The Forgotten Wife

CHAPTER 2

Marahan kong binuksan ang main door ng bahay namin ni Eros, I still remember whenever I got home from work; exhausted, Eron my first child would run and give me warm tightly embrace; asking we how's my day and we'll staring to tell our day to day stories.

Pero ngayon mag isa na lamang ako, walang Eron, walang Dakota at lalong walang Eros.

Everything is like a turmoil at mas lumala pa ang sitwasyon sa pagitan namin dahil sa naganap sa party ilang linggo na ang naka lipas. Her mother declared that I will never set a foot in their place or else she will kill me.

I immediately switch on the light, hindi ko alam, pero simula magising ako mula sa coma ay naging matatakutin ako sa dilim, even if I'm in the hospital I could feel extreme fear and uneasiness which was really confusing dahil kalahati ng buhay ko ay ginugol ko sa hospital at medesina, I was a doctor before pero ngayon maka kita lang ako ng hospital ay nanginginig na ang kalamnan ko.

I thought my eyes was only deceiving me, Eros is now walking down from stair while looking at me intently. Kaya pala hindi naka lock ang pinto kanina.

"Hon..." Halos bulong lang ang lumabas sa labi ko, I feel like I don't have rights to call him with that endearment.

"-you're home." My voice crack and look at him pleadingly.

Nanatili siyang tahimik, dumiretsyo siya sa couch  at umupo duon, he rested his head and massage his temple while he signed deeply upon closing his eyes.

"Adel..." Dahan dahan akong lumapit sa kanya. Did my husband call my name?

"I just need to get my files in the library." Napangiti ako ng mapait.

"I'll go now." Marahan siyang tumayo at tumingin sa akin. Mukha rin siyang pagod at ilang araw nang walang tulog.

"When are you coming home with the kids?" Pinilit kong umakto ng formal, I have to pretend- gusto kong paniwalain ang sarili ko na may pinuntahan lang sila, na babalik rin sila agad.

"Adel, I also came here to inform you that I'm filing an annulment to void our marria-" And that's it, his words are like a bomb exploding to my whole being.

Kahit anong pilit kong lokohin ang sarili ko at gumawa ng sariling ilusyon, Eros will break those fantasies cruelly.

Namuo ang galit sa akin while his shriek words keep echoing in my mind.

"Eros." Naging matalim ang tingin na pinukol ko sa kanya, how dare him for having an audacity to say those words straight to my face?

"Adelyn, this is for our own good-" Umiling ako at hindi ko napigilang hawakan ang vase sa side table ng sofa at ibinato ito sa gilid. I wish destroying a thing can calm my nerves, but my brain is like in a high wire and any moment I will burst out. Galit at pinag halong sakit ang namumuntawi sa sistema ko.

"Liar! Ang sabihin mo para lang sa kabutihan mo ito! Ang kapal ng mukha mo! After you and your whore  brainwashed my children, now you have the audacity to file an annulment! D*mn you Eros! Para ano! Maging masaya kayo ng babae mo at ako, paano ako? How come that a fucking annulment is for our own good! You selfish!" Tuluyan nag bagsakan ang aking mga luha.

"How could you be so cruel?! How could you betray me Eros?!" I was beyond in pain.

"-I tried to understand you and the kids, at first I was thankful to Shara because she took care of you and my children while I was away and in states of Coma, kasi alam ko duon ako nag kulang, duon Ako naging walang kwenta, but hearing those words from you is  killing me-"

Napaluhod ako sa kanya, why it should be this painful. I was holding my blouse trying to loosen my chest. Para itong pinipiga at inaalisan ako ng hininga

"- Our marriage is the only thing I have Eros, eto na lang ang nag bibigay pag-asa at sandata sa akin para labanan siya- para patuloy akong mag ka roon ng pamilya. Maging asawa at Ina ng mga anak ko, Na kinuha niyo! Siguro... siguro sapat naman na ang mahabang panahon na nag-kasama kayo ng babae mo! Ako naman, Ako naman Eros!"

Nanatili siyang naka tayo, para siyang walang naririnig, he found my sentiments nothing, ni hindi siya apektado sa mga hinaing ko, na kahit siguro mamatay ako sa harap niya ay kaya niya pa rin akong tignan ng walang halaga. Ang sakit...sobrang sakit.

"Leave..." I almost whisper.
while trying to stabilize my breathing. My head hurts, para itong sasabog kasabay ng panginginig ng kalamnan ko.

"Leave Eros." Yun lang at pinilit kong tumayo para layuan siya.

Mas maganda nang umalis siya sa ngyon, as long as I want him to stay and talk to me but I know it will only hurt the two of us, it will only lead us to the most difficult situation.

Rinig ko ang pag layo ng kanyang yabag.

Naiwan ako duon, my heart was bleeding to death na pumasok na lamang sa isip ko na mag pakamatay.

Wala akong maalala na naranasan ko ito kay Eros, everything was perfect, at ni sa hinuha ay hindi ko naisip na hahantong kami sa ganito.

Nanghihina ako na pumunta sa kusina, I open one of the cabinet and get three bottles of hard drinks.

Napa upo na lamang ako sa simento, Nilagok ko ang alak.

Different deduction and possibilities playing in my mind.

Lots of questions are starting to torture me.

Masaya ba si Eros na nabuhay pa ako after the car accident?

While I was in state of Coma did he prayed for me to wake up? Did he wait for me even- even just for a while?

Kahit kaunti, may pag mamahal pa ba na natitira para sa akin?

Hindi ko namalayan na naubos ko na ang mga alak bago ako naka rinig ng ring tone.

Mabilis akong pumunta sa sala, I saw Eros phone in the couch ringing with a registered name Sweetheart.

P*ta!

Hah!

Sinagot ko ang tawag...

"Mister? When are you coming home? Baby miss you already." F*ck! Tumawa pa ito sa kabilang linya.

"Hey, Eros Hon...." How dare she used our endearment! P*tang Ina Niya!

"Saglit pa lang nawala ang asawa ko, nangangati ka na kaagad?" I said full of disdain and disgust.

"Adel..." Napahalakhak ako. Good! Dapat kilalanin mo ako.

"Bakit nasa sa iyo ang-"

"Of course I am his wife remember? He's  sleeping besides me, napagod ko yata-"

"Adel!"

Mabilis kong pinatay ang tawag ng makita kong bumalik si Eros at katulad ko mukha rin siyang lasing.

Napadapo ang mata nito sa kanyang cellphone na mabilis kong binagsak.

"The whore just called, nangangati ulit-"

I was shut because of his heavy slap.
Napaawang ang aking labi habang nangangatal ito, hindi ko alam kung saan ako panandaliang nabingi, is it because of the loud sound o sa sobrang bigat ng kamay niya.

I lost my balance, I tremble in so much pain.

"Don't call her names like that Adel, kung merong puta dito ikaw yun!" Napa iling ako... Napa takip ako sa aking tenga, I shut my eyes, praying and beging that this is just a bad dream.

Who are you?

You are not my husband...

You are not my man...

"And to prove you that." Hiniklat nito ang buhok ko para mapaharap ako sa kanya.

The next thing he did was to rip my clothes and force me to him, beating me to death while calling me disgusted names.

Noong gabing yun paulit-ulit akong nag maka-awa. But he treated me like a pig.

I was Raped.

Eros almost kill me.