Chapter 16BreatheNauna akong lumabas sa kuwarto. Umiikot na ang paningin ko pero nakaya ko pa rin namang lakarin ang guest room. Things between Ivan and I werr still unsettled and it would be inappropriate for us to stay in one room.Sinarado ko ang pinto. I threw myself on the bed. I didn't bother switching the lights on. Maging na rin ang air-con o electric fan. Pakiramdam ko, bugbog na bugbog ang katawan ko.Nakadapa ako at nakabaon ang ulo sa malambot na unan. Hinila ko ang kumot para matabunan ang lamig na nararamdaman.All of a sudden the lights went on. Naaninag ko iyon kaya kumunot ang noo ko. I lifted myself so I could see the reason why it happened."Ivan?" hikab ko nang makita si Ivan na palapit.My head hurt even more with the striking light. Minasahe ko ang mga mata. On the other hand, I felt Ivan inched closer. Tinuon ko sa kaniya ang nanlalabong paningin.Lumundo ang kama sa kaniyang pagsampa. Pinilit kong makaupo dahil sa pagkabigla sa kaniyang ginawa."W-What are yo
Chapter 17 Story "Ivan is really a good help. I'm half relieved now. I just want your brother to be released. Sana'y aprubahan ang bail n'ya," Mommy stated over the phone. I just woke up from a tiring sleep when I received a call from her. Hindi ko alam. Imbis na makapagpahinga ako nang maayos, napuyat lang ako dahil sobrang lala ng ubo ko. "Tiwala lang po..." namamaos kong sinabi. "You sound sick. Are you okay? Don't make me worried even more, anak..." Naubo ako nang kaunti. "Uh... H-Hindi po. I caught some cold but I'll be fine." "You sure? I can go there. I will cook your favorite soup." "No need, 'Ma. Mas kailangan ka po ni Kuya. I can take good care of myself po. Don't worry, I'm old enough now..." She chuckled lowly. "I nearly forgot. You're still my baby girl for me, though." Tumakas sa akin ang isang tipid na ngiti. Bumuntonghininga ako at tumingala. Hinang-hina ako. I open my eyes whenever I feel my cough intensifies and I don't see Ivan beside me. I admit, umasa a
Chapter 18Unreal"What's happening?"Madali akong napahiwalay kay Manang dahil sa biglaang pagbungad ni Ivan sa may pintuan ng kusina. I wiped my tears. Kusa namang umurong ang mga senyales ng kalungkutan ko. "Hijo—" Bastos man pero pinutol ko si Manang. I don't want him to know. "Uh, medyo masakit kasi 'yung lalamunan ko. N-Naiyak lang ako sa... sakit," pagdadahilan ko. Ivan was wearing his three-piece suit. Mukhang may trabaho siya o 'di kaya, may pinuntahang trabaho. He glanced at my bowl and turned to me after. "You're eating. That's good. Uminom ka ng gamot pagkatapos," kalmadong aniya. Tipid akong tumango. "Salamat nga pala." I was expecting he'd deny it but he didn't. Instead, he asked Marilyn about the breakfast. Nagpaalam siyang may aasikasuhin muna sa office niya sa study. Doon lang ako nakahinga nang maayos. Umuubo-ubo pa rin ako kahit nalamanan na ang tiyan. I took my medicine for that hour. Natapos na rin ang agahan kaya naisipan kong gisingin na si Ice. But then
Chapter 19 Confusion Mukhang hindi nga yata ako — kami makakatulog. Quickly, he rose from his laying position. His brows pulled together quickly. Nag-iwas ako ng tingin. Why did he suddenly pay attention to it when I expect him to sleep soundly right after hearing me say those? I expected to get a cold shoulder from him again tutal, ang alam ko... wala siyang pakialam sa kahit ano tungkol sa kasal na 'to. "K-Kung gusto mo, ako ang kukuha ng abogado. I will... initiate the filing of annulment myself," I bargained hoarsely. "Are you out of your mind?" he asked coldly. Marahas akong napabaling sa kaniya. Ramdam ko ang umuusok niyang galit. His face contorted in irritation. Halos hindi ko siya malingon ulit. "Why are you staying here, then? You came back. Now you're telling me that you'll file an annulment?" his voice was dangerous. Wala akong maitugon sa sarkasmo niya. Fine, it's my issue. Hindi ko siya maiwanan sa ganoong lagay dahil sobra akong nag-alala. I knew I'd suffer the
