Chapter 3
1317 Words
Sage
I told Mik about Nic. Ang magaling kong kinakapatid, tuwang tuwa pa at excited makasagap ng chismis!
"He kissed you!" Gulat na bulalas nya.
Pinamulahan ako ng mukha. "Nothing like that." Hindi ko aaminin sa kanya.
Ngumisi ito. "You can lie to other people but not to me. So, what did he say? He wants you back?"
Umiling ako. "No, nothing like that. I told him that I am signing the papers and will have the messenger bring it to him. But he insisted that I come for dinner, he said we need to talk."
"Really. Interesting. Where?"
"At the Ritz."
Napasipol si Mik. "I ordered, I hope you don't mind. You took so long at the washroom."
Napangiwi ako. "Sorry."
"Sorry not sorry you mean." Humalakhak ito.
Napahilamos ako sa mukha ko ng wala sa oras. "I should just skip the dinner invitation. I mean, what's the worst thing that could happen? He said, if I don't show up for dinner — he will call the lawyer and ask him to disregard the divorce papers."
"So you will be tied to him forever, that's brilliant!" Nagniningning ang mga mata nito. Alam n'ya na matagal ko ng mahal si Nic. Mga bata pa lang kami noon, pero ang inis ko kay Nic ay yumabong hanggang naging pag-ibig na pala ng hindi ko namamalayan. How crazy is that?
"Mik!"
"I just think it's time to talk things over. And plus, you have Cole."
"Don't drag Cole into this. This is between me and that stupid man."
"That stupid man is your husband, Rachel Sage Pritzker."
Napahilot ako sa sentido ko. "Could you not mention his last name? God! You make my head spin." Tumundos ako ng escargot.
Napatawa naman ito. "Fine, I'll stop. Keep eating. You need energy for tonight's action."
Sinamaan ko s'ya ng tingin habang patuloy lang ang pagnguya nya. Pero bakit parang iba ang pakiramda ko ng mabanggit nya ang salitang action? Ah! Maybe it's because it's been too long, it's making me freaking delirious!
Alas singko ng hapon ay nakabihis na ako. Sabi ko kay Ninong Alex ay tama na ang isang bodyguard. But you know, I am his goddamn princess. Now there's about six men all dressed in black suits walking with me. I feel like a damn czaritsa. I talked to Cole and told him I need to meet someone but will be back as soon as I can. He seemed okay with it.
So here I am at the Ritz, five minutes before dinner time. Tumayo s'ya ng makita ako. "You came." Napangiwi s'ya ng mapansin ang mga kasama ko. "With a lot of.. bodyguards."
Hinarap ko ang mga kasama ko at binigyan ng instruction. "Vy mozhete podozhdat' menya snaruzhi. YA budu v poryadke." (You can wait for me outside. I will be okay.) Umupo ako at ganoon din ang ginawa nya.
Lumapit ang server at umorder kami. "Nastoiki, please. Thank you."
Bahagyang napatanga si Nic sa akin. He ordered different kinds of food then the waiter left. Nakakatawa lang, mga paborito ko ang inorder nya. Some of them he eats, others he won't touch within a ten feet pole.
"Aren't you eating?"
"I am not hungry. Besides, I came here because you wanted to talk. So, start talking."
"Kumain muna tayo, saka tayo mag-usap." What a surprise! He sounded so calm tonight.
"May naghihintay sa akin sa bahay. Hindi ako magtatagal dito. Kaya kung may sasabihin ka, sabihin mo na." Walang emosyon kong sabi sa kanya. "By the way, here. Baka makalimutan ko pa." Inabot ko sa kanya ang envelope. Napirmahan ko na 'yon kanina.
Binuksan nya ang envelope at tiningnan ang mga papel. "You didn't change your last name." I saw him clenched his teeth before putting it back to the envelope.
"Whatever for? At this point, mapapaguran lang akong magpalit." I sighed. Binalak kong magpalit ng apelyido, pero isang araw bago ako pumunta sa ahensya ay galit na galit itong si Nic. Kung ano anong sinabi hanggang inabot n'ya ang divorce papers na ayaw kong pirmahan noon. It worked for me in the long run. Kung ginamit ko ang apelyido n'ya tapos madidivorce lang kami ngayon ay hassle na magpalit na naman.
