“Tama na nga siguro. Hindi na lang ako aasa, Lucile.”
Nilunod ko ang sarili sa kakatungga ng dalawang pitchel na juice na inihanda sa akin ni Lucile nang makarating ako sa bahay niya. Wala raw siyang available na kahit anong alcoholic drinks kaya magtiis na lang daw muna ako sa orange juice niya, na mas maasim pa sa putok niya sa kili-kili.
“Ako rin kasi ‘yong mali. Malinaw naman ‘yong kasunduan naming dalawa na wala dapat attachment na magaganap. In the first place, both of our sides have understood that this setup is just for pretending.”
“Nilinaw niya sa akin na hihiramin ko lang ‘yong identity ng kapatid ko in preparation for this day—that I would have the chance to meet Liam again and he wouldn’t find that I am still alive.”
“Malinaw naman sa utak ko ang lahat. Alam ko naman kung saan ako lulugar… not until my foolish heart rule my whole system… at nahulog ako… kahit na alam ko namang sa kabila ng mabubulaklak niyang mga salita, to catch me if I fall do not belong in his options.” Natawa ako sa sariling katangahan… na pinabayaan ko kaya lumala nang lumala na ngayon.
“Ngayon… nalaman kong buntis na ‘yong babaeng dine-date niya. Which is that he told me yesterday he will stop seeing that woman again.”
“Bullsh*t! Seryoso ka bang buntis ‘yong babae? Na-confirm mo na bang si Hen talaga ‘yong tatay no’ng batang ipinagbubuntis niya?”
“Who else?”
“But you told me that woman is having an affair with another? Aside from Henrix. Malay mo hindi naman pala si Henrix ang tatay no’n. ‘Wag ka agad mag-conclude agad, Kris. Cheer up!”
“It’s him… Lucile.” I bit my lower lip to stop myself from weeping.
Nahihirapan akong dugtungan pa ‘yong sasabihin ko… kasi alam kong mabigat na ‘yong kasunod.
“Last night I opened his laptop, nakita ko sa history ng google chrome niya that… he was searching for a ‘short but unique’ name for a baby boy and girl.”
“Aside from that… Aud mentioned to me that he caught Henrix having flowers, a teddy bear and chocolates inside his car. May kasama pa raw na maliit na kahon na kulay asul.”
“It was off the wall he’ll buy that thing… seemingly to be a box of a diamond ring. Kaya noong gabing nakita ko ‘yong search history niya about baby names ideas, I went to his car. Nagbabaka-sakali na nandoon pa ‘yon… and I was right. Sa driver’s seat, nakaipit doon ‘yong kahon… doon niya itinago.”
“What’s inside the box?”
“A diamond ring. You know… girl’s instinct, most of the time, was right.”
“Oh, no…” Mabilis niyang inagaw sa akin ‘yong baso na may laman na juice kaya’t naudlot ang pag-inom ko roon.
Naupo siya sa harap ko, and it’s her time to speak. “Ano nang balak mong gawin n’yan, Kris? What if totoo ‘yang mga suspetsya mo sa kanya? Kung noon nga… nagagawa niyang magtago sa iyo para lang kitain ‘yong babae… paano pa kaya ngayon? Paano ‘pag nalaman niyang may anak siya roon? Paano na kayo ni Audrey n’yan?”
“We’re going to be okay, Lucile. ‘Wag kang OA.”
Bilang tapos na rin naman akong mag-drama, and siguro sapat na ‘yong mga naiiyak ko para mabawasan kahit papaano ‘yong sama ng loob ko… now, I’m preparing myself to leave her house.
“Successful naman ang trabaho ko ngayon. Sapat na siguro ‘yon para matustusan ko ‘yong magiging gastos ni Audrey once she enrolled in an international music academy.”
BINABASA MO ANG
Vengeance of the Battered
ChickLitKirsten Bargamento is a woman in an abusive marriage. Things are getting complex for her to withstand, escaping from her husband is her way to have freedom. She started her new life living as her twin sister, Gwen, who died many years ago.
