The tip of my stilettos made a synchronous sounds as I walked towards the hospital room of Timothea Zaldivar, Chaos's grandmother.

I took a glance on my phone to see if Chaos replied. 

Chaos:

You don't have to go, Hon. Grandma's fine.

Ibinaba ko ang phone at ibinalik iyon sa loob ng aking clutch. I'm here already.

As I walked nearer the room, I saw its door opened. Pamilyar na bulto ng lalaki ang lumabas doon at agad kong natantong pinsan iyon ni Chaos. Kasunod niya ay si Chaos na marahang hinila ang pinto pabalik. 

They faced each other and started talking. Tila may pinagtatalunan. Malaki pa ang distansya ko sa dalawa kaya't hindi ko tuluyang marinig ang usapan nila. 

"Hon," I called to get Chaos's attention. 

Napalingon ang dalawa sa aking direksyon. A frown immediately formed in Chaos's forehead when our eyes met. Sinalubong niya ako at agad na hinuli ang aking baywang, tila ayaw akong patuluyin. "You don't have to be here."

"Chaos, Grandma wants to talk to her," his cousin interfered, stopping us from walking away 

"I said no, Guerdon." My shoulders almost jump at Chaos's cold and authoritative voice. 

"That's an order from Grandma. You know how it works. It doesn't matter if you're against it. The moment they said, we have to follow. Besides it's just a talk," pilit ni Guerdon na pinantayan ang awtoridad ng boses ni Chaos.

Bumuka ang aking mga labi ngunit nasisiguro kong hindi nakita ng dalawa ang aking reaksyon.

"Talk my ass. You know how it will end." Igting ang pangang sagot ni Chaos.

Guerdon nonchalantly nodded. "We all know." 

"T–there's nothing wrong with that. Let me talk to her," I interfered using a low and soft voice. I have an idea why Chaos doesn't want me to talk to his grandma though. But I want to. I want to see the root of the Zaldivars, Abacus and Timothea.  

Yesterday, I talked to the both of them but it was just for greetings. We're all busy because of the engagement party, so we doesn't have a chance to talk for too long.

Sandaling sumulyap sa akin si Guerdon bago muling bumalik kay Chaos ang kanyang atensyon. "Your fiancee agreed. Let them talk now that you're here. Or else you want Grandma to talk to her without you on her side. You choose."

Wala ng nagawa si Chaos nang buksan ni Guerdon ang pinto ng hospital room at sinenyasan kaming pumasok doon.

I heard Chaos heaved a harsh sigh while still holding my waist. Lumapit siya sa akin at marahang humalik sa aking sentido. "Just ignore everything she'll say."

"Huh?" Nagtatakang tanong ko. "I can't just ignore them, it's your grandmother. Let's go."

Hinuli ko ang kamay niya na nasa aking baywang at marahang hinila iyon papasok dahil mukhang nag-aalinlangan pa rin siya.

I offered him a smile to assure him I'll be alright. 

But the smile in my lips wavered the moment we got in the room and saw lots of Zaldivar inside. I'm expecting Abacus and Timothea only but well, I'm here already. Mukhang hindi ako makatatagal sa silid na ito, kahit pa kumpara sa ibang hospital room ay mukhang mas malaki ang binayad dito. This seems a VIP room yet some people inside is merely a trash.

Agad naman akong nakabawi at muling nakangiti. "Good afternoon," I softly greeted while looking around, making eye contact with the Zaldivars. I felt Chaos's hand at my back but I remained busy greeting his relatives. 

Some smiled, nodded, and greeted me back, especially Chaos's cousins, while some ignored me like their time was too precious to even look at me. 

I was bitterly smirking in the inside. I don't know why the people sees Zaldivars as a perfect family. But well, that's how they always act in public. But I refused to believe that, at kahit minsan ay hindi ako napaniwala ng mga Zaldivar sa kalokohan nila. 

Though some seems genuine. Or maybe, they're too good in hiding. One of those is Cello Zaldivar. Tipid siyang ngumiti sa akin bilang pagbati. Magaan ang turing niya sa akin, ngayon man o kahapon sa engagement party. I even heard her defending me from Margielle's words. So, I can't tell if she's faking it.

I instantly went near Chaos's mother when I saw her. His father isn't here.

"Tita," untag ko nang makalapit at nakipagbeso sa kanya. Malugod naman niya akong sinalubong at kinumusta.

I turned to Timothea Zaldivar after the long pleasantries. Beside him is Abacus Zaldivar, standing with his cane. Bakas ang katandaan ng dalawa kahit pa parehong itim na itim ang mga buhok. 

