The Empire Series 1: Vander Lewis Rushed

3: Visit

Vander Lewis

"Dad?" Desiry's questioning eyes turned into a smile when she saw what Vander is holding. Pinuntahan niya ang mga ito sa executive suite ng hotel kung saan tumutuloy ang mag-iina.

Hinayaan na muna niya ang mga anak na makasama ang ina nila sa kundisyong titira ang mga ito sa hotel suite na inilaan niya para sa mga ito.

"What's with the flowers?" nanunudyong tanong ng dalagita sa kanya. Hindi nito tuluyang binuksan ang pinto. He smiled at his daughter's query.

"Sabi ko na eh. You still love mommy. Manliligaw ka na niyan?" tudyo ulit nito.

Sa lahat talaga ng tao, ito lang ang may kayang biru-biruin siya ng ganito. Well before it was only Aubrey.

"Bakit hindi mo na lang ako papasukin?" kunot-noo niyang tanong rito. He tried to hide his excitement baka mas lalo siya nitong kantiyawan.

"Wait, I'll have to ask mommy kung magpapaligaw siya." Nakangiting tugon nito at akmang isasarado na ang pintuan kung hindi niya lang napigilan ang anak sa braso. She chuckled at what his father did.

"Papasukin mo na lang ako or else hindi ko popondohan yung debit card mo." Banta niya sa anak. It was only a joke. It's what he always says to blackmail his daughter. Mahilig kasi itong mag-shopping.

"Okay lang binibigyan naman ako ni mommy ng allowance," she answered smiling.

"Papasukin mo na ako. Ayaw mo bang mabuo ang pamilya natin?" nagtatampo-tampuhan niyang tanong sa anak. Napatawa naman ito ng malakas.

"Desiry, sino yan?"

Bahagya siyang kinabahan nang marinig ang boses ng asawa. Their conversation awhile back wasn't that okay. His daughter chuckled at his reaction. Niluwagan nito ang bukas ng pinto.

"Good luck, lover boy." Desiry whispered in his ear bago ito mabilisang lumayo. Napatawa siya sa sinabi ng anak. Luko-luko talaga ito kahit kailan. She's always bubbly. Kaya kahit wala ang ina nito noon ay ito ang nagbibigay sa kanya ng kasiyahan.

Aubrey's forehead creased when she saw him.

"Hi, Aub!" Iniabot niya ang hawak na bouquet. Tumingin muna ito sa mga anak na nakaupo sa couch at nakatingin sa kanila bago nito tinanggap. Ayder waived his hand to recognize his presence. Tinanguan naman niya ang anak.

"You don't have to give me flowers." Aubrey hissed. Tumalikod ito at nagtungo sa kitchen. The suite is the largest in their hotel. May kitchen ito at living room at isang malaking bedroom parang isa itong condo unit.

Sumunod siya sa asawa.

"I am not changing my decision, Vander. Tomorrow, I am going to submit my petition for annulment." Madiin nitong saad nang hindi na sila rinig ng mga bata. Inilapag nito sa kitchen counter ang bulaklak.

"Baka puwede pa nating pag-usapan. As I've told you, I am going to prove that I've changed, Aub." Pakiusap niya rito.

She stared at him and smiled bitterly.

"Hindi na kailangan. Alam ko namang nagbago ka na pero hindi na talaga tayo puwedeng magkabalikan." Seryoso nitong tugon.

Biglang sumikip ang dibdib niya sa narinig. Aubrey has really made her decision. Kilala niya ito. Kagaya niya, kapag sinabi nitong gagawin ang isang bagay, gagawin talaga nito. Kaya nga kahit ayaw ng mga magulang niya ay nagawan nila ng paraan para maikasal noon dahil pareho sila ng ugali na kung ano ang gusto nila ay nakukuha nila.

"Why?" He asked with a heavy heart.

