CHAPTER 5

JEWEL

"I want the annulment to be processed secretly. Can you grant my request Jewel?"

I am still in great shock. Hindi pa napoprosesong mabuti ng isip ko ang aking nalaman.

"I am willing to pay you an alimony basta makipag-cooperate ka lang sana."

Kukurap-kurap ako at hinihintay ang sariling matauhan.

"How much do you want Jewel?"

"H-How much what?" litong wika ko. Ngayon lang nagsisink-in sa akin ang mga sinasabi niya.

"Alimony. Money or property. Or maybe if you want I can give you both."

Makailang ulit akong umiling. Tinawanan ko ang sinabi niya. "You don't have to give me anything. Ako ang may kasalanan ng lahat ng ito kaya dapat lang na makipagtulungan ako. Sabihin mo lang kung ano ang dapat kung gawin. Gaya mo siyempre gusto ko ring mapawalang-bisa ang maling kasal na ito."

Bakas sa mata niya ang tuwa sa natanggal na sagot. "Thank you. Me and my lawyer will make a perfect plan kung paano natin magagawa ang annulment na to ng lihim. I'll let you know kapag handa na tayong umpisahan ang proceso."

"You helped me back then so I have no excuse not to help you now. This is my greatest secret too kaya pabor din sa akin na patago natin tong gawin. Ayoko ring may makaalam lalong-lalo na ang mommy ko." My brows furrowed. "Paanong nangyari na nairecord pa rin ang kasal natin? My late father clearly told me na haharangin niya ang pagforward sa NSO ng marriage contract natin."

"CGC financed the candidacy of the Mayor who wed us. Out of pride and ego, humingi ako ng pabor na siguraduhing maging legal ang kasal natin. Walang kahit sinumang may koneksiyon ang makakaharang sa utos kong yun," napapalunok na pag-amin niya.

Tumawa ako nang mapakla sabay baba ng aking mga mata. "I was such a fool not knowing I was messing up with CGC heir." Nagtatakang tumingin ako sa kanya. "You were popular back in college and why was it that everyone knows you as Ulysses Saavedra? That's also the reason why I was so comfortable in applying at CGC. I didn't know na ikaw rin pala ang Mr. Yul Dela Vega na minemorize ko sa chart."

"It was my grandfather's idea. He made an agreement with the school na gagamitin ko ang apelyido ng mommy ko but in official school record I am still listed as Dela Vega. Noon pa man ay uso na ang kidnapping and maintaining low profile was a safety measure. Yul is my nickname and I prefer to use it than Ulysses kaya yun na rin ang ginamit ko sa business."

"Ah now I understand," tango ko.

Tumaas ang isa niyang kilay. "But didn't you notice that the name written in our marriage contract is my real name?"

Nahihiyang ngumiwi ako at muling tumingin sa ibaba. "To be honest hindi ko na binasang mabuti noon yung nakasulat sa marriage contract natin. Ang mahalaga sa akin ay hawak ko na ang papel na makakapigil sa kasal ko sa lalaking hindi ko kayang sikmurain kahit kailan. I clearly remember what happened that day. My father was furious. He ripped the paper into pieces and the next day, he sent me to America."

Ilang sandaling hindi umimik ang aking kausap. His face has no reaction but I can sense that what I just said reminds him of my ungratefulness and cruelty. "I am sorry again Ulysses. And thank you talaga na napatawad mo rin ako. Alam ko na parang lumalabas na ginamit lang talaga kita noon dahil hindi na ulit ako nagpakita pagkatapos ng ating kasal. Pero kaya din lang ako sumunod agad sa tatay ko na lumayo dahil natatakot ako na baka pati ikaw ay madamay sa galit niya."

"Hindi mo kailangang magpaliwanag at ibalik pa ang nakaraan. Tapos na yun. Let's just focus now in fixing our mistake," seryosong tugon niya.

Napapangiting tumango ako. "Then... are we done talking? Sabi ko kasi sa mommy ko saglit lang ako."

"May isa pa akong gustong sabihin."

"Ano yun?"

"Anytime soon you'll receive a call from my office. CGC is hiring you. You passed."

