Chapter 2
1049 Words
Nic
I just finished my luncheon meeting with a client when I saw Sage coming in with a tall, Russian man. Sa tingin ko ay magka-edad lamang kami. I don't think I have met him before. Ang tanong, anong ginagawa ni Sage dito sa Russia?
I was about to walk towards them when I heard her say she's going to use the washroom. Dapat ay umalis na ako at hindi sila pinansin pero hindi ko matiis. Apat na taon ko na s'yang hindi nakikita. Kahit litrato sa internet ay walang bago. Para s'yang bula na biglang naglaho.
I wanted to hold her so bad, pero sumagi sa isip ko ang kasamang lalake nya ay nabuhay na naman ang galit ko sa kanya. "Is he your new flavor of the month?"
Bakas ang gulat sa maganda n'yang mukha ng makita ko. Sino nga naman ang mag-aakala na magkikita kami sa Russia makaraan ang maraming taon. Umuuwi ako sa New York pero hindi ko s'ya nakikita. I saw her parents once and her father treated me well. However, her mother is the only one who acted cold towards me.
Sage tried ignore me. Nag-attempt pa s'yang lampasan ako pero mas mabilis ako sa kanya. I opened the door to the family bathroom near us. Hinigit ko s'ya sa baywang at pumasok kami sa loob. Ini-lock ko ang pinto. Kumawala s'ya sa pagkakahawak ko. Ako naman ay sumandal sa dahon ng pinto at pinagmasdan s'ya.
"What the hell are you doing?!" Sikmat nya sa akin. Salubong ang mga kilay at halatang galit.
"I asked you first."
"Your question is not worth answering and you know it. I have to go." Lalong tumalim ang tingin nya sa akin.
"You can't get out of here until you answer me."
Pinagkrus nya ang kanyang mga braso at tumingin sa akin. "As far as I know, we've been separated for four years. Anong pinuputok ng butse mo ngayon? It's not like you don't have anyone with you." She smirked at me.
"Nagseselos ka?"
Umasim ang mukha nya. "Are you for real? Of course not!"
"So who is he?"
"None of your goddamn business. Move."
"How long have you known him?"
"A long time." Parang nananadya, binigkas nya pa ang long ng pagkakahaba.
"Since we broke up?"
Tumaas ang isang kilay nya. "No, since forever."
Nagtagis ang bagang ko. "Really?"
"Really. Now, move Nicholas. I don't want to hurt you." She looked bored.
"You can't even hurt a fly." Napaismid ako.
Tumaas ang isang sulok ng labi nya. "Four years can do a lot to a person. I am not the same person you married four years ago. By the way, I was going to mail the divorce papers tomorrow but since you're here, I might as well hand it to you personally. Where are you staying? Ipapadala ko na lang."
She hasn't signed the papers still after all these years. Interesting. "Why now?"
"Let's just say, someone has knocked some sense to me. Besides, it's long overdue. You wanted your freedom, I am giving it to you. I want mine too so I can start anew."
Kumuyom ang kamao ko. "Start a new life with the man outside? The Russian?"
"Why not? He's good looking, rich and smart. He speaks English -- although, speaking Russian is not a problem for me. We get along. What's not to like? Oh, and he loves me dearly. Plus he's good in bed." She said all that without even flinching. F*ck! She has changed.
I have to outsmart her. "You want your freedom? Bring the papers to the Ritz. You are having dinner with me tonight. We need to talk." Seryoso kong sabi sa kanya.
Umiling si Sage. "No way. I am not meeting you for dinner. May messenger ako na pwedeng magdala ng papeles sa iyo. We have nothing to talk about."
"Then you are not getting your freedom."
Ngumisi s'ya. "Have you forgotten? You signed the papers. All I had to do on my part is sign my name and mail it to the lawyer. The envelope has the return address label. Now move, I'm starving."
F*ck, why does she had to be so damn smart? "You know I can call the lawyer and they will disregard that document immediately."
"You can't do that! You are the one who wanted this in the first place. I am signing it, what more do you want from me?!" She was hysterical.
Napangiti ako sa isip ko. Ganito rin s'ya noon kapag naiinis at hindi makontrol ang sitwasyon. "Have dinner with me tonight and I'll take the papers."
Saglit na nag-isip si Sage. Pagkaraan ng ilang segundo ay pumayag din. "Fine, I'll see you at the Ritz. What time?"
"Half past six. Don't be late." Tumango ito at humakbang papunta sa likod ko para hagipin ang seradura. "Not so fast, wife."
I pinned her to the door and crashed my lips to hers. God! How I missed her! Sa gulat nya kanina ay hindi nakatikom ang bibig n'ya at sinamantala ko 'yon. I tasted every corner of her mouth. Hinapit ko ang katawan nya palapit sa akin. Noong una ay hindi n'ya tinutugon ang halik ko. Hindi nagtagal at gumanti rin s'ya ng halik. But someone knocked, boses lalake.
Itinulak ako ni Sage at saglit na hinawakan ang labi nya. She looked lost and confused. "I have to go." She said.
Binuksan nya ang pinto at lumabas. Kung sinuman ang kumatok kanina ay hindi n'ya ako nakita. Ayaw kong may mag-isip ng masama kay Sage kung nakita ako dito sa banyo kasama nya. Nakiramdam muna ako bago lumabas. Walang tao sa pasilyo. Bago ako lumabas ng restaurant ay nilingon ko s'ya. She was busy conversing with her boyfriend.
When I reached my car, I didn't start the engine right away. Sumandal ako sa upuan at pumikit. She has changed a lot since I last saw her. Lalo s'yang gumanda. And I noticed a different glow from her, mukhang may nagpapasaya na sa kanya. 'Yong kasama ba nya kanina? I am so frustrated with her earlier. Mukhang ako lang ang nagdusa sa aming dalawa. Nagkamali ba ako sa padalos dalos na desisyon? Apat na taon na kaming magkahiwalay, wala na ako dapat maramdaman pa para sa kanya. After all, she is the one who cheated on me. So why am I feeling this way now? Ibibigay na n'ya ang hinihingi ko noon. Bakit ngayon ay ako ang nasasaktan?
Because you are still in love with her, you idiot.
***
- Writer
