Unfaithful (Tagalog)

Chapter 1

PAYNE IRENE FABILA-ABELLERA

—

Inangat ni Miguel ang hawak na wine glass sa ere.

"Ladies and gentlemen, let's wish Mr. and Mrs. Abellera a happy anniversary."

Naramdaman ko ang mainit na palad ni Cyden na dumapo sa kamay kong nakalagay sa ibabaw ng mesa. He gently squeezed it affectionately. Everyone started to focus their attention on us, even though it was not our celebration. It was Miguel's wedding—Cyden's younger brother.

"Happy anniversary, Lovebirds!" they greeted.

Nagpakawala ako ng isang tipid na ngiti. Cyden mouthed 'thank you' to each and every one of them.

Anton who was sitting beside him, handed him a glass of beer. "Tol, kahit ngayon lang, uminom ka naman."

"No, I don't drink," nakangiting tanggi nito sa kaibigan.

"Ang KJ mo talaga, Mr. Abellera," Miguel butted in, still standing in front of his guests, holding a microphone. "Malapit ko na talagang isiping ampon ka."

Nagtawanan ang mga guest sa malawak nilang garden. Karamihan ng tao roon ay relatives nila ni Ana at mga kaibigan nilang dalawa.

"Ang bilis ng panahon, five years na pala kayo? Kailan n'yo planong magka-anak?" tanong ni Anton.

Bumaling sa akin si Cyden na may ngiti sa mga labi. He gently squeezed my hand again. "When she's ready."

"Kailan pa 'yon, Tol? 'Pag maputi na buhok mo?" muli itong ngumisi at uminom ng alak habang nakatingin sa aming dalawa.

As usual, Cyden just smiled at him. Marahil nasanay na rin siya dahil madalas itanong ng mga ito sa kaniya kung kailan namin planong magkaroon ng anak.

"I'll just go to the restroom..." paalam ko kay Cyden.

I needed to breathe. I was really not comfortable talking about having a child. Hindi pa ako handa para doon. I just looked at myself in the mirror. I was about to open the faucet but stopped mid-air. Nakarinig ako ng pigil na paghikbi sa loob ng nag-iisang closed door.

Pinakiramdaman ko lang iyon, until I felt the need to give her some sort of privacy. I was about to move my feet pero bumukas na ang pinto.

I stiffened when I saw Tita Cynthia. Her nose and lips were bleeding.

Napahinto rin ito nang mapansin ang presensya ko. I knew she was trying to hold back her tears as if she didn't want me to see. I immediately approached her and took her shoulders.

"T-Tita, are you okay? What happened?"

She started sobbing. I immediately hugged her. Hinaplos ko ang likuran niya para kahit papaano ay mahimasmasan siya.

"H-Hija, p'wede mo ba'ng... tawagin si... si Cyden?"

Tumango ako. I didn't want to leave her alone kaya naman tinawagan ko na lang ito. Ilang sandali lang ay nakarating na ito sa restroom.

"M-Mom..." He looked at her worriedly.

Lalong lumakas ang paghikbi ni Tita nang yakapin siya ni Cyden. Nakaramdam ako agad nang paninikip ng dibdib.

Kinuha nito ang magkabilang balikat ni Tita Cynthia. "Did Dad hurt you again, Mom?"

"I'm fine, Anak. I'm fine."

"No. You are not fine, Mom. Look at you... damn." He gasped. "I'll talk to Dad."

"No... no... kasalan ko. Kasalan ko."

Nagsimulang mamuo ang luha sa mga mata ni Cyden. Alam ko kung gaano niya kamahal ang mommy niya. He would always be emotional whenever Tita was involved.

Pinakalma niya muna si Tita bago namin ihatid sa silid. Tinulungan ko rin si Cyden na lagyan ng gamot ang mga galos nito.

Nakatulog din siya agad sa pag-iyak habang sinasabi ang nangyari kung bakit siya sinaktan ni Tito Samuel. Cyden continued to stare at his mom white caressing her hand.

Napatingin ako sa malaking family portrait na nasa ibabaw ng headboard ni Tita Cynthia. Bata pa sila ni Miguel sa litrato. Mukhang masaya pa ang mga mata nila roon. Kung titingnan, para silang isang masayang pamilya.

"It was taken before Dad found out na may iba na..." Nanatili akong nakatingin sa litrato. Nabakas ko ang lungkot sa tinig ni Cyden. "Ang sabi niya, it was her favorite portrait."

I shifted my attention to him; he was still looking at his mom with well-written anguish on his face.

"I asked her why. Bakit hindi ang portrait na kasama niya ang pamilya sa iba. Ang sabi niya... hindi niya alam. Basta... it's her favorite portrait."

He was used to expressing his feelings to me, and I always wanted to listen because I could feel how much he trusted me to see his vulnerability. I felt like... I had always been his comfort.

"I asked her, 'Why did you choose to cheat? Why do people cheat?' She said she cheated for love, for happiness. It was only then that I realized... despite her being with Dad... with us, despite her laughter, her smiles... there was an emptiness in her. There was a void that neither Dad, nor Miguel, nor I could fill."

