Colors Of The Night

Chapter 3 Caught

Atheya

“Hey, what about we go somewhere, like a vacation trip, it’s been our plan ever since, right? Why not do it now, i also badly needed it. I need diversion from work and stress.” Leslie suggests out of nowhere as she saw how affected I am from all the things I have known about my husband.

“Saan naman tayo pupunta?” Tanong ko sa walang buhay na boses, i know she just want to cheer me up.

“Bali? It’s always been our dream to go there right? Di lang natin maituloy kasi you got married then i got heart broken. So why not do it now?” She says it like tempting me to go with her idea.

“Come on; stop this drama, time to enjoy life. There’s a lot of things that are waiting for us to discover out there. Time to do it now kasi wala naman tayong dapat alalahanin dito, we are both single, remember?” "And still young"; dagdag pa niya.

Napapalingo lang ako sa kanya, she is not letting me to get away with this, kaya napatango nalang din ako.

She books our flight, buti nalang di masyadong mahal ang international flight ngayon, di kasi peak season ng Indonesia. She book our accommodation good for 1 week, we got a great deal, kasi maraming promo ngayon.

It's been our dream to tour around Asia since high school pa kami. We were both inspired by the pictures we saw online. Ang ganda ng beach nila, kaya our first choice to go list is Bali, it triggered nun nakita namin ang Korean drama series na "Memories of Bali". We both captivated by the series kaya mas nainlove kami sa Bali.

Our next destination would be Thailand, Hongkong, Singapore, yung kaya lang sa budget namin and that dream was when we were still in high school at ngayon lang namin matutupad. I use my savings for this trip. Naging sunod sunuran lang ako sa desisyon niya. Yeah maybe i need this vacation to refresh myself, to reflect my decision in life and to think deeper of my current situation.

Days have gone and same things happen. George never contacted me ever since he goes out, the only time we talk is when i called him but he doesn’t talk to me longer and seems annoyed of what i did. Before he never mind me asking things about him and his whereabouts, masaya pa kaming pag-usapan yun but now it change drastically.

Di ako mapalagay sa aming sitwasyon, i need to do something to end this agony at di lang puro haka haka. I need to know the real deal kaya naglakas loob akong magpunta uli ako sa working place ng babae. I have ask kung saan siya nakatira. I pretend na magkaibigan kami and haven’t seen in ages.

"Hey, can you help me?" Approach ko sa isang babae sa reception area, smiling at her. "Do you happen to know Margareth Velez?" Tumango siya, it confirms na magkakilala sila.

"She's my friend back in college kaya lang we lost contact when i traveled abroad. And now that i am back and somebody told me that she works here kaya pinuntahan ko siya agad, may emergency lang kasi. Can you call her in my behalf or di kaya if you know her place, puntahan ko nalang siya dun." Drama kong saad sa babae.

"Yeah i can, she lives at this place, just few minutes away from here"; saad ni girl giving me the full address of the building, the unit number. I am glad di ako nabuko. After gathering all the information i go there right away. But the townhouse is close, walang tao.

I verify to the neighbor if they saw her living in this place and they confirm it that she owned the other unit.

Gusto ko mang tanungin if nakikita ba nila si Gorge going that unit pero pinigilan ko ang sarili. I don't know parang di ko pa kayang malaman. I decide to come back by Sunday morning, i want to see it in my own eyes.

When i was there, kababa ko pa lang sa taxi. I was rooted in exact post i was standing. There they are in the balcony hugging each other. Nakatalikod man ang lalaki pero alam ko kung sino yun, kilala ko ang feature, ang posture at katawan niya, its George. Upon looking at them, para akong nawalan bigla ng lakas, i feel numb.

This is it, the truth, the answer of my entire questions. Mas masakit pala kapag you have seen it in person, the reality slap hard in my face. I tried myself to bring in the side where i can hide. I took a picture of them and i video of what they are doing. There’s a pic of them kissing, being sweet to each other like sila lang ang naruruon sa mundo, walang tinatapakan na tao.

I can’t help myself but to cry, my tears keep flowing. Umalis na ako dun kasi di ko na kaya pang tingnan ang pinaggagawa nila.

"How could you do this to me George, when all i do is just to love you? Binigay ko ang buong puso at pagkatao ko sayo, wala akong itinira para sa aking sarili at ito lang ang mapapala ko for all the years sa pagsasama natin?"

I break down again when i reach home. This place is our haven, pinaghirapan namin buoin and soon it will fall apart. Di ko mapigilang magwala para ilabas ang galit ko. Pinagpupunit ko ang lahat ng photos namin together including our wedding photos. How could you do this to me?

I throw away my wedding ring. What for? Kaya pala minsan di ko makita sa kanyang daliri ang wedding ring namin na suot niya. And I neglected all the signs.

Tinapun ko din ang ibang gamit niya sa basurahan. I don’t care anymore.

“I valued and took cared of you like a precious stone but you treated me back like trash”; saad ko sa aking sarili while looking at his clothes being burned by the fire. Hatred is in my heart right now.

Wala akong itinira sa kanyang gamit dito sa bahay namin. Wala din akong plano confrontahin siya ngayon, di ko pa kaya, I just need time to gathered all my strength para sa paghaharap namin.

After ko mahimasmasan, I remember Leslie. Wala akong gustong gawin ngayon kundi takasan ang lugar na ito.

“Les, i saw him with that girl, they’re really in a relationship because they are kissing each other, ang sakit Les." Sumbong ko sa kanya habang umiiyak. Puno ang puso ko sa pighati. The scene keep replaying in my mind.

“We all know that already, di ka lang naniniwala even all the evidences are there. You need proof to open up your mind, now it’s happening, so what will you do now? Atheya, you had treated him like a king, giving your all but he had treated you like nothing. Don’t let this things wear you down. Keep up and have your revenge, save your dignity.” Paintindi niya sa akin, walang sawang reminders.

“I want to go somewhere Les, di ko na kaya dito. Parang tinuturok ang puso ko sa sakit every time maalala ko siya. This place reminds me of him.”

“Atheya, remember our vacation trip? The airlines just confirmed to us that the flight schedule has changed, it will be tomorrow, just 1 day ahead, will you grab it? Kasi the airlines offer huge discount and we can book your round trip and i can rebook the hotel accommodation too” I am not in my right mind at the moment so I let Leslie do it all for me.

“Atheya I am sorry, I can’t go with you, ang kapatid ko na ospital ngayon, I am needed here.” I understand that emergency.

“I will just cancel my trip Les, I just wait for you.” Wika ko sa kanya she is a good friend, never leave me in my misery kaya damayan ko din siya. Vacation can wait.

“No, just go there, you need the change of scenery and the change of atmosphere will help you.” Insist niya sa akin.

“We can do have a trip together soon, it will not be our last trip, this is just the beginning of our adventure together, mauna ka nga lang.” Pangongonbinsi pa niya sa akin.

Les is right i needed it so i pack my bag including my passport. Leslie do it all for me, all the things i need to know she relay it all to me coz she had research all about it beforehand. She even processed my leave sa office.

I go with my trip na lutang, sana this trip will help me refresh my mind and a change of heart. I want to go back with different outlook, a better version me.

Little did i know that this trip will change my life forever, encounter things and situation that will shock me through. Experience things that will change my perspective about love and life.