THE HILARIOUS HUSBAND (LEE BROTHERS #2)

Chapter 58

CHAPTER FIFTY-EIGHT
CLARITY

❥ ELISSE GARCIA ❥

TAHIMIK akong nakatitig kay Doktora Mendoza, naninikip ang dibdib ko sa bawat salita niya. She saw the shock in my expression and offered a gentle, reassuring nod before continuing.

“To help Ella, it’s crucial that we approach her situation with patience and understanding,” pauna niya. “With her current mental state, hindi basta mawawala ang delusions niya sa isang gabi lang. She’ll need consistent therapy, particularly CBT, para matutunan n’yang kilalanin at kwestyunin ang mga maling paniniwala niya. This will involve addressing her fear of abandonment, low self-esteem, and the deep-rooted trauma from losing her mother and the strained relationship with your father.”

Napatango ako at pinipilit unawain lahat ng sinasabi niya.

“Kailangan din nating bantayan nang mabuti ang mga gamot niya para siguruhing hindi niya nakakalimutan ang pag-inom. She may need antipsychotics or mood stabilizers to help manage her emotional instability and prevent further delusions from forming. This medication can help reduce impulsiveness and anxiety, and it can calm the intense emotions she experiences.”

“May… k-kailangan ba kaming gawin para makatulong sa kan’ya?” mahina kong tanong, bahagyang nanginginig ang boses ko. Si Hope naman ay tahimik lang sa tabi ko, pero alam kong all ears din siya kay doktora.

Dr. Mendoza gave a thoughtful nod. “Yes. While we work on her delusions in therapy, you and Hope will need to set firm but gentle boundaries. Iwasan n’yong gumawa ng bagay na magpapalakas sa maling paniniwala niya. Pero ‘wag din na basta n’yo s’yang itatakwil. Mahalaga na hindi niya maramdaman na minamaliit siya o tinataboy. Focus on reinforcing that she’s safe and cared for. It might also be best for Hope to limit direct interactions with her for now to prevent any further confusion.”

I took a deep breath, absorbing her advice. Boundaries. Patience. Kailangan naming tulungan si Ella na unti-unting makalabas sa magulo niyang isipan, dahan-dahan, one step at a time.

⫘⫘⫘

Naiwan akong nakatulala sa living room matapos magpaalam ni Doktora Mendoza para umuwi na. It was already dark, the clock reading 7:30 p.m.

Si Hope ay deretsong umakyat sa taas, siguro ay sa kwarto namin pupunta. Si Edward naman ay sa kusina, nagpresinta itong siya na lang ang maghahanda ng hapunan, pero noodles lang daw ang kaya niyang lutuin. He must have noticed my lack of energy, the way my body was still trembling from everything I’d learned about Ella.

Erotomania? Sa tagal kong nabubuhay sa mundo, ngayon ko lamang ‘yon narinig. I didn’t know there was a disorder that made you believe someone was in love with you when they weren’t.

It was all too much to take in. The shock, the guilt, the worry—they all pressed down on me, and suddenly, our quiet house felt heavier than ever. Gusto kong puntahan si Ella para kumustahin, pero ang sabi ni Doktora Mendoza ay bukas na lamang daw. Baka raw kasi ma-shock si Ella kung susugod ako ngayon sa bahay nila at makikitang magkasama kaming dumating or magkasunod. Sigurado raw na magdududa si Ella, lalo at ayaw nitong ipaalam sa amin ang kalagayan niya.

Hanggang ngayon ay nag-e-echo pa rin sa pandinig ko ang mga salitang binitawan ni doktora tungkol kay Ella.

“Kapag narito siya sa bahay n’yo at narito rin si Hope, ginagaya niya ang kulay ng suot nitong damit, dahil napapaniwala niya ang sarili niya na naka-couple outfits sila. And my gentle attempts to correct her perception were unsuccessful. And those times when your husband picked her up from school—she would ask him to eat out, believing your husband wouldn’t say no because he has feelings for her. ‘Yong pagkakataon na ‘yon, she believed it was a date. She ignored any cues that didn’t align with her delusions. Even when Hope gave her an allowance, she saw it as a sign of his love for her. Within a matter of months, napaniwala ni Ella ang sarili n’yang may relasyon sila ng husband mo, at sa tuwing kukumbinsihin ko siya na hindi ‘yon totoo, imbes na makinig sa ‘kin, magagalit pa siya at sasabihing gusto ko lang silang paghiwalayin.”

Ang pamilyar na yabag ni Hope ang nagpabalik sa ‘kin sa reyalidad dahil narinig kong palapit siya sa ‘kin. Nang balingan ko siya, ang una kong napansin ay ang dala niyang suitcase.

Aalis s’ya?

Tumigil siya sa paghakbang no’ng malapit na siya sa ‘kin. Hindi sobrang lapit, pero sapat ang distansya niya para magkarinigan kami.

“Sunduin mo ang kapatid mo bukas kila Doktora at iuwi mo rito para mabantayan mo. Ako, uuwi muna ‘ko sa ‘min,” he said, his tone cold.

Before I could respond, he turned on his heel and walked away. All the explanations Dr. Mendoza had shared—proof that he hadn’t been unfaithful—seemed to have given him the confidence para lalo akong pagtampuhan. Hindi ko siya masisisi. Pero ramdam kong gagawin niya ‘to hindi lang para maiuwi ko rito si Ella, kundi dahil gusto niyang suyuin ko siya. Nice one.

Oo. Ngayon ako na-guilty sa pambibintang ko sa kaniya. Pero gustuhin ko man siyang kausapin ngayon at humingi ng pasensya, hindi ko pa magawa. My mind was still reeling with worry for Ella. She was all I could think about, and until I had some clarity about her well-being, I didn’t have it in me to bridge the growing distance with Hope.

‘Tsaka ko na lang iisipin si Hope. Alam ko naman na hindi niya rin ako matitiis dahil siya itong ayaw makipaghiwalay sa ‘kin. Bibigyan ko lang muna siya ng kaunting oras, kaunting space. ‘Tsaka na ako luluhod sa kaniya—I mean sa mga santo—para mapaamo siya.

To be continued...