"People change Vander. Hindi na ako yung babaeng kaya mong paikutin." She said looking at him. For her to say that straight in his eyes means she's really serious about it.

"Hindi mo na ba ako mahal?" nagbabakasakali niyang tanong rito. Aubrey smiled bitterly. She heaved a deep breath before speaking.

"Ten years Vander. What do you expect?" mahina ngunit madiin nitong tanong. He inhaled deeply. Pinalakas niya ang loob para sabihin ang nilalaman ng puso niya.

"I expect that you still love me. Kasi ako mahal na mahal pa rin kita." Puno ng sinseridad niyang saad.

"Well then, let's say mahal pa rin kita Vander. Mahal na mahal pa rin kita." She answered staring at his eyes.

"But fortunately, I already love myself more than I do to you."

He tried to suppress his eyes from crying. He doesn't want to appear like a weakling.

"Mas mahal ko na ang sarili ko at ayaw ko nang pagdaanan lahat ng kalbaryong naranasan ko sa 'yo." Dagdag nito.

That statement felt like array of bullets hitting his chest. It was hard to hear from the woman he loves how she despised being with him, how disastrous their marriage was. But he can never blame her for feeling that way. Umaasa lang siya na sana maayos pa nila.

"Pero sa lahat ng mga nangyari mayroon namang maganda 'di ba? Desiry and Ayder." He mumbled.

"Yes my children will always be the best thing that happened to me and you will always be the worst, Vander."

He wasn't able to react with what she said. Ang sakit ng balik nito sa kanya.

"But I don't hate you. 'Yon nga lang hindi mo na magagamit 'yang matatamis mong dila para baguhin ang desisyon ko. I've learned my lesson the hard way. I am not changing my decision." Her voice is low and serious hindi katulad noon na kapag nagsasalita ay laging pasigaw.

That was the last strand. He didn't know what to say. He can not gather the right words to utter to convince her not to file the annulment.

Lalapitan sana niya ito pero agad itong humakbang paatras. He didn't want to worsen the situation kaya hinayaan na lamang niya ito. Good thing the children appeared in the kitchen.

"Aren't we going to eat dinner yet? Gutom na ako." Ayder said as they walked in. From a serious aura, Aubrey smiled at their son.

"Sandali, maghahain na ako." Tugon nito.

The kids help their mother habang siya ay nanatili sa kinatatayuan. He only budged when Desiry ask him to sit down on the vacant chair.

"So, magkakabalikan na kayo?" Desiry asked candidly nang kumakain na sila. Hindi niya agad nalunok ang kinakain at napatingin sa asawa.

"What made you think that? Your dad and I are actually talking about the annulment." Aubrey answered.

"What's with the flowers?" Ayder asked looking at the bouquet on the kitchen counter.

"Your father's just being friendly. Ayaw na kasi namin nang may samaan ng loob."

Tumango na lang siya sa pahayag ng asawa. She's really serious about the annulment.

He inhaled deeply to stop himself from whining. Desiry stared at him. Nginitian niya ito. He could sense his daughter's sadness. Parang noon lang. Noong mga panahong hindi nila tanggap pareho ang paglayo ni Aubrey. Desiry inhaled deeply and gave him a half-smile. He knows his daughter well, it's her way of saying "it's okay, dad."

Napatingin siya sa asawa na tahimik nang kumakain. Hindi naman niya masisisi sa tigas ng loob na pinapakita nito. It was him who taught her how to be like that because of what he did to her.

The dinner was scorching for him. Sumasakit ang dibdib niya sa isiping hindi na mabubuo ang pamilya nila. Pero baka naman ngayon lang ito? Like what happens to most people, in denial pa siguro si Aubrey at hindi matanggap na nagbago na siya. Sana bigyan pa siya ng pagkakataon na itama ang lahat.

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*Kailan nga ba sapat ang salitang "palayain mo na ako" para ibigay mo ang kahilingan niya sa kabila ng sakit na dulot nito?*