Parallel

Fifth Parallel: Con Te Partirò

"What do you want then?"
'Iwanan mo siya. And stop fucking women around!'

"I can't just do that, Irene. Please understand."
'Are you fucking kidding me? Understand? Ikaw?Ang kapal mo naman!'

"She could be pregnant, Irene. Kaya ko siya ikinuha ng condo."

'What? She could be what? Hindi sapat sayo na niloloko mo ako? Pati mga anak ko, sasaktan mo? Where is your conscience Greggy? Ha? Ano! Sumagot ka!'

"Stop shouting! Magigising yung mga bata. Irene, please... let's just talk like two civilized people. Please."

'Civilized? Civility has left you the first time you cheated on me. Tapos gusto mo, maging civil ako sayo? Wow Greggy. The audacity. Hindi ka nahihiya? Ano yang nakuha mo? Bata? Magkano ng naubos mo sa kanya? Sa kanila? How much of my sons' fortunes have you been giving your whores!'

"Shut up, Irene! Just shut up!" I know that there are truths with what she's talking about. But it is
something that I cannot welcome in my system. It was too much for my pride. Which is why, to my defense and out of this freaking spur of the moment, I blurted something that changed our lives, forever.
"It's not about money. It's not just lust. This thing with Michelle, it's not just lust."

Silence falls upon us. I can see Irene breathing heavily. I regretted saying those words instantly, but my ego was too big to take it back.

"Do you love her? Mahal mo na ba siya?'
"Irene..." Words keep failing me. I am lost for whatever I may say to make it up to her.
'Can we at least pretend na okay lang tayo kapag nandyan yung mga bata? Maybe until they finished high school. Let's just explain everything kapag nasa States na sila pareho.'

"Makikipag hiwalay ka? You can't!" Panic sets in me. I may have done horrible things in my life especially to my wife, but loosing Irene is never an option. She can't leave me. As unfair and as hostile as it may be, hindi pwede. Hindi ko kaya.

'Why? Hindi kaya ng pride mo? You know what.. I should have cheated on you when I found out na niloloko mo ako, para patas lang!'
"Take it back, Irene!!"
'No! I said, I should have cheated on you as well!'

"I said take it back!" I pushed her to the wall, hitting her backside on the corner of our bathroom door.

"I'm sorry, love. I didn't mean to. Irene.."

I was about to leave to avoid further shouting and cursing between us when I noticed blood in between her legs.

"Love.. oh my God, did I hurt you? Love.. may dugo ka. Why? Oh my God, Irene! Let's get you to the hospital."

She's not talking anymore as we ride the car. I keep telling her it's going to be okay. I don't know what happened! Did I pushed her too hard? Oh God.

Irene's now pale and she's just staring blankly outside of the window. Makati Med is just 10 minutes away from our house, so we were able to bring her to the ER in no time.

"Love? We're here na, ha? You will be fine, Irene."

'Greggy! Oh my God, what happened? Irene?'
"She's bleeding." I am grateful that Czarmi is the one who's on duty right now. She's Irene's friend from way back.. and I can trust her fully with Irene's life.

'She's what? Irene..'
'Czarm.. yung baby ko. Wala na ba yung baby ko?'

I think my world stop spinning when I heard Irene.
She's pregnant? Fuck. Our baby. I did this. And I didn't know, again. What kind of monster am I?

'We will see, ha? Stop crying. Let's get you inside.'
"Czarmi.. Irene is.." I can't even finished my sentence.

'Yes. Two weeks short to five months. She's been here couple of times already, mahina yung kapit ng bata. It's very risky due to her age na rin. What happened, Greggy? Nadulas ba siya? Or what? She's so obedient to all of our instructions naman. I'll let you know, ha? I just really have to be with her muna.'
"Please Czarmi, wag mo pabayaan yung mag ina ko."