Be With You

Chapter 28

Andrew was in front of their doorsteps waiting for Faye to arrive, when he saw her walking alone at the side of the street in front of their home.

Agad agad niya etong nilapitan and tried his best to control the annoyance that surged inside him after seeing her walking alone.

She was still wearing the maternity dress, she was wearing earlier at the Ang's dinner pero kitang kita ni Andrew that his lifetime partner seems to be lost, her dishivelled state rose an alarm inside him.

"Anong nangyari bakit magisa ka, asaan si stace hindi ka ba niya hinatid man lang?

Sunod sunod na tanong ni Andrew habang hinihila niya si Faye papalapit sa dibib niya, to embrace her.

Faye's empty eyes looked at him, as unshed tears rolled from her eyes to her pale cheeks.

"Kailangan na  kita iwan, I am sorry Andrew pero buhay si Paolo."

Mahina at nanginginig na pahayag ni Faye sa kanya sabay iwas sa kanyang bisig. Walang ibang salita na pinahayag ang babaeng mahal bago siya neto talikuran at iwan sa malamig na simoy ng hangin sa ilalim ng madilim na gabi, sa tapat ng bahay nila.

And for the nth time that night, his inside told him, that things seems to be amiss, as fear and pain stroke his core.

"This isn't happening," bulong niya sa sarili as he took a deep breath and followed Faye inside the house.

He was determined to talk sense out of her and work this confusing mess that took him off guard.

Kanina lang okay sila bakit biglang ganito?

Andrew can't help but ask himself as he saw Faye crying at the floor of their room, her body uncontrollably shaking, her cries echoing in his ears.

He kneeled down before her and enveloped her in his arms as fear started to sink inside him, again.

Come hell and high water hindi niya hahayaan tumigil ang puso niya sa pagmamahal sa babaeng nasa bisig niya.

****

Kitang kita ni Paolo ang sakit at sobrang pagmamahal na sumasakop sa asawang papalayong naglalakad sa kanyang kotse.

Nakaparke ang kanyang sasakyan sa di kalayuan na lugar mula sa bahay na tinutuluyan ni Faye at Andrew Madrigal.

Mahal na mahal niya ang asawa't anak niya at mission niya na makasama ulit ang mga ito but after confessing everything to his wife, he was not sure kung kanya pa ang asawa niya.

His wife is deeply in love with someone else, at hindi niya matanggap na ang limang taon na tiniis niya ay mapupunta lang sa wala.

He is starting to question his own motives, "kaya ba niya saktan si Faye ng ganito ka tinde,

Upang makapiling niya ulit ang kanyang pamilya or he just need to let go and just continue to be, Terrence Ang,

At tuluyan ng patayin si Paolo Gutierrez."

Naguguluhang tanong niya sa sarili habang nilalamukos ang kanyang mukha.

Frustrated and in pain, Paolo started his car's engine and drove off the street where he left his wife with her lover. 

****

"I want Andrew Madrigal, Pa. Gawan mo ng paraan. You are not Augustus Ang for nothing, Pa."

Nagmamaktol na pahayag ni Mela sa kanyang ama, nasa home office eto ng ama at nagpapapadyak sa harapan ng lamesa kung nasaan tahimik na  nagtratrabaho ang matandang Ang.

"Mela, magulo na ang sitwasyon, huwag ka ng dumagdag."

Pahayag ni Augustus Ang sa spoiled na babaeng anak.

"If you won't help me then fine, Mela Ang will get what she wants. Kahit wala ang tulong mo, Pa."

Malditang sagot neto sa ama bago padabog na lumabas ng home office ng kanyang Papa.

****

New Characters:

Carmen So as Carmela 'Mela Ang

Tom Rodriguez  as Paolo Gutierrez/ Terrence Ang