The Divorce

Chapter 70: The Brother-in-law

"Yeah. She looked like your Sammy," and Henri. Iniabot niya kay Arem ang phone.

Hindi naniniwala si Arem na si Samantha nga ang babaeng nasa larawan. Pero para manahimik ang mga kaibigan, pinagbigyan niya na lang ang mga ito. Kinuha niya ang cellphone at tiningnan ang larawang naroon.

Pero kaagad na tinambol ng kaba ang dibdib niya ng makita ang babaeng nakatayo sa tabi ng sasakyan na kilalang-kilala niya habang nakatingin sa unahan nito.

"When did you take this photo?" Seryosong tanong ni Arem kay Calvin.

"Noong sinundo namin kayong dalawa ni ate Gabrielle. Si ate Gab lang ang naghihintay sa labas ng sasakyan noon dahil bumili ako ng tubig. Noong napadaan ako sa parking lot, I saw this beautiful woman. Hindi ko naman alam na asawa mo siya kuya Arem," mahabang paliwanag ni Calvin. Halatang kinakabahan ito na para bang nag-commit talaga ito ng adultery.

"Si ate Gab lang ang naghintay sa inyong dalawa sa labas ng sasakyan noon tapos hindi mo naman pala kasama si kuya Henri sa flight mo pag that time,"

Natigilan si Arem.

Then, Samantha's calm voice suddenly echoed in his head.

Isn't your woman's presence more important? Why don't you go already? She must be waiting for you.

So there's a reason for her behavior that morning. Samantha thought that Gabrielle and he had that kind of relationship because she saw Gabrielle fetch him at the airport.

She drives there!

Kahit na sinabi na nito noong una pa lang na hindi ito sanay mag-drive sa malayo, nagpunta pa rin ito sa airport para sunduin siya, only to see him with another woman.

Though he and Gabrielle don't have that kind of relationship, Arem felt guilty. He wasted Samantha's efforts. She wanted to fetch him, or maybe to surprise him but she was the one who got a surprise from him.

Madiing hinilot ni Arem ang sentido niya. Ibinaba niya sa table ang cellphone ni Calvin saka isinandal ang ulo sa mamahaling headrest ng sofa.

"What happened?" Curious na tanong ni Henri. Noon lang niya nakita na tila ba namo-mroblema ang kaibigan.

"Oh, did she see you being fetched by Gab?" Nang-aasar na tanong ni Felix.

Napatingin dito ang lahat. Na para bang nagtatanong kung paano niya naisip ang ganoong senaryo.

"Well, nakuhanan siya ni Calvin ng picture noong time na sinusundo silang dalawa ni Calvin at Gabrielle. Sadly, I'm not there. Calvin went somewhere, she only saw Gabrielle and him. Ano sa palagay niyo ang iisipin ng babae kapag nagkataon?" ani Felix na tila ba ini-imagine pa kung ano nga ba ang nangyari.

"I'll call her," ani Arem na hindi mapigilan ang biglang pagkabog ng dibdib.

"I-i think I-it's too late for that,"

Everyone looked at the stammering Calvin. His shaking finger pointed at the entrance.

As soon as he gestured towards the door, everyone's gaze followed his pointing finger. They saw the woman they had been discussing earlier walking into the dimly lit bar, her fingers tightly intertwined with those of a tall, handsome man. The pair strode confidently through the crowd, their heads held high as if they owned the place.

The woman's long hair cascaded down her back, swaying with each step she took, though she was wearing big sunglasses she scanned the room as if she were searching for someone in particular. The man, on the other hand, looked stoic and unapproachable, his chiseled jawline set in a determined expression. Despite the noise and commotion around them, the couple seemed to be in the world, lost in each other's company.