The Unreachable Wife

5- It's Legal

Lander flips through the pages of the documents he's holding.

"Finally you showed up because of this," komento niya habang nakatingin sa mga papeles.

"Yes. I know I should have done this before but I was too busy to find time for this," prangkang sagot ko.

"Then what made you do it now? I'm sure you're still a very busy person."

I'm holding my patience. Do I really need to explain everything?

"I simply want to clear my record. Alam mo yun. Yung wala na akong dapat alalahanin na may kailangan akong ayusin," paliwanag ko nang may pilit na ngiti.

He looked at me with unconvinced face. He put the papers on the table, rested his arm on the armchair and lean comfortably. "Yan lang ba? Bumiyahe at nagdrive ka nang pagkahaba-haba. You took the risk of coming here all by yourself... dahil basta mo na lang naisipan na linisin ang record mo? Why take all these efforts Anya if you could just send a lawyer?" Medyo may kaangasang tanong niya habang nakatingin ng diretso sa aking mga mata.

I swallowed hard yet I make sure to remain smiling. "Maybe I have other reasons but I hope you won't mind if I keep it to myself. Maging anupaman ang dahilan, at the end of it all we do need to nullify the marriage. I'm sure this is what you want too para wala nang anumang sagabal pa sa pagsasama niyo ni Maureen..."

Napamaang ng ilang sandali ang aking kausap as if he didn't get what I just said.

"I-I mean... maybe gusto mo na ring pakasalan ang babaeng mahal mo but this problem is also holding you back," maamong paglinaw ko.

"Stop beating around the bush. Just tell me your reason kung bakit sa dinami-dami ng oras, ngayon mo ito naisipang gawin?" he said with authority.

Napanganga ako sa naging tono niya. Is he being disrespectful? Dinidiktahan niya ba ako? Whoah! Sino ba sa palagay niya ang kausap niya?

I couldn't hold back myself from shifting my tone. "Am I obliged to tell you?" My brow slightly raised.

"Yes," diretsong sagot niya. "Gusto kong malaman kung gaano kabigat ang rason mo para gawin ito ngayon. If I agree on this, it will also consume my time. I need to show up on several hearings. Hindi lang ikaw ang may ginagawa Anya. I'm a busy person too. Pero gusto kong malaman kung gaano ito ka-importante sayo ngayon because my participation will depend on your answer."

Agad na nagbago ang hilatsa ng aking mukha. Nagningning ang aking mga mata. Does it mean na kapag sinabi kong it's a matter of life and death for me now ay hindi siya magdadalawang isip na tulungan ako?

I cleared my throat and straightened my back. Muli akong ngumiti nang malambing.

"Well, tama kang may mabigat akong dahilan. I'm giving up my career here to start a new life in Paris. I just got the biggest opportunity to become a famous international designer. This is my ultimate dream and I can't afford to let go of this chance... However, I made a mistake for declaring to their immigration that I'm single. Unfortunately they asked for a proof of singleness which I can't provide right now. I couldn't retract my statement since they might start to doubt my credibility...."

He listens very intently na halos naniningkit na ang mga mata sa pagkakatitig sa akin.

"Therefore the only solution right now is to nullify our marriage. I need to comply with the documents as soon as possible. Right now I'm on a two months break kaya kahit dapat ay nagbabakasyon ako, I had no choice but to attend to this problem instead. I need your participation so badly para mapabilis ang proseso so I hope you could help me..."