" The Cold Wife "

Broken

Tumalikod na lang si Nick at kaagad pumasok ulit sa loob ng restaurant. He couldn't breathe properly when he saw his wife and Sebastian kissing. Parang binaril siya sa puso niya habang pinapanuod ang dalawa. He couldn't anymore bear the pain kaya pumasok na lang ulit siya sa loob.

Nang malapit na sana si Nick sa table niya, his cellphone rang. He immediately answered the call.

"Nick." it was his wife's voice, Monique.

He calmed himself. "Y-yes? Nasaan ka?"

"Uhm.." it was a long pause. "Ano kasi, tinawagan kasi ako, kailangan ko raw bumalik sa opisina, may ipinapaayos kasi sa kin ang department head namin. O-okay lang? Sorry ha, uhm, babawi ako para dinner natin next time."

Hindi alam ni Nick kung ano ang isasagot niya para rito. He knew, Monique was just lying but.. "S-sige, okay lang. Don't worry. Mag-ingat ka." kusang lumabas iyon sa bibig niya. He was too hurt.

"Thanks, sige, ikaw din. Kita na lang tayo sa bahay."

"Okay, bye. I love you." he said.

Hindi naman naksagot kaagad si Monique sa kanya sa kabilang linya at ilang segundo ay nagsalita na rin ito, "Bye." then she ended the call.

It was like his heart was broken for a million pieces. Nasasaktan na naman siya dahil dito. But he only wants his wife's happiness, right? Kaya wala siyang karapatan para pangunahan ito. Monique was forced to marry him and he knew, she never loved him.

---

"Good morning. Ang aga mo yata." nakangiting sabi ni Nick kay Monique nang maaga itong magising at pumunta sa kusina. Nakaoffice uniform na ito kahit 7:30am pa ng umaga. 8:30am din kasi ang pasok nito.

Ni hindi nga rin siya tapos sa pagluluto, gaya kasi ng nakagawian, magdadala siya ng breakfast sa kwarto nito.

"Uhm.. Dapat kasi maaga kami ngayon, sabi sa min ng department head. May mga files na dapat kaming ayusin." sagot naman nito sa kanya.

"Ganun ba? Well, tutal, nandito ka na, dito ko na lang i-seserve ang pagkain." sabi na lang niya saka kumuha ng pinggan para rito. He could still feel Monique was becoming distant to him again.

"Ah, okay na ako. S-salamat na lang, sige, I have to go now." pagkatapos nitong sabihin iyon ay mabilis itong lumabas sa bahay nila.

Nick forced himself not to curse but he was so hurt that he threw the plate on the wall. Nagkabasag-basag ito. He clenched his fists.

Pinipigilan niyang hindi maiyak. Ewan ba niya, kalalake niyang tao, siya ang umiiyak. Siya na lalake ang laging nasasaktan. Bakit ganito na lang lagi sila ni Monique?

He tried everything to prove her that she could love him. Hindi siya gumagawa ng mga bagay na makakasakit dito pero kabaligtaran yata ang mga nangyayari sa kanila. He was avoiding hurting Monique pero heto siya, siya ang nasasaktan.

He only wanted her to be happy but it wasn't enough. For all those three years, he endured everything para lang matutunan siyang mahalin ni Monique pero wala pa rin.

Ngayon, bumalik na ang pinakamamahal nitong lalake, si Sebastian Lim. These past few days, naging distant ulit sa kanya si Monique. Iniiwasan na naman siya nito. He investigated privately Monique and Renzo's relationship before.

Nalaman niya na Sebastian was Monique first boyfriend and also supposedly her first love before he married her. Nalaman niyang nagkahiwalay ang dalawa noon but with no definite closure. Nalaman kasi ni Monique na may fiancee pala si Sebastian but it was all arranged pero hindi siya pinakinggan nito.