Kabanata 21
1416 Words
Dra. Maggie didn't even bother hiding her irritation after seeing me inside Coal's office. Tumaas kaagad ang kanyang kilay at pinasadahan ako ng tingin. I suddenly felt conscious. I'm only wearing a pair of jeans matched with a shirt and rubber shoes. Clearly, I'm not wearing something more than a thousand pesos, while she's a walking hundred K.
"Who is it, Steph?" tanong ni Coal nang makitang naestatwa ako sa aking kinatatayuan.
I lowered my head when Dra. Maggie drew in a sharp breath before she stormed in.
"Send her away. I have to discuss something important to you," aniya sa malamig na tinig bago naupo sa visitor's chair.
Coal clenched his jaw. Nang makitang kukunin ko na ang bag ko ay tumuwid siya ng upo at isinangkal ang magkabilang siko sa mesa.
"You're staying, Stephanie," Coal said with firmness in his voice. Nalunok ko naman ang laway ko't hindi alam kung aalis o mananatili.
Tumaas muli ang kilay ni Dra. Maggie nang makitang naupo ako sa sofa at sinimulang ayusin ang mga papeles na nasa coffee table. "Fine. You want your b***h to hear what I'm about to say? So be it."
Dumilim ang mukha ni Coal, ngunit sinenyasan ko siyang huwag na lamang patulan si Maggie. He sighed and shook his head, his knuckles turned white as he clenched his fists. "Anong kailangan mo?"
"I'm going back to the penthouse," deretsahan nitong sagot na nakapagpatigil sa akin sa pag-aayos ng mga papeles. Nakita ko naman ang pagsulyap sa akin ni Coal bago siya humugot ng malalim na hininga.
"And who do you think you are to decide to move in again after what you did?"
Ramdam ko ang pagpipigil niya ng galit. The atmosphere inside the office suddenly felt thicker. Pati ako ay hindi na makahinga nang maayos, at kung pwede lang akong lumabas ay baka lumabas na lamang ako.
"Who am I?" Dra. Maggie scoffed. "I am your wife. Legal wife. I am moving in for our daughter."
Inis na natawa si Coal at umiling. "For Coleen? Who do you think you're fooling, hmm? Doon ka kay Serenity makitira kung gusto mo tutal malapit ang condo niya sa clinic mo."
Napatigil ako. Serenity? My brows furrowed. Dra. Maggie Herrera is related to Serenity Herrera?
"That penthouse is a conjugal property. You have no power to restrict me from coming home." Tumingin siya sa akin nang matalim. "I am not going to let any leeches ruin my name." She returned her gaze to Coal. "We are not gonna annul our marriage. I will never let myself be the talk of the town--"
"May I remind you that you f*****g cheated on me--"
"You and your nonsense speculations! Ilang beses ko bang sasabihin sayo na magkaibigan lang kami? He comes over only because he's my goddamn business partner!"
"Lies. f*****g lies. You want me to ask Coleen what she saw at your place, hmm? How that motherfucker railed you even when he knew my eight-year-old daughter was there?"
Tumiim ang bagang ni Dra. Maggie. "Kids lie. When will you understand that, hmm?"
Umigting ang panga ni Coal. "My daughter doesn't."
Maggie drew in a sharp breath. "Either I will get my place back at our penthouse, or I will do everything for you to never have Coleen's custody once you push through this stupid annulment." Tumindig ito at matalim na tinitigan si Coal. "Just because I cannot be a b***h in bed and do whatever you asked me to doesn't mean you have the right to flip the tables and make me the bad guy. It's your carnal cravings versus my rights as your legal wife, Henry. You know the law very well, and I know you know who's got the upper hand right now. Don't make me do horrible things just to put you in your f*****g place."
Lalo lamang dumilim ang itsura ni Coal. "Is that all you care about, hmm? Your goddamn name and your clinic--"
"Oh, don't get me started with that! Hindi ako magpapaka-busy sa trabaho at mawawalan ng gana sayo kung hindi mo ginawa sa akin 'yon!"
I saw how Coal glanced at me as if he didn't want me to hear what just Maggie said. Napakunot naman ako ng noo at hindi napigilang mapaisip.
What did he do?
