Chapter 5 A Night Of Doubt

DAY 3

NATASIA'S POV

I just came back from a short coffee break sa isang cafe located at the lobby of the building with Mariz, one of my personnel staff and a friend, when my secretary, Ms. Colleen Sandoval informed me that Chad called a few minutes ago.

My eyebrows furrowed, "Why he didn't call me at my cellphone?" I said but not really intended to say it out loud.

"Sabi po niya Ma'am hindi niya kayo macontact sa cellphone nyo."

"Oh…" I fished out my cellphone in my pocket and yeah, it's dead batt.

"Okay, I will return his call na lang. Thanks!"

Pagkaupo sa aking swivel chair ay kaagad kung dinampot ang telepono sa ibabaw ng aking table and dialed Chad's number. While waiting, inipit ko ang receiver between my neck and ear and reach out for my cellphone charger.

After three rings, my heartbeat raised when I heard his masculine deep voice. Crazy… until now boses pa lang niya kinikilig na ako. I sweetly smiled kahit hindi naman niya iyon makikita.

"Hi, my secretary told me na tumawag ka daw."

[Ah yeah, I'll be late going home later. Meron kasi kaming company dinner.]

"Ahh…" 

Iyon lang ang naisagot ko. I don't know… but I'm not convinced that's a company dinner or tamang hinala lang ako.

[Don't skip your dinner and eat on time. Do you like something to eat ba para mag-oorder na ako then padeliver ko na lang sa bahay?]

"No, don't bother. I remembered kuya Vince inviting me over for dinner too."

[Well, I think that's much better para makapag-enjoy ka rin.]

"Yeah, right. Ahm, I have to go now, need to call my client din."

[Sure, take care. Bye.]

I sighed. How sweet sana lang totoo but– of course it's not, pinilit ko nga lang siya na bumalik sa akin in exchange of the divorce para tuluyan na siyang makalaya sa akin. How stupid? How crazy of me?

After an hour thinking crazy things and kung sino talaga ang kasama mamaya ni Chad, I stood up, wala na akong ganang magtrabaho buti na lang wala na akong meeting with the client.

***

The silence welcomed me as I opened the door in our condo.

Syempre alibi ko lang na kuya invited me for dinner para hindi naman ako magmukhang kawawa habang siya nagpapakasaya sa piling ng babae niya.

I smirked. Company dinner… ilang company dinner pa kaya ang mangyayari sa loob ng isang buwan? I laughed bitterly.

I spent my night watching movies on N*****x. I don't even bother to eat dinner. I know kailangan ko alagaan ang sarili ko but what for? Mamamatay din naman ako.

Two movies were done and now I'm on my third and the digital wall clock showed it's already at 2 am in the morning but still no Chad.

Gaano ba karami ang pinakain sa kanila at hanggang ngayon eh hindi pa sila tapos kumain?

***

CHAD'S POV

Every minute tumitingin ako sa relo ko, it's past midnight na pero parang wala pang balak mag-uwian ang mga ito. Panay pa ang kwentuhan puro naman kayabangan lang.

I stood up, hindi ko na kayang magstay, I'm sure kanina pa nakauwi sa bahay namin si Natasia. At baka nag-aalala na iyon.

"Guys, I'm sorry but I really have to go. Wala kasing kasama si Natasia sa bahay."

"Wow pare hindi ka pa rin nagbabago, under ka pa rin ng asawa mo!" malakas na sabi ni Arthur, manager ng finance department, at halos mabingi ako sa sabay-sabay na tawanan ng mga kasamahan ko.

Nagpanting ang tenga ko at naramdaman ko ang init na kumalat sa mukha ko, I grabbed his collar at matalim ko siyang tinitigan bago ako nagsalita, "Kung ikaw wala kang pakialam sa asawa at pamilya mo then wag mo akong itulad sa iyo." Then I pushed him away.

Pagkasabi ko nito ay mabilis na akong lumayo sa kanila, hindi na sila nagtawanan pero narinig ko pa rin ang kanilang mga komento. 

"Kung makapag-malinis akala mo walang babae."

Pero wala na akong pakialam sa anumang sinasabi nila ang mahalaga makauwi na ako sa piling ng asawa ko.

Outside the door ay naririnig ko pa ang tunog na naggagaling sa TV. So, gising pa si Natasia, hinintay niya pa talaga ako. A smile immediately formed on my lips in that thought.

However, when I opened the door, isang natutulog na Natasia ang nabungaran ko. Her body was balled like a fetus na nakasiksik sa couch. Napailing-iling na lang ako habang nakangiti, ang cute niya talaga matulog.

I grabbed the remote control and turned off the TV. Then, maingat ko siyang binuhat upang hindi siya magising.

When I tucked her at the bed napansin ko ang daliri niya na nakabalot pa rin ng bandage. I took off the bandage to check, my forehead wrinkled when I saw the wound still looked fresh.

It's been two days, a small cut usually heals a day. I sighed. This is not new naman, even before matagal na talaga gumaling ang mga sugat ni Natasia kaya ayaw na ayaw kong magkakasugat ito.

I walked to the dresser to get the medicine kit. Good thing my enough supplies pa ng medicine. I cleaned the wound, put some ointments and wrapped it with a bandage again.

I stood up to return na medicine kit but I stopped looking down at her.

My eyebrows furrowed again ng mapansin ko naman ang malaking pasa sa braso niya. Mukhang bago lang din ito or maybe nakuha niya din ito that day baka sa sobrang pagmamadali niya ay nabunggo siya sa counter table.

"Tsk, tsk. What a careless girl!"

My eyes landed on her face, down to her lips. Oh God, I missed those lips, those sweet and soft lips. Pero may karapatan pa ba akong angkin ang mga ito matapos ang ginawa ko?

Kahit ako mismo ay nandidiri sa sarili ko, nadudumihan sa sarili ko. And I don't want to spread or transfer those dirts to her, to my lovely wife, to my pure wife, to my dearest wife.

Ako na lang, ako na lang ang malugmok sa kumunoy na ginawa ko.

—-------

AUTHOR'S DISCLAIMER:

I am not a professional physician and have no professional knowledge in medicine. Some medical conditions, treatment, advice, medication, symptoms, etc. may not be accurate. If you have experienced the same thing it is recommended to seek for professional diagnosis and advice. Thank you!