Whispers of Deception Series #1 (On-going)

Chapter 7

Habang kumakain ng agahan si Vida sa dining area sandali naman ay bumaba ng hagdan si Axel na Naka business suit at may dalang luggage sa kabilang kamay.

Binaba ng lalaki ang maletang dala sa dulo ng hagdan at dumeretsong kusina. Hindi man lang inangat ni Vida ang tingin sa lalaki at patuloy lang sa pagkain. She heard him sigh and speak.

“The divorce paper is on my office table. Sign that if you want divorce, but I already told you I’m not going  easy with this” He said and walked out of the kitchen. Binuhat niya ang kaniyang maleta at lumabas ng bahay.

After breakfast Vida went to Axel’s office. Well, his office is so neat and clean. May dalawang bookshelves. Ang isa nasa likod ng kaniyang swivel chair and isa nasa likuran ng pinto. There’s also a leather couch with a glass table. Nilibot niya iyon ng tingin. In the 1st time ngayon lang siya nakapasok at nakapagmuni sa office ng kaniyang asawa.

She saw the paper above the table. Lumapit siya at kinuha iyon. Tinitigan niya lang iyon thinking if tama ba talaga itong desisyung gagawin niya. She know what Axel can do. Binalik niya ang papel sa ibabaw ng lamesa at dumeretsong pinto at lumabas.

Kaya pa naman. Kaya pang tiisin ang ganito. Maraming naiisip si Vida, she want to be happy, she want to live, she want to do something what she really want. Habang nakahiga ‘sa kaniyang kama at nakatingin sa kisame Vida thinks what if she kill her self? Pero grabe naman iyon. She shaked it off out of her mind. That’s not going to happen. Ayaw kong mamatay nang ganito. She said to herself.

Tatlong araw pa lang nung umalis si Axel papuntang business trip niya sa Singapore. Vida back to her lonely and pathetic life again. Nasa boutique siya at nagchecheck ng mga damit doon. When her phone beeped. Hindi niya iyon pinansin pero nag patuloy ang pag beebep neto. Then she fished her phone out of her pocket. It’s Easton. Hindi niya na sana iyon titignan ng makita ang huling mensahe ng lalaki.

“He’s not cheating? So what do we call about this?” He texted.

Dahil sa kuryusidad pinindot ni Vida ang mensahe at tumambad sa kaniya ang limang litrato ng kaniyang asawa na nasa madilim na sulok ng isang bar wearing a shirt dress rolled up to his elbow. That is the first photo, but when she slides it to the other photos she gasped to what she saw.

Si Axel nakahawak sa manipis na bewang ng isang babae at naghahalikan sila! That was five different photos. At sa tingin niya hindi yun edited. At mukhang nasa lugar din ang nagkuha ng litrato. Is Easton there too? Siya ang nagsend ng mga litrato so, nandon siya. What he was doing there? Kinurot ni Vida ang sarili dahil sa kaisipang mas inuna pang isipin si Easton keysa sa asawang may kahalikang Iba.

It’s new! sa tagal ng pagsasama nila kahit kailan hindi gumawa ng ganito si Axel. Dahil ba sa Divorce? Hirap na hirap din ba siyang kasama ang babae? At gusto niya ng makawala sa walang kwenta nilang kasal? Pero kung gusto niya naman makawala at mag explore ng mga babae bakit hindi na lng siya ang unang mag suggest na mag divorce sila.

Naging blangko ang pagiisip ni Vida sa nakita. Seeing those pictures para siyang nainsulto. They’re been married for a year but they’re never kissed. He never kissed her. Pero bakit parang sabik na sabik siya sa halik ng babaeng yun!

She can’t help it but to cry. For the insult, pain, sadness, disappointment, and regrets. She really thought na hindi nagloloko si Axel.

Umiiyak siyang nakaupo sa sahig holding her phone and suddenly a door in her shop opened. And there he is. The man he want to lean on, a man she want to tell everything what she felt.

