Chapter 4

-(DEAN ALVAREZ POV)-

-❀-

“How is she, Doc?” I asked as soon as the doctor came out of her hospital room.

“Seems to me, she was trying to kill herself once again. We found an empty bottle of antidepressants in her pocket, and we can’t think of another reason why she would get overdosed.” Wika nito at saka binigay sa akin ang bote ng nasabing gamot.

“So, what you mean to say is, she swallowed a bottle full of antidepressants?” Tanong ko na siyang tinanguan nito.

“Luckily, you brought her to the hospital immediately. Otherwise, she would have died.” Sagot nito sa akin at saka lumingon sa hospital door ng kanyang kwarto.

“Okay, Doc. Thank you.” Ayun na lamang ang sinabi ko at saka pumasok sa kwarto, seeing her once again with an IV drip in her hand.

“Oh, babe.” Bulong ko nang makalapit na ako rito, seeing her sleep peacefully.

She was getting thin, her body losing weight by the minute, and I don’t know what to do just so she can overcome this obstacle she’s experiencing.

Lord… tulungan Niyo po siya…

Hindi ko namalayan na tumutulo na pala ang luha ko habang hawak ko ang kanyang kamay, my inner self praying over and over to God for her to pass this trial.

“Emy, tulungan mo naman ang sarili mo, oh.” Giit ko rito habang umiiyak.

Napayuko na lamang ako dahil sa lungkot at sakit na nararamdaman ko para rito, my heart aching for her state.

Emy, please… help yourself…

-(GELAL THEODEN FRANCISCO POV)-

~•~

(Sir, everyone knows who your wife is. Pinagmamalaki mo pa nga siya sa akin at sinasabi mong proud ka sa kanya.)

(Pero, kung asawa niyo po yung babae kanina, ibig sabihin divorced na po kayo ni Ms. Emy?)

Silas’ words were glued onto my mind as I reminisced about what we talked about. And I can’t sleep because of it.

But, if I had a wife back then… anong nangyari? Bakit kami naghiwalay?

Anong reason, bakit ako nagpakasal ulit?

I am currently in my study, the folder named ‘Emerald’ on my desktop was the only thing I am staring at. My mind wondering who this is.

Baka makatulong sakin to para malaman kung sino si Emy Verdanio, baka may connection ang folder na ito sa babaeng yun.

Without hesitation, I opened the folder and I was met with tons of videos and pictures, all of them having a date and title.

“May 13, 2019.” I whispered as I read the title on one of the videos.

Walang alinlangan kong pinindot iyon at sinimulang panoorin, my voice hearing in the backgroud of the vid.

‘Love, look at the camera.’ Narinig kong wika ko habang may babae na nakatalikod sa harap ng camera, seeing her wearing a wedding gown.

‘Lal, what are you doing?’ She said as she tried to cover the cam.

‘Memories, babe. Now smile.’ 

Kita ko kung paano ngumiti ang babae ruon, at halatang namumula ang kanyang pisngi habang siya’y may hawak ng isang baso ng champagne.

Siya ba si Emy? 

She looks… gorgeous…

‘Are you happy?'

'Of course I do, I married the love of my life.'

There was a moment of silence as I waited for myself to answer, yet all I could hear were sniffs.

'Aw, why are you crying my love?’ She asked and I watched how she took the camera, showing me wearing a tuxedo as I wiped my tears that were uncontrollably flowing down my face.

'I love you.' I heard myself say those three words in the vid, also seeing how I grabbed her hand and pulled her towards me and heard the kiss that I did to her.

'I love you too, love.' I heard the woman reply, before seeing the vid change its scenery, where the place was filled with greenery and a lake in front.

“Babe?” Dali-dali kong pinatay ang computer at saka nag-angat ng tingin sa kung sino man ang nasa pinto.

“What are you doing here?” Tanong ko at saka kinagat ang dulo ng aking hinlalaki. 

“I was looking for you, akala ko kasi umalis ka.” Sagot nito habang siya’y papalapit sa akin.

Sumandal ako sa aking swivel chair at napa-buntong hininga nang makalapit na ito sa akin, placing her hands on my shoulder as she stood beside me.

“May gumagambala ba sa isipan mo?” Tanong nito habang hinahaplos ang aking mga balikat.

“Wala, sadyang hindi lang ako makatulog.” Sagot ko at saka na tumayo sa aking inuupuan.

“Love, where are you going?” Tanong nito na nakapagpintig ng aking tenga.

“What did you say?” I asked as I turned to face her.

“I just said-” Naputol ang kanyang sasabihin nang hatakin ko ang kanyang braso.

“Don’t ever call me ‘love’. Hindi ikaw ang asawa ko.” Giit ko na naging dahilan upang manahimik ito.

“Stunned?” I asked nang hindi na ito sumagot sa akin.

