ISABELLE's POV
Samañiego got out in the hospital at nag-day off ako sa trabaho ko sa hospital just to make sure that girl is okay at nasa bahay na sya ng mga Madrigal, after all I owe her my life.
She is my, and my family's, benefactor for saving me that day. She also helped me to cope up my pain dahil naging busy ako sa pagti-take care ko sa kanya kahit lagi kaming nag-aaway sa kunting bagay.
Ngayon awkward ang nararamdaman ko because of tension here in the Madrigal's home.
I can see Samañiego is really angry dahil pulang-pula na sya sa galit. And what she said really struck me hard!
"Right, before I forgot... sa dugo't laman nyo ni ma ako galing but that stops there." Samañiego said in an even tone that made me come back to reality, dahil di ko gusto ang narinig kong tuno nya kaya napatingin ako sa kanyang gawi.
Even though she isn't that tall that's how she looks right now in my eyes.
So tall that no one can approach her yet parang naulila at punong-puno ng hinanakit kung tingnan sya.
Why? Bakit mukha syang galit but looking lost at the same time? Pero did I see it right? Baka imahenasyon ko lang yon. Only anger and indifference ang nakikita ko sa kanya ngayon. Yeah... it's only my imagination-
"You both are my parents by blood but never once you act on it. Samañiego ako at Madrigal kayo so don't forget it-"
"Lapastangan!" Napatayong sigaw ni tito Marcos kay Samañiego. "You ungreatful child! Di kanamin pinalaking walang galang!"
"Correction pa hindi ako ungreatful in fact thankful ako sa inyo." Nakasmirke nyang sabi.
How come nadito ako? Why did I even come here?
You're here because of that Samañiego and to make sure she will be okay here.
Then I regret it na... I should have taken her advise na di nya ako kailangang sumama pa dito sa pamilya nya.
If I had known family drama lang pala ang aabutin ko dito di na ako nagpumilit pang samahan sila dito.
"Thankful ako for giving birth of me. Thinkful ako na ibinigay nyo ako kay lolo. And most importantly thankful ako na at the early age, as I grew up, you made me realize that I am not that messirable and weak so don't call me ungreatful. Isa pa wala kayo sa tabi ko while growing up kaya di nyo talaga ako pina laki."
This should be a private matter for their family but my god! Here I am listening and watching their family drama!
Tita look so pale after nyang marinig ang prankang sabi ni Samañiego while tito looks like a fish that was out of his element. He opens and closes his mouth pero walang isang salita ang lumalabas.
The atmosphere are so tense here in dining area lukong Samañiegong 'to, is this why she don't want here?
"You went too far Sven!" Catherine who has been silent till now icily said to her sister.
"Tama si ate, Alex, sumubra ka na sila pa rin ang parents mo!" Nagagalit na sabi ni Michael na ngayon rin nagsalita.
"Me went too far? I don't think so, and let clear this up ONLY Cassie can call me Sven in this family no of you has right to do so."
How deep her anger is in this family? They are her family, why act this way? Ibinigay lang sya sa lolo nya which is a family, so why?
"Yes, parents ko sila and can claim it, but it is insulting for me na sabihin nilang pinalaki nila ako." Walang emosyong sabi ni Samañiego.
"Still they-"
"Will you shut up! Isa ka pa eh!" Naiiritang saad ni Samañiego. "May atraso ka sa akin! Kayo ni mama! Tutal lahat naman tayo narito answer my questions then!"
She only arrived a few minutes ago pero ito ang kinahinatnan namin. Do trouble comes after her or she herself is the trouble?
Enough of that, right now nasabi na nya ang pinakaiiwasan ng mga Madrigal. Even a child will see that they avoided this topic kanina pa lalo na nong walang masyadong nagtanong kay Samañiego, and I kind of felt wrong for her dahil nasa akin ang attention ng family nya imbis na sya ang pagtuonan ng pasin, the daughter herself who got shot in that event.
"Pinagplanohan nyo ba ito na papuntahin ako doon?"
I am stuned for that question. Did they planned it? But no one answered her.
"Why did you people did it?"
"..."
"Why use me?"
