Hello Again, Ex-Husband

CHAPTER 8 TOTGA

SERENA

It's been a few weeks since the incident at Holly Bridge happened. I still have nightmares of me drowning while my life flashes before me.

I still can't imagine what would happen with my baby if I didn't survive that fall.

I never saw Calvin visit me since I've been admitted at the hospital, not even once... not even his shadow.

I stayed in the hospital for a week para daw masiguro na wala akong ibang bali sa katawan o mga internal bleeding dahil tumama pa ang ulo ko sa bakal ng Holly Bridge bago ako tuluyang nalaglag sa tubig.

Our friends came often to visit especially Tate and Hunter, my in-laws also visited and they asked for my forgiveness with what Calvin has done.

I told them it's not their fault and it's their son's choice so they don't need to say sorry. They still begged for me to come back and fix our marriage, I want to but I'm not sure about Calvin anymore.

He had the audacity to file for annulment after he cheated on me. It should've been me but Calvin is too quick to leave and dump me for his mistress.

We all decided not to tell my in-laws about my pregnancy for it may hamper our plan to hide. Ekaterina said that Mama Clara, my mother-in-law had a breakdown when they learned that Calvin impregnates Angela.

I felt sorry for them because they never treated me bad, they even love me more than Calvin but I need to do this for my sanity.

Kapag nalaman nilang buntis ako ay baka pilitin nila si Calvin na balikan ako at 'yun ang ayokong mangyari, ayokong maging pilit pa ang relasyon namin. Mas masakit na magsasama na lang kami dahil sa anak namin. I don't want that for my child.

Before I go MIA, Selene asked me to file a case since I have proofs of his infidelity and his mistress staying in our house while I'm in the hospital is a big evidence against them.

Kuya Maximillian tried to investigate where Angela is being checked-up on to have a proof of her pregnancy while Kuya Mace said that the annulment papers has been granted ALREADY! For others it take years pero sa amin ilang linggo lang? Bakit ganoon kabilis?

And again, I felt my heart being twisted to knots. I still can't believe Calvin will do this to me. I still thought that everything that happens are all part of a bad dream, that tomorrow when I wake up my husband is still there in our room smiling sweetly at me while watching me sleep, waking me up from his kiss.

But now I realized fairytales isn't true and happy ever after are just a result of our imagination because when I opened my eyes, the sad reality slaps me and tell me that I've messed up my life and that my husband is already gone and he won't come back anymore.

The Prince Charming I've been sleeping with and waking me up with his kisses is now only a sad memory I can never experience again.

Naputol ang pag-eemote ko nang biglang pumasok si Kuya Mace na masama ang timpla ng mukha. Tumawag siya sa amin kanina para sabihing naibaba na ang hatol at hiwalay na kami nang tuluyan ni Calvin on the ground that he is 'sexually incapable'.

How ironic that he is sexually incapable pero nagawang mambabae at mabuntis pa ito right? Damn you Marcus! Ginagawa mo akong tanga palagi!

"F*ck it naunahan tayo ni Sanders! That a**hole! He conspired with Judge Hernandez to make their marriage null and void that fast!" nakakuyom ang mga kamay ni Kuya Mace at nasuntok ang pader ng kwarto ko.

"I won't let this slip just like that! We are a Lopez and no one messes with us! Kaibigan ko si Cal pero baka mapatay ko talaga siya! " sa itsura ngayon ni Kuya Mace ay malamang patay na si Calvin kung nasa harapan lang namin siya.

Hinawakan ko ang braso niya para pigilan siya sa mga plano niya, "K-kuya..."

"What Yna?" his eyes screams murder. I gave him my puppy eye, I don't want any of my family members be involved in my problem. I don't want them do drastic things just because of me.

I sighed deeply before pelading him, my tears are now falling freely, "Let's just drop this. The law states that I can't file any case against him since I'm just his ex-wife, ayoko na ring pagurin yung sarili ko Kuya. Ayoko nang patagalin yung paghihirap ko. If filing a case will just make it hard for me then let's just stop. Ayoko nang maghabol, tama na sa'kin yung sakit na ibinigay niya, napakabilis niyang itinapon lahat ng pinagsamahan namin then I also want to do that. Hindi na para mag-aksaya pa tayo ng panahon at lakas, tutal aalis na din naman ako kaya huwag na nating ituloy Kuya please?"

