Hello Again, Ex-Husband

CHAPTER 7 HALAGA

ARKIN

I was on my way to my company when I saw a familiar figure walking on the side of the road.

Hindi ako pwedeng magkamali... I just know this is Sena.

I followed her while driving slowly. Mukhang malalim ang iniisip niya kaya di niya napansin na may nakasunod sa kanya, I decided to call my secretary.

After the third ring she answered.

"Goodmorning boss..." sagot ng secretary kong si Icee, kahit di ko siya nakikita ay alam kong nakangiti ang isang iyon na parang nakakaloko.

"Cancel all my meetings today Icee," sambit ko habang nakatingin lang ako sa naglalakad na si Serena.

"B-but you have an impo-"

"Nothing is more important than what I'm doing right now so no buts Icee..." at ibinaba ko na agad ang tawag.

Nag-park ako sandali sa emergency parking bago dumating ng Holly Bridge. Nakasunod pa rin ako kay Sena, she look so sad.

Bagsak ang mga balikat niya at tulalang naglalakad. Para akong nasasaktan sa nakikita kong kalagayan niya ngayon.

'If this is about you Sanders, you're dead' sigaw ng isip ko. Nakita ko si Serena na biglang tumigil nang nasa gitna na siya ng bridge, nakatanaw sa Dale River.

This is one of her favorite place to go kapag malungkot siya at gusto niya ng lugar na pwede niyang isigaw ang nararamdaman niya.

Ang sabi niya noon, peaceful ang lugar dahil wala gaanong dumadaan na sasakyan. Narerelax ang isip niya kapag tinatanaw niya ang Dale River lalo na kapag magsa-sunset na. She loves sunset. Kahit noong mga bata pa kami, she loves to watch sunset.

Holly Bridge ang pinupuntahan namin noon kasama ang mga kapatid ko at mga pinsan niya pati na si Selene na lagi niyang kahawak-kamay.

But now hindi pa sunset at mataas pa ang sikat ng araw. Ayaw niyang naglalalabas kapag tanghali dahil mabilis mamula ang balat niya lalo at mainit. Alam kong may pinagdadaanan si Sena ngayon dahil hindi siya magbababad sa araw para tumunghay sa Dale River.

Nagtago ako sa isa sa malalaking poste ng bridge habang nakatanaw sa kanya. She is still so beautiful...

Nadagdagan man ang timbang niya, hindi nabawasan ang ganda niya. Lalong hindi din nabawasan yung nararamdaman ko para sakanya.

Yes, I love her. I'm inlove with Serena Valerie Lopez ever since we're kids. Ever since I saw her in her pigtails with yellow and pink tulip clips and wearing only her pink Barbie panties when she's 4 and I'm 7 years old.

At that moment I knew, she already own my heart.

Magkaibigan ang mga magulang namin ni Serena. Her parents, Dijon Cane Lopez and Penelope Yshten-Lopez are one of my parent's best friends and business partners.

Ang kwento ng Mommy ko, dating boyfriend ni Tita Penelope si Dad, and siya ay niligawan ni Tito Cane. But a lot of things happened at nagkapalit-palit sila ng partners.

My Mom, Beatrix Aurelio fell inlove with my Dad Gael Adler. Di daw siya nagsisising minahal si Dad because he is the best thing that ever happened to her. Never din siyang nakaramdam ng selos towards Tita Pen since she saw how Tita Penelope and Tito Cane love each other 'til the day they died.

Sabay-sabay kaming lumaki nina Serena and Selene kasama ang mga pinsan niya. I'am 3 years older than them, I'm 27 now. My brother Adam is 2 years ahead of them, and my youngest sister Anastasha or Atasha as we call her, is 1 year younger than the twins. Ever since we're kids, I just watch Serena from afar.

She seems so near yet so far... I can't tell her how I feel. I'm afraid na umiwas siya if I confessed my feelings towards her. I can't loose her... She's my world.

I was about to confess pero nakilala niya si Calvin Sanders on my 19th birthday. She got head-over-heels inlove with him.

I was there when she not so secretly followed Calvin wherever he went. I was there watching here cheer for Calvin on basketball games.

I was there when she tries to make Calvin love her and make him forget Angela.

I was there when Calvin started courting her but Selene told her to prolong the chase para naman masigurong siya na ang mahal ni Calvin, which she did.

I was there when Calvin asked her to be his girlfriend, she said yes instantly and that broke me million times.

I was there when Calvin proposed, and she said yes again. I was silently watching her from afar, I have so many chances to tell her how I feel pero naduwag ako.

Naduwag akong malaman niya ang nararamdaman ko dahil ayokong masira ang pagkakaibigan namin.

On their wedding day, I feel like my heart is shattered into pieces...

That one woman whom I've been secretly loving my whole life is getting married to one of my friends.

I'm hurt, but then why would I get hurt? It's not as if I confessed my feelings towards her and she trampled on my heart.

