POSSESSIVE 23: Thorn Calderon

CHAPTER 3

CHAPTER 3

NANGALUMBABA si Cassia pagkatapos kumain ng tanghalian. Nasa canteen siya at kasama ang matalik na kaibigan na kumakain. Dapat nasa kasama niya ang atensiyon niya pero kung saan-saan lumilipad ang isip niya. Cassia thought it was not her day today. Her car broke down on the way to the office so she had to commute. Her boss pestered her again and he wouldn't believe her when she told her that she was married. She had so much work to do with so little time until the deadline and the lunch tasted bland.

But Cassia knew what happened today was not the reason of her absentmindedness. It was what happened last night that really affected her.

She finally met Thorn's boyfriend.

Cassia blinked enumerable times hearing a finger snap in front of her. She frowned when she saw that it was Zehannah. "What?"

"Nasaang planeta ka ba? Kanina ka pa nakatulala riyan," anang kaibigan na nakakunot ang noo sa kaniya.

Bumuntonghininga si Cassia saka uminom muna ng tubig bago sumagot sa kaibigan, "I met my husband's boyfriend last night."

Zehannah actually gasped at what she heard. "O.M.G." Zehannah knew every little thing that was going on in her life. "Girl, nakaka-shook ba?"

Cassia nodded absentmindedly. "He's so handsome up close that I felt so small." Sinapo ni Cassia ang mga pisngi. "I was so nervous last night. I think they were arguing, Zehan. Is it because of me? I don't want to cause trouble. Thorn has been really nice to me."

Sa narinig, naawa si Zehannah sa kaibigan. "Hay, mabait nga ang napangasawa mo, pero sobrang nakaloloka naman ang set-up niyo. Anyway, pinakilala ka ba niya or tinago ka?"

"Pinakilala," pabulong na sagot ni Cassia habang naalala ang nangyari kagabi.

Pinapasok ni Thorn ang guwapong lalaki sa gate, saka sinundo siya nito sa kuwarto para ipakilala. And it was the most awkward moment of her life.

"Tapos?" Zehannah was getting impatient. "Anyare, girl? Anong pangalan ng jowa ng asawa mo?"

Cassia sighed. "Reigo Vasquez. See? Pangalan pa lang, guwapo na, Zehan. As in, ang guwapo niya."

Zehannah sighed. "Cass, ganiyan na talaga ang panahon ngayon. Ang guwapo, guwapo rin ang hanap."

Tumango si Cassia at unti-unting humaba ang nguso na kaagad namang nakita ni Zehannah.

"Oh, anyare sa 'yo? Bakit parang hinang-hina ka riyan?" usisa nito kay Cassia. "Para namang hindi mo alam ang tunay na katauhan ng asawa mo bago mo siya pinakasalan. 'Di ba nga, sabi mo pa, susuportahan mo kung anong gusto niya? Heto na 'yon."

Cassia looked down. "Hindi ko nga rin alam ba't ako nagkakaganito." Huminga nang malalim si Cassia saka bumuntonghininga. "Pagkatapos akong ipakilala ni Thorn kay Reigo, pumunta sila ng kusina. I can hear them arguing. I can't make out the words, but I knew they were arguing. After that, Reigo stormed out of the kitchen and I was so guilty, so I spoke to Reigo to clear everything. I apologized for accepting the marriage and I told him that I will support his relationship with Thorn."

"What did he say?" Parang na-e-excite na tanong ni Zehannah sa kaibigan.

"Reigo seemed shock." Cassia could still remember it clearly. Reigo stilled, his mouth actually fell open after she said those words. "His anger disappeared, and then he went back to the kitchen while I went upstairs to rest."

Zehannah exhaled. "That was intense."

Tumango si Cassia. "Super intense." Kapagkuwan ay napasandal si Cassia sa likod ng kinauupuan. "Pero sa tingin ko nagkaayos na sila. Kaninang umaga, bago ako pumasok sa opisina, nakasalubong ko sa gate si Reigo at nagpasalamat siya sa 'kin. Nakangiti pa nga siya kaya sa tingin ko maayos na sila."