A Broken Tales

SHE WAS ALWAYS THERE

✍ Quýn Writes

I am cheating with my girlfriend. Nakakasakal si Kate. Nakakasawa. Masyadong maraming pinagbabawal.

Unlike Alice na lagi akong sinusuportahan sa lakad ko. Sa mga parties. At sa pag inom ko.

Everytime na may gala kami ng tropa, ayaw ni Kate na sumama ako. Habang si Alice naman laging nagsasabi na girlfriend ko lang si Kate at hindi niya ako p'wedeng diktahan.

Kaya kahit ayaw ni Kate ay hindi ko siya pinapakinggan. I don't care if we fight everyday. Magsasawa rin siya. I'm just waiting for her to break up with me.

I can't break up with her kasi siya ang tagaluto ko everytime na lasing ako o may sakit.

"Pupunta akong bar. Wether you like it or not." sabi ko kay Kate habang nanonood siya ng tv.

She gave me a small smile. "Have fun."

Napatigil ako sa pag aayos ng kuwelyo ko. I thought pag aawayan nanaman namin 'to. Tss. This is the first time na hindi niya ako pinagbawalan.

I just shrugged it off. Maybe pagod na siyang makipagtalo.

Ilang beses nang naulit 'yon. Night outs with my friends and Alice. Party here and there. At hindi na ako pinagbawalan pa ni Kate. It's like she doesn't care anymore.

Until one day, I impregnanted Alice. I was left with no choice but to tell Kate.

"May nabuntis ako." Walang kwenta kong sabi.

Natahimik kami ng ilang minuto.

"Congrats!" That's all she said and left. I guess break na kami?

Years passed and a lot of things happened. After Alice gave birth to our son, nagpakasal kami even though I feel like I don't love her but we have to for the sake of our child. Kahit tarantado ako, I know how to take responsibilities. Wala na akong balita pa kay Kate. I don't know if she have a family already.

When Alice became my wife, I realized how different she is with Kate. Alice don't know how to do some household chores. So I decided to hire some maid. Palagi pang wala si Alice kaka party.

Hindi ko tuloy maiwasang icompare siya kay Kate. What if Kate was my wife? Palagi siguro akong gigising ng may masarap na almusal na nakahain. And then she'll be around our house playing with our child.

Damn. Pero wala na akong magagawa. I guess she is happy now with her own family too. I already lost Kate the moment I cheated on her. And that's a fact.

I'm on my way now to school. Susunduin ko ang anak namin ni Alice. Alice is out again with her friends. Napaka iresponsable.

"Hi Daddy! Alam niyo po ba 'yung teacher ko sa dati kong school, binisita po ako dito." pagkukuwento ng anak ko habang papunta na kami sa sasakyan.

"Really? Siguro na miss ka. Tara uwi na tayo."

Palagi niyang kinukuwento sa akin ang tungkol sa teacher na 'yon. But he never mentioned the name kasi hindi niya raw maalala. My son said that her teacher before helps him do his homeworks kapag hindi niya alam. Everytime na late ko siyang masundo ay palagi raw siyang sinasamahan nito at aalis agad 'pag nakarating na ako. Minsan 'pag lunch time ay pinupuntahan siya ng teacher niya at sinasamahan kumain. She even cooks for my son.

"You know what daddy? Mas gusto ko pa siya maging mommy. She's always there for me eh." sabi ng anak ko.

I got curious on who is she but well, trabaho rin naman siguro 'yon ng isang guro.

One day I can't find my son in his school. Nagtanong-tanong ako sa mga kaklase niya and said that he was with his mother daw.

Nagtaka ako kasi Alice never really went here. Wala siyang pakialam sa anak niya.

Palabas na ako ng gate nang mapansin kong may kumpulan ng mga tao sa di kalayuan. Agad akong kinabahan. I hurriedly went there.

Nakisiksik ako sa mga tao at nakita ko ang isang babae na nasagasaan.

"Kawawa naman siya."

"Buti nalang nailigtas niya yung bata."

"May tumawag na ba ng tulong?"

I saw my son and I hurriedly went to him. Umiiyak siya.

"What happened?! Ayos ka lang ba?!" tanong ko.

"Daddy! Tinulak ako ni teacher." Niyakap ako ng anak ko at tuluyang umiyak sa balikat ko.

Napatingin ako kay Kate na nakahandusay sa daan. Yes. It was Kate. She was looking straight at me. I saw her smile before she closed her eyes.

All along si Kate ang laging nandyan para sa anak ko. Despite of what I have done to her. Sa pangloloko ko sa kanya dati.

She was always there. I am such a fool to not see it. I took her for granted before.

A year had passed and today's Kate's death anniversary. Alice had an affair and left us. Pero wala na akong pake. As long as I have my son.

"Kung nakilala mo lang siya Daddy, you can really say that she's a wife and a mom material." my son said.

"I know, son. She was always there."