We went home first thing in the morning. Ram flew back to Manila to tend to his massive empire. Si Judah naman ay naiwan.
The press were mostly gone but our first few public appearances made them go crazy. Kaya nagpasya kaming huwag munang lumabas.
"Ma'am Chrissy! Naku, mabuti naman at nakauwi na kayo! Alalang-alala kaming lahat dito, ma'am!" Sinalubong ako kaagad ni Tigris ng yakap.
I smiled tightly at her, and to Paz beside her. Napapalatak ako nang si Nanang Thelma ay diskumpyadong umiling sa akin.
"Diyos mio kang bata ka, Cristina! Saan ka ba nanggaling? Hindi ka man lang tumawag!"
"Relax, Nanang. I'm okay now! Never been better!" katwiran ko kahit na mukha akong basahan sa malaking tshirt na aking suot.
Well, atleast I'm a rug that smells like a filthy rich businessman, not just filthy rich but mind you, freaking hot also...
Para akong natulilig sa mga sermon ng matanda. Ang kaniyang matinis at nagngangalit na boses ang naging umagahan ko imbes ang inaasahang sinangag at kape.
I had breakfast eventually. With Nanang Thelma's constant nagging and Paz and Tigris' concern as desert, syempre.
"Siguradong makakarating ito kay Governor! Hindi ka na makakatakas sa pagkakataong ito, bata ka! Magtatanda ka na rin!"
"Alam mo, mam, noong hindi pa kayo nakakauwing magpipinsan. Alalang-alala kami! Lalo na't sobrang daming tao sa labas! Grabe, mam! Pero okay na ngayon."
"Hindi ko talaga alam ang gagawin ko kapag nawala kayo, madame. Iyong mga lalaking humarang sa inyo, dapat kinukulong kaagad! Mabuti na lamang at nandoon iyong, sino na nga? Sir Jude po?"
"Yes. Jude as in Judah...." And Ram as in...I shook my head and I resumed chewing.
Malay ba niyang si Tigris. Mamaya isumbong nanaman ako kay Papa!
Umakyat na ako kaagaad nang natapos. Iniwan ko ang kanilang nag-aalala at nagtatanong na mga mukha. I felt dirty, and exhausted. The stress from what all that happened crept up within me just this morning. Kaya naman halos isang oras akong nakababad sa tub habang umiinom ng wine.
Although, minutes later, the stress came in full force after I powered my cellphone. Everything exploded. Iyong direct message ko, messenger ko, Twitter and Instagram!
Ang tanging pinaunlakan ko lamang ay ang mga relatives, Sean and my closest friends, and of course, Papa. He's the only one that mattered to me, anyway.
Nakarating na sa kaniya ang balita. I was surprised at myself because I was calm the whole time I was reading his messages. Even his secretary was bombarding me with such frantic texts. So, I decided to call.
I combed my fingers on my wet hair as I waited. Spa sounds good, and also gym. Should I get a tan? Or should I cut my diet?
Napakunot ako ng noo. At, bakit naman ako magpapaganda pa?
Spa definitely sounds good. Nagpupunta naman ako roon lagi, but why do I want to up my game more?
Parang bulang pinutok ang lahat ng aking pakikipagtalo sa sarili nang sinagot ni Papa ang tawag.
"What the hell happened, Chrissy? I asked for a week but the moment I was out of the country, heto ka na! One moment! My god, what were you doing with your life?" bulahaw kaagad nito.
"Ramona wanted to go bar hopping. We agreed to her...but nobody asked for it to happen. It was an accident...but it was partly my fault. My fault! I shouldn't have tolerated her---"
