Habang nasa trabaho ay nakatulala si Era. Pilit umuukilkil sa kaniyang isipan ang sinabi ni Zandro kamakailan. She did ask him a lot of times why he said Adam was his brother, ang tanging sagot nito: "He is my fwend and my bwother, Mom!"
There was something amiss she couldn't put a name into. Marahan na hinimas ni Era ang baba. She decided to go home early para masagot ang curiosity. She packed her things and left an instruction to her secretary. Yes, she earned a position again in an advertising agency. Nagdahilan lamang siya na client call.
Inabangan niya sa bintana ang pagdating ng mag-ama. As usual ay sakay muli nito ang batang Adam ang pangalan. Nang makapasok na si Zandro, humalik at nagmano ito sa kaniya bago niya mabilis na inilabas ang kotse sa garahe. Ibinilin na ni Era sa kasambahay at nanny ang mga bata.
Tinahak ni Era ang kalsada palabas ng subdivision. Nilinga niya ang main road, pagtingin niya sa kanan ay nahagip niya ng tingin ang SUV ni Zenith. She maneuvered the vehicle and tailed him.
Napakunot ang noo niya nang makitang papasok sa Forbes' Park si Zenith. She took her chance at sinundan itong muli. Nakita niya ang isang bata na sakay nito. Mukhang hindi nalalayo sa edad ni Zandro. Pumasok siya sa gated upscale village, she alibied at the guard that she made the wrong turn, ngunit inabot pa niya ng tingin kung saan pumasok na kalye ang asawa.
Malalaman din niya ang lahat, in the right time.
***
Era went to the grocery store to buy additional groceries and ingredients to make a chocolate chip cookie. She was about to reach for the flour nang pamilyar na bulto ang nakita niya.
"V-Vernon," mahina niyang usal.
Inilagay niya sa pushcart ang box ng harina. Itinulak niya ito upang puntahan sana si Vernon. She halted her steps when she saw a wedding ring on his finger. He went beside a woman who is heavily pregnant.
She felt a pang of pain in her chest. She should be happy for Vernon, he finally found the right partner for him. She was about to turn around when Vernon called Era's name.
Ayaw man niya, but he already recognized her. Lumapit ito sa kaniya kasama ang asawa.
"H-Hi!" Era awkwardly greeted Vernon and his wife.
Wala siyang makitang bad blood, kahit anong indikasyon ng galit or muhi sa sa mata ng dating katipan. All she can is see is happiness radiating from his handsome face.
"Hello!" masiglang bati nito sa kaniya at hinalikan siya sa pisngi.
"How are you?" she asked Vernon.
"Ito, happily married! By the way, I want you to meet my wife, Caroline."
Caroline was pretty, she was glowing, happily married with her former fiancé. Iniumang nito ang palad na kaniya namang tinanggap.
"Mahal, this is Era. She is my former fiancée. We had been together for a decade, right?" ani Vernon.
Era timidly smiled. "Yeah."
"Naku, lagi ka niyang nakukuwento!" ani Caroline. Napakamot sa ulo si Vernon.
"I hope it's all good naman, ano?" nakangiti niyang tanong kay Caroline but inside? She felt sad. Kinakain siya ng di maintindihan na pakiramdam.
BINABASA MO ANG
A Sinful Forbidden Affair
Storie d'amoreEra 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...
