Hindi niya alam kung saan sila matutulog. Buong araw na ginugol niya ang oras sa pakikipaglaro may Brix. Kinagabihan ay ang lalaki na ang nagpresintang magpakain sa bata at binihisan na rin nito ng pantulog.
"He sleep in our room", pukaw nito sa kanyang pananahimik. Naguguluhang tumingin siya sa gawi nito.
"Our room?" Paninigurado niya sa sinabi nito.
"Yeah?"
"Look Byron it's not so right", nababahalang wika niya. "What would you think Leticia's reaction if she'll learned about this? I--- I don't want to ruined any relationship Byron. Please--
"Hear me out first", putol nito sa iba pa niyang sasabihin.
Lumapit ito sa kanya at mataman siyang tinitigan sa mga mata. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry", hindi na niya ito pinagsalita pa. She's dying to say those words.
"Kung ginagawa mo to just to avenge me, I'm so sorry Byron. I'm really sorry for what I did. I am really sorry for hiding it from you. I am sorry for my clumsiness that you'd lost your wife and your child. Please don't do this. Please...."
Hindi na siya umalma pa ng kabigin siya nito ng yakap.
"The day I thought you'd lost our baby, I already forgive you Serene. I forgive you as I forgive myself too. I just realized na walang magandang mangyayari kung patuloy akong lamunin ng galit at paninisi.
Yes, I honestly get mad at you thinking that you lied again. But my heart do always have a way to forgive you."
Tuluyan na siyang napahikbi. "Thank you Byron. Thank you very much. I can have now my good sleeps. I deserve it I guess. And I wish for your happiness. I do."
"You know what my happiness is?"
Tumango-tango siya. "You and Leticia deserve to be happy. Don't worry about Brix, I can take care of him."
Natigilan siya ng hindi ito umimik. Anong iniisip nito bakit hindi ito nagsasalita?
"Byron?"
Kakalas sana siya ng yakap dito ngunit mas lalo lang nitong hinigpitan ang yakap sa kanya. "Are you really going to be happy if I'll marry Leticia? Please, Serene for once, I want you to be honest with your feelings."
Anong pinagsasabi nito? Saka niya naalalang narinig pala siya nitong nakikipag usap sa yumaong asawa nito. Mariin siyang napalunok.
"Your happiness will be my happiness too, Byron."
"Is that so? Do you really want me to marry her?"
Inilayo siya nito at hinawakan sa magkabilang balikat.
"Please do tell me straight in my eyes that you want me to do it", malamlam ang matang pakiusap nito sa kanya.
"Do the things that make you happy. You deserve it", naluluhang wika niya.
"You don't know what makes me happy Serene. You don't know", malumanay nitong wika at naupo sa kanyang tabi.
"Tell me then."
Ngunit hindi ito sumagot at nanatiling nakatitig sa kanya. Hindi na siya nagpumilit pa.
"Can I ask you something?" Pagkuway basag niya sa katahimikan.
"Do I even have a choice?" Pikit ang matang isinandig nito ang ulo sa backrest ng sofa.
"Have you ever tried to find me?" Lakas loob niyang tanong. Napatingin siya sa mukha nito, ngunit nanatili itong nakapikit.
Umiling ito.
"I wish I did. But that time, all I thought was we both need to heal. Thinking that you feel more pain because you lost the baby because of my recklessness. I was blaming myself for four years Serene. And you thought I am happy with Leticia? You thought wrong."
BINABASA MO ANG
Off Balance
General FictionSerenity lost her dream. She will never again live her life as it was and she shuts out people around her. She's trying to live her life normally away from famousity. Byron lost his wife and unborn child. He only had his daughter left with him. The...
