A Wife's Regret

Chapter 32

LIA ELIZA ALFARO's POV

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I didn't bother to turn on the lights in my room. I could see them from the glass wall.

They seemed to enjoy each other's company.

He watched her get inside bago humakbang pabalik ng bahay. I remained standing there kahit pa noong makapasok na ito.

Ilang minuto ang lumipas. Nakita kong muling lumabas ng gate ang babaeng iyon at humakbang palapit sa gate ng bahay.

I saw her push the doorbell button. Narinig ko agad iyon.

Pinanuod ko siya sa pangatlong beses bago ako kumilos.

I saw Eli also open the door of her room.

"Mommy, there's someone outside. Daddy's taking a bath. Should I open the gate?"

"Go back to your room," casual na sambit ko without looking at her at dumiretso na palabas ng bahay.

I didn't mind to open the lights. Pinagbuksan ko ito ng gate.

She seemed surprised na ako ang nagbukas ng gate para sa kanya, but she immediately tried to compose herself.

"H-Hi... sorry to disturb you at this hour."

I didn't say anything. Nanatili lang akong nakatingin sa mga mata nito.

"Uhm... I just wanna give this to Chase." Inangat nito ang kamay na sinundan ko ng tingin. May hawak itong wallet at cellphone doon. "I forgot to give him earlier."

Muli kong ibinaling ang tingin sa kanya.

"Are you his friend?" I asked casually.

I saw her gulp something down her throat before she slowly nodded. "We're... friends."

Hindi ko tinanggal ang tingin sa mga mata nito. I didn't like her and I didn't like the way she lied.

"Why are you acting like a mistress then?"

I saw discomfort written all over her face. Perhaps she didn't expect to hear that.

I wasn't stupid. Nakikita ko siya at alam ko kung anong ginagawa niya.

"I--I guess you've misinterpreted it. Chase and I are just fri--"

Napatigil itong nang kuhanin ko sa kamay niya ang cellphone at wallet na inabot niya kanina.

"Twelve PMP tomorrow. Meet me at my bakeshop."

Hindi ko na hinintay pang sumagot siya. Tiningnan ko siya sa huling beses bago ko isara ang gate.

Eli was waiting for me in the living room. Inabot ko lang sa kanya ang gamit nito at dumiretso na rin ako sa silid ko without looking at her.

Hinayaan ko nang siya ang maghatid Kay Eli sa school kinabukasan dahil maaga akong umalis para magpunta sa bakeshop. Maraming orders kaya naman tumulong muna ako bago umalis.

I went to my bank. Nag withdraw ako ng may kalakihang amount na noon ko na lang ulit nagawa since Tim died. Halos lahat ng transaction ko ay cashless o 'di kaya ay cheque.

Hindi na rin ako nagkaroon ng oras na pakialaman ang mga naiwan niyang liabilities na siya lang at ang accountant niya ang may alam. They were receiving automatic payment from our funds. I also had no time to read their reports. Hinayaan ko na lang.

I only cared about my business. Iyon lang ang mino-monitor ko dahil from the very first beginning, ayaw na ayaw nito na pinapakiaalam ang kahit anong transaction niya. I was just used of not giving a damn about his finances.

Tiningnan ko ang mga transaction sa passbook ko na noon lang nai-update after long years.

Binuklat ko iyon hanggang sa dulo. I noticed a consistent three thousand pesos deposit every 30th of the month.

I contacted my accountant after sending her some photos. She answered immediately.

"Have you seen the photos I've sent to you?"

"Yes, ma'am. I've checked na rin po. I don't make deposits sa gan'yang amount, ma'am. Can you remember lending money po to someone?"

"I don't do that."

"Hmm, it's very consistent, ma'am, since six years ago. Don't worry po, ako na po makikipag-coordinate sa bank about this and I'll inform you right away kapag may balita na po ako."

"Just call me back."

Dumiretso na ako bakeshop after that. Nakita ko na itong nakaupo sa harap ng isang mesa roon. Sinundan niya ako ng tingin hanggang sa makarating ako at makaupo ako sa tapat niya.

