The Unfaithful Wife

3. Love

Kabanata 3

After I washed up I went out to see my son and Chris together on our bed. They were too focused on the movie that I think they did not notice me. I can say that it is a sad movie because my son's eyes were already welling up when I took a closer look at them.

"Daddy.." Humihikbi nitong tawag kay Chris bago yumakap.

"Daddy... Promise me you won't leave me and mommy ha. I don't want to have a second daddy." Iyak nito sa dibdib ni Chris.

"Of course, anak. Daddy won't ever leave you and mommy kasi love na love ko kayo and leaving you would also mean leaving my heart behind. And you know what a man is when he doesn't have his heart with him? Lifeless. Worthless." Chris answered as he caresses Zimjan's back.

"But how about mommy? Will she leave us? Does she love us? Does she love me?"

"Zimmer Jandrix." Pagtawag ko na nakapagpalingon sa kanilang dalawa.

Binalingan ko si Chris na unti unting umuupo sa kama kasama ang anak kong nagpupunas ng pisngi.

"Mommy, can you please hug me?"

"I told you Chris, huwag niyong pinapanood ng mga ganiyan yang si Zimjan. Tignan mo iiyak iyak ngayon. Palitan niyo nga yang pinapanood niyo." Irap ko bago tumuloy sa couch namin dito para kunin ang charger ko sa bag.

"Sorry, di ko kasi alam yung story. Cartoons kasi kaya–"

"Puro ka sorry." Malamig kong turan bago isinaksak ang cellphone kong naka-off na.

Napatikom ang bibig niya at kita ko ring napalunok siya bago binalingan si Zimjan na nakasimangot na nakatingin sa ama niya.

"Zim, go to your room na and take a bath muna." Utos ko dito.

"Yes, mommy." Mahinang tugon nito bago bumaba sa kandungan ni Chris at lumabas ng kwarto.

Naglakad ako papunta sa side table ko para kunin ang iniwan kong laptop doon.

"Carlota, can we talk?" Sinulyapan ko si Chris na nakatingin sa akin.

"No. May gagawin pa ako." I said that made him clench his jaw.

"Okay lang sana kung ako yung paulit ulit mong saktan at i-reject kasi alam kong deserve ko yun. But spare our son. Carlota, he doesn't know a thing on what happened. He's not responsible for it. Wala siyang alam at wala siyang kasalanan." I clenched my jaw and glared at him.

"Wala nga ba?" Napaawang ang bibig niya sa sinabi ko.

"For heaven's sake, Carlota! Walang alam yung bata, don't put the blame on him. No one wants to happen what happened. Pero kung yang paninisi mo ay ikakagaan ng loob mo then put all the blame on me. Ako ang may kasalanan, ako ang dapat magdusa. Just please, isipin mo rin yung nararamdaman ng bata. Pakita mo rin namang mahal mo siya."

"Mahal ko yung anak ko." Matigas kong sagot.

"Mahal ko siya but that doesn't mean I will tolerate his wrongdoings, Chris." Umiling ito sa akin.

"Hindi yun ang nakikita namin. Hindi yun ang nararamdaman ng bata." I scoffed.

"You know what Chris, believe whatever you want to believe. See it in whatever way you want it to see. I'm so done explaining myself to you, and to everyone else who already judged me without even knowing what I truly think and feel." I walked to the couch to get my bag.

Mahigpit ang hawak ko sa mga gamit ko habang mabibigat naman ang mga yabag kong pumunta sa pinto para lumabas at pumunta sa office ko dito sa bahay.