THE SHATTERED WIFE

.ONLY IN PAPER

Elijah's POV

It's getting later than I expected. I signed a lot of documents today.

"Hindi ka pa ba uuwi ?" Papa asked me. Pumasok siya sa aking opisina after knocking once.

"Tatapusin ko lang po ito..." I motioned the stack of folder that was on my desks. He eyed the folders lazily and shrugged his shoulders.

" Okay then, I'll be heading home. See you at home, son.

"Take care Dad, is Jerry with you?" I ask as he turns back heading towards the door. Si Jerry ay anak ni Mang Tony na family driver namin. Si Jerry ay driver din kagaya ng kaniyang ama.

"Hmm, yeah, napapagod na akong mag drive." He said.

"Huwag Kang masyadong magpagod, you have a wife waiting for you.." he added slightly, tilting his head

Dad doesn't know about the deal I made with Alexis. I won't consummate our marriage. Maybe he thought otherwise.

My mind raced back to Alexis's body when she had that 'bad dream', umangat ang kaniyang suot na t-shirt, my t-shirt, exposing her well-shaped long legged give me a hard on.

I shrugged my shoulders as the thought lingered on me. What can I do? I'm a man. It is normal for a man to get hard when a beautiful woman is lying on his bed wearing his own tee. However, I'm true to my words.

I would not touch her unless she would beg me to do so. I did promise Dina that I won't touch my wife for her sake. It's quite unfair for her. But when I heard Dina talking about my inheritance and wealth, I lost it.

Parang ibig niyang palabasin na mas nag-aalala siya sa pera ko kesa akin na nasangkot sa Isang pilit na arrangements.

And it was then, that I thought about the time she was nagging about me shopping with her, buying her jewelry, expensive dress and expensive shoes as well as bags.

Handa ko namang bilhin ang lahat para sa kaniYa dahil mahal ko siya kahit hindi siya gusto ng Papa. I gave her everything she needed,

Pero ako hindi Niya kayang pagbigyan sa sitwasyon ko na hindi ko ginusto. I stopped what I was doing and leaned my back to the swivel chair. I closed my eyes as I was comparing my girlfriend, ex-girlfriend to my wife - contract wife.

"You don't need to buy me clothes.." mariin na sabi ni Alexis.

"Kaya ko namang bumili ng sarili Kong damit. Isa pa ipapadala ni Mommy ang mga damit na naiwan ko sa bahay." She added quietly.

Hindi rin Niya tinanggap ang bigay Kong credit card para sa kaniya. I told her to go shopping in case she felt bored in the manor.

It's so early to tell, but she's not materialistic, an opposite to my ex.

"Don't worry, I'm doing this because you're my wife.."

Alexis cut me off.

"Only in paper...but that too will end, depending on your decision."

Hindi Niya nakalimutan ang sabi ko na gagawa ako ng contract para sa aming dalawa.

"Regardless, I can't afford to think that people will condemn me for not giving you what you need." I paused, looking at her fidgety hands.

"And I don't see why you have to argue with this...makisakay ka na lang as we both are adjusting to our situation." I told her before leaving the manor house.

I open my eyes when my phone vibrates. It was Dina calling.

Damn.

"Hello.." I said as soon as I answered my cell phone. I could hear her sniffed.

"Babe..." Her voice is hoarse. Was she still crying? Now, I feel more guilty.

"I...miss you so much.." she stuttered.

"You know how much I love you , please come back to me.." she cried. I sigh and inhaled deeply.

"Please, Dina..napag-usapan na natin ito. You know that I can't do that.." I said. I love my girlfriend, but I'm a one man- woman. Sa mata ng tao ay kasal kaming dalawa ni Alexis. Ayaw Kong maging tampok ng usapan ang aming pagsasama, kahit pa sabihing may arrangement kaming dalawa na hindi alarm ng mga tao.

"Dadagdagan ko ang monthly allowance mo. You can go shopping when you get bored..." I listened to her silence. She stopped crying.

"Dina..?"

"Y-yes.."

"If you find someone, please do move on..find your happiness.."

"No!" She cut me off. "I can't do that, Elijah .Why are you doing this to me?" She started crying again.

"I'm sorry, Dina...but we already talked about this."

"Yes, but I still can't get it, Elijah. Why do you have to follow your father's order when it is against your will?" She sob.

"Why can't you stand for yourself, you said you love me..but.."

"Please Dina. Stop this. I already told you my reason..."

"Your reason is not enough for me Elijah.."

