Let's Fake this for Real

Chapter 14

Leigh still was not sure kung tama ba itong gagawin niya kahit nakasakay na siya ng taxi. After the wedding rehearsal the other day, hindi pa rin niya kinibo si Phil hanggang ngayon. And she's feeling unpleasant. Naisip kasi ni Leigh na wala siyang right mag-inarte at magpasuyo dahil peke naman talaga ang relasyon nilang dalawa.

Kaya heto siya ngayon nakasakay ng taxi patungong office ni Phil bitbit ang isang paper bag. Nagpaluto kasi siya ng paborito ni Phil na adobo kay Manang Berta. She's actually planning na sabayan maglunch si Phil sa office nito. 

Tanaw na niya ang malawak na entrance ng building. "Salamat manong, dito na lang." Sabi ni Leigh sa driver. Bababa na sana siya but she saw Phil's car sa unahan ng taxi na kinaroroonan niya. Her brows furrowed, she glanced at her wristwatch. Lunch time na at bakit may lakad pa si Phil? Paano na ang adobo? She thought to herself.

"Bababa ka pa ba miss?" Tanong ng driver. Sakto namang lumabas si Stella, ang secratary nito, mula sa building. "Wait lang muna manong," sagot niya.

Nakita niya kung paano kabilis nakalabas ng kotse si Phil. Things became even more interesting nang alalayan ni Phil si Stella at pinagbuksan pa ito ng pinto. Ang swerteng secretary naman niya. Anyway from the looks of it, Stella seemed unwell. Maputla nga siya.

Parang may nangangamoy. At hindi 'yon adobo. Something fishy was definitely going on.

"Manong can you follow that car," utos ni Leigh sabay turo sa kotse ni Phil. "Don't worry I'll pay you double at sagot ko na rin ang lunch niyo-- special adobo pa!"

She eyed Phil's moving car. She couldn't help but think that Phil and Stella could be an item. Perhaphs they're already going out behind her back! Hindi naman lingid sa kanya ang madalas na pagcontact ni Stella kay Phil. Ayaw lang niya bigyan ng kulay iyon thinking it's all about work.
But after tailing them for quite a while, she got a direction now. Papunta pala sila sa Medical City Hospital. Leigh doubted her initial judgement. The calls and text messages from Stella was more than work. Iba na 'to. The driver seemed to know her dilemma.

"Miss, huwag ho kayong masyadong mag-isip. Baka may dahilan ang boyfriend mo kaya may kasama siyang ibang babae." He said giving her an assuring smile.

Hindi makaganti ng ngiti sa driver si Leigh kaya tumango na lang siya. Hindi na rin siya nagtanong kung bakit alam nitong boyfriend niya ang sinusundan nila. Siguro madalas na 'tong mangyari kay manong driver.

The hospital was big and she lost them. Spying wasn't her forte and she's not feeling well--- a headache was coming.  After a series of twist and turns, Leigh  gave up. Umupo muna siya sa bench at kinalma ang sarili.

"The driver's right. Itatanong ko na lang kay Phil mamaya... bakit ba ako nagiging paranoid?" Sabi niya sa sarili. After calming herself she went to the restroom. And it seemed fate had a different plan. Palabas na kasi siya ng restroom nang makita niya sa salamin si Stella na papasok sa restroom.  Mabilis pa sa kidlat siyang nagtago sa cubicle. Hindi sila pwedeng magkita. May kausap ito sa phone.

"...Yes ma, I'm at the hospital. Biglang sumakit ang tiyan ko po. So ayon nagpacheck up na rin with my OB gyne..."

Leigh stopped her breathing for a second. OB gyne? Buntis ba si Stella??

"Actually sinamahan po niya ako ngayon.... I'm perfectly fine sabi ng doctor ma so you don't have to worry. As for sir Phillip, I'm glad he's with me. I cannot do this alone..."

