A Wife's Regret

Chapter 14

CHASE KARSON MANJARES' POV

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Sinadya kong patulugin ng maaga si Eli bago ko hinintay na umuwi si Lia ng bahay.

I saw her enter the living room kasama si Riel. I wanted to talk to her alone pero ayoko nang patagalin pa. Kailangan ko pang pumasok sa trabaho.

"Hi, Chase," nakangiting bati sa akin ni Riel.

Nilapitan ko si Lia para mag-abot ng papel sa kanya.

Kinuha niya iyon mula sa akin at binasa ang receipt. Ilang sandali rijng tumahimik ang buong paligid before I heard her voice.

"Where did you get the money?"

"Maghahanap ako ng bahay na pwede naming lipatan ni Eli at least before the end of the month."

Iyon lang ang sinabi ko sa kanya. She didn't have to know kung saan ko nakuha ang pera because at the very first place wala naman talaga siyang pakialam. I shouldn't care of letting her know too.

"What?" Riel asked. "Aalis kayo ni Eli? What's going on?"

Hindi ko tinanggal ang tingin kay Lia na noon ay diretso ring nakatingin sa mga mata ko.

Hindi pa ako sigurado sa kung anong p'wedeng mangyari, but I could do anything for my daughter. I would make sure to give her a comfortable life.

No one of us wanted to answer that hanggang sa makarinig kami ng doorbell.

"Wait..." Riel said. "Ako nang titingin, mag-usap kayong dalawa."

Hinintay kong makaalis si

Riel before I speak up.

"I'll make sure she's safe, and you will not be able to hurt her again."

"Make sure that you didn't steal money from anyone for this."

"I'm desperate, but I will never do that, Lia. I rather pay for that for my whole life than let Eli stay with you here for the rest of her life."

Sinalubong ko ang matalim nitong tingin. "You think you can totally take her away?"

"I won't. She loves you, and I know she'll look for you. Other than that, I acknowledge that you're still her mother. Wala akong planong itago siya sa'yo because I'm not selfish like what you think. I hope this will be the last time we'd talk about her. You wanted to be alone... then it's granted.

I turned my back. Paakyat pa lang ako ng hagdan nang tawagin ako ni Riel.

"Ah, Chase?"

Wala sa loob na bumaling ako rito. She handed me my phone.

"May nag-doorbell na girl do'n sa labas. Naiwan mo raw phone mo sa car niya."

Marahan ko iyong kinuha mula sa kanya. "Thank you..."

"Hindi ka ba magdi-dinner? Sabay ka na sa amin."

"I'm done."

"Ay anyways, may dala akong mga foods or breads for Eli." Tinuro nito ang couch na hindi tinatanggal ang tingin sa akin. "Can I talk to her?"

"She's asleep already."

"Okay, just please tell her tomorrow na dumaan ako and bought her sweets," naka-ngiring anito.

Marahan akong tumango.

She tapped my arm. "You did a great job today. Take a rest now. You deserve it."

Iniwasan ko nang tingnan pa muli si Lia. Dumiretso na ako paakyat ng hagdan.

I heaved a deep sigh bago ako pumasok sa loob ng silid ni Eli.

LIA ELIZA ALFARO's POV

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Riel left her hands in the air nang bumaling sa akin.

"What's going on? Pinalayas mo na mag-ama mo?"

Tinanggal ko rin ang tingin sa kanya at humakbang ako papunta sa kusina. Naramdaman ko ang pagsunod nito sa akin.

"I-chicka mo na dali!"

Ibinaba ko ang receipt sa mesa at dumiretso ako sa tabi ng sink para kumuha ng mga pinggan.

"Chase gave you this? B-Binayaran niya tuition ni Eli?"

Hindi ako sumagot at nagpatuloy ako sa paglalagay ng mga pagkaing binili namin sa labas doon.

"What were you thinking? Are you out of your mind?" Hindi makapaniwalang sambit nito. "Ako nga walang pangbayad sa ganitong tuition sa dami naming bills at binabayarang mortgage ni hubby tapos pagbabayarin mo siya ng ganito kalaking pera?"

"He was able to pay for it, anyway."

She chuckled in disbelief. "Gosh, bes. Gusto mo bang magbenta na ng kidney, eyeballs, or whatsoever ang asawa mo just for this? Sigurado inutang niya 'to."

Nagtungo ako sa fridge para maglabas ng tubig.

"And what was he talking about na maghahanap na sila ng ibang bahay ni Eli? Pinaalis mo?"

"We had a deal," sambit ko habang nilalagyan ng tubig ang dalawang baso.

"Deal? Another deal? Okay, what's that?"

"If he pays her tuition fee, they can leave."

