FORGOTTEN Marriage (Fallacy of Marriage 06)

PAGDAKIP

I WAS SO desperate to go back and just isolate myself on the island, so desperate that I even quit my work. And planning to stop studying. Ang takot na nararamdaman ko ngayong may mga tao na lumalapit sa akin.

I was holding my duffel bag and some of my stuff. Nasa termininal na ako at naghihintay sa sasakyan kong bus, wearing a black cap and jacket. Sa kalagitnaan ng paghihintay ay tumayo ako para mag-restroom. But before I could go inside, someone grabbed me and covered my mouth. Namilog ang mga mata ko at hindi na nakahingi ng tulong. Kahit pagpiglas ay hindi ko na nagawa dahil nanghina na ako at nawalan ng malay.

I thought I would wake up again in a dark room and an abandoned place. But to my surprise, I was in a comfortable bed and had already cleaned up. The room smells nice and is a bit cold from the aircon. Nakalugay ang buhok ko at suot ko ay isang dress, hindi bestida na maluwag at mahaba. A dress that is tight on my waist and above my knees only.

Napaawang ako ng labi nung suriin ang silid, sobrang laki nun. Ngayon lang ako nakakitang kuwarto na malawak, maganda, at may couch tsaka table pa. This is only the room but can occupy what is inside our home in the island.

Nagulat ako bigla sa kumatok at pagbukas ng pintuan. Pumasok ang tatlong babae na nakasuotng uniporme, mga kasambahay at lumapit sa akin.

“Pinapatawag na ho kayo ni Sir Siv. Sabayan niyo na ho siya sa hapunan. Siguradong gutom na gutom na kayo, Ma’am Ely.”

Napaawang ako ng labi at lumunok.

“My name is not Ely, nagkakamali kayo. Hindi ako si Ely!”

Nagkatinginan sila na tila ba ako pa ngayon ang mali, na ako pa ngayon ang may deperensya.

“Ma’am, bumaba na ho kayo bago pa magalit si Sir at puntahan kayo rito. Huwag kang mag-alala. Ligtas ho kayo rito, sa bahay ninyo.” Banayad akong nginitian nito pero mas kinilabutan lang ako at napaatras hanggang sa tumama na ang likod ko sa headboard ng kama.

“Hindi ako ang tinutukoy ninyo! Ano ba?!” sigaw ko at tumaas na ang boses dahil sa paglapit sa akin nung isang babae at akmang hahawakan ako.

“What is happening here?” natigilan sila at napabaling sa babaeng nasa may pintuan. Agad kong nakilala iyun, siya yung babaeng huminto sa akin nakasakay sa SUV. Ang nagpakilalang attorney. “Leave her, kung ayaw niyang kumain at gustong magutom sa kuwarto. Hayaan niyo siya. Stop babying her.”

Napaawang ako ng labi at mariin na tinignan iyun, halatang may galit sa akin ang babaeng ito. Ni hindi niya nga kilala ang buong pagkatao ko. Kung makapagsalita akala mo naman.

“No one is babying me here, let me leave!” I snapped and was a bit stunned by how I suddenly spoke with accent. Umangat ang gilid ng labi niya, nagsialisan ang mga kasambahay at lumapit naman siya sa akin. “Kakasuhan ko kayo! Hindi niyo ako pweding ikulong dito. This is illegal!”

She just smiled at me in mockery.

“I have so many things to do, Ely. I am a busy person, but for Siv, I came all the way here to talk about you and your issues. Now go downstairs and join Siv for dinner, marami tayong pag-uusapan.” Kumunot ang nuo ko at umiling tsaka niyakap ang tuhod ko. “Especially about the annulment.”

Napaawang ang labi ko at mas lalong hindi makapaniwala. Siya rin ay nahihiwagaan sa aking reaksyon na pinapakita. But she still trying to figure it out and suspicious on me. Mukhang hindi pa rin siya naniniwala sa akin, may pagdududa ang kanyang titig.

“What? What do you mean… anong annulment ang sinasabi mo?” nanginginig ang labi ko at kumalabog ang dibdib. “Ely is not my name. I am Fayette.”

“What’s with the act? What is wrong with you? If you want to end your marriage to Siv, then just f*****g end it properly in a legal way. Bakit kailangan mong umakto ng ganito?”

Pagak akong natawa at halos maiyak.

“I am not Ely! I don’t know what you are talking about—”

“You need to be assessed. Nawawala kana sa katinuan mo,” pagtataray niya.

“Ikaw ang may kailangan nun at hindi ako! I am Fayette and I already have a husband, I am married to…” hindi ko naituloy ang sasabihin, I frustratedly looked at her. “Visenti Chavez, hindi ang lalaking sinasabi mo…”

Napaawang siya ng labi at umiling na tila hindi makapaniwala.

