One Night Stand With My Husband

Old Amanda

“Their marriage is surely a hell.”

Napatingin ako sa sinabi niya at agad rin naman bumalik ang tingin sa TV. Nasa balita ngayon sina Nicole at Jordan dahil nahuling nag-dadrive ng lasing si Nicole and half of the viewers are blaming Jordan dahil daw nararamdaman nilang binabalewala na ni Jordan ang kanyang asawa.

Malalim akong napabuntong-hininga bago pinatay ang TV at sumimsim ng kape.

“I don't really know why the media keeps sticking their nose with Jordan and Nicole's life.” Then I rolled my eyes. “Wala namang ka interes-intresado ang buhay nilang dalawa.”

Hera smirked at what I said kaya pareho kaming napatingin ni Sylvester sa kanyang gawi. "You really need a social media, A. Hindi mo ba alam na naging controversial sila last year nang malaman nilang pangalawang asawa na pala ni Jordan si Nicole?"

Kumunot ang noo ko sa sinabi niya. "What do you mean? Why would be they curious about it?"

"Nicole's a model, A. All of her fans said that she's living the life they wanted kase ang inaakala nila na talagang totoong fairytale-like ang love story nina Jordan. You know a model and a CEO fell in love with each other." She shrugged. "Ang hindi nila alam horror-like pala ang love story ng dalawa. Damn, social media."

Napabuntong-hininga ako ulit at napailing. "Well, social media really paints a different picture, doesn't it?" I took another sip of my coffee. "It's ridiculous how people believe everything they see online, kahit hindi nila alam ang buong kwento."

Hera nodded in agreement. "Exactly. Lahat akala ang saya-saya nila, pero kung alam lang nila ang totoo... it’s far from perfect. Parang scripted lahat ng nakikita ng mga tao. But behind the scenes, puro drama at kaguluhan."

"People love to fantasize," I muttered. "Pero hindi nila alam, not every fairytale ends with a happily ever after."

"And Jordan and Nicole," Hera added with a smirk, "are living proof of that.”

Katahimikan ang nanaig sa aming tatlo bago biglang nagsalita si Sylvester, binasag ang katahimikan.

“So, when will we execute our plan?”

“Hindi pa ba sapat ang mga nangyayari sa kanilang buhay ngayon as their karma for what they did to A?”

Sylvester shakes his head firmly. “It will never be enough, Hera. Oo, they're marriage is cracking but what about their wealth? Mayaman parin sila at secured. We should aim at their money, power and connections.”

Napabuntong-hininga ako at tumingin kay Sylvester. "You’re right," I said softly, agreeing with him, kahit na sa loob ko, gusto ko na lang talagang magkaroon ng katahimikan sa buhay. "Pero sa totoo lang, all I really want now is peace. Ayoko na ng gulo, pagod na ako sa paghihiganti."

Sylvester frowned at me, hindi kumbinsido sa sinabi ko. "A, this isn’t just about you anymore. We’ve come this far, and if we stop now, they’ll win. Jordan and Nicole deserve to lose everything, not just their marriage."

I sighed deeply, torn between my desire for peace and Sylvester’s persistence. "I understand, pero kailangan ba talagang ituloy ito? What if we let them destroy themselves? Mukha namang papunta na rin doon ang buhay nila."

"No," he replied firmly, his eyes filled with determination. "We need to make sure they lose everything, not just their love. You deserve justice, Amanda. Huwag mong hayaang makawala sila nang ganito lang."

Tahimik akong napaupo, my thoughts swirling. I could see his point, but deep down, all I really wanted was to finally move on.

Pagkaalis ni Sylvester matapos sagutin ang tawag, naiwan kaming dalawa ni Hera sa opisina. Tahimik kaming nag-usap sandali bago nagsimula si Hera, palaging may nasasabi.

"Alam mo, A, persistent talaga si Sylvester na ipaghiganti ka. Minsan nga, mas mukha pa siyang affected kaysa sa'yo," sabi niya habang nakangiti nang pabiro.

