Capitulo Treinta y seis

"Oh my God! Pierce Maxwell Sarmiento?" ang nanlalaking mga matang bulalas ni Carlotta ang pinsan ni Kallyra. Bahagyang nakaawang ang bibig ng dalaga at namamanghang nakatitig sa kaniya na para bang hindi makapaniwala. Naroon ito sa opisina ng huli.

Bahagyang tumango si Maxwell at tinaas ang sulok ng kaniyang labi. "Nice to see you again, Carlotta." rinig niya ang malaki at malalim niyang boses na nag-vibrate sa loob ng opisina ng kaniyang asawa na kasalukuyang nagta-type sa harap ng computer nito at tila walang paki-alam sa mga tao sa kaniyang paligid, hindi sila binibigyang pansin.

"O-M-G!, as in oh my God! I thought you are dead! I heard it from my friends, I mean I did not see or heard any news about you after your accident 10 years ago, what happened bakit ngayon ka lang nagpakita? You look really different, you were so lanky and ugly before, I mean, not so handsome..."

He chuckled. "How do I look now?"

Sandali itong napatitig sa kaniya at namula.

"Well...you look hot and super handsome now... " tinapunan nito ng mabilis na sulyap ang kaniyang tahimik na asawa na patuloy pa rin sa ginagawa na para bang hindi sila naririnig.

Bahagya siyang nainis sa ikinikilos nito, he was so used of getting so much attention simula ng magising siya. Everyone was so eager to attend to his every needs kahit hindi hinihingi at kahit hindi siya kilala. But this woman was acting like he was not existing at all.

"So you like me now." tukso niya sa namumulang dalaga. He keep the small smirk on his hard face ignoring the small annoyance he felt towards the hateful woman they called his wife.

"No! I don't!" kaagad na tanggi nito na may kasama pang marahas at sunod-sunod na iling na akala mo ay napakalaking kasalanan ang pagkakagusto sa kaniya.

"I'm just kidding." he said still smiling.

Bumalik ang kaninang malaking ngiti ng kausap. "You know what?"

"What?" he indulge.

"I'll tell you a secret.. " bumulong ito ng pabiro.

"I don't know... Is it interesting?"

"Maybe..." she giggled. "You want to know? its about Kallyra.

Nagkibit siya ng balikat. "Fire away." he said.

"I know you will be interested." tumaas-baba ang kilay nito.

He knows that she was just joking around, but he was half serious to know what it is about, even if its just silliness or what. He can see Kallyra in the corner of his eyes, she still busy typing and minding her own business, he was not sure if she can hear them dahil hindi man lang ito nag-react ng mabanggit ng pinsan ang kaniyang pangalan.

"I want to know." he said.

"My cousin... she was never the same since your accident, she became cold and distant, she never dated anyone after you."

He was speechless for a moment, his mind was absorbing the words Carlotta said.

Why?

Was she feeling guilty?

Or did she loved him?

No.

Hindi ang sagot sa huling tanong niya, dahil hindi siya iiwan nito kung oo ang sagot, she will not send the annulment paper two days after their wedding if the woman loved her. Mahigpit niyang kinuyom ang kaniyang kamao. A nagging hate consumed him and he struggled to collect himself again.

"How about you, what happened to you bakit ngayon ka lang nagpakita after ten years?" narinig niyang tanong nito. He was about to answer when Kallyra's voice stopped him.

"Go home Carlotta, don't let your friend wait for you, nakakaabala ka na din sa trabaho ko." anito sa pinsan subalit ang mga mata ay sa kaniya nakatingin. Binigyan niya ito ng matamis na ngiti pero inirapan lamang siya nito.

He chuckled again and stare at her unsmiling face. Subalit unti-unting nawala ang kaniyang ngiti.

Naglaho ang imahe ng magarang opisina sa kaniyang paningin at napalitan ng mga puno, malinis na damuhang nababalot ng makukulay na ligaw na bulaklak isang malinis na lawa at mga paro-parong nagliliparan sa paligid. Tila sandaling nakapasok siya sa ibang dimensyon.

