Remembering Mr. Perfect

Thirty Two

I felt the world froze while I look at her holding the phone I am looking for. Tumingin siya sa kaliwa at kanan bago niya sinarado ang pinto. She leaned on the door while she gawked at me.

My heart raced as my palms sweat. Natatakot ako na baka gawin niya sa akin ulit ang ginawa niya noon. Or even worse sabihan niya si Ivan about this. And who knows kung ano nanaman ang gagawin sa akin ni Ivan. Kung saan lupalop nanaman niya ako ng mundo dadalhin.

Lumapit si Sandra sa akin. Napapikit ako ng nakita kong itaas niya ang kamay niya. I waited for a slap, I waited for her hand to connect with my face pero wala akong naramdaman.

Binuksan ko ulit ang mata ko at nakita kong naka-squat si Sandra sa harap ko. Kinuha niya ang kamay ko at inilagay niya doon ang cellphone na hawak niya. "You take this. Ivan's out for grocery shopping, so this is the only time I could tell you this."

Mababa ang tono ng boses niya, walang bahid ng sungit o kahit man pagkamuhi sa akin. She closed her eyes briefly before she spoke again, "I know I can't bring back your dead child and I know I can't undo all the wrong things I have caused you."

She clasped both of my hands tight, "Antoinette, that's your real name right? I know because Ivan talks a lot about you when he was still working in that damn marketing company."

She let out a sigh before she continued. "I didn't know what happened to him, because after he met you he started to act terribly crazy. And before I knew it, I lost my dear son. That's why I hated you so much. Kung nakita mo lang sana siya pagkatapos ng kamuntikan niyo siyang ipakulong, maaawa ka talaga sa kanya. It took him a lot of shrink visits para lang maibalik ang dati kong Ivan. Five years later, he tells me he bumped and talked to you. Nagkakutob na ako, alam kong mangyayari ito. I know that he will start chasing after you again."