The Fall of Alexander the Great (Monteverde Series 3)

36

Chapter Thirty Six

The door creaked. I heard Alexander's footsteps coming closer. I took a deep breath before putting some viand on a white bowl. "Good evening. Handa na ang hapunan. Take a seat," kaswal kong bati sa kaniya bago naglabas ng dalawang plato at inilagay ito sa mesa.

"Inaway mo si Helena." Pigil ang galit sa boses niya.

"Oo."

His jaw clenched. "Blythe, ano bang nangyayari sa'yo? Wala namang ginagawa sa'yo 'yung tao! Bakit kailangan mo siyang ipahiya sa mall?"

Ibinagsak ko ang kubyertos sa lamesa at diniinan ko ang tingin ko sa kanya. "Bakit? Nagtatanong ka pa kung bakit? Gago ka talaga, ano? Tinanong mo pa sa akin kung bakit ko pinahiya yung babae mo? She deserved it! She deserved more than that!"

"Talagang ipinipilit mo parin 'yang ideya mo na niloloko kita?"

"Don't try to fool me, Alexander! Hindi ako manhid para di maramdaman na nanlalamig ka na sa 'kin! Kapag tumatawag ako sa opisina mo, palagi kang busy."

"Marami lang akong iniisip at inaasikaso. Busy lang ako, Blythe, pero hindi ako nanlalamig sa'yo! Kulang na lang yata ay marindi ka dahil paulit-ulit kong sinasabi sa'yong mahal kita!" I can feel his anger in every word.

"That is bullshit!" Everything around us is falling to pieces, including me and our relationship. "Nothing is more painful than the fact that you're with the person you love, but you know that he doesn't love you back anymore."

"What are you saying? Are you out of your mind, Blythe Oenone? Mahal kita!" I can see how much he was holding back. "Mahal na mahal kita and you know that."

"Sabi mo sa 'kin, hindi ka makakauwi ng lunch dahil may meeting ka. I baked a cake to surprise you pero hindi ka umuwi. I brought the cake to your office kasi sabi mo busy ka, pero pagdating ko wala ka naman doon. Where? Lunch out. I ended up giving the cake away." I cried harder. "Nagluto ako ng handa yesterday, pero iniligpit ko at mga kapitbahay ang nakinabang kasi wala ka naman. 'Yung mga dekorasyon niligpit ko..." I was out of control. Habol-habol ko ang hininga habang nagsasalita. Unti-unting bumaon yung kuko ko sa kahoy ng upuan.

"Blythe, I'm really sorry."

"Please don't tell me na busy ka. I don't want to hear that again. Busy saan? Sa pagkikita niyo ni Helena? Nakita ko kaya sa Parisienne kasama mo. I was outside the restaurant when I called to ask you where you were. Do you remember what you told me?" Nanginginig ang mga balikat ko. "Do you remember?"

"I said I was in the office," mahina niyang sagot. "Blythe, it was a professional meeting. You have to believe me. Love, I would never hurt you like that."

"But you already did!" I screamed. "You already did."

"I'm sorry." He went closer and wrapped me in a tight hug and I broke down completely in his arms.

"You were lying to me..."

"That I am guilty of. Pero ang panloloko sa'yo hindi. I am not capable of doing such a thing to the woman I love."

"I don't want to hear lies any more lies from you."

"You have to trust me." Inihilamos niya ang palad niya sa mukha niya. He looked weary and defeated. "I apologized for lying and for being busy, but I'm not apologizing for anything else, dahil hindi nga kita niloloko."

"Hindi ko na kayang maniwala pa sa'yo," hikbi ko. "Gusto ko pero hindi ko na kaya."

"Kung may natutunan man ako sa pagmamahalan ng mga magulang ko, 'yun ay ang kailangan mong matutong magtiwala sa taong mahal mo. Love without trust is destructive. Trust is the foundation of every relationship, Blythe."