The Gold-digging Mastermind

Kabanata 11

We are preparing the tree’s decoration in the living room. It was a winter wonderland theme to bring the north pole aesthetic in our home.

Malamig naman ang pasko dahil mag-isa lang akong magce-celebrate… kasama pala si Daxiel.

Hindi na namin inabala ang mag kasambahay, kaming dalawa na lang ni Daxiel Gustav Jr. ang naglagay ng mga dekorasyon, marami pa silang tinatapos na gawaing bahay.

Nakausap ko na sina Jemaima at Maricel pati na rin ang driver na si Manong Abner. I will give them ten days to spend time with their families. Noong una nag-aalinlangan pa ang dalawa na iwanan ako.

It was my first holiday without my husband… mayroon namang pumalit, iyong anak.

I giggled at the thought.

I was always entertained whenever I mentioned it to other people. There was horror in their expression. Malaswa agad ang iniisip nila… well, malaswa rin naman ang isip ko.

Daxiel Gustav Jr. and his father, Gustav had no contact prior to his death. Lumabas lang ng lungga si Daxiel para sa mana ng ama, mas matutuwa sana ako kung hindi na siya nagpakita pa.

But since he’s here, and he’s contesting the will he has no right at all, I would play my little game of fire. If I win, I’ll win more and he’ll lose a lot. I’ll make sure to win at any cost.

Naiinis pa rin ako sa kanya kung paano niya harangin ang nakatadhana sa aking mana. Doon na lang sana siya sa faraway habang tinatamasa ko ang magandang buhay… On the other hand, bring it on.

I’ll have more than the intended inheretance that was supposed to be mine… I just have to play my cards right.

And I never lose.

“Ma’am Olga, may dumating pong parcel n’yong may hugis – titi,” saad ni Maricel.

Natawa naman ako nang mahagip ko ang ekspresyon ni Daxiel. Sanay na sanay na sila sa mga kalokohan ko sa buhay. It didn’t faze them most of the time.

“Pakiakyat na lang sa kuwarto ko, Maricel. Salamat. Gagawan ko pa ‘yan ng unboxing video.” Sinunod naman niya ang sinabi ko, umakyat siya sa hagdaan paitaas ng kuwarto ko.

Just on time for the holidays.

“Oh, andoon din ang sex toys mo…”

Tumaas ang kanyang kilay.

“Really? Thanks, you’re thoughtful.” Punong – puno ng sarkasmo ang kanyang boses, humalakhak ako.

Nagsimula akong maglagay ng white ornaments sa iba’t ibang parte ng tree. Sumampa ako sa couch upang lagyan iyong mataas na parte. But I couldn’t reach any higher, even Daxiel was also starting to struggle to reach the top part.

It’s eight-feet tall.

“Climb onto my shoulders, Millaray. It would be easier that way.” Naupo siya sa couch.

“Ay gusto ‘yan! Pero p’wede bang paharap? Nakaharap ako sa mukha mo.” I smirked.

“If you want to sit on my face, just say it.” Humagikhik ako.

Lumapit ako sa kanyang tayo, marahan kong pinadaanan ng aking daliri ang kanyng buhok. Pumuwesto ako sa kanyang likuran at sumampa sa kanyang balikat. Hinawakan niya ang aking mga binti bilang suporta.

“Naughty, Daxiel, naughty boy. Hindi mo naman kayang panindigan. Magaling ka lang sa salita, hindi mo naman magawa.” I kept taunting him.

Wala naman akong narinig na sagot sa kanya. Hindi ko rin makita ang ekspresyon ng kanyang mukha.

Inabot niya sa akin ang ornaments na kailangan naming isabit sa itaas. Paikot nang paikot hanggang malagyan ko ang lahat ng parteng gusto kong lagyan. Ikinabit ko na rin ang star na ginawa ko, may pictures namin iyon.

I was admiring the tree while still on Daxiel’s shoulders. Nang ibaba niya ako, saka ko lang napagmasdan ang gumulong na ornaments.

“Gustav the Third!” Our furbaby made his mission in life to get the white balls off the tree.

Agad akong bumaba sa balikat ni Daxiel. Proud na proud pang kumakawag ang buntot niya habang naglalambing sa aming dalawa. Paano naman ako magagalit nito? Napaka-cute ng baby namin.

Tinipon ni Daxiel ang mga ornaments habang binuhat ko naman si Gustav the Third. Muli niyang ikinabit iyon sa tree. It was finally done. I was happy with the result. Inilagay ko ang furbaby namin sa tabi ng tree, I took some pictures. Daxiel did as well.

“Millaray, go with Gustav the Third. I’ll take pictures of you two,” he offered.

First time niyang nag-offer na picture-an ako ng hindi siya pinipilit. I took advantage of his offer to demand that the whole tree must be captured as well.