"Good afternoon. H–how are you po?" I asked, my voice was full of concern. 

Ngunit hindi nakaligtas sa aking ang matalim na mga mata ni Timothea habang nasa akin ang kanyang atensyon. 

"Let's go straight to the point, hija. Do you know why I'm here?" I caught a glimpse of mockery in her tone. Malayong malayo sa tono ng pananalita niya kapag nasa harap ng ibang tao.

I bit the side of my cheeks and glanced at my fiance. He's beside me, following wherever I'll go. Na para bang may mananakit sa akin kapag nawala ako sa kanyang paningin.

"Chaos told me that you had a heart attack, Madame." I refused to call her grandma. Iyon ang hindi ko matitiis. I don't wanna vomit here.

"That's because of the photo that was leaked to the public. I'm sure you've seen that."  

"I do. W–what about it?"

"Hija, hindi mo ba binabantayan ang mapapangasawa mo?" 

I turned to Margielle Zaldivar when she interfered. She's on the other side of the room, while beside her is the eldest of Timothea and Abacus Zaldivar, na sa tingin ko ay ang asawa niya. 

"W–what?" I let my voice stammer. "I'm sorry, but I don't think I have to–" 

"If you're keeping an eye on your fiance, this won't happen!" Chaos's grandmother spat.

What the hell. Where is this fuss coming from?

"Your heart, Mama." One of her sons tried to remind her. 

I glanced at Abacus Zaldivar and saw him looking at me without anything in his face.

"Why did you even let your fiance cheat, huh? Now, it's all over that... social media!"

Oh, I now understand. Chaos is being accused of cheating. Apektado ang reputasyon ng mga Zaldivar. Ito ang ikinakagalit nila.

The husband of Margielle agreed with his mother. 

"La, it's not Rieselle's fault." Nahimigan ko ang pagpipigil sa tono ni Chaos. "I didn't che–" 

"Not her fault? That won't happen if she's always with you and if she's giving all your needs! Hindi mo kailangan maghanap ng iba ku–"

I can't believe them. What the hell are they talking about? I let Chaos cheat? Are they out of their mind? And what? They believe Chaos cheated? What the fuck.

And what does she want me to be? Fiance na sunod nang sunod sa mapapangasawa niya? Oh, come on. I'm more than that.

"I don't need anyone but Rieselle, Grandma." Chaos butted in, cutting his grandmother's words. His uncles tried to stop him but he ignored them like he heard nothing. "And it was just a photo. Why are we talking about this when we can just ignore it?"

"We can't just ignore it, Chaos." One of his uncles stated.

I cleared my throat to get Timothea's attention. Hindi na ako nakatiis na hindi sumagot ngunit siniguro kong marahan pa rin ang labas ng bawat salita sa aking bibig. 

"I don't think I have to always be with Chaos just to make sure he won't cheat. If he'll cheat, he will no matter what. If he won't, he won't, even if I'm not with him. Besides, we've talked about this already and Chaos told me what happened. And... I think this is our problem to fix, not yours, Madame." I gave her a soulful but faint smile. I almost smirked when I maintained the softness of my voice. Tila puno ng respeto iyon kahit pa gustong gusto kong magtunog sarkastiko iyon. 

I heard a gasp from someone. Someone even told Chaos to help me shut my mouth.

Namimilog ang mga matang umawang ang kanyang mga labi. "Y–you! Ungrateful bitch!" 

I lowered my head as I knew what would follow.

"Mama!" saway ni Tita Cecille.

"Fuck." Chaos cursed.

Sunod-sunod na ang reaksyon ng mga Zaldivar na nasa loob ng silid. Ilang masasamang salita ang narinig ko para sa akin habang ang iba naman ay sumasalungat sa masamang komento.

Chaos grabbed my hand and tried to pull me out of the room but I stayed from where I'm standing. 

"How dare you talk back–" Aunt of Chaos's words were cutted when Cello Zaldivar spoke.

"Go on." All turned their head on where Cello is. Natahimik ang lahat at wala kahit isang nagtangkang magsalita. 

"You all think the Serranos would back down when they learned what you did to their daughter?" Cello roamed her eyes around the place, eyeing all members of their family before smirking. "Go on. Ruin your precious reputation."

That was the last word I heard before Chaos pulled me out of the room again. Hindi na ako umanggal at sumunod na lamang.

Nananantya ko siyang tinignan nang tuluyan kaming makalabas. I nibbled my lower lip while staring at him, weighing if he's mad at me or what. 