NO.

It's because I'm a coward. I'm so afraid to tell her I love her. And with that she slipped away.

That only girl who I want to spend the rest of my life with, is going to spend her remaining days with the man she loves.

And that is NOT ME.

The familiar ache is there, and seeing Sena like this, it hurts me more. Para ko siyang binitawan para lang masaktan ng iba.

I know what is happening with her and Calvin. I asked Hunter to give me his best detective, he asked me why but I didn't disclose the reason, but I think he knows.

Like hell! Everyone knows what's happening, we all have ideas but we all choose to be silent.

Ever since that night na isinama ni Calvin si Angela sa Black Karma, we know instantly na may masasaktan sooner or later.

We silently watch Calvin ruin their marriage. And we're all cowards for not stopping him when he is already sinking to sin.

We are wrong in so many levels when we didn't do anything about it. I even followed them at Amanpulo to confirm our allegations.

And now as I watch Serena crying, I can feel my heart breaking all over again. Does she know? I don't have the guts to ask her since I've been avoiding her since their wedding.

Now I think she is suffering because of Calvin's infidelity. I want to wipe away those tears streaming down her face. I want to hug her and tell her that everything would be okay. But damn! I'am a coward.

This is partly my fault, I should've stopped her from the beginning. Pero paano ko siya mapipigilan kung malalim na agad yung naramdaman niya para kay Calvin?

I'm in a different trance when my favorite song from my favorite band echoes inside my car, at saktong ito ang kanta ko para kay Sena mula pa noong hinahabol-habol niya si Calvin.

Akala ko magiging masaya ka Serena kapag nagpakasal na kayo ni Calvin, pero ano 'to?

Nagparaya ako pero bakit sa libong beses kitang nakita at nakasama, ilang beses lang kitang nakitang masaya?

Sa dami ng alaalang bumabalik sa akin while watching her, hindi ko napansin na nakasampa na pala si Sena sa railings ng bridge. Para siyang may inaabot at nakatingin sa malayo.

Walang gaanong dumadaan sa Holly Bridge since this is just a shortcut para makarating sa main area sa Makati from Taguig.

I tried to call her, "Sena!" but she didn't hear me. And then the unthinkable happen, I think my soul got out from my mouth when I saw her jump.

"F**k! NO! SERENA!" I didn't waste my time to think, I followed her and jumped in the water. The only thing in my mind is to save her. D*MN she can't swim!

I feel my body got hurt a bit by the impact of my fall, but I don't care all I'm concerned about is Serena.

After a few seconds I got my head above the water and shout, "SERENA! Serena where are you?!"

F*ck it I can't see her, so I dived again. good thing that Dale River is cleaner than other rivers so I can still see underwater.

A few more seconds then I saw her, Oh God her eyes is shut so I hurriedly swim towards her...

She's sinking fast...

'Sena please hang on... I'm here baby...'

I reached for her hand and keep her at my side while I swim upwards.

When we reach the riverside, I placed her down gently, I checked her pulse and it's getting weaker every second. I tried to revive her, trying to pump the water out of her body.

Fvck it she's not responding, "Come on Sena wake up..."

I pump her chest more but still no response. And then I remember to do the CPR. "Sorry Serena I need to do this." my lips touched her soft ones. I repeat doing the CPR for a minute or two, and then she started to vomit the water.

Her eyes flutter a bit, a tear slipped on her eyes. I hug her and then I looked at her, she touched my face but her eyes is glazed... Then she called out Calvin's name in a hoarse voice.

D*mn it Serena si Calvin pa din!

Her hand is slowly slipping down my face 'til she close her eyes and I felt her succumb to sleep on my arms.

I asked for help nang makakita ako ng dalawang lalaking dumaan at nagmadali silang humingi ng tulong. And immediately, may ambulance na dumating...

Thank God she's fine.

*****

I waited at the hospital corridors. I'm so worried I called Adam and the boys... I told them to call Calvin.

'F*ck you Sanders! Wag ko lang malalaman talaga!' Dumating sina Adam and Selene... I want to tell them what happened pero dumating si Uncle Tony and said Serena and the baby is fine.

She's pregnant...

I felt my heart twitch a little, but I'm glad they survived. Now I want to strangle Calvin to death...

I wanna know what that son of a b*tch has done to Sena for her to do this.

When I heard that everyone came ay nagpalit muna ako ng damit sa restroom.

Chineck na din ako ng isa pang doktor kanina, he said I'm fine and that I need to rest for a while. I'm glad I was there, that I'am always there. I hope Sena can see that I'am always there. Watching her, guarding her, and loving her from afar. Pero hindi iyon ang mahalaga ngayon, ang mas mahalaga ay maging maayos ang kalagayan niya at ng magiging anak niya.

After I rest, I went out of the room and decided to go to Serena's hospital room, I saw what happened, I heard everything.

That devil! He cheated and he even got the slut pregnant! While he left his pregnant wife and even file for annulment, that assh*le! He will pay!

