Boss Lady #4: Laws in Love

II. mad woman

OLIVE thought long and hard about asking Zia regarding how she got out of her marriage. Ayaw niyang makulayan ang isip o opinyon nito tungkol sa kanila ni Gio dahil hindi niya sigurado kung tama bang sabihin ito sa dating kaklase. Zia is not a close friend, so Olive is quite hesitant to trust her. Gio has ears all around, and one slip of her tongue might cause her husband to know and hurt her again.

Pumasok siya sa coffee shop kung saan magkikita sila ni Zia ngayong umaga. It was only around nine in the morning but they agreed to have an early dayout so it was not a problem for either of them. Nakita niyang sumenyas si Zia sa kanyang gawi na agad niyang tinungo.

"Ah, good morning, Olive!" bati nito sabay tumayo para makipagbeso. "Halos kararating ko lang din. You can order na, I already ordered for myself."

Tumango siya matapos batiin ito saka tumungo sa counter para um-order ng hot caramel macchiato at chocolate doughnut. When she got her order, Olive went back to their table and sat down while carrying the tray.

"How are you?" tanong niya kay Zia.

Ngumiti naman ito. "I'm doing fine. I'm really just spending time with myself and my kids."

"Oh, you have kids?"

"Yup! 'Yon lang ang magandang dinala ng walanghiya kong asawa sa buhay ko," sagot nito. "I have two kids, actually. Si Zylene, 5 years old na and si Gracie, 2 years old. I have both of them under full custody."

"Mabuti pala kung ganoon. Mahirap din siguro kapag nakikipaghiwalay tapos may mga anak," wika ni Olive. Buti na lang, wala silang anak ni Gio. 'Yon naman ang pinagpapasalamat niya sa asawa, dahil hindi nito pinilit na mag-sex sila. Gio has never touched her sexually, tutal may Daniela naman kasi ito.

"Mahirap talaga. Ayaw mong madamay 'yung mga bata sa gulo pero somehow, nadadamay pa rin. At least, my kids are with me. I don't think I'll be at peace if the court gave them to my ex husband."

Olive nodded and smiled in sympathy as she took a sip of her drink. "Uhm... if you don't mind me asking, ba't ka nakipag hiwalay sa asawa mo? Gaano ba kayo katagal?"

"We were married for almost eight years. We got married when I was 24. Ang bata pa, 'di ba? We were together for four years before we got engaged. Akala ko talaga, makakasama ko 'yun habambuhay. But oh, I was so wrong," Zia shared. "Alam mo 'yung walang plano sa buhay? Ganoon 'yung ex husband ko. He has no plans for our marriage, for our kids. Come what may na lang, ganon. Lasinggero pa nga. Sometimes, he would arrive late at night na lasing na lasing tapos nagmaneho pa. Whenever I scold him about his wrongdoings, he makes me feel and think like I'm the one who's wrong. He gaslighted me many times in our relationship."

"I'm sorry for what you went through, Zia," she comforted her.

"Okay lang, ano ka ba? Masayang masaya ako noong nakipag hiwalay ako sa kanya at na-annul kami. The only times I cried were when the court finalized our annulment and when my lawyer informed me that I got full custody of Zylene and Gracie," wika nito. "Matagal akong nagpabulag eh, it took me years to finally take off my rose-colored glasses. And when I did, I realized na I deserved better, you know? I deserve someone who will compromise with me, communicate with me, and make efforts for our family."

Olive understands Zia so much. Ganoon na ganoon din ang alam niyang deserve niya ngunit hindi niya makuha kuha dahil nakatali pa rin siya kay Gio. She does not even know when will it end, and if it can even be ended.

"I'm glad it all worked out for you and your kids, Zia. At least, you got out of that marriage and you're now at peace," sabi ni Olive.

Tumango si Zia saka ngumiti nang tipid. "Naku, hindi magwo-work out lahat if it weren't for my lawyer! Napaka galing ng abugado na 'yon, you might have heard of him because he's a famous lawyer in the country. Si Atty. Axel Ross Hidalgo?"