Hook, Line & Sinker

Chapter 50

Chapter 50: "When someone makes you the happiest person and saddest person at the same time, that's when it's real: That's when it's worth something."

"Pasado na ba talaga, Chels? Hindi mo ako ini-stir?" pangungulit ko sa kanya. Kaninang umaga pa ako nasa bahay nila dahil tinuturuan niya akong magluto ng cordon bleu. 

She chuckled softly. "Oo naman. Masarap siya."

Kinikilig na humagikgik ako. "Can't wait to cook for my hon-hon!"

We were just having some snacks when Vince arrived. "Tam, could you please give this to Shin? It's just a little something from my parents. He was very busy last night, but he still assisted them."

"Nasa Singapore ang parents mo?"

His forehead creased. "No, they're here." 

Ilang sandali akong nawalan ng kibo. "Sa Pilipinas?"

"Yes," he answered. Nakabalik na siya? Baka naman nagkamali lang ang parents ni Vince? "Is there a porblem, Tam?"

Tipid akong ngumiti at umiling. "Wala." Tumayo na ako. "Kailangan ko na palang umuwi. May gagawin pa ako. Chels, salamat sa lunch at pagtuturo sa akin." Nagmamadali na akong tumalikod. I took out my phone and called Miggy.

(Hey, baks!)

"Nandiyan na ba si Shin?" walang paligoy-ligoy na bungad ko sa kanya.

(Oo, baks.)

"Kelan pa?"

(Kahapon pa. Teka, don't tell me hindi mo alam?)

Napahinto ako. He's really back, I thought bitterly. Kahapon pa siya nakabalik from Singapore pero hindi man lang niya naalalang magpakita man lang muna sa akin na asawa niya? Nasa huli ba talaga ako ng priorities niya?

"Ganda, yung pa-"

Hindi ko na pinansin ang sinasabi ni Ate Lottie. Nagmamadali akong umakyat at dumiretso sa walk in closet. I took out my luggage and put my clothes in. Kahit walang ayos ay hindi ko na inintindi. 

I've had enough! I'm tired of feeling like I don't matter at all to him! Sawa na akong tanggapin ang konting oras na itinitira niya sa akin!

Ilang beses akong humugot ng malalim na hininga dahil nagsisikip ang dibdib ko sa sama ng loob. Isinara ko ang maleta ng mapuno iyon at muling tumayo para kumuha pa ng isang maleta pero muli akong napaupo at napadaing ng tumama ang binti ko sa upuan. 

"Bwisit! Pati ikaw nanakit!" Inis na sinipa ko ang upuan. 

Ilang sandali akong natulala sa upuan na natumba. All of a sudden, I just burst into tears, feeling so pathetic and sorry for myself. I hugged my knees and just cried. I don't know how long I cried, all I know is that I felt exhausted physically and emotionally after. 

I leaned my back against the wall, looked at my luggage then wondered if I could really leave my hon-hon. As my eyes went to our picture together, I just knew right there and then that I could never walk out on him. 

Tumayo ako at inayos ang upuan na sinipa ko. Huminga ako ng malalim. I'm choosing to stay and listen to what he has to say. 

I woke up in the middle of the night with the feeling like I was being stared at. And I was right; Shin was sitting on the edge of our bed, staring at me. I didn't say anything and neither did he. We just looked at each other, knowing that there's something we have to talk about.