THE SHATTERED WIFE

I DIDN'T MEAN IT

ELIJAH'S POV

Inaamin ko na nagulat ako sa aking nakita, nang magkalat ang mga larawan sa sahig mula sa loob ng envelope.

Those pictures of Alexis and Benji remind me that something was not right.

But because I was thinking of Alexis feelings towards Benji, hindi ko rin maitatwa na may katotohanan ang pangyayari sa likod ng pictures.

I don't know what to believe yet. When I looked at the disappointing face of my father, I felt frustrated too.

I told her not to betray my trust. I told her not to commit any relationship to others while we're still together, not until the annulment is over.

WHAT DISAPPOINTED ME MORE is the thing that we already agreed to. Nagkasundo kami na kilalanin namin ang isat-isa. I thought we were clear about that. Maintindihan ko kung ang kuhang larawan ay nangyayari bago pa lang kami nagkasundo to give ourselves a chance.

I was surprised to see one picture, the picture of them kissing together. In the picture Alexis is kissing Benji. BUT She CRIED TELLING ME, she did nothing wrong.

I was a bit confused. About the lingerie. I'm not certain whom to believe. But I did understand that Vangie is not someone to trust. What if she was involved in this charade? Iyon ay kung palabas nga lang ang nangyayari ngayon.

She was furious when Alexis made an appeal to my father to investigate the matter.

"Before I go I want to clean my name. I don't want ELIJAH to think that I betray him."

She didn't look at me, but to my father. I admit I was a bit taken aback by her bravery and sincerity. It seems to me that my opinion mattered to her the most. Inaamn ko na nagustuhan ko ang sinabi ni Alexis. Habang nakatingin siya sa akin, dama ko ang kaniyang humiliation. Pero, sa Kabila ng interrogation ni Papa sa kaniya, ang opinyon ko ang gusto niyang marinig.

I CAN see that she was hurting, she wanted me to comfort her..but how can I do that? The look of my father told me to stay away from this.

"Alexis!".

Hindi ko napigilan ang aking sarili na tawagin siya ng siya ay tumakbo palabas sa living room.

"Father, I think Alexis was right, paimbistigahan mo ang pangyayaring ito. It's not fair to her. HINDI AKO NANINIWALA NA may ginawa siyang masama." sa wakas ay nakuha ko ng magsalita.

"Really, Elijah.. NANINIWALA ka sa kaniya? She is obsessed WITH BENJI." Vangie snorted.

"And so is your son." I retorted.

"What!" She bite back.

"Hindi ba,,hindi ba alam mo na may gusto rin si Benji Kay Alexis? Ikaw ang PUMIPIGIL SA anak MO upang hindi ituloy ang panliligaw Niya Kay Alexis. You know damn well about it. AND NOW, it seems that Alexis knows the truth. At bakit mo sinisisi si Alexis sa nangyari sa kanila? It was Benji who made this chaos. He knows that Alexis is married to me but why couldn't he stay away from her? Father, gusto ko rin na imbistigahan ang pangyayaring ito. And where the f**k is Benji? Tumatakas na naman?" Hindi ko na napigilan ang kanina ko pa gustong sabihin.

"What the hell are you talking about ELIJAH!" Galit na tanong ni Vangie.

"I believe na biktima dito si Alexis.."

"Ano ang ibig mong sabihin tungkol Kay Benji, anong tumakas ang pinagsasabi mo?"

"Hindi ba dapat lang na nandito rin si Benji? Dapat kasama siyang managot sa pangyayarig ito? Involved siya sa larawang iyan, and you told me yourself na itong lingerie ay nakita mo sa kaniyang kama.." I motioned the lingerie that I was still holding.

Vangie was silent and so is my father. "

"Hindi ba Papa, dapat nandito si Benji? Sangkot siya dito. Now, where is he!?" I was annoyed by his wife's irritating suggestions that I shouted to her.

"Stop it Elijah, she's your mother" saway ni Papa.

"She's not my mother and you know that Father". I said as I clenched my teeth.

"Kahit na, you should respect her."

Hindi ko pinansin ang komento ng Papa.

