He's Not Just My Boss (Published under PSICOM)

XXXVI

Chapter Thirty-Six
 
  
"Problem?" tanong ni Warren habang nagsasayaw kami sa gitna at nakatutok ang mga mata ng mga bisita sa amin.

"Ha?" wala sa sariling sabi ko. Ilang minuto na ang nakalilipas mula nang nagsimula na ang nakaugaliang seremonya sa reception pero lutang pa rin ang pakiramdam ko.

"You don't look happy. Is there any problem?" Hinigpitan niya ang pagkakahawak sa baywang ko.

Sinikap kong ngumiti. "Wala naman."

Nagtaas siya ng kilay. Halatang hindi naniniwala sa sagot ko. "'You sure?"

Tumango ako at pinalawak pa ang pekeng ngiti.

I wonder how he can act without feeling guilty. Nanggaling siya sa simbahan, he vowed in Jesus name that he'll love me forever and now, we're in the sea of people who are important to us and he acts like he isn't fooling everyone around here.

I wonder how he can act like everything he does is true, like he married me again because he loves me twice as he used to be before. I swear I could be fooled again if I hadn't known what lies behind his sweet looks.

Nang sa wakas ay nagkahiwalay rin kami ni Warren para daluhan ang mga bisita ay nilapitan ko kaagad sila Grace at Jane.

Tahimik at pareho silang nakabusangot sa round table sa isang sulok. At alam ko na kung bakit.

"Kumusta ka naman? Naalala mo na bang dapat mo nang iwan ang asawa mo?"

Naaalala ko pang tanong sakin ni Grace noon sa birthday party ni Wayne. Akala ko nagbibiro lang siya.

"Hi." nahihiyang bati ko sa kanila.

"Claire! Oh my god! We've been trying to contact you these past few days!" eskandalosang bungad ni Jane.

Napangiwi ako. "What? May nangyari ba?"

This is not how I want our conversation to start. Gusto kong humingi ng tawad sa kanya dahil pinagdudahan ko siya at inaway pa before. I didn't even had the chance to thank her for being a good friend bago ako naaksidente. I wish I listened to her. I wish I payed attention and gave her the benefit of the doubt.

It could have saved me from the accident, the amnesia. Clark would be here. I wouldn't be marrying Warren for the second time and I wouldn't repeat the same mistakes again if I listened. Siguro ngayon ay magkahiwalay na kami ni Warren at tahimik na akong namumuhay kasama si Wayne at Clark.

My eyes shed tears for regret but I immediately kept it at bay.

 
"Yes. Come on, let's talk outside." ani Grace at hinila ako patayo sa upuan.

Kahit naguguluhan ay sumunod pa rin ako sa kanila. These two are my soul sisters, the ones who might cause me pain but only for my sake. Not for their own, not like Rachel did, and I even treated her as my sister.
 
  
Dinala nila ako sa likod ng hotel nila Warren. This seems like a sanctum garden. There were different kinds of floral plant, there's a perfectly done man-made fountain and a gazebo in the middle. We sat in the gazebo's floor, not minding if our dresses get tainted.

"So what happened?" simula ko nang nanatili silang tahimik. I want to start talking now, to tell them about everything, but it seems like they are still arguing about the matter they are supposed to tell me based on their facial expressions and gestures.

Until finally, Grace started to talk. "Claire, ganito kasi 'yan.." Mukha siyang nag-aalangan at kinakabahan pero nagpatuloy siya. "Hindi mo dapat pinakasalan ulit si Warren. In fact, ang dapat mong gawin ay makipaghiwalay sa kanya."