One Night Stand With My Husband

The Kiss

“She's not even beautiful! Mommy is way more beautiful than that woman!”

I could feel a headache coming on as Sydney continued to rant. Nakatingin lang ako sa kanya habang patuloy siyang nagdadaldal tungkol kay Nicole. Nandito kami ngayon sa restaurant ni Albie, still sticking to our plan of having dinner out, kahit na parang gusto ko nang umuwi at magpahinga.

“Mommy looks like a goddess while that woman looks like a witch who hasn’t performed a spell for decades!” Sydney exclaimed, his voice rising a little.

Napabuntong-hininga ako. Ganito talaga si Sydney kapag galit—hindi basta-basta humuhupa ang emosyon. It could take hours before he calms down.

“Yeah, I agree,” Sylvester chimed in, clearly trying to humor him. Sydney flashed him a proud smile, as if he had just won an argument.

While all this was happening, my mind couldn’t help but wander back to that earlier moment with Jordan. Nang nagkatinginan kami kanina, Sylvester was quick to pull me away, ensuring na hindi na ako mag-dwell pa sa kung ano man ang gustong sabihin ni Jordan. I was thankful for that, kasi the last thing I needed was another confrontation.

Pabiro kong inarapan si Sylvester at niyakap ng mahigpit ang aking anak. He was still fuming, ranting on my lap, his tiny fists clenching with frustration. Meanwhile, across from us, sat Sylvester and Silvia, who looked like she was just as tired of her twin’s rants.

“Daddy, I’m hungry na...” Silvia quietly tugged on Sylvester’s sleeve, pointing to her stomach.

Before Sylvester could respond, Sydney interjected, his brows furrowing. “Hey! You’re not mad at what that witch said about our mom?” he asked, genuinely surprised that Silvia seemed more focused on food than Nicole’s insults.

Silvia shrugged casually. “I’m mad, but I’m also hungry. And food makes everything better.” She shot a small smile at Sylvester, and he laughed softly, nodding in agreement.

“Wise words, Silvia,” I said, rubbing my temple again. “Let’s just enjoy our dinner, okay?”

Sydney crossed his arms, clearly not ready to let it go. “Fine, but I still think Mommy’s way more beautiful than that woman.”

Habang kumakain kaming apat, biglang lumapit si Albie—ang matalik kong kaibigan na may-ari ng restaurant. His vibrant personality lit up the place as he sashayed towards us, flashing his signature grin.

“Well, well, well! Look who we have here!” Albie exclaimed, teasingly placing his hands on his hips. “The perfect little family!”

Natawa ako at napailing. “Albie, stop it,” I said, shaking my head. Pero kitang-kita sa mga mata niya na talagang tinutukso niya kami.

“Oh, come on, A! Just look at you all—parang family goals! Perfect mommy, handsome daddy, and two adorable kids,” he continued, winking at Sylvester.

Sydney’s eyes lit up at the mention of “perfect family.” Agad niyang tinanong, “Uncle Albie, do we really look like a family?”

“Of course, darling!” Albie replied with a dramatic flair. “You four look like you stepped out of a magazine cover! So chic, so fabulous!”

Sylvester chuckled at the teasing, glancing at me with a playful smile. “Well, we do make a pretty good team, don’t we?”

I rolled my eyes at him, trying to hide the slight blush creeping up my cheeks. “Stop encouraging him, Sylvester.”

But Albie wasn’t done. “Oh, don’t be shy, A. I can already see it now—matching outfits, family vacations, cute Christmas cards. You two are totally meant to be!” He gave me a knowing look, as if he already knew something I wasn’t ready to admit.

I laughed softly, trying to brush it off, pero deep down, his words hit a little too close to home.

Pagkatapos naming kumain ay nagpasya na kaming umuwi. Kahit inaasahan kong uuwi na rin si Sylvester, sumama pa rin siya sa amin. Tahimik lang siya habang nagmamaneho, tila may malalim na iniisip.

Pagkarating namin sa bahay, agad kong pinatulog ang kambal. Pagod na rin sila sa maghapong pangyayari, lalo na si Sydney na halos tatlong oras pa rin akong pinagsasabihan tungkol kay Nicole.

Nang sigurado akong tulog na sila, bumaba ako sa sala para magpahinga. Pagdating ko roon, nakita ko si Sylvester na nakatayo sa tabi ng shelf, hawak-hawak ang isang picture frame.

Nilapitan ko siya at nang makita kong ang hawak niya ay ang litrato ng kambal noong sanggol pa sila, bigla akong napabuntong-hininga. Ang mga mata niya ay nakatutok lang sa larawan.

"Ang liliit pa nila dito," sabi niya, hindi inaalis ang tingin sa frame. His voice was soft, almost as if he was talking to himself. "They really looked like Jordan."

Napakagat ako ng labi sa sinabi niya. Alam kong totoo, but I never wanted to admit it out loud.

Tahimik lang ako habang tinitignan siya, when suddenly he spoke again, this time mas seryoso ang tono. "Amanda... are you still in love with Jordan?"

Halos napalunok ako sa bigat ng tanong niya. Hindi ko inasahan na bigla niya itong itatanong, kaya agad akong umiling. "No, Sylvester. I'm not in love with him anymore," mabilis kong tugon, hoping he'd feel the sincerity in my words.

Napatitig siya sa akin, tila hinihintay na may susunod pa akong sasabihin. "That part of my life is over," dagdag ko pa, mas pinatatag ang boses ko. "I just want to move forward now. With my kids. With my peace."

Tahimik lang siyang tumango, though his eyes were searching mine for any hint of doubt.

