WIFE SERIES : Silent Scars [Tagalog]

Chapter 6

It had been three weeks matapos nang may nangyari sa amin ni Nicholai. And I had been avoiding him for those weeks.

Hindi talaga ako makapaniwala sa aking nalaman. All those years that we had been together. I didn’t even think of him having feelings towards me.

He was like a big brother to me. Tapos para sa kanya hindi pala. Kaya pala hindi niya magawang tanggapin si Philip para sa akin kahit noon pa. Now it all made sense to me.

I was startled when my phone suddenly rang. Tiningnan ko kung sino ang tumawag.

It was Nicholai, again.

Pikit-mata kong pinatay ang tawag niya. I sighed and sat on my couch.

I didn’t stay in our house. Sa condo ako namalagi. I didn’t want to see him. Masama pa rin ang loob ko sa nangyari.

I stood up and decided to go out. I change into halter white top and a black skinny tattered jeans. I took one of my plums in the shoe rock and then did my make up. Matagal na rin akong hindi nakapunta sa Stary Hub. Maybe going there would lessen my stress.

After locking my condo, I went to the elevator and pressed the basement. When I arrived at the basement, naglakad ako kung saan naka-park ang sasakyan. I smiled when I saw it. It was a Cadillac Escalade na bigay ng Daddy ko. My smile faded when I remembered that Dad was also reaching out to me asking me why I was not visiting them. I heaved a sigh and got inside the car.

Nakatanga lang ako sa loob ng ilang segundo baka pinaandar ang sasakyan at pinaibis paalis ng building.

Nasa labas na ako ng Stary Hub when my phone rang again. I thought it was Nicholali again but it was not.

It was Philip this time. Sa nanginginig na kamay ay sinagot ko ang tawag.

“Love.”

[Hi Love. I just got back. I miss you so much. I’m on my way to your condo.] Nanlaki ang mata ko sa sinabi niya.

Ang alam ko ang dapat nasa US pa siya para sa conference niya.

“L-Love, wala ako sa condi. Nasa Stary Hub ako,” kagat-labing sabi ko.

Hindi ko alam kong paano ko haharapin si Philip pagkatapos ng mangyari sa amin ni Nicholai. Kaya laking pasasalamat ako na biglaang may conference sila last week kaya di kami nagkita. And it was supposed to be for two weeks.

[You didn’t tell me that you are going out.] May halong inis na sabi nito.

“I’m sorry, Love. Nakalimutan ko. I thought you were busy. You said you’ll be staying there for two weeks.”

[I’m done with my part. And I badly want to see you. Are you not happy that I was back early?] His tone suddenly change to a sad one and I couldn’t help but felt guilty.

“W-What? No! Of course I am happy. I miss you so much too.”

[Sinong kasama mo sa Stary Hub?]

Shit! Paano ko sasabihin na ako lang mag-isa na hindi siya magagalit? I knew for sure that he would get mad kapag nalaman niya na mag-isa lang ako.

“I’m with Cheni,” I lied.

[Fine. I’m also going there. I’m on my way. See you, Love. I love you.] sabi nito bago binaba ang tawag.

Lagot na! Sinabi ko pa naman na kasama ko si Cheni tapos kapag nalaman niya yun kasama patay na talaga! Napakatanga mo Denima!

Tinawagan ko si Cheni kaya lang hindi nito sinasagot ang tawag ko. Argh! I just texted her na I was in the Stary Hub at ginamit ko ang pangalan niya na magkasama kami. Sasabihin ko na lang kay Phil na umalis agad si Cheni kasi may emergency.

I was welcomed with the noise of the people, smokes and the full blast sound of the music when I got inside the Hub. It was packed with a lot of people since it was Friday night.

I tried to find a vacant table and saw one on the far end. Dali-dali akong naglakad dito at umupo ng pabagsak sa sofa.

Tinaas ko ang aking kamay at tinawag ang isang waitress na dumaan malapit sa kinauupuan ko. Lumingon naman agad ito at nakangiting naglakad palapit sa pwesto ko.

“Good evening ma’am. May I know your order?” tanong agad nito pagkatapat sa aking mesa.

“I want a small tower of margarita and nachos with beef dip.”

“Let me just repeat your order ma’am. A bottle of margarita and nachos with beef dip. Anything else, Ma’am?”

“None,” tipid na sagot ko.

“Okay ma’am.” Aalis na sana ito ng bigla may sumulpot na isang waitress at niyugyuog ang braso nung babaeng waitress sa harap ko.

“Alondra! Nandiyan na naman yung crush mo na Gonzalo! s**t! Ang gwapo!” Nanlaki ang mata nung tinatawag nitong Alondra sabay hilay nito paalis sa harap ko.

Nilagay ko ang phone ko sa mesa ng bigla itong tumunog. Sinagot ko agad ang tawag nang makitang si Philip ito.

[Love, nasa labas nako ang Stary Hub.]

“Love, nasa loob nako. I can’t hear you clearly. It is so loud here. I’m on the right far end of the bar counter.”

[I’ll go look for you then.] Hindi ko na masyadong narinig ang sinabi niya dahil sa lakas ng musika at ingay ng mata tao.

Bumalik ang waitress na si Alondra na may hilaw na ngiti habang dala ang order ko. Kasama nito ang babaeng kausapap kanina. Binigyan ko sila ng tipid na ngiti. Nilapag ng kasama nito ang bitbit nitong margarita tower at isang baso. Habang nilapag din ni Alondra ang Nachos na inorder ko. May sinabi silang na di ko narinig bago umalis.

I was about to eat the nachos in front of me when I saw Philip walking towards my table. Humalik ito sa labi ko bago umupo sa tabi ko.

Napatulala akong bigla.

“Hey, Love! You’re spacing out.” He chuckled.

“Sorry. I just can’t believe that you’re here.” I blinked my eyes a couple of times while looking at him.

“Silly. I miss you.” sabi nito habang namumungay ang mga mata. He cupped my face and kissed me passionately na tinugon ko naman. Binuhos ko lahat sa halik namin. I could still feel the butterfly in my stomach whenever he kissed me.

“I love you. Always remember that I love you. Okay?” My heart was pounding so fast. I was so guilty.

“I know. And I love you more. May problema ba?” Nag-aalala na tanong nito. I shook my head and smiled at him.

“Wala. Namiss lang kita.” I hugged him and he hugged me back.

“Where’s Cheni?” tanong niya habang salubong ang kilay.

“Iniwan niya ko. May emergency daw.” I lied, again. Dumampot ako ng nachos and sinawsaw ito sa beef dip sabay subo sa bibig ko.

Biglang bumaliktad ang sikmura ko sa lasa. I covered my mouth. Nasusuka kao.

“Hey! What’s wrong?” tarantang tanong ni Philip.

“I think the dip is already spoiled.”

“What?” tinikman nito ang beef deep gamit ang tinidor. “It’s not. It actually tastes good,” kunot-noong sabi nito.

“Nasusuka ako.” I didn’t wait for his response. Nagmamadali akong tumakbo papuntang sa banyo.

It was weird. I only puked saliva. Nasusuka pa rin ako dahil sa lasa ng beef dip. That was my favorite dip.

I looked at myself in the mirror as I washed my hands and wiped my mouth. I looked so pale. Nanghihinang lumabas ako ng banyo at inalalayan agad ni Philip.

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah. I think so.” I gave him a weak smile then suddenly my vision started to get blurry. “Phil—“ I tried to call him but I already passed out.