“Easton” Mababang tawag niya sa lalaki.

Easton stand there and watch her sobbing in tears. “B-bakit ka nandito?” tanong niya sa pagitan ng paghikbi.

“He don’t deserve you Vid’s, please come with me” Ani ng lalaki at lumuhod sa harap niya para mag pantay ang kanilang tingin.

Tinitigan niya muna ang lalaki bago umiling. “I cant-“

“I don’t want to see you like this. Sinasaktan at pinapabayaan ka niya, while I’m here! Willing to give you all the love that you deserve.” He pleaded.

Kinuha niya ang mga kamay ng babae at nilapat sa kaniyang dibdib. “It’s all yours, ikaw lang nandito” he added. Kaya mas lalong napahagulgol ng iyak ang dalaga.

“I don’t deserve you East” She said and hilted her head down. Easton held her chin and make her looked at him. “No, you deserve me as I deserve you” Sabi nito ng nakatingin sa mga mata ng babae. Gustong-gusto niyang sumama at umalis kasama si Easton. Takbuhan at pabayaan na lang ang lahat. Ngunit alam niyang hindi iyon maaari.

“Let’s run away from this. May safehouse ako in visayas when can stay there” he suggested. Ngumiti ang babae sa kaniya at tumayo. Tumayo na din ang lalaki at nagkatinginan sila.

“I can’t do that East. Kahit na gustong – gusto ko iyan” She said.

“Please, go. We’re done already”

“What?! Babalewalain mo lang yung nakita mo? He’s cheating. It might be posted online. People will asking about you two” Medyo napalakas ang boses ni Easton sa mga sinabi. “You really want to be like this Vida?” Ulit pa niya.

“This is my life before you. And even after you, ganito pa rin ang buhay ko. Nothing’s change. And you don’t have anything to do about it!” Sagot ng babae. Para siyang sinaksak sa dibid seeing those sad eyes of him. Gusto niyang amuhin at yakapin pero pinigilan niya lamang ang sarili. Ayaw na niyang lumalim pa ang nararamdaman niya.

The conversation ended and Easton was pushed away by her. Umuwi din si Vida ng matamlay. She can’t think properly. Jinu-justify niya pa ang nakitang litrato. Baka lasing lang si Axel, baka di niya sinasadya, o baka katuwaan lang. But in the end she know! That kiss was intentional. Para kumpirmahin ang nasa litrato tinawagan niya ang lalaki. She dialed his number and it rang for the 3rd time before the other line answered.

She was ready to burst out all of his anger but when she heard the voice she just parted her lips and hang her words.

“Hello, who’s this?” the other line asked! At boses babae iyon. She check the number baka nagkamali lang siya ng tinawagan. Pero iyon talaga ang numero ng kaniyang asawa.

“Hello? I’ll hang it up if you’re not answering” Ulit nito. Parang na estatwa Si Vida sa nangyari. Umurong lahat ng gusto niya sanang sabihin. To think of it bakit babae ang sumagot? Ito ba Yung babaeng kasama niya sa litrato na kahalikan? At bakit nagtatanong ang babae? He didn’t save my phone number? Mga tanong sa isip ni Vida.

Sasagot na sana siya ng marinig niya ang boses ng asawa. “Who’s that?” Tanong ng asawa sa matigas at kuryosong boses. But before she heard anything pinatay niya na ang tawag. Its confirmed! She’s with another woman!  Tears rolled down from her eyes. Para siyang binagsakan ng langit.

I was living my life with sadness, tapos siya? Nagpapakasaya? I regretted to say that he’s busy and no time for cheating! Damn him! Sabi ni Vida sa kaniyang isip.

Marahas na pinunasan ni Vida ang mga luha at muling tinuoon ang sarili sa kaniyang cellphone. She dialed someone’s number and it takes two ring before the other line aswered.

“Easton” she said between sobs.