Bewitched

CHAPTER FORTY EIGHT: Stage Three

Byron

After Tirso and I talked at the office I decided to just move the meeting tomorrow because I wanted to go home already. Hindi din naman ako makapagfocus ng maayos kaya mas mabuti pang unuwi na lang ako. While on the road I catch a glimpse of a Jewelry Store. I stopped and parked at the side street then I went inside the store.

"Sir good afternoon. Are you looking for anything in particular?" The sales lady asks me.

What on earth am I doing here anyways?

"I am just looking around." I said then the sales lady went back to her corner while I take a look at some of the store's jewelries. A necklace with an owl pendant catches my attention. It is made of white gold.

"Excuse me miss." I called the sales lady and she smiled at me.

"Yes sir? She asks paglapit nya sa akin.

I pointed at the necklace with an owl pendant. "Can I have a look at that?" I said. The sales lady took out the necklace and handed it to me.

"You really do look like her." I said to the necklace. Big bright eyes, shy and timid looking that is Yanny. Whenever she looks at you it feels like she is looking at your soul.

"Sige I will take this." I said to the sales lady as I handed her back the necklace.

"Sino pong pagbibigyan nyo Sir? Kapatid nyo po o mother nyo po?" The Sales lady asks with a flirtatious smile.

"No. I am giving it to my wife." I replied as I show her my wedding ring. The sales lady shyly walk towards the cashier and prepared my transaction.

I put the paper bag down on the passenger seat of the car then I hit the road once again. Nadaanan ko yung Apex Tower but I decided na sa bahay ko na lang ibibigay yung necklace kay Yanny dahil hindi ko din naman alam ang isasagot kapag tinanong nya why on earth I am giving it to her. Basta na lang kasi pumasok sa isip ko that I want to give her something.

Something much better than that bouquet of flowers.

Did I just thought of that?

"Bakit naman ako makikipag kumpitensya sa kumag na modelo ng toothpaste na yun?" I muttered to myself as Eugene's smiling face cross my mind. I really hate that guy! He is reaking with the smell of trouble.

The traffic light turned red at the intersection so I hit on the brakes. Suddenly my eyes caught a familiar figure inside a car. My eyes widened when I saw Yanny on the opposite side of the street and she's inside Eugene's car. They were both laughing at nakita ko pang hinaplos ni Eugene yung pisngi nya. Their lane started moving and I look sternly at their car as it passes by.

When the my lane started to move I made a turn at the nearest U Turn slot then I drove back to Apex Tower. I parked right in front of Eugene's car at the side of the street. Wala na silang dalawa sa loob. So I waited.

After grueling thirty minutes I finally saw Eugene coming of the building. The a**hole is even smiling from ear to ear. He lost that smile when he noticed me leaning on his car.

"Nice car." I said as I crossed my arms. Hindi kumibo si Eugene he just walk towards the door but I blocked it. He looks at me with angry eyes.

"What do you want Byron?" He asks me.

"Ano ba talagang kailangan mo sa asawa ko?"

"Asawa mo?" He repeated with a smirk.

"Yes, si Yanny? My wife." I said putting emphasis on the wife part.

"Lalaki ka din Byron. Alam kong alam mo what I want from Yanny." He said. I can feel my hands forming into fists. Nakangiti na naman kasi itong si Mr. Toothpaste!

"She's my wife. She's married to me." I sternly said to him in case he had forgotten all about that one important piece of information.

"You don't have to pretend to me anymore Byron. Alam ko na lahat. I know about your deal with Yanny." He said surprising me. "Ilang buwan na nga lang ba ang natitira?" He added.

"She told you everything?" I angrily said as I grab his collar. Bakit sinabi ni Yanny sa lalaking ito ang lahat lahat? Dahil ba nagpapaligaw na sya dito sa kumag na ito?

Eugene pushed me away from him and then he fixes his suit. "Don't blame her. She was forced to admit everything just so she could protect you. I saw you kissing a girl a few weeks ago. I was going to tell Mr. Montecristo about it but Yanny stopped me by telling me everything."

Bigla akong nanlumo. Nakita pala nya kami ni Helena. I should have not let her kiss me. I know it will cause a lot of trouble.

"Thinking about it dapat pala sinabi ko na lang lahat kay boss so that he can force both of you to separate already. You don't deserve someone like her Byron at alam kong alam mo din yun. She is selfless and you are selfish. You asked me awhile ago what I want from her and I will answer you right now." Eugene steps a little closer to me. "I want her to be mine." He said with greeted teeth.

Eugene pushed me aside then he entered his car. I just watch as he drove off.

He wants her.

I know I should just not concern myself with Yanny's private life because like me she is free to love any guy that she wants but why do I feel like I don't want her to belong to any other man?

Siguro Eugene is really right. I am indeed selfish.

Yanny

After work I visited my dad and sisters at home kaya nagtext na lang ako kay Byron na wag na akong sunduin sa opisina. He just texted me the with the letter 'K.' Napakatipid pero I just let it pass. Marami sigurong iniisip ang taong yun sa trabaho.

When I finally got back home I saw Byron at the living room drinking beer. He is just looking blankly at the tv kahit naka off naman ito.

I sighed. I really don't know what's wrong with him anymore. I have to make sure this isn't a bad side effect of that Love Potion he drank a few days ago. I sat beside him then inagaw ko yung beer sa kanya. He looks at me.

"Nandito ka na pala?" He said melancholously.

I put down the bottle on the table. "May problema ka ba ha Byron? Are you sick or something? Why are you acting weird?" I worriedly ask him. He just stared at me. I don't even have a clue on what he is thinking. I started to become uneasy by the way he is staring at me so I looked away.

"You're acting weird." I said as I pick up my bag. I am starting to get nervous. Something's definitely off with Byron but he won't speak to me. I have no idea on what I am suppose to do with him anymore.

Did I broke him or something? Maybe I should go back to Lola Conching and ask more details about that pesky Love Potion of hers.

"I am going upstairs already. Don't get too drunk." I just said to him as I stand up. As I was about to walk away he grabs my hand.

"Wait!" He exclaimed then he stands up. I was waiting for him to say something more but he just stood there and stared at me. After ten more seconds of that he slowly released my hand. "Goodnight." Mahinang sinabi ni Byron then he sat down again and drink his beer.

I went upstairs worried and confused. After taking a bath I called Aly.

"Yanny naman do you know what time it is already?" Reklamo sa akin ni Aly na boses bagong gising pa yata. "Bakit ka ba tumawag?"

"Aly I think something is wrong with Byron." I said in a lowered voice.

"Ano na naman bang problema ng asawa mo? Is he having another episode of diarrhea?"

"No! But I think we broke him."

"We what?!" Aly exclaimed. "Ano ka ba Yanny? You are just being Paranoid nothing is wrong with Byron. Matulog ka na lang okay?" Aly said then it was followed by a beeping sound. Binabaan ako ng phone ng gaga!

I went out of my room and took a peek at Byron who is opening another bottle of beer once again. He seems to be in thought.

Hindi kaya nahihirapan na sya sa sitwasyon naming dalawa?

Ano kayang gagawin ko kapag sinabi nyang ayaw na nya?