"Zenith," Era absentmindedly said."Hi," tila alanganing sambit sa kaniya ni Zenith. He stood across from her, she was seated on the middle left side, facing him.
She saw tenderness in his sad eyes. Saglit niya itong pinasadahan ng tingin. He definitely lost weight. May beard na ito at balbas na hindi inaahit.
She composed herself first. Pinipilit supilin ang mabilis na tibok ng puso pagkakita sa lalaking nagparamdam ng panandaliang saya at pagmamahal sa kaniya.
"Hello, Mr. Sujuico," she said in a professional tone.
She saw the pain that laced in his gorgeous eyes. Those eyes who declared his undying love for her multiple times. Those eyes who assured her of their future together, when it was all but lies. Those eyes that promised her not to hurt her in any way. Pero nasaan sila ngayon?
"So, it is back to Mr. Sujuico, huh." He scoffed. Napatingala ito at tila pinipigilan ang maiyak.
"Can I start my presentation now?" she cut him off from crying.
He looked directly into her eyes. He could see and feel the mixture of emotions from it.
"You know very well hindi 'yan ang rason kung bakit ka narito, babe. Let us talk about us."
Era inhaled deeply, trying to pacify the anger and pain. Alam niya na pilit nitong ibinabalik ang nakaraan. Ayaw niyang magpadala sa emosyon. She needed to have a clear mind para makausap ito nang maayos.
She closed her laptop and gazed at him directly. "Let us be clear, Mr. Sujuico. We are through."
"No," madiin nitong saad. "I never agreed on it. Babe. Please. Pakinggan mo ako. Pag-usapan natin ito."
When he was about to go to her side, Era stopped him. "Diyan ka lang. Huwag kang lalapit. Don't you dare, Mr. Sujuico."
The hurt was visible now on his face. "So it is really Mr. Sujuico now, babe? How could . . . how—bakit ang bilis naman yata, Era?"
Tila inaapuhap ni Zenith ang mga katagang nais sambitin. She saw him weakly sit on the swivel chair across her, nakasabunot sa buhok nito na nakayuko, kitang-kita niya ang pagtulo ng luha sa ibabaw ng executive table.
She fought the urge to go by his side, comfort him, and wipe those tears away. Ngunit para saan pa? They had their time. It was time to face reality.
"Ano ang dapat nating pag-usapan pa, Mr. Sujuico?"
Era's cold voice sent chills down his spine. The moment he saw her, gusto niya itong sugurin ng yakap, hold her in a tight embrace, feel her warmth, and her soft body against his. He wanted to breathe her scent in, paulit-ulit na samyuin ang amoy nito na hinahanap-hanap na niya. He wanted to kiss her senselessly. Make her feel his love through his kisses.
His own being couldn't function without her. Tila siya tinanggalan ng dahilan para lumaban para mabuhay, that he couldn't live without her by his side.
Pilit niyang pinatatag ang sarili at humugot ng lakas ng loob na salubungin ang tingin ng babaeng minamahal. He could feel his heart now being ripped apart into a million pieces. The way she stared back was emotionless. Wala na ang init, lambing, at pagmamahal sa mga matang nakitaan niya ng kaniyang kinabukasan.
"We need to talk about us. You, me, and our baby." Then he tried to smile at her, kahit alanganin.
"What is there to talk about? You are married and your wife is heavily pregnant that you didn't even care to tell me. You didn't even bother to tell me you got her pregnant! When all along, ang alam ko hiwalay na kayo?"
BINABASA MO ANG
A Sinful Forbidden Affair
RomanceEra has been in a relationship with Vernon for more than a decade. They met each other when they were still young, both dreamt of a bright future together. They promised themselves to love each other despite whatever challenges life may brough them...