"..."
Since no one answered she laughed sarcastically.
"See, Fointess? You were being played-"
"Wag mong idamay dito si Kristine, Alex!"
"Kapal ng mukha mo Michael! So ano ako pweding-pwede mong idamay sa kagaguhan mo? Ganon?"
"Sven... stop for now, please? Namumutla ka na, you need-"
"No, I can't stop ate! I would have stayed silent like good and naive girl kung di na nila ako pinansin pa! But no! Mr. Madrigal saw my uncivilze and uneducated etiquette!"
I can't say something to that dahil alam kong masamang galitin si Samañiego pag-gutom. That's why lagi kaming nagsisigawan sa hospital. She thought sleep will help her recorver quickly kaya lagi syang tulog at halos di na kumakain and side effect laging galit pag-ginising o nagising ko sya lalo na pagkinulang sa tulog.
If I am the one beside her before this happened malamang di ito aabot ng ganito... nah, who am I kidding baka mas malala pa nga, eh.
"Can you believe that? They avoided me like I'm some kind of filth kanina tapos ngayon gusto ko ng kasagutan walang nagsasalita?"
I would have stayed silent if I am not starting to get worried sa kanya dahil putlang-putla na sya, though I too would like an answer.
Bakit sya ang nandoon? Did they use her because she and Michael look a bit similar?
Kung nagkataon naging totoo ang sinabi kanina ni Samañiego, then she would be my spouse.
She will be me husband not legally here in Philippines, but in front of everyone I am as we would had vowed in the eyes of god and of the church.
At kamumuhian ko sya kung nagkataon.
"Samañiego I think you need some rest-"
"Fointess! Nak ng tipaklong... walang rest na magaganap! Let me ask, did he say sorry to you that day?"
Nagtaka ako sa tanong nya but when I look at my right Michael flinched and avoided my eyes.
"Punyeta! Kung di mo nagawang magsorry fiancèe mo malamang di ka rin nagsorry sa nabuntis-"
"Hindi nabuntis ni Michael ang babaeng yon! He was a victim of that..."
Right now hindi ko alam ang mararamdaman ko. Totoo ba ito? If it is, hindi si Michael ang ama ng-
"Hahahahahaha!!! Disperadong babae sya but her grief is true at kailan man hindi magsisinungaling ang taong may ganong mata!"
Natauhan ako dahil doon and Michael did not deny it that day nang tanungin ko sya.
"Man! I feel sorry for that Noreen woman. Inaakusahan syang sinungaling but where would I put myself in that? Sino ang sisisihin ko sa nangyari sa akin? That Noreen woman na syang bumaril sa akin? O ang magaling kong kapitid, si Michael na nagtago at pinanuod lang mabaril ako? O si mama na tumawag sa akin kaya ako nandoon? O kaya kayo pa at ang mga ate kung walang ginawa kundi ang manuod lang? O baka naman ang mga Fointess na di ako pinagbigyan magpaliwanag o pakinggan man lang?"
No one said anything dahil lahat ng ito started with Michael.
Before any of us knew it wala na si Samañiego sa dining room.
Cassie stood up uneasily. "I'll go after her." Pagpapaalam nya at hindi na naghintay pa ng sasagot sa kanya.
"Wait! I'll go with you Cassie." Tawag ko sa kanya pero parang di ako narinig.
I was about to stand up and go after her but Michael stopped me.
"What?" I harshly asked.
"We need to talk at madadamay ka lang sa galit ni Alex." Diretsong nakatingin sa akin si Michael ng sabihin nya sa akin yon.
"We already talked." I flatly said.
"No, we didn't."
He is still grabbing my arm kaya wala akong nagawa kundi marahas kong alisin ang kamay ko sa kanya.
"Look not now Michael at nasa harapan tayo ng parents mo. And right now I am quite worried kay Samañiego." Naiirita kong sabi.
"I don't care we need to talk and that girl can wait besides Cassandra went after her."
Needing to breath deeply and slowly let it out dahil kunti na lang-
"Give another chance Kris I'll d-"
"We talked already but clearly you won't consider it unless I agreed sa gusto mo." Galit kong sabi at nginisian nya ako bilang tugon.
