Chapter Three: Turn of Fate (Part One)

Elena Kaden

Kaasar! Why did the HR let that stupid airheaded senior citizen enter my building and apply for a job? Okay sana kung pang una, pangalawa o pang 99th pa siya! Eh kaso pang-100! I have no other choice but to hire him though I don't want to! Alangang gawin kong sekretarya ang ka-parter ko sa kumpanya (na si Vivian).

At saka, busy 'yong tao. Siya na nga ang pinag-handle ko ng mga task ko kanina sa office dahil aligaga ako sa interview. Tapos ito pa ang nangyari.

Nakulong lang naman ako sa clinic kasama ang asungot na 'yon at pinilit akong interview-hin siya habang kami'y magkapatong sa single bed. Then nahuli kami ni Nurse Hannah at nabigyan ng maling interpretasyon ang naabutan niyang eksena. Hanep, 'di ba? Saan ka makakakita ng gano'n?

I was walking through the hallway of my condo unit. Still, hindi pa rin maalis sa isip ko ang unexpected reunion namin ni Richard. What enters his mind at pinag-interesan niya ang secretarial position? Wala na bang ibang trabaho sa mundo na puwede niyang pasukan?

What's the purpose of working with my ex-lover? Is it because he's still hoping for another chance? I was naive and blind back then. I'm a different person now, far from the high school girl he fooled before.

And who knows? He might be using this opportunity to do the same thing again. I heard from his mouth before I leave Vilton High, he told his friends that he's good at playing girls around his palm and it's hard to say but I was one of those girls he'd played. At lahat ng biktima niya, kung hindi mayayaman ay mga sikat.

See? Nasa itaas ako at siya'y nasa ibaba. It's clearly obvious na kaya siya dumidikit sa akin ay para maambunan siya ng kasikatan. Upang sa gano'n ay bumalik ang atensyon sa kanya ng mga tao.

Did he really think I will fall for that old trick? He don't know who he's dealing with. This time, I'll spin the roulette of fate before his turn. Pagsisihan niyang umapak siya sa teritoryo ko.

Tikman mo ang hagupit ng pinakamalakas na bagyong sasalanta sa buhay mo, Richard Moore.

"I'm home." I closed the door as I enter my place. Hinubad ko ang aking sapatos at itinapon ko ang bag sa pinakamalapit na couch.

"Mother, you're late," mahinang sabi ng anak kong si Hailey na nakaupo sa mas maliit na couch na katapat ng TV set.

She's only seven years old but she's very mature on her age. I'm not having the same attitude when I was on her age, but I think namana niya iyon sa kanyang ama niya na since birth ay hindi niya pa nakikilala.

"I'm sorry. Mommy had a little trouble at work. Kumain ka na ba?"

"Yes," sagot niya.

"Si Asia?"

I was talking about my pet cat. Asia is a Russian Blue—a blue-gray haired cat with dark green eyes. It was given to me by Auntie Grace who's a cat lover. She has seven pets, including Asia. They were named after the seven continents.

"It was sleeping peacefully in your room. So far so good, your pet doesn't seems so bad. It just clawed in my bag and make noise the entire class."

I asked her to bring Asia in school and take good care of her since wala na si Dana na madalas na nag-aalaga rito.

"I'm sorry for bothering you. Nag-retire na ang secretary ko. You and I are only responsible for Asia."

Sandali niyang inalis ang tingin sa hawak niyang libro, notebook or whatever. "It's okay, Mom. I understand."

"Good." Nangunot ang noo ko at tinanong siya kung anong nasa kamay niya. "What's that? A new book or something?"

Sinara niya ito at pinakita sa akin ang front cover. "It's a book filled with old memories of yours. Mom."

That's my...

"Where did you get that?" I asked. As far as I remember, itinago ko ito sa large box sa ilalim ng kama ko. Walang makakapagbukas niyon kasi nasa akin 'yong susi. Oo, pinadlock ko ang kahon dahil ayokong makita 'yong pakalat-kalat sa buong kwarto. Isa pa, ayoko ring magkaroon ng kaugnayan si Hailey sa taong 'yon.

"Asia was the one who found this under your bed," she answered. "Itatago ko po sana kung saan nahanap ni Asia itong photo album pero nang may nalaglag na litrato mula rito, na-temp po akong buksan. Sorry po."

I placed my palm on her head and gently messed her short brown hair. "It's alright, my dear. Can I have it?" Sinunod naman ng bata ang utos ko at inabot sa akin ang lumang photo album na kanyang nahanap.

"Anyway Mom, I was wondering... sino po 'yong guy na kasama niyo sa picture?"

"Ang alin, anak?" Sa labis na pagtataka ay nabuklat ko nang kusa ang cover ng photo album at bumulaga sa akin ang litrato na hindi nakasilid sa plastic sheet.

Could this be the photo that she dropped?

"You're so young and beautiful. I guess he's your first love. Isn't he?" Hailey teased me.

I closed the cover together with the photo and hide it on my back. "A little brat like you shouldn't meddle in your mother's past. Why don't you call your friend Conan and kill time before you go to bed?" Pag-iiba ko ng usapan.

But Hailey forced me to speak. "Mom, I wanna know who he is!"

"At ano namang mapapala mo kapag sinabi ko, aber?" I said with my hands on my waist.

"I'm not sure but... I have a feeling that he's my father."

"Are you serious, young lady? I'm already done with that person a long time ago. How can you possibly think that he's the one who got me pregnant? That guy has nothing to do with you. There's no way he could be your father, do you understand me?!" Hindi ko sinasadyang singhalan si Hailey. Nabigla lang ako kasi hindi ko in-expect na iisipin niyang si Richard ang kanyang ama.

Imposible 'yon. Ngayon lang kami nagkita ni Richard after twenty years at wala akong matandaan na nagtagpo kami somewhere before this day happened.

Nasapo ko ang aking noo at sinubukan kong pakalmahin ang sarili. Hindi ko masisisi si Hailey dahil simula noong siya'y magkaisip, palagi na niyang hinahanap sa 'kin ang presensya ng daddy niya. I never lied to her about it. Kung magsisinungaling ako, hanggang kailan ko naman itatago? Ayokong lumaki siyang may sama ng loob sa akin.

"I'm very sorry, baby. Nabigla lang si Mommy," taranta kong sabi nang makita kong dumadanak na ang luha sa mga mata ng bata. Pinunasan ko 'yon gamit ang aking kamay.

"Ako po ang dapat humingi ng sorry. I shouldn't go through your stuff without your permission."

Ikinulong ko siya sa mga bisig ko. "It's okay, it's okay. Don't cry, my baby girl. Ssshh..."

Nang gabing iyon, hindi ako makatulog sa dami ng mga naganap ngayong araw. Mag-isa ako sa kama, umiiyak at nakatitig sa litrato namin ni Richard noong high school. Tanging lampshade lang ang nagsisilbing liwanag ko upang makita kong maigi ang aming mga mukha sa larawan.

"Bakit ka pa kasi bumalik, Richard? It's your fault for causing all this trouble!" I sobbed quietly. Nilukot ko ang papel at nanginginig ko iyong itinapon. "I hate you, Richard! Buwisit ka sa buhay ko mula noon hanggang ngayon!"