HIS HEARTLESS WIFE

Chapter 4

Unang araw sa opisina ni Chevelle. I ordered her favorite flowers. Pinasadya ko ang pinakamagandang flower arrangement to welcome her to the company. Napaka-elegante ang suot nitong damit. Hindi na siya ang dating galawgaw na bata na kasa-kasama ko sa bahay.

I can still remember how I comforted her everytime she cried. Minsan ay ayaw pa akong nitong paalisin sa kuwarto niya. We were so close hanggang sa unti-unting nawala iyon ng bumalik si Audrey sa buhay ko.

Bata pa noon si Chevelle. I knew the care and love I had for her back then was more than just a sibling. Wala pa ako noong alam sa kasunduan ng aming mga magulang. She used to laugh and giggle a lot. Mababaw ang kaligayahan niya. Anak mayaman kami subalit napakasimple ni Chevelle.

I was rendered speechless ng inamin niya sa akin ang nararamdaman niya sa ika-labing apat na kaarawan nitoI still remember what I told her.

"You're still young, Elle. You will find someone better than me. I'm sorry, I already promised Audrey."

She didn't look at me again nor give me a glance. Hindi na siya sumasabay sa akin sa pagpasok sa eskuwela. Then I found out she left. I tried to call her. I did my best to be close to her again. Only then my parents told me about our engagement from long before. I hated my parents for not telling me earlier than they should. Hindi ko sana nasaktan ang babaeng alam kong mahal ko higit kanino man.

I missed her giggles and laughters. I missed her clumsiness. The Chevelle who doesn't care about the people around her or what other's would tell her. Now, things have changed. Napaka refined na ng mga kilos niya. Bumagay sa kaniya ang suot niyang puting roba. Bigla akong nakonsensya sa aking ginawa. Pinauwi ko siya para lamang mapasaya si Audrey. Ni hindi ko man lang inisip ang mararamdaman niya.

Sinadya kong ipaayos ang huling palapag ng gusali upang maging opisina naming dalawa. Katapat ng opisina ko ang opisina niya. Salamin ang ding-ding at pintuan ng aming opisina. I intentionally have it renovated that way. Gusto kong nakikita siya habang nasa trabaho. Hindi ko alam kung bakit bigla na lamang ako nakaramdam ng kakaiba para kay Chevelle. Matagal ko ng kinalimutan ang nararamdaman ko sa kaniya simula ng pinangako ko kay Audrey that we will wed before she dies.

Ilang buwan na ang nakakaraan. Hindi ko pa rin magawang ipaasikaso sa aking abogado ang pagpapawalang bisa sa aming kasal. Tila may pumupigil sa akin na gawin iyon. Naging madalas ang pagpunta namin sa bahay ng aking mga magulang. Hindi ko maiwasang asamin bumalik sa dati ang lahat. But it's too late.

Mom and Dad did not like the idea na naghiwalay na kami. They are both blaming me for our failed marriage. I can't talk back. I can't defend myself dahil alam kong ako ang mali. Saan man sulok tingnan. I cheated on her. Lantaran sa aking mga magulang ang pagtataksil ko kay Chevelle. No one knows I am married. Maliban kay Audrey, ang aking mga magulang and a couple trusted friends.

I popped into her office door and greeted her.

"Good Morning! How'd you like your office? Kung may gusto kang ipabago. Let me know. I'll call my interior designer."

"Morning," aniya na hindi ako tinitingnan. I watched her sip her coffee then her eyes went back to the documents she's reading."Oh, don't bother. I can live with it," sagot nito.

"Did you like the flowers?" I asked, she glance me for a second then sip her coffee.

"Blake, I don't have time to chitchat with you right now. I have tons of documents to review. I also need to do an ocular visit sa planta later in the afternoon."

"Samahan na kita," pagprisinta ko rito.

"No, thank you. Baka hanapin ka ng nobya mo. I'm fine. Mag-tataxi na lang ako."

"Chevelle, there is a company car you can use and a driver to chauffeur you kahit saan mo gustong pumunta.Maraming sa sasakyan sa bahay. Just pick which one you like. It's yours."

"Huwag ka nang magabala, Blake. I'll ask Gracella to look for a car and driver for me."

"You don't drive?"

"I like riding the subway in London. Having a lift is not necessary living a simple in a city. Besides, Lionel gives me a ride," aniya."I hate to be rude, but I need you to leave."

