Mirae

Kapitulo 21

[PRESENT]

*

Kapitulo 21

A Lonesome Home

Adiel parks in front of his parent's house and goes down. He couldn't believe she came back. He couldn't believe she had come at a good time. He couldn't believe she knew where he lived now. Who told her? He didn't think it would be his parents. Maybe one of his friends? But they were angry at her too, it was—oh, Gwen told her. That friend of theirs was practically the only one who showed Cyra sympathy after finding out what his wife did.

"Oh, anak, 'di ka nagsabing dadalaw ka," his mother walked to him and hugged him.

"Sorry, Ma, kinailangan ko lang umalis sa bahay," he replied.

His brother and father were coming down the stairs.

"Oh, naparito ka, Adiel. Bakit?" his father lowered the volume of the TV. It was playing a news anchor reporting about an incoming typhoon.

Bumuntong-hininga siya at inalala ang pagbukas niya ng pinto ng bagong bahay niya. His wife's face aged, but every detail was still visible in Adiel's eyes. Maikli na ang buhok ng misis niya at pumayat ito. He wasn't sure if letting his parents know she came back was a good idea because they, too, were angry at her as much—maybe even more—as he was.

But he admitted. "Cyra's in the house," his mother's lips part. "So, I came here. She wanted to go into the house, but I couldn't stay there while she was in there."

"Umuwi na si Ate?" gulat na tanong ni Samuel.

"Yeah, bigla na lang siyang dumating. Kauuwi ko pa lang, tapos may kumatok," Adiel walked to the dining area and saw the chopping board and sliced onions. Si Manay ang naghihiwa. "Pagbukas ko ng pinto, it was her."

Manay had a worried look, her hands weren't chopping anymore. "Kumusta ka?" tanong nito.

Adiel smiled and sat beside her. "Ayos lang, 'nay. Ano niluluto mo?"

Before Manay could answer, his mother expressed her thoughts. "Hindi kayo nag-usap? Ano'ng nangyari? Umalis ka na lang?"

He stared at the new wooden chopping board as he answered. "Hindi, 'di kami nag-usap, umalis lang ako, Ma. 'Di ko siya kayang kausapin."

The parents look at their eldest's back with a heavy heart. The younger brother sighed and went to Adiel to talk about other things. Hindi na muli nagtanong ang pamilya niya sa gabing 'yon. Manay cooked for five that night. Adiel always had clothes in the house because ever since Cyra left him, he couldn't sleep in the condo well anymore. Umuuwi siya madalas dito, natutulog at tinatabunan ang alaala ng asawa niya pansamantala.

Living in a place you once shared with a partner was difficult to stay in. There was no day Adiel didn't think of Cyra while inside their condo unit—it drove him insane, to say the least. Sa bawat lingon niya, naroon ang marka ng babae. Imposibleng makatulog siyang hindi umiyak.

Hindi tumitigil ang oras at mundo, pero para sa kaniya, huminto ang puso niya. Paulit-ulit nag-replay ang pag-alis ni Cyra simula nang mamuhay siyang mag-isa. Minsan, papasukin siya ng galit at kukuwestiyonin ang pagmamahal ni Cyra. Pero, madalas, papasukin siya ng lungkot at kukuwestiyonin kung saan siya nagkulang. Parang baliw, paulit-ulit.

Adiel touched his wedding band and wondered if she really did stay in the house or left after he did. It wouldn't surprise him if she went. But since he didn't know, he also didn't know how he could go home tomorrow for work.

"Bahala na, maliligo at magpapalit lang ako kung naroon pa siya bukas," anito sa ere.

He slept and dreamt of the darkness that night. When his eyes opened at the sound of his alarm, his brain painted his wife's face yesterday. Ito ang dadatnan niya mamaya sa bahay. Hindi na mahalaga kung handa siya dahil ang tanging choice niya ay harapin ang babae.