Chasing My Love [Completed]

Chapter 24

Sari has now calmed down after the incident. She was drinking hot tea across Yego who hasn't left her condo yet.

"I'll be present in the first meeting with my lawyer," malamig na wika niya. 

Yego just looked at her unbelievingly. "How badly do you want to get out of this marriage?"

"It's been eight years, Yego. You're right to take this step. We should start moving on with our lives separately. We were never really happy."

He chose to not answer her and just be silent.

"You can leave now."

He just shook his head 'no'. "I think I'm drunk and I can't drive." 

Tiningnan niya ito ng masama. "So anong gusto mong mangyari?"

"Can I stay over?" seryosong tanong nito. 

****

It was early morning at nakarinig siya ng katok sa pintuan niya. Her studio unit was just small kaya nagising kagad sya sa mga katok na iyon. She saw Yego still sleeping soundly on the couch across her bed. He stayed true to his word of sleeping there all night.

Dahan dahan siyang naglakad papunta sa pinto para tingnan kung sino iyon. But she was shocked to see Celine outside.

"Tulog ka pa rin?" Celine asked.

"I..." she mumbled pero walang maisagot.

"I found a lawyer and we'll meet him up today. Kanina pa ako tumatawag. May kape ka ba dyan?" At dire-diretso itong pumasok sa condo niya. "I left Aspen and Atticus. Walang kaalam-alam ang asawa ko sa-" Celine stopped mid-sentence when she saw Yego sleeping on the couch in the middle of Sari's studio unit.

And then Celine just looked at her unbelievingly. "Sex with your husband who's seeking for an annulment?" bulong nito. 

Umiling siya. "No, he just... he was drunk last night and couldn't drive."

"Paano siya nakapag-drive papunta dito sa condo mo, then?"

She just sighed. "I'll fix myself and take a bath quickly. I'll come with you to meet the lawyer."

"Sigurado ka ba?" Celine asked, eyeing her husband who was now just starting to wake up.

"Good morning," naguguluhang bati ni Yego ng makita silang dalawang nakatayo sa entrance ng condo at nakatingin pareho sa kanya. "Celine?"

"Yego, hi," bati ni Celine. "Nice bumping into you here."

"Anong ginagawa mo dito?" tanong ni Yego.

"I'm here to accompany my friend to a lawyer. Apparently, she's married to some jerk who wants an annulment now." 

Yego was speechless. 

"I told her," pag-amin ni Sari.

Yego stood up and grabbed his coat from last night which was hanging on the coach's armrest. "I'll leave you to your business then." He slipped into his shoes and looked at Sari. "Bye."

And after closing the door behind him, tinitigan ng mariin ni Celine si Sarith. "Sigurado ka ba talagang maghihiwalay kayo? Why do I get this feeling na magkakabalikan kayo?"

Umiling siya. "He just... wanted to talk about the annulment last night. And besides, nothing happened last night, okay?"

Celine just rolled her eyes. "Ang gulo niyong dalawa. Here, i brought breakfast." Inilabas nito ang isang Starbucks paper bag at ipinatong sa kitchen counter."

"Thanks," she said and joined Celine on the kitchen area to sit on one of the bar stools. "So... how is he the past few years?"

Celine just looked at her. "He was devastated when you left, mind you. Ano bang dahilan bakit bigla kang nawala?"

"Ashley needed help, remember?"

Celine just laughed. "I would like to thank you for helping my friend but I know that we both know she isn't the main reason why you flew all the way to Europe to hide from him."

She opened the paper bag to get some croissants and a coffee. "How's his son?" diretsang tanong niya. "He should be 8 years old by now."

Saritha clearly saw the shock in Celine's face. "H-he has a son?" gulong-gulong tanong nito.

Tumango siya sa kaibigan as she started eating. "Yeah, he has a son. With a woman named Fiona. Tinatago niya yung mag-ina niya ng limang taon noong nalaman ko. That's why I left, Sari. I was cheated on and continuously betrayed by him. Pero that was three years ago. I'm okay now at natanggap ko na rin ang katotohanan na hindi siya ang para sakin. He's a scumbag. And now, he filed for annulment... perhaps so he could marry her and bring her out to the open?"

"Atticus never mentioned anything..."

Sari just laughed. "Your husband is loyal to my husband. If he knows something about it, he would surely never tell a soul. Magsama-sama silang mga lalaki!" 

"Hey! Wag mo idamay si Atticus. He is loyal as fuck," pagdepensa niya sa asawa. 

"All I'm saying is I'm going to give Yego what he wants once and for all. Pagkatapos noon, mananahimik na talaga ako. Ayoko na ng kahit anong connection sa kanya. Babalik na lamang siguro ako sa Iceland or sa Barcelona."

Celine just breathed deeply.

"Anyway, another reason why I'm here is to see one of my organization's event here for HIV cases among children. Hindi naman ako ang main project organizer pero pupunta na rin ako since nandito na rin ako. Would you also come please? I have an invitation for you."

****

She hasn't seen Yego for about a week now. Mula ng malaman nitong kumukuha na siya ng abogado para sa annulment nila ay hindi na ito nagpakita pang muli. It's a good thing for her because this time, maiitama na nila ang mga pagkakamali nila at ng magulang nila noon - to get them married.

Her mom is on the phone pero hindi niya sinabi dito ang totoong dahilan ng pag-uwi niya ng biglaan. "Yes, mom. I'll visit. Of course!"

"Ang tagal na ninyong hindi nagkikita ng asawa mo. Magkasama ba kayo ngayon?" tanong nito.

She just kept her mouth shut. 

"Hja, nagkakaproblema ba kayo?"

"I have a charity ball to prepare for in a bit, mom. Kailangan ko ng umalis. I promise to visit you and dad as soon I can!"

"You know, marriage is fifty percent communication. Nag-uusap ba kayo ng asawa mo?"

"Yes, mom," pilit na sagot niya. "I have to leave, mom. Okay?"

She ended the call as soon as her mom said goodbye. She was looking at herself in the mirror now. Why does the world seem to be on the side of her husband. Only if her parents knew about his affair and his bastard.

Anyway, kailangan muna niyang makipag-socialize tonight. So she has to look her best. And for that, she brought out the perfect long gown in midnight blue.