Destiny's Dance

Chapter 15

“What have you done?” Gulat na kwestyon ni Rylan sa pinsang si Roger.

Mabigat sa dibdib para kay Roger na dalhin iyon, kaya napagpasyahan niyang ikuwento sa pinsan ang tungkol sa pag-amin niya kay Chanylle kagabi tungkol kay Caroline.

“H-huwag mo akong pagalitan, I'm here because I am also confused!” Gulong-gulo ang isipan ni Roger. Halo-halong emosyon ang pasan ng kanyang dibdib.

Masaya siya dahil sa wakas ay nagkita sila ni Caroline muli, at ipinadama ang init ng pagmamahal para sa isa't-isa.

At the same time ay nagi-guilty siya dahil kahit sabihin pa niyang hindi niya minahal si Chanylle, ay asawa niya pa rin ito.

Nagi-guilty siya sapagkat parang may naaninag siyang lungkot at sakit mula sa mga mata ng asawa habang inaamin niya ang tungkol sa relasyon niya kay Caroline.

“Listen to your heart, Roger. You are the only one who can resolve that problem. Try to think, kasal ka pa rin sa iba, kahit mahal mo pa si Caroline. Do not rely with your past. Past is past. Dapat noon pa lang ay pinanindigan mo talaga na ayaw mong pakasalan si Chanylle!”

“P-pero alam mong hindi ko kayang tanggihan at balewalain ang parents ko.” Roger said in confusion.

“Oh yan naman pala, hindi mo kayang tanggihan, eh di dapat tanggapin mo na rin si Chanylle na kahit anong mangyari, kalakip na yan sa buhay mo.”

Upon Roger's arrival at home, he didn't expect the presence of visitors. In the living room, he saw his mom and dad. His eyes searched for his wife, and he caught her carrying snacks for her parents.

Roger subtly observed her entire being and noticed a change in her demeanor. She seemed tired and disheveled.

"Oh, you're here, Roger!" Masiglang saad ng asawa ng may mga ngiti sa mga labi, nang sa wakas ay makita siya . A smile that appeared tinged with sadness; he couldn't be sure, perhaps it was just his perception.

He approached his parents to show respect.

“Roger, pinapabayaan mo ba ang asawa mo?”

Natigilan siya sa klase ng tanong ng kanyang mommy.

Sinulyapan niya ang asawa. Nagsalubong ang kanilang mga mata.

“Nangangayayat ang asawa mo. Hindi mo napapansin kahit sa iisang bubong lang kayo?” Tila may halong panenermon na tanong ng ina.

Nag-alangan siyang lapitan ang asawa ngunit nagulat siya dahil ito mismo ang unang lumapit sa kanya at tinabihan siya sa upuan.

"Hindi po ako pinababayaan ng anak ninyo. He's just busy with work." Chanylle defended Roger and quickly stood up to get something from the kitchen. She prepared a snack for him.

"Don't focus solely on work, Roger. Sometimes, bond with your wife. You don't even have a child yet, and you can't simply do that!" Her father suggested, momentarily silencing both Roger and Chanylle.

"Anyway, how's your studies, dear?" Her mother redirected the conversation towards Chanylle. She noticed hesitation in Chanylle's response.

“My study is okay, mom. I've had a few absences in the past days; I haven't been feeling well." Roger subtly worried about his wife's health but felt reluctant to show it due to what he had said the previous night.

“Roger, take care of your wife naman. Siguro bugbog sa gawaing bahay, kumuha kaya kayo ng maid,” Suhestiyon naman ng ama ni Roger. Mabilis na tumango si Roger.

Hindi na natiis ni Roger, nakiusap siyang minsan dalaw-dalawin sa bahay si Chanylle kapag wala itong pasok, habang wala pa siyang nakikitang kasambahay. Sumang-ayon naman kaagad ang kanyang ina.

“H'wag kang mag-alala, dadalawin namin ni Clarisse ang asawa mo kapag sabado o kaya linggo.

Kinabukasan, nagtaka si Roger nang mapansing wala sa ibabaw ng kama si Chanylle.

Hiwalay kasi sila ng higaan kahit na simula pagkatapos ng kanilang kasal. Tanging naglalatag lamang siya sa sahig upang doon ay matulog.

He went downstairs and looked for her in the kitchen, as he usually did. His wife used to wake up early to cook breakfast, but now he noticed that the entire kitchen was quiet, and he couldn't find her there.

