Forgotten Rendezvous

Prologue

Habang abala ako sa paghuhugas ng mga pinggan, ang sermon niya ay sumasabay sa ingay ng tubig na naririnig ko sa buong kusina.

"I already told you. Dapat hindi ka na sumama diyan sa bestfriend mo." His disappointment was clear in his voice as he said that.

I felt my chest tightened.

He stood there staring at me, his hands clenched into fists, the veins in his forehead pulsing. I could feel the storm brewing within him.

I went to the living room where he is. I removed my gloves and met his gaze, hoping that my calm demeanor would ease the tension.

"Gusto ko lang makumusta si Z. I haven't seen her for a long time. I'm losing my sanity here."

"So? Is it my fault?" His tone was dripping with sarcasm.

"No. Sorry!" Nahihirapang sambit ko.

A lump formed in my throat as I blinked back the tears.

"You never learn your lessons. You always play that victim card, Shanaiah"

"I was lonely, and I just wanted to connect with someone."

"Lonely? My goodness, Shan! You're a married woman now!" he roared.

Hindi ko na napigilan ang nag-uunahang luha ko.

"What if someone sees you? Are you using your mind?" He added.

"It won't happen again," I whispered.

"Just take your medicine. You're making this harder than it needs to be. I'm at my limit." He commanded me to go upstairs.

A sharp pain twisted in my gut.

"Was I really nothing more than a burden to him? Was this marriage just an obligation he felt he had to fulfill?"

Each step up the stairs felt like a monumental effort. My lungs burned, but I pushed on. I had to be strong; I couldn't afford to be weak. Not now.

Pagkatapos  kong i-take ang medicines ay bumaba na ulit ako. I needed to feel his presence, to know he was near. The fear of losing him was a constant, gnawing at my heart.

His phone rang, cutting through the tense silence. I know it was Dianne. The name alone was enough to ignite a fire of jealousy within me.

"Okay, I'm coming." He said through the phone.

"Saan ka pupunta? Sa kanya?" Felix just ignored me. He grabbed his coat and bag, his movements swift and decisive.

As he turned to leave, I clung to his arms, tears streaming down my face. "Please, huwag ka munang umalis. Kahit ngayong gabi lang. I need you, I'm sick." I pleaded.

He tried to pry me off, but I held on tighter. "You're overreacting, Shan. Stop that senseless game!" he roared.

When he finally broke free, I collapsed to the floor, sobbing uncontrollably. "I can't right now, Felix," I cried. "Please, don't go."

"Ako ang asawa mo!" My voice rising. "Please choose me this time. Choose your wife over that woman. I'm begging you!"

"Shanaiah..." He grinned as his eyes darkened. "Don't make me choose, Shan. You won't like the answer."

He leaned in close, his breath warm against my ear. "And yeah... You're my wife. Just my fucking wife."

With those cruel words, he turned and left. I was left alone, shattered and broken.

Days turned into weeks. He never got home. The pain of his betrayal was a constant ache in my chest. I had lost myself in the depths of our toxic relationship. But I was done. Pagod na akong umiyak at maiwan. Handa na akong harapin ang katotohanan. Tatalikuran ko na siya.

I slipped into a fitted red dress, the color a stark contrast to the emptiness I felt inside. As I stood before the mirror, applying layer upon layer of makeup, I felt a strange sense of liberation.

I packed my belongings, wala akong itinira kahit isa. As I finally turned off the lights, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of sadness. But I knew this was for the best.

Just as I was about to leave, my phone buzzed. It was a text from Felix: "Meet me tomorrow at a restaurant, I have something important to say. I'll just send you the address. I'll expect you at our Rendezvous."

A bitter laugh escaped my lips. Rendezvous? The irony was almost comical. Our relationship had long ceased to be anything resembling a rendezvous. It was more like a battleground, where I fought for scraps of affection.

Tinitigan ko ang mensahe niya. Iniisip ko ang kahulugan nito. Could this be a turning point? A game changer? Was Felix finally ready to see me as more than a burden, or was this just another cruel game?

As I think about that "rendezvous," I  couldn't shake the feeling that I was walking into a trap. But I'll be going anyway, drawn by a desperate hope that perhaps, just perhaps, our love could be salvaged.