Para Sa Akin (Dedicated To You Trilogy)

Ika-Lima

Wife,

Today is champ's 12th week. Happy three months of being a mom to our child. How are you, Stel? I really miss you. Just one message. Please.

I love you and I will never let you go.

Neil.

~~~~~

Tama nga ba sila? Na wala akong kwentang asawa?

Lahat ng makasalubong ko sa school ay iyan ang sinasabi sa akin o ipinaparinig.

Si Acneil, hinayaan niya lamang na iwanan siya ni Stella? Sinaktan niya siguro.

Napakawalang kuwenta kasi siguro niyang asawa.

Kung ako si Stella, I will not marry him in the first place.

Okay lamang sa akin ang mga naririnig kong iyon. Ayoko lang kapag na si Stella ang sinisisi nila kaya mas mabuting ako na lamang. Alam ko naman kung gaano ko siya nasaktan. Ayaw ko na dagdagan pa ng ibang tao ang sakit na iyon. She is in pain right now. And considering her case, the words I am hearing will add up to the burden in her chest. I will bargain the world for a peaceful life with her.

Alam kong hinuhusgahan nila ako. Ngunit hindi nila alam kung gaano ako naapektuhan ng pag-alis niya. Hindi nila alam kung gaano ako kadesperado makita lamang kung nasaan siya. Sana inaalam muna nila kung ano ba talaga ang totoo. Pero kahit naman anong masamang sabihin nila tungkol sa akin, wala akong pakialam. But not to my wife. Not her 'cause I don't know what I can do to them if they hurt her in words and in acts.

"I heard the reason why your wife left." That's Henry, my best friend.

"Kanino naman? Baka sa mga chismosa lamang na estudyante. Huwag ka maniniwala sa mga iyon."

"Not from them. From Mark."

"You talked with Mark?"

"Yes. And I also want to tell you that she messaged me."

"She... Stella? My wife?"

"She said, she want you back. But she can't have you back right now. She's suffering and she doesn't want you to see how painful it is."

"The e-mail? Can we open it? Ipapatrace ko lang."

"You know it might take months... But sure."

"Kahit gaano pa katagal."

"You must have love her that much?"

"Definitely."

Tahimik na muli kaming dalawa. Henry is not a talky person kaya sanay na ako sa katahimikan kapag magkasama kami. Pero ngayon medyo palaimik na si Henry which is unsual but better for him.

"I'm sorry I got your place. I don't like it, by the way."

"At talaga nga namang ayaw mo maging top one? Sa lahat ng kilala ko, ikaw lang ang ayaw sa puwestong iyan."

"Because I know you deserve to be in that place, I don't."

"You deserved it, bro."

The days having Stella away from me were just blurry days. They are like nonsense days. But I thank some of my frienda for being here, helping me find her no matter how impossible she made the search.