Between You and Him

Chapter 7

LAYLA

I was right. Ken would enjoy playing with a bunch of kids at the park. By the time we left the park, he has made new friends and was covered in dirt from head to toe. Kahit si Tessa ay nagulat sa pakikipaglaro ni Ken sa mga batang kakikilala pa lang. Ang kailangan lang ay maengganyo siyang lumabas at makakita ng ibang tao.

For about a week now, naging routine na namin ang magpunta sa park para makipaglaro siya. We would spend an hour there and then go home to rest before doing our lessons. Bakasyon na kaya hindi ganoon ka-busy ang schedule niya. Pero 'yong tatay niya, ni anino hindi ko pa nakikita. Kahit litrato, walang naka-display.

Sa silid ni Ken ay baby picture lang niya kasama ng kaniyang mama. His mom looked very pretty. Ang napansin ko lang, malungkot ang mga mata niya. Who knew she'd pass several months later?

"Miss Layla, can we go to the mall tomorrow?"

I was hanging Ken's clothes when he asked. He was holding his Rubik's cube instead of a book. I have nothing against reading, but the kid needs to do something else other than reading.

"Bakit?"

"Kate's birthday is next week and she invited me." Bumangon siya at kinuha ang isang maliit na card. "Here. I want to get her a present."

Binasa ko 'yon at imbitado nga si Ken. It's a children's party... a swimming party.

"Can you swim?"

Umiling si Ken. "I know it's a swimming party but I'll just tell her that I won't join them in the pool."

"Do you want to learn how to swim?"

Maybe Atty. Lontoc can ask the father since he's nowhere around. Tumatawag naman daw 'yon at nakakausap ni Tessa para kumustahin si Ken. I've never spoken to him though. Either nasa shower ako o kaya naman ay break time ko.

"I don't know. I'll think about it. Can we get her a present tomorrow?"

"Do you have money?"

"No." He frowned. "Ask ko si Tita Candy." Si Atty. Lontoc ang tinutukoy niya. "Or maybe you can send her a message."

"Okay. I will do that."

"By the way, are you done with your book?" I looked at him confused. "The adventure one."

Ah. Iba na kasi ang binabasa ko ngayon kaya hindi ko maalala kung alin ang tinutukoy niya.

"Oo tapos na. Gusto mong hiramin?" Nahihiya siyang tumango dahil sinabi niya sa akin na hindi 'yon ang mga babasahin na gusto niya. He had a change of heart fast enough after spending time with me. "I'll get it after I'm done with this. Bukas mo na basahin para hindi ka mapuyat." Tumingin ako sa orasan. "Alas nueve na kasi."

"Can I watch TV for a bit?" Kumunot ang noo ko. "Please? Grizzy and the Lemmings is short."

I know that show because it's a Canadian show. But that's not the point, it's cartoons and he doesn't watch cartoons.

"It's cartoons. You don't watch--"

"Bobby told me about it while we were playing in the park and he said it's really funny. Please, Miss Layla? Only ten minutes." He gave me a cute smile before putting his cube down on the side table.

Bobby is Kate's cousin. He's about seven and quite a hellraiser. Mahilig umakyat kung saan-saan kaya 'yong yaya niya sa sobrang stress, nanlalagas na ang buhok.

"Fine. Only one episode."

"Can you watch it with me?" He pleaded and how can I say no to those eyes? Parang nakita ko na ang mga mata niya pero hindi ko maalala kung saan.

I nodded and we watched it together. It didn't take long until I heard him snoring. He had a full day and the kid never tires of learning. Ang pagkakaiba lang noon sabi ni Tessa ay nakikipaglaro na ito sa ibang bata sa labas. He's starting to socialize more.

I fixed his covers then left his room. I was fast asleep as soon as my back hit the bed, only to be woken up by a phone call.

"Julie."

"Hey, sorry to wake you up. I just want to let you know that I saw your husband the other day. I meant to call you but my day got busy."

Naging kaibigan ko si Julie dahil siya ang may-ari ng school na pinasukan ko. She was the one who helped me leave the country quietly. Kahit sampung taon ang tanda niya sa akin ay hindi 'yon naging hadlang para maging magkaibigan kami. Julie married a Canadian which ended up in divorce after five years. Nakabuntis ng iba ang asawa niya nang hindi niya mabigyan ng anak. She tried to give him a child but Julie suffered from two miscarriages. Nahirapan siyang magbuntis at nainip na ang asawa niya kahihintay.

"Nakausap ko 'yong lawyer mo and George is refusing to divorce you."

Julie was the one who gave me a lawyer. Ito rin 'yong lawyer niya noong nakipagdivorce siya sa asawa niya.

"What do you mean he's refusing? I signed everything. I even said there that I don't want anything from him. Sa kaniya na lahat. I just want my freedom back."

"I wish it's that simple. But you've only been apart for six months. You need to be separated from him for at least a year. Even with no-fault divorce, you need to be living apart for a year."

"So I have wait for another six months?" It was frustrating.

"Or you can come back and talk to him about it--"

"No way. I'll stay in hiding until then. Maiksi na lang ang six months." Napahilamos ako sa aking mukha. The last thing I want is to stay married to him.

"Layla, hindi na ba talaga maaayos ang pagsasama n'yo? I know I saw you with bruises and-- I'm just saying if he wasn't the one who did it to you--"

"He cheated on me. Julie, I saw it with my own eyes and it took me a long time to get over it. I am sorry but there is no way I'll forgive him for that. Hindi ako masasaktan kung hindi dahil sa kaniya. I know he brought me to Canada and gave me a decent life. Pinag-aral niya ako. Dinamitan. Name it. But I was also a good wife to him. I did not deserve it at all. If he wanted to be with someone else, he could have told me that. Dinivorce na dapat niya ako noon. Hindi naman kami kasal dito sa Pilipinas so he didn't have to worry about annulment."

"Okay, I'm sorry I brought it up. I'm just making sure that you didn't change your mind about him. Because you know what I've been through... it's not an easy battle."

"I didn't change my mind. If anything, mas gusto kong makalaya sa kaniya ngayon at magsimula muli. He broke me, Julie. Sa bawat araw na magkasama kami, hindi ko inakala na magiging ganito ang buhay ko."

Julie knew George cheated on me, pero hindi ko sinabi sa kaniya ang buong pangyayari. I want to file the divorce and keep the reason a secret as much as possible. I am angry, but I am not cruel.