Nakaramdam na naman ako ng kirot sa dibidb ko. Maybe I just really felt the pain in his voice, like every single word came from a deeper part of him.

"And then, I asked her... why did she choose to go back and stay even after Dad told her to leave again. Why not choose the person who makes her truly happy? She said... it's time to choose what's right after choosing happiness."

Napalunok ako nang makita kong bumagsak ang likido sa pisngi niya.

"I found it absurd. I thought it was unreasonable. Dad didn't stop to hurt her, yet she continues to stay, while Dad chooses not to forgive."

I listened dahil noon niya lang nasabi sa akin ang tungkol doon. I just let him be vulnerable while I was caressing his arm.

Bumaba lang kami pagkatapos ng isang oras.

Miguel, her wife, and their friends continued the fun in the garden kahit nakaalis na ang karamihan sa bisita. Mukhang lasing na rin ang mga ito sa walang humpay na inuman.

"Utol!" tawag ni Miguel kay Cyden nang mapansin kami.

Cyden held my hand. Sinama niya ako palapit sa mga ito. I could feel the gaze of their girlfriends looking at me from head to toe. Nakuha namang ngumisi sa akin ng mga lalaking kaibigan nila.

I knew they never liked me for Cyden. Hindi ko na lang pinapalaki pa at iniisip ang mga masasakit na salitang naririnig ko sa kanila lalo na kapag wala ito sa paligid.

"Utol, happy anniversary ulit sa'yo ng asawa mo." Bumaling sa akin si Miguel at ngumisi. "Irene."

I just forced a smile. I wasn't sure kung nakita niya pa iyon dahil halos nakapikit na rin ang mga mata niya sa kalasingan habang nakaakbay kay Ana, his wife.

"Thank you," Cyden said.

"Utol," inakbayan siya ni Miguel, "bakit mo na nga pinakasalan si Irene?"

Marahang hinaplos ni Cyden ang kamay ko. "Because I love her."

"Woah!" sigaw ng mga kaibigan nila at nagtawanan.

Tumawa rin nang mahina si Miguel pagkatapos ay sumismim sa baso ng alak na hawak niya bago muling bumaling sa akin.

"Ikaw, Irene? Bakit mo na nga pinakasalan 'tong Utol ko?"

I didn't feel the need to answer his question, although I knew that Cyden was waiting. Gusto ko na itong ayaing umuwi dahil halata naming lasing na ang mga kaibigan nila at gusto lang nila ng mapagti-trip-an.

"Uy, hindi makasagot. Alam ko kung bakit," Jack uttered teasingly. Isa sa mga kaibigan nila ni Miguel.

"Come on, spill it. Spill it," Miguel giggled while pointing the glass of beer to his friend.

"Oh, c'mon, Bro... you don't need common sense for that." Sumenyas ito sa ere at malakas na sumigaw. "Money!"

Nagtawanan na naman silang lahat except Ana.

Miguel tapped his shoulder. "Oh, you are really a smart kid, Man!"

Naramdaman ko ang paghigpit ng hawak ni Cyden sa kamay ko habang bumubungisngis pa rin ang mga ito.

Hindi na ako apektado doon dahil alam kong mababa naman talaga ang tingin nila sa akin noon pa. It was one of the reasons kung bakit hindi nila ako gustong mapabilang sa circle of friends nila.

Napalunok lang ako nang tuluyang bitiwan ni Cyden ang kamay ko at nakaramdam ako ng kabog sa dibdib ko nang makita ko ang magkasalubong na kilay niya.

"Cyden..."

Akmang lalapit kay Jack pero mabilis kong kinuha ang kamay niya.

"Please..." I begged.

He just smiled at me. "I'll just talk to him."

He looked so calm kaya hinayaan ko na itong lumapit kay Jack. I just didn't expect that he would punch him in the face.

Namilog ang mga mata ko. Mabilis nagsi-tayuan ang ilang kaibigan nila para umawat. Miguel seemed to be enjoying the show at nakuha pa nitong humagikgik.

Mabilis akong humakbang para lapitan si Cyden lalo at hindi na lang si Jack ang sinusugod niya ng suntok. Tila ba wala na siyang pakialam kung sino ang tamaan ng kamao niya.

"Cyden, stop!" I yelled, trying to grab his arm.

Tumigil lang siya nang makitang halos makaladkad na ako sa kapipigil sa kaniya. Pilit ko itong hinila palayo sa mga kaibigan. Huminto ito nang tumapat kami kay Miguel.

"Cyden, please... umuwi na tayo," pakiusap ko habang marahas pa ang paghinga.

"We'll go home. I'll just congratulate my brother for the last time."

Miguel released a soft laugh at tinapik ang balikat ni Cyden. "Mahal na mahal talaga, Utol. Lagi mo na lang pinagtatanggol. Kailan ka pa natutong sumuntok? Impressive. Akala ko sampalan lang ang alam mo."

Most of them still managed to giggle after what happened. Muling nagpakawala ng sarkastikong ngiti si Cyden. That gave me goosebumps. Madalang ko iyong makita at alam ko kung saang sitwasyon. Kusang humigpit ang hawak ko sa kamay niya.

"Enjoy your night," he said calmly.

Tumama sa mukha ni Miguel ang kamao niya.