White Lies and Smiles

26

TW: Mention of Death

"Qams, bago kami naghiwalay ni Markus noon, marami rin kaming tampuhan at misunderstandings. Minsan pagod na ako pero ayokong sumuko. Bakit? Kasi mahal ko 'yung tao. Kaya kahit gaano kasakit, tiniis ko kasi ayokong maghiwalay kami. When we broke up, it was really painful. But I found peace at some points." Pia smiled at me.

"Hayaan mo na, sis. Kung gusto niyang mag-stay kay Clyde, hayaan mo lang. Hindi naman kasi 'yan same. I mean, magkaiba kayo, magkaiba sina Markus at Clyde." Napabaling kami kay Clara. Binibihisan niya si baby CJ.

"Flash news, same lang sila! Ganiyan din nagsimula si Markus. Mainitin ang ulo, laging may issue-"

"Kapag nagising ang anak ko sa lakas ng boses mo, susuntukin talaga kita, Pia," banta ni Clara. Natawa nalang si Pia.

"Love hurts but it shouldn't make you feel bad. One fight or issue is fine. If it happens twice, it's still fine. But fighting everyday or most of the time is definitely not fine. Learn to choose yourself and learn to let go. It's not always about your relationship, sometimes it's about the both of you as individuals." Clara seemed to agree to that. She glanced at Pia and I saw how her face softened.

I bit my nail while waiting for Clyde. Susundiin niya ako, dapat andito na siya. My mood lit up when I saw Clyde's car. Lumabas siya ng kotse at pinagbuksan ako ng pinto. Nang makapasok ako'y hinalikan niya ako bago inayos ang aking seatbelt. Napangiti tuloy ako.

Nang maayos ay sinarado niya na ang pinto. Naglakad siya papunta sa kabilang side at pumasok na sa driver's seat. Wala ni isang salita na lumabas sa bibig ni Clyde habang nagmamaneho siya patungo sa condo niya. Hindi na rin ako nagsalita dahil baka may iniisip siya... Baka stressed siya.

Pareho kaming tahimik nang makarating sa condo. Dumiretso na ako sa kusina upang magluto ng hapunan. Naramdaman ko ang pagsunod ni Clyde sa akin. Yumakap siya sa akin. Ang mga braso niya'y nasa ibabaw ng dibdib ko. Hinaplos ko ang braso niya.

"I won the case. Now, Mr. Hernandez filed a case against Diana. You know why we won the case?" Umiling ako. "He told the truth. He wasn't in any relationship with Diana. He was in a relationship with his secretary. He also revealed that only his family liked Diana. He was never an abusive person, even when Diana killed your child."

"Congrats! I hope Diana gets what she deserves. Their kid doesn't deserve a mother like her-"

"Riri, the kid wasn't Ethan's.. Diana fooled everyone. They conducted a DNA test before but Diana together with Ethan's family paid someone to forge the results. Diana also admitted that nothing happened between her and Ethan." Natigil ako sa paghaplos kay Clyde. Hearing the truth made me want to cry. The truth.. has been covered with lies. The lies that ruined everything.

I found myself standing in front of Ethan's house. I need to talk to him regarding the case. I want to file a case against Diana... She killed my child. The security guard recognized me the moment I took off my sunglasses. I smiled a bit.

He let me in. The housemaids looked at me when I entered the house. There were new ones... The old housemaids looked shocked. They went to me and welcomed me with a group hug. I felt sad hearing their cries.

"Ma'am! Na-miss ka namin! Nakakainis naman kasi ang Diana na 'yon!"

"Oo nga, ma'am! Si s-sir Ethan po... Para siyang nawala sa kaniyang sarili nang mawala ka sa kaniya.."

"Ma'am, alam namin ang nangyari kay baby.. Sorry po, wala kaming nagawa-"

"Hindi n'yo naman alam na may ginagawa na sa 'kin si Diana. Wala kayong kasalanan." Ngumiti ako sa kanila. Umiiyak pa rin sila. "Nasa'n si Ethan?"

"Nasa taas po. Hatid ko na po kayo, ma'am." Tumango ako at sumunod nalang.

Iniwan na ako ng katulong sa tapat ng k'warto ni Ethan. Kumatok ako bago sinubukang buksan ang pinto. Naka-lock pala. Kumatok ulit ako. Baka tulog pa siya? Tanghali na, ah? Wala ba siyang trabaho? Naiwan sa ere ang kamay ko nang biglang bumukas ang pinto.

Nagulat si Ethan nang makita ako. Naka-loose shirt at grey sweatpants lang siya. Magulo ang buhok at suot niya ang kaniyang salamin. Bumaba ang tingin ko sa hawak niya. Mga papel 'yon... Sa trabaho siguro? Sumandal siya sa hamba ng pintuan at tumitig sa akin. Ang liit ko sigurong tingnan ngayon dahil naka-flats lang ako...

"What are you doing here?" I don't know if I was just hearing things but I heard amusement in his voice.

"I'm here to talk about Diana. I want to file a case against her. She killed my child, Ethan. I want justice-"

"I already did. We can fight against her together if you want. She killed our child, Qamari. I want justice too not only for me, for you, but also for our kid. I blamed myself for years because you made me believe that I caused his death. I understand you and your reasons. As a mother, you wanted the baby to survive. But I decided as your partner. I didn't know that choosing that option would make me lose you but in a different way. Even if the child survived, iiwan mo pa rin ako. I've realized that there's no option that will make you stay." Nangilid ang mga luha niya habang nakatingin sa aking mga mata.

"I'm sorry for blaming you. I had so much in my mind that time. I read your conversation with Diana. Alam mo ba kung ano 'yung na-feel ko noon? Niloko mo ako. Nabuo ang anak natin dahil sa mga kasinungalingan mo. Sinabi mo pa sa akin na may nangyari sa inyo nung pumunta tayo sa probinsya. Malaking sampal 'yon sa akin, Ethan. Naisip ko na hindi ka pala talaga marunong makuntento. Kaya lahat ng pinalagpas ko na babae, nung araw na 'yon, naisip ko na nagsinungaling ka at mga babae mo talaga sila."

Niluwagan niya ang pagkakabukas ng pinto. Pumasok siya sa loob at nakita kong nilapag niya ang mga papel sa kama niya. May kinuha pa siya sa drawer bago siya bumalik sa puwesto niya kanina.

"I was already planning to marry you, Qamari." Inilahad niya sa 'kin ang dalawang singsing. "Yes, I was a playboy but I changed for myself and for you."

I took the rings. My name was engraved in one of the rings. Aia's lover. My lips parted, shocked with what I just read. Lover? He loved me?

"You never said that you love me-"

"Because I thought my actions were more than enough. But I guess you were only focused on my past and my mistakes. I have loved you since our first night, Aia."

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