"Ang liliit pa nila dito," sabi niya, hindi inaalis ang tingin sa frame. His voice was soft, almost as if he was talking to himself. "They really looked like Jordan."

Napakagat ako ng labi sa sinabi niya. Alam kong totoo, but I never wanted to admit it out loud.

Tahimik lang ako habang tinitignan siya, when suddenly he spoke again, this time mas seryoso ang tono. "Amanda... are you still in love with Jordan?"

Halos napalunok ako sa bigat ng tanong niya. Hindi ko inasahan na bigla niya itong itatanong, kaya agad akong umiling. "No, Sylvester. I'm not in love with him anymore," mabilis kong tugon, hoping he'd feel the sincerity in my words.

Napatitig siya sa akin, tila hinihintay na may susunod pa akong sasabihin. "That part of my life is over," dagdag ko pa, mas pinatatag ang boses ko. "I just want to move forward now. With my kids. With my peace."

Tahimik lang siyang tumango, though his eyes were searching mine for any hint of doubt.

Tahimik lang siyang tumango, though his eyes were searching mine for any hint of doubt.

“Sylvester…” I tried to get close to him but he immediately took a step backward.

“No, Amanda. I know what you're doing.”

Napahinto ako, nagtataka sa biglaang pag-iwas niya.

“What do you mean?” tanong ko, kahit alam kong may halong kaba sa boses ko.

"You're pitying me."

"Hindi kita maintindihan—"

"Mas lalong hindi rin kita maintindihan, Amanda! Oo, sinabi ko sa iyo noon na handa akong maghintay ng ilang taon pero bakit nang makita mo siya ulit kanina bakit pakiramdam ko ay talagang para kayo sa isa't-isa?" Bahagyang tumaas ang boses niya bagay na ngayon lang nangyari.

"Sylvester, please..."

I'm not in love with Jordan anymore. I'm sure with that!

“Please what, Amanda?” His voice cracked a little as he spoke, though he tried to keep it firm. He took another step back, his eyes filled with a mix of frustration and pain. “I’ve stood by you for years, I’ve watched you struggle and heal. Pero ngayon, hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit parang may bahagi pa rin ng puso mo na hindi mo kayang bitawan para sa akin.”

His words hit me hard, and I could feel my chest tighten. Hindi ko naman intensyon na saktan siya. He’s been nothing but good to me, and I’ve relied on him more than I cared to admit. Pero he’s right—may bahagi pa rin ng nakaraan ko na hindi ko kayang tuluyang takasan.

“Sylvester, it’s not like that,” I whispered, trying to reach out to him, but he stepped away again, shaking his head.

“Don’t lie to me, Amanda. I see it. Every time we’re together, every time we talk about moving forward, you pull back. You may not realize it, but you still have feelings for him, don’t you?”

I bit my lip, my mind racing for the right words, pero wala akong masabi. I couldn’t deny the truth to him anymore. He deserved more than lies, and he deserved more than what I was giving him.

“You still love him, Amanda,” he said, his voice barely audible. “And I’m just the guy who’s always there, waiting.”

I opened my mouth to say something, to explain, but the words caught in my throat. Tears welled up in my eyes, but I refused to let them fall.

Sylvester sighed deeply, running his hands through his hair. “Then maybe you need to figure that out, Amanda. But until then, I can’t keep doing this. I can’t keep waiting in the shadows while you try to figure out if you still love the man who broke you.”

With that, he turned away, leaving me standing there.

Umiling ako ng ilang beses bago siya sinundan palabas ng mansion.

“Sylvester! Wait! Please…”

Napahinto siya ng hilahin ko ang kanyang braso ngunit hindi ko pa man natapos ang aking sasabihin ng bigla niyang hinila ang kamay ko na nakahawak sa kanya at walang pasubali akong hinalikan.

My eyes widened nang maramdaman kong umaambon na.

Humigpit ang hawak ko sa mga kamay ni Sylvester habang hinahalikan niya ako, I don't know what to do… I just stood there, hindi alam kung ano ang gagawin.

Fuck this! f**k this feelings! f**k the uncertainty inside of me!

Napapikit ako ng maalala ang pagmumukha ni Jordan at Nicole kanina. They were the one who wronged me kaya bakit ko naman hahayaan ang aking sarili na hindi sumaya dahil lang sa kanila?

Bakit ko nga ba pinapayagan ang sarili kong masaktan ng paulit-ulit? I thought bitterly as Sylvester's lips pressed against mine. Jordan... he was my past, a part of me that I should’ve let go of a long time ago. He ruined me, but now, here I am, still haunted by memories of him not because I still loved but because of what trauma they give to me.

Pero hindi na ako pwedeng magpatuloy ng ganito.

Sylvester… he’s been here through it all. He’s the man who’s been nothing but supportive, patient, and loving. And yet, here I am, holding back because of someone who never deserved me in the first place.

As his kiss deepened, something inside me snapped. The uncertainty, the hesitation—it all evaporated like mist in the rain. This—what I had now—was real. Sylvester was real. And for the first time in years, maybe I should let myself embrace that.

Why am I still living in the shadows of the past when the future is standing right in front of me?

I kissed him back with the same intensity. But then he stopped as if he was shock I kissed him back. My eyes remained shut though, I tiptoed and kissed him like I wanted this kiss to last, like I wanted him too as much as he wanted me. And that caught hi

m off-guard that it gave me the chance to dominate the kiss.

It's time to stop living in the past now, Amanda. You're better than this.

Sylvester and I kissed each other hungrily under the rain na para bang kahit kidlat ay hindi makakapigil sa kasabikan naming dalawa.