The Fault In Our Stars (WIOS Book 2)

CHAPTER 16

"BHE, ANONG ginagawa mo dito?"

Nagulat naman si Rachel ng makita niya kami sa labas ng pintuan ng hotel room niya.

Niyakap ko naman siya bigla.

She looks so tired and ang payat niya na.

"What happened to you?"

I asked her habang naiiyak na.

Naiiyak na din siya pero pinipigilan niya lang.

"Bhe..."

"Ilang araw ka ng nandito sa Ilocos?"

"Tatlong araw na"

"What... what happened to you?"

Umiyak naman siya bigla.

"Bheee...."

Niyakap ko siya ng mahigpit.

I looked at Sandro and he tapped my shoulder.

"I'll be outside, love"

I nodded at him.

Pinaupo ko naman si Rachel sa may bed.

Ang kalat ng kwarto niya.

"What happened? Ba't mo hinahanap si Alden?"

"Bheee.... one month na since umuwi dito si Alden."

"Hindi na siya nagparamdam after. I tried calling him pero unattended na ang cellphone niya."

"Sa messenger, hindi ba siya nagrereply?"

"Offline siya. Isang buwan na. Nag-aaalala na ako sa kanya."

"Ano ba sinabi niya sayo bago siya umuwi ng Ilocos?"

She stood up and took a glass of water.

"Sabi niya lang, isang linggo daw siya mawawala kasi aasikasuhin niya lang daw yung nanay niya na may sakit."

"But before that, umuuwi siya palagi mga once a month."

"Bheee... baka ano ng nangyari sa kanya."

Niyakap niya naman ako habang umiiyak.

"Wala na din akong pera."

"Nagpadala ako ng pera para sa kanya bago siya umuwi. Para man lang makatulong sa nanay niya."

"Magkano ang binigay mo?"

Natahimik naman siya.

"Bhe... magkano ang binigay mo?"

"100k."

Umiyak siya lalo.

OMG.

That's her whole savings.

"Bhe... ba't naman ang laki."

"Kasi sabi niya kailangan daw operahan yung nanay niya."

She was wiping her tears.

She's a mess.

Napag-desisyonan naman namin ni Sandro na sa bahay muna namin siya.

Since may guest room naman kami.

"Bhe, thank you talaga sa inyo ni Sandro ha."

"Ano ka ba, wag mo na isipin yun."

She was unpacking her things.

"Promise, kapag nakita ko si Alden, sisingilin ko talaga sya."

"Matulog ka na muna dyan."

She nodded.

Lumabas na ako ng kwarto niya and pumunta na sa kwarto namin ni Sandro.

"Thanks, love. For letting her stay here."

I said as I laid next to him.

He cuddled with me naman.

"Don't worry about it, love."

The next morning, maaga pumunta si Sandro sa kapitolyo for his meeting with Matthew.

Sinamahan naman ako ni Rachel mag-grocery.

"Bhe, ang dami mo naman binili."

She said.

Tatlong push carts na yung napuno ko.

I need to restock my kids essential and good for one month na din 'to.

"Wait here may kukunin lang ako sa beauty section."

Naglakad ako mag-isa doon.

Buti wala masyadong tao.

I was looking for my favorite brand ng skin care when someone purposely bump into me.

"I'm sorry—"

I looked up and it was Ava.

"Oh. It's you, Mrs. Marcos."

She said with sarcasm.

"Ava."

I said casually.

"I didn't mean to bump into you here."

"Aren't you supposed to be at work?"

I asked her.

"Well, Sandro gave me the day off."

Nagtaka naman ako.

"Sandro?"

"Sandro lang tawag mo sa boss mo?"

Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay.

She laughed.

"Oh Mrs. Marcos, do you actually think na employee-employer relationship lang ang meron kami ng asawa mo?"

She was smirking at me.

Lumalakas na ang kabog ng dibdib ko.

"I don't have time for this nonsense."

Paalis na sana ako when...

"He has feelings for me."

I looked back at her.

"Oh? How sure are you about those" feelings?"

"He said so himself. Habang nasa loob kami ng sasakyan."

"Habang hinahawakan niya ang kamay ko."

"Habang sabay kami kumakain ng lunch sa office niya."

She has this crazy eyes like Lexie used to have.

Nanginginig na ako sa inis.

I took a deep breathe.

"Do you... actually think... I'll believe in any word that may come out of that mouth?"

I whispered in her ears.

I saw how her expression changes from smirking to annoyed.

"Kahit anong sabihin mo... I am his wife."

I purposely brushes my hair showing her my wedding ring.

She was glaring at me.

"Oh, and one last thing... I will tell this to Sandro."

Bigla naman syang ngumiti.

"If you do and I get fired, pwede ko naman na ipagkalat na you were a psychopath wife na pinagselosan ang PA ng asawa niya kaya niya pinatanggal."

"Let's see kung magiging governor pa ang asawa mo."

She smirked.

"Bhe."

Bigla naman dumating si Rachel.

Ava walked out like nothing happened.