“Are you out of your mind, Ely? You are a Chavez who married a Castaniada. And that is Visenti Castaniada. You getting insane.” Napailing siyang muli at umatras. Nagtawag siya sa labas ng mga tauhan at inutusan na puwersahang kunin ako. Namilog ang mga mata ko, sinubukan kong tumayo at tumakas pero may mga lumapit na sa akin. Hanggang sa hinila niya ako palabas ng kuwarto.

While I was struggling to get away from their grip, I was also fascinated by how huge the house it. Sa laki ng bahay at lawak nun, ang mga chandeliers ay hindi basta basta. It feels… unreal, this kind of place. The grand staircase was European-designed. It was a double staircase that rose from a wide oval landing and split left and right into perfectly mirrored curves. The ceiling appears to be richly moulded and painted in soft off-white tones. There are even large florals that you will see on the side of the split staircase.

Napaawang na lang ako at manghang sinuyod ng tingin ang lugar. This place is so damn huge and mesmerizing. Parang palasyo sa sobrang laki at engrande. Hindi ko na nagawang pumiglas at nagpatianod na lang sa kanila.

We entered a room and it was a dining area, where as there is a long table and plenty of chairs. Naroon nakaupo ang lalaki sa gitna, suot ay pormal na damit. Samantalang ang babae ay nasa tabi nito at pareho silang naghihintay, hindi pa nagagalaw ang pagkain.

I know he is rich, but I didn’t know that he is this damn wealthy. Sinong mag-aakala na ang lalaking pumupunta sa café para mag-order ng isang kape kada gabi ay ganito kayaman? Nagkatitigan kaming dalawa hanggang sa naramdaman kong binitawan na nila ako at nakatayo sa banda nung lalaki.

He lazily leaned his back at the chair and pursed his lips. Ang tingin niya sa akin ay tila ba nakakawalang gana at pasensya.

“Stop fooling around and let’s settle this straight. The process of annulment and everything. Lucy is here to help us, mabilis lang ito lalo pa may pera naman.” He licked his lower lip. “Unfortunately, we should also settle our properties… lalo pa at wala tayong prenup.”

“Hindi ko alam ang mga sinasabi mo. I am not fooling around. I literally have no idea what you are talking about. Where am I? Nagkakamali ka lang. Hindi ako si Ely, I am Fayette.”

Tinignan siya nung babae na tila ba gustong iparating na nababaliw na ako.

“Yes, you are Faye. You are Elysen Fayette Chavez, you are married to me Ely. You become a Castaniada.”

Napaawang ang labi ko at umiling.

“You are married to me.” Tila isa iyung kahihiyan nung sabihin niya, may diin at galit. There is a regret in his voice and despise.

“You killed your wife!” akusa ko.

“Really?” umangat ang gilid ng labi niya at lumamig ang titig sa akin. His smirk is wicked, like anytime he is gonna expose more. “Why are you here then? What are you? A ghost?” nagpakawala siya ng malakas na tawa. The woman beside him crossed her arms and was already impatient with me.

Hindi ako natuwa sa sinabi niya, mas lalo lang binalot ng kaba at takot.

“Pakawalan mo ako—”

“f**k, Ely! Could you just f*****g end this marriage without being so f*****g stubborn?” hinampas niya ang lamesa ng kamay na siyang nagpatahimik sa bahay. “We will end this and stop fooling around. Tangina! Pinapahirapan mo pa ako, kumawala kana at wala na akong pakialam sayo basta putang ina pirmahan mo na ang annulment natin. f*****g cooperate!”

Pigil ang paghinga ko at napaatras sa sigaw niya. Namuo ang luha sa aking mga mata at doon lang siya kumalma nung makita ang pagpatak ng luha ko. I sniffed and felt that dryness on my body as my tears fell on my cheeks.

Napahilot siya ng sentido at mariing pumikit.

“I will call a Doctor, Siv. She must be… experiencing trauma. Or maybe…” hindi makapa ng babae ang tamang salita, dahil maski siya ay naguguluhan.

“She is f*****g acting. Pinapahirapan niya lang ako kaya ayaw niyang sumunod. She wants me to suffer too, that’s how cruel she is. Selfish and self-centred.”

He said those words almost a whispered, pero alam niyang maririnig ko at wala rin siyang pakialam doon. He even glared at me like ready to kill me. Napayuko ako at tahimik na pumapatak ang luha mula sa aking mga mata.

“I swear, I don’t know all of you….” Nanginginig at nanghihina kong sambit.

Narinig ko ang marahas na pagbuntong hininga nung lalaki at matalim pa rin ang titig sa akin. Kung napapaniwala ko na ang babae, mukhang siya ay matigas. Kasing lamig ng yelo at kasing tigas ng bakal.

When our eyes met, it was very contradictory. Mine is soft and pleading, while he remains untouchable, cold, and with no remorse.

“I will eat in my office, nawalan na ako ng gana.” Tumayo siya at nilampasan ako. Mabibigat na hakbang ang ginawa niya hanggang sa makaalis ng dining area at maiwan ako kasama ang babae na nakaupo. Ang mga kasambahay ay nagsigalawan para ihanda ang pagkain nung amo nila at maidala iyun sa opisina nito.