He headed to the living room, where he saw her engaged in a phone call. She quickly ended the conversation upon noticing him.

She was dressed up and seemed to be going somewhere. He thought she would stay at home during the weekends.

“Ahmm…where are you going?” Hindi nakatiis si Roger.

“May meeting lang with my classmates para sa isang project na gagawin.” Tugon nito ng hindi nakatingin sa kanya.

”Good to hear that. Ihahatid na kita.” He insisted.

“No, no. No need. Baka makaabala pa ako sayo.” Mabilis nitong tanggi. Umupo ito sa sofa at inabala ang sarili sa pagdi-dial ng kung sino sa cellphone.

“No, I insist. I noticed palagi ka nalang nagpapasundo sa mga kaklase mo.” Saad niyang nakangiti.

“No it's okay, palagi ka kasing busy at nakakahiya naman na magpahatid pa sayo. Susunduin ako ng isa sa mga kaklase ko. Si Mark.”

Parang nalaglag ang panga ni Roger at napawi ang kanyang ngiti sa mga labi.

After a few moments, he remained motionless as Mark, the person mentioned by Chanylle, arrived. The man was handsome and seemed well-off. Perhaps he was around the same age as his wife. He even felt annoyed because Mark didn't even glance at him to bid farewell before picking up her wife.

Her ego seemed wounded that another man would escort her wife, despite the numerous expensive cars he owned. He couldn't help but sense a feeling of her being perceived as an irresponsible husband. Well infact puwede niya namang kuhanan ito ng personal driver.

“You don't have to feel like that, Roger Drebb Gatchero.” Matigas niyang paalala sa kanyang sarili.

Nagmamadaling sinulyapan ni Chanylle ang kanyang relos. Hindi nila namalayang napatagal pala ang paggawa nila ng business plan development ng mga kaklase. Ginabi na sila at nagkanya-kanya ng uwi ang iba. Katulad ng pangako sa kanya ni Mark, ay ihahatid di umano siya nito.

“Let's go?” Mabilis na binitbit ni Chanylle ang kanyang laptop at nagpatiuna.

“Chanylle, wait! I'm sorry if I am not able to drive with you now. I had an emergency, my Dad was rushed into the hospital.” Ang malungkot na saad ni Mark. “I didn't notice my mom's message because we were both busy doing this project.”

Medyo nabahala si Chanylle kasi gabi na. Masama pa naman ang pakiramdam niya. Sa katunayan ay gusto na niyang magpahinga.

Tumango si Chanylle ng may ngiting mapang-unawa.

Emergency yon kaya hindi dapat pabayaan.

Naglakad na lang siya papauntang high way. Hindi naman madilim ang paligid dahil maraming ilaw at maraming tao. Lahat ng pinapara niyang taxi ay marami ang sakay kaya pakiramdam niya ay matatagalan siya. Ilang sandali pa ay may humintong Ferrari sa kanyang harapan. Nagulat siya nang mapagtanto kung sino ang nasa loob ng mamahaling sasakyang iyon.

“Roger.” Anas niya. Seryosong nakatingin sa kanya ang asawa.

“Get in the car,” saad nito na walang kangiti-ngiti sa mga labi.

Gusto sanang magtanong ni Chanylle kung paano nito natunton ang kinaroronan niya, pero ayaw niyang magbukas ng usapan. Mas pinili niya na lamang ang manahimik.

“Next time, hindi ka aalis ng bahay ng hindi ka nagpapahatid sa akin,” mariing saad ni Roger habang seryosong nagmamaneho.

Napansin niyang hindi umimik ang asawa, sa halip ay sa labas ng bintana ng kotse itinoon ang paningin nito.

“I didn't allow you with another guy.”

Ngunit hindi pa rin umimik ito. Kay layo ng paningin nito, bagay na ikinagalit naman ni Roger.

“What kind of project do you do?” Muling tanong ni Roger. Sa wakas ay nagbaling ng tingin ang asawa mula sa mirror.

“Business Plan Development,” matipid nitong tugon at muling nag-iwas ng tingin.

“Just a business plan? You should have said to me, I am willing to help without your classmates! Kaya kitang turuan without going out!”

Roger saw that Chanylle's forehead frowned. She is looking at him now with a little bit irritable face

“It's not your duty to help with my projects. Dumaan ka rin sa pag-aaral at alam mo ang salitang teamwork,” saad nito na diniinan ang salitang teamwork. “At isa pa, kung masusunod ang gusto mo, parang tinanggalan mo na rin kami ng karapatang matuto with our own.”

