Forsaken Wife (Filipino)

3: The Day We Talked

JADE TALLIA VALDEZ

Apollo held my hand. "Don't worry. I'm here. I got your back."

Hindi pa rin kami bumababa sa sasakyan niya kahit na nasa tapat na kami ng malaking gate ng mansyon. I laughed a little. "What are you talking about? I'm not gonna kill a person."

"Wait, what?" Disappointed na sabi nito. "I got the shovel ready!"

Apollo has this sense of humor na makakalimutan ko ang lahat ng aking problema. Talagang napakasaya nitong kasama. Simula nung sinabi ni Mama na dumating na ang anak niya ay kung ano-ano na ang pumapasok sa isip ko. Ano ang dapat kong sabihin at gawin sa harap ni Zander?

I'm not the girl who's hopelessly in love with him. I moved on. I already let him go.

Huminga ako ng malalim. "Let's go. Your shovel is waiting."

"That's my girl." He chuckled and kissed the back of my palm.

Bumusina si Apollo at lumabas na yung maid para pagbuksan kami ng gate. Pinasok na nito ang sasakyan sa loob at bigla nalang akong nakaramdam ng kakaiba. I'm trying to compose myself but the 'what ifs' are bothering me.

Should I say 'welcome back' to him? That's not a good idea. How I wish he never came back.

Pagkababa namin ni Apollo ay nagbukas ang unahang pinto ng bahay at sumalubong sa amin si Mama. Niyakap niya ako ng mahigpit at pagkatapos ay lumipat kay Apollo. Humalik si Apollo sa noo ni Mama.

"Apollo, how's your mom?"

"She's okay, Tita. She misses you."

Mama laughed and tap his shoulder. "Tell her to stop being dramatic, okay?"

"I'll pass the message."

"Tara na sa loob. Nagpahain na ako. My beloved Zander will be happy to see you both." Nagniningning ang mga mata ni Mama habang sinasabi iyon.

Matabang akong tumawa. "He'll be happy. I'm sure."

Unti-unting lumungkot ang ekspresyon ni Mama kaya agad ko rin pinagsisihan ang ginawa. "Tallia, I know what my son did to you. It's not easy to forgive. But he is here now, you two have the chance to patch things up and start over again."

I sighed. "I think it's gonna rain, 'Ma. Let's go inside."

Tumango na lamang si Mama at nauna ng pumasok sa loob. Apollo and I walked side by side habang ang kamay nito ay nakaalalay sa likuran ko. "Second chance is impossible."

"Ma, sino yung dumating?"

Biglang nanginig ang aking tuhod nang marinig ang baritonong boses na iyon. Pababa ito ng hagdan habang sinusuklay ang magulong buhok. Halatang kagigising lamang niya. ANg puting sando nito ay humahapit sa kanyang katawan at ang naka-itim na pajama sya.

I stared at him. He became more mature.

Our eyes met at parang inaaral nito kung sino ako. Wow, he doesn't remember me.

"Hi, hubby. Welcome back." I said sarcastically.

His lips formed a thin line. He looked so annoyed now. "Hi.. wife."

Tuluyan na itong bumaba sa hagdanan at ngayo'y nakatayo na sa aking harapan. His eyes was more enchanting in close up. It's like he's absorbing my strength and I couldn't breathe.

"You've changed."

"Everybody does that, Zander." Malamig kong sabi.

"I don't remember handing you over to my best man."Lumipat ang tingin nito kay Apollo at bumalik muli sa akin. His eyes were burning. "Did you enjoy his company, wife?"

Biglang nagliyab ang damdamin ko sa mga sinabi nito. Parang pinapamukha nito sa akin na after kong angkinin siya ay lumipat naman ako kay Apollo. He's making me a cheap woman.

"Zander." Pigil ni Mama. "They are not dating, darling. Apollo taught Tallia what she has to learn to run the company 'cause this old woman can no longer work on an air-conditioned environment."

Pinanatili ko ang eye contact namin ni Zander, walang gustong magpatalo sa aming dalawa. Wala akong dapat ikahiya dahil wala naman akong ginagawang masama.

Nang sabihin ng kasambahay na ayos na ang hapagkainan ay pumunta na kami sa dining room. Walang nagsasalita sa aming apat at walang sino man ang may balak na basagin ang katahimikan na iyon.

"Zander, where have you been all these years?" Tanong ni Mama. "I appreciate the fact that you never fail to send messages and flowers to me every occasion but I want to know where you are."

"I stayed at New Jersey, 'Ma. I finished my studies and got a master's degree in Engineering. I'm fine."

"I hope I was there to prepare food for you or to clean your room. You should have told me where you are."

"So, you can control my life for the second time?" Hindi nakaimik si Mama sa malamig na sinabi ni Zander."I said I was fine. And I'm here now, isn't that enough?"

