Rule #3: Changing The Rules

[45]

Chapter 45

I just want this tyranny to end itself.

Tulala ako nung pauwi na kami sa bahay. We ate at a nearby restaurant and treated Ardie to a delicious meal because he requested it. Dumaan din kami sa toy store para bilhin ang kahit anong gusto niya.

He's resting tiredly on the backseat, eyes closed while hugging his teddy bear. He's really my happiness in the dark days. Gusto kong lumaki siyang iwas sa lahat ng gulo rito.

"Prince..."

Hindi pa kami naguusap tungkol sa nangyari kanina. He didn't open it up, knowing that Ardie is with us. Mukhang hindi rin naman nakilala ni Ardie si Miriella kaya mabuti na rin iyon.

"What can you say about migrating to another country?" It's a thought that came to my head earlier.

He placed his hand on his lip, thinking about it. That is the only way I could think of to let Miriella have Troy. Kahit pa ayaw kong silang dalawa ang magsama dahil sa ginawa nila sa akin ay napapayag pa rin ako dahil sa pakiusap ni Rie. And being the person I am, I agreed because I pitied her.

That doesn't mean that I forgive them. Nasusuka pa rin ako tuwing nakikita ko ang pagmumukha nilang dalawa. 

"Why? Ayaw mo ba rito?"

I sighed. "I just think that it's best and suitable for Ardie to grow up abroad and live there. I mean, he was born and raised for two years in New York. Mas maraming opportunities..."

Hindi ko masabi ng direkta ang nais na sabihin. I don't want him to think that the only reason why I want to get away from this damned country is because of Troy.

I'm not hoping for anything from him anymore. Iyon ang dapat na nakatatak sa isipan ko. Si Prince ang mahal ko at hindi siya.

"Brierwell is good. He might miss his friends here if we'll leave. Besides you have your residency and I have my work—"

"You can do that there too. Magaling ka. I'm sure you can get even more opportunities there." bumuntong-hininga ako at inisip kung saan kami pwede tumira. "What about Norway? Sweden? New Zealand, pwede rin?"

He sighed. "Elisse, you're rushing too much. We just got married and Ardie is going to school. You can't just tell him that we'll move all of a sudden."

"Hindi ko naman sinasabing ngayon na... pwedeng next year or next month, basta isama na natin sa plano." lumunok ako.

Kumunot ang noo niya at itinigil ang sasakyan sa gilid bago ako hinarap.

"What is this all about?" seryosong ani Prince habang matalim na nakatingin sa akin.

Lumingon ako sa anak naming tulog na tulog sa likod ng sasakyan. He is resting comfortably there, panigurado hindi naman niya naririnig ang usapan naming ito.

"I'm just thinking about our future with our son. Nothing else." mariin kong sambit.

His eyes narrowed and shook his head.

"Rie begged, didn't she?" he scoffed. "I told her not to. Pero mukhang mapilit at ginawa niya pa rin..."

I watched his expression keenly. Based on what I'm seeing, he looked pissed and annoyed. Dahil ba iyon sa akin o dahil sa sinabi ni Rie na magmakaawa siya para ibigay ko na si Troy sa kanya?

Ako lang ba talaga ang minahal niya, all these years? Totoo kaya ang sinabi ni Rie?

Napapikit ako ng mariin.

I should not be doubting him anymore. Kitang-kita naman na mahal na mahal niya ako. It's just me, losing my trust in people.

He loves me. He will never cheat nor hurt me like he did, before. He's a better man now. A good father and a loving husband to me.