"I already told you to find someone. Don't wait for me, Dina. Goodbye." before she could answer. I ended the call. Nag-usap na kami tungkol dito. Paulit-ulit lang naming sasaktan ang aming sarili kapag patuloy kaming mag-uusap at magsusumbatan.

I just can't say no to my father, who can't say no to his wife! Damn.

One thing that puzzles me though,is the thing my father said.

"Do you really think, I'm doing this because of your stepmother's wish?" He said.

"Hindi nga ba?"

"Of course not..." He firmly said. I stared at him in doubt.

Nagkibit balikat siya.

"Well, for some reason, it looks like I'm agreeing with your mother." He stared at me intently. I hate the way he referred to his second wife as my mother. That witch was never a mother to me. She despises me.

" But trust me, iho , that is not the real reason, Elijah. I have my own reason, you'll see. This is for your own good..." father drummed his fingers on the desk. We were talking inside the library at home.

"You've gotta trust me with this.." he tapped my back before going out.

I am really curious but my father did not clarify what he said. But for some reason, for some gut, I trusted him. Kahit minsan hindi ko maiwasan ang magtampo sa kaniya. Sunod-sunuran siya sa Kaniyang pangalawang asawa.

Simula ng mamatay si ina at pinakasalan si Vangie ng aking Papa, bihira ko na itong makasama.

Nawalan na siya ng oras sa akin lalo na ng isilang ang kanilang anak na si Benji. The discrimination and favoritism that I suffered has caused me pain. Lalo na ng magbibinata na si Benji, lahat ng kaniyang kapritso ay nasusunod.

Hinayaan siyang makalayo kapag nakagawa siya ng krimen. Yes, I just keep silent because I thought my father would discipline him. It was Vangie's fault, though.

Palagi niyang ti-no-tolerate ang kasalanan ng kaniyang anak kaya lumalaki ang ulo nito. Kapag nakagawa ito ng pagkakamali ay tinatabunan Niya ito ng tsismis at sa akin Niya ipinapahid ang baho na ginawa ni Benji.

I know the rumors circulating about me in the neighborhood. I knew na kagagawan ito ng aking madrasta. Gusto ko mang I -confront, si Papa ang pumipigil sa akin.

Kaya araw-araw lumalaki ang gap naming dalawa at unti-unting lumalayo ang loob ko sa kaniya. Kaya Lang nanatili ang respeto ko sa aking ama dahil sa pagpapahalaga Niya sa mauseleoum kung saan nakahimlay ang aking ina.

He'll see to it na hindi ito mapabayaan, with in fact, may inatasan siyang guwardya sa kaniyang himlayan.

Kahit na ang malaking estatuwa ng aking ina na pinagawa ng aking ama sa gitna ng aming Courtyard ay hindi Niya pinabayaan.

"Leave, my wife's statue Vangie.." narinig Kong nag-uusap sina Papa at ang akIng madrasta sa hallway ng ground floor. Dali -dali akong nagtago sa Isa sa mga haligi ng hallway.

":I'm your wife, Miguel, she's dead." Nagpanting ang tenga ko ng marinig ko ang kaniyang sinabi.

"Be thankful that she's dead , otherwise ...you will never be my second wife." The reply was quite strong and I almost laughed.

"Ang estatwang iyan ay ginawa ko noong buhay pa si Eleanor, Vangie. Manatili iyan diyan habang hindi pa nagunaw ang mundo. Walang sinumang maaring sumira riyan. kahit na ang kalikasan pa. Kaya kapag narinig ko muli na may inuutusan ka na sirain iyan..I'll swear to God!"

I was amazed at my father's love for my mother. Kung hindi lang sana namatay si Mama sa cancer, kasama pa sana namin siya at hindi ang peke na madrasta ko at ang half brother kung peke.

Seeing the stunned reaction of Vangie is quite satisfying. Mukha siyang iiyak, hindi makapaniwala sa outburst ng aking ama . Did she really think she can wipe the memory of my mother? I was ten years old when my beautiful Mom died.

I know how much my father mourned for her death.

He loves my Mother so much. I was there with my father. We mourned together at the loss of the light of our home- my Mama.

Simula ng napagalitan si Vangie ni Papa, ay lalo naman itong naging istrikta sa akin.

She uses her wit to manipulate my father again and asks for his forgiveness. Ginamit Niya si Benji upang muling mapalapit ang loob sa aking ama. Hanggang sa napatawad siya ni Papa.

Back to normal ang kanilang relasyon. Samantalang ako naman ay patuloy na outcast sa mismong pamamahay ko.

I watched as my phone vibrated again. I checked and read the message of my father. "Come home for dinner. Your brother is here."