The sound of the heels of my stilettos hitting the marbled floor echoed in the hotel's lobby as everyone went completely still and silent as I walked towards the elevator. Lahat ng mga mata ay nakatutok sa akin habang taas noo kong tinahak ang lobby ng hotel. Sa peripheral vision ko ay nakita ko ang isang receptionist na inangat ang awditibo at sinubukang mag-dial ng isang numero ngunit mabilis ko siyang tinapunan ng matalim na tingin.

She gasped audibly as she hurriedly put down the phone and acted as if she had been slapped. Good. Cause I would've. I huffed. 

I don't want my surprise ruined. 

Walang sinuman ang nakakaalam na nakabalik na ako ng bansa except sa mga taong nakakita sa akin ngayon sa lobby ng Vasilikos, our family owned hotel. Even my parents don't know that I'm back. Like I said, I don't want anyone ruining my fun. Alam ko kasing hindi makakatiis maging ang mga magulang ko na hindi ipagsabi ang pagdating ko. They would've welcomed me with a huge party, something that I am not feeling at the moment. 

I entered the elevator with a smirk on my face. Hawak ang dalawang piraso ng korteng pusong lobo sa isang kamay ko ay pinindot ko ang 'P' na tumutukoy sa penthouse. I was still smiling as the lift moved up. It opened right outside a lavish living room and I confidently stepped inside.

Luminga ako upang hanapin ang taong sadya ko sa lugar na iyon. 

Luke's nowhere in sight so I decided to check his room instead. Nakarinig ako ng mga boses sa loob ng kwarto at mahihinang kaluskos. I reached for the doorknob, twisted it and casually opened the door.

Bumungad sa akin ang isang babaeng tanging puting kumot lamang na nakabalot sa katawan nito ang saplot. Halatang nagulat siya nang makita ako. I looked over to the king sized bed and found my husband halfway into wearing his pants. 

"Diandra?"

Isang malawak na ngiti ang gumuhit sa mukha ko nang marinig kong tawagin niya ang pangalan ko. Mahigit isang taon na rin simula nang huli kaming magkita. 

"Surprise! Happy Anniversary, husband!" I walked over to him and handed him the balloons. Bumeso ako sa kanya habang siya ay hindi malaman kung paano ang magiging reaksyon sa biglaang pagsulpot ko. I narrowed my eyes at him and pouted while he stood there with his eyebrows drawn in one line. I crossed my arms in front of my chest. "What? Aren't you gonna greet me back?"

Nang makabawi mula sa pagkabigla ay umiling iling ito. "What the hell are you doing here?" he let go of the balloons. Binalikan nito ang pagsusuot ng pantalon habang ako naman ay bumaling sa babaeng naestatwa sa kabilang panig ng kwarto. 

"I'm sorry for barging in," I told her with a sheepish smile.

"The fuck you are," I heard Luke mutter.

Binato ko ng masamang tingin ang asawa ko. He had to cut me some slack. 

"Oh, I apologize. Where are my manners?" I walked towards her and extended my hand. "Dr. Diandra Pritzker-Doukas, I'm his wife. And you must be the woman he's been fucking all night?"

The woman turned brick red. "I-I didn't know he's m-married-" 

I laughed and waved my hand. "Oh relax! I'm not going to kill you for sleeping with my husband. You can go get dressed and I'll have my chauffer take you home, if it's alright? We still need to celebrate our anniversary after all."

Nagmamadaling tumalikod ang babae upang hanapin ang mga damit nito. She found it by the sofa where it was hastily discarded. I had to hand it to my husband, he's really got taste. Sa tindig kong five foot and eight inches ay halos di nagkakalayo ang tangkad naming dalawa. She has long wavy, brunette hair and porcelain skin. She looked like a Barbie doll. Marahil ay isa itong kilalang model o artista. Hindi basta basta pumapatol si Luke sa kung sinong babae. 

Binalingan ko ang asawa kong nakapagbihis nang kulay puting long sleeved button downs at dark blue jeans. He looked so yummy standing there with a stern look on his face and a messy hair. I smiled at him. 

