Loving a stranger

Chapter 13

Umuwi ako sa bahay na laglag ang balikat. Gusto kong sumigaw at umiyak ng umiyak pero naubos na yata luha ko. Alam ko nagiging O.A ako pero anong magagawa ko. I saw my husband holding hands with other woman and they're so good together. Kutis pa lang ng bruhang Elizabeth na yon, laos na ako.. "Naku Sab..tama na ang self pity, eh inom mo nalang yan. "Sa loob-loob ko. So I decided to grabbed a bottle of Red Wine to calmed myself at the same time waiting for my husband to come home pero halos maubos ko na ang laman ng alak, wala pa rin asawa ko. I was about to call him when my phone vibrate signal na may message and I read it.

"Sab, please don't wait for me. Still at the office working. -Brent.

After I read his message, wala sa loob ko na inihagis ko ang bote habang umiiyak. Damn you, Brent..

.......

I don't want to lie to my wife but I have too. I love my wife but Elizabeth and my son needs me. After I sent Sabrina a message telling her not to wait for me. I went back inside the house where my ex-wife and my son waiting for me.

Dad, Is everything okay? Pat asked me.

Yes, son. "I answered him and tapped his shoulder. And headed to the mini bar. While I was drinking, Elizabeth join me.

Brent, I think you should go home. You look like shit, you know."She told me. I wanted to laughed on her remark but I just sighed. When I didn't answer her, she spoke again.

I'm sorry I dragged you into this mess. "Elizabeth told me whike crying.

It's alright. We're family. "I told her while caressing her hands. Then we heard our son called us from the back.

Dad, Mom.. Have you seen Celine? Pat asked and both Elizabeth and I just nodded that we didn't see her after dinner. ........

I woke up the next day with a loud sound of the door bell. So I opened the door without checking it. But nainis ako when I opened the door wala naman tao, halos mapamura ako dahil sa inis. When I was about to close the door, I noticed a brown envelop sa sahig and I raised my eyebrow when I saw my name written on it. Sa akin pa talaga nakapangalan, sino kaya nagpadala nito..sa isip-isip ko. Samantala, hindi alam ni Sabrina na may nakamasid pala sa kanya habang kinukuha niya ang parcel.

I have been looking sa envelop for almost 15 minutes now. Di ko alam kung bubuksan ko ba o hindi. Nagtatalo isip ko. Hay Naku sab...malay mo c yummy hubby pala nagpadala nyan sayo..baka may surprise kaya buksan mo na.. "Sigaw ng utak ko. Kaya eto ako excited na binuksan ang envelop and ng makita at nabasa ko ang laman Para akong binuhusan ng isang malaking drum ng tubig na puno ng yelo, halos nangisay ako sa sahig. Di ako makapaniwala sa nababasa ko. Marriage certificate ng asawa ko, ibig sabihin walang bisa ang kasal namin. K-kaya pala Elizabeth Reiley ang pinakilala ng mestisang yon. Yon pala siya ang legal na asawa. At may anak sila. Gusto kung umalis pero di ako makagalaw. Wala na rin tigil sa pag agos ng luha ko. At ang masakit pa, he even paid my own mother para wag na magpakita sa akin.. Ang tanga-tanga mo Sab...huhuhuhu.. Ang tanga-tanga mo.. "Kastigo ng aking utak. Then I heard Brent calling my name. Sa ganoong ayos ako naabutan ni Brent.

I was so excited to go home and I'm ready to tell her about my past too. When I opened the house, I tried to call her name but she didn't response. I thought she was just at the kitchen but I was shocked when I saw her sitting on floor at basag na bote sa sahig. So I rushed towards her and asking what happened but she just snapped at me. So I offer my hand instead to help her stand but she glared at me. I never seen her so mad. If her looks could kill, I'll be dead by now. When I saw her settled in a couch. I asked her again what happened and this time she answered me.

Really? You're asking me what happened? "She asnwered me and I could feel the coldness on her voice which of course, I felt a pain in my heart.

Look Sab, I know you're upset about last night but let me explain. "I told her and trying to hold her hands but she tapped my hands.

Well, stop pretending that you don't know anything Mr. Reiley dahil ang style mo bulok. Di ko alam kung nakakintindi ka ng tagalog pero ito lang sasabihin ko sayo mas masahol ka pa sa hayop. " I told him. Wala akong pakialam kung nakakasakit na ako ng damdamin.

I understand what she said but I did not expect she would say that to me. "Sab, I know you're angry but I don't think you have the right to insult me. "I told her.

Oh really? So I have no right to insult you but yet you have the right to humiliate me at pag mukhaing tanga sa lahat lalong-lalo na sa harapan ng asawa mo. "Halos pasigaw kung sabi sa kanya. I saw him clenched his fist.

I don't understand. "I told her. I really have no idea what's happening here.

I received this parcel today and you know what I found that my husband for almost five months is legally married to other woman while he say his "I do" to me and they have a son. And the worst is that he even paid my own mother to stay away from me. "I told him habang inilatag ko paisa-isa ang papel sa harapan niya.

Where did you get this? "I asked her. I didn't noticed she was holding an envelop. I was too distracted to do so.

From a concern citizen. Hindi kasi lahat ng tao kaya mong bayaran just to keep their mouth shut. "I told him with full sarcasm on my voice. I don't know how I managed to stay calm but I'm grateful. He didn't say anything. So we were silent for a moment before I spoke again.

Care to explain? "I told him while crossing my arms. But he just looked at me like he doesn't care. All I want is for him to explain pero wala. So I decided to stand. Ayoko namang magmukhang tanga na umaasa na kahit sa loob ng halos pitong limang buwan na pagsasama namin minahal niya ako pero wala. Bago pa ako pumanhik sa kwarto namin.. I told him "I-I think this is over, Brent.".. Habang pigil ko ang pag-iyak.

I wanted to explain. To tell her everything and hoping she would understand but I'm out of word. I don't know where to start. I know she's hurting and I wanted to comfort her but how? How I would be able to comfort her when I know I am the reason why she's in pain. "Damn Brent.. "I scolded myself. So I grabbed my leather jacket and left the house. I will talk to her tomorrow..

.....

Alam ko umalis siya kaya dali-dali akong nag empake ng gamit ko. Buti nalang may konting cash ako. I left all the jewelry and the atm card na binigay niya sa akin. Ayokong may masabi siya sa akin kapag wala na ako. Mabuti nalang paglabas ko ng building may dumaan na taxi kaya sumakay ako kaagad telling the driver na ihatid ako sa airport, babalik na ako ng pilipinas. Doon nalang siguro naman, di na niya ako susundan. Ng nasa loob na ako ng eroplano.."Paalam Brent. "Sa loob-loob ko habang umiiyak.

........

I don't know what happened last night. All I remember, I left the house after the huge fight between me and Sabrina. Oh God. I miss her so much. I will make it up to her. "Thought to myself. But I was about to get up so I could go home to my wife when my sister barged in the guest room where I am.

Hey! Lil sis, next time..try to knock? "I told her with a smirk. I'm in a good mood.

This isn't the right time to joke big bro. She's gone. "She told me while holding back her tears.

What do you mean she's gone? "I asked her.

S-sabrina...she's gone... "Trish told me then she burst into tears.