"I'm sorry... for talking to your Grandma that way, I just–"

Naitikom ko ang aking bibig nang umiling siya. "I'm sorry for what they said," he apologized before heaving a deep sigh. 

"This is why I don't want you to go here. My relatives will talk to you and they're up to no good. I'm sorry."

Malungkot ko siyang nginitian. "It's not my fault. Why are they even blaming me?" I asked with a hint of pain in my voice. 

Kumunot ang kanyang noo. His mouth hung open. Tila may gustong sabihin ngunit hindi itinuloy, sa huli ay napailing na lamang siya. "I actually don't expect you to tell those to Grandma. I thought you'll accept anything they'll say and all of those were harsh words. That's why I don't want them to talk to you. But you prove me wrong. Thank you for what you did."

I pursed my lips and tilted my head. "I just told them that because that's the truth. Even if I keep an eye on you, if you'll cheat, you will. At, labas na sila roon dahil sa ating problema iyon. Hindi ba?" I nodded my head, urging Chaos to agree.

"Yeah. They went overboard because of the reputation they're protecting. I apologize again." He took a long pause. "Let's go home?"

"I'll just take a cab." It's just four in the afternoon yet my body felt so down already. I can feel my head throbbing as my emotions want to burst out but I can't. Not in front of Chaos.

"Have you forgot that you'll move into our condo today?"

"Our condo." I echoed. 

"Hmm. And let's schedule an appointment to an engineer one of these days to plan our mansion. Tell anything you want and we'll build it, huh?" He smirked while looking at me, urging me to agree.

"About me moving in your— our condo. Ngayon nga pala 'yon. I'm sorry. It's just that I'm too preoccupied these days." I deeply sighed. Bakit nga ba nakalimutan ko? Fuck. This week is tiring than what I expected.

"Yeah, I figured. Don't tire yourself too much, Hon. Whatever your problem is, you can tell me. Don't even hesitate. I'll help you in any way I can."

Oh, believe me, kayang kaya mong solusyunan ang problema ko, Chaos. 

I tightly pressed my lips, a bit tempted by his offer. But I instantly shrugged it off after a few while of thinking. We just got out of a big mess because of that Hazaiah. I have to wait for a few more days or else I might mess this up.

"May... ilang problema lang. Don't worry, I can handle it. I'll tell you if it gets worse."

Hindi pa nakakasagot si Chaos ay bumukas na ang pinto ng silid na kinaroroonan ni Timothea Zaldivar. 

A smile instantly formed in my lips when I saw Chaos's mother went out.

"Son, you're needed inside," she informed before turning to me.

She held my hand as she apologetically smiled at me. "Rieselle, anak. Ako na ang humihingi ng pasensya sa mga nasabi ni Mama."

"No need, Tita. You don't have to apologize for something you didn't do. Kung mayroon man pong kailangang humingi ng tawad, sila po iyon."

I didn't hear her say something rude to me. Just like Cello, Chaos's aunt.

The door opened again, this time it's Chaos's cousin who went out. She nodded at me before looking at Chaos and Tita Cecille. "Auntie, Chaos." she called and tilted her head towards the room. Tila pinapaalalang kailangan ng pumasok ng dalawa.

Hinarap ako ni Chaos habang umatras naman si Tita upang bigyan daan ang anak. "Wait for me, this won't take long. Then we'll go home, huh?"

Tipid na tango na lamang ang isinagot ko.

"Alright," he muttered and leaned to kiss me on my forehead. 

Agad na nawala ang ngiti sa aking mga labi nang muli silang makapasok sa silid at naiwan akong mag-isa. 

I turned my back on the room and let my feet walk for me.

I almost slipped earlier. These Zaldivars kept testing my patience. Ilang araw pa kaya ang itatagal ko? Heck, it wasn't easy to be a good and fine lady just to win the Zaldivars' approval. Damn tiring.

"Sige, Ma. Pauwi na 'ko." A voice came out of nowhere. 

Inilibot ko ang tingin sa paligid at natantong malayo na ang aking narating. Tingin ko ay ibang palapag na ang aking nilalakaran.

Napalingon ako sa pinanggalingan ng boses na iyon. I saw a woman, she just went out of a room while talking to someone. Unti-unting kumunot ang aking noo nang mamukhaan ang babae.

"Hazaiah?" I whispered.

Her head slowly turned in my direction.

Fuck. It's supposed to be an inside thought but her name slipped off my mouth. 
__________