My Antagonist Wife *completed*

Thirty Five

[ This one's dedicated to flaring_ren ]

"Anak." Mom walked towards me.

We both hugged each other while crying. She was crying a lot. I don't know what to say to ease her pain.

"Bakit hindi mo sinabi agad sa'kin, mom?" I looked at her straight in the eyes. "Is this the reason why you've been asking me to go back here for good? Is this the reason?"

"He's sick, Macqui. Really sick. He's been doing all these chemotherapies, pero hindi na kinakaya ng katawan niya. He's losing weight, losing hair. He's losing it all, anak." Mom cried in my arms.

I looked at dad from the mirror separating us. I felt shivers looking at him. The man I hate the most, the most powerful man for me. The scariest man for me was lying in a hospital bed. Unconcious and doesn't know what's happening around him. Bigla akong naawa sa kanya. I don't know if I can get myself to enter his room. Hindi ko kaya. I can't see him up close.

"This is the reason kung bakit pilit ka niyang ipinapakasal kay Jerod. He needs to pass the company to someone he trusts. This is for your own good, too. He wants you to have an easy going life, because he knows thats what you want. Kaya hindi ka niya pinipilit na ikaw ang maghandle ng company." I looked at Jerod.

Kami na lang tatlo ang naiwan dito. My friends are at the parking lot waiting for me. Sinabi nila na ayaw muna nila ng silent war with Jerod's friends kaya doon na lang daw sila magi-stay. I insisted na umakyat na sila since Jerod's friends left minutes ago, kaso their with Cleo and they don't want to make a scene.

"And you...payag ka sa ganoon? He asked you to take over and you said yes? May kompanya kayo..." I looked back at mom. "I can handle it if its necessary. You should've told me about this instead of going around circles, mom! I have the right to know!" She held my hand kasabay noon ang paghawak ni Jerod sa balikat ko.

"Anak, your dad told me not to. Ayaw niyang makita mo siyang ganito. He doesn't even know you're here. He's asleep knowing you're not around, but hindi ko na kaya. You should talk to him. Go, anak." She smiled weakly at me.

"No..." Sunud-sunod ang pag-iling ko. "I can't. Hindi ko kaya. I'm sorry, mom." Bumitaw ako sa yakap ni mommy. "Just don't tell him I already know everything. I'm leaving the country the day after tommorow. I can't....I can't do this, really. I'm sorry..sorry mom."

"Macqui!" I turned and walked away.

I was half running. I want to escape. I want to wake up from this dream. Panaginip lang 'to. Hindi ko nakitang malubha si daddy. Walang may sakit. That was all an act! Halos mabaliw ako. Muntik pa akong mahulog at magpagulung-gulong sa hagdanan.

"Jac..." He held my arms.

He helped me get up. I was crying. I don't know what to feel. I don't want to feel anything right now.

"He can't be that sick, right? He's not sick!" I was punching his chest.

I want to let out all the anger...all the frustrations. I'm angry, frustrated, betrayed, and...sad all at the same time. Hindi ko alam kung ano doon ang uunahin kong maramdaman.

"Jac..let's go. Ihahatid kita." He said while helping me walk down the stairs.

"No. Please, Jerod. I am so so tapped up right now. Just let me go." Kinalas ko ang mga kamay niyang naka-alalay sa akin.

Mabigat ang mga ito. Ayaw nilang kumawala. I know he wants to be with me more than anyone, but I don't want to be with him. I can't.

"Maj!" Salubong sa akin nila Lara.