The Ignored Wife

“Things will get inevitably difficult and that’s pretty normal.”     *** Lianna can’t stop herself from crying. Nasa loob na ng kuwarto si Vaughn pero nanatili pa rin siyang nakatayo sa hallway. She felt as if the world splatters infront of her nang sabihin nitong “Goodbye, Lianna.” Ito na ba talaga ang katapusan ng kanilang pagiging mag-asawa? Hindi niya masisisi ang asawa niya. She left him for five years dahil lang sa mga paratang na walang dahilan. Kinatakutan niya ito kahit na wala naman itong ginawang masama sa kanya. It was all her fault. And now that he distanced himself from her, she regrets every single day of that five years.     She found herself seated at the balcony of the house, crying so hard. Nararamdaman niya ang lamig ng hangin pero ayaw naman niyang pumasok sa kuwarto ng anak niyang si Vanna dahil baka magising ito sa pag-iyak niya.   She had been married with Vaughn for five years and few months. ‘Yong few months lang na ‘yon ang panahong ipinagsama nila. Five years went to waste dahil mas pinakinggan niya ang sinabi ng ibang tao kaysa magtanong sa asawa niya.   She cried some more when she remembered their four-year old twins, Vanna Lei and Von Liam. Paano na ang mga ito ngayon? They wouldn’t get a happy family dahil maliwanag pa sa sikat ng araw na ayaw na sa kanya ni Vaughn. Binigyan nga siya ni Vaughn ng kalayaan na tumira dito sa bahay niya o sa dati nilang condo unit pero maaatim ba niyang makita ito araw-araw na wala na itong kahit anong amor sa kanya? Her shoulder started shaking again as she sobs. Ang sakit na ng mga mata niya. She wants to stop herself from crying some more pero kahit ang mga mata niya ay hindi sumusunod sa utos ng isipan niya.   *** Vaughn can’t sleep. He used to love Lianna more than anything and anyone else in the world pero wala ito ni katiting na tiwala sa kanya. He would’ve understood if it only took her few months to realize na dapat siyang pagkatiwalaan nito. But no! It took her five years to realize her mistake. Five f*****g years… He bets na hindi pa nito sariling realisasyon ang naging dahilan para bumalik ito. His men told him that Lianna was talking to Manang Pacing few days before she flew to Manila. What hurts even more is that instead of confronting him right away. Sa ibang tao ito pumunta para magtanong. Does she really think na hindi niya malalaman na nagpunta siya kay General Nakar at sa magulang ni Joan Faye? Wala talaga itong katiwa-tiwala sa kanya. Their relationship was a waste.   He stood up from the bed and inhaled deeply. He opened the glass door towards the balcony of the room overlooking the pool area. Nakahinga siya ng maluwag nang malanghap ang sariwang hangin.   He moved out of the room and checked on his son Von Liam. Tulog na tulog ito. He smiled as he remembered what he looked like when he was his age. Parang siya lang din. He bets his parents would be so happy to meet them. They’ve been bugging him to take them to Ireland simula nang ibalita niya rito na ipinanganak na ang kambal. Nagtampo na nga rin ang mga ito dahil pumunta pa sila ng Pilipinas noon para madalaw ang kambal pero ni hindi nila nasilayan ang mga ito. It wasn’t impossible for him to know where Lianna is. He knew all along where she was. “Sir, nasa Araneta Bus Terminal po si Ma’am Lianna.” Report sa kanya ng tauhan niya. Nang araw na umalis si Lianna, nagpadala siya ng mga tauhan sa lahat ng pier, bus terminals at airport sa siyudad para abangan ang asawa niya. He wasn’t stupid not to do it plus he has all the resources. He immediately went to the terminal. Nakita pa niya ang pagsakay nito sa bus. He wanted to run after her but he realized she needed time. But f**k, five years? He is not also stupid not to realize na hanggang doon na lang sila. Before he could even curse, lumabas na siya sa silid ng anak. Gusto sana niyang i-check din kung natutulog na si Vanna Lei pero baka nandoon si Lianna sa kuwarto nito. He doesn’t want to see her. He moved his way to the balcony. Pero mapagbiro ang tadhana, kung sino ang ayaw niyang makita, siya pa ang dadapuan ng mga mata niya. He smirked when he saw her shoulders shaking. Ano ba ang iniiyak nito? She used to be the most beautiful in his eyes pero parang pumangit na ito ng ilang taon. He even wonders why he used to like her before. She’s too plain looking. Tumalikod na lamang siya bago pa siya tuluyang mainis sa sarili niya for loving her before.