"You were supposed to change your last name after we got married. Pero palagi kang may dahilan. Ayaw mo lang talaga."
Hindi ko s'ya sinagot. Hahaba lang ang usapan. "Apelyido lang ba ang gusto mong pag-usapan o meron pang iba?"
"How long have you been here?"
"Long enough."
"How have you been?"
"Better." I heard him curse. He hates it when I answer him with just one word. Gusto kong matawa pero pinigilan ko ang sarili ko.
"Wala ka bang ibang sasabihin?"
"Wala."
"Goddammit Sage!" Mahina n'yang sabi.
Imbes na patulan s'ya ay nanahimik ako at uminom ng alak. Dito lang ako kumukuha ng lakas ng loob sa pagharap sa kanya.
"You asked, I answered. What more do you want from me?"
"I want you to tell me what happened that day."
I gave him a smug smile. "Why? Nabuo mo naman na ang konklusyon mo. Papahirapan mo pa akong magpaliwanag. Besides, it's water under the bridge now. I signed your papers. Ilang buwan lang at malaya na tayo sa isa't isa. Wait, scratch that. Baka nga ilang araw lang, madami ka naman connections eh." I grinned at him.
Tumahimik s'ya at pinagmasdan ako. The food was served. They were all my favorites. Napangiwi ako. Wala akong balak kainin ito, lalo na at kasalo s'ya.
"Eat."
"Hindi nga ako nagugutom."
"Why? Ayaw ba ng boyfriend mo na kumain ka, kaya ang payat mo? You've lost weight since —"
"Don't.. go there. I am not hungry." Ininom ko ang natitira kong alak sa baso. Bottoms up. "I'm leaving now." Tumayo ako.
"Stay."
"Stay? What am I, a dog? You are still funny, Nicholas."
"You are still my wife."
"Not for long."
Wala s'yang nagawa sa pag-alis ko. My bodyguards were there at mukhang ayaw rin n'ya ng gulo. Umuwi ako at ng makarating ng bahay ay tulog na si Cole. I showered and change saka tumabi sa kanya.
Kinabukasan, hindi ako nakapasok ng opisina. I just want to spend the day at home. But then I heard a commotion. I was having coffee when I decided to go outside.
"Damn it! Move. I want to see my wife."
"Nic?" Gulat kong sabi sa kanya ng mapagsino ko ang nagpupumilit pumasok sa bahay. Ang mga unipormadong bodyguards ni Ninong ay nagkalat at mistulang may firing squad na magaganap. Sinenyasan ko silang lahat na bitiwan s'ya. "Anong ginagawa mo dito? How did you even find this place?"
"Hindi lang ikaw ang may connections. We didn't get to talk last night so I came to see you, Nice house you got there." Malaki talaga at mistulang palasyo ang bahay ni Ninong. Hindi n'ya ako pinayagan na mag-isa sa condo. Mahirap na daw at baka may mangyari sa akin ay masisi s'ya ni Mommy.
"There is nothing to talk —"
"Mommy!" My son just cut me off. Nakapajama ito at habol ng yaya n'ya.
Binuhat ko s'ya at niyakap. "Why are you up so early?" Alas syete y media pa lang ng umaga ngayon.
Ipinagsalikop n'ya ang maliit nyang braso sa akin. "Who's he?"
Nang mapatingin ako kay Nic ay parang itinulos s'ya sa kinatatayuan nya. Titig na titig s'ya sa anak ko.
Anak namin.
Lumapit ako kay Nic, bitbit ang isang batang lalake. "Baby, this is your Daddy." Narinig ko ang paghigit ng hinga ni Nic at namasa ang mata.
"What's his name?" Nanginginig ang boses n'ya.
"My name is Hunter Nicholas Pritzker. You can call me Cole, Daddy." Kumalas sa akin ang anak ko at inabot ang ama n'ya. Gustong lumipat ng karga.
Inabot naman ito ni Nic. "How old are you?"
"Three." Pumatak ang luha ni Nic at niyakap ng mahigpit ang anak namin.
***
- Writer
