My Destiny (Completed)

k10

Buong maghapon siyang nakatulala. Iba pala ang sakit kapag asawa mo 'yong nahuli mong may kasamang ibang babae- and not just some other woman but a former fiancee...

Iba 'yong pakiramdam noong hindi pa sila kasal. Noon kahit nasasaktan siya, okay lang. Pero ngayon, pakiramdam niya kailangan talaga niyang iiyak.

"Babasagin ko talaga mukha ng Francis na 'yan eh!" Galit si Katrina habang pinapanood siyang umiiyak. "Do you want me to talk to him?"

"No Kat... please, you will not help me kapag kinausap mo pa siya." Sinusubukan naman niyang pigilin ang pag-iyak niya pero parang balon naman ang mga mata niya at 'di maubos-ubos ang luha niya.

"But I couldn't just let him hurt you." She hugged her.

"Thank you."

Despite his coldness, sinikap niyang gampanan ang pagiging asawa niya kay Francis. Kahit na kapag nagluluto siya, hindi ito kumakain.

For their first one week as husband and wife, bilang lang ang mga pag-uusap nila and it was never about the two of them but the company's financial status. Hindi rin sila nagsasabay pumasok at umuwi.

Madalas hindi alam ni KC kung umuwi ba ang asawa niya o hindi. She lost hope. And Francis couldn't blame her.

"Pwede ba akong matulog dito, mom, mama?" Tanong niya kina Cassey at Myra.

Dumalaw siya roon dahil hindi na niya kayang laging mag-isa sa condo ni Francis.

"'Asaan ba ang asawa mo?" Si Myra, nagdududa ang hitsura nito.

"Out of town conference, mama," she lied. "Ayaw n'yo na ba ako rito?" Lumabi siya.

"Of course not, anak," si Cassey. "You are welcome here anytime. I hate Francis na kailangan ka niyang kunin agad."

"Hindi naman, mom." Nagpilit siya ng ngiti.

Katrina was currently out of the country so wala ito sa bahay. Karlo likewise was out for a business conference. Kaya naman sa gitna ng dalawang ina siya natulog.

She secretly cried in the middle of the night. Ni hindi siya hinanap ng asawa niya.

"KC, bumangon ka na, anak." si Myra. "Sinusundo ka na ng asawa mo."

"Po?" Ayaw niyang dumilat.

"Si Francis... Sinusundo ka na," ulit ng kanyang ina.

Talaga ba? Hindi siya kumilos agad. Hinihintay niyang sabihin ni Myra na-joke lang.

"KC," ulit nito.

"Mama, out of town siya," she answered not moving.

"Bahala ka, bumangon ka na. Para sabay-sabay na tayo sa breakfast. Nasa dining na si Francis."

"Opo."

Hindi nga ba ito nagbibiro? She stayed for another ten minutes bago bumangon.

Wala siyang planong pumasok. Nag-file siya ng two days vacation leave. Malaki ang kompanya so hindi na iyon dadaan pa sa CEO para magpa-approve.

She took a quick bath sa kwarto niya at nagbihis ng komportableng pambahay. She wouldn't go anywhere so pwede na 'yon.

Dumiretso siya sa dining room habang pahikab-hikab pa.

"Good morning every-" bati niya pero nabitin sa ere ang sasabihin pa niya nang makita niya si Francis. "-one." She pretended to act normal. "Honey, why didn't you tell me you're back?"

Dumiretso siya rito for a morning kiss kahit kinakabahan siya.

"Morning, my love," ganting bati nito.

KC intended to kiss his cheek pero pagkalapit niya, lumingon ito so her lips landed on his lips. Pinigil niyang magulat at sumakay sa sweet kiss nito that lasted several seconds.

"Bagong kasal nga naman," si Cassey. "Tama na 'yan love birds... Almusal muna."

Hindi niya alam kung paano nila na-survive ang breakfast na nagpapanggap silang normal newly weds.