Napanganga ako sabay takip ng kamay sa aking bibig upang pigilan ang paglabas ng isang malakas na tili. "Talaga? Hindi ka nagbibiro?" namimilog ang mga matang tanong ko.

"You're hired."

Napatili na ako. "Oh my God! Oh my God! I can't believe I made it! I finally have a job again!" Ilang minuto kong ninamnam ang tuwa hanggang sa unti-unti akong may napagtanto. "Baka naman kaya mo lang sinasabi sa akin ngayon to dahil pumayag ako sa request mo. I told you hindi ako nanghihingi ng kapalit sa pag-agree ko sa mga plano mo."

"You passed because of your capabilities. I had nothing to do with it. In fact you're the top pick of the head secretary."

Napaawang na naman ang aking bibig. It looks like he is really telling the truth. Ngumiti ako nang malapad. Top pick? Am I dreaming? Hindi ako makuha-kuha sa maliliit na kumpanya pero sa isang napakalaking kumpanyang gaya ng CGC ay top pick ako? Napapaypay ako ng kamay sa aking mukha.

"Pwede ko bang buksan ang bintana? Hindi ako makahinga," humahangos na wika ko.

He opened the window himself. "What's wrong? Are you having an asthma attack?" he worried.

I held my chest and took a deep breath several times. I am tempted to scream around our neighborhood that I have a job now. Hindi na kami mapapalayas sa aming tinitirhan. "I'm too happy to a point that my heart is having palpitation. I never imagine that we will meet like this again. I thought its going to be one of the worst day but it's the other way around," I honestly said.

Tumawa siya nang mahina na tila nahawa din sa tuwang nararamdaman ko. But his laughter faded slowly. "Jewel I have one more request."

"What? Go ahead. You can make requests as many as you can."

"Let's act in the office like we totally never meet before."

"Oo naman. Hindi mo na kailangang sabihin yan. If we want to keep our secret, of course we must act like we don't know each other at all." In fact, this matter is partially true. I don't really know anything about him except for being the popular student back in college and the random guy whom I weirdly get married to.

"Do we have a deal now?" he asked and offered a handshake.

"Yes," nakangiting sagot ko sabay handshake sa kanya.

"Thank you for your time."

"Sobrang thank you din," masiglang sagot ko.

Bumaba ako ng sasakyan at hinintay kong makaalis ang kotse niya. Tumakbo ako papasok ng elevator. Pagdating sa bahay diretso ako sa kama. Tumabi ako kay Mommy at niyakap siya nang mahigpit kahit natutulog na siya.

"Mommy may trabaho na ako, natanggap ako sa CGC!"

Napabalikwas ng upo si Mommy. Inalis ang mask at tinapon sa sahig. "Talaga?! Hindi ka nagbibiro. Mulat na mulat na sabi niya."

Umupo rin ako. "Kasasabi lang sa akin na tanggap daw ako. At alam niyo ba na ako daw ang top pick nila among all the applicants!"

"Pero gabi na ah tinawagan ka pa rin?" she suddenly doubted.

"Yes. Sinabihan ako kanina nung nasa seven-eleven ako!"

Tumili siya at napatili na rin ako. Then we hugged each other tightly.

YUL

I'm entering the gate of our house in Whiteplains. May tatlong bahay akong inuuwian, my parents house kung saan naroroon ako ngayon, my grandfather's mansion in Corinthian and my condo unit in CGC building. I go home at my parents house during weekdays. Sa lolo ko naman pag weekend. At kapag may overtime lagi sa trabaho, sa condo naman ako natutulog.

I can't wait to get inside of the house and drink wine. Gusto kong icelebrate ang simula ng pag-aayos ng pinakamalaking problema ko. Masaya ako na mabilis kong napapayag si Jewel. This is unexpected. Akala ko ay magagalit siya kapag nalamang legal pa ring nakarecord ang kasal namin. I thought she'd ask for huge amount in return because of her financial situation pero mali ako. Yung simpleng pagkakatanggap lang pala sa trabahong hindi naman kataasan ang posisyon ang makakapagpasaya sa kanya.