Sandali kaming kinain ng katahimikan nito bago siya umimik. "I like your cake... better than those I've tasted."

Hindi ako sumagot. I could still see the discomfort in her, but pretending to be fine.

"I-- I really wanted to apologize about last night. Chase and I are friends... we never had-- a relationship more than it."

Kinuha ko ang kapeng binaba ng crew sa harap ko. Marahan ko iyong hinalo, hinipan at ininom bago tumingin sa kanya.

"Don't you like him more than friends?"

Hindi ito nakasagot agad, but I didn't need a yes or no answer from her. Nakikita ko na sa mga mata niya ang sagot.

"I will never... ever ruin a family, it's just that--"

"You're already starting to ruin it, don't you?"

"I don't," agad sagot nito. "I love Eli, I want a complete family for her. Hindi ko iyon kukuhanin sa kanya. I'm just... just trying to be there for her and... Chase. Nabanggit niya sa akin ang sitwasyon and I thought that you both can still make separate decisions. You two are only married in pa--"

"I don't care and you shouldn't care. It's still legal. He's still married to me. Stop acting like you're the wife and you're the mother of my daughter."

"I'm not acting that way. Eli needs attention, she seeks for someone's love na hindi mo kayang ibigay. I don't think there's something wrong with that. I don't regret being close to her and Chase. They deserve the love from people around them not mistreatment from someone claiming she's the mother and the wife."

I kept myself composed after hearing that.

Dinala ko ang sobre sa harapan niya dahil ayoko ng mahabang conversation with her or anyone.

"I'm paying the money he owes you. Sobra pa 'yan. I would love to pay the interest as well. Now..." I whispered without taking my eyes off her. "Get your own driver."

I could see in her eyes how disappointed she was. It must be saddening for her. She lost her only way of getting close to them.

"Order everything you like. All free for you," I said sarcastically at inurong ang silya ko.

Dumiretso akong humakbang patungo sa pangalawang palapag kung nasaan ng opisina ko.

Nakita ko si Riel na nakaupo sa isang silya sa harap ng mesa ko.

"Pst, bakit nandito si Reni?" tanong nito habang papalapit ako sa upuan ko. "Anong pinag-usapan niyo?"

Hindi ako sumagot at binuksan ko na agad ang laptop ko.

"Oh my gosh..." she whispered. "Don't tell me... tama ako? They are in a relationship na?" Sumigaw ito at excited pang pumalakpak sa ere. "Bagay sila!"

Nag-angat ako ng tingin rito and she immediately stopped.

"What's wrong? I heard the whole story ha. Grabe pala 'yung pagmamahal sa'yo ni daddy Chase noon kahit once ka lang niyang nakausap sa cafeteria. I'm happy for him now that he has finally moved on. Naging happy ka na kay Tim noon, right? Don't you think it's time for him naman to be happy with someone else din?"

"I have a lot of things to do. I don't want to talk about it."

"Bes... you can't love him, right? His life was ruined because of you, don't make it more miserable now."

Huminto ako sa pag-aayos ng papel at bumaling sa kanya na may matalim na tingin.

"Don't make it look like it was my fault. He had the chance to make a decision, but he chose to be a coward."

"Bes, niloko rin siya ni Tim--"

"He let him. He didn't do anything."

Napahugot ito ng marahas na hininga. "It's because he loves you... akala niya masaya ka eh."

"I was happy," agad sambit ko habang nararamdam ang pag-iinit ng mga mata ko. "I was happy with all that lies. He lied to me and he let him lie to me. Now, do you think I should be happy? I should be thankful because he loved me? He didn't try. Not even once."

Naramdaman ko ang paghawak nito sa kamay ko.

