MARRYING MY BROTHER'S ENEMY

Forget Me

The environment of the club went still.

"I've been looking for you Charles, I haven't heard from you after the funeral why?" Jenny seems hurt. Her smile faltered as he eyed the group.

"You seem to be having a good time.." she commented.

"Yes, we are celebrating the boss's pregnant wif---ouch !" Dexter cursed when Ringo punched him on the chest.

"What the f**k is wrong with you man! It hurt.."

"What?!" Jenny eyes widened in shocked. "What do you mean by that? Charles, ano ba ang pinagsasabi ni Dexter?"

"Ooops.." kinakabahan na nakatingin si Dexter Kay Charles. Ang Akala Niya ay tapos na si Charles at Jenny. Lalo na at alam naman Niya na dumating ang babae sa lamay ng kaniyang lolo but Charles seems so distant to her. And of course, he married his sister's enemy. Kaya ano pa ang iisipin Niya.

Charles was angry that he wanted to beat Dexter. " I'm sorry, boss..I --I didn't know that..."

"Leave.." he said coldly, eyes darkening as he glared at him.

"Dexter and his big mouth..* Alfonso commented. " Come guys, all of you, out now."

Nagkaniya -kanyang tayo ang mga lalaki at iniwan sina Jenny Yat Charles sa mesa.

"What does he mean?" Umupo sa harapan ni Charles si Jenny. Hindi na Niya hinintay na imbitahan pa ng lalaki na umupo.

Nagulat siya sa sinabi ni Dexter, pero lasing ang mga ito, baka binibiro lamang siya. * Ano ba ang yong sinsabi ni Dexter, Charles?"

For the third time, muling tinanong ni Jenny si Charles. Parang nabingi siya sa sinabi ni Dexter? Buntis ? Ang asawa Niya?? Ni hindi nga siya nito magawang pakasalan?

"Jenny." He stop. He combed his hand to his hair.

"What?" untag Niya ng matagal ito bago nagsalita.

"Was it true?"

"It's not like... that." Nahihirapan siyang sabihin ang totoo. it's complicated. Ayaw sana niyang sabihin pa ang tungkol Kay Kimberly. He needed to explain everything and it's complicated.

"So, it's true...?" agad na tumulo ang luha sa mata ni Jenny. Charles's hesitation says it all.

Na corner na si Charles Antonio kaya wala siyang nagawa kundi ang umamin.

"Yes.." was his short reply. As far as his concern, he doesn't want to discuss about his marriage to Kimberly. It was for revenge. But now that she's pregnant..."

"No!" Umiling si Jenny na napahawak sa gilid ng mesa. Napaawang ang bibig habang tinitigan si Charles. "Who is she Charles? Is she one of your flames? Who is she? Kailan?"

"I'm sorry.." was his quick reply.

"It's that it?" kumunot ang noo ni Jenny.

" No explanation? You can't even answer my questions?" she raised her brow?" Why Charles..why?!"

Charles inhaled deeply." Listen Jen, it's complicated."

"How complicated huh?" There were tears in her eyes. "You said you can't afford to marry me because you are afraid of the responsibility. You are afraid that your enemies will be after me!" Mariin niyang sabi. "Pero ngayon, nagpakasal ka rin pala sa iba. What happened to your alibi huh?!" She was now angry.

"Look Jenny. I can't explain it to you..but I have my reason." He hardened his face. " Hindi ba sinabi ko na rin sa iyo noon na huwag mo ng hintayin ang desisyon ko? I told you to find a man that is suitable to your love and..."

"f**k you Charles Antonio! That is not my point?! Bakit nagawa mong magpakasal sa iba at hindi sa akin huh? Matatanggap ko pa ang iyong dahilan kung wala Kang pinakasalan but you married someone else. You married someone else!" tuluyan ng tumaas ang boses ni Jenny.

"Calm down Jenny!" saway ni Antonio na nagsimula ng mairita . This is all Dexter's fault , I'm gonna put a hole in his forehead, he thought.

"And she's ... pregnant? I can't believe this!' she muttered sharply.

"I'm sorry, but.." he hesitated. Alam ni Charles na ginawa Niya ang desisyon na pakasalan si Kimberly dahil sa paghihiganti. Hindi Niya sinasadyang insultuhin si Jenny . He acted on impulse.

But now that Kimberly is pregnant, he felt obligated to take care of the mother of his child .

"Bakit Charles? Bakit hindi mo masabi Kong sino ang pinakasalan mo?"

"Hindi mo siya kilala.." he simply said.

"Sino nga?"

Look Jenny .." mariin niyang sabi . The girl is started to annoyed him ." She's no one you want to know. And now that you already know that I'm married, let's call it quit."

Jenny dropped her jaw. This is not the answer she was expecting. Ang inaasahan Niya ay hihingi ng tawad si Charles sa kaniya at hiwalayan ang babaeng pinakasalan Niya . Wala siyang narinig na girlfriend na siniseryoso si Charles maliban sa kaniya. He has flings alright, but that was when she left to the United States of America. Naintindihan Niya iyon dahil lalaki si Charles, Mafia boss and a very good looking guy. Kaya, alam niya na marami talaga ang magkagusto sa kaniyang nobyo .

She finds it interested that he seems to be protecting this woman!