Natahimik si Roger. Hindi niya maipagkakailang may punto ang sinabi ng asawa.

Nakauwi na lang sila ng bahay na walang imikan. Nakita niyang nagpatiunang bumaba si Chanylle. Iginarahe pa niya ang kanyang sasakyan.

Nagdaan pa ang mga araw, walang pagbabago sa pagitan ng mag-asawang Chanylle at Roger.

Roger's always going home late. Always mentioning Caroline's name, saying in front of Chanylle how their relationship was good and perfect before.

At upang makaiwas sa mapanakit na si Roger, inaabala rin ni Chanylle ang sarili sa ibang bagay. She's always hanging out with classmates, the reason why their house is always silent and empty.

Pero ang hindi lang matanggap ni Chanylle ay ang pakialaman siya ni Roger tuwing umuuwi siya ng bahay.

“Why are you late, huh?” Roger's eyes full of anger like a wild cat anytime is ready to bite.

“I'm just hanging out with my classmates.” Chanylle remains calm.

Nagulat si Chanylle nang bigla nitong hawakan ng mahigpit ang braso niya.

Their eyes are both on fire. Measuring each other's patience.

“Hanging out, huh? For sure, you are flirting with another guy!”

Mas lalong tumalim ang mga mata ni Chanylle.

“Then it's none of your business!” She said and her voice echoed.

“I am your husband, and–

“Kailan pa?” Chanylle asked, seeming to be in pain. “Go off with my arms, Roger!” Her tears finally fell down. “Why are you angry? Have you already forgotten what you had told me before? I can do whatever I want, and you will do the same! Don't make a policy if you can't even follow it! You have no rights in me, you have Caroline, right? And you have a child with her. Sila ang pagtuunan mo ng pansin at hindi ako!”

Pagkapasok sa kwarto ay tinawagan niya si Reyn sa Skype.

“Stop crying, Chanylle. I noticed some differences in you. I-I mean, you look like you lose your appetite. Ganun mo na ba kamahal para masaktan ka ng sobra at maapektuhan ang kalusugan mo?”

Chanylle told everything to her friend, Reyn. Their fight and misunderstanding everyday. And even about Roger's past relationship to Caroline. Of Course Reyn was shocked.

“I-I think I-I'm in love with him, Reyn.” Chanylle said sobbing.

“Husshh…that's the reality, love hurts. Hold on if you still can. But if you think that you can't, then let go of him. Never suffer yourself from nothing, you never deserve it.”

“I'm afraid, Reyn. I think I can't let go of Roger.. I love him. I already love him sa maiksing panahon na magkasama kami sa bahay.”

“Love will fade, lalo na kapag durog na durog ka na.” Sagot naman ni Reyn.

“H-how will it fade, if he has planted me a seed of another life?”

Reyn was stunned and looked at her straight to the eyes.

“Wh-what do you mean?”

“I'm pregnant, I'm four weeks pregnant.”

“Four weeks? H-how? I mean it was very fast! Ilang araw pa lang kayong nagsasama sa iisang bubong simula ng maikasal kayo?” Reyn confusedly asks, waiting for her answer.

Hindi na nag-atubili pa si Chanylle na ikuwento ang tungkol sa nangyari sa kanila ni Roger sa Baguio sa iisang hotel.

“Believe me, I'm not the kind of girl you are thinking now,” Chanylle said while wiping her tears away. She was afraid Reyn might think of her that she was no different from the prostitute woman out there.

“I'm not thinking of you that way. I know you. But that was a big loss for you, knowing that you still can't remember how it was done.”

“Yes, but I woke up in his hotel room, wearing his T-shirt. And I lost my virginity.”

“So he has an obligation to you. He must not hurt you again, because of that ex lover of his! Fight for your right, Chanylle. Ikaw pa rin ang mas may karapatan kay Roger, kasal kayo at magkakaroon na kayo ng supling kaya, bali-baliktarin man ang mundo, saang husgado man kayo magpang-abot, walang karapatan ang Caroline na iyon sa asawa mo!”

"Però si Caroline ang nauna at sila ang nagmamahalan.” Giit pa rin ni Chanylle.

Umiling-iling si Reyn. Gusto ng kaibigan niya na ipaglaban niya ang kanyang karapatan kay Roger.