I walk my way out without saying a word. I sat on my swivel chair habang pasimpling pinagmamasdan si Chevelle sa likod ng salamin na ding-ding. Naramdaman ko ang kakaibang sakit at kirot sa aking puso nang makita kong bitbit ng kaniyang sekretarya ang mga bulaklak palabas ng kaniyang opisina. Then she handed the roses to the janitress.

"Pakitapon na lang po Mang Adolfo o puwede ninyong ibigay na lang sa misis ninyo. Allergic raw po si Maam Chevelle sa mga bulaklak," narinig kong wika ng sekretarya.

'Since when she became allergic to flowers? I used to bring her to my grandmothers flower farm.'

Gusto kong mainis subalit wala akong karapatan. Time passed by hindi ko namalayang tanghalian na. Then Audrey called inviting me to have lunch with her.

"Babe, have lunch with me. Take Elle with you, please."

"I'll give it a try kung pumuyag siya."

"Babe, did I hurt, Elle? Ayokong saktan siya. You said she's fine with you marrying me?"

"Chevelle has a lot of work to do in her office. I'll try if I can take her with me, okay?"

"Okay. See you in a few, Babe."

Hindi ko alam kung paano ko iimbintahan ng tanghalian si Chevelle with my girlfriend. Kasal pa rin kami hanggang ngayon. Having Audrey beside my wife makes her my mistress.

Dahil nakapangako na ako kay Audrey, I wear my domineering face while I knocked on Chevelle office door. Then, I entered uninvited. Saktong nag-iinat ito ng katawan while massaging her neck. My membrane started bulging just from the sight of her neck and those rounded firm globes of hers. Hapit ang suot nito sa katawan kitang-kita ang perpekto niyang kurba. Parang gusto kong halikan ang kaniyang leeg. Gusto kong ikulong siya sa aking mga bisig.

'Stop, Alistaire Blaze! Stop your fantasies. It will never happen!' I scolded myself. Pinagmasdan ko ang aking asawa sa kaniyang ginagawa. Hindi niya yata napansin ang pagpasok ko sa kaniyang umpisina.

"Audrey invited us for lunch. Don't let her down," wika ko sa maautoridad na tono.

"I'm sorry. I'll take a rain check," sagot nito.

"Chevelle, you are aware of her delicate condition. You don't want to upset Audrey, right?"

"I can't upset her, but she can do to me as she pleases. Ganoon ba, Blake?"

"Let's go! She's waiting," pag-pipilit ko sa kaniya.

"Fine, let's get this show over."

Nang makarating kami sa restaurant naghihintay na si Audrey sa private room na pina-book nito. Hihilahin ko sana ang upuan ni Chevelle but she stopped me.

"You don't want to upset your fiancée by showing her you care for me," she hissed.

Ramdam ko na tinanggal na ako ni Chevelle sa buhay niya. Gone is my sweet baby girl na dating parang tuta na sunod ng sunod sa akin. Kahit bulyawan ko siya noon ay wala itong pakialam. Masakit palang parang hangin na lang ako sa buhay niya.

It's too late for my regrets. I have chosen Audrey over her. Hindi ko magawang talikuran si Audrey. She saved me from a near life and death accident when we were in college. Kahit noong mga bata pa kami ay madalas niya rin akong ipagtanggol. Tampulan ako noon ng katatawanan noon sa eskuwela dahil sa nerdy look ko at sa kulot kong buhok. Si Audrey ang madalas na kumakampi sa akin.

Sa kaniya rin ako natuto kung paano lumaban. I changed myself and I became domineering and cold. Kahit itsura ko ay binago ko noong huling taon ko na sa haiskul. Maraming mga babaeng naghahabol sa akin. Subalit kay Audrey lang nakatuon ang aking pansin. Nawala siya ng ilang taon. Nasa kolehiyo na ako ng bumalik si Audrey sa Davao. Utang ko ang pangalawang buhay ko sa kaniya kaya hindi ko siya magawang iwanan.

"Thank you for coming, Elle," bati ni Audrey kay Chevelle.

"May sasabihin ka raw? Tell me now. I have a meeting at 2 PM with Del Mundo Medical Center, CEO. I must leave in fifteen," nagmamadaling turan nito kay Audrey.