Hate Me Now Love Me Later

Prologue

Always choose the one who always choose you. - M.M

"Where have you been, my dear husband?" Salubong niya sa asawang gabing-gabi na naman umuwi at amoy alak.

Pero tulad ng dati, nilampasan lang siya nito na parang wala siya roon. She looked up and blinked her eyes a couple of times when it started to welled up again. Hanggang kailan niya ba iiyakan ang asawa? Sawang-sawa na siya!

"I'm asking you, Knife Marquez! Answer me or I swear to God I'm gonna leave this fvcking house right now!" Aminah shouted in enraged anger.

Knife stopped in the middle of the staircase because of her sudden outburst. Marahil ay hindi inaasahang bubulyawan niya ito. But she's very determined. Lalayasan niya talaga ito at wala na siyang pakielam kung nanganganib man ang kanyang buhay ngayon. At kung mamamatay man siya, then so be it. If that's the only way to escape from this misery.

Umikot ang kanyang asawa upang salubungin ang kanyang nagbabagang mga tingin. Marahas niyang pinahid ng palad ang luhang nakatakas ng hindi niya namamalayan.

"Don't try my patience now, woman. I'm tired so spare me with your tantrums." Mahinahong wika ni Knife ngunit nakaigting naman ang mga panga.

"Tantrums?" She scoffed. So iniisip pala nito na nagpapaka-bratinela lang siya.

Nameywang siya at pilit na hinamig ang sarili. Alam naman niya kasing siya rin ang luhaan sa huli so para saan pa na makipagtalo siya.

Tumalikod na si Knife at ipinagpatuloy ang pag-akyat patungo sa silid nito. She decided to follow him. Naabutan niya ito sa silid na niluluwagan na ang suot na kurbata. Hindi siya nito pinansin kahit alam nang naroon siya. Tuloy-tuloy lamang ito sa paghuhubad ng kasuotan. Akma na itong papasok sa banyo nang muli siyang magsalita.

"N-nanggaling ka ba ulit kay L-luisa?" Nasasaktan niyang tanong.

Napansin niya kasi ang namumulang bahagi ng balat nito sa leeg. And she's hundred percent sure that he got that from his girlfriend. As usual, Luisa is trying to show her that Knife only belongs to her by branding her territory using a kiss mark.

"Why can't you just love me, Knife? Why can't you let yourself love me or show me a little affection at least?" She continued when Knife didn't bother to answer her. He just stood there in front of the bathroom door with a stoic face. Nakakuyom ang mga kamao nito. Halatang nagtitimpi.

"P-please, Knife. M-mahalin mo naman ako kahit kaunti lang." She begged with her eyes full of tears streaming down her face.

Wala na siyang pakielam kung nagmumukha na siyang desperada sa paningin ng asawa niya. Ang mahalaga sa kanya ay mailabas ang nilalaman ng kanyang dibdib dahil para na iyong sasabog sa labis na emosyon.

"A-ako ang asawa mo, Knife. K-kaya ako dapat ang naglalagay sa balat mo ng mga ganyang tanda. S-sa akin mo dapat inilalabas ang init ng katawan mo at hindi kay Luisa." Puno ng hinanakit niyang wika.

But Knife only gave her a bored look before uttering the most painful words she have ever heard from him.

"I only agreed to this marriage because I made a promise to protect and to take care of you, not to love you, Aminah. You knew that very well from the start, yet here you are begging me to love you back. You know I can't and you already knew why. I'm in love with someone else."

Tila siya nauupos na kandila pagkatapos marinig ang mga masasakit na salitang iyon mula kay Knife. At tulad ng pangalan nito, mistula isang patalim ang mga katagang iyon na siyang humiwa at pumira-piraso sa kanyang pagkatao.

But call her masochistic because she didn't give up after that night. She won't give up their marriage just like that. So when the morning came, she went to the least person that she would talk to. She swallowed her pride and went to Luisa's café. Handa siyang makiusap dito at lumuhod kung kinakailangan. Ganoon kasidhi ang pagmamahal niya kay Knife.