CHAPTER 7

CAYLEY

It's been a week eversince maka uwi kami ng pinas, wala namang pinagbago.

Philippines is still philippines.

I brush my hair using my fingers before sipping on my strabucks coffee.

I'm waiting for Irina, an old friend way back in college. I've lost contact on Crystal after that escaping incident in his house, the old phone i am using is already dead and i forgot to save Crystal's number on my new phone matapos kong itapon ang old sim pack ko.

Iniwan ko muna kay mama si Adam while Enzo is on his important meeting.

He can't be with Adam for the mean time.

I saw Irina on the entrance of the Starbucks, so i wave my hand in the air before putting my sunglasses down.

"Wow! Long time no see, how have you been, Cayley?" Agad na bungad niya.

Naki pag beso ako at yumakap sa kanya.

"I'm good, how about you?" I asked.

"I'm perfectly fine too, i have heard you already gave birth! Can i see him?" She asked.

"He's on my mother-in-law's house, you'll meet him soon, by the way i need your help." Diretsahang sabi ko.

Agad naman naintriga ang gaga, tsk she still doesn't change the osame Irina i know.

"What is it?" She asked saka itinaas ang isang kilay.

"I need your advice." I said.

Tinaasan niya lang ako ng kilay.

"It's my husband."sagot ko rito.

"Then?" Lumaki ang mata niya saka inilapit ng kunti ang mukha. "Don't tell me na ulit ana ulit kayo?" She asked.

"No." Sagot ko naman.

"Bat ba nanghahampas!" Naiinis na sabi ko.

"Eh ikaw kasi!" Sabi din nito.

"Wow! Ako pa sinisisi mo!"nag pout ako sa harap niya.

Among all of my friends, si Tal and Irina lang ang mga pinagkakatiwalaan ko sa lahat ng bagay.

"Eh ano na nga kasi?"tanong nito.

"Anong ano?" Tanong ko din.

"Yung ano kasi!"naiirita na sabi nito.

"Ano ba kasi yun Irina?" I asked,

"About don sa help na sinasabi mo tanga."aniya.

Aba ako pa sinabihang tanga eh siya nga tong ano ng ano!

"I want to take revenge, will you help me?" i said 

"Sure, after everything he did to you, i am willing to help you." She said.

"How did you know my life with him is hell?"i asked.

"I have my ways, besides Cay hindi porket may anak kayo eh mag hahabol ka na agad. It should be him chasing you hindi ikaw at hinding hindi mangyayari iyon."

"You're all good for the past 6 years Cay, why not taking care of yourself now. Sa nagdaang anim na taon buhay ng anak mo ang inaalala mo how about you? Mag pakasaya ka Cayley habang hindi ka pa nakatali ulit sa asawa mo." She said.

I get her point, but i also don't want my Adam's dream to break.

Adam wants to see his father ayoko naman siyang pagkaitan ng karapatan para hindi makita si Kievan.

I want to take revenge sa lahat ng ginawa ni Kievan sa akin sa loob ng tatlong taong pagsasama namin. Even if Adam wants to see him gusto ko paring mag higanti.

"Cayley, listen to me. Kievan is no good for you, he's heartless. Look how you've become now, you're different, mas tumaas ang confidence mo sa sarili mo. You're a great mother Cay, napalaki mo nang maayos si Adam sa loob ng anim na taon na mag isa ka lang. Tandaan mo ikaw lang mag isa ang nagpalaki sa anak mo sa loob ng anim na taon. You don't need him Cay, you should think about yourself. Magiging masaya ka ba kung babalik ka sa kanya?" singit ni Irina habang  nag iisip ako. 

Napa-isip ako sa sinabi niya.

Magiging masaya nga ba ako kung babalik ako sa kanya?

"I will make Adam understand that he can see his father but we will not go back to his place again." i said 

She smiled.

"Are you free tonight?" Tanong ko.

Tinaasan niya ako ng kilay.

"Wanna go to a bar?" She asked.

"Uh huh, isama mo na din si Ezekiel alam ko namang mag asawa na kayo di niyo lang sinasabi sa akin." Sabi ko sabay ikot ng mata.

Nakita kong pumula ang pisnge nito saka nag iwas ng tingin.

Asus, mga kinikilos niya pang teenager eh.

"He's busy on his work. May mga big clients kasi siyang ina asikaso but I'll try to convince him." She said.

"Then it's settled, magba-bar tayo mamaya."sabi ko.

Tinanguan niya lang ako.

"Nagkita na ba kayo?" Sabi niya mga ilang minuto bago kami binalot ng katahimikan.

"No," i said.

"Call or text?"

"I don't have his number."sagot ko naman.

"Good." Sabi niya.

After ng ilang oras pa naming chikahan doon napag isipan na naming umuwi at mag ready para sa pagba-bar namin mamaya.