Ilang sandali itong hindi sumagot bago ko marinig ang pagtawa nito. That just totally changed her mood.

"Oh my god... and he was able to pay," natatawa pa ring anito.

Umalingawngaw sa buong kusina ang malakas na pagtawa nito. She was getting so annoying.

"Sorry, bes... but you challenged a wrong man," she said and again giggled. "So ano..." Umupo ito sa silya sa gilid ko. "Are you excited to be left alone here again? I'm sure na-miss mo na pagiging quiet nitong bahay. Do you have plans of helping them na mag-impake?"

She kept laughing about it. She was really trying to get into my nerves.

"I'll miss Eli here, but I will still visit her sa house na lilipatan nila. I'm sure win win 'yun sa part niyong tatlo. Matatahimik na ang buhay mo dito at matatahimik na rin ang buhay ng dalawa dahil finally hindi na nila kailangang tiisin ang ugali mo. 'Wag kang mag-alala dadalasan ko pagdalaw sa'yo."

Umupo ako sa silya sa tapat nito.

She was so happy about it that she kept laughing silently.

"Stop it."

"Ano ba naman kasi pumasok sa isip mo?" she asked while chewing foods in her mouth. "Were you too confident na hindi niya mababayaran so that you could insult him? Sorry..." she chuckled. "It was just funny that he was able to pay, and Lia Eliza just loss to her own game." I love you, but sometimes I like seeing you get knocked down."

"Go home after you're done," I said without giving her a look.

Muli itong napatawa nang mahina at kumuha pa ng pagkain. "Ito naman... masyadong pikon. Anyway, kilala mo ba 'yung babaeng nag-doorbell kanina? She said she's living next to your house. Ngayon ko lang siya nakita. I bet she's close with Chase and Eli. I forgot to ask her name."

"I don't care."

"Maganda siya."

I just looked at her nang mapansin kong nakatingin lang siya sa akin.

"Mas maganda sa'yo."

CHASE KARSON MANJARES' POV

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"Have you tried to have fun even once in yout life?" she asked habang nasa byahe kami pagkatapos sunduin ang mga bata sa school.

"Yeah... nu'ng wala pa sa buhay ko si Eli."

"Let's have fun then. Wala ka namang deadline ngayon, hindi ba? And dont worry, I'll pay for your remaining working hours sa talyer today."

"You don't have to..."

"I want to. I know time is gold for you."

"Getting to know a potential friend better shouldn't' cost any amount of money."

Naramdam kong nakatingin lang ito sa akin. "Come on, dont make me feel guilty."

I chuckled. "I would like Eli and Xeri to bond with each other. Baka lumipat na kami ng bahay sa susunod na buwan."

"You know what? Mas g'wapo ka kapag ngumingiti ka."

Muling bahagyang umangat ang mga sulok ng labi ko.

I heard her clear her throat. "Uhm... what did you say again?"

"Plano naming lumipat na ng bahay sa susunod na buwan."

"W-What? Are you selling your house na?"

"Hindi..." mahinang sambit ko. "Kami lang ni Eli."

Sandali itong hindi nagsalita bago ko muling marinig ang tinig niya.

"I-Is there a problem?"

"It's for the better..."

Maya-maya lang, narinig ko ang dalawang bata sa backseat.

"Xeri, don't be sad na. Daddy and I will rent a house near your home so we could still play every day."

"But Eli, if you leave, I won't see you from the balcony anymore. I've always wanted to see you there whenever I'm sad."

"It's okay, baby. Uncle Chase will still drive for us to send you to school and fetch us again after class," Reni told her.

"Visit me always, Eli, oka okay? And sleep in my room."

I was just worried sa trabaho ko sa bar. Kapag lumipat na kami ni Eli, hindi na ako makakapasok dahil wala na siyang kasama sa bahay. I won't risk her safety kahit malaking tulong ang side job na iyon.

"Yes! I will always visit you, Xeri."

"Can you not transfer to a different school, Eli? Maybe I can pay for everything. I have a piggy bank in my room. I always put money there. I'll give that all to you."

Napangiti ako nang bahagya. I could feel Xeri's sadness kahit halos limang buwan pa iyon.

"Xeri, let's talk about it later." Reni again told her. "Let's have fun with Eli, and uncle Chase first. Do you want that?"

"Yeah..."

"What do you want to do?"

"Bowling?"

"Okay, copy."

Mabilis nakalimutan ng mga ito ang pinag-uuspaan nang makarating kami sa isang entertainment complex.

Pare-parehas kaming unang beses na nakapunta roon. Reni was good at navigating kaya nahanap agad namin ang bowling area.

My daughter enjoyed throwing balls with Xeri. Tinuruan namin sila ni Reni kung paano ang tamang paghagis ng bola, but Reni and I ended up playing it.

