THE CROWDED MARRIAGE

Chapter 10

Filoah Anne Romero
-past-

I know that this will be the last time that I go to his place... to end our relationship.

I confronted Ivory's friend that I knew of... but I got the answer from Shaun. The friend that is closest to Ivory. It took me a lot of questions for him to answer me. Siguro dahil na rin sa awa kaya niya nasabi sa akin dahil halos magmakaawa na rin ako na malaman ang totoong sagot sa mga tanong ko.

Ivory has been avoiding me. Although he went to my apartment last time to apologize, but he didn't promise to make up for it. He just said that he would be in a tight situation. He didn't say that he would fix it... that we would fix it together.

Maayos pa naman kami e. We even saw each other on good terms last time. But he's really good at hiding our problem.

And when I got to know that he would be at an engagement party to tell everyone about his upcoming wedding... my world turned upside down.

I don't know how to feel after getting that information. Akala ko matagal pa... akala ko mapag-iisipan pa namin ni Ivory. We just settled on the information of engagement, tapos malalaman ko na malapit na palang ipaalm publicly... tapos ito ako? Ito kami? We're still in a relationship. For goodness sake! I'll look like I'm the mistress.

It's been a week since I texted and called Ivory, but he was out of reach. It's been a week since I tried to communicate with him, but he's good at running away from me.

He's avoiding our problems.

Pero ako ang dehado sa problemang ito.

He's a rich man who will marry a woman who has the same status as him. Kahit gusto kong iwasan, bumabalik na naman ang insecurity ko sa relasyon namin... ang pagiging mahirap ko.

I'm not actually poor. I can provide for myself just fine... but that was not enough to level Ivory's life.

Tanggap ko naman na magtago ng relasyon namin e. Tanggap ko kahit hindi namin kayang ipagsigawan ang pagmamahal sa ibang tao... tanggap ko kahit na dalawa lang kami sa mundo na binuo namin ang nakakaalam ng pagmamahalan namin.

At itong nangyayari? I never wanted this. Ivory's engagement will get to be pronounced in the world... tapos ito ako, hinihintay pa rin siya na magpakita at kausapin ulit ako.

Hindi ko maiwasan na maalala ang sarili kong Ina. I hated her for being a cheater... for leaving me and my papa just to be the mistress of a wealthy man.

And if I continue my relationship with Ivory... it looks like I'm becoming the person I hate the most.

I don't want that.

I never dreamed of being a mistress or being called one.

Kaya bago pa mangyari at maganap ang pagpapaalam ng engagement nila sa publiko bukas.... kailangan kong makausap si Ivory ngayon.

I still tried texting and calling him... but he never replied or answered my calls.

I don't have a choice but to go to his place. Bihira lang ako pumunta roon dahil pag-aari ng pamilya niya ang condominium na tinutuluyan niya. Walang nakakakilala sa akin, kaya nang sinubukan kong pumunta muli ay hindi ako pinapapasok ng guard hangga't walang paalala sa kanila na may bisita.

"Kuya nagmamakaawa na po ako. Si Ivory po... Ivory Kyson Mortimeroz..." Ano ba dapat sasabihin ko? "Uh... kaibigan ko po siya. Kailangang-kailangan ko lang po siyang makita."

Nagmakaawa ako pero naawang tumingin lang si manong guard sa akin. Alam ko namang nagta-trabaho lang naman siya pero pinapahirapan ko pa sila. Sobrang higpit pa naman ng condominium na pag-aari nila Ivory, kaya naiintindihan ko.