Esaac: Rekindled

“W-WHAT TOOK YOU so long, E-Esaac?” He can’t help but shed a tear while staring at those riveting cocoa brown eyes of his wife. Wala na iyong buhay. Wala na iyong saya. The enchantment in her eyes is now gone. Hindi iyon ganoon kalungkot noong buhay pa si Ezekiel. Hindi na iyon kasinggana noong hindi pa bumabalik si Esaac. “I-I’m sorry, asawa ko. I’m very s-sorry.” Napaluhod siya sa harap nito. He delicately held his wife’s hands. “L-Let me make it up to you, Charity, please.” “B-Bakit ngayon ka lang?” His wife towered over him. Tiningala niya si Charity hanggang sa maramdaman niya ang pagtulo ng luha nito sa kaniyang pisngi. “I’ve been here all along. Binabantayan kita, Charity.” “I felt betrayed, Esaac.” Pinalis nito ang luha sa kaniyang pisngi. “I-I thought you were dead.” “Me too, my wife. Akala ko rin patay na ako.” Pinisil-pisil niya ang kamay ng asawa. “Pero mas masakit pala sa pagkamatay ang araw-araw kang makita, kayo ni Missiac, y-you are enjoying E-Ezekiel company and–” “But you let it happen, Esaac.” Kumawala si Charity sa yakap niya sa baywang nito. “I never wanted that to happen!” He stood up and emotionally followed her. Marahas siyang hinarap nito. “Pero hinayaan mo pa rin, Esaac.” Agad niya itong niyapos na kahit nagpupumiglas ay hindi niya pinakawalan. “Call me ‘my husband’ again. I badly want to hear that from y-you, my w-wife,” he pleaded as he tightly hugged Charity. “For what? Not that I’m going to feed your ego, Esaac. Stop it.” Nagpupumiglas ito sa kaniya. “You’re mad at me. I’m sorry. I’m sorry because I made you mad, Charity. I’m sorry.” “Stop it, Esaac,” naiiyak nitong pakiusap. “No, please–” “Hayaan mo muna akong umalis, Esaac. If I’ll talk to you right now, baka kung ano pang masabi ko. Free me, Esaac.” “No! No, no. I won’t let you go. Listen to me please.” “I won’t listen to you kung pipilitin mo akong makinig sa’yo! f**k it, Esaac, I said stop!” Unti-unting lumawag ang pagkakayakap niya rito. He knew his wife well. Minsan lang ito magalit nang ganoon kaya dapat niya itong pakinggan sa hinihiling. “Huwag mo muna kaming hanapin ng a-anak m-mo.” Taas-baba ang balikat niyang pinanood ang paghakbang palabas ni Charity. Alam niya naman dito rin hahantong ang lahat. Ang kaibahan lang sa naisip niya, hindi niya napaghandaan ang ngayon. Surely, he will. He will wait for her. He will wait for her command for him to find them. He will wait for their love, soon, to rekindle.