It Started Without Love

Chapter 12

(Liam’s POV)

“Kuya Liam, are you mad at Ate Reese?” we we’re currently playing when Alexa asked suddenly. Pati si Brent ay napaangat ng tingin sa akin na wari’y naghihintay rin ng isasagot ko.

“Nope. Why did you asked Alexa?” I’m not mad at her or I don’t know. I feel like when I see her, I see a girl version of myself. Full of doubts, guilt, galit sa sarili. Pareho kaming may mga kinikimkim.

“I heard her and ate talking. She’s so guilty dahil nakasira daw siya ng relasyon niyo ni ate Tat.” Tatiana? We’re actually not together. I just can’t really let go of her. I can’t, not now.

“Please don’t hurt ate Reese, kuya. If you can’t love her, give her back to us. We can love her unconditionally. Just don’t hurt her kuya na maaring maging dahilan ng pag-alis niya. Hindi na nga namin halos makaya ni ate Ash na wala siya nang halos isang buwan, paano na kung mas matagal pa? She is fragile kuya. Matapang at matatag lang siya tingnan pero di mo nakita kung paano siya umiyak at magmakaawa kina tito at tita para lang hindi ituloy ang kasal niyo dahil sa ayaw niyang makasira ng relasyon. Hindi mo nakita kung paano niya tinanggap na ikasal kayo, kung paano siya nagsakripisyo kahit na sobrang guilty na siya. She was offered by her father to run away during your wedding day. Tito said that she can run anytime, the car is always ready for her outside. Hindi na alintana ni Tito ang kahihiyang matatamo dahil kitang-kita niya, kitang-kita namin kung paano nadurog si ate Reese sa mga balitang lumabas tungkol sa inyo. She was even branded as a relationship wrecker. Pero tumanggi siya kuya. Why? Because she can’t afford na mapahiya ang pamilya namin, ang pamilya niyo, at ikaw mismo kuya. Kahit na kapalit pa nito ang kalayaan niya, okay lang sa kanya. I hope you can see her sacrifices kuya.”
I was just silent the whole time. Brent is just listening to us too. Reese is dearly loved by her cousins, parang magkakapatid na rin silang tatlo. I know I am wrong. Simula pa nang unang encounter nila ni Tatiana, I always cover up for Tat. Siya palagi ang pinapanigan ko.

During the wedding, I don’t know what happened to me, but I am so damn angry because I want her to run. Nadagdagan pa ito ng marinig ko ang mga usap-usapang it’s because of money. Dahil sa pera daw kaya niya ako pinakasalan. Alam kong pinapahiya ko siya during that time but I don’t care anymore. All I can feel is anger. I even told her bad things, lalo na nang nagalit na sa akin ang mga kapatid ko. But all she did is nothing.

During our supposedly honeymoon, hindi ko sinasadyang gawin ‘yon. Tat was so persistent to go to Maldives too. Hindi ko na rin namalayan na may nakakita pala sa amin sa airport.
I know I’ve been so wrong, nang tumawag si Tatiana at sabihin niyang magkita kami, I agreed immediately. Not because I am going to ditch Reese but because I want to tell Tatiana that it’s wrong na nandoon din siya because it will just cause more issues. But then again, my decision was so wrong. I decided to meet Tatiana at the resto where Reese and I will going to dine, pero nagtagal si Tatiana. Hindi ko na rin namalayan ang oras but when I look at my watch, it’s already 8. Gustuhin ko man umuwi agad, Tatiana drank wine at naparami kaya’t kinailangan ko pang ihatid siya sa hotel room niya. I arrived at our villa almost 9. Wala na siya, pati mga gamit niya ay wala na. I regreted leaving without waiting for her. My wife just left and I don’t know where she’s heading.

Nang umuwi naman siya, gustuhin ko mang ipakita na masaya ako, hindi ko pa rin nagawa. Our conversation always ended up to a series of banters. Alam kong kasalanan ko rin ang mga ito but I really just can’t let go of Tatiana.

“Bro, look at the TV.” Nagmamadaling saad ni Brent na papasukin ko siya sa unit ko. I was just reading some books and memorizing some probitions when he arrived.

“Ano bang meron?” inis na saad ko sa kanya. It’s already 10 AM and Reese is still not home.

“Asawa mo.” Maiksing saad nito at binuhay na ang TV.

I was stunned when I saw Reese at the TV. It’s a presscon. Where is she? Why is she having this presscon?

“Matagal na po ba talaga kayong magkakilala at magkasintahan ni Mr. Liam Suarez, Miss Reese?” Miss? She’s already married. Hindi ba alam ng reporter na ito paano gamitin ang miss at misis?

“Kilala na namin ang isa’t isa simula pa noon. My family’s been friends with his and we used to be together a lot of times. Naging kami naman during college days.” What is she talking about? Is she making a story para paniwalaan ng mga tao?

“So all the romuors are wrong Mrs. Suarez? Na you are a relationship wrecker? There are also issues na lumalabas about Tatiana and Liam having an affair.” Isa pang reporter ulit ang nagbato ng tanong na ito.

“Well, showbusiness will always be showbusiness. I can’t blame though, hindi naman kasi ako laging lumabas sa mga news. I’m not a social butterfly. There is no exposure of me at all. Inaamin ko na I sometimes model my aunts creations but I never did do medelling for some big clients, though I was offered a few times. I just don’t want being feasted by everyone. As for the issues, lahat ‘yon mali. Not because we were silent means those are true. We just decided to let it pass, it’s not worth our time. However, it’s really maybe so difficult to let the fire die down without pouring water. I know you’ve been all waiting for me to pour water to that fire and so I decided to have this presscon.” The reporters got silent. They’ve been waiting for my wife to continue. I saw how her eyes showed her emotion. She is in pain. Hindi niya talaga kayang magsinungaling sa mga tao, hindi siya marunong but she is trying to.

“Liam and I are in love with each other. We are wedded because of love and not because of money. We’re friends with Tatiana and close sila dahil parang nakababatang kapatid niya na ito. Tatiana is Brent Juarbal’s sister and Brent is Liam’s bestfriend. We’re close but most of the time, I am not in those pictures na magkasama sila kasi I am not into those things. For those that appeared through some gossip sites, well, alam naman na siguro natin kung bakit. Mas bibenta ang picture kapag sila lang, why include me diba?” She bravely said it to the public.

“You’re one hell of a lucky guy, bro. Let go of my sister. We can handle her.” Brent said. Pero hindi ako nakapagsalita ng nagpatuloy pa si Reese sa pagsasalita.

“I hope this presscon will answer all your questions. I am hoping that those issues will die down. I am tired of walking around the city na pinag-uusapan.” That ends her presscon. Marami pa ang humabol ng tanong but she is already escorted to the backstage.

“Sana pag-isipan mo ‘to, pare. She did that just to clear your names. She is your wife. Kung hindi mo naman pala siya paninindigan, sana sinunod mo na lang ang advice namin noon. Sana umiwas ka na lang, lumayo. We all know that your family love you, kahit na ipahiya mo pa ang pamilya mo, mapapatawad ka pa rin nila. Bro, payong kaibigan lang, kahit kapatid ako ni Tat, I don’t like you being tied to her, baka balang araw magsisi ka dahil may nawala na sayo.” After that, Brent left. I was stuck in deep thinking. I want to talk to her but how?