If I need to snatch Sena away, I will. I'll take care of her, I will even take care of her baby. I will take her so far away he can't follow.

**********

CALVIN

Pagpasok namin ni Angela sa unit ko ay pabalya kong isinara ang pinto. Lalapit sana si Angela at hahawakan ang mukha ko dahil sa mga sugat na tinamo ko mula sa mga suntok at sampal na natanggap ko kanina sa ospital pero umiwas ako.

Tinignan ko ng masama si Angela at napatiim-bagang ako. "Why did you follow me there Angela?" I asked with a cold voice.

She gasped and look at me with hurt in her eyes, "Pati ba naman ikaw galit sa'kin Cal?" she said with misty eyes at napahawak sa tiyan niya.

Napasabunot ako sa buhok ko dahil gulong-gulo ang isip ko.

"You shouldn't have said that, it's too childish Angela. Valerie almost died pero nagawa mo siyang tawaging balyena?" wika ko sa malumanay na tono dahil baka mag tantrums nanaman si Angela.

Umingos lang siya at inukutan ako ng mata, "Why? Totoo naman ah? Kaya nga iniwan mo siya di ba? Kaya nga ako yung mas mahal mo kasi ang taba na niya?" nagsimula siyang umiyak at tinakpan ang mga mata.

Nagpantig ang tenga ko sa mga sinabi niya kay Serena, parang ako 'yung mas nasaktan para sa kaniya.

Napatingin ako kay Angela na ngayon ay umupo na sa couch at doon umiyak nang umiyak. Hindi ko alam kung bakit pero para akong naiirita sa ginagawa niya ngayon.

Kahapon ay nababagbag pa ang damdamin ko pero ngayon ay nabubwisit ako.

Huminga ako ng malalim at lumapit sa kanya, idinantay ko ang kamay ko sa balikat niya para aluin siya.

Tumingala siya habang umiiyak na nagpakunot ng noo ko, "I'm sorry... stop crying..."

"Ikaw kasi inaaway mo ko! Sinaktan ka na nila pero parang okay lang sayo!" pagmamaktol niyang muli.

"Hindi kita inaaway okay? What I'm trying to say is you shouldn't have said that, you just made them more mad," pinanatili kong mahinahon ang boses ko kahit gusto ko nang sumigaw sa ipinapakita niyang kagaspangan ng ugali.

Akala ko nang makita ko siya ulit ay nagbago na siya kesa sa bully na Angela na nakilala ko noon... pero mukhang hindi siya nagbago at itinago lang ang ugali niyang ito sa akin ngayon.

"So mas okay sa'yo na saktan ka nila ganon ba?" taas kilay niyang tanong.

"Tell me Calvin nagsisisi ka na bang iniwan mo yung asawa mong dambuhala at hindi magka-an-"

"Dont you dare say another word!" sigaw ko kay Angela bago umigkas ang kamay ko at balak sampalin si Angela na ngayon ay nanlalaki ang mga matang nakatingin sa akin.

"Calvin!" para akong nagising sa sigaw ni Angela at hinamig ang sarili ko.

"I'm sor-" hindi ko natapos ang sasabihin ko dahil bigla niya akong sinampal, bigla din siyang tumawa na parang baliw habang tumutulo ang luha at nakatingin sa akin.

"You're going to hurt me because of that woman? Handa kang saktan ang ina ng anak mo para sa dating asawa mo na hindi ka nagawang bigyan ng anak? Wake up Calvin! Kung ayaw mong mawala kami ng anak mo ayusin mo yang sarili mo! Stop thinking about Serena Lopez or else hindi mo na kami makikita!" pagbabanta niya at dumiretso sa kwarto namin.

"Angela!" pagtawag ko sa kanya pero agad siyang pumasok sa kuwarto at ni-lock ang pinto. Narinig ko pa ang pagkabasag ng kung ano sa loob na lalong nagpasakit ng ulo ko.

Napaupo ako sa couch habang sapo ang ulo ko.

My head hurts.

My body hurts, but nothing hurts more than my heart.

F**k this is all my fault!

I got a slight view of Valerie while she is sleeping... before everyone gave me a piece of their brain and make me realize how stupid I'am to leave my wife.

F**k I deserve this. No, I deserve more. I'm such an ass... Why did I do that to the woman who loved me, accepted me, and give her whole life to me? Why?

Again I looked at where Angela is, now I can't feel the excitement that I felt whenever I see her.

Those days we were together and swimming in sin, those days when I thought all I felt about Serena is just shallow. But what happened right now proved me wrong, becuase the shallow one here is me.

All I feel right now is disappointment and emptiness. I'am so disappointed with myself. I'm so selfish! I'm a self-centered narcissistic asshole.

Selene is right, I don't deserve Serena, I don't deserve her love.

I stood up on my two feet and left the unit. I drive home to our house, our home.

God, I'm sorry Val.