Escaping Strings

Chapter 37: Cheat

“What do you want, babe? Pizza? Ice cream? Strawberries?” tanong ni Matt nang marating namin ang office ko.

“I'll just get my things. I want to go home.”

I am totally exhausted.

“Okay.”

Tumalikod ako para pumunta sa office desk ko. Kinukuha ko na ang mga gamit ko nang marinig kong magsalita si Matt. Nilingon ko ito at nakaharap ito sa pinto habang may kausap sa phone niya.

“I can't meet you.... Please, leave us alone. Don't ever bother us again.” Pinatay niya ang tawag at tumingin sa akin.

He smiles, “Let's go?”

“Yeah,” I smiled back, walking towards him.

Bakit feeling ko, ngayon pa siya nagkaroon ng posibleng itatago niya sa akin? Gusto kong itanong kung sino ang kausap niya kanina pero baka mag-away lang kami. Hindi kaya'y may ibang babae si Matt?

“Babe, who's that?” hindi mapigilang tanong ko nang nasa sasakyan na kami.

“Who's who?”

“The one you were talking to earlier? Bakit gusto niyang makipagkita? Sino ba 'yon?” I ask and he throw a glance at me before looking back to the driveway.

“It's just a crazy client. Tinanggihan ko 'yung deal and she keeps on persisting it.” Mahahalata mo talaga sa boses niya