Hindi marinig ni Leigh ang nasa kabilang phone at biglang tumahimik. Pinagsasabihan siguro si Stella ng ina. Sumilip si Leigh. Stella was just staring at her reflection. Kumuha ito ng lipstick at linakasan ang volume ng phone para ma-apply niya ang lipstick ng maayos.

"Ma, sana ho maintindihan niyo."

"Hindi ko talaga maintindihan. Hindi ka ba niya pananagutan anak?Gugustuhin mo bang maging sikreto ka lang niya habambuhay?" Tanong ng boses mula sa phone ni Stella.  Kinabahan si Leigh sa narinig.

Stella sighed at nakaramdam ng awa si Leigh. That one huge sigh said it all -- it spoke volume.

"I explained it already to you ma. He asked me to wait while he's sorting out his life right now. Masyado pang complicated ang lahat."

"If things are getting harder there anak, just don't hesitate to call. Mas gugustuhin pa namin ng papa mo na umuwi ka na lang dito sa atin."

Stella eneded the call and Leigh heard her sniffing.

"Don't worry baby, if hindi ka matanggap ng daddy mo.. nandito naman si mommy pati na rin ang magiging lola't lolo mo."

With that, Leigh's tears fell down. She's thinking of Stella and her innocent baby. Realization stoned her. Kaya pala ganon makaalalay si Phil kay Stella kanina.
Leigh didn't know how long she stayed inside the cubicle sitting stiffly. Her phone beeped, indicating the she got a text.

Phil: Hey are you still mad at me??

Another text came.

Phil: I hope a movie night is enough compensation..

Leigh replied : Need to study. Sorry.

Phil: Sure no problem. Don't tire yourself.

Phil: I miss you.

Leigh bit her lower lip.

Leigh: Ang kapal mo! Are you acting sweet dahil may nagawa kang mali? Like 'yung nabuntis mo ang secretary mo at hindi mo kayang panagutan dahil you're a greedy bastard who want nothing but money and success??!!

But Leigh couldn't hit the send button. She needed to end everything between them. Baka isa rin siya sa dahilan kung bakit hindi mapanagutan ni Phil si Stella.

That night hindi bumaba si Leigh para maghapunan. She feigned sickness. But everything felt heavy at mukhang magkakasakit talaga siya.

The moment Leigh opened her eyes, she's certain that she was not in her room. Inilibot niya ang paningin at nakita niya si Phil na natutulog na nakaupo habang hawak ang kamay niya. She wanted to caress his face pero bigla niyang naalala si Stella. May kumatok and Leigh pretended to be asleep. Nagising naman si Phil sa katok.

"Phil hijo, umuwi kana muna para makatulog ka ng maayos," malumanay na sabi ni Eva. "Umaga na pero kailangan mo rin magpahinga."

Humigpit ang hawak ni Phil sa kamay ni Leigh. "Hindi pa ho kasi gumigising si Leigh nag-aalala ako tita."

"Leigh will be fine. Kagabi lang siya inapoy ng lagnat. The doctor assured us na walang dapat ikabahala."

Lumapit si Eva kay Leigh at hinaplos ang buhok nito. "Stress lang siya kaya bumigay ang katawan niya. A proper rest will do."

"Nakakastress na po talaga siguro ang law school. Sabayan pa na isa siyang teaching assistant. But you know what tita, I'm very proud of her. She's doing the things she like. Kung ako ang tatanungin? Mas gusto ko pang sa bahay na lang siya at magrelax. Anyway, I can provide naman for her."

Tumawa si Eva. "Buti na lang tulog pa si Leigh. Kung narinig ka niya baka nahampas kana ng libro. Ayaw niya maging plain housewife gaya ko."

Tumawa na rin si Phil at sumang-ayon sa sinabi ni Eva. Lumabas si Phil para bumili ng kape at sa pagkakataon na ito pinili ni Leigh ibuka ang mga mata niya. Nagkasalubong ang tingin ng mag-ina.

"I know you're awake and heard our conversation Leigh." Eva said to her with an understanding smile. "That guy really loves you... And I can see that you also do."