"I am pleading to you too father , pa imbistigahan mo ang nangyayari, hindi lingid sa iyo ang ginawa ni Benji sa amin sa hagdan,hindi ba? I hope you didn't forget about it.

My father sighed and then shook his head. Tinimbang Niya ang sitwasyon.

" Very well, para sa katahimikan ng lahat.. paimbistigahan ko ang pangyayaring ito."

I saw Vangie tense. She seems afraid.

" But , but ..is the pictures not enough for you to believe that she's planning something..bakit hindi mo na lang siya ipahatid sa kanila. Hindi ba, siya mismo gusto rin niyang umuwi na dahil nabuking siya sa kaniyang ginawa?"

My father regarded his wife. "If you have nothing to hide, if you're not involved, bakit ka ba nag-aalala?"

I smirked at her. Kung wala nga siyang kinalaman, bakit parang pinipigilin Niya si Papa sa kaniyang desisyon?

"Ako, nag-aalala!? what for? The only thing that matters to me is this family, ayaw ko lang na magkaroon ng gulo dahil sa kaniya." hinawakan Niya ang braso ng aking ama.

"Where is Benji?" My father suddenly asked.

"H-he, he..was out for a business trip."

" A BUSINESS trip? Hindi ba katatapos lang ng kaniyang business conference?"

"Y-yes but you know your son, he wanted to impress you..kaya ayon, gumagawa ng paraan para may malalaman tungkol sa kumpanya. Alang-alang sa kumpanya darling.."she shrugged her shoulders.

My father is a fool for believing such nonsense . He was blinded by Vangie's lie and manipulation.

Hindi lingid sa kaniya ang mga ginagawa ni Benjie. Malinaw naman sa kaniya ang mga nagdaang kasalanan ng kaniyang mahal na anak. Hindi pa ba siya natuto?

I inhaled deeply to control myself from talking so much that will further the conflict with my father.

Kung tutuusin kasalanan Niya ito, sinanay Niya ang kaniyang asawa na takpan ang kanilang anak. I don't know if my father forgot the things that he's precious son was involved into.

Tuwing may ginagawang kabulastugan si Benji ay tinatakpan ito ng kaniyang ina. Ginagamit ang pera para tumahimik ang biktima. But still the issues are circulating, and the story was told differently. Ako na ang may sala, ako na ang salarin. Nakatawag pansin sa akin ito. Papaanong sa akin ibinibintang ang mga kaso noon na ginawa ni Benji?

I was frustrated by my father's silence in the issues. He seems to go with the flow and it hurts me.

Ang nangyari ngayon Kay Alexis ay nagpaalala sa akin of what happened one year ago. I brush the thought away and excuse myself.

Naabutan ko si Alexis sa silid na umiiyak pa rin. Nakatirapa siya sa kama.

"Alexis.." hinawakan ko ang kaniyang balikat ng ako ay maupo sa gilid ng kama.

Tumigil siya sa paghikbi, bagama't nanatiling nakadapa.

"I'm sorry, Elijah..he forced himself to me. He kissed me...and I'm sorry, I did kiss him back, pero I swear, tinulak ko siya. That was my only mistake. I know it was wrong of me to kiss him back, but..I didn't mean it and I'm sorry." she sob again.

I sighed. " May feeling ka pa ba sa kaniya?"

Bumangon si Alexis at nauposa kama. Medyo namumugto na ang kaniyang mata. Umiling siya.

"To be honest, wala na." walang kagatol-gatol na sagot niya. "I'm true to my words, Elijah..I want to give us a chance. Kaya dismayado ako sa nangyari ngayon. But I swear, I have no idea how the hell my lingerie.." dumako ang kaniyang tingin sa hawak ko pa rin na lingerie.

Inabot Niya ang lingerie sa aking kamay. "Hindi ko alam kung paano ito nakarating sa silid ni Benji." umiling na saad Niya. " I'm sorry Elijah.."yumuko siya.

"Pumapayag si Papa na imbistigahan ang pangyayari. Hinahanap rin Niya si Benji." I said quietly.

"Maraming salamat.." ngumiti siya ng mapait.

Hinubad Niya ang suot na singsing.

"I bet this ring is not for me.."