I did extreme poses while Gustav the Third was just behave wagging his tail on the side.

In my first pose, I did a split. Nakataas ang dalawang kamay ko at ngiting – ngiti sa camera, kinuha ko pa si Gustav para itaas siya. Nag-cartwheel din ako. It was my tradition after building the Christmas tree.

I went up to him to see the pictures. My poses were weird, but he still captured the moments. They turned out cute.

“Naks, iba talaga kapag maganda ‘no? Effortless.” Ngumiti ako. “Punta ka rin sa tree! I’ll take your pictures din,” Itinulak ko pa siya.

He just carried Gustav the Third on his one hand. Nakapamulsa iyong isa, tumingin siya sa camera.

I instructed him to smile before I click the button several times. Lumapit naman ako upang ipakita sa kanya ang mga larawan.

Kinagat ko ang aking labi… it was blurred. Iyong iba naman ay tabingi ang kuha.

“Feeling ko may problema iyong background.”

Daxiel Gustav Jr. stared at me for a long time. “Compare my pictures of you to your shots of me.”

“Lahat naman ng tao may kahinaan, nakakahiya naman kung perpekto ako, kawawa naman ang iba… isa pa, may problema iyong background o iyong phone mo. Hindi nag-aadjust sa akin.” I pouted.

My whole day was fulfilled seeing his annoyance. “Uso kaya ‘yang mga blurred pictures…” Tumawa ako. “Sorry na, Daxiel. I wasn’t good in taking pictures, lagyan ko na lang ng filter para maging okay.”

Napaatras naman ako ng hawakan niya ang aking magkabilang pisngi, nagtama ang aming paningin.

I was eyeing his lips, particularly. Ano kayang lasa ng kanyang labi? Kung magtitikiman na lang din naman kami ng labi, iyong sa ibaba na ang ipapatikim ko sa kanya. Ehe.

Nakakainis.

Sa pagtagal nang pagtagal naming magkasama, imbes na magsawa ako sa kanyang pagmumukha, mas lalo siyang gumaguwapo sa paningin ko at mas lalong kumikisig sa aking mata.

“Pinagnanasaan na naman ba ako ng isip mo?” Ngumisi siya.

Gumuhit na naman ang pamumula sa aking pisngi.

“Hindi, ‘no,” pagtanggi ko. “Gawain mo siguro, ipinapasa mo lang sa akin. Pinagnanasaan mo ako, Daxiel? Pinagnanasaan mo ang dating asawa ng iyong ama?” Humagikhik ako.

Naibalik ko na naman sa kanya ang tanong niya. Easy peasy.

“For fuck’s sake, Millaray, stop bringing that up everytime you want to annoy me. You’re not his wife. Fuck him, he’s dead.”

Humalakhak ako. “Why fuck the dead if you can fuck me?” I wet my lip.

“You wait, Millaray. You wait.”

I shook my head slightly. “Why wait if you can have me now?”

His face became red.

“Daxiel, the virgin!”

I kept laughing. Iniwan ko siya sa sala, dinala ko si Gustav the Third. Nadatnan kong nakapatong sa gilid ng kama ang box ng pinamili kong sex toys.

Hindi ko muna iyon binuksan, baka ang furbaby pa namin ang makinabang at gawing laruan sa play catch.

Well, whether Daxiel Gustav Jr. bites my trap or not, the blame wouldn’t be put on him. Hindi naman siya ang huhusgahan ng tao… ako ang pagpipiyestahan ng maraming bibig na walang alam. Dahil tinuhog ko ang mag-ama…

Bakit barbecue ba sila?

Wala akong pakialam. Matagal na akong hindi apektado ng mga salita ng ibang tao.

Mas lalo ko lang silang aasarin. Everyone who knows nothing about my life doesn’t affect me, and will never affect me. They could bark all at the same time while I enjoy my secured bars of gold.

They could talk about being honorable in the perspective of a person who can afford a luxurious life. Hindi naman pantay – pantay ang pribilehiyo ng mga tao, kanya – kanya na lang talagang diskarte, kaya nga lang ang ibang diskarte ay sala sa paraan.

Wala naman akong inapakang tao. I acquired it. I earned it. I deserved it.

But legality had a different plan…

We were gathered in Gustav’s office by the attorney. He had the finalization of the will and testament of my late husband from the court. I didn’t know the exact process, even if it was told to me several times.

All assets were given to Daxiel Gustav Jr., I was given a few penny. It was such an insult to my face. I caressed Gustav the Third softly on my lap. Iniwasan ko ang paninitig ni Daxiel Gustav Jr. na kaharap ko sa upuan.

It was a chaos on my inside. Daig ko pa ang namatayan sa lungkot at sakit na nararamdaman ko.

All my hardwork weren’t paid off.

