I woke up when I felt streaks of sunlight caressed my face. I also heard the birds chirping from the window. Dahan-dahan akong bumangon mula sa aking pagkakahiga at agad na inayos ang buhok ko. I walked towards the bathroom area while I let out a yawn.
Naghilamos muna ako at inayos ang aking sarili bago lumabas nang tuluyan sa banyo.
Doon ko napagtanto na hindi ko pala ito kwarto!
“Good morning, Zelliana.” Sabi ng kung sinong may baritonong boses. That made me jump. Who the hell I am with?! And how dare him call me by my second name?
Tumingin ako ng diretso sa kanya. I was about to panic but it was just…
Him. It was Mikael.
He was wearing a white tank top and long black pants. At kahit na nakatayo lamang siya sa harapan ko ay para siyang nagmo-modelo. I must admit that his physique is way manly than his age. He’s two years older than me. He is twenty, while I’m eighteen. Not to mention that he has such an angelic-like face, I really can’t argue with that.
Vivid memories flashed from yesterday. The wedding and the party. Mikael and I went home to the house that his parents gave us, it was just a twenty-minute drive away from the venue. All I could remember is that we got into his car, and I fell asleep.
Hindi ko matandaan kung papano ako napunta sa kwarto na ito, did he carry me? Napatingin ako sa suot ko, I was wearing white pajamas now. Kung ganoon sino ang nagbihis sa akin?! Don’t tell me…
When I looked at Mikael, he seems puzzled, yet he managed to answer my thoughts.
“The maid was the one who changed your clothes.” Para akong nabunutan ng tinik sa aking lalamunan. My heart calmed by his answer.
“I already cooked breakfast. Would you mind joining me?” that’s the offer that I couldn’t decline as of this moment. My stomach rumbled a while ago, so…
I slowly nodded and followed him outside.
When I stepped out of the room, it was the time for me to appreciate the house given to us by Mikael’s parents.
Doon ko napagtuonan ng pansin ang kabuuan ng bahay. The interior was flawless. I’m not a big fan of modernly designed house yet I liked this one. Colors of black and white compliments every perfectly arranged furniture. When I laid my eyes on the ceiling, it felt so majestic. Puno iyon ng mga intricate designs na kadalasan ay wala sa mga ganitong klaseng bahay. I wonder if Mikael’s parents have something to do with all of these, since they were the one who made the purchase.
Nang makababa na ako ng hagdan ay may na-realize ako.
Did Mikael carry me upstairs last night? Ang bigat ko pa naman!
Napahilamos na lamang ako sa mukha gamit ang aking mga palad na dulot ng kahihiyan. Naging dahilan iyon para tumigil ako sa paghakbang.
“Zelliana? Is there anything bothering you?” he asked me while using his soft voice. For the hundredth time, bakit ba ‘yang tonong ‘yan ang ginagamit niya ‘pag nagtatanong?
Pero imbis na mairita ay pinili ko na lamang mas maging mahinahon. Remember Mauveine, you have to be nice to him.
“Ikaw ba ang bumuhat sa akin patungo sa kwarto kagabi?”
A small smile was drawn on his face before he answered me.
How the hell? Does he find it amusing?!
-
“Of course. I’m the one you carried you upstairs.”
Nanlaki ang mga mata ko sa sinabi niyang iyon. Ang haba pa naman ng hagdan, talagang nakaya niya akong buhatin? Parang gusto ko na yatang maglaho dahil sa kahihiyan.
“You’re still spacing out. Halika na at baka lumamig na nangtuluyan ang pagkain.” Agad niya akong tinalikuran. Sinundan ko siyang muli.
“Why are you calling me “Zelliana”? agad niya akong nilingon.
“I like calling you that way?”
Natahimik na lamang ako. I smiled at my thought. Never in my life someone called me by my second name. Maybe I was just irritated at him calling me like that because I was not used to be called like that.
“Kung ayaw mo, hindi na kita---” I cut him off.
“No, it’s alright. If you’re comfortable with that then so be it. It just felt so odd. Everyone’s calling me “Mauveine” all my life…” ngumisi ako nang bahagya.
“Okay then, Mauveine Zelliana.”
Ang laki ng mesa dito sa dining area. It is a wooden and an eight-seater table. Bakit naman parang ang laki nito? Dadalawa lang naman yata kami ni Mikael. Do our parents want to have someone to fill up those seats? Maybe their grandchildren? I almost choked at that thought, even I haven’t eaten anything yet.
Hindi iyon napansin ni Mikael na ikinatuwa ko naman. Simpleng breakfast ang inihanda niya. Bacon, fried eggs, rice and two cups of coffee. Nang maupo na rin si Mikael ay nagsimula na kaming kumain.
Ang dami kong gustong itanong sa kanya patungkol sa kasal, kung nalaman niya ba ito nang maaga at kung ginusto nga ba niyang magpakasal… dahil ako hindi.
Isinantabi ko muna ang mga tanong na iyon at nagpatuloy sa pagkain. Walang nagsalita sa aming dalawa, hindi ko alam kung matutuwa ba ako o hindi. I was used to have breakfast conversation with my parents. Nang maalala ko si mom at dad ay nawalan ako ng ganang kumain.
Kahit na pumayag akong magpakasal kay Mikael para sa kompanya namin ay hindi ibig sabihin na masaya ako sa desisyong ginawa ko. I only did this as a favor. A favor that cost my liberty. Alam kong mababago nito ang takbo ng buhay ko at alam ko rin na pagsisisihan ko ‘to.
I hope that my parents, I mean Mikael and my parents would feel guilt enough for them to revoke this whole thing.
Hindi lang naman kasi ako ang naipit sa sitwasyong ito, maging si Mikael rin. At saka kami ang may problema sa kompanya namin. Tumulong lang ang mga Valiente. But with these as means? Isinugal ng mga Valiente ang anak nilang si Mikael? Isn’t it unfair?
I was lost in my thoughts when someone entered the house. Nagulat kaming dalawa ni Mikael sa presensya niya. But this woman just entered the house as if she was welcomed. Hindi ko siya kilala. But maybe Mikael knows her.
She looked like she’s drunk or something, but I was very certain that she is a pretty face, and all the curves were on the right places. She was also wearing a Chanel. So, she can’t be a burglar or something.
“Mikael!” the woman shouted.
Nang tuluyan na niyang malapitan si Mikael ay kaagad niya itong hinalikan.
What the hell?