The 8th Wife of Caesar Levovski

CHAPTER 57: SAPPHIRE MANSION

Avila's POV

The dinner has been served. While eating, Penelope talk to each one of the wives but as I am eating I couldn't help myself watching the child beside her.

The girl looks like her, she's a messy eater but independent. She can eat on her own and she's using the spoon way better than expected.

She's already 4 years old. Penelope introduce her as Piper. Piper is her daughter with Caesar.

Iyon nga ang sinabi niya pero di ko kayang paniwalaan.

Caesar won't ask me for a child if he's already have one.

"What about you, Avila?" Natigil ako sa pagkain nang nabaling na sa akin ang atensyon niya. Peki siyang ngumiti. "What are your hobbies?"

Pilit naman akong ngumiti dahil ayokong sagutin ang tanong niya hindi dahil sa wala akong masagot, ito ay dahil naiinis ako.

Why is she talking to me? When she's clearly doesn't have any interest.

"You know, if you have something in this house that makes you entertain, you should carry it with you after all..." Ngumisi siya. "You're leaving Caesar's mansion."

Natigil ang lahat sa pagkain at nagkaroon ng katahimikan. Lahat ng atensyon nila ay nasa amin na kahit na nakatingin parin sila sa plato.

"That's your mansion, right? Outside. The one that is under construction?"

May pinagawa akong mansyon sa labas nang sunugin ko ang mansyon na dapat ay sa akin. Habang ginagawa iyon ay dumito muna ako kay Caesar hanggang sa nalimutan ko na ang mansyon na iyon dahil sa nangyayari rito sa mansyon.

"You should start packing now. This mansion is already enough for a one wife." Sabi niya sabay kain na para bang wala lang sa kanya ang nangyayari. "There's still plenty of mansion you can use. I don't understand why are you staying here."

She just casually ordering me to go.

"Yes. I should do that." Sabi ko naman at pinagpatuloy ang pagkain. "I'll bring Caesar with me..." Nag angat ako ng tingin. Nakita kong nakatingin siya sa akin. "After all, he keeps me entertain... Especially at night." Sabay subo ko sa pagkain at kinindatan siya. "You know what I mean."

Mahina siyang natawa at napailing habang pinaglalaruan ang pagkain niya. "Caesar's stays here, this is his mansion and his daughter..." Sabay hawak niya sa mukha ng anak niya. "He would always wants to stay with his daughter." Sabay tingin niya sa akin at matamis na ngumiti. "We are like one big happy family here."

Tiningnan ko lamang siya habang siya ay nakangisi dahil sa alam niyang nananalo na siya rito.

I really don't care what happens now. I just want to get out of here and be with Caesar. I'm tired from my past battle. I can't keep up with this one now.

"So, how's Caesar?" Tanong ni Yassi. "I heard he arrived earlier."

Natigilan naman ako sa sinabi ni Yassi at napatingin sa kanilang dalawa. Nakita ko naman kung paano umusbong ang ngiti ni Penelope.

"Yes. He is. I'm taking care of him in his room."

"We should visit him, don't you think?" Tanong naman ni Wendy. "After all, he's been shot and he actually saves us all."

"Yeah."

"We should do that."

Natahimik ako at itinuon ang pansin sa pagkain.

Sariel didn't inform me about this! Wait. Where did I even put my phone?

Napatingin ako kay Lilith na nasa gilid ng kwarto para malaman kong asan ang cellphone ko ngunit nakita ko lang siya na humihingi ng tawad gamit ang pagyuko ng paulit-ulit.

I think she thought I'm asking her about Caesar. I know she didn't know Caesar is already here. This is a big mansion and all of the people here are working for Penelope.

Sinadya nilang di ipaalam sa akin.

"No. I'm sorry but Caesar strictly said no visitor."

Nagulat ako sa sinabi ni Penelope. Lahat naman na dismaya sa sinabi niya.

"Then, if that's the case..." Napatingin kami kay Grace nang magsakita siya at tumayo. "I would like to use this opportunity to apologize on my father's behalf. I'm sorry..." Dumingin siya sa akin na may pagmamakaawa. "I'm really sorry."

Nag iwas ako ng tingin.

I don't need your apology, I just want you to realize something.

"Nadamay pa kayo sa away ni dad at ni Caesar... I'm really sorry."

Natahimik naman ang lahat at walang nagsalita. Halatang ayaw nilang magpatawad. Umupo ulit si Grace na wala man lang nagsalita tungkol sa sinabi niya.

May lumapit namang isang kasambahay kay Penelope ay may binulong rito bago umalis.

"Anyway, I'm done here." Binasag ni Penelope ang katahimikan at tumayo na. "May I remind again, your budget make it less, see to it that your company is allied to Caesar's technology company." Tumingin siya sa akin. "Your things are already packed." Sabay ngisi niya. "You can leave now. You can use the Sapphire mansion on the south."

Tumayo rin ang lahat at doon lamang sila umupo ulit nang umalis na si Penelope kasama ang anak niya sa dining room.

"So, someone can shut you up, huh?" Sabi ni Cassandra makaraan ang ilang segundo.

Napatingin ako sa kanya. "What are you even doing here?"

Ngumisi siya. "Didn't you hear earlier? Caesar told Penelope that we are getting married again."

Kumunot naman ang noo ko. "Caesar still accepts rotten woman like you?"

"What?!" Inis niyang tanong at tumayo.

Tumayo rin ako. "I'm done eating. Enjoy your dinner." Sabay ngiti ko at tumalikod na para lumabas na sa dining room at makapunta na sa kwarto.

Nang makabalik ako sa kwarto ay naka-packed na ang lahat ng gamit ko at handa na itong ilipat sa kabilang mansyon.

Hindi man lang siya makapaghintay na ipagbukas. Ganuon ba siya katakot sa akin?

"What are you doing here?" Tanong ni Michael nang harangin niya ako sa hallway papunta sa kwarto ni Caesar.

"I'll just check on him before I go."

"He's strictly said no visitors." Mariin na sabi ni Michael na ikinataas ko ng kilay. "He's resting."

"Really?"

Bumuntong hininga siya. "He promised to visit you instead. So, don't worry."

Napatingin ako sa likuran niya kung nasaan ang hallway. Madilim parin ito ngunit may dim lights naman.

"Tell him to keep that promise." Sabi ko na lamang bago umalis.

I know he needs his rest. I just hope he get well soon. He told me he had something to tell me and I want to hear it soon.

Walang akong reklamo habang inihatid ako sa Sapphire mansion na sinasabi nila. Nang makita ko iyon ay madilim ito at halatang walang tao sa loob.

"This called Sapphire because at night it shines like a sapphire." Sabi ni Lilith na tama naman.

Maganda ito ngunit... Walang kabuhay-buhay.

Pumasok na kami sa mansyon at dumiretso na kami sa kwarto na para sa akin.

Malinis naman ito kaya diritso na ang paghiga ko hanggang sa nakatulog na ako.

I want to see Caesar tomorrow.

____

Ngunit dumaan ang isang linggo na di pa bumibisita si Caesar sa akin at doon ko lang napagtanto na bumalik na kami sa reyalidad.

This is my life here inside his premises, I always wait for him until the time he wants to see me.

I guess, I thought something would be different after what happened but it only made me realize that this is reality.

The reality that I am his 8th wife.