"Wow." Saad ko habang naghihiwa ng beef.

He glanced at me. "What?"

"Nothing. I was just wondering if you also learned that while mastering your field."Nagkibit-balikat ako. "Disrespecting your mother. You're very good at it, by the way."

Oh. I love being sarcastic.

Narinig ko ang mahinang tawa ni Apollo sa gilid ko. "I should burn the shovel, missy. You no longer need it."

"Give us a copy of your diploma so we could put in on our VIP wall. Wanna know where?" I smiled at him. "It's right next to the garbage cans. It'll blend in, trust me."

Naningkit ang mata nio. "Are you really Jade Tallia?"

"Shocking, isn't it?"

"Enough both of you." Matigas na sabi ni Mama. "Let's just eat."

"I've lost my appetite." Saad ni Zander bago ito tumayo at umalis na.

Nang makaalis na si Zander ay tiningnan ako ni Mama. "Tallia, you shouldn't have done that."

"I will never let anyone disrespect you, 'Ma." Mabilis kong sabi.

Huminga ng malalim si Mama at minasahe ang noo nito. "Ano bang itinuro mo dito, Apollo?"

Tuloy lamang sa pagkain si Apollo na parang walang nangyayaring away sa harapan niya. "Nothing unnecessary, Tita. This is a good beef. I really love your cooking."

Hinawakan ni Mama ang kamay ko. "Tallia, promise me that you'll give your marriage a chance."

I sighed and nodded. Mama beamed and squeezed my hand. "That's great!"

Hinatid ko si Apollo hanggang sa sasakyan niya. He tucked small amount of hair behind my ears. "Don't be fooled again."

"No worries. I won't."

"If he did something to you, call me immediately." Seryosong saad nito.

I laughed. "You live an hour away. And besides, I'll scratch his face if he touches me."

"Okay. Gotta go." Binigyan niya ako ng magaan na halik sa pisngi. "Good night."

"Good night." Mahina kong sabi. Hinintay kong makaalis ang sasakyan ni Apollo bago ako pumasok sa loob.

Umakyat na ako sa aking kwarto at alam kong natutulog na rin naman si Mama. Pagkatapos kong magbihis ay lumabas ako sa balcony para magpahangin dahil hindi pa naman ganoon kalalim ang gabi.

"Yes, baby. I just got here." Nagtago ako sa madilim na parte ng balcony nang bigla na lamang lumabas si Zander. We're on the same place now, damn t.

Mukhang may kausap ito sa kanyang cellphone at malambing pa ang kanyang boses. "Yeah.. I already met her. It will never work between us, baby."

Yeah. Glad I never let my hopes up.

"Yeah, yeah. I miss you so much. I love you, babe. Goodnight." Pagkatapos nitong putulin ang tawag ay hindi pa ito pumasok sa loob. "You can't hide forever, Tallia."

"I got here first." Tipid kong sabi.

He smirked. "I know. I saw you."

Hindi ako umimik at humilig na lamang sa mataas na railing. I watched the big moon and the stars shining around it.

"Are you satisfied now?" Parang may halong pang-uuyam ang boses nito.

"What do you mean?"

"Oh, come on, my lady. Don't act like you didn't plan everything on the first place." He said while smiling. "You got your own car now. You lived in a big mansion. You run the Sandoval Companies. You have everything on your hands now."

I sighed. This is hopeless. "Zander, this isn't the life I wanted."

"Really? Hard to tell."

Maybe it's time he knew.

"Zander, I loved you." Hindi ito nakaimik at nahalata ko ang pagkagulat sa mga mata niya. Tumayo ako at humarap sa kanya. "I loved you more than anything in this world. Your messy rooms, foul attitude, and imperfections-- I embraced it all."

I looked at him. Cold and heartless. "But I got over it. I moved on. I already accepted the fact that you and I will never be together."

"Years ago, you were clinging on me like a koala. And now, you looked like a tigress and I'm your prey." Unti-unting lumapit sa akin hangang sa iilang centimeter nalang ang layo namin sa isa't-isa. "But I won't let myself be devoured."

"Shame." Mahina kong sabi.

Nanlamlam ang mga mata nito. "Sweetheart, I believe a husband and wife should not sleep on different rooms. Do you agree?"

Changing the topic, eh?

"You were gone so long. That would be lovely, but.." Pinalupot ko sa kanyang batok ang aking braso at nilapit ang aking labi sa tainga nito. Hindi ko rin alam kung saan ako humugot ng lakas para gawin iyon since I'm not used to flirting. "..I do not agree. You left me and you're expecting that when you come back I'll welcome you with my legs spread open? Not gonna happen, baby."

Pagkatapos kong gawin iyon ay pumasok na ako sa aking kwarto.

It's been years, I can no longer remember the warm of his lips on mine.

But when I closed the door behind me, I let out a heavy sigh.