"Mama saan ka po pupunta?" Adam asked.

"May pupuntahang party si mama, I'll be back naman. Don't worry mama will take care of herself while Adam is a way."i assured him.

"You should po mama kasi hindi mo ako kasama."he said.

I pinch his nose.

"I'll always take note of that, love." I said.

I kissed his cheeks saka hinarap si mama.

In-explain ko na din sakanya na nag bago ulit ang isip ko.

Hindi naman siya nagalit she even said na nasa akin naman daw ang desisyon kong paano ko ihahandle ang ganitong sitwasyon.

"Ma, aalis na po ako uuwi po ako pagkatapos, yung vitamins po ni Adam ipa inom niyo po bago siya matulog." Paalala ko.

"Oo hija, ipapaalala ko sakanya. Go enjoy your night." She said.

Niyakap ko muna si Adam saka na umalis at sumakay na sa sasakyan na hiniram ko kay mama.

Tiningnan ko ang address ng bar kung saan kami magkikita ni Irina saka na nagdrive pa punta doon.

After minutes of driving, i parked the car and texted Irina to pick me up in the parking lot.

Hindi ko masyadong kabisado ang bar na ito lalo pa't hindi naman talaga ako mahilig mag punta dito noon.

I wore a black satin slit dress exposing my long legs and a black slit with lace-up high heels.

Inilagay ko sa kabilang banda ang buhok ko saka na naglakad para salubungin si Irina.

"Damn who's that hot mama out there!" She said.

I rolled my eyes.

Para tuloy akong nasa 40's pagkasabi niya noon.

"Whatever Irina." I said.

Ikinawit niya ang kamay sa braso ko saka kami sabay na naglakad papasok.

Agad na bumalot sa akin ang amoy ng alak, sigarilyo at ang nakakabinging music mula sa dj sa itaas.

Anong oras palang pero ang wild na ng mga tao na nasa damce floor.

"Hey everyone! This is my bestfriend Cayley-"

"Should i say Valdemar instead of Ruscitti?" Sabi niya asking for my permission.

"Okay lang sa kahit ano." Bulong ko pabalik.

"This is Cayley Valdemar, kakagaling niya lang ng canada i hope you'll treat her the way you treat me guys!" She said.

"Hey, I'm Victoria Mendeleev nice meeting you!" A tall blond girl said while offering me her hand.

Tinanggap ko iyon saka naki pag handshake.

"Cayley Ru-Valdemar, nice meeting you too." I said.

"You should order drinks, you must be thirsty." She said and giggled.

Malapit pa itong matumba kaya lang may humapit sa beywang nito.

"You're already drunk, Victoria."

"Let go of me jerk!" She hissed.

Pero halata sa boses nito na lasing na lasing na nga ito.

"I'm taking her home, thanks for the drinks Irina." Sabi nung lalaki saka kinarga ng pinabridal style si Victoria at naglakad na palabas ng bar.

"Don't worry about her, fiancee ni Victoria si Keith." Sabi ni Irina.

Inabotan niya ako ng isang baso ng tequila saka ko naman iyon nilagok.

Lima nalang kaming naiwan rito.

Isang lalaki, ako at si Irina tsaka yung dalawa pang babaeng kasama namin.

Hindi din daw sumama si Ezekiel kasi marami pa daw siyang dapat gawin.

Naka ilang shots na ako sa tequila na iniinom ko ng magdecide akong tumayo para tumungo sa dance floor.

The music abruptly change from a calm music to a wild music.

It's a party song kaya naman napangiti ako.

I guess I'll enjoy myself tonight while i am still free.

I started dancing when i felt someone on my back grinding his body on mine.

Nilingon ko ito pero agad ding nahilo kaya naman hinawakan ko ang noo.

Ilang shots ba ang nainom ko, 6? no 9?

Mabilis nga pala akong malasing, i remember the first time i tasted liquor agad na imikot ang mundo ko sa tatlong basong shots na ibinigay ni Ezekiel sa akin.

"Do you really think you can escape from my wrath?" I felt goosebumps all around my body when i heard a familiar voice coming from the back.

Tinuloy ko ang paglingon at agad na namilog ang mata ng makita kung sino ang nakatayo sa harapan ko.

Kahit na medyo tumaas ang buhok ni Kievan nakikilala ko parin siya.

A wide smirk plastered on him sexy lips as he scan my whole body.

"Long time no see, Cayley." His deep and cold voice gives me the chill throughout my body so i tried to create a distance between us but he didn't let me.

He grab me by my waist and pull me closer to him enough that i can already smell his minty breath.

Nag init ang mukha ko ng makita kong titig na titig ito sa labi ko.

But before i could even push him away his sinful lips crashed against mine.

**