Chaotic Love Affair✔️ (COMPLETED)

Chapter 2 - Pain In His Eyes

Elle

I'm on my way to my work, Nag-taxi na lang ako para less hassle and while on my way, I received a call from my co-worker and my classmate, Michael. Whom I consider as one of my closest friend.

"Elle, can we meet before we go to the office. Sabay na tayo pumasok. Let's review some cases na din, the ones you missed because of your busy schedule." Wika ni Michael mula sa kabilang linya.

Michael has always been a good friend to me. I'm really glad that I have him as a friend and he's willing to help me and cheer me up when I need it the most. Well, he is part of those few people who knew that I was married to Gabrielle.

He's right, I should go and see him kasi if pupunta 'ko sa work na walang kaalam alam, baka masermunan lang ako ng senior lawyers.

"Manong, balik po tayo." Baling 'ko naman sa driver na nagmamaneho ng taxi.

Limang minuto lang 'yung inabot ng biyahe 'ko para makarating sa meeting place namin ni Michael.  Pagpasok 'ko pa lang nung restaurant ay agad kong natanaw si Michael na kumaway kaya lumapit ako agad. "Good morning, did you eat breakfast? Do you want something to drink?" Salubong nito sa'kin at saka siya tumayo para i-atras 'yung chair, para maka-upo ako ng maayos.

"Yes. Maybe a cup of coffee will do." I said and smile at him at saka 'ko sinabit 'yung bitbit kong bag sa kina-uupuan 'ko.

Kaagad sumeñyas si Michael sa waiter para umorder ng Cappuccino. "So, how are you?" Baling nitong muli sa'kin. Nakangiti pa din siya sa'kin, bagay na lagi niya naman talagang ginagawang ekspresyon sa tuwing magkasama kami. "I'm fine." Maikling sagot 'ko sakaniya tapos ngumiti din ako pero napa-simangot naman siya sa sagot 'ko kaya napakunot ako ng noo habang tinitignan siya.

"Anong mukha yan, Michael." Pang aasar 'ko sakaniya. "Eh, kasi lagi mo na lang sinasabing okay ka. Kahit hindi naman. Tell me, ano na namang problema, ha?" Sambit pa nito. Alam kong seryoso 'yung tanong niya pero hindi 'ko mapigilang hindi tumawa sa reaksyon ng mukha niya. Naka make face ba naman ang mokong.

"Let's review na, about saan ba 'yung case na yan ha." I told him. Then, I grabbed the envelope in his hands.

"Daya." I heard him whispered. Then he proceed. "About a company who illegally took over a building without the owner's permission, they are planning to build a mall in that place but, the problem is, ayaw nung may ari:" He explained.

"The owner has all the rights. Kung walang kontrata at walang patunay na nasa certain company na 'yung ownership nung lugar. Then, I guess the owner has the right to oppose the discussion of the company kasi hindi naman sakanila 'yung lugar na yo'n." Komento 'ko naman sa explanation ni Michael.

While, we're busy discussing the case. Something caught my attention, a magazine! At nakapatong yo'n sa bakanting upuan sa table na kinaroroonan namin ni Michael. Bigla 'kong natahimik nung nakita 'ko kung sino 'yung nasa cover no'n.. She looks familiar.. I took a deep sigh and grabbed the magazine, I keep my eyes locked in to that photo.

Right. Kamukha niya 'yung picture na nakita 'ko sa kuwarto ni Gabrielle noon. They look the same or maybe, they are really the same person.

I heard some murmurs around the restaurant. Hawak din nila 'yung kaparehong magazine na hawak hawak 'ko.

"Ang ganda talaga ni Ms. Amethyst noh? Balita 'ko uuwi na daw siya ng pilipinas." Wika nung babae habang tinitignan 'yung picture na nasa magazine.

"Siya talaga 'yung favorite supermodel 'ko eh, excited na'ko! Sana magpa-fan meeting siya." Komento pa nung kasama niya na parang tuwang tuwa at sabik na sabik.

"Elle, are you okay?" Rinig 'kong tanong ni Michael sa'kin and then he even wave his hands in front of me. I didn't notice him kasi kanina pa pala 'ko tulala at wala sa sarili.

