Leap (gxg)

Part II: ALEXIS

Chapter Eight

Tumingala ako kay Natasha nang inilapag niya sa aking harapan ang isang rainbow cake na may markings na 'Congratulations', "What's this for?"

"An advance celebration of you officially becoming single again, like the rest of us. Haha!" May apat na cards pa siyang inilahad sa akin.

"Again?"

Kinalat niya lang ang mga love letters sa buo kong desk, "Hindi ko masisisi ang kababaihan siyempre. Ang sexy, gorgeous at mayamang si Alexis Raval ay available na para sa bachelorette..." She mimicked peoples cheers.

Umirap ako at umiiling iling na lamang, "Stop it."

She scanned through her phone, "Uy... trending kayo sa social media."

Odessa tried to give me an apology that I refused, after Natasha briefed her of the things that we had found out, whilst 'she's away'. When she accepted that I wouldn't want her back, she sought help through the public. Creating stories that weren't really true, this time, Gary was with her. I didn't feel anything at all. Not even anger. There were backlashes, people started hating me, but truth will always resurface. It did not even lasted 48 hours when the tide turned against her. That's when I filed the divorce papers. She wasn't willing to comply but I was overall determined. I went to the States to pass everything up to the court, effective with few statements of my witnesses, that night when Gary confessed. The judge was also a close relative so, it wasn't that tiring at all.

Though I was surprised when she tried to fight back. For all I know, that she was only fighting for her part of the trade. But I bowed never to give her anything again. She won't take even a penny out of my pouch.

I slid my hand inside my pocket and felt the bulk on my palms. The cheap pouch that Julien had from before. I kept every single memory that she left me. I sold the house and is now living outside the city, with my new companion Beau, a tabby cat one of my fans gave me. But what's the use of coming home with no one to share life with?

Natasha immediately felt my withdrawal, "Aww... babe, I know its still fresh. But time will heal it."

"I never had the chance to say sorry."

"She'll understand."

Bumuntong hininga ako, "I missed her so much. I regret everyday."

"That bad?"

Tumango ako, "I deserve it."

"It was thanks to her that finally, you're free from Odessa's reigns. Maybe, she wants you to be happy."

I bit my lower lip and paused when my cellphone rang. Tumaas ang aking kilay nang makilala ang caller, agad ko naman iyong sinagot, "Dr. Ace?"

***

Humahangos na tinakbo namin ni Natasha ang natitirang hallways sa building na kinabibilangan ni Dr. Ace. Iniwasan ko ang parking lot kung saan ko isinuko ang sarili kay Julien at tuloy tuloy na dumiretso sa opisina mismo ng doktora, "Gosh, Alexis! Ano ba, nais mo bang lumipad na lang?" Reklamo ni Natasha ngunit hindi ko siya pinansin, bagkus ay dali dali kong binuksan ang pinto.

Tumingala ang doktora sa amin kasama nung isang babaeng kanyang kaharap. Napuno ng rekognisyon ang babae sa akin at ngumiti na lamang ako sa kanya, "Sorry Alexis, hindi ko alam na pupunta ka kaagad. Hindi pa ako tapos sa session. Maaari bang bumalik na lang kayo?"

"Pero..." Bago pa ako makasabat ay agad na humigit si Natasha at sinungkit ang knob ng pinto saka ito sinara.

"Nababaliw ka na talaga. Bigla ka na lang natataranta diyan. Ano ba talaga ang sinabi sa'yo ng doktor?"