"I'm sorry mommies, but susunduin ko na ang asawa ko. You see, I wasn't able to be with her these past few days because of my out of town conference so we will make up for the lost times." Akbay-akbay siya ni Francis habang nagpapaalam kina Cassey at Myra, sinakyan na nito ang kasinungalingan niya.

"No problem. Go ahead."

When they were in his car, balik na namam sila sa dati. Hindi na naman siya nito kinikibo. And KC suddenly wished na sana doon na lang sila sa mga magulang niya para kahit hindi totoo ay nagiging sweet ito sa kanya.

"I'm on leave, Francis. So you can drop me at the bus station. I'll commute from there," sabi niya after several minutes.

She didn't get an answer at hindi ito dumaan sa bus stop.

"Okay, I can take a taxi from here. Pakitabi na lang," hirit pa rin niya. "Fran-"

"You can't just do that, Charlize!" Mataas ang boses na sabi nito.

"I'm sorry??" Naiiritang aniya.

"You didn't go home and you didn't tell me!"

"Naririnig mo ba sinasabi mo?!" Hindi siya makapaniwala. "I didn't go anywhere, Francis. I slept in my mother's house!"

Naiinis siya. Seriously? Was he mad dahil 'di siya nagpaalam? Samantalang ito lagi itong hindi umuuwi at hindi ito nagpapaalam!

"Still, you didn't tell me. You are a married woman. Atleast have the decency to tell your husband if you're coming home or not!"

She counted down from ten. No, hindi siya papatol sa sinasabi nito. Kasi kapag nagsalita pa siya, baka pagsisihan pa niya ang mga mabibitawan niyang salita.

So she didn't answer and just looked outside. Hindi na rin ito kumibo pero halatang nagpipigil lang ito ng galit. He took her home without a word at umalis din pagkatapos.

*****

Naiinip na siya sa bahay kaya nagpasya siyang maggrocery na lang ng stocks after lunch.

'Hi, Francis, you want anything for dinner?' She texted her husband while going over the vegetables in the supermarket.

'Will be out for dinner. Thanks,' he replied.

Nalungkot siya pero atleast hindi ito deadma sa kanya ngayon.

'How about for breakfast tomorrow?'

'Anything.'

'Okay.'

Nasiyahan na siya sa ganoong conversation nila ng asawa niya. She hoped na makakasabay nga niya ito sa breakfast bukas.

She decided na gagawa siya ng effort para subukan munang i-work out ang marriage nila.

After all, Francis said he loves her. Hindi nga lang siya sure kung pagkatapos bang mapilitan itong pakasalan siya ay mahal pa rin siya nito.

She spent few hours in the grocery. Naparami ang nabili niya at nakalimutan niyang wala pala siyang dalang sasakyan.

Tuloy namomroblema siya kung paano niya iuuwi mag-isa ang mga pinamili niya.

She decided na magtataxi na lang siya after putting everything in the pushcart.

"Need help, Mrs Park?"

"Ivan!" Nagliwanag ang mukha niya.

"What are you doing here?"

"I had a meeting in one of the restaurants here. I spotted you. So, do you need help?" Nakangiting tanong ni Ivan.

"Yeah... I mean, I totally forgot na wala akong sasakyan na nagpunta rito,"tuwa lang niya. "Magtataxi na nga sana ako. Ahm wait, you mean help me bring these home right?"

"Uh huh... Bakit ka nga ba nagpunta rito mag-isa?" Ito na ang nagtulak sa pushcart niya.

"I'm on leave. Nabored ako so I decided na mamili. Alam mo 'yon, cook for Francis, try to be a perfect wife -" napatigil siya nang hindi ito kumibo. "I-i'm sorry."

"I envy him so much," sabi ni Ivan, nasa parking na sila at niloload na nito ang mga pinamili niya sa kotse nito. "But don't be sorry, tanggap ko na. I just can't get you out of my system that easily." He smiled.

"Thank you, Ivan." Hinatid siya nito pero 'di na niya pinaakyat ang binata. That would be unethical kasi bahay iyon ni Francis. Magpapatulong na lang siya sa isang guard ng condominium. "Maraming salamat talaga ha? Nahirapan sana ako kung 'di ka dumating."

