The Wife's Revenge

Kabanata 3

Kinalimutan ko na ang nangyari noong isang araw. Naniniwala kasi akong maaayos pa kami ni Paul. It was just a misunderstanding. He was pressured and exhausted with work. Naiintindihan ko naman na malaking kompanya ang hinahawakan niya. Ako naman home-based work lang. Nandito sa bahay ang office ko. I'm handling a company, too. Napupunta lang ako sa company for board meetings.

Naghahanda ako ng agahan ngayon para sa aming mag-asawa. Dinamihan ko na din ang niluluto ko dahil gusto kong ipagbaon ang asawa ko ng lunch.

♬♬I want love that will last, forever... I want last that will last...♬♬

"Lorraine!" Sigaw ni Paul.

Napatalon ako sa sigaw na 'yon. Agad akong pumanhik patungo sa taas at nakita ko siyang hindi maayos-ayos ang tie niya.

I smiled. Hindi talaga siya marunong niyan. That's wife's duty. I can help but beam at this small thing. Kailangan niya ako. That's the entire thought. He needs me, always. That is why I'm here.

"Don't smile. You annoy me, Lorraine." He said with exasperation.

Napasimangot ako bigla. He's acting like an arse. Hindi ba pwedeng ngumiti ang asawa niya? Minsan talaga ako na ang naiinis sa asawa ko. He's an asshole. I want to punch his face. Pero mahal na mahal ko siya. I will never change the fact that I'll always love him.

Nang matapos ako sa pag-ta-tie at pagsu-suot ng coat niya ay bumaba na kami.

"Kumain ka na Paul, naghanda ako ng maraming pagkain para sayo!" Pa-anyaya ko sa kaniya.

I saw how annoyed he is. "Sa office na!" Malamig nitong tugon.

"Gano'n ba? Nagluto pa naman ako ng marami teka lang..." mabilis kong tinahak ang kusina. But he never gave a damn, hindi niya ako pinansin at patuloy na naglalakad palabas. Mabilis ko siyang tinahak. I won't give up without giving a try. "Teka lang Paul... here. I thought of packing you lunch!" I beamed.

He just gave it a stare. He doesn't give a damn for this. I heaved a sigh of disbelief. "Paul naman..." I pleaded, hesitantly.

Natigilan naman ito na naiirita. Ilang sandal ay tinanggap ito. He did that for me to stop forcing him around like an idiot.

"You're annoying Lorraine." Sabi nito.

I became stone with his stoniness. He's expressionless. He's not impressed. Hindi ko nalang 'yon pinakinggan instead ay ihahatid ko nalang siya sa sasakyan niya. This is wifely duties!

"A-anong oras ka uuwi?" Tanong ko sa kaniya.

Pinapasok niya ang mga papers niya at nilapag na parang walang halaga ang lunchbox na hinanda ko. Nahulog ulit ang mundo ko. Wala itong pakialam. And that's because he's still mad at me. Of course, I can't give him a child.

"I can go home anytime I want Lorraine, don't ask me! You f*****g irritates me Lorraine, kay aga aga pa! Magtigil ka nga!" a tone with annoyance, "and don't you dare question me, Lorraine. And don't you dare leave this house or else..." Dugtong nito bago ako pinagbagsakan ng pinto at umalis.

Kumaway nalang ako at ngumiti ng mapakla. Masama bang magtanong sa sariling asawa? He's too cold. I felt the cold. Hindi ko nga aakalaing nandirito parin ako. I mean, I'm a big woman. I own big companies. I'm educated. I do have all I want in life. I know better, right? But this is marriage all about. This is just another phase of marriage, why will I give it up? Hindi naman niya ako sinasaktan physically, kaya kinakaya ko pa. This is just a small problem though.

I went inside the house and eat. And then my office is calling.

"Hello?" Sagot ko sa tawag.

"Good morning ma'am, the presentation is ready. The board meeting will be at ten." Crissa said, the secretary.

"Ah! Thank you Criss... I'll be there..." Tinignan ko ang orasan. It's still 8 in the morning. I still have time for a review. This is just a piece of cake.

09:00. Handa na akong umalis ng bahay hindi ko narin ipapaalam kay Paul na aalis ako dahil hindi naman ako mawawala ng matagal. Hindi niya parin malalamang lumabas ako ng bahay. Isa pa, trabaho din naman ang pupuntahan ko. Kahit ganoon ay kinakabahan pa rin ako. I just don't know which of the both: about the presentation or my husband finding out I went out.

"Early bird, Mrs. Durano. Coffee? Or early milk tea?" Bungad saakin ng secretary ko pagkadating ko sa office.

"The second choice please..." I answered. I like honey dew milk tea, with tapioca noodles.

"Right away, Ma'am. Nasa office na ang mga kakailanganin mong papeles ma'am." Sabi nito at umalis na.

Chingkee Tea is not just far from here.

Pumasok na ako at nagpakabusy na ulit. I miss this room. Once in a week lang ako pumunta sa office. Nagsimula na kong pirmahan ang mga papers at mag analyze ng mga business proposals. Kahit na pinagbabawal ng doktor na magpagod wala rin akong magagawa may mga empleyado pa akong umaasa sa kompanya. This is the reason why I stayed at home.

I just can't give up this company. Well, merging the company with Durano is not yet set. Still, consulting with the lawyers with some matters. Kahit na mag-asawa na kami ni Paul ay maraming concerns ang board members and I can't risk for anything. Not now, but I'm working on it.

Twenty minutes after, Crissa popped up in my office.

 "Here's your Honeydew Milk tea, ma'am." Nilagay niya ito sa gilid ng lamesa.

