That morning, hindi na ako nagulat nang muling magpaalam si Lionel para umalis. He was like that throughout the whole week. Umaalis nang maaga at umuuwi minsan sa gabi o kaya naman ay madaling araw. But there are days when he doesn’t come home at all.
Minsan nga ay umuuwi nang madaling araw galing sa ibang bansa nang hindi namin nalalaman. Even though I know that he’s with Kuya River, I can’t help but get worried every time.
He thinks that leaving me here in Carles would make me feel at ease and slowly recover from the incident. Pero ang totoo, mas naghihilom ang lahat ng sakit sa tuwing narito siya. Him staying beside me through those painful days did all the job. At sa totoo lang, mas malaki ang naging impact sa akin ng pagkamatay ni Sandra kaysa sa pagtangka ni Alejandro na pagdukot sa akin. And it made me even scared for my husband.
“Are you craving for something? Do you want anything in particular? May nararamdaman ka ba?” tanong niya habang naglalakad kami sa may airport. Napatawa na lang ako dahil magmula nang malaman niya kanina ang tungkol sa pagbubuntis ko, hindi na siya magkandaugaga sa pag-alalay sa akin. Sobrang saya ko nang mag-positive ang tatlong pregnancy tests at hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala hanggang ngayon. Pero dahil sa reaksyon ni Lionel, sobrang saya ko na totoo ang lahat nang ito. “Are you sure you don’t want anything?” tanong niya nang umiling ako. Kaagad akong napatawa dahil bakas na bakas ko sa kanya ang pagkataranta. “Wala talaga,” sambit ko habang hawak ang kanyang kamay. “Don’t worry about me, okay? I’m really alright.”
They say that before people close their eyes, they tend to remember the most beautiful thing that happens to their lives.But no matter how much I’m afraid to die, I don’t think I can still… make it.“Lionel… Lionel, please, wake up!” I stared at my beautiful wife as she cried so much. The last thing I want to see is her shedding tears. Dahil sa tuwing nakikita ko siyang umiiyak, it always felt like I failed my duty as his husband.It always reminded me of those days when I was an ass to her. It always reminded me that until now, I’m still not satisfied dahil pakiramdam ko’y kulang pa ang mga ginagawa ko para makabawi sa kanya.“Hala! S-Sorry, akala ko walang tao!” sigaw ni Katherine at kaagad isinar
I did shit the next few days. Umuuwing madaling araw tapos aalis na ulit, I go to bars often, meet few ladies and mess with them in a way we both know. Umabot pa sa puntong ginawa ko iyon… sa bahay mismo.Alam kong napakatanga ko, pero wala akong pakialam. I can’t take Katherine off my mind, and I know that I have to! Kaya lahat ginawa ko para maalis siya sa sistema ko. Pero alam kong palagi ko siyang makikita kaya minabuti kong ituon ang atensyon ko sa iba.But unexpectedly, one night, she… saw me doing it with another woman in our very own house.Fuck, I’m so screwed up.“Katherine?!” sigaw ko nang makita siyang tulala sa amin. She looked stunned. Subalit ang gulat ay napalitan ng takot nang
At first, I thought I was only serving my revenge because they fooled me. Pero sino bang niloloko ko? I can’t… hold it any longer.I can’t contain my feelings anymore. After kissing her, marrying her legally without her knowing, after I locked her there, at matapos kong makita ang paraan ng titig niya sa kapatid ko, I know I wouldn’t be able to last another day without her knowing that she’s mine.At nang magising ako isang araw sa kanyang tabi… I couldn’t help but feel how much my heart is aching. I realized how stupid I am. She’s fucking innocent!At hindi siya biktima ng pangyayari kundi… biktima ng galit ko. I was the one who harmed her. I was the one who hurted her and traumatized her. Kaya anong… karapata
“L-Lionel, please… wake up. Wake up, please?” pakiusap ko.I tried to run and push his bed as fast as I could. Natatakot akong sa oras na bumagal ang takbo namin… baka hindi na kami umabot. Baka iwanan niya na ako. Baka…“Sweetie,” Mommy called and stopped me from entering the emergency room. Pero hindi ako nagpatinag. Gusto kong pumasok. Gusto kong malaman ang lagay ng asawa ko. Gusto kong naroon ako pagmulat ng kanyang mga mata.“Mommy, please. I k-know he’ll want to see me if he wakes up. G-Gusto ko siyang makitang mabuhay, Mommy. H-He’ll be worried sick if he wakes up without me. Alam ko iyon.” Nabasag ang aking boses habang patuloy na nagmamakaawang papasukin nila ako sa emergency room pero… hindi talaga. Ayaw nila.
