Young and Married

Chapter XLVIII

Chapter XLVIII

After a few minutes, inilahad na ni Joseph ang kanyang kamay sa akin kung kaya kinuha ko na siya kay Zack. Nanatiling nakatayo si Zack. Umupo ako karga ni Joseph. Si Benj ay nakatulog na habang buhat ng kanyang Lolo.

Muling umupo si Zack sa harapan namin, katabi ni Emmy.

"I don't want to give up my custodial rights." mariing sabi ni Zack.

"Zack!" tutol ni Emmy.

"I want to be part of my children's life." anito habang saka tiningnan si Emmy.

"No! I told you, Zack. Ayokong may kahati kami ng anak mo sa oras mo." galit nitong sabi. Tiningnan ako ni Emmy. "Besides, baka gamitin 'yan ni Paige para agawin ka sa amin."

"In the first place Ms. Magsino, Zack belongs to me. I am his wife. Wala siyang obligasyon sayo." sabi ko.

Tiningnan ako ni Emmy ng masama at tila napuno ito sa aking sinabi. Namula ang kanyang mukha at naiiyak na tiningnan si Zack.

"Zack, ayoko." sabi nito kay Zack. Bumuntong hininga si Zack at pumikit. It's like he's stuck and he can't decide. Tiningnan ko ang anak ko at tila natauhan ako sa mga nangyayari. Umusbong ang galit sa aking dibdib at tila nagkaroon ako ng labas para lumaban.

"I don't want this annulment anymore." I said. Tumingin silang lahat sa akin, pare-parehong gulat. "I changed my mind. Hindi ko kakasuhan si Emmy kapalit ng kondisyon na sa amin titira si Zack." sabi ko.

"Mas lalong hindi ako makapapayag sa gusto mo!" sigaw ni Emmy dahil sa galit.

"Of course, pwede namang tumanggi si Zack dahil pwede naman kitang ipakulong. Either way, mahihiwalay ka pa din sa kanya." mariin kong sabi.

I will fight for my children now. Wala na akong pakialam kung ayaw sa akin ni Zack pero obligasyon niyang maging ama sa aming mga anak at kung kinakailangan na gawin ko 'yon paraang hindi pabor sa kanilang nararamdaman ay gagawin ko. Wala na akong pakialam kung nasasaktan si Emmy o kung mawawalan ng ama ang anak ni Emmy. Mas ipaglalaban ko ang karapatan ng mga anak ko.

"I agree with, Paige. Wala kang karapatang magmataas Emmy, you're a mistress. Wala kang kahit anong karapatan. In the first place, if Paige won't sue you, we can. Labas kami sa usapan niyo. We are all with Paige. Kung anong gusto niya, iyon ang dapat masunod kung ayaw mong makulong." anito.

"Then I rather rot in jail." galit na galit na turan ni Emmy.

"That's no problem, Emmy. Habang nasa kulungan ka, dito uuwi si Zack kay Paige para gawin ang obligasyon niya sa kanyang legal na pamilya. That's more favorable for them." kibit balikat na sabi ni Alexa.

"Emmy, bilang ina ni Zack, kahit maghiwalay pa sila ni Paige, hinding-hindi ako papayag na maging parte ka ng pamilya namin. You ruined my grandson's chance to grow up with a complete family. The child you are bearing is welcome to our family but you are not. We can easily get every custodial right you have to your son. Hindi kita tinatakot pero kayang-kaya naming gawin 'yon." sabi naman ng nanay ni Zack.

If I won't be happy then Emmy doesn't deserve to be happy, too. I'm so stupid. Basta ko na lamang ibibigay sa kanila ang kalayaan ni Zack? Heck no. If she wants to remove the custodial rights of Zack to my sons, then I will do everything to remove Zack from her life. Hindi ako papayag na maging maligaya pa siya pagkatapos niyang sirain ang aking pamilya.

Her weakness is Zack and I will use her weakness to hurt her in every possible way. Kung hindi niya isusuko si Zack ay hinding-hindi ko bibitawan si Zack. Ako ang asawa. Kami ang legal na pamilya. Kami ang may karapatan.

"I won't let you treat Emmy that way. I know that you are family but for years, she was the one who took care of me. I love her and she is bearing my child." sabi ni Zack.

"That's because she deceived you! We can take care of you, Zack. Tinanggalan lang kami ng Emmy na 'yan ng pagkakataon." sabi ng nanay ni Zack.

"My lawyer can make sure that you will be imprisoned for a lifetime, Emmy. Hindi ka magkakaroon ng pagkakataong maging ina sa anak mo kung makukulong ka ng panghabang buhay." I said firmly.

"The initial agreement was to annul your marriage. What's with the sudden change, Paige?" galit ngunit kalmadong tanong ni Emmy.

"I want my children to grow up with a complete family, Emmy. Don't worry, hindi kagaya mo, hindi ko tatanggalin ang karapatan ng anak mo na maging ama si Zack. It's just that I want Zack to cut every ties he have with you or else, I will sue you. Kung papayag ka namang makulong, tatanggalan ko ng karapatan si Zack sa anak niyo at sa mga anak ko. Do you want that to happen?" bumaling ako kay Zack. "Ayaw mo bang maging ama sa kambal, Zack?" tanong ko dito.

"I will father them, Mrs. Pascual. I want to. Ipaglalaban ko ang karapatan ko sa kanila." anito.

"Oh, but you will need to fight hard, Zack. Madaming grounds para matanggalan ka ng karapatan sa kanila. You were gone for three years, you have given us no support, you have a mistress and you even got her pregnant. That already makes you an invalid father to them." I said. Pumalakpak si Alexa sa aking sinabi.

"Zack, hindi ito sa pagsasawalang bahala sa nararamdaman mo. Hindi din ito pagsasawalang bahala sa katotohanan na magkakaroon kayo ng anak ni Emmy. Pero gusto kong alalahanin mo na wala ka pang maalala. Maaari naming sabihin sayo ang katotohanan ngunit nasasayo kung paniniwalaan mo kami o hindi pero ang desisyon kung ano ang totoo sayo ay ikaw pa din ang magdedesisyon. Gusto ko lamang tandaan mo na malaki ang bahagi ng nakaraan mo sa buhay mo at kung sakaling dumating ang araw na maalala mo ang lahat, baka magsisi ka kung anong pinapakawalan mo tuwing pinipili mo ang babaeng 'yan." sabi ng tatay ni Zack.

"I can't accept how you treat Emmy. Irespeto niyo naman siya." ani Zack. "I love her and she is carrying my child. Do not forget that the decision still lies in me. You can't change that."

"Those who knows how to respect are the only ones who deserve to be respected, Zack. Don't expect me to respect her because she clearly she doesn't deserve to be respected here. Don't also expect that I will respect your decision to stay in her side because in anyone's eyes, it's wrong. What you are doing is a sin to the law and to God."

I looked at family and they nodded at me. They are encouraging me to fight this battle so I will. I will not give up anymore. I will win this battle. This fight is for my rights and for my children's. I will not let anyone take that away from us.

"I am your wife, Zack. The twins are your children. Expect that I will never, ever change that. No one can, I will make sure of that. This is my wrath. If we won't be happy, then let's be unhappy together." I said as a directly stare upon the eyes I once adored.