Hiding His Mistress: Diovanni de Marcel | B-1 ✔

Kabanata 12

KABANATA 12

Shuen's POV

I woke up early to prepare breakfast for Diovanni. I got up at four in the morning and he was still asleep, so I went straight to the kitchen. It's a good thing I was able to buy everything I needed for cooking yesterday. Diovanni's favorite is Italian Frittata for breakfast, an omelet with cheese, meat, and vegetables. He likes it with a Macchiato while reading the newspaper in the morning.

Since Amang Linda arrived at the house, she has been taking care of Diovanni, which should have been my role as his wife. But I couldn't object because it was Mama's order. But today, I woke up early to cook before Amang Linda woke up. The other household staff usually wake up at five, so I decided to wake up earlier to avoid any interference.

I was almost done cooking when the other household staff, including Amang Linda, woke up and went straight to the kitchen. She was surprised to see me cooking.

"Shuen? Bakit ka nagluluto?" tanong niya na kunot ang noo.

"Amang Linda, gusto ko lang ipagluto si Diovanni," sabi ko na may ngiti bago ko inilagay ang omelet sa plato.

"Hindi mo na kailangan gawin 'yan, andito naman ako," tugon niya, kaya nakaramdam ako ng inis.

"Pero, Amang Linda, asawa ko si Diovanni at gusto ko siyang asikasuhin," sabi ko, diin ang salitang 'asawa'.

Tumaas ang kilay niya. "Ako ang nag-alaga kay Diovanni mula bata pa, kaya tungkulin ko ito," giit niya, na nagpakunot naman sa noo ko.

Ano bang gusto niyang iparating? May asawa na nga 'yong tao kaya dapat alam niya kung hanggang saan ang limitasyon niya. Oo nga't siya ang nagpalaki kay Diovanni at parang naging pangalawang magulang na siya nito. Ngunit hindi pa rin sapat na rason 'yon para sabihin niyang obligasyon niya ang lahat. Ako ang asawa kaya nararapat lang na ako ang gagawa ng mga obligasyon.

"Amang Linda, asawa ko po si Diovanni at responsibilidad ko ang magluto ng mga paborito niyang pagkain."

"Oo, asawa mo nga siya, pero utos ito ni Donya Feliz na ako ang gagampanan ng mga responsibilidad mo para sa kanya," sagot nito, na nagdulot ng sakit sa puso ko. Nakakasakit ng damdamin, sa totoo lang.

Tumitig ako sa omelet na niluto ko bago ako nagbuntong-hininga. Kung ganoon, ano pa ba ang papel ko sa bahay na ito bilang asawa ni Diovanni? Kung lahat ng gusto kong gawin para sa asawa ko'y hinahadlangan nila?

"Charlotte? Hugasan mo lahat ng pinaglutuan ni Shuen at ako na ang magluluto," utos nito sa isang katulong.

"Opo, Amang Linda."

"Shuen, uulitin ko sa iyo, hindi mo na kailangang gumawa ng anuman sa bahay na ito. Ang mga responsibilidad mo kay Diovanni, ako na ang bahala. Ayaw mo naman sigurong umabot pa ito kay Donya Feliz, di ba?" dagdag pa nito bago ako iniwan.

Nagbuntong-hininga ako para pakalmahin ang sarili ko matapos ang masasakit na salita ni Amang Linda. Pakiramdam ko'y wala akong silbi at hindi kailangan sa bahay na ito. Ano ba ang nagawa kong mali para tratuhin ng ganito?

"Magandang umaga po, Sir," bati ng katulong kay Diovanni nang pumasok siya sa dining area.

I quickly grabbed the omelet I cooked and approached him with a sweet smile. He looked puzzled and furrowed him brow as I placed the plate in front of him. "What's this?" he asked, looking at the omelet with hesitation.

"I told you I was going to cook for you, that's why I woke up early," I replied sweetly. He sighed and shook his head. "I won't eat anymore, I'll just have coffee because I'm leaving. I told you not to bother," he said coldly, taking a sip of his coffee. "Fuck!" he suddenly exclaimed, then coughed due to the heat of the drink.

I quickly grabbed a tissue for him. "What happened?" I asked.

"Why does this taste like this? It's too sweet!" he complained, which surprised me with his reaction. "Amang Linda?!" He immediately called the housekeeper, who hurriedly came out of the kitchen.