"Call it quits?" she wipe the tears on her face. "I don't understand Charles...bakit hindi mo masabi ang pangalan ng babae mo.." she said between her clenched teeth.

"Bakit pa Jenny? Does it make a difference? I told you that..."

"Oo! " he was surprised the changes in her voice." Mainam pa rin na sabihin mo sa akin kung sino ang pinakasalan mo ! kung sino ang ipinalit mo sa akin! Para maunawaan ko kung bakit mo siya pinakasalan gayong ako na girlfriend mo ay hindi mo nagawang pakasalan!!"

Charles was thankful na nasa second floor sila ng bar. Alfonso was quick to close the balcony when he left with the boys. Alam Niya na malaking giyera ang mangyayari sa pagitan nina Jenny at ng Mafia boss. Tama siya, hindi nga natatanggap ni Jenny na magpakasal sa iba ang nobyo.

" I told you it was complicated. And she's nothing you will be interested to, obviously hindi mo siya kilala kaya tumigil ka na. I don't mean to hurt you and I'm sorry."

"No! I can't accept that sorry of yours. Ang malinaw sa akin ay ang sinabi mo noon na takot Kang lumagay sa tahimik dahil sa landas na pinili mo! Iyon ang tumatak sa aking isipan Charles Antonio ! kaya hindi ko matanggap na magpakasal ka sa iba! Bakit ha? Dahil sa na miss mo ako ng pumunta ako ng Amerika? You could always choose to call me and propose but you didn't.."

Something stuck in Jenny's mind. Oo nga pala, ng nasa Amerika siya, hindi man lang tumawag kahit Isang beses si Charles. It was always her who initiated the first move. Siya ang palaging tumatawag Kay Charles para makausap ito. Hindi kaya dahil nahulog na ang loob Niya sa iba?

"Do you love her?"

Antonio was surprised. HINDI NIYA inaasahan ang tanong ni Jenny.

Pinakasalan Niya si Kimberly for revenge.

"Answer me?" Jenny demanded. "Mahal mo ba ang asawa mo?"

Did he love the girl? Of course not. It was for revenge, nothing all.And yet at the back of his mind, he wanted to protect her.

"No, " he finally answered.

"Then divorce her..." ng ma realize ni Jenny na wala nga palang diborsyo sa Pilipinas ay , " File an annulment."

Nag arko ang kilay ni Charles Antonio."Nakalimutan mo yata kung sino ang kausap mo Jenny. Palalampasin ko ito, dahil apo ka ng dating Godfather ng Mafia society. Palalampasin ko ito dahil, naging maganda naman ang samahan natin. But don't you ever order me around! I'll take no order from anyone. Kung mayroon mag nag-uutos , ako iyon at wala ng iba pa." tumayo si Charles Antonio.

Agad namang tumayo rin si Jenny. Lumapit siya sa binata na nagsimula ng lumakad . Hinawakan Niya lto at niyakap mula sa likuran.

"Please, Charles..I'm sorry...hindi ko sinasadya. I just can't accept it, hindi ko matanggap na may asawa ka na ang..."

Dahan-dahan na winaksi ni Charles ang mga kamay ni Jenny na nakagapos sa kaniyang dibdib at hinarap Niya ito.

"Don't make this hard for me and you Jenny. May nga bagay na hindi ko masasbai sa iyo. You're a beautiful and smart woman. You came from a very well off family. Maraming lalaki ang nahuhumaling sa iyo.."

"You know damn well na ikaw lang ang lalaking minahal ko..."

He sighed.

" I know and again, I'm sorry..."

"Forget me , Jenny. Maraming Isda sa dagat. " he said quietly. Hindi Niya magawang sabihin Kay Jenny ang puno at dulo ng lahat. Yes , sa paghihiganti nagsimula ang lahat. Pero, ngayon, sa di inaasahan na pagkakataon na buntis si Kimberly. Obligasyon niya na panagutan ang diadadala nitong anak, literally.

Pagkatapos nitong manganak saka na siya magdesisyon kung ano ang gagawin Niya sa babae. After all, hindi pa rin matagpuan ang hayop niyang kapatid. Hindi pa rin gumising si Leah. Marami pa ang dapat mangyari. Mahirap ang magsasalita at magdesisyon ng tapos.

Pinahid niya ang luha sa mata ng babae.

Atubili na tumango si Jenny.

"So, this is goodbye? Ipagtabuyan mo na ako?" Jenny asked.

"It's not like that. We can still be friends." he said.

Mahigit kalahating oras ng nakaalis si Charles Antonio sa bar. Hindi pa rin lubos na maisip ni Jenny ang dahilan kung bakit hindi masagot ni Charles ang kaniyang tanong. Hindi Niya matanggap na may pinakasalan itong Ibang babae.

Nakaupo pa rin siya sa mesa kung saan tinapos ni Charles Antonio ang kanilang relasyon. Malayo ang iniisip at nasasaktan. Umuwi siya mula sa Amerika dahil namatay ang kaniyang lolo. But the truth is ang dahilan talaga ng kaniyang pag-uwi ay ang makita si Charles Antonio. Hoping na sa ikalawang pagkakataon ay mapapayag na Niya itong pakasalan siya.

Pero para siyang binagsakan ng langit at lupa -dahil nagpakasal na pala ito sa iba.

"Well, two can play this game Mr . Martinez.." she said loudly.