Coal inhaled a sharp breath. "Leave. You want the penthouse? Fine. But don't expect me to come home and pretend to be a loving husband to you."
Umismid si Dra. Maggie. "Oh, you soon will." Nabaling ang tingin niya sa akin. "You soon will..."
I bowed my head and dodged her sharp gaze. Nang tuluyan siyang nakalabas ng opisina ni Coal ay napansin ko ang pagluwag ni Coal sa kanyang necktie. I stood up and got him a glass of water before I went to him.
"Here. This might help."
Tumingala siya sa akin at tinanggap ang baso, ang palad ay namirmi sa aking lower back. Nang mainom niya ang tubig ay iginiya niya akong maupo sa kanyang kandungan saka niya pinakawalan ang mabigat na hangin sa kanyang dibdib.
"I'm sorry. Dapat hinayaan na lang kitang lumabas."
I ran my fingers onto his hair. "It's fine. Wala naman sa akin 'yon." Sandali akong lumunok. "Pwede ko bang malaman kung... kung ano 'yong tinutukoy niyang nagawa mo sa kanya?"
Napansin ko ang pagguhit ng pag-aalala sa kanyang mga mata. He even looked away and remained silent for a moment before he shut his eyes and sighed.
"I told her I had a vasectomy so she will stop insisting that we use birth control. I lied because I wanted us to have a child already... at nagkamali ako. It was her body but I was so selfish that I didn't respect her decision to not have a child yet." Tumingin siya sa akin. "I will never do that to you, Steph. I promise you I will always respect your decisions."
Tila may mainit na palad na humaplos sa aking puso nang madama ko ang takot niya na baka mangyari rin sa amin ang nangyari sa kanila ni Maggie.
I cupped his face and rubbed my thumbs on his cheek. "I know, and I trust you. Pwede naman nating pag-usapan ang mga bagay-bagay, 'di ba? We can meet halfway instead of fall apart."
Umaliwalas ang kanyang mukha. "Thank you."
I drew in a sharp breath. "So paano na? Babalik na siya sa penthouse mo?"
"I can stay at your place while she's there."
"Pero paano naman si Coleen?"
He flashed a weak smile. "I'll always take her with me so you can get to know her."
"Papayag ba si Maggie?"
"Maggie stays at her clinic until late at night. She won't notice it anymore." He tucked a few strands of my hair on the back of my ear. "Maybe you can stop working already? I can provide for you."
"Boyfriend ang kailangan ko, your honor, hindi sugar daddy. Masyado na nga akong nabi-baby ni tita Clareth, eh tapos sasabihin mo pa 'yan. Huwag kang mag-alala sa'kin. Sanay na rin ang katawan ko kaya siguradong hahanap-hanapin ko rin ang routine ko."
He sighed. "Fine, but let me know if you need my help on anything. Anyway, Mom called earlier. She wants us to have dinner at her place. Doon din ididiretso ng yaya niya si Coleen."
"Hindi ba magagalit ang bata?" nag-aalala kong tanong.
"Magsusungit lang sandali si Coleen but it's not hard to earn her trust."
I sighed. "Sige. Siguro magandang bumili ng gift para sa kanya? Sumahod naman ako at may extra. Pwede ko ba siyang ibili ng doll?"
His eyes flickered with happiness as he smiled. "She'd love that. Her mommy doesn't allow her to have lots of toys anyway."
"Bakit naman? Nakakayaman ng creativity ng bata ang paglalaro."
"Yeah, well unless her toys will make her dream to be like her mom someday, Maggie won't let Coleen have a playtime."
I smirked. "Then we'll bond well. I can play with her."
His lips curved. "Should we start building a doll house at your condo, hmm?"
Lumawak ang ngisi ko. "And an indoor playground--"
Napatayo ako kaagad nang biglang bumukas ang pinto. s**t! We forgot to lock the door when Maggie left. Mabuti na lamang at nakaalis ako kaagad sa kandungan ni Coal nang pumasok si Prof. Eyah, ngunit nang makita niya ang itsura naming dalawa, nalunok ko na lamang ang laway ko.
Looks like she already noticed something she's not supposed to know.
I bowed my head.
Huwag naman sana...
- Writer
