The Woman He Cheated With (ILLICIT AFFAIRs 1)Updated at Sep 15, 2026, 14:56
I HEARD THE water running inside the bathroom. Hinila ko ang kumot para takpan ang hubad kong katawan. My eyes were wandering around, agad akong naramdam ng bara sa aking lalamunan. Our clothes are everywhere, my purse is on the floor. Even the heels I wore tonight looks like has been thrown out on the floor.
Ilang minuto akong tulala habang malayo ang tingin. Hanggang sa narinig ko ang pagsarado ng tubig sa loob ng bathroom. Napabaling ako ng tingin doon at nahihirapan na lumunok. I gasped when the phone rang on the side table of our bed. My eyes landed on the cellphone, malayo man pero kita ko ang pangalan na nakarehistro roon, at larawan ng isang magandang babae.
“Was it my phone?”
Hindi ko napansin na bumukas ang pintuan at lumabas siya roon na tanging suot ay tuwalya sa kanyang baywang. His disheveled, wet hair was a bit messy. He has a well-defined, manly physique.
“May tumatawag sayo…” tanging nasambit ko at tipid na ngumiti.
He licked his lower lip after he took his cellphone, nakita ko ang pasimple niyang sulyap sa akin bago ito napanguso.
“I’ll take the call.” Lumapit siya sa akin at hinalikan ako sa labi. Despite the gentle kiss, assuring me not to doubt… para pa rin pinipiga ang puso ko. Sumisikip ang dibdib ko. “I’ll be back… hmm? I love you.” He kissed my cheek and turned around to walk out of the room. Dumiretso siya sa balkonahe matapos maisarado ang sliding door. I am not demanding anything, but I at least expect him to answer the call while I am here. Pero hindi, lumabas talaga siya para magkaroon ng privacy na tila ang pag-uusap nila ay hindi ko dapat marinig pa.
My lips trembled, and my eyes started to moisten. The only thing that is between us is the huge sliding door made of glass. I can see him from our bed while I was sitting on a soft duvet. I watched his posture and demeanor. His body language. Nahuli ko siyang ngumiti bago ako talikuran at pumuwesto sa railings. Now I can no longer see his face.
“What am I doing?” I whispered to myself and covered my face with my hands. Gusto ko na lang maiyak sa mga nangyayari, sa mga naging desisyon ko. Sa aking pagkakamali. “What were you thinking, Chantal?”
My eyes watered, and it fell on my cheek. Pinunasan ko agad iyun at tumayo para dumireto sa bathroom. I don’t want him to see me cry. Ginusto ko itong sitwasyon, ginusto ko itong mangyari. I stared at myself in the mirror. Wrapped of towel while my hair is down, a bit messy, with some marks on my skin from the kisses and grip.
“Chantal?”
Kumatok siya sa pintuan kaya napabaling ako roon.
“Hmmm?”
“Nagtanong lang, I’m sorry. Did it bother you?”
Kumunot ang nuo ko at nahihirapan na lumunok. Hindi ko binuksan pero ramdam ko na nakahilig siya roon.
“Open the door so I can explain it to you properly.”
Mariin akong napapikit, it took a few seconds before I opened my eyes and lifted my head in frustration. I am weak and inexperienced with these, but I am not a fool. I know if I am being fooled. Pero minsan siguro mas matimbang ang pagmamahal kaya pinipiling makinig sa sinasabi niyang pagbabago sa sarili.
“Please? Baby? Open the door…” mas malambing niyang ani.
I slowly moved to open the door. I caught him biting his lips when our eyes met. Mabilis siyang pumasok at hinawakan ako sa pisngi. Tinadtad ako ng halik sa mukha, his last kiss went to my lips. It was deep and passionate. No intent of any sex, but it seemed purely from love.
“I need to answer her call, may tinanong lang. Wala lang yun, don’t overthink about it. Okay?” He caressed my cheek using his thumbs.
“Bakit? Para saan ang tanong?”
I don’t want to sound jealous, I do not want to sound demanding… or doubtful. Should I? If I knew in the first place what kind of person he is, and yet chose to continue this relationship?
“Alam mo naman kung bakit, diba?” marahan niyang tanong. Nag-iingat at tila ayaw ng pahabain ito. I swallowed hard and just stared at him. Napabuntong hininga siya at tumango. “For Khaki, so I send her money. You know I have to do that, right? I can’t just cut her off.”
I met him as unfaithful to his partner. Now that we are on this relationship, I couldn’t help but doubt him too. Pero nilalabanan nun ang nararamdaman ko dahil mahal na mahal ko siya. We want to make things right, and I am such a coward because I chose to hide. And agreed to be kept a secret for the meantime.
“I love you, ikaw na ang mahal ko ngayon. Ikaw ang girlfriend ko. Please trust me this time. Hindi kita sasaktan.”
Sometimes I do not know if he is really telling the truth of just so good to play with his words.
“Mahal na mahal kita, Chantal. I am trying everything to be a better person for you, because you deserve a good person. Your heart is too kind to be with me, kaya ginagawa ko lahat para sayo.”