Kuya Mace sighed in defeat, "Okay but I won't stay still, the YCClub will be taken away from him. I'll make sure of that."

"But Kuya pinaghirapan niya 'yon-"

"Pero sinaktan ka niya Yna!" napataas na ang boses ni Kuya Mace, pinigilan naman siya ni Tita Licorice na bunsong kapatid ni Daddy at inilayo sa akin. Lumapit sa akin si Tito Alvaro na Daddy nila Saffron.

"Don't shout at your cousin Alistaire! Look at how hurt she is, just let Calvin be Mace. Karma is a b*tch! What goes around, comes around so let destiny punish him. We'll help Yna get thru this, the whole family is here for you hija..." lumapit ulit si Tita at niyakap ako habang naluluha kaming dalawa.

As pokmaru as it may sound, I wanted to ask them about Calvin, but I can't bring myself to. They won't mention him either. Everyday at the hospital I can see fresh new tulips on the vase beside my bed, I always look for a note pero wala akong nakikita.

I know this came from Calvin, there's no note but I know it's from him. He used to bring me tulips everyday when we got married. Time flies so fast, parang kahapon lang masaya pa kami. Parang kahapon lang ako lang yung mahal niya at siya yung mundo ko.

It still hurts... still hurts like hell and I miss him so much. I still love him. Hindi naman ganon kadaling alisin siya sa puso ko right? Sa anim na taon, my world revolved around him. He's the only man I can see...

Oh God, take this pain away...

*****

Munich, Germany

I just finished my video conference with the Board of Directors from Lopez Inc. My cousins Maximillian and Coraline are both in charge of the company's operations while I'am not around.

Before we flew here in Germany, we've learned that I'm expecting twins.

Calvin always look forward on having twins like Selene and Adam. I bet he would be happy to know that we're having twins. But would he really be happy? He doesn't love me anymore, so I doubt he'll be happy to hear that were expecting twins...

Someone knocked on my door pulling me out of my reverie, it's Selene.

"Yna, we're going to take the kids out today you wanna come? Don't forget may check-up ka sa OB mo tomorrow. But now let's unwind please? Next week babalik na kami ng Pilipinas..." nakangiting aya sakin ni Selene.

Hindi pa ako nakakasagot ay bumukas na ang pinto ng kwarto ko at nagtakbuhan ang mga cute na cute kong pamangkin.

"Tita Ynaaa!" sabay na sigaw nilang dalawa at tatalon sana sa lap ko pero pinigilan sila ni Selene.

"Girls, you can't just jump on your Tita... Remember there are babies inside Tita's tummy?"

"Uh-oh... sorry Tita." Klaire said apologetically.

Klaire is the youngest among Selene's twins, I can see myself with her. Quiet, timid, but very intelligent. Her sister Khloe is more like Selene, a fighter and a born amazona. They are just 3 years old but they act mature for their age...

A week after I got out of the hospital, itinago ako nina Adam sa rest house nilang mag-asawa sa Palawan. And after a month nang pagpapahinga at pagpapagaling ay lumipad kami papuntang Munich, Germany.

Dito nakatira ang pamilya Adler ngayon. Half-German sina Adam at ang parents nila ay dito na sa Germany nag-stay dahil mas tahimik ang buhay nila dito, malayo saa magulong mundo ng negosyo.

Tita Beatrix, Tito Gael and Anastasha is here kaya masaya naman kahit papaano ang stay ko dito. Matagal na din nang huli naming nakita si Atasha kaya we took this chance para makapagbonding.

Bago kami lumipad, naghahangad ako na sana isang araw dalawin ako ni Calvin... Na sana isang araw, bigla siyang dadating at babawiin ako. At dahil marupok ako, sasama ako sa kanya.

Sabihin niya lang na mahal niya ako, babalik ako sa kanya na nanginginig pa. Ganyan ako karupok. Kaso, ni anino niya hindi ko nakita...

Oo at sinabi kong itatago ko ang mga anak ko, pero umasa ako na sana, deep within his heart ay mahal niya ako at hahabulin niya ko. Marami naman kaming happy memories right?