He shook his head at me and went straight to the woman who's also now dressed with a little black dress and a four inch heeled stilettos. Nakita niyang binulungan nito ang dalaga sabay hawi sa buhok nito. I rolled my eyes. Always the charmer. 

The woman avoided my eyes as she scurried out of the room. 

Nang makalabas ito ay saka humarap sa akin ang asawa ko na naka-krus ang mga braso sa harp ng dibdib nito. "What are you doing here? Kailan ka pa nakabalik?" 

"My plane just landed thirty minutes ago, my dear husband." I walked towards the bed but stopped as I contemplated whether it was contaminated by their bodily secretions or not. I sighed as I decided not to get anywhere near it. "Is there anywhere in this room that you guys haven't fornicated in so I can sit? My feet are seriously killing me."

Tinitigan lamang ako ni Luke saka nagmuwestra na sa labas na lamang kami ng kwarto mag usap. 

I shook my head in disbelief. 

I knew of my husband's escapades when it comes to women. We've been married for five years and he had been honest with me from the get go. He didn't want a relationship with me. In short, kasal lamang kami sa papel. Sinubukan namin magsama for a while para na rin sa kapritso ng mga magulang namin na siyang nagdesisyon na ipakasal kaming dalawa. It was more like a business transaction than a marriage. 

Bata pa lamang ako ay alam ko nang ganito ang kahihinatnan ko. Just like how my parents got married, everything was arranged. Like I said, a business transaction. Umasa na lamang ako noon na sana maikasal ako sa lalaking hindi ko man matutunang mahalin ay matutunan kong pakisamahan man lang. Luckily, my parents chose Luke Doukas to be my husband. 

I've known Luke all my life. I was only twelve years old when he was introduced to me. Sinabi agad ng mga magulang ko na si Luke ang napipisil nilang mapangasawa ko. I did not oppose, gaya nga ng sabi ko ay umpisa pa lang ay alam ko na. Siguro sinuwerte lamang ako dahil sino ba naman ang tatanggi na mapangasawa si Luke Doukas? At the age of fifteen, he was already attractive as fuck. Girls would line up at the school's corridor para lamang mabigyan ng tyansa na masulyapan si Luke. His mother was half filipina and half japanese while his father came from a rich greek family. They were practically one of the richest family in Greece. 

Habang ako naman ay anak ng isang purong filipina at amerikanong ama. Even as a child, I was referred to as a living barbie doll. I have bright blue eyes and a statuesque figure. While Luke was being ogled at when we were at school, women envy me. Because not only, was I beautiful, I was fucking smart, too. 

I have it all. Idagdag pa na tila isang greek god ang mapapangasawa ko. Not only was I envied, I was hated. 

"What brought you back to the Philippines?" untag ni Luke sa akin habang nagsasalin ng alak sa baso. Inalok niya ang isa sa akin ngunit tinanggihan ko ito. 

"Masama bang ma-miss ko ang asawa ko?" itinukod ko ang mga siko ko sa ibabaw ng bar counter at tinitigan ang asawa ko sa ilalim ng aking mga pilikmata. 

Luke's eyebrows shot up and he tilted his head. 

Umikot naman ang mga mata ko. "Mahirap bang paniwalaan 'yon?" 

"Stop acting as if I don't know you, Diandra."

Nag-isang linya ang mga labi ko at mabilis kong tinalikuran si Luke. Stop acting like you know me, Luke. Gusto ko sanag sabihin iyon sa kanya. Na kung talagang kilala niya ako, bakit hindi niya alam ang tunay na nararamdaman ko para sa kanya? Napapagod na akong magpanggap. Napapagod na akong magkunwari na ayos lang sa akin ang sitwasyon naming dalawa dahil hindi. Hindi talaga. 

"May mga bagay akong dapat asikasuhin." tahimik na sagot ko. "I'm going to meet with Drae this afternoon."

"With Drae? Why?" 

Hinarap ko siya. "I'm taking my old job back."

Napangisi ako nang mabitawan ng asawa ko ang baso ng alak na hawak niya. Natapos iyon sa ibabaw ng counter top at aligagang naghanap si Luke ng pamunas rito. 

"Jesus Christ!" I heard him hiss. "What brought this on, Diandra?" 

"I'm back for good, husband." 

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New story because why the fuck not?