My Husband's Rival

CHAPTER 9

EIRLYS

I can't still stop thinking about what Draven said earlier. Halos wala ako sa focus sa klase dahil sa kanya.

Paano ba naman kasi, kung yayain niya ako ng sex ay para lang siyang nagpa-appointment sa akin. He looked emotionless earlier, too. Paano ako ma-e-excite niyan?

"Eirlys, okay ka lang?" my friend, Hazel, asked me.

Looks like she noticed that I have a problem. Alam niyang kinasal na ako months ago. She was invited. People in this university are aware. Who won't be aware, right? My family invited the media. I am a Rivera, too. People will know.

"I'm okay, I guess..." Nagbuntonghininga ako.

"Anong problema? Do you want to talk about it?" she asked again.

Oh, yes. I want to talk about it, but that thing is private. I shouldn't share it with someone else kahit pa sa kaibigan ko. I sighed.

"No, thank you, Hazel."

I glanced at her sketchpad. I saw her sketching her new design. I should, too! But look at me. Doing nothing, damn it! Damn my husband! Siya ang may kasalanan nito!

I took a deep breath nang maalala ko ang first time namin ni Draven. He left me after he released his semen. He left saying the word "excuse me." What the hell.

I ended up making a design. Medyo wala ako sa sarili kaya naman hindi gano'n kagandahan ang mga naging designs ko.

Hazel stayed beside me, though. She's sketching. I noticed that, like me, she's not okay.

"What's your problem? You can tell me if you're comfortable," I said gently.

Nilingon niya ako gamit ang gulat niyang mga mata. She ended up smiling a little as she frowned.

"Wala na kami ni Alexis. Isang linggo na rin."

"Oh? Why? What happened?"

Alexis was her boyfriend. Her longtime boyfriend. I never imagined them breaking up. Mas nakikita ko pa ang sarili kong nakikipaghiwalay kay Draven.

"Third party." She smiled bitterly. "Hayaan mo na, Eirlys. I don't want to talk about it."

I respected her decision. Gusto kong yayain siyang lumabas at uminom, but naalala kong niyaya pala ako ni Draven. I don't want to fall asleep while he's fucking me.

"Maybe we can go out tomorrow after class? Let's go to my Tito's club," I sounded like I'm so happy to cheer my friend up.

Nanulis ang nguso niya. "Papayagan ka ba ng asawa mo?" Nagtaas siya ng kilay sa akin.

"He's not the boss of me."

No one will.

I am a Rivera. I am the boss of myself.

Asawa ko si Draven at naiintindihan ko kung pagbabawalan niya ako, but not tomorrow. My friend needs me, and I don't want to leave my friend hanging just because Draven said so.

She smirked. "Tomorrow night, then."

And after class, I didn't expect my husband to be here in my university. Seems like he's waiting for me, huh? Hmm. Guess who's excited to fuck?

He's outside of his car. Nakasandal siya sa kanyang sasakyan at pinapanood akong naglalakad. He thinks he's cool, huh? He is.

Hazel is still beside me, though. I stopped walking and she did, too.

"My husband's here," I said.

She looked at Draven. She stayed looking at him for a second bago bumalik ang tingin sa akin. She fixed her hair bago humalik sa akin.