Once a Wife

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Chapter XXIX

"HINDI ka na naman ba uuwi, Tristan?" Tanong ni Allie, his business associate and friend for the past years.

Nakakunot ang noo ni Tristan na nakatuon ang pansin sa mga papeles na nasa mesa. Hindi man lang niya yata narinig ang sinabi ng kaibigan.

"Tristan.." Ulit niya at lumapit rito, "That's not healthy anymore, magkakasakit ka sa ginagawa mo--"

"I don't care" walang buhay nitong sagot.

Sa tono ng boses nito ay alam na ni Allie ang problema nito, "yeah, you don't" she walk towards Tristan's small wine rack at kumuha ng isang boteng wine. "Now I know what you need"

"Marami akong kailangan tapusin, hindi ako iinom--"

"Wala ka ngang matapos tapos nang dahil sa iniisip mo. C'mon, you need this. Tell me about it" Sa huli ay kinuha ni Tristan ang baso't ininom ang wine na naroon. "What's the problem?"

Naiilang na tumingin si Tristan sa kanya pagkuwa'y inubos ang inumin. "Having second thoughts?"

Umiling si Tristan, "You really think that I'll have that?" he frustratedly answered. "She didn't show up, again"

Nagulat si Allie, "In your pre-wedding counseling? Why?"

Tumango siya, "She became cold since we lost our baby. Hindi ko na siya mahawakan o makausap, Allie" bakas ang pagaalala sa tinig nito, "Hindi ko na alam ang gagawin ko, we'll be getting married in five months but ..."

"But?"

"But what if she'll call it off?" Kung sabihin ito ni Tristan ay parang ito ang pinakakintatakutan niyang mangyari. Well, it is. "What if--"

"Tristan" pigil ni Allie sa kanya, "Mahal ka ni Maricar" she assured him.

"K-kasalanan ko ito, I should have been there.. hindi ko sila naprotektahan--"

"No" pigil ni Allie muli, "Wala kang kasalanan, Tristan. Neither Maricar, walang may gusto nang nangyari sa inyo"

Napabuntong hininga si Tristan, "Then why does it seemed that I lost her too?"

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"Where's Maricar, Tristan?" Tanong ng associate niya. "Please tell her that I'll hire her for my daugther's christening"

Pilit na tumango si Tristan, "I-I'll tell her. Busy lang siya sa--"

"Oh yes! Sa wedding" Nakipagkwentuhan pa ito sa kanya pagkuwa'y may tumawag ng pangalan niya.

"You're Tristan Bergström, right?" Napalingon si Tristan sa isang maganda at sopistikadang babae na nakasuot ng itim na off-shoulder lace dress habang hawak ang champagne glass sa kanang kamay.

It was an annual gathering for custom brokers, dapat kasama niya rito si Maricar. Ngayon lamang ito hindi nakasama sa loob ng anim na taon.

"Yes, and you are?" magalang at propesyunal na tanong ni Tristan.

The woman offered her hand and smiled, "I'm Corazon" tinanggap naman ni Tristan iyon at nakipagkamay. "I've heard that you are one of the finest and most trustworthy customs brokers in town, Bergström Custom Brokerage"

Hindi alam ni Tristan kung tama ba ang nararamdaman niya. This woman wasn't complimenting him, may iba itong pinapahiwatig.

"Thank you. What could I do for you, Corazon?"  Sana isa na lang itong cliente, sana mali ang nararamdaman ni Tristan.

She just smiled at him until she did what Tristan didn't really expect at all.

Inilayo siya nito sa mga tao ay hinila papasok sa ladies comfort room. She pinned him against the wall at sinungaban ng halik. "C-Corazon, you're drunk" pigil ni Tristan dito but she was relentless.

"Oh c'mon, you're not married, aren't you?" Hinihingal na tanong nito.

"I'm--"

"I don't see a ring" putol nito sa kanya at hinalikan muli si Tristan. "C'mon, I know you're not yet married but there's no harm in breaking rules even just for a while"

Napabuntong hininga si Tristan, "Corazon" he pushed her, katamtamang lakas lang upang hindi ito gaano masaktan. "I'm engaged"

Napatigil si Corazon at tumingin sa kanya. She let out a fake chuckle, "What a shame" she murmured.

Napakunot ang noo ni Tristan, anong pinagsasabi nito? "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to disrespect--"

"Oh, don't be" she said while fixing herself, "I wasn't talking about you"

Huh? Hindi na maintindihan ni Tristan ito. "You're a noble man, Mr.Bergström" ani Corazon.

Tristan sighed with relief, "Let me drive you home, instead--"

"It's okay, I have a driver" sagot nito sa kanya at pagkuwa'y humarap muli. "You don't deserve her, Tristan"

Parang napako sa kinatatayuan si Tristan sa narinig, "I know her, she's Maricar Martinez, right?" she smirked.

"What are you talking about?"

"You don't deserve her." ulit nito, "Open your eyes, Tristan. While you are here, someone's trying to steal someone's husband"

Now it is getting more confusing. "I don't understand"

"Oh, let me help you" lumapit ito sa kanya na may panganib sa mata. "Hindi mo ba alam na nakikipagkita si Maricar sa asawa ng kapatid ko? Hindi mo ba alam na sa mga oras na wala siya sa'yo ay ang kasama niya---"

"Stop" Hindi, nagsisinungaling lang ito.

"No, you listen! I'm trying to help you here." Nagkatitigan sila sa mata. "Habang may oras pa, ilayo mo na si Maricar"

"She would never --"

"We are both trying to save our love ones here, I am saving my sister in this goddamn misery!" Sister?

"I'm not going to let that bastard hurt my sister, so if you want me to spare her... do it now"

Natulala lang si Tristan, wala na siyang masabi. Umalis si Corazon at iniwan siya roon, pagkuwa'y hinanap niya ito sa guest list.

"Sir, she's Ms.Corazon Fuentes" ani ng tauhan niya nang biglang dumating si Allie.

"Tristan!" lapit nito sa kanya, "Are you alright? I've received a news.."

Naguguluhan na si Tristan, bakit may mga pulis rito? "Mr.Bergström, we have to ask you few more questions"

"What's going on here?" Tanong niya sa mga ito.

"Tristan" Ani Allie, "Corazon Fuentes is Cora Javier" mas lalong naguluhan si Tristan. Ano ito, teleserye?

"I can't understand--"

"Ano ba ang sinabi niya sa'yo?" Nagaalalang tanong ni Allie. Hindi makasagot si Tristan, this is a lot to grasp! "Listen to me, Tristan.. kung anuman ang sinabi niya kailangan mong magingat. She's not the person you wouldn't take seriously"

Umangat ang kaba sa dibdib ni Tristan. Hindi para sa sarili niya, "She's a criminal, Tristan"

Parang binuhusan ng malamig na tubig si Tristan, maraming tanong sa isip niya ngayon, "I have to go.."