No More Ignorance (BOOK 2)

Chapter 73

ELISA

"What happened, Marco? Bakit ganito ang maaabutan ko?" Nandito kami sa loob ng sasakyan ko para mag-usap.

"I'm sorry, Elisa. Hindi ko akalain na dahil sa isang pagkakamali ko, nabago bigla ang buhay ko. Damn it!" I could see the dismay in his eyes.

"You know what kind of woman she is, Marco! Hindi mo siya dapat tinulungan! My husband got killed because of her!"

"I know. But I did nothing to stop her. I was at my house when she suddenly appeared in front of me. She was bloody and full of bruises. But even though she looked like that, I still recognized her. She begged me. I don't know what to do. I should not have helped her but when she aimed a knife to me, I was forced to help her. I know she's crazy. I knew by the time I helped her, she's holding me already. I did nothing. The next day, she took me back to the Philippines. She decided everything for me. For us. I tried to live a normal life with her. At first, I avoided her even though we're living together. But when I remembered who she was, my question's suddenly answered. " I turned to him.

"What do you mean?"

"She was once my former student..." Nagulat ako roon.

"Paano..."

"She was only 14 when I first saw her. Fresh graduate pa lang ako noon kaya bago lang ako sa pagtuturo. High school students ang hawak ko noon. Estudyante siya ng kaibigan ko. Pero ilang araw ko lang siyang naging estudyante. Pag wala akong klase ay nakiki sit-in ako sa section nila madalas. And she caught my attention. She was a nerd and very silent. But she's a genius. Lagi nga lang siyang nabu-bully noon kaya sinasabihan ko ang mga kaklase niya. Until I've heard what happened to her. Kumalat noon sa campus na she was raped. Simula noon, hindi na siya bumalik pa. Kinalimutan ko na rin siya. Marami na akong naturuan na estudyante at nakapag-turo pa ako sa Switzerland." Gulat na gulat ako sa mga nalaman ko.

She was raped?

"I don't know what to say... I didn't know..."

"Ako na ang humihingi ng tawad, Elisa..." Nilingon ko siya.

"No! You don't have to say sorry! Naiintindihan ko na..." Hindi siya umimik.

"She's pregnant... are you the father?" Tanong ko sa kanya.

He took a deep breath.

"Yes. I got her pregnant."

"Y–you hate her?" I asked.

"I... I hate her a year ago, because of what she did. Especially to you. But I love her now. She's a good person. Nadala lamang siya ng mga nangyari noon sa kanya. I now understand why she became like that. Walang nagmamahal sa kanya, Elisa... Maski ang ama niya ay hindi siya maituring na anak. Binubusog lang sila sa pera ng ama niya. Gabi-gabi, lagi siyang humihingi ng tawad sakin. Sayo. Sa lahat ng kasalanan na nagawa niya. She even once committed suicide. At kung hindi ko pa siya naabutan ay baka wala na siya sakin pati ang anak namin."

"Oh my god, Marco..."

"Kung ipapakulong mo siya, ako na lang. Ako na lang ang aako ng kasalanan niya. Just please don't put her in jail. She once experienced being in hell. Ayoko na 'yong maulit pa... I want her to enjoy her life with our unborn child." My tears flowed because of what he said. This is the first time I saw him like this. Willing to take responsibility.

Ganito nga siguro ang nagagawa ng pagmamahal. You're willing to sacrifice.

Kung aakuin niya ang kasalanan ni Leslie, paano na ang bata? Hindi ko kayang makita si Marco sa loob ng kulungan. I can't!

Niyakap ko siya.

"Don't say that, Marco. I... I won't send her to jail. Pag-iisipan ko muna ang bagay na 'yan para sa kanya. At ayoko rin na akuin mo ang bagay na 'yon." Bumitaw siya sakin.

"But she–"

"Just take care of her. Hindi ko pa siya kayang patawarin. Even though she said to me that it was not her intention, and it was only an accident, I know... that she's telling the truth. Sobra lang akong nasasaktan dahil nawala sakin si Dominic. Kung hindi sana siya naging maka-sarili, hindi ito mangyayari."

"I'm very sorry..."

"Don't be. Besides, isang taon ng sarado ang kaso. Kung bubuksan ko pa ulit iyon, baka lalo na 'kong hindi makalimot." I said.

"All I can do now is to love my two children." Napatingin siya sakin. Ngumiti ako kay Marco.

"Yes, Marco. May baby girl na ako. And she's very pretty. Natupad ang gusto ni Dominic noong nabubuhay pa siya."

"I'm very happy, for you..." He said.

"Kapag okay na ang lahat at napatawad ko na siya, dadalhin ko rito si Elise..." He smiled to me. Iyong dating ngiti na nakikita ko sa kanya.

"What a beautiful name... Then, I will wait... I wish you all the best, Mon Cheri... Let's see each other again." Tumango ako sa kanya at niyakap siya.

Pagkatapos naming magpaalam sa isat-isa ay nagdesisyon na siyang bumalik. Kumaway siya sakin bago ako tuluyang umalis. Matagal man ulit bago ako magpatawad, pero alam kong darating din ang araw na 'yon para sakin.

And when I return, I hope that the wound in our hearts is completely healed.