It still feels unreal. Sa tuwing iminumulat ko ang aking mga mata kada umaga, pakiramdam ko’y hindi totoo ang lahat. When I wake up without him beside me, I’d still wait for him to get out of the shower.But as minutes pass, after realizing everything… that he’s not here anymore… I couldn't stop myself from crying.The past few days were very hard. And it’s not getting any better. Sa bawat araw, parang mas lalo lang akong nasaktan.In the middle of the night, I can still feel him caressing my cheeks. I can always feel his warmth like he never left.“CK…” Nabalik ako sa katinuan nang marinig ang tinig ni Mom. She caressed my back and hair as she softly whispered. “Do you want something to eat? Mananghali
When can we say that we’ve moved on from all the pain and heartache? How do we know if we’ve already moved on? How do we know if we’re just forcing ourselves and denying the pain? At higit sa lahat… paano ba tatanggapin ang pagkawala ng ating minamahal?I have lots of questions running in my mind. Habang nakatitig sa puntod ng aking asawa, hindi ko mapigilang itanong sa aking sarili kung paano kinakaya ng mga taong naiiwan ang paglisan ng kanilang minamahal.How can Kuya River… stand strong?Well, maybe he has his little angel that Sandra left to remind him of her love. At si Lionel… ganoon din.“Will you be fine here, Darling?” mahinang bulong ko at hinawakan ang kanyang lap
“Napakaganda n'yo, Miss Cha.” Iminulat ko ang aking mga mata at tiningnan ang aking sarili sa salamin.Marahan akong ngumiti nang mapansing tama nga siya. Napakaganda ng pagkakagawa niya sa makeup.Sa sobrang ganda noon ay parang hindi nababagay sa akin. It just built my insecurities and anxiety even more. Thinking that even if I look this pretty, I'll still never appreciate myself.“Panigurado maglalaway ang groom ninyo,” saad ni Trina habang patuloy na inaayos ang eyeliner.Humagikhik pa siya ng bahagya kaya't napatawa rin ako kahit ang totoo ay alam ko namang hindi mangyayari ang bagay na iyon. Lionel is just… impossible.“Hindi naman siguro,” sambit ko at saka malungkot na napangiti.“Huh? Bakit naman po? Hindi ka ba nagagandahan sa ayos niyo ngayon?” aligagang tanong niya. Napaawang ang bibig ko sa gulat at napailing ako agad. Hindi ganoon ang ibig kong sabihin! Baka masamain niya.
When can we say that we’ve moved on from all the pain and heartache? How do we know if we’ve already moved on? How do we know if we’re just forcing ourselves and denying the pain? At higit sa lahat… paano ba tatanggapin ang pagkawala ng ating minamahal?I have lots of questions running in my mind. Habang nakatitig sa puntod ng aking asawa, hindi ko mapigilang itanong sa aking sarili kung paano kinakaya ng mga taong naiiwan ang paglisan ng kanilang minamahal.How can Kuya River… stand strong?Well, maybe he has his little angel that Sandra left to remind him of her love. At si Lionel… ganoon din.“Will you be fine here, Darling?” mahinang bulong ko at hinawakan ang kanyang lap
It still feels unreal. Sa tuwing iminumulat ko ang aking mga mata kada umaga, pakiramdam ko’y hindi totoo ang lahat. When I wake up without him beside me, I’d still wait for him to get out of the shower.But as minutes pass, after realizing everything… that he’s not here anymore… I couldn't stop myself from crying.The past few days were very hard. And it’s not getting any better. Sa bawat araw, parang mas lalo lang akong nasaktan.In the middle of the night, I can still feel him caressing my cheeks. I can always feel his warmth like he never left.“CK…” Nabalik ako sa katinuan nang marinig ang tinig ni Mom. She caressed my back and hair as she softly whispered. “Do you want something to eat? Mananghali
“L-Lionel, please… wake up. Wake up, please?” pakiusap ko.I tried to run and push his bed as fast as I could. Natatakot akong sa oras na bumagal ang takbo namin… baka hindi na kami umabot. Baka iwanan niya na ako. Baka…“Sweetie,” Mommy called and stopped me from entering the emergency room. Pero hindi ako nagpatinag. Gusto kong pumasok. Gusto kong malaman ang lagay ng asawa ko. Gusto kong naroon ako pagmulat ng kanyang mga mata.“Mommy, please. I k-know he’ll want to see me if he wakes up. G-Gusto ko siyang makitang mabuhay, Mommy. H-He’ll be worried sick if he wakes up without me. Alam ko iyon.” Nabasag ang aking boses habang patuloy na nagmamakaawang papasukin nila ako sa emergency room pero… hindi talaga. Ayaw nila.