Natawa ako nang bahagya. "He just really cares about the business. We’re just business partners, Hera. Wala nang iba."

Napailing siya, malisyosong ngumiti. "Or baka ayaw mo lang aminin dahil may isang tao ka pang hindi makalimutan mula sa nakaraan?"

Nabigla ako sa sinabi niya, pero nagkunwari akong kalmado. "What do you mean?"

"Kilala mo na kung sino. Jordan," sabi niya diretso, ang kanyang mga mata nakatitig sa akin, parang hinuhukay ang totoo. "Hindi mo pa ba talaga siya nakalimutan?"

Nanatili akong tahimik sandali, pilit na kinakalma ang sarili. "Hera, it's not about that. I just want peace, that's all. Pagod na akong magalit."

Hera raised an eyebrow, clearly not convinced. "Sige, Amanda, pero hindi ka naman makakatakas sa tanong ko. Ano nga ba talaga kayo ni Sylvester?"

"We're just business partners," I insisted.

"Sigurado ka?" Teasingly, Hera gave me a knowing look, leaving me without any more excuses to give.

If I would really be honest, Sylvester is a package deal. Handsome, rich, smart, and genuinely kind—he's everything any woman could ask for. He’s always been transparent about his feelings for me, ever since a year after we met. But the truth is, hindi pa rin ako handang pumasok muli sa isang relasyon.

Takot ako. Takot na muling masaktan, takot na magtiwala ng buo at baka muli akong iwan. After everything that happened with Jordan, I promised myself that I would never let anyone get that close again. Ayoko nang maranasan ulit ang ganong klaseng sakit—ang ma-betray at masira ang lahat ng pinaniwalaan ko.

Sylvester is different, yes. Alam ko iyon. Pero hindi ko mapigilang isipin na kahit gaano pa ka-perfect ang isang tao, there's always that risk. What if history repeats itself? What if I let my guard down and he hurts me in the end?

Kaya, I keep holding back. I keep the distance. Mas mabuting mag-focus na lang ako sa mga anak ko at sa negosyo ko. I’ve built this life on my own, and I don’t need anyone to complete it. Or at least, iyon ang pinaniniwalaan ko.

Dumating ang hapon, and it was time to fetch my kids. Usually, hindi ako ang sumusundo sa kanila—may driver na nakatalaga para doon—but I promised them a dinner outside today, kaya naman ako na lang ang susundo.

As I gathered my things and prepared to leave, biglang lumapit si Sylvester, leaning casually on the doorframe of my office.

"You're picking up the twins?" he asked, his usual charming smile in place.

I nodded, pulling on my coat. "Yeah, I promised them we'd have dinner out tonight."

"Mind if I come along?" He straightened up, looking genuinely interested. "I haven’t seen yesterday, and you know how much I love those two."

Napatingin ako sa kanya, hesitant. "Are you sure? I mean, it’s just a simple pick-up and dinner. Nothing fancy."

He chuckled, grabbing his own coat. "I don't need fancy. I just want to spend time with you and the kids."

For a moment, I thought about saying no, but seeing the sincerity in his eyes, I found myself nodding. "Alright, let's go.”

Sylvester was the one who drove. The ride was quiet, but it was comfortable, the kind where words didn’t need to fill the space between us. Pagkarating namin sa school, agad kong napansin ang mga anak ko na tila pinapagalitan ng isang babae. She was pointing towards her car, her body language aggressive.

Agad kaming bumaba ni Sylvester at lumapit sa kanila. Narinig ko ang mahinang mura ni Sylvester habang nakatingin sa likod ng babae.

"Mommy! Daddy!" sigaw ni Sydney at mabilis na tumakbo papunta sa amin, kasunod si Silvia. Agad naman silang sinalubong ni Sylvester at iniakay palayo.

"Bakit?" tanong ko, nagtataka kung ano ang nangyari.

Pero bago pa man masagot ni Silvia, humarap na sa akin ang babae. At sa gulat ko, si Nicole—the very last person I expected to see.

