya mas mabuti kung bukas mo na siya kausapin.”

He chuckled.

“No. Ikaw ang ipinunta ko rito.” Ibinigay niya sa akin ang mga dokumentong ipinahawak ko sa kanya kanina. Right, I have load of work. Muntik ko nang makalimutan dahil sa sama ng loob.

“I have no right to meddle into your business, so I’ll just advice you. Intindihin mo na lang si Axel. He’s a complicated person, you see. You just need to have enough patience and understanding.”

“Tch. Sa sobrang komplikado niya, ang hirap niyang intindihin. Pero dahil ipinanganak akong punong-puno ng pagmamahal, okay! I got him! Ako na ang mag-aadjust!”

“That’s the spirit. Don’t get too sad when he scolds you. Isipin mo na lang na isa siyang lalaking nangangailangan ng matinding pag-unawa.”

“Mm. Thank you for the encouragement.”

Sabay kaming napatingin sa pinto ng office ni Axel nang magbukas ito at iniluwa no’n ang taong kanina pa naming pinag-uusapan.

“I gotta go, Shanelle. I have some business to do,”

“Sure.”

Nanatili si Axel sa may pintuan.

Itinikom ko ang bibig ko. Pareho na kaming nananantiya kung sino ang unang magsasalita o hihingi ng tawad.

Psh. Ayoko ngang humingi ng tawad sa kanya. Totoo naman kasi ang mga sinabi ko.

Isinara niya ang pinto at naglakad palapit sa akin.

Nilagpasan niya ako.

Psh. Masyadong mataas ang pride ng taong ‘yan kaya huwag mo nang asahang siya ang unang magsasalita.

“Sandali.”

Huminto siya sa paglalakad.

“Are you going to say sorry?”

Nilapitan ko siya at pumunta sa harap niya.

“Who’s going to say sorry to you? O, nakalimutan mo.” Ibinigay ko sa kanya ang dokumentong ipinakuha niya kanina. Kinuha niya ito.

“Aanhin ko ito?” tanong ko nang ibigay niya sa akin cellphone niya.

“Swallow it.”

Bago ko pa siya mabungangaan, nagtext dito ang mama niya.

From Ma: Fetch your wife’s grandfather at the airport.

Wala na, dumating na nga siya.

Mag-isa kong hinihintay rito si lolo rito sa loob ng airport. Si Axel, naiwan sa sasakyan. May pasa sa mukha kaya sinabi kong do’n na lang maghintay. Baka ma-issue.

“Lo!”

“My dearest Shanelle!” Niyakap niya ako nang mahigpit. He is my father’s father. He is an American, so technically, I’m half Filipino, half American. My dad is a pure American while my mom is a Filipina.

“Why are you here?”

“I missed you. Where’s your husband?”

“Uhm, he… he’s waiting outside.”

“Oh. Let’s go. I’d like to meet him.” Noong kasal ko kasi ay wala siya kaya hindi niya alam ang mukha ng lalaking pinakasalan ko.

Paalis na kami sa airport. Si Axel ang nagmamaneho. Ako ang nasa passenger’s seat habang si lolo ay nasa likuran.

“Please lang, umarte kang mabuting asawa sa harap ni lolo. Ayokong mabuko tayo. Baka bigla na lang niyang sabihin sa mundo na mag-asawa tayo,” bulong ko kay Axel.

“So, you are Axel. You look better than on the pictures,” lolo praised Axel.

“Thank you.” Hindi siya ngumiti. Para siyang robot na nagsalita.

“Uh, hahaha, lo, Axel is not a talkative person so don’t be offended by his simple words. He’s actually, uhm, a loving husband. Right, baby?” Hinawakan ko ang braso niya at pinisil. 

Sumulyap siya sa akin. He extended his arm and snaked it around my shoulders.

“Right.”

I laughed awkwardly. “Focus on driving, baby. Safety first.” Tinanggal ko ang braso niya sa balikat ko at umayos ng upo.

Narinig kong tumawa si lolo. 

“Young people who are in love are so adorable,” sambit niya.

Adorable, pwede pa. Pero ang in love? Peh! Peh! Peh!

Kung hindi lang dahil sa kagustuhan kong maipakita kay lolo na maayos ang kasal namin kahit hindi ito isapubliko, hindi ko kakausapin ang lalaking 'to. Sabi pa nga niya, 'I won't say sorry to you.' Tse! Me, too! Who wants to bow down to you?

Pero dahil I'm full of positivity, sige na, kalimutan na natin ang mga sinabi niya.

“What happened to your face? It's swollen,” puna ni lolo sa mukha ni Axel.

“I was—”

“He fell off the stairs, lolo!”

“Stairs? But it seems like he was punched.”

“No way. Who would dare to punch the one and only Axel? You should get new eyeglasses, lo.”

“Is that so? I think I'm not getting any younger. Next time, dear, you should not let your husband hit his face anywhere. He's the face of El Real.”

Psh. It's his fault. Kung may mahaba sana siyang pasensiya, edi hindi siya nasuntok. Why does everyone keep on reminding me to take care of him when he can’t even take care of me?

“Lolo, why don't you have a rest. I'll just wake you up when we arrive at your hotel.”

“Hmmm. Wake me at once then.” Ipinikit niya ang mga mata niya at sumandal.

“Liar. Why is he here? Drive your grandfather away,” bulong ni Axel.

“Sabihin mo sa akin kung paano. Saka hindi naman 'yan pupunta rito kung hindi mo tinanggal ang taong ipinadala niya sa kompanya mo. How did you even know that he sent someone in your company? What did you do to him? You didn’t kill him, right?”