She matured a lot. She's quite talkative now and seems more approachable unlike college time na parang ang hirap niyang lapitan. She had few permanent friends at hindi basta-basta nakikipag-usap kaninuman. I feel sorry for her after hearing that her father died. Maybe it' s the main reason why she changed so much.

I parked the car and bring my suitcase inside. Pagdating sa main door ng bahay, nasurpresa ako sa aking naabutan sa sala. It's Stella! She's wearing a wide smile and welcoming me with open arms.

"Surprise!" she exclaimed.

I dropped everything and rushed towards her. I grabbed her waist and kissed her lips deeply. Our kisses taste sweeter now that the burden inside my chest is less heavier.

Our lips parted and her sweet eyes stared at me. "Where have you been? Kanina pa kita hinihintay dito."

"May pinuntahan lang ako sandali at medyo natraffic din. Napaaga ang uwi mo. Sabi mo three to four days ka pa sa Vietnam." I answered without taking my eyes off her. The word beautiful isn't enough to describe her face. Kaya yung ganitong apat na araw ko siyang hindi nakita ay tititigan ko siya hanggang makuntento ang aking mga mata.

"Sinabi ko lang yun para isurprise ka," she laugh softly. "I did my best to finish everything as soon as possible. Alam mo naman hindi ako sanay na hindi ka nakikita ng ilang araw . So how's your day today?" may lambing na tanong niya habang nakapulupot ang mga kamay sa aking beywang.

"Eto maganda na ulit kasi dumating ka na."

Ngumuso siya at humawak sa aking kurbata. "I heard from Luigi na nag-hire ka daw ngayon ng isang magandang secretary."

Napalunok ako. Eto na nga ba ang inaalala ko. Hindi pa man nag-uumpisa ang lahat ay nangangamoy selos na.

"Huwag mong intindihin ang sinasabi nung pinsan kong yun dahil alam mo naman kapag nagsalita yun tungkol sa akin ay laging may ibang motibo. He is always bitter."

"Pero nag-hire ka nga ba?"

"W-Well yes because she passed my qualifications and not because of her appearance. She can speak four foreign languages. If you were in my shoes, hindi mo ba siya ipapasa?"

"I will dahil importante sa akin ang staff na marunong ng ibang language lalo't madalas mga foreigners ang kaharap ko."

"See what I mean. Same with my situation," maamong sabi ko habang hinahaplos ang malmbot niyang buhok.

"But please don't give me reasons to worry," she pouted.

Tumawa ako. "Nasa harap ko na ang pinakamagandang girlfriend sa mundo sa tingin mo titingin pa ako sa iba?"

"Bola!" kunway simangot niya pero napapangiti naman.

To be fair with Stella, wala naman talaga siyang binigay na rule sa akin na bawal akong kumuha ng magandang secretary. It's my own rule I created for her sake. She is a jealous woman but when it comes to work she isn't that narrow minded. Nagkaroon lang kasi ng ilang insidente na sinugod niya ang mga babaeng hindi nangingiming magpakita ng motibo sa akin kaya para talagang iwas-gulo I began hiring safer secretaries.

"Tita Cherry is preparing your dinner now. Please tell your mom I can't join you. I had dinner at the plane."

"You're leaving already?" kunot ko ng noo.

"I have to go home now. My parents are waiting for me lalong-lalo na si Daddy. He can't wait for my report. Dumiretso lang talaga ako dito galing airport to surprise you."

"Let's have date tomorrow night," I said in frustration.

"Okay. I won't make any appointment after 5pm," she quickly answered then picked up her purse. "Bye love! Hindi na ako magpapaalam kay Tita Cherry dahil tiyak na mapapahaba lang ang kwentuhan namin. Just tell her I'm sorry I can't stay long."

She kissed me one more tine in the lips and rushed towards the door. "Bye Love see you tomorrow."

"Bye! Tell your driver to be careful."

"Yes love!"

Nangingiting sinundan ko siya hanggang labas ng pintuan. Her window is left open at paulit-ulit na kumaway sa akin hanggang sa makalabas ng gate.

This is a usual situation between us. Gustuhin man naming magkasama ng mahabang oras pero kadalasan ay may mga appointments o emergency meetings na humahadlang sa amin. But although we're busy, we're making an effort to see each other everyday no matter how short it is.