WIFE SERIES: Tears Of A Wife

Kabanata 22

It had been a week since Atlas visited my clinic. It had been a week since we talked about the annulment. Isang linggo na rin mula nang pirmahan niya ang annulment papers na ibinigay ko. Isang linggo na rin akong nakatambay lang sa bahay at tamad na magtrabaho.

Everything was tiring for me. Maging ang aking mga kilos ay halatang walang lakas. It seemed like I was very tired of something I didn’t know. Seemed bored from all the things that were happening. Maybe it was because I am pregnant. Or maybe, because I’ve been thinking too much about Atlas and the annulment case.

Masyadong inookupa ni Atlas ang buong sistema ko. Minsan, naisip kong puntahan ito at kausapin tungkol na rin sa akusasyon nito sa akin. The restraining order for him was my dad’s idea. Tinanong at kinumpirma na iyon ni Dad. He insisted it was for my safety and I did understand.

I sighed and looked around. I chose to stay in our greenhouse for a more relaxing view. The rare plants. The hanging plants. The ornamentals and my collections of succulents were feeding my eyes with their beautiful bloom, but I still hardly found to be happy. I still thought a lot of things related to the situation I was facing.

Napabuntonghininga ulit ako at binitiwan ang dyaryong kanina ko pa hawak-hawak. I was in the front page of the newspaper. Kalat na kalat ang balitang magpapa-annul ako. That the great and famous Olive Ramirez was a battered wife and has a cheater husband.

Hindi ko alam kong paano kumalat ang balita. Hindi ko rin alam kung paano nila nalaman. All I think about was Atlas’ family. Tiyak akong nag-aalala na ang nanay nito. Tiyak ko ring nasasaktan ito sa mga nangyayari. Maging ako ay nasasaktan din ngunit wala akong magagawa. I chose this and I would stand for it.

“Ahem! Sorry, I’m late!”

I looked at the entrance of the place and saw Kraius Montreal’s smiling face. Naka-polo shirt itong blue habang nakapantalon. Napansin ko rin ang isang Piaget wrist watch sa kamay nito. Maging ang sapatos na suot. Papalapit ito sa akin na tila modelo kung maglakad. Nakaayos din ang buhok nito at ang natural na balbas sa mukha.

“Hi! Pasensiya ka na. Traffic lang,” wika nito matapos maupo sa silyang nasa tapat ko. “Anyway, uso magsalita,” nakaloloko pang wika nito.

Sinamaan ko ito ng tingin. Kraius would always be Kraius. Very playful and naughty. Kumindat pa ito sa akin bago inilapag ang bitbit nitong attaché case. Napailing na lamang ako at nagkibit-balikat. Inayos ko rin ang sarili mula sa pagkakaupo.

“What’s the news?” tanong ko. Trying to sound formal even though I wanted to roll my eyes at him.

“Nothing. Pareho kayo ng ex-husband mong matigas. Kami lang ng attorney niya ang nag-usap. How can we settle everything without your cooperation?” mahabang reklamo nito. “Kaya ayaw kong magpakasal,” bulong pa nito.

I sighed again after what Kraius said. Atlas was true to his words that he would let his attorney handle everything. Maging ako ay ganoon din naman ang ginawa. I also asked my Dad to do the job for me and he agreed.

“Bakit hindi na lang natin ipahugot ang record n’yo? You know, dirty tactics. Judge ang uncle mo kaya posible ang lahat, Olive. I already did the same thing way back. Madali na lang din sa akin ito,” suhestiyon pa ni Kraius.

I looked at him and nodded. He was looking at me intently, too. Alam kong sa mga titig nito sa akin ay may pagdududa sa aking gagawin. Alam ko rin na alam niya ang pagbubuntis ko at kung sino ang ama nito. Nasabi niya na rin na ililihim niya ang lahat.

Napakakomplikado ng mga nangyayari sa akin kaya marahil, ganoon na nga lamang ang tamang gawin. Ang totoo, pwede ko namang ipahugot at ipabura ang record namin ni Atlas. It was the easiest thing to do. Lahat sa pamilya ko ay maimpluwensyang tao kaya hindi imposible ang lahat.