When the Ex Returns

Chapter 8: Frustrations and Deceits

This is initially Chapter 3 pero napinutol-putol ko na ang first two chapter so, amazingly, naging Chapter 8 na siya. Grabe! Ang dami ko palang sinabi sa earlier chapters. :). Baka nga maputol-putol ko rin tong chapter na to. Hehehe.

Please bear with me.

Leave some comments. Thanks.

*** Frustrations and Deceits ***

Mabuti na lang talaga at hindi gaanung sharp ang memory ni Alfred kung hindi he surely reminded me about calling Dan kagabi pagkarating na pagkarating namin sa apartment. Nahirapan siguro ako sa paggawa ng alibi kagabi kung pinatawagan niya sa akin si Dan. He is very workaholic, Alfred.Though not the type na hindi ka niya maaalala just because he has work to do. Hindi ganun. More of, if he wants to get a job done, he won’t rest until it’s done. And I never felt offended when most of the times napa-prioritize niya ang work niya. He’s a responsible man. Kaya nga hindi ako nagsisisi na siya ang fiancé ko eh.

I am now calling Vic. Sabihin man natin na I still have work to do, wala akong choice no. Ang office lang ang only place na hindi kami magkasama ni Alfred. This is my only time to call Vic.

“Vic? Is that you?” agad kung bungad ng sinagot na niya ang tawag ko.

“Yes, Ana. Bakit? Anong problema?”

“What did you do to me that night?” in a whisper-like tone. Mahirap na baka may makarinig sa mga kasama ko at magsumbong pa kay Alfred. After all, kakilala niya mostly ang mga kasamahan ko.

“I’m sorry?”

“C’mon, Vic. Tell me the truth. Did you take advantage of me again? Anong ginawa mo sa akin?”

“Sorry, Ana. I’m not following you. Ano bang sinasabi mo?”

Grabe talaga ang pagka-dense ng taong ito. Kung hindi lang talaga crowded ang office namin and I can go out to confront him, gagawin ko. Pero hindi pwede. I have to be as discreet as possible. Mahina nga lang ang pagkakatanong ko sa kanya just so hindi marinig ni Beth (na malapit lang ang table sa akin) and the rest of the group. Though I know they are just minding their own business, I know they are very eager for a chismis too. Knowing this people.

“Sige. I’ll text you na lang.” Agad kung binaba ang cellphone ko and immediately type a message for him. Halos mag-abot ang hininga ko at bilis ng mga daliri ko sa pagtatype.

What did you do to me that night after tayo mag-inuman sa bar? What did you do to me sa hotel room ko? Please, be honest.–Ana

I don’t know what you’re saying. Actually, hindi ko naiintindihan ang point mo. –Vic

Goddamit, Vic! Why am I naked when I woke up the following morning? –Ana

Yun lang naman talaga ang gusto ko na malaman. Damn! Why am I naked that morning at bakit ang sakit-sakit ng katawan ko. No doubt! He did something to me. Ginagago niya lang talaga ako. He is trying to escape from the fact that he raped me. Pag nabuntis ako, paano ko to ii-explain kay Alfred. We’re very careful pa naman na hindi muna ako mabuntis just so we can have a well-off life. Nag-iipon pa kami. And, I know, malalaman talaga ni Alfred na hindi sa kanya ang pinagbubuntis ko if ever. We’re using condom! Sira na ang buhay ko nito! Hindi na ako pakakasalan ni Alfred kung talagang mabuntis ako ng mokong nayun.

Hindi na nagreply si Vic. I knew it! He did something. Siguro, he is still working on his alibi para hindi ko siya mabisto. This is the reason why I hate text messages.

Pulis man siya, hindi niya maidi-deny ang nangyare. Kung hindi niya talaga ako sasagutin, magpapa-medico legal ako. Ipapacheck ko kung talagang na-rape ba ako. It’s not yet late. Magbabayad siya for what he did to me.

Biglang kumanta na naman si Idina Menzel. Geez! Kelan ko ba maaalala na Let It Go ang ringing tone ko. Kasi itong pasabay-sabay pa talaga sa uso, oo.

“Ana Molina here. Yes?”

“Ana, this is Vic. We need to talk.”

Nakakainis! Kelangan ba talaga niyang tumawag just to say what happened. Pwede naman na magtext na lang siya para mabura ko na lang later. Isn’t it too difficult? And, isa pa, all I want to know is kung ano ang ginawa niya so I can make a detour or whatsoever. Just so I know how to react and cover up...

“All I need is your answer, Vic. Simpleng text will do. And I really can’t talk much. I’m at work.”

“That’s why you have to listen to my suggestion. Let’s meet tonight. Andito naman ako sa Davao for a seminar. Let’s meet during dinner. I’ll tell you everything. Anyway, sagutin ko man ang tanong mo ngayon. You won’t believe me. We need to talk, face-to-face, para makasiguro kang hindi ako nagsisinungaling.”

Hindi ko talagang maiwasang magduda sa motibo nitong si Vic. With everything he did to me? But he has a point. Kahit anong sabihin niya, I will, one way or another, have doubts. Knowing him, he’s a big fat liar. I am torn between two things--believe in his lie or face his cunning ways. Whatever it is, I should be cautious.

“No more drinking. Just dinner! Tonight, 6PM. Magkita na lang tayo sa SM Ecoland. Ikaw na bahala where you want to eat. I just want this over and done with.”

“Okay. It’s settled then, 6PM. See you then.”

Hindi ko na lang iinform si Alfred about this, naisip ko bigla. Saglit lang naman ako. I just want to get the information out from Vic. Pagkatapos nun, aalis agad ako. Hindi na ako kakain. Promise! Kahit pa sa isang seafood restaurant niya ako dalhin. Hindi talaga ako kakain.