The Bastard's Wife (On-Going)

Chapter Four: What A Wonderful Life

Chapter Four: What A Wonderful Life

Riley

"What are you doing here?"

I can't believe I'm back. I'm here in front of her. Hindi ko mapigilan na mapangiti. It's been so long since the last time I saw her. Kita ko ang gulat mula sa kanya nang makita ako. Halong gulat at galit. I really can't blame her for feeling like that.

"I miss my wife. I miss you." Sagot ko. Nanunuyang ngumiti naman siya.

"Oh look at that, hypocrisy is alive and well." Komento niya na ikinapawi ang ngiti ko.

"You think I'm lying?" Hindi makapaniwalang tanong ko sa kanya. Tinaasan niya lang ako ng kilay. Lumakad siya papunta sa desk at doon naupo.

"Not my words. Now what brings you here?" Ulit niya.

"I don't want to hide anymore. I miss you, Audrey." Deretsong sagot ko. She chuckled. Napailing pa ito, parang hindi makapaniwala sa sinabi ko.

"Am I really suppose to buy that?" Natatawang tanong niya. "Look, I get that you don't wanna hide anymore and besides I'm not gonna press charges on you. We're passed that."

Halos malaglag ang panga ko sa sinabi niya. Akala niya ba na sarili ko lang ang iniisip ko all this time? Lumapit naman ako sa kanya.

"Audrey, wala akong pakialam kahit magsampa ka man ng kaso laban sa akin. I runaway because of the thought that you would hate me after what happened. Wala akong mukhang ihaharap sayo." Giit ko. Seryosong nakatingin lang siya sa akin.

"I guess you're right. I do hate you. It's good that were on the same track. But I still don't know why you're here." Sabi niya na parang wala lang iyong mga sinabi ko sa kanya.

"What we had before the incident, its all real. Those two weeks was real. I completely fell for you." Nakangiting sabi ko sa kanya. Ngumiti rin siya.

"Pretty words, but no."

Para akong nanigas sa kinatatayuan ko. I just confessed at parang wala lang sa kanya. What happened to her? She sounds so heartless. I shouldn't have left. This wouldn't have happened.

"You're just hurt kaya sinasabi mo yan. You're blinded by anger and I know it's because of me. And for that I am so sorry." Pakiusap ko sa kanya. Nakita ko naman siyang na pa buntong-hininga at tsaka tumayo.

"Okay, I get it. You're guilty and sorry. There's so many pretty words coming right out of your mouth. Look, I have a meeting and he's waiting outside. You can go now."

"Why are you acting like that, Audrey?! I know what you feel for me. You love me." Desperadong saad ko sa kanya. Napakunot-noo naman siya.

"Aww... Are you really hurt? I wish I could feel it." Sarkastikong sagot niya sa akin. Para naman unti-unting pinipiga ang puso ko. "I really need you to get the hell out of my office, Fajardo. Just talk to someone else about your pathetic little story. "

Parang may punyal na tumatama sa dibdib ko sa bawat salita na binibitawan niya. Hinawakan ko naman siya sa kamay.

"No. I am not going to leave until we settle this." Pilit ko. Agad naman niyang binawi ang kamay niya at bigla kong naramdaman ang hagupit ng sampal sa aking pisngi.

"Don't you ever dare touch me again, you bastard. And please there's nothing to settle so cut the drama. You sound so hurt, I'd be fascinated, if it wasn't so pathetic." She spat. "Now get out or I'll call security to drag your pathetic ass out of my office."

Wala akong nagawa kundi ang tumalikod at umalis. Pagbibigyan ko siya ngayon. This is the first time she saw me since that incident. Of course she not gonna be so forgiving right now. It'll take some time and I'll wait for it.

Pasakay na ako ng elevator nang hinarang ako ni Christopher. Masama ang pagkakatitig nito sa akin. Obviously the guy hated me more than before.

"I need to talk to you, privately." Deretsong utas niya. Na pa buntong-hininga lang ako at tsaka siya tinanguan.

"Lead the way." Sabi ko. Tumalikod ito at nagsimulang lumakad. Sinundan ko lang ito hanggang sa may binuksan siyang pintuan. Napatitig ako sa plakang nakadikit doon. Office of the Chief Financial Officer. The asshole got promoted. Pumasok ito at sumunod ako sa kanya. Agad naman niyang isinara ang pintuan. Hinarap niya ako.

"Why did you even came back?" Prangkang tanong niya. I chuckled. He has the guts to ask.

"It's none of your business, Gomez." Tipid kong sagot sa kanya. Kitang-kita kong hindi siya kuntento sa sagot ko.

"Oh really? Because the last time I checked when you left Audrey, I was the one left picking up the pieces you broke." He snapped. Sinamaan ko lang ito ng tingin.

"Still, it's between me and Audrey. So kung iyon lang ang itatanong mo sa akin, I'll go now." Sambit ko. Humalukipkip naman siya.

"If you came back just to break her heart again, then please umalis ka na lang ulit. Clearly, she doesn't need you anymore." Walang habas niyang saad sa akin. Mapait naman akong napangiti sa kanya.

"It looks like this time, the table has turned. I need her now."

Audrey

Naglilipit na ako ng mga gamit ko ng biglang pumasok si Daddy sa loob ng opisina ko. Nagtatakang napalingon ako sa kanya.

"I heard your husband is back." Salubong sa akin ni Daddy. Agad namang napataas ang kilay ko.

"Gee, Daddy. For the first time updated ka sa mga nangyayari sa akin. How did you know?"

"Don't get sarcastic on me, Audrey. Your mother-in-law called. She told me that Riley went here to talk to you and you just kicked him out. What happened?" Seryosong tanong ni Daddy. Napa-irap naman ako.

"What a tattletale. I didn't just kicked him out. I asked him first why he's here then he got dramatic, that's when I kicked him out. Besides I got a meeting when he came by. That's what happened." Sagot ko rito. Namewang naman si Daddy.

"I want to talk to your husband." Sabi ni Daddy. Napatitig naman ako sa kanya.

"Uhh...How am I suppose to tell him that you want to talk to him? He should've left a card with his number on it." Walang amor kong sagot sa kanya. He just glared at me.

"Then call your mother-in-law, Audrey." Utos nito sabay talikod at lumabas ng opisina ko.

Napabuga na lang ako ng hininga. I fished out my phone and started to call her.

"What a wonderful life."

Ivy.
01AUG18