"Well, well, well... look who we have here," Nicole sneered, crossing her arms. "Didn’t expect to see you here, Amanda."

Pinilit kong kalmahin ang sarili ko kahit gusto ko nang umalis. "Anong ginawa mo sa mga anak ko?" tanong ko, with my voice low but firm.

Kumunot ang noo niya at agad naman tumawa ng malakas. “Anak? Hindi ba at baog ka? Kaya bakit ka naman magkakaanak?”

Fuck. Dahil sa galit ko ng makita siya dito, I said it unconsciously.

Hindi ako nakasagot. Ang malaman niya na may anak ako ang siyang pinakahuling bagay na magagawa niya.

Kumuyom ang kamao ko ng makita ang pagmumukha niya. She had the same face when I left the mansion four years ago. The smirk and mocking smile.

“The twins are mine, Miss. I'm sorry if they caused you inconvenience.” Umalingawngaw sa aking likuran ang boses ni Sylvester.

Lumipat ang tingin ni Nicole kay Sylvester saglit bago tumingin muli sa akin, pabalik-balik ang kanyang tingin sa aming dalawa na para bang may konklusyon na siyang nabubuo sa kanyang utak.

“Is this woman the maid of your kids? Or whatsoever?” Tanong niya at bahagya pa akong tinuro.

Nalaglag ang panga ko sa sinabi niya. Wala paring pinagbabago ang babaeng ito, kung gaano ka-aya-aya ang kanyang mukha siya namang kapangit ng pagkatao niya.

I laughed mockingly. I will never leave this place without making her day bad.

“Unfortunately to you, I'm his girlfriend, Nicole.” Nakangising saad ko at isinukbit ang aking braso sa braso ni Sylvester na ngayon ay ramdam ko na ang mabigat na tingin sa akin.

Bago pa man makasagot si Nicole, dumating ang Principal at ipinakilala si Nicole sa amin.

The principal smiled at us happily. “Ms. Winthrop let me introduce you Mrs. Spencer, she is the school's one of the biggest investors.”

Nakita ko kung paano tumaas ang kilay ni Nicole sa tinawag sa kanya ng principal, but the hell I care with that title.

“Investor? Mr. Principal, baka mamumulubi na ang school na ito? You know about the dirty money, right?” I said with an evil smirk before I looked at the man beside me. “What do you think about investing in this school, babe? Iyong pera talaga na gawa sa malinis na paraan...”

Nagbigay ako ng isang mapanuksong ngiti kay Nicole bago ko muling tinignan si Sylvester, hoping he'd take the hint and we could leave before things get worse.

The principal’s smile faltered, clearly uncomfortable with the sudden tension. Nicole’s face flushed with a mix of anger and embarrassment, and I could see the steam practically coming out of her ears.

“Ms. Winthrop,” the principal began, trying to regain his composure, “I assure you, Mrs. Spencer’s contributions to the school are very much appreciated and are above board.”

Nicole's eyes were daggers as she glared at me, her composure slipping.

“Talaga?” sabi ko, may pang-asar na tono. "Because from where I stand, it seems like you're more interested in creating a façade than actually making a difference. Maybe the school would be better off without your ‘contributions.’”

Sylvester chuckled softly beside me, clearly enjoying the spectacle.

“Hindi na tayo mag-aaksaya ng oras dito,” sabi ko, tumingin kay Sylvester na may ngiti. “Tara na, babe? Marami tayong mas importanteng bagay na pwedeng gawin kaysa makipag-usap sa mga pekeng philanthropists.”

Nakita ko ang galit sa mata ni Nicole habang kami’y umalis. Sinubukan pang maayos ng principal ang sitwasyon, pero hindi na ako nag-abala. Sapat na ang pakiramdam na naisakatuparan ko ang nais kong sabihin.

Ngunit sa oras ng pagtalikod ko kay Nicole siya namang pagharap ko sa lalaking inaasahan kong makita dito.

I frozed.

Tangina naman bakit nandito na sila sa city namin?!

Our eyes met and God knows how much I wanted to turn away my eyes from his, but I couldn't.