I'm In Hell With Him

Chapter Eight

I hope he won't hurt me.

"T-tungkol saan?" I asked softly, while my insides are shaking.

"Tinatanong pa ba yan, Ace? Don't play dumb, you know what I'm talking about." He thundered. He sent a hundred of deadly glares to me and I'm back to my feeble self again. 

I just shut up. I dropped my head and waited for it to end. Don't cry, Aeicy.

"Diba sinabi ko na sa'yo kanina na importanteng client yung pumunta dito?" Sabi niya, parang nahihintay siya ng sagot ko kaya lalo akong napayuko. "God, Aeicy... hindi mo ba maintindihan yung mga sinasabi ko sa'yo? Kelan ka ba gagawa ng tama?"

It will be over soon. Pagtapos nito, aakyat ka na sa taas. Patience. Endure all of it.

"Cersi was the one who went here with my car. The woman loves playing games, and she's the son of my client, so I had no choice but to go along with her games. That explains why she was here. Then I asked you not to mention about our marriage, but what did you do? You acted stupid and you are the reason why I lost a potential client we needed."

Napapikit na ako para lang hindi tumulo yung luha ko. Kaya mo yan. Matatapos rin siya. 

Gustong-gusto kong ipagtanggol yung sarili ko. Pero ewan ko ba, ang hina-hina palagi ng pagkatao ko kapag ipinapakita ni Liam yung side niyang ganito. Kapag ganito siya, wala akong planong lumaban dahil alam ko sa sarili kong cry baby ako at talo ako bandang huli.

"Wag kag magpapaapi. Oo nga't mayaman sila pero pare-pareho lang tayong lahat na tao."  My sister's words keep on echoing in my head. Kaya ko bang lumaban? Can I defend myself and explain? Should I? 

"Are you listening to me, Ace? For Christ's sake, speak up!"

"I'm sorry!" There. Isinigaw ko na. Yung linya na yun buong lakas ko pang inipon para sabihin sa kanya. "B-but can you please, let me explain?" Napansin kong nag-iba yung mukha ni Liam kaya kukuhain ko na ang pagkakataong binibigay niya.

There was an awkward and deafening silence. 

"N-nung dumating yung babae, hindi ka pa tumatawag nun k-kaya hindi ko pa alam na client mo 'yun. I'm sorry." Kaya mo yan, Aeicy. Pagkatapos nito, okay na. Alam kong hindi nagustuhan ni Liam yung pagsigaw ko kanina. But I have to do this, because I deserve to defend myself. 

"Tinanong niya kung ano ako sa'yo, akala pa nga niya katulong mo ko pero I swear, hindi ko sinasadyang sabihin sa kanya na... k-kasal na tayo. Nakaalis na yung babae nung tumawag ka. Swear to God I'm telling the truth, Liam... I was planning to send you a text kaya lang..."

I watched Liam took a deep sigh. Tumaas yung isang kilay niya then said , "Kaya lang ano?"

"Kaya lang natatakot ako." With that, I betrayed myself and cried like a baby.

It was true. Takot ako sa kanya. I have always been afraid. Simula pa lang na malaman kong kailangan ko siyang pakasalan, natatakot na ako sa kanya. He was powerful, no doubt. Kahit anong mali ko pwedeng magbago ang buhay namin ng pamilya ko sa oras na hindi magustuhan ni Liam ang mga ginagawa ko.

One word from him and he can send my Dad to jail. Kaya natatakot ako sa kanya. I was born stupid and clumsy, and I know that before this marriage even started, it would be a one crazy ride for the both of us--especially for me.

I kept crying, hanggang sa wala na akong maiyak. Liam remained silent the whole time. At naghamunan kami ng tingin. I cannot see any emotion from his face, was he angry, sad, or what? I saw nothing. 

Hanggang sa naglakad na si Liam paakyat sa kwarto niya. 

It means that the battle for this day is over. Who won the fight, I do not know.

"Hindi ka ba kakain?" Tanong ko habang sinusundan siya ng tingin.

"I'm tired. Save mine for tomorrow." His voice seemed tired, pero parang nawala na yung galit. Parang. Sinundan ko siya ng tingin hanggang sa pagpasok niya ng kwarto niya. The moment his door was closed, I collapsed unto the couch and exhaled.

After all that drama I pulled off, yun lang gagawin niya?

I decided to skip dinner and went inside my room to rest. It's been a long and tiring day for me at kailangan kong magpahinga at mag-gain ng energy para harapin si Liam bukas. Kaya umakyat na rin ako. Pero hindi pa man ako nakakahiga, tumunog yung cellphone ko.

1 Message received

From: Unknown (09*********)

Let's talk please. Marami akong ipapaliwanag sayo.

-Terence 

The name flashed on the screen of my phone made my heart skip a beat. Huminga ako ng malalim. Nagdalawang isip din ako kung ibabato ko ba yung phone o hindi sa sobrang galit. But then the phone was a gift from my Dad and it was the last thing I owned.

Terence... Please wag mo na kong hanapin. 

____

FL01