Chapter 30 Investor

"It's a nightmare marrying you, Monteserio."

Malakas akong napabuntong-hininga ng manumbalik na naman ang ala-ala ng huling sinabi ko kay Monteserio bago tuluyang umalis. I don't even know why am I bothered, or am I?

Of course I am. Iniisip ko kasi kung anong nangyari at hindi natuloy ang kasal nila ni Beatriz kung totoo man. Kaya nga ako lumayo di ba? Para maituloy nila ang 'pagmamahalan' nila. I gave way, not just for them. Pero pati na rin sa anak ko at sa sarili ko. Because I can't really imagine living a life with my child na malapit lang ako sa kanila, na maraming posibilidad na magkita kami because I know that I can't move on.

And living the country was a big help for me. I didn't just moved on, I became the person that I wanted to be from the start.

But I don't know why there's still a part of me that's curious kung ano ba talagang nangyari. Sure, I can always search that on the internet because they're both a public figure too so... pero hindi ako basta basta maniniwala lang sa kung anong nakukuha sa internet. It might be true... or not and you're the fool who believed the rumor.

I sighed and shook my head. I shouldn't be thinking about this right now. I shouldn't be. It's not my priority and will never be.

"Mommy, are we going back to France na?" Indie's lips pouted a bit. I am busy preparing myself for the meeting. Raf said na makikipag-meet daw kami ngayon sa isang investor. Nauna na siya sa lugar kung saan gaganapin ang meeting while I am still in the condo, dressing up.

I smiled a little bit at Indira. I know how much she wanted to stay here. She became fond of the place, especially in Isla Azulah Verde. She told me that she wanted to live there because she wants to see the sea always... which I think is not possible dahil alaman naman niyang hindi talaga kami magtatagal dito. She knows our agenda of coming here, and if not for the fashion show ay hindi talaga ako tatapak dito ulit.

"No, not yet, baby. Your uncle Raf said that we should stay here na muna for one week. He wanted to wander around pa so..." I shrugged. Raf said that he wanted to got to the island too, the Azulah Verde. He saw our pictures from the island and he concluded that it was a beautiful place, which is indeed true.

I heard Indira's silent yes. She's really happy.

"But where are you going? Can I sama, mommy? I don't want to be left here with Tita Miya cause she's boring, My. She doesn't want to talk too much." Mahina akong napabungisngis kay Indira. Wala naman dito si Miya. Bumisita ulit siya sa family niya.

Ilang beses na rin itong inireklamo ni Indira sa akin. Miya doesn't want to talk too much and Indira being Indira, of course she'll get bored in an instance.

Pinagbihis ko na muna siya at pagkatapos ay sabay na kung lumabas ng condo. Ang mga nakasabay pa namin sa elevator ay talagang lumilingon sa anak ko. Who wouldn't anyway? Ang arte ng postura e. Naka-cross arms habang nasa braso nito ang channel niyang bag. It's her favorite one, 'yon ang napapansin ko dahil ito ang palagi niyang binibitbit sa tuwing may lakad kami at isinasama ko siya. Her beret looks so cute on her. Of course the was the one who style her own dress today. Tinulungan ko lang siya sa pagbibihis but she's the one who choose what to wear.

Pagkalabas namin sa elevator ay ganun pa rin ang eksena. Pinagtitinginan talaga kami partikular na si Indira na parang naglalakad sa runway. She really loves attention, but then, she's not asking for it. The people just give it to her. I shrugged.

We hailed a taxi and then get inside. Raf brought his car. Kamakailan lang ay bumili ito ng sasakyan na gagamitin niya rito. It's an SUV. Ani niya ay magagamit daw 'yon kapag naisipan na naming mag-road trip.

Nang makarating kami sa isang sikat na italian restaurant ay kaagad na kaming pumasok. The staff brought is in a VIP room dahil 'yon ang sinabi ni Raf sa akin.

"Ang cute po ng anak niyo, Miss Silverio." nakangiting usal ng staff bago kami tuluyang makapasok sa pribadong kwarto. Nginitian ko lang ito.

Pero kaagad ding nawala 'yon ng makita kung sino ang taong kaharap ngayon ni Raf. Seriously?! This gay... argh!

"Trin! He's our new investor!" nagtaas-baba ang kilay nito sa akin at iginiya ako sa upuan na katabi niya.

I sighed bago napailing. Ramdam ko ang titig sa akin ng lalaki pero hindi ko 'yon inalintana. Nang makaupo ako sa upuan ay kaagad ko ring hinala papunta sa aking kandungan si Indira. Hindi naman ito nagreklamo because I know that she always wanted to sit on my lap.

"You can... put it here," The bastard softly said. Wala na akong nagawa pa ng kunin nito ang bag naming dalawa ni Indira at nilagay sa kaniyang gilid kung saan may bakanteng upuan.

"Indira, right?" He smiled sweetly at my daughter. I can see his eyes lighting up while looking at Indira.

"You're so ugly, Mister. You can't invest on E. A. I." nalaglag ang panga ko sa sinabi ng anak ko. Maski si Raf ay narinig ko ang papapakawala nito ng isang hindi makapaniwalang singhap.

I thought that Claus would be angry, o madi-disappoint at mainsulto siya pero mas lalo akong nagulat ng malakas itong humalakhak. I blinked multiple times before looking at Indira who's now looking so insulted and annoyed. At itong batang 'to pa ang nainsulto? What?

I sighed. Totoo namang pangit ang Saint Claus Monteserio na ito pero hindi naman kailangang ipagduldulan ni Indira e.

"Baby, Indira, you should've not said that." mahinang saway ko. Kitang kita ko ang paglambot ng mukha ni Indira bago nito ibinaon ang mukha sa aking dibdib. Dahan dahan pa nitong ipinasok ang kamay niya sa loob ng top ko and of course, I know what's next. She's already massaging it, treating it like her own stress ball.

"You should've keep it our secret," I whispered to her ears na sa tingin ko ay narinig ni Raf dahil naramdaman ko ang mahinang pagkurot nito sa aking tagiliran.

"Damn it..." Tumatawa pa ring aniya bago tumingin sa akin ng umiiling. I stopped myself from rolling my eyes at him. He's still an investor, though I don't know why he's here. Alam ko namang hindi niya linya ang ganitong klaseng business.

"She only got my eyes. The rest is yours, baby. Even the attitude."

And for the second time, my jaw dropped.