A Sinful Forbidden Affair

Chapter 10

Tulad ng napag-usapan nila ni Era, Zenith travelled a day earlier para maayos ang kaniyang bahay in an exclusive subdivision in Cebu. Tinawagan niya ang katiwala para malinis na ang bahay. It was a five-bedroom home, Spanish style. It had a large background fit for a growing family.

Prior to Zenith coming here in Cebu, he had a heart to heart talk with his wife. Tulad ng kaniyang inaasahan ay hindi ito pumayag sa divorce, hindi rin niya nalaman na their marriage was also registered here in Philippines. He thought it would be considered void ab initio. Pinaaasikaso na niya ang divorce ng kanilang kasal sa U.S. Mabuti na rin na may pinirmahan silang prenuptial agreement kaya hindi na mahihirapan pang hatiin ang properties nilang mag-asawa. Isa ang tiyak niyang mangyayari, mahihirapan siyang ipawalang bisa ang kanilang kasal sa Pilipinas. Their families would definitely have a hand and say about it. Desidido na siya. This was for Michelle. She didn't deserve this kind of life from him.

Zenith felt bad that his marriage would fall apart like this. He dreamed of spending the rest of his life with Michelle, they both dreamed of a family. To his dismay, it would remain a dream. They both tried counselling, following what the shrink had said. He courted her again, viewed things differently, he tried appreciating everything his wife did, accepted her imperfections, they even tried to be intimate, ngunit hindi rin umubra. After he and Era talked in Sofitel, he tried all his best in rekindling the flame with his wife. But it was not successful. 

Dahil isa ang rason, hindi na niya makapa ang pagmamahal na naramdaman dito noon. 

Ayaw niyang maging makasarili. Zenith wanted Michelle to find the happiness she truly deserved, hindi niya maibibigay rito iyon. Hindi dahil Era occupied his thoughts, kung hindi hindi na niya kaya itong mahalin sa paraang gusto nito. She didn't deserve a half-baked love. It would not be futile and it would make things go ugly and sour kapag pinilit nila. Michelle started to put the blame on him, chided him for his unreciprocated efforts in their marriage, which he wholeheartedly accepted.

Patuloy niya itong masasaktan. Patuloy silang dalawa na magkakasakitan. He couldn't bear to see her cry, to see her cry because of him. Siya ang dahilan ng pagdurusa nito at ayaw na niyang patuloy na dagdagan. Ayaw niyang malaman nito na for him, to tie the knot was a mistake. Or they got married at the wrong time. He should've waited a little longer, para mas nasigurado niya ang nararamdaman dito. Aminado naman siya that he rushed getting married with Michelle. Nagpakasal siya dahil nalulungkot at nasasaktan siya. After Stephanie found her own happiness, he felt alone and lonely. Ginamit niya si Michelle to get out of his own misery. He was selfish. Ngayon, pati ang asawa ay dinamay niya sa kamiserablehan niya. 

Pinagmasdan niya ang bahay. Plano niya noon to settle here in Cebu, but his businesses were all in Manila. Hindi advisable na lagi siyang bibiyahe. This property was now his vacation home where he purchased prior to his marriage with Michelle. Noon ay hindi niya alam kung bakit niya ito binili. Now he knew why.

***

Pagkalapag ng eroplano, Era heaved a deep breath. This was it. A new start. Pagkalabas niya ng arrival area ay may nakita siyang placard with her name on it. The driver assisted her and off they went.

Napamaang si Era when she saw they were entering a high-end exclusive subdivision. Ang alam niyang usapan nila ni Zenith ay tutuloy siya sa munting tahanan nito. Ang munti pala rito ay isang malaking bahay. Pagkaparada ng sasakyan sa garahe ay nakita niyang nag-aabang si Zenith sa kaniya sa main door. He was in khaki brown shorts, dark blue polo shirt, and flip flops.

She went directly to him and planted a peck on his cheek. 

"How was the flight?" tanong ni Zenith.

"It was smooth, no air packets." She smiled at him.