The one to lose would treat everyone ice cream kaya naman todo cheer ang anak ko.

Nagtatalon ito when I won. Isinampa ko ito sa balikat ko and swayed her. I was so happy to hear her giggles.

"Yey!" Sigaw naman ni Xeri. "Uncle Chase won!"

"Why are you so happy? We lose," natatawang sambit ni Reni.

"Because you will pay for the ice cream, you win or lose anyway!"

Natatawang napailing na lang si Reni.

"Uncle Chase. Me too, please?"

Ibinaba ko muna si Xeri at ito naman ang isinampa ko sa balikat ko. Tawa ito nang tawa habang itinatakbo ko siya.

Reni was just looking at us with so much happiness in her eyes.

Pagkatapos kumain ng ice cream ay nag-aya na sa skating area ang mga ito.

Pinanuod lang namin sila ni Reni.

"I'm sorry about my sister ha, if she was too clingy. She's craving for a father's love kasi. Swerte na kung makaka-bonding namin ang parents namin even once a month."

"Same to my daughter..."

Isinubo nito ang ice cream habang nakatingin pa rin sa mga ito.

"Look at them... they are so happy. I wish I had a best friend too while growing up. Ikaw?" Bumaling ito sa akin. "Nagkaroon ka ba ng best friend?"

Ilang sandali bago ako marahang tumango. "Yeah..."

"Were you still seeing each other?"

"He's... he's dead."

"Oh... I-I'm sorry..."

Hindi na ako sumagot pa at muling tiningnan ang mga bata.

Nakita ko sa gilid ng mata ko na pinagpag niya ang kamay niya pagkatapos niyang isubo nang buo ang natirang cone.

"Let's do skating too."

Titingin pa lang ako sa kanya, nakuha niya na ang braso ko at hinila ako.

She knew how dahil galing nga naman ito sa bansnag may niyebe. She supported me and taught me what to do.

Lumapit sa amin ang dalawang bata at parehas kumapit ang mga ito sa damit naming dalawa.

I tried, pero hindi ko nabilang kung ilang beses kaming bumagsak. Hindi natapos ang dalawang bata sa katatawa. Reni and I were laughing with them too.

Sa mahabang taon, I guess noon ko na lang muling nagawang tumawa nang ganoon.

Marami kaming nagawang activities. They wanted more pero may schedule ako sa bar. I couldn't take a leave without telling my supervisor dahil siguradong magagalit ito.

"Let's go out more often, Uncle Chase, please?"

Tiningnan ko Xeri sa rear. "I'll try."

Pagkatapos ng mahabang kwentuhan ay nakatulog din ang mga ito sa likod ng sasakyan marahil na rin sa sobrang pagod.

"I'm happy that you had fun."

"Thank you..."

"For what?"

"We can't afford to go to places like that. Sobrang saya ni Eli."

"Let's go to more places like that then. Sa susunod, let's bring them to museums or let's take them to cinema. I think they'll like it so much."

"Bukas, ako naman manlilibre ng ice cream. Kaya lang hindi katulad ng kanina."

She chuckled. "It's fine. Hindi naman kami maarte sa foods ni Xeri."

We talked about different things at hindi ko na namalayan na nasa harap na kami ng bahay nila.

Sabay naming kinuha ang dalawa sa backseat dahil nakasandig ang mga ito sa isa't isa.

"Can you carry her? Gusto mo ihatid ko na muna sa loob?"

"No, it's fine. Bring home Eli na. Baka magising pa siya. She looks tired pa naman. 'Wag mo na rin ipasok 'yung car para hindi mo na kailangang kunin sa garage tomorrow. You may keep the keys."

Marahan akong nagpakawala ng hininga. "Thanks again for today..."

She smiled lightly at me. "Thank you din... you made us happy."

Plano kong hintayin siyang pumasok na sa loob dahil nagbukas na ng gate ang kasambahay, but we were just looking at each other in silence.

"I-I'll see you tomorrow," mahinang sambit ko.

"Yeah... good night," anito.

Pinanuod ko silang pumasok sa loob ng bahay. Nagsimula lang akong humakbang nang mawala na ang mga ito sa paningin ko.

Tulog na tukog si Eli sa balikat ko. Malapit na kami sa gate nang mapansin kong tila maliwanag doon.

Wala sa loob na nag-angat ako ng tingin. Nakabukas pa ang ilaw sa silid ni Lia sa pangalawang palapag.

I wasn't expecting that she was standing in front of the glass wall, looking in our direction.

Every time I would look at her... she could make my heart feel so mad.

Tinanggal ko rin ang tingin rito at muling humakbang palapit sa gate.