"Anytime, Charlize." Nagulat siya nang kabigin siya nito para halikan sa pisngi.

Alanganing ngiti na lang ang isinukli niya as she watched him leave.

Guard ang kasama niya pag-akyat sa unit ni Francis.

"Salamat po, ha?"

"Wala pong anuman, Ma'am," nagpaalam na ito.

She was about to unlock the door nang mapansing hindi iyon naka-lock. Kinabahan siya at dali-daling pinihit ang knob.

Sigurado siyang naglock siya kanina bago siya umalis.

"Why didn't you invite your boyfriend to come up?" ang sarkastikong tanong ni Francis ang muntik nang magpatalon sa kanya sa gulat. Nakaupo ito sa sofa na parang talagang hinihintay ang pagdating niya.

"Francis?!" Wasn't he supposed to have a dinner meeting? Five pm pa lang...

"Didn't you think I'd find out?" Galit ito but he still managed to help her na ipasok ang mga dala-dala niya.

"If it's Ivan, I just happened to run into him sa mall. He offered to help me.What's wrong with that?" Kalmadong sagot niya while unpacking the groceries.

"And you believed him?" Nagtataas na ito ng boses

"Why not? He is my friend! I don't understand how it is an issue to you."

"D*mn it, Charlize! Friends don't kiss!"

"We did not kiss!" Did he see Ivan kiss her cheek?

"I saw you."

"He kissed me. I did not kiss him. It's different."

"Still, you're married!"

"Am I?" She walked out and went to her room. Gusto niyang isumbat na hindi niya naramdaman iyon kahit minsan.

"Do I need to remind you how we ended up married?!" Sumunod ito sa kwarto niya

"Sure, Francis!" Hinarap niya ito, ther ears threathening to fall any moment. "Remind me how we're trapped into this stupid marriage!"

"Stupid marriage? It's all stupid for you?" Naningkit ang mga mata nito and

there's a little bit of pain in his eyes "After -" hindi nito itinuloy ang

sasabihin but turned his back and left her.

She just heard Francis shutting the front door behind him.

Now, that's stupid. Paano pa niya susubukang i-work out ang kasal nila kung tinawag niyang stupid ang marriage nila?

'Where'd your brain go, KC????'

*****

KC decided na babawi siya. Hindi na naman umuwi si Francis kaya instead na ituloy ang leave niya, papasok na lang siya to see her husband.

But before going to the office, nagprepare muna siya ng special na lunch para sa kanila ni Francis. Sana lang ay wala itong lunch meeting.

Ten am na siya nakapasok sa opisina. At kung bakit naman feeling niya ay tensed ang paligid. One day lang siyang nawala ay nagbago na ang atmosphere.

"Charlize!" Nakabalik na rin pala si Katrina. "Buti dumating ka" parang problemado ito.

"Kat, problem?"

"Sis, have you heard?"

"Heard what?" Kunot noong tanong niya.

"Your husband fired Ivan-"

"What?!" She exclaimed. "Why?"

"I don't know... Kanina pa nga sila sa boardroom. We're just hearing commotions. They wouldn't even let me in! -" hindi na niya pinatapos ang kapatid.

She ran to the boardroom. Eksakto namang papalabas na si Ivan. Putok ang labi nito.

"Ivan!" She hurried towards him. "Are you okay?"

"I am. Don't worry about me. Take care of Francis." Dali-dali namn niya itong iniwan. Nakasunod naman si Katrina kaya ito na ang bahala kay Ivan.

"Francis!" Nakita niya ang asawa niya nagpupunas ng duguang labi at ilong nito. "Francis! What happened to you?!"

Francis pushed her nang lumapit siya. Pero nang si Alex ang lumapit na kadarating lang ay pumayag ito. It already hurts to see her husband in that situation but it hurts even more that he didn't want her help and preferred his ex to assist him."

What happened to you?" tanong ni Alex na agad dinaluhan ang duguang si Francis. "Who did this?"