"Pwes tapos na tayo Michael I told you that already at ngayon sinabi ko na sa harapan ng parents at kay Catherine."
His smile is gone the moment I said that.
"You're asking for a second chance, right? Then guess what? You wasted so many chances already! Maraming rumours at nagsasabi sa akin ng kataksilan mo, but never once did I doubt you for four years in our relationship, Michael."
Lahat ng sama ng loob ko ay di ko ns maitago pa kaya nag-uunahan na ang mga luha kong pumatak.
"Ginawa mo akong tangga and you said you love me? Bullshit! Dahil lang sa bumuka ang legs ng Noreen na yon at hindi ko pa kayang makipagsex, ginago mo ako for the remaining three years of our relationship!" Galit na sigaw ko sa kanya.
Pagkamuhi na lang natira aside for pain ang nararamdaman ko ngayon. Just thinking of what he had done to me behind my back for three whole years ereases what liitle love I have for him.
I don't care anymore if his parents and sister is here sya rin naman ang nagpumilit kausapin ako.
"You broke your promise you will wait till we get married." Panunumbat kong sabi. "So, tell me, sa loob tatlong taon na iyon hindi pa ba chances yon for you start a new? O baka naman masyado kang nasarapan kay Noreen at nakalimutan mong you have a faithful and naive girlfriend?"
Nag-iwas tingin sya sa akin at hindi makasagot.
"Or were you thinking at that time na hindi ako maniniwala sa rumours, na sayo lang ako maniniwala, at pagbubutihin mo pang itago ang pangangaliwa mo? Which of it, my dear Michael?"
I saw how he went pale sa mga sinabi ko which only means I hit a spot! I can't help but sneer at what I see right now. His parents too has disbelieving look, each of them.
But his mom composed herself earlier at tumingin sa akin.
"I know you we are in pain and felt betrayed hija at ayaw kong manghimasok sa relasyon nyo but my son, Michael, is only human and make mistakes." Tita Sofie said, and she is a kind and generous woman kaya malaki ang respect ko sa kanya.
"Isa pa sa relasyon ng magkasintahan there will always hurdle of life to take on. And every relationship is not perfect Kristine... so I hope na this hurdle of life will be one of the two of you will survive na magkasama bilang magkasintahan."
Nakita kong nabuhayan ng loob si Michael dahil kay tita bacause she is a good persuader woman in it comes to relationships. And if it was a week before today baka lumambot na agad ako at nakinig sa kanya because of my respect for her.
So instead of answering her I asked her a question.
"What would you feel tita if you are in my situation? Four years of trust and love I gave but was betrayed by the man I loved. Three years of chances for him to start anew and be a better man but he took it for granted." I said looking straight at her eyes for answers she did not speak snymore.
"Did you lnow Michael that Samañiego told me, in our first formal meeting kahit na nauwi ito sa away, that if I truely love you... I should fight for the love I have for you. Dahil masakit para sa taong mahal ka who thought you will fight for them till the end but only to be betrayed by that expectation." I smiled remorsefully at that memory.
"Guess what I had decided then?" I look at him at napaangat sya ng tingin sa narinig.
Kita ko sa mukha ng bawst isa ang patataka ng mabanggit ko si Samañiego.
"That day na nag-usap tayo four or five days ago bumalik sa isipan ko ang sinabi nya and understood what she meant by then." I paused thinking what I felt that day. "So I decided then... that if you truely regret your wrong doing then, you will admit your mistakes and at hihingi ka ng tawad sa akin ng may sinsiredad mapapatawad kita. I'll readily forgive and will give you one last chance... sabi ko sa sarili ko I can accept your son at mahahati ang attention mo sa akin sa kanila."
I hollowly laughed sa naalala ko. "The stupid thing is I expected you will do that pero anong nangyari? None of those expectation came! What you did was only asked a chance! A second chance! Ang nakakatawa even now I expected you to apologies but nothing came kahit na I think... hint ba yon galing sa kanya? Pero... huli na ang lahat Michael. One simple sorry from you ang hinihingi ko pero wala, di mo maibigay."