"Oh, ano 'yon? Diovanni?"

"Bakit ganito ang kape ko? Ang tamis! Alam mo namang low sugar lang ang iniinom ko, nakalimutan mo ba?" inis niyang sabi.

Kunot-noo naman si Amang Linda bago ako tiningnan. "Hindi pa ako nakakapagtimpla ng kape mo. Eto nga at kakasimula ko pa lang," sagot ng mayordoma.

I suddenly bowed my head because of Diovanni's reaction. I didn't expect this to happen. I was the one who made his coffee and I didn't realize that I put too much sugar. It was my mistake for not tasting it first.

"Who did this?!" Yoghurt shouted.

I took a deep breath and replied, "I did this, Yoghurt. I'm sorry if I put too much-"

"I told you, Shuen, not to meddle because Amang Linda will take care of everything. Why do you still need to interfere?" Yoghurt shouted at me, making me close my mouth and stare at him.

I didn't expect him to shout at me in front of other people, especially in front of Amang Linda. It was also clear from his reaction that he didn't seem to care about shouting at me. I felt my lips quiver as I held back my tears.

"D-Diovanni-"

"Tsk!" he sighed, showing his annoyance before standing up and quickly grabbing his bag. "I've lost my appetite for coffee and food. It's time for me to go to work." He quickly returned to his cold and distant demeanor.

But before he could completely leave, I chased after him outside the house. He was already getting into his car when I grabbed his arm to stop him. He looked back at me and furrowed his brow.

"Pwede ba tayong mag-usap muna, Yoghurt?" Pakiusap ko, pilit pinipigilan ang damdamin.

Nagbuntong-hininga siya. "Sa susunod na lang, Shuen. Kailangan ko nang umalis," sagot niya, dahan-dahang tinatanggal ang aking kamay sa kanyang braso.

"Sandali lang, please." I felt a surge of sadness as I was hurt by his cold demeanor. "Yoghurt, please?" He shook his head, turned away, and got into the car. "Let's go, Mang Roel," I heard him command.

"Diovanni!" I shouted, knocking on the car window. However, the car continued to move despite my pleading. Tears streamed down my face as I watched the car exit through the main gate. It was a heavy step as I entered the house. Amang Linda was waiting, seemingly having heard my conversation with Diovanni. I just looked at her, not paying attention.

As I made my way to the stairs, a housemaid called out to me, holding a phone, as if she wanted to give it to me.

"Ma'am Shuen, naiwan po ni Sir Diovanni ang cellphone niya, kanina pa po ito tumutunog," sabi niya kaya agad ko itong kinuha.

"Salamat." Dumeretso na ako sa hagdan at nagtungo sa aming silid. Pagkaupo ko pa lang sa kama, biglang tumunog ang ringtone ng cellphone ni Diovanni.

Kumunot ang noo ko nang makita ko ang pangalan ng tumatawag. 'My little princess' ang nakalagay, na nagdulot sa akin ng pagdududa.

Nalunok ako, nagsisimula na namang kabahan at pakiramdam ko ay may malalaman akong bagay na hindi ko kayang tanggapin. Nanginginig ang kamay ko habang pinindot ang answer button at agad itong nilagay sa speakerphone.

"Daddy?" Isang salita mula sa kabilang linya. Boses ng isang batang babae ang aking narinig. "Daddy? Akala ko ba pupunta ka dito? Hindi ba sabi mo ilalabas mo ako?"

Nanginig ang mga labi ko sa pagkabigla, at mabilis kong itinago ang aking reaksyon, sinubukang pigilan ang mga luhang nagbabadyang pumatak mula sa aking mga mata. Daddy? Why is this child calling my husband Daddy? Is she saying that Diovanni has a child?

A heavy burden fell on my chest, and I felt my heart shatter once again. I don't know how to process this information. Can I still accept this? The discovery that my husband has another woman is enough to shatter my world. What more if I find out that they have a child?"

"Daddy? I miss you so much. I hope you can visit because I miss you," the child said, causing me even more pain. "I love you, Daddy."

I abruptly ended the call, unable to bear hearing what the child would say next. Why, my God? Why are you so cruel to me? What have I done to deserve this? I have been a good person. This is too much, and I'm afraid that I might lose my sanity if I find out more. I can't face more pain.

***