The Second Woman

Guideon

Ah, Veronica. My sweet Veronica. If I knew that everything would end up like this, I wouldn't have made her my mistress in the first place. If only I knew her before I got married.

I remember the day that I met her. Three months after being married and I felt miserable as hell. Ayokong matali sa isang babae, I'm better of alone. But for my business, I did it. Kahit ayoko.

I was sitting alone on a bar counter. Nilululunod ko ang sarili ko sa alak when she approached me.

"Are you alone?" She asked.

Bumaling ako sa kanya at niluwagan ang neck tie ko. She has this straight brunette hair, big expressive eyes and luscious red lips that I want to kiss right there and then. I didn't answer her. Nilaro ko lamang ang yelo sa hawak kong baso ng alak.

"Hey. I am talking to you. Bingi ka ba?" Mulinay nagsalita siya.

Bahagyang tumaas ang isang sulok ng labi ko ngunit hindi ko iyon ipinakita sa kanya. Gotcha.

I looked at her sideways. She's blushing. Maybe because of alcohol? Sinadya ko siyang kunutan ng noo. Let's see how long can you keep up.

"Can you leave me alone, miss? I'm not on the mood to play with you." Sinadya ko rin siyang sungitan.

"Oh, I'm not here to play, Mister. Gusto ko lang makipagkilala." Wow, she is really confident.

Hindi ko siya nilubayan ng tingin. Iyong malagkit na tingin. Lumapit pa siya sa akin hanggang sa nakadikit na ang dibdib niya sakin. Oh, it's soft. How I want to devour those breasts. Nag iwas ako ng tingin sa kanya.

"What do you want?" I asked.

"I just wanna talk to you. My friends are busy dancing, naiwan lang ako mag isa sa table." Utas niya.

Hindi ako kaagad  nakasagot sa kanya. I still want to talk to her. I could use some entertainment tonight. But I was afraid that she'll go when I told her I'm married.

"I'm married..." Mula sa mukha ko ay lumipat ang kanyang paningin sa aking kaliwang kamay na may singsing.

Shit! I shouldn't have told her that I'm married. Great, Guideon! You just let a nice opportunity get away!

Binalik ko ang atensyon ko sa alak na iniinom ko at hindi na siya muling tiningnan pa. Sigurado akong umalis na siya.

Nagulat nalang ako nang may kamay na pumulupot sa braso ko at hinaplos ang hita ko. Marahas kong nilingon kung sino iyon. It was her, she was still there and she is playfully smiling at me.

"Even better. It just adds to the thrill."

We talk and drank together that night. Then I brought her to a hotel and took her. I was her first. It was supposed to be a one night thing. Little did I know that she'll become this important to me a year later.

Sinubukan ko naman siyang palayuin sa akin. I didn't want to become an adulterer, but she pursued me. She let's me escape all the crap that I had to deal with everyday. Kaya kahit alam kong mali, kahit alam kong panandalian lang, pinapasok ko siya sa buhay ko.

Siya lang iyong naka tagal sa akin ng ganoon. Alam niya kung papaano i handle ang mood swings ko. Nasasakyan niya ang trip ko, sa kama man o hindi. Ayokong aminin noon pero napapasaya niya ako.

Hindi niya man sabihin sa akin, alam kong insecure siya. Sa tuwing nagtatanong siya tungkol sa asawa ko, sa tuwing tinatanong niya kung kamusta sa bahay. Alam ko, marami nang tumatakbo sa utak niya. Pero hindi ko maibigay sa kanya iyong assurance na gusto at kailangan niya. Dahil alam ko din naman na panandalian lang ang lahat sa amin. Ayoko siyang paasahin. Dahil, oo. Duwag ako. Natatakot akong iwan niya ako pero natatakot din akong iwan ang lahat para sa kanya.