KC just stood there watching. She wanted so bad na siya ang nasa tabi ng asawa niya at hindi si Alex. Pero paano niya gagawin iyon kung ito mismo ay ayaw siyang palapitin?

"It's okay. I'm fine." She heard Francis say, pinigilan nito ang kamay ni Alex, pulled her by the back of her head and kissed her lips.

Now, she didn't see that coming. As if denying her help wasn't enough, he literally showed her how he didn't need her in his life...

Namalayan na lang niyang tumatakbo siya palabas ng boardroom. Tears all over her face. That was too much to bear!

"Charlize!" Narinig pa niya si Katrina na tinatawag siya pero nagtuloy-tuloy lang siya hanggang sa makalabas ng building.

Hindi naman kalsada agad paglabas, kaya nagulat siya nang bigla siyang makarinig ng mahabang busina. She didn't have the chance to see what was it.

*****

"Francis!!!" parang nakakita ng multo si Katrina nang pumasok ito sa boardroom about twenty minutes after Charlize left.

Nasa tabi pa rin niya si Alex na may hawak hawak ng cold compress.

"What?" iritadong aniya.

He didn't want to give Charlize that kind of show. Gusto lang niyang iparamdam sa asawa niya kung ano ang naramdaman niya nang makita niya itong hinahalikan ni Ivan kahapon.

He cancelled his dinner meeting with the anticipation to date his wife last night. After a week na hindi niya ito kinikibo, he finally realized that he still loves her at hindi iyon nabago ng insidenteng dahilan kung bakit sila biglaang ikinasal.

He could swear, he made love to Charlize that night. Lasing siya, oo. But he knew it was Charlize. But having her denying it happened, drove him really mad.

Alex, perhaps was right, Charlize just wanted to ruin their relationship and she succeeded. He would've had willingly married her. Pero hindi sa ganoong paraan. And for a while he thought he didn't really love her after all.

Until he went home and didn't find his wife who usually would wait for him by the couch. Lagi itong nakakatulog sa living room. Hindi nito namamalayan na umuuwi siya dahil sinasadya niyang umalis din bago ito magising. But there was never a single night that he didn't come home to Charlize.

But the realization that he still loves his wife only hit him when he went home to an empty house. Mabuti at predictable si Charlize, with just one attempt, nalaman niya kung nasaan ito.

His plan was to start fixing things with her. They will start over again. Kissing her that morning was the best thing that happened in one week, made him wanting to have more of it.

Pero nainis siya dahil halata niyang nagpapanggap lang ito. Was everything just a show for her? Leaving her again drove him insane.

But atleast, by noon, Charlize initiated to make things better. And the jerk that he was, he turned her down.

Pero nagbago rin ang isip niya - thus cancelling his meeting that night and went home early with a romantic dinner date reserved at a nearby hotel.

That was the plan, but he saw her with Ivan. And the confrontation with her didn't in one bit made things okay but turned everything worst.

Charlize said theirs was a stupid marriage. Naibuhos niya ang galit kay Ivan.

He was just going to talk to him. Pero may mga sinabi itong di niya nagustuhan, and that included taking Charlize away from him dahil hindi naman niya kayang alagaan ang asawa niya.

The next things that happened were totally unplanned. They fought over one woman that they both love - Charlize.

And then she came, checking on Ivan first...

"Come with me," mangiyak-ngiyak si Katrina.

"What is it, Katrina?" Bigla tuloy siyang nag-worry.

"It's Charlize. She was brought to the hospital."

"What?!" Napatayo siya bigla almost throwing Alex to the floor na tulad niya ay nagulat din. "What hospital? Why would she be in the hospital?" He asked, fear starting to creep him in.

"She was hit by a car, I don't know, I'm not sure, that's what they told me." Litong-lito at natatakot na sagot ng dalaga. "Can we go now?"

He didn't answer but dragged her behind him. He must see Charlize!

"She was crying when she left. The guards said she hurriedly exited the building and got suddenly hit ----" hindi na niya naririnig ang ibang sinasabi ni Katrina.

His mind was focused on Charlize.

"Please be okay," he whispered. Who could he blame but himself?