At first, I thought I was only serving my revenge because they fooled me. Pero sino bang niloloko ko? I can’t… hold it any longer.I can’t contain my feelings anymore. After kissing her, marrying her legally without her knowing, after I locked her there, at matapos kong makita ang paraan ng titig niya sa kapatid ko, I know I wouldn’t be able to last another day without her knowing that she’s mine.At nang magising ako isang araw sa kanyang tabi… I couldn’t help but feel how much my heart is aching. I realized how stupid I am. She’s fucking innocent!At hindi siya biktima ng pangyayari kundi… biktima ng galit ko. I was the one who harmed her. I was the one who hurted her and traumatized her. Kaya anong… karapata
I did shit the next few days. Umuuwing madaling araw tapos aalis na ulit, I go to bars often, meet few ladies and mess with them in a way we both know. Umabot pa sa puntong ginawa ko iyon… sa bahay mismo.Alam kong napakatanga ko, pero wala akong pakialam. I can’t take Katherine off my mind, and I know that I have to! Kaya lahat ginawa ko para maalis siya sa sistema ko. Pero alam kong palagi ko siyang makikita kaya minabuti kong ituon ang atensyon ko sa iba.But unexpectedly, one night, she… saw me doing it with another woman in our very own house.Fuck, I’m so screwed up.“Katherine?!” sigaw ko nang makita siyang tulala sa amin. She looked stunned. Subalit ang gulat ay napalitan ng takot nang
They say that before people close their eyes, they tend to remember the most beautiful thing that happens to their lives.But no matter how much I’m afraid to die, I don’t think I can still… make it.“Lionel… Lionel, please, wake up!” I stared at my beautiful wife as she cried so much. The last thing I want to see is her shedding tears. Dahil sa tuwing nakikita ko siyang umiiyak, it always felt like I failed my duty as his husband.It always reminded me of those days when I was an ass to her. It always reminded me that until now, I’m still not satisfied dahil pakiramdam ko’y kulang pa ang mga ginagawa ko para makabawi sa kanya.“Hala! S-Sorry, akala ko walang tao!” sigaw ni Katherine at kaagad isinar
“Are you craving for something? Do you want anything in particular? May nararamdaman ka ba?” tanong niya habang naglalakad kami sa may airport. Napatawa na lang ako dahil magmula nang malaman niya kanina ang tungkol sa pagbubuntis ko, hindi na siya magkandaugaga sa pag-alalay sa akin. Sobrang saya ko nang mag-positive ang tatlong pregnancy tests at hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala hanggang ngayon. Pero dahil sa reaksyon ni Lionel, sobrang saya ko na totoo ang lahat nang ito. “Are you sure you don’t want anything?” tanong niya nang umiling ako. Kaagad akong napatawa dahil bakas na bakas ko sa kanya ang pagkataranta. “Wala talaga,” sambit ko habang hawak ang kanyang kamay. “Don’t worry about me, okay? I’m really alright.”
That morning, hindi na ako nagulat nang muling magpaalam si Lionel para umalis. He was like that throughout the whole week. Umaalis nang maaga at umuuwi minsan sa gabi o kaya naman ay madaling araw. But there are days when he doesn’t come home at all.Minsan nga ay umuuwi nang madaling araw galing sa ibang bansa nang hindi namin nalalaman. Even though I know that he’s with Kuya River, I can’t help but get worried every time.He thinks that leaving me here in Carles would make me feel at ease and slowly recover from the incident. Pero ang totoo, mas naghihilom ang lahat ng sakit sa tuwing narito siya. Him staying beside me through those painful days did all the job. At sa totoo lang, mas malaki ang naging impact sa akin ng pagkamatay ni Sandra kaysa sa pagtangka ni Alejandro na pagdukot sa akin. And it made me even scared for my husband.
“Do you know anything else?” tanong ko kay Vincent habang nakatitig sa cell phone ni Aaliyah at binabasa ang mensahe ng kanyang ama sa kanya.At habang ginagawa iyon, hindi ko mapigilang maawa sa bata. Alejandro is blessed to have a child. He’s blessed to have a daughter like her. Pero hindi pa siya nakuntento. Why in the world did he want my wife? I get that he likes her, but I never realized that it’ll be to this extent.Unless, there are deeper reasons. But whatever they are, it will still be invalid.“Iyan lang. Kailangan mo ba ang cell phone?” tanong niya.Kaagad akong umiling at saka ibinigay iyon ulit sa kanya. I’ve read enough.“Aalis na ako. That’s all I need to k