Silent... walang kumibo o nagsalita man lang so I stood up.
"It's over between us Michael and as you wished nag-usap tayo, kahit di ko gusto, sa harap mismo nina tito at tita. Wala ka ng babalikan pa..."
With that I walk away from them only to see Cassandra chasing Samañiego sa living room, na kakababa lang nila from the stairs.
"What the hell Sven! Kakarating mo lang at di ka pa kumakain so wala ka pang lakas!" Mababakas in Cassie's voice ang worry nya sa kanyang kapatid.
"Wala akong paki! Di ko na kayang magtagal pa rito! Nakakahigh blood at nakastress! Baka di na ako tuluyang gumaling dito so aalis-"
"Good thing naabitan ko kayo and you look like shit, Samañiego." Pagpuputol whatever she wanted to say.
I chuckled when she glared at me.
"Thanks..." there is sarcasm in her voice. "Pero ikaw ang mas mikhang shit dahil sa mamamaga na ang mga mata mo! Umiyak ka ba? Di sayo bagay, nagmukha kang ano! Yung... alam ko na! You look like that ugly fish -- ano ba! Masakit! Kita mo ngang may sugat ang tao babatukan mo pa ako ng pagkalakas-lakas!"
She yelled while she is massaging the area where I slapped on her head.
"I specifically took a day off dahil sayo at nagpunta ako-"
"Wag kang mangusinsya di uubra-"
"Ok... choose pababalikin kita sa hospital o babalik ka kung saang kwarto ka galing!"
"Wala na tayo sa ospital so di mo na ako ma- t-the h-hell!!!! M-masakit!!! Aray! Fointess ano ba!?"
I'm irritated so piningot ko ang left ear nya at naglakad patungo sa stair.
"Cassie saan ba sya tumutuloy?" Tanong ko kay Cassandra. "Please show the way ng matapos na 'to. This kid need some rest."
Napailing-iling na lang sya sa nakikita nya ngayon pero she still lead the way.
"A-ano ba! Bitaw sabi, eh! Masakit! Aray! Isabelle! Isa!"
Napahinto ako at napatingin kay Samañiego.
"W-what?" She asked warily maybe because of my face is showing anger at ito ngayon ang nakikita nya.
Hindi ko pa rin binibitawan ang tenga nya and I lean closer to her. I don't care if the Madrigal's family or Michael seeing me and his sister are two inches apart.
Nagtangka syang umastras but because hawak ko ang tenga nya she can not step back an inch.
"Right now I am angry Sven so wag mong palalain pa if you don't want na ako pa mismo ang sasaktan sayo at magpadala sayo sa hospital." I said all seriousness and I think saw know I am serious this time kaya sya napatango.
"Good! Now lets go!"
"Wait! Bitaw na di-"
"No, I won't take any chances baka tumakas ka pa."
"What? Omu-o na nga ako kay-"
"Right... from now on I'll call you Sven-"
"What!? No way! Di tayo close-"
I turned to her and smiled.
"Samañiego is too long so tatawagin kitang Sven whether you like it or not."
"S-sabi ko nga..." nauutal nyang sagot.
I tapped her face and smiled at her. "Good girl, now lets go!"
"Can you-"
"Nope!"
"Pero masa-"
"No means no!"
At nagpatuloy sa paglakad going to her room. I think I don't feel pain and anger anymore right now.
Nawala ang sakit na nararamdaman ko the moment na makita ko si Samañiego at napalitan ng worry when I saw her pale face.
"I'll be back tomorrow morning to check up on you kung naging good girl ka ba o hindi."
Even if I don't look at her alam kong there is a disbelief in her face base na rin sa na rin sa pagpigil ng tawa ni Cassandra.
"May kasalanan o ginawa ba ako sayo kaya mo ito ginagawa?" She asked out of no where.
"Yes, because you saved me... so deal with it."
"Oh god..." she moan in dispair which I just smiled at.
At hindi ko masyadong dinidiinan ang pagpingot sa kanya, I am just doing it for her to follow, dahil alam kong masakit basi sa init na nararamdaman ko sa tenga nya.