Chapter 20 Hate "Ivan, please! 'Wag mo siyang sasaktan! 'Wag ang anak natin!" "Shut up! You are both the reason why I ended up like this. Kayo ang sumpa sa buhay ko!" "Ivan! Parang awa mo na!" "Ivan!" I screamed frighteningly. Mabilis akong napabangon. My breathing quickened. Bullets of sweat trickled my forehead. Malamig iyon at umaagos marahil dahil sa naging bangungot ko. Oh, God. I thought it was true. Akala ko sasaktan niya talaga ang anak namin. I know he would never do it but in my dream, I was very sure he'd hurt us. Kahit ako na lang sana... pero kahit si Ice... kinagalitan niya. P-Paano na lang kung mangyari iyon sa totoong buhay? Last night, I remembered him choking me. Oh, God. I immediately rose from the bed. Humarap ako sa tukador. I noticed the side of my neck swelling. Mukhang totoo nga. Totoo ang nangyari! Napahikbi ako. I couldn't control it. Malakas ang pag-iyak ko at alam kong maaabot ng tunog ang mga nasa labas. Weakly, I fell on my knees. Napaupo ako s
Chapter 21 Locked "Pakawalan n'yo ko. I'll visit my brother," hindi ko alam kung pang-ilang beses ko nang sinabi ang palusot na 'yon. But I believe it would be the best excuse because I feel well now. These two... they sedated me! Maiintindihan ko pa sana kung dahil iyon sa nag-panic ako pero pagkagising ko, nakakita kaagad ako ng maraming guwardiya sa labas. They obviously want to trap me here and I don't know why! "There's a thunderstorm outside. And you'd leave our son here?" taas-kilay ni Ivan. Hindi ko alam kung paano ko pang nasikmura na makipag-agahan kasama siya at ang kaibigan niya may parehas na kalibre na gaya sa kaniya. I don't know what to call them but I feel awfully mad at them. Sinadya pa nga yata ng panahon na makulong ako rito. Malakas ang bugso ng ulan sa labas. Based on the weather forecast I heard from the TV, it's not safe outside. But I'm very willing to risk it just so I could get out of here with my son! I don't feel safe anymore. Pakiramdam ko, bihag a
Chapter 22 Game "Manang, bakit niya 'to ginagawa sa 'kin? Minahal ko lang naman siya. Bakit ganito siya? Hindi pa ba sapat na nasaktan ako noong ako na ang nag-alok na makipaghiwalay?" I complained painfully. She caressed my arms around her. I could feel her shoulders shaking. Kahit ang mga pigil niyang hikbi. "H-Hindi ko na rin siya maintindihan, anak. Wala na akong nalalaman tungkol sa nangyayari sa kaniya. P-Patawarin mo ko k-kung hindi kita matulungan ngayon..." iyak niya. Ivan really has this cruel power of making women vital in his life cry this hard. Pero tinutuloy niya pa rin ang pananakit kahit anong mangyari. Sarili lang niya ang iniisip niya. Maybe, he doesn't want me to bruise his ego again as a married man. Hindi ako makapaniwalang mas mahalaga pa 'yon kaysa sa relasyon nila ni Lara. Although I hate her for intruding in our lives, I also pity her for settling for the less. For settling for Ivan. Alam niyang kasal si Ivan pero nagagawa niya pa ring mahalin nang sobr
Chapter 23LonelyIvan's wound bled. Right after we entered the house again, I was forced to go out of my reverie because he was already wincing in pain. Doon lang din nagbitiw ang mga kamay namin.Creed treated him on the sofa. Ang sinabi niya noon, maayos na at hindi rin naman niya inda. For a moment, I thought he's able to be left alone because he's healed. Kaya nga nag-alok na rin ako ng annulment. Pero heto siya, ginagamot ni Creed dahil bumuka ang sugat."T-in-arget talaga 'tong stab wound mo, brad. Gusto mo bang lagyan ko rin siya nito, mga fifty times?" Creed asked seriously while dressing Ivan's wound.Malamig siyang binalingan ng kausap. "Don't bother. It's just a waste of time."We were all soaking wet. Hindi naman ako makapagreklamo dahil nag-uusap pa sila. I was shaking because of the cold and I'm afraid it might trigger my flu again. Kahit pakiramdam ko naman, hindi na 'yon babalik."Rigella," Ivan called.Halos mapatalon ako. "Y-Yes?"Nasa tabi lang ako ng kaharap niyang