Another memory flashed back in his mind, isang babaeng nakangiti sa kaniya, the love was overflowing on her beautiful eyes. The woman's face was her wife's. Subalit iba ang damit na suot nito, she was wearing an old dress na hindi niya nakikitang sinusuot ng mga babaeng nakilala niya, but it looks achingly familiar to him. It makes his heart beats fast, he felt an ache in his chest and he suddenly wants to grab her and hug her until he can't breath.

"Mr. Sarmiento, hey... are you okay?" napakurap siya ng marinig ang malamyos at nag-aalalang tinig ng kaharap.

Naramdaman niya ang pagkirot ng sentido, sinuklay niya ng mga daliri ang kaniyang buhok at bahagyang pinilig ang ulo. "Yeah.. I'm sorry for spacing out, I just remember something."

Matagal na tinitigan siya nito, he knows she was trying to read him to make sure he was really okay, he gave her an assuring smile. Napansin niyang sila na lamang dalawa ang naroon sa loob ng opisina nito, he looks around and look back at her.

"She went home already." pagkumpirma ni Kallyra.

"Oh.." ang tangi niyang nasabi. He did not noticed nor heard Carlotta stepping out of the room.

"I need to go as well, I have an appointment to attend---"

"With whom?" hindi niya mapigilang itanong.

"My client." tipid nitong sagot.

"Lalaki?"

"Yes."

"I'll go with you." he said with finality in his voice.

"Excuse me?" nakataas ang isang kilay na wika nito.

"You are going to talk about the reconstruction of the Casino right?" hinintay niya ang sagot nito subalit nanatili itong walang kibo kaya nagpatuloy siya. "I want to be part of it, you will going to send the details to me later anyway, so why not we just go ahead, I'll join you. So let's go." tumayo na siya at hinintay na tumayo rin ito.

Lumipas ang ilang segundo ay nanatiling nakaupo pa rin ito. Sumandal ito sa upuan at pinag-cross ang mga braso habang matamang pinamamasdan siya.

"Mr. Sarmiento, I noticed that you like my office and job so much."

Kumunot ang kaniyang noo. "What do you mean?"

"Ginagawa mong tambayan ang opisina ko, mas madalas ka pang narito kesa kay Carlotta. And now you want to stick your nose into my business." kaswal na wika nito. "Anong ginagawa mo, I know you're up to something. " bahagyang lumiit ang kaliwang mata nito.

"You think so?" he crossed his arms as well and raised the side of his lips.

"I know so.. tell me, is this your plan, sticking with me so you could get flash backs of your lost memories? Or this is how you spy a person for your business scheme?"

He chuckled a little. "You are thinking too much sweetheart. "

"And you are trying to avoid my question."

"I don't have business scheme and I am not spying on you sweetheart, and if I do, I can just pay anyone to do it for me because I hate to do the dirty works. " he shrugged his shoulder and give her a big smile.

"Then stop following me around. If you still have feelings for me better bury it or forget about it, I never loved you then and even now that you changed, don't be too hard on yourself Maxwell." The look on her eyes shows no emotion, but he saw a flash of sadness and then it was easily gone.

He throw a sarcastic laugh. "I understand why you are thinking that way, but please don't assume too much, you are nothing to me now, I have learned my lesson really hard. No sane man will stay with you and love you unconditionally, you are the type of woman that is just good for display, that was the reason why you are alone until now."

He saw another flash of sadness in her eyes. But this time hindi na nito iyon naitago, she was eyeing him as if he just stab her with a knife and twist it after. He saw her eyes water and he wanted to laugh. Now she's acting like his words hurt her. He clenched his jaw and look at her with a disgusted face but immediately cover his emotion with another big smile.

"You know I did not mean what I said right?" he said apologetically, but deep inside he wants to spit the words he said. How dare this woman think he still have feelings for her after all she have done to him, to his family! Hah! the f**king bitch thinks she still have a power over him.

"Let's go Kallyra, you don't want to be late in your appointment." he said and coldly walks away first.