"But he tried the past years, hindi ba? Sinubukan niya kahit alam niyang walang pag-asa. Tiniis niya ugali mo sa ilang taon na 'yon. He was always there by your side even you pushed him away countless times. He took care of you kahit sa mga araw na hindi mo alam. He had so many chances na iwan ka, but did you ever see him leave? He stayed, bes. He stayed even during those days na napapagod na siya. I see all of it. And I can see in you, hindi mo kaya. You can't reciprocate his love. At kung hindi nga, why don't you just let other people give that love to him? Deserve niya namang maging masaya. Deserve naman niya na siya naman ang alagaan this time, hindi ba?"

CHASE KARSON MANJARES' POV

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"Uy, Chase, alas-cuatro na ah? Bakit wala pa 'yung jowa mo?" tanong ni Kaloy.

Napailing ako rito. Mabuti na lang ay komportable pa rin si Reni sa mga ito kahit na madalas siyang asarin ng mga ito sa akin.

Wala sa loob na tiningnan ko ang cellphone ko at nagulat akong makitang mahigit alas-cuatro na nga.

Dapat ay kanina pa ito nakarating at nasundo na namin si Xeri.

I tried to call her pero hindi niya sinasagot ang tawag ko.

Naghugas na agad ako ng kamay at nagpalit ng damit. Naisip ko na lang na puntahan ito sa bahay nila dahil baka nakalimutan niya lang na imposibleng mangyari. I was also kinda worried.

Uwian kaya naman nahirapang akong mag-abang ng trycicle. Binilisan ko na lang ang lakad papunta sa village hanggang sa makarating ako sa harap ng bahay nila.

Napansin ko agad na wala na ang sasakyan niya sa garage nang sumilip ako sa gate.

Hindi ko na maiwasang mag-alala dahil masyado ng late. I was just felt relieved nang mapansin kong paparating na ang sasakyan niya.

Hinintay kong bumaba siya ng sasakyan at su Xeri sa backseat.

"Uncle Chase!" Yumakap agad ito sa baywang ko at tumingala sa akin nang nakabusangot. "I'm sad. Ate said you won't drive for us anymore."

Napatingin agad ako kay Reni na iniwasan rin agad ang mga mata ko.

"What?"

I heard her sigh. "Xeri, get inside now. I'll follow."

Hindi ko inalis ang tingin sa kanya hanggang sa makaalis si Xeri.

"What's wrong? May... may nagawa ba akong mali?"

She immediately shook her head and pursed her lips.

"You didn't do anything wrong... It's just that... your-- Lia... Lia paid all the money you borrowed."

Hindi ako nakapagsalita agad. I was till trying to process it.

"Nakipagkita siya sa akin kanina."

"I'm... I'm sorry. I didn't know she would do that."

Nakaramdam agad ako ng paninikip ng dibdib. Ano na naman ba ang pinaplano niya?

"I really don't want you to get involved sa issue naming dalawa."

"It's fine..." she said and tried to smile at me. "It's my pleasure to know her better. She's very... territorial. I realized she will not easily give you up and Eli."

Hindi ko mapigilan ang pag-iinit ng dibdib ko habang hinihintay ang mga itong umuwi ng bahay.

It was almost seven pero hindi pa rin sila nakakauwi.

Tumayo lang ako mula sa couch nang marinig ko na ang sasakyan nito sa garage.

Eli approached me excitedly nang makapasok sa living room. Hindi ko na muna inintindi ang mabilis niyang kwento tungkol sa playground na pinuntahan nila.

"Take a bath now, we'll talk later."

"Okay, daddy!" nakangiting sambit nito pagkatapos ay nagmadali nang tumakbo palayo.

Bumaling ako sa taong kasunod nito. Akmang lalagpasan ako pero kinuha ko ang braso niya.

"Let's talk," malamig na sambit ko.

Diretso akong tiningnan nito sa mga mata like she was never intimidated.

"I didn't tell you to pay her."

"Do I need to ask for your approval?" she asked casually at binawi sa akin ang braso niya. "I paid it, so you'll pay me now. Drive the car tomorrow."

Pinanuod ko itong humakbang paakyat ng hagdan.

Damn... I really couldn't believe her.