Bumalik lang ako sa katinuan nung tinawag niya ako ulit. "Ah, yes. Let's go late na tayo." Sagot 'ko at saka tinignan 'ko 'yung wrist watch na suot 'ko at diretsong tumayo. Hindi 'ko na hinintay 'yung sasabihin ni Michael at diretso kong naglakad papalabas ng restaurant. 

Nakarating na din kami sa opsina pero 'yung utak 'ko lutang pa din. Iniisip 'ko pa rin kasi 'yung babaing nagngangalang Amethyst.

Siya din kaya 'yung nasa litratong nakalagay sa kuwarto ni Gabrielle? Maybe she's his ex. Well, if that's the case, hindi naman na nakakapagtaka yo'n.

She's pretty famous and she looks elegant and sophisticated, mukha rin siyang matalino. Kaya siguro siya nagustuhan ni Gabrielle.

"Elle, kanina ka pa wala sa sarili, ano bang problema." Tanong ni Michael sa tabi 'ko. Tinapik niya pa 'yung balikat 'ko. "Hoy, ano?" Pangungulit pa nito. Kakaisip ko sa Amethyst na yo'n eh hindi ko na malayan na malapit na rin pala ang uwian.

Binaling 'ko 'yung tingin 'ko sakaniya at saka ngumiti. "Okay lang ako. Madami lang iniisip." Sagot 'ko naman sakaniya at saka pilit na ngumiti.

"Siya nga pala, maaga 'ko mag-off ngayon kasi may lakad pa'ko. Mauna na'ko. Ingat ka sa pag-uwi ha." Paalam 'ko kay Michael at saka dali dali akong tumakbo papalayo. Ayoko na kasi ng maraming tanong tanong lalo na't hindi 'ko alam paano magpapaliwanag.

Mag-aalasingko na ng hapon, maaga pa kasi alas-otso naman talaga ng gabi 'yung off namin sa work. Dahil nga wala ako sa wisyo ay mas pinili 'ko na lang na umuwi ng mas maaga para makapagpahinga.

Madilim 'yung buong bahay nung makarating ako. Siguro ay maaga na din nagpahinga 'yung mga helpers namin dito sa bahay. Tanging liwanag lang na nagmumula sa chandler sa may sala 'yung nagsisilbing ilaw at liwanag sa buong paligid.

I was about to open to the lights but I almost freaked out when I saw someone seating on the couch.

It was Gabrielle, he's holding a glass of champagne. He looks so tired at sa tingin 'ko kanina pa rin siya umiinom dahil mukhang lasing na siya.

Muntik na'kong mapatalon sa gulat nung mabaling 'yung tingin niya sa kinaroroonan 'ko.

Nagtama naman 'yung mga mata namin. I saw the pain and sadness written all over his eyes. I wanted to do something to make that sadness away from him but how could I do that if I was the reason of all these heartaches and pain that he's been going through.

"All I want is to marry the woman I love. But, here you are, taking her place as my wife. It hurts, Elle. My parents knew how much I love Amethyst but they still insisted that you are the perfect wife for me. But, you are not." I saw he's tears are slowly falling.

I wanted to take all the blame but I can't kasi nasasaktan din ako. Nasasaktan akong makita siyang nagkaka-ganito ng dahil sa'kin. Because of me, he wasn't able to be with his true love. Nasasaktan ako kasi Gabrielle and I, didn't deserve this. And I guess, what Gabrielle said confirmed something, 'yung bagay na kanina pa gumugulo sa isip 'ko. It was Amethyst, he's one and only love.

"I want to end this, Elle. But, because of my family. My mom and our family's reputation. I can't. Lagi kong sinusunod lahat ng gusto nila at kung ano ang sabihin nila, kahit hindi 'ko gusto at labag sa loob ko. Kahit isakripisyo 'ko 'yung sarili kong kaligayahan. Pero ang hirap pala. Ang hirap panindigan." Napayuko na lang siya at bumalik sa kinauupuan niya.

"I'm sorry, Gabrielle. I'm sorry." I whispered and run upstairs. I can't see him like this and I don't wanna hear anything from him right now because I honestly feel guilty and hurt at the same time.