The Chef | Alyanna

Kabanata 15

Nakangiti kong tinanaw ang mga anak ko habang tumatakbo sila palayo sa'kin. Their father is already waiting for them outside my house and I know that he doesn't want to see me.

It's been a week or two and until now, 'di pa rin niya ako kinakausap pagkatapos niyang permahan ang annulment papers namin. And I don't know too kung bakit hanggang ngayon di ko pa rin maibigay sa abogado ko ang papeles na na-permahan na. I just can't. My heart is stopping me and it's killing me.

Bumuntong hininga na lang ako ng makita kong umalis na ang sasakyan niya at naiwan na akong mag-isa. I don't have to work today, it's my day off. I just want to rest my body and thoughts. I just want to be away from all of this. Lalo na tong nararamdaman ko. Dapat matagal na 'tong nawala. Dapat hindi na ako nasasaktan, but why does it hurts so badly every time I think of a reason why he signed those annulment papers that I gave him? It only means one thing; he's already given up on me.

I went to the kitchen para ma-alis ang mga nasa utak ko. I want a peace of mind even if it's just for a little time.

Doon ko inilaan ang oras ko. I cooked and baked throught the morning and when the clock hits at twelve noon, the door rang. I was expecting na ang Archer ito at ang mga bata but to my surprise, it was my lawyer for my annulment with Archer.

"Atty. Calsarin, what a surprise." I greeted.

"Pasensya na at naparito ako sa ganitong oras, Mrs. Lawrence. The court already wants your annulment papers together with the signature of your husband."

Naramdaman ko ang mabilis na pag tibok ng puso ko. This is it. The thing that I've been wanting since the day that I got my memories back. But why am I not happy at all?

Pinilit ko namang ngumiti sa harapan nito at pinapasok muna sa bahay at pina-upo sa salas.

"I'll go get it. Babalik rin kaagad ako attorney." Ani ko.

"Of course, Hija. Take your time."

Tinungo ko naman ang drawer sa kwarto at kinuha doon ang brown envelop na kinalalagyan ng annulment papers. With shaking hands, I went back to Attorney then gave it to him habang nakakaramdam ng pag-aalinlangan.

"You look pale, Alyanna. Are you really sure na handa ka nang makipaghiwalay sa asawa mo?"

"Y-yes. Syempre naman, Attorney. This is what I've been wanting since then. B-bakit naman ako hindi magiging sigurado?"

Bumuntong hininga ito at tiningnan ako ng may awa ang mga mata. "Well, of you say so," tiningnan nito ang wristwatch bago nagsalita ulit. "Kailangan ko ng umalis Hija at baka hanapin na ako ng aking esposa sa lunch namin."

"Ah, sige po."

Hinatid ko ito papunta sa pintuan ng aking bahay pero bago pa man ito makalabas ay pinigilan ko muna ito.

"Sandali lang po, attorney. May ibigay lang ako."

Mabilis naman akong nagtungo sa kusina ng hindi na pinagsalita pa ang Attorney. Kaagad kong inilagay sa box ang isang cake na bi-nake ko kanina para mawala ang frustration ko sa sarili.

"Sa inyo na po ito. Pasalamat ko sa lahat ng naitulong niyo." Nakangiti kong saad.

"Oh wow. Thank you for this, Hija. Siguradong masasayahan nito angasawa ko't lalo na at paborito ka niyang chef." Halatang maligaya talaga ito sa binigay kong cake.

"No worries po."

Ilang sandali pa matapos ang aming pag-uusap ay umalis na ito at ako naman ay pumunta sa kusina para i-vent out ang frustrations ko sa pagkain na mga niluto ko.

Sumapit ang gabi at nagtaka na ako kung bakit 'di pa rin umuuwi ang mga bata. Dahil sa pag-aalala ko ay napatawag ako sa numero ni Archer at kaagad naman akong napabuntong hininga ng sagutin niya ito.

"Yes?" His voice was still cold but I can manage.

"Uh... Hey, I just called to ask you if the kids are fine?" I bit my nails out of nervousness.

"Yeah, yeah. They're fine. We're in my house right now. I forgot to text you that they'll be staying here for the night."

"Oh," I breathe. "Just... just tell them that I called and I said goodnight."

"Okay."

The line went silent. I don't even know what to say anymore. All I just feel is the awkwardness.

"Sige, ibababa ko na ito. Thank you for answering me."

"Welcome."

After that I cut off the line habang ramdam nanaman ang pagkabog ng dibdib ko. Damn it!

That night hindi ako kaagad nakatulog sa kakaisip. Dahil doon ay halos nangingitim na ang mga mata ko ng magising. I was very tired and always yawning as me and the twins together with Archer ate in the dining table.

Akala ko hindi iyon nila mapapansin but one of the twins called me.

"Ma, ba't parang pagod po kayo?" Tanong ni Phoebe habang sumusubo ng pagkain.

I just smiled at her at pinisil ang mataba nitong pisngi bago magsalita.

"Trabaho lang, baby." Malambing kong sagot.

"But it was your day-off yesterday po diba?" Inosenteng tanong naman ni Phoenix.

Natigilan naman ako at iniwas ang tingin.

"Well, anak, even though rest day ko kailangan ko pa ring magtrabaho para rin naman sa inyo. Bagong balik lang kasi si mama sa work so kailangan dapat nagtatrabaho ako." I explained.

"But papa can provide us with our needs, mama. Bakit kailangan mo pang magtrabaho?" Ani ni Phoebe habang seryoso ng nakatingin sa'kin.

"Phoebe..." I don't know if I should explain to them that me and their dad are not together anymore. Alam kong matalino sila pero ang babata pa nila.

"Phoebe, stop. Mama and papa aren't together diba? Naremember mo na hindi sila kasal..." mahina ang tinig ni Phoenix habang sinasabi niya iyon.

"Kids," I sigh. "You'll both understand the situation when you grew up."

"Pero malaki na kami mama at-"

"Phoenix, stop." Matigas at ma-awtoridad na sabi ni Archer.

"We are in front of the foods. Your manner, kids. Say sorry to your mom."

Napayuko naman ang nga ito at humarap sa'kin. "Sorry po, mama."

"It's fine, kids. Just don't do it again. Okay?"

"Opo."

"The kids are right. You are tiring yourself too much. Isn't that going to  be bad for your health?"

Napatingin naman ako sakanya. His eyes are cold but the way he said those words, parang may bahid ng pag-alala.

"No, I'm really fine." Tumikhim ako.

"If you say so," he then continued eating.

Tahimik na kaming bumalik sa  kinakain. I was pre-occupied with my mind. This set up of us will always gonna happen and the thing that we have from the pass isn't going to return.

Napakahirap pala nito lalo na't nararamdaman ko naman ang puso kong unti-unting tumitibok para sakanya.

STONE MIKAELSON