Chapter 5

It was their chance to compose themselves. Hindi niya napaghandaan ang muli nilang pagkikita. Ang gusto sana niya, kapag nagkita uli sila ng pamilya niya ay may maipagmamalaki siya. She was not financially successful yet. At ipapamukha ng mga ito sa kanya na isang pagkakamaling suwayin niya ang pamilya niya.

"Coffee, `Ma," she offered.

Her sister crinkled her nose. "`Di kami umiinom ni Mama ng instant."

Nakagat niya ang ibabang labi. "I ran out of brewed coffee."

"Brewed coffee?" Tumawa si Jasmine. "Aanhin mo iyon kung wala ka kahit coffeemaker? Sindy, you are really making me laugh."

Hindi na siya nakapagtimpi. "What's the purpose of your visit really? Do you really care about me or you just want to taunt me once you see how miserable I've become?" she said with a masked face.

Nagpalakad-lakad ang mama niya at ibinuka ang mga kamay. "I know the moment you left us you'll be miserable. But I never thought you'd be this miserable."

"`Ma, I am okay."

Tiningnan nito ang grocery bag niya. "Look! All you got here is instant food. And your sister checked the refrigerator. Puro tubig lang ang laman. You don't even have a microwave oven. I remember the time you hated cooking."

"I know how to cook, `Ma. Not as good as our cook but it is passable."

Elizalde let out a cry. Hinawakan nito ang kamay niya. "Look at your hands, puro sugat na. Wala ka man lang washing machine. Sensitive ang kamay mo sa sabon. Ni hindi ka man lang nagpapa-laundry service."

"Aren't you glad I am independent?"

Padarag na binitiwan nito ang kamay niya. "This is not independence but outright foolishness. Kindly use that head of yours. You don't deserve this life, Sindyrella. You are an Arevallo. Ilang taon ka nang lumayo sa amin. It's high time you wake up. This is not a dream! This is a nightmare."

"I am happy with my life. Alam ko na iba ito sa buhay na nakasanayan ko. But I am happy with my accomplishments." Binuksan niya ang bookshelf. "Look! I've published a lot of books. I am one of the top writers in our publication. Marami na rin po akong readers. Kahit sa abroad, may nagbabasa ng gawa ko."

"Oh, really? And how much do you earn?"

Nagkibit-balikat siya. "Well, enough to support myself."

Nasapo ni Elizalde ang noo na parang hihimatayin. "Is that enough? Baka nga mas malaki pa ang kinikita ng mga trabahante natin sa hacienda kaysa sa iyo. Nang malaman ko na writer ka lang ng cheap fiction, parang wala na akong mukhang maiharap sa mga amiga ko. I can't tell them what your job really is."

"It is a decent job. You can even see my works at the bookstores. And I must say that it is a very fulfilling job."

"Are you fulfilled? You can't even buy a decent meal in a classy restaurant with your salary," her sister baited. Tinitigan niya ito nang matalim. They were really trying to demolish her spirit. At malapit na siyang sumabog.

Niyakap siya ng mama niya. "Come back to us, hija. Love yourself for once."

"I will visit you sometimes, `Ma." Pero hindi siya babalik. Kahit tapak-tapakan ng mga ito ang pride niya, mas importante ang pangarap niya.

"Don't come back to Altamerano if at the end of the day, you'll still come home to this shabby apartment of yours or you'll still write cheap fiction. Hinding-hindi na kita patatapakin sa pamamahay ko," anang mama niya sa mabigat na boses. And it was an ultimatum.

Nanlamig siya. Wala rin naman siyang balak na bumalik sa Altamerano kung hindi nito matatanggap ang mga bagay na nagpapasaya sa kanya.

"Whatever you say, `Ma," she said with a resigned voice.

Hinaplos nito ang buhok niya. Like what she usually did when she was a little girl. "Sindyrella, don't treat me like an evil stepmom or your sister your evil stepsister. You are a princess, darling. Not a pauper. So please don't be a villain to yourself. You know you deserve more than this."

And what did she deserve? A crystal prison of glittering gold and diamond with fake people's laughter? No thanks. Mas gusto na niya ang buhay ngayon. Wala siyang pinagsisisihan. Malaya siyang gawin ang lahat ng gusto niya.

"Gabryel cares about you, Sindy," ani Jasmine. "I think he still likes you. Kung pakakasalan mo siya, mas magiging maganda ang buhay mo. You don't have to work and live in a place like this. You'll be a princess again."

"Hindi ba, ikaw mismo ang nagsabi sa akin na kung puwede, huwag akong magpakasal kung pamilya lang naman natin ang may gusto? Naaalala mo ba na muntik ka nang makipagtanan sa totoong boyfriend mo kung `di ka nahuli? Sabi mo sa akin, mas magiging masaya ka siguro kung siya ang pinakasalan mo."

Saglit na natigilan ito. "I was a fool then. Sa palagay mo ba, magiging masaya ako sa isang trabahador lang sa talyer? Look at me. I am a dignified doctor. I am the first lady of Altamerano. Hindi ka siguro maniniwala, but Lukas and me are great together. Mama is a good matchmaker. Hindi ko mararanasan ang ganitong klaseng buhay kung `di ko sinunod si Mama."

She let out a breath. "I don't need a Prince Charming. And I definitely won't marry because a person has money. At least, Gabryel knows and respects that."

"You are a fool," usal ni Jasmine.

"Let's go, hija," anang mama niya sa kapatid niya. "I know that one day, Sindyrella will change her mind. It will be soon."

Madilim ang mukha niyang pinagmasdan ang paglayo ng sasakyan na kinalululanan ng ina at kapatid niya. "Hindi magbabago ang isip ko at lalong `di ko pakakasalan ang Gabryel Honasan na iyon!" Naikuyom niya ang kamay. "Traidor ka, Brye! Sana, `di kita pinagkatiwalaan."