Nakipagkamay ako sa attorney, binigyan ko siya ng maliit na ngiti. I composed myself to be presentable in the moment. Pinilit kong dalhin ang magulo kong isipan. I offered my hand to Daxiel Gustav Jr.

“Congrats, remember what you promised? You’ll donate some to the chosen charity,” I gave him a weak smile. “By the way, let me stay until the holidays… it’s just for a month, at least.”

Hindi ko na hinintay ang sagot niya. I excused myself to go to my room. Mabigat ang pakiramdam ko, agad naman akong nagbihis ng komportableng panlakad. Binihisan ko rin si Gustav the Third.

Bumaba kami ng baby ko, dumeretso ako sa front door.

Kinausap ko naman si Manong Abner na ihatid ako sa puntod nang yumao kong asawa pero bago iyon, bumili muna kami ng bulaklak sa nadaanan naming flower shop.

Parang isang bahay ang resting place ng asawa ko, binuksan ko iyon gamit ang susi kong dala. The place smelled vintage.

Pinabalik ko na si Manong Abner, magpapasundo na lang ako mamaya.

I placed the bouquet of flowers on his grave and lit a candle for him. Hinayaan kong maglaro si Gustav the Third sa palibot, hindi naman siya makakalabas dahil sarado ang pinto.

My tears started to flow. Iyong kaninang pinipigilan kong emosyon, hinayaan kong bumuhos. Tuwing gusto kong mapag-isa sa puntod niya ako pumupunta. Hindi naman niya ako mahuhusgahan… dahil patay na siya.

“You told me…” Huminga ako nang malalim. “You told me, no one can take the inheritance away, you’re leaving it to me… because I was kind… and for once, you felt someone cared for you even in a short time.”

He insisted the marriage for things not be questioned and contested. Somehow, he knew his son would come after the inheritance. Mas mahihirapan daw akong manalo kung ipapamana niya iyon sa akin ng wala kaming matibay na relasyong dalawa.

I still lost.

Naisahan pa rin ako ng kanyang anak. I felt defeated. Bigla akong nakaramdam ng pagod.

Tumayo ako upang libutin ang paligid. His place has a cupboard and cabinet full of wines, vodkas and other beverages, I got Chivas Regal and two wine glass for us.

Mahilig siya sa alak noong kanyang kabataan, hindi na iyon maganda sa kanyang katawan sa pagtanda niya kaya nitong huling pagkakataon na lang siya napagbigyan sa kanyang hiling.

I pour the liquid on the wine glass. Nagsalin ako sa kanyang baso, ganoon din sa akin.

“Cheers!” saad ko bago ko tinungga ang alak.

Bawat lagay ko ng likido, kinakalembang ko rin ang kanya para naman may interaksyon kaming dalawa.

Hindi naman ako madaling malasing, kaya lang puro sarili ko lang ang umiinom ng alak. Nakakalahati na akong bote bago ko tinigilan ito.

Humiga ako sa tiled floor. Nahihilo na ang aking pagkatao. I was dizzy and sleepy at the same time.

Tumakbo naman papalapit sa akin si Gustav the Third, humiga siya sa aking dibdib. I kept caressing his fur until we both drifted to sleep. Nakatulog ako nang hindi ko namalayan.

Bahagya akong naalimpungatan nang umangat ang katawan ko sa ere, I was lifted by strong and muscular arms and was transferred into the vehicle. It was Daxiel Gustav Jr.

He was trying to get me settled inside the car. I looked at his serious expression.

“So, that’s my view while you’re pounding me senseless?” I giggled.

Wala pa rin ako sa tamang wisyo. I didn’t know if I were still coherent with my words.

“You’re drunk, but you’re still naughty, huh. Naughty, naughty girl.” He poked my cheek, smirking. “You’re reeking alcohol, Millaray.”

“Daxiel, you’re so g’wapo. Bakit ang g’wapo mo? Bagay tayo. Maganda ako, look at… at my puppy eyes. Feeling ko gusto mo ‘kong maging girlfriend. Mabait naman ako, kaya tayo na…” Hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit siya tumatawa.

“Dali na, kiss mo ‘ko…” I was just saying what I wanted to say.

Humawak ako sa kanyang leeg. Wala naman akong kontrol sa sarili kong galaw. Para lang itong lumulutang.

“No, ma’am. I don’t kiss a drunk woman.”

I pouted.

Inayos ang tayo ko tapos umalis siya sa aking harapan. I wanted to cry not seeing his face for a second. Then, magic happened, he was on the other side. I didn’t know how it happened.

I was trying to fight the sleepiness I was feeling, I didn’t want to lose my boyfriend.

My eyes started to water. Naramdaman kong mayroong humawak sa aking kamay. When I opened my eyes, I saw a pair of captivating eyes. “You got yourself an instant boyfriend after you got drunk, huh?” He squeezed my hand. “Sleep well, Millaray. Let’s talk in the morning.”

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