“Lal I-” She stuttered, unable to finish her reasoning.

“Sabihin mo nga sa akin ang totoo, ano ba talaga kita? Anong alam mo na hindi ko nalalaman?” Tanong ko muli sa kanya.

I clenched my free hand as I watched her lips tremble, obviously anxious about what she would say.

“Ano? Tatayo na lang tayo dito?” Tanong ko muli sa kanya.

“I-I’ll explain, Lal. Please, let me go, nasasaktan ako.” Sagot nito na halatang kabado.

“Asawa ba talaga kita? O sinasabi mo lang yun para hindi ko malaman ang totoo?” Tanong ko muli.

“What do you know about my past life? What do you fvcking know that I don’t know about!?” I snarled, my grip tightening as I waited for an answer.

“Lal nasasaktan ako.” Ayun lamang ang sinabi nito na naging dahilan upang agresibo ko itong bitawan.

Napasandal ito sa desk, her breathing goes heavy as she trembles.

“Sabihin mo nga sa akin, asan ang tunay kong asawa? Nasaan si Emy!? Bakit ikaw ang nandito!?” I snapped.

“Ako ang asawa mo, Lal. Wala kang ibang asawa kundi ako lang.” She answered in an anxious manner.

“Kung ikaw nga ang asawa ko, nasaan ang wedding photo natin? Bakit wala kang suot na wedding band natin? Saan tayo kinasal at anong pangalan ng simbahan?” I asked solemnly.

Ngunit hindi ito sumagot at tumingin lang sa akin, her hands placed on the desk for support, beads of sweat dripping from her forehead.

“Answer me, Thylane.” Wika ko muli rito.

Ngunit hindi talaga ito sumagot kaya hind na ako nag-alinlangan na umalis, slamming the door shut before heading to our room upang makuha ko ang aking mga gamit.

-(EMERALD CORLYN VERDANIO-FRANCISCO POV)-

~A week later~

As I opened my eyes, the first thing that caught my attention was a white background, wondering if I had passed or was still alive.

I… I’m not dead, right?

“Emy, thank God you’re awake.” Napatingin ako sa gawing kaliwa, seeing Dean holding a paper bag.

“Nasaan ako?” I asked weakly as I watch him stride towards me.

Hindi ito sumagot sa tanong ko, bagkus ako’y niyakap nito ng napaka-higpit. Na para bang ako’y umalis at bumalik pagtapos ng mahabang panahon.

“Dean, are you alright?” I asked as I hugged him back.

“I was so worried about you, akala ko mamamatay ka na.” Sagot nito at saka nito pinantay ang aming tingin.

“Nasaan ba ako? Ano ba ang nangyari?” Tanong ko muli.

“You tried to kill yourself, kung hindi lang ako pumunta sa bahay mo, siguro pinag-lalamayan ka na.” Giit nito sa akin at saka umupo sa gilid ng kama.

“Does my brother know what happened?” Tanong ko ulit.

“Hindi.” Sagot nito sa akin.

Tumango na lamang ako at nakitang pumasok ang isang doctor, maybe in his 30s.

“You must be Emerald Verdanio.” He stated and started to look at his chart.

“Yes, I am.” I answered politely.

Why does he look familiar?

-(GELAL THEODEN FRANCISCO POV)-

-☾︎-

"Hi, can I have a copy of my marriage certificate with Jescel Velastro?" I asked politely towards the clerk.

“What’s your name, Sir?” She asked as she looked up to me.

“Gelal Francisco.” Sagot ko rito.

Tumango ito sa akin at sinabihan na maghintay habang pino-proseso niya ito.

Sakto rin na may nag-text sa cellphone ko, causing me to look at it.

Kaj: San ka ngayon pre?

Ngunit hindi ako sumagot sa mensahe nito at binalewala na lamang iyon.

~§~

A few hours passed yet hindi pa ako tinatawag ng clerk at nagsisimula na akong mainip dahil sa tagal ng paghihintay na matawag ang pangalan ko.

I looked at the time, seeing it was 2:00 in the afternoon. Wondering if it was processed or not.

“Mr. Gelal Francisco?” The clerk called out, causing me to stand up.

“Yes, ma’am.” Giit ko nang makalapit na ako rito.

“I'm sorry, sir. I don't see any marriage certificate of you and Ms. Jescel registered here in our system.” Panimula nito.

“What do you mean? It’s not registered?” I asked, obviously confused.

“Yes, Sir.” She answered again. “But I found a registered marriage certificate with your name and another woman’s name, would you like me to give you a copy of it?” She asked.

“Sure, I’ll wait.” Sagot ko rito at saka bumalik sa aking inuupuan.

Our marriage wasn't registered? How is that possible?

If our marriage wasn’t registered, that means… hindi totoong kinasal kami ni Jes…