Naramdaman ko namang minahal niya rin ako... Pero sh*t di talaga siya nagpakita.

'Baka kuntento na siya sa buhay na pinili niya? Masaya na sila Serena kaya wag ka nang umepal!' minsan gusto kong awayin ang sarili ko dahil sa pagiging kontrabida.

Madalas akong ganito, kinakausap ang sarili dahil hindi ko mai-share ang thoughts at saloobin ko sa iba. May kanya kanya kaming problema at pinagdadaanan kaya sinolo ko na lang, iniyak ko na lang.

Nagdesisyon akong umalis at magpakalayo-layo. Susubukan kong kalimutan siya. Palalakihin ko ang mga anak ko ng mag-isa. Alam kong handa akong tulungan ng kapatid ko at ng mga kaibigan ko, pero gusto kong tumayo sa sarili kong mga paa.

Iniwan ko muna ang Lopez Inc., at ipinamahala ko muna sa mga pinsan naming sina Kuya Maximillian at Coraline. They helped me para mapalago ang negosyo ng pamilya kaya alam kong hindi nila pababayaan ang L.I.

Nagkita pa kami nina Lola Via kasama sina Lolo Fabian at ang buong pamilya bago ako umalis.

"Whatever your decision is apo, we'll be here for you. We're always one call away Yna, we love you so much..." Lola Via kissed my forehead and gave me a hug that always calms me.

"Take care of yourself dear, and take care of those munchkins... We'll visit you kapag natapos ko na ang pag-train kay Maximillian bilang kapalit mo while you're on your indefinite leave," Lolo Fabian hugged me tight, when he look at me again he kissed my hair and tap my shoulders.

"I promise I'll be fine and I'll be back, I just wanna start to pick up the pieces of my shattered life. Gusto kong hanapin yung sarili ko, yung kahalagahan ko. I'll be back and I'll inform you kung nasaang lupalop ako ng mundo. I love you both so much..." I hugged them both while crying. Lumapit naman si Selene at sumali sa group hug.

"Hey twin..." pag-agaw ni Selene sa diwa kong lumilipad nanaman.

"Okay Sese I'm coming with you..." wika ko na nakapag pangiti kay Selene.

"Great! Oh mga anak let's dress you up dali igala natin si Tita para marelax siya okay?" masayang tanong ni Selene sa mga anak.

"Yehey! Okay mom, come on Klaire then lets go to museum!" aya ni Khloe sa kakambal at nag-apir pa ang dalawa at nagsasayaw pa sa tuwa. Ngayon lang ulit nakabalik ang mga bata dito sa Germany kaya tuwang-tuwa sila sa bakasyon na ito.

"Hahaha okay okay girls, now clean up... We still have a week here so mapupuntahan natin lahat ng gusto niyo," wika ni Selene sa mga anak.

"Yes mommy!" panabay na wika ng kambal bago nagtatakbo palabas kasama ang Nanny nila na si Yelena. Lumingon saken si Selene at kumindat bago lumabas...

*****

"Tita look oh! The figurines are dancing!" tuwang tuwa si Klaire at nagtatatakbo palapit sa clock tower kung saan nakapwesto ang dancing life-sized figurines.

Si Khloe naman ay ginagaya ang mga figurines sa pag-sayaw, nakakatuwa talaga silang dalawa.

Kasama naming maglibot sina Tita Bea at Atasha, si Tito Gael ay kinailangan bumalik sa company nila dito for a meeting dahil may naging problema sa branch sa Pilipinas kaya si Adam lang ang bodyguard namin ngayon.

Nagpaikot-ikot pa kami sa Marienplatz dito sa Munich. After lunch ay nagpasya kaming pumunta sa Hellabrun Zoo para malibang ang dalawang bata. Nauunang maglakad sa'kin ang mag-anak ni Selene.

I'm so happy for my twin, dati ay aso't pusa sila ni Adam. Ang kapatid ko ay akala mo palaging amazona na handang sumalakay at mabilis uminit ang ulo.