“Sino ang tinutukoy mong asawa mo? Sinabi mo kanina na may asawa kana, sino siya?”

“It was Siv—”

“The face, Ely. I want to know his face and who he is.” Kumunot ang nuo ko. “I already have a guess, never mind that. Tatawag ako ng eksperto para patignan ka, are you taking drugs—”

“Hindi! I lost my memories. Okay?! I am telling the truth, I have no memories. Isa lang ang naaalala ko, I was running while someone was chasing me in the middle of the night in the forest. Ang kaalaman ko ay galing lang sa isang tao na siyang nagsabi kung sino ako. And I am married to him!”

Napatikom siya ng labi at pagod na umiwas ng tingin. Sa huli ay naiwan ako sa mahabang lamesa, wala rin naman akong nagawa pa kundi kumain dahil gutom na gutom na ako. After eating dinner, I roamed around. And no one dare stop me, mukhang alam naman nila sa laki nito at security na nasa paligid. I can even see some CCTV around.

Napahinto ako nung makarating ako sa isang malawak na sala, napansin ko agad ang isang larawan na naroon, malaki at nakakaagaw pansin. It was… me. Nanlamig ako at napaatras. Hearing people talk about me was unsettling enough, but seeing it laid out right in front of my eyes… that’s a different kind of shock.

“We will let you be checked by a Doctor.” It was a baritone voice that made me come back to my senses. Napalingon ako at nakita kong papalapit na siya sa akin, sinulyapan ang tinitignan ko at mas lalong bumigat ang kanyang aura, mas dumilim at mas lumamig.

Nakaramdam ako ng kakaibang tensyon, it was like a wall and an intensifying coldness around us. In between us, too.

Tumabi siya sa akin at tinignan ang larawan.

“I couldn’t remove it, this house is still ours. Kung aalisin ko yan, sisiguraduhin ko munang napagparte na natin ang mga ari-arian at legal na tayong hiwalay. That would be an insult to you if I removed the only picture we have in this house without a proper separation. A sudden air feels like it went inside my empty heart that… makes me feel so cold.

Umangat ako ng tingin sa larawan at nakaramdam ng bigat at matinding lungkot. Marahil hindi ko maalala kung ano ito. Kung ako ba talaga ang nasa larawan. It was our wedding picture, and I am so beautiful there that I could convince myself now that this girl is not me. She looks so elegant and expensive, while the man beside me is filled with love and passion while staring at my face. We are staring at each other, with both smiles and an expressive gaze.

“Is that me?” I whispered in disbelief. “I am married to you?” I slowly turned to him. His jaw locked so tightly that the muscles along the sides twitched with every breath he forced out. There is tension and unresolved grief on his face. His aura darkened and breath sharply, with impatience and fury.

“You can walk around the house. The maid will call you once the Doctor arrives. Just don’t do stupid things out of your stubbornness. Kung may kailangan ka, nariyan ang mga katulong.”

His voice was aloof, very distant and disdained. Exhausted and very lazy, it seems he cannot hold long conversation with me. And talking to me seems to annoy him. Making me feel that my presence… annoys him.

“Ahm, wait!” marahan kong sambit bago niya ako talikuran. The way he raises his eyebrows shows impatience and boredom. “I’m sorry. I will, I will cooperate and figure out what is really happening.”

“That will be pleasing to hear, kung hindi ka lang sinungaling.” His lips curved a bit in mockery. Paismid siyang umiwas ng tingin at iniwan ako.

Sinungaling? I am not a liar!

Nakasimangot kong tinignan muli ang malaking larawan. I look so classy on my bun hair and jewelry that I think made of pearl. Hindi ko maipagkakaila na ako yan, pero dahil marami na akong iniisip, maaaring hindi rin ako yan. Maybe I have a twin? Or maybe… may kamukha lang ako? But the heck! The man’s name is Siv.

“Was it true that he killed his wife? Pero kung ganun, bakit buhay ako?” Kinagat ko ang labi at sinuyod muli ang tingin sa bahay.

What if he didn’t succeed in killing me? Now he found out I am alive and… here inside the mansion. What if… he will kill me soon? Lalo pa at ang chismis sa kanya ay pinatay niya ang asawa niya?

Shit! Kumalabog ang dibdib ko at nagmamadaling naglakad. Kinalma ko ang sarili ko at naghanap ng pweding madadaanan para makaalis sa lugar na ito. I try avoiding areas where the CCTVs are. Mahirap dahil marami iyun.

“Excuse me, where is the kitchen? I want to drink.”

I can escape through the kitchen. The backyard for sure. Mahirap lang dahil hindi ko alam ang pasikot sikot sa malaking bahay na ito. Pero sa takot kong may mangyari sa akin ay hindi ako mananatili rito.

“Kukunin ko ho, Miss Ely. Dito lang kayo at—”

“Ako na, please. Let me get the water. Nasaan ang kusina?”