Six in the evening na ako nakauwi ng bahay. It was a stressful day yet all business. The presentation went well, I worked on with some things and I invited some Crissa and others for a snack. I enjoyed the company. It feels like going back to my younger years. My parents forbade me to have friends. They thought those people will just use me for money. That's their principle.

Madilim pa ang labas at loob ng bahay kaya napahinga ako ng malalim dahil wala pa ang asawa ko. Sigurado akong mamayang hating gabi pa iyon uuwi.

I went inside, and exhaled with disappointments. The thoughts were striking me again. Was it good, I was not caught by my husband or was it too bad knowing he'll come home late again.

"WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?" Nagulat ako sa boses na umalingawngaw sa tahimik naming pamamahay.

Nanlaki ang mata ko. Half of me was shocked and the half was victorious, triumphant. He went home... earlier than I thought.

"P-Paul!" nilingon ko siya.

"What did I told you Lorraine?" mariin nitong pagkakasabi.

That tone was scary. Nagsimula ng mangatog ang mga binti ko iyong dibdib ko para na akong sasabog at mahihimatay na ako sa kaba. Nakakatakot ang timpla ng mukha ng asawa ko. He can kill someone or me anytime.

"P-Paul kasi—" I loud slap stopped my whole world.

"ANG SABI KO WAG KANG LALABAS NG BAHAY!" Sinigaw niya sa tenga ko na halos ikinabingi ko.

"Paul, I have a board meeting. I have to attend—" I was stopped again. Nakatikim ulit ako ng isang sampal.

Humagulgol na akong hinahaplos ang mahapdi kong mukha.

"WAG NA WAG MO AKONG SINASAGOT NG MGA KASINUNGALINGAN LORRAINE! WALA AKONG PAKIALAM SA PEKE MONG BOARD MEETING!" Hinila nito ang buhok ko hinawakan ng isang kamay niya ang baba ko. "UNAHIN MONG BIGYAN AKO NG ANAK, IYON ANG OBLIGASYON MO! Wag na wag ko ulit maririnig ang mga alibi mo Lorraine dahil talagang masasaktan na kita." Tinulak niya ako't naupo sa lapag.

That was a loud shock hell out of me. I never lied to him. I never did. What happened to the supportive man I've loved? The tears won't stop falling. She went blank as of this moment. Something went wrong here.

He left. He never went out of the room after that confrontation. At that time, pinili kong tanggapin na stress lang din siya at nag-alala. I'm his sick wife, remember Lorraine?

I knock the door. He needs to eat. Ayaw kong masabihan na pinababayaan ko ang asawa ko. On the third knock, I found no response. So, I called several times.

"ANO BA LORRAINE! HINDI KA BA MARUNONG MAKIRAMDAM? NATUTULOG ANG TAO!" iritado niyang bungad sa akin.

I was intimated. "K-Kakain na kasi Paul." Napayuko ako.

And then, I found the space between us. I just discovered that just now. How far is he is to me. Bakit ba kami nagkakaganito? Masyado na kaming malayo sa isat isa.

"WALA AKONG GANA, SINO BANG MAKAKAROON KUNG ANG KASAMA MO AY ISANG BABAENG BAOG?" Singhal niya sa akin.

That was a stab to me. How could he say that in front of me? Kaya kong patunayan na magbibigyan ko siya ng anak. What is he acting like an asshole here?

"P-Paul gagaling din—" Hindi ko natapos ang sinasabi dahil binasakan na ako ng pinto.

I went blank again. Nahulog ang aking panga sa inaasta ng aking asawa. Damn! How could this horrible thing happen to us? He became impatient and brutal. My body went numb and I was like waiting for a miracle here. He loves me right? I mean, we're married of course. This is just a phase. Mahal na mahal ko ang asawa ko at kahit mababaliw na ako dito sasamahan ko parin siya.

Biglang bumukas ang pinto. Lumabas si Paul na hindi ako nililingon. Bihis na bihis.

"Saan ka pupunta Paul?" I asked.

Damn! We need to talk.

"Malayo! Malayo sa babaeng hindi ako mabigyan ng anak!" Sigaw nito sa akin.

Nanlaki ang mata ko. Nanikip ang dibdib ko sa sinabi niya. Is he running away from me? Iiwan niya ba ako.

"What? Paul! Why are you acting like this? Ginagawa ko ang lahat."

"GINAGAWA LORRAINE?" He advanced to me. "GINAGAWA? PUTANGINA BAKIT WALA PARIN?" Galit nitong utas.

I want to win in this argument. I can't lose him. I will never lose him. This is just a problem. Pinagdadaanan 'to ng mga mag-asawa.

"Malapit na Paul," I said in frustrations. "malapit na mabibigyan na rin kita. Please, bumalik ka na sa dati... don't be hard on me." I found myself kneeling, holding his hand tight.

Hindi ko nakita ang simpatiya niya. It was heartbreaking.

"Dapat lang Lorraine! Dahil kung hindi iiwan na kita!"

Tinanggal nito ng marahas ang kamay ko sa kaniya padabog itong bumaba at padabog ding umalis ng bahay.

Sumakit ang dibdib ko tumigil din ang pag ikot ng mundo ko sa narinig. Iiwan nya ako? Iiwan ako ni Paul paghindi ko pa siya mabibigyan ng anak? It was a hardest words I've heard from him.

Nagsimula na akong magalit sa sarili ko. Kinamumuhian ko ang sarili ko. Kung sa simula pa lamang ay naibigay ko na ang anak na hinihingi niya sana masaya kami ngayon. I hate myself! I hate you Lorraine. Gumawa ka ng paraan Lorraine you can't live like this forever.

"Paul... I'll do everything I can, just don't leave me." I cried in frustration.