Si Adam naman ay pilyo at pasaway pero very understanding pagdating sa kapatid ko. Noong una hindi namin inisip na magkakatuluyan sila dahil halos magpatayan sila mula pa nang mga bata kami, pero nagulat kaming bago kami magtapos ay nabuntis na ni Adam ang amazona kong kapatid nang kidnapin niya ito noon at dinala sa Nueva Ecija.

Aayaw-ayaw pa si Selene noon, pero nakikita ko sa kanyang mahal na din niya si Adam, at kita naman ngayon kung gaano sila kasaya at kung gaano nila kamahal ang isa't isa.

Kung sana lang...

Ooppss Serena, don't go there... you're trying to move-on right?

Napabuntong hininga na lang ako at ngumiti ng mapait habang nakasunod sa mag-anak habang hawak ang impis ko pang tyan.

'Kapit lang tayo babies. Excited na akong makita kayo. Sana maintindihan niyo bakit wala sa tabi natin ang Daddy niyo'.

********

CALVIN

Hell! It's been a month since I last saw Serena, and that is when I went to the hospital to see her and talk to her.

After that day hindi na hinayaan ni Selene na makalapit ako. Halos lumuhod ako sa harap niya masilip man lang si Serena kahit malayo, nilunok ko ang pride ko para humingi ng tulong kay Adam pero hindi niya kayang suwayin ang utos ng asawa niya. D*mn that takusawa!

I know I deserve what I'm going thru right now, gusto ko lang namang malaman kung okay na siya. I even ask my friends pero tikom din ang bibig nila.

Araw araw akong nagpapadala ng tulips kay Serena sa ospital, kahit yun man lang makapasok kahit hindi na ako.

Naawa naman sakin si Clay kaya siya na ang nag-aakyat ng mga bulaklak. I always leave a note saying how sorry I am...

Pero mukhang hindi niya ako mapapatawad dahil wala akong natanggap na reaksyon mula sa mga ipinadala kong note.

I knew I'm an asshole, hindi ko rin maintidihan ang sarili ko kung bakit pagkatapos kong saktan si Serena at piliin ang magiging anak namin ni Angela ay parang naging hungkag ang puso ko. Ilang araw ko nang hindi sinasagot ang mga tawag ni Angela. I went home to my mansion in Makati. Our home. But without Serena, it doesn't feel the same.

This morning, I went to Lopez Inc. para silipin kung pumasok na ba si Serena, but to my dismay si Max ang naabutan ko sa office. I asked him where his cousin is but he glare at me and throw daggers my way. He just shrugged his shoulders and then asked me to leave since he won't disclose any information regarding Serena's whereabouts.

I understand him, I understand them, I understand Serena. I promised to love her infront of the altar, infront of our family and friends, to be truthful and faithful, but I am stupid for breaking my own promise.

I went to Adam's place but to no avail, the guard asked me to leave since Selene told them that she'd fire them if I even try to set foot in their house. He just said that the family is not at home and he can't tell me where they went.

Maybe, ayaw din talaga akong makita ni Serena. Sino nga bang nasa matinong pag-iisip ang gugustuhing makita ang taong halos sumira ng buhay niya?

Wherever she is, I hope she's fine. I won't bother her. What I did is unforgivable. Maybe it's time for me to give up. But I'll still wait for the time that she'll forgive me.

Our annulment has been granted easily dahil na din at that time ay ginawan ko ng paraan and ask for my lawyer to make the process fast. At that time, I'm thinking with my d*ck. Di ko inisip yung magiging consequences ng gagawin ko not until I lost her, she almost died WTF!

The moment I received the documents, my heart churns and it feels like it's being twisted to knots. I started to cry, well why would I cry if this is what I wanted right? A**hole.

I was on my car driving and thinking what happened to my life. My parents are angry with me, especially my Mom. Ate Carla told me Mom had a breakdown when she heard that my marriage with Valerie fell apart and that Val almost died because of me. What made her lose her composure is when Ate Carla told them that I got my mistress pregnant.

F*cking cool right?

Para akong mapapraning kakaisip so I turned on my radio, ewan ko ba nananadya yata tong radio station na to...

Langya 'yung the one that got away na 'to mapanakit, but it's true, I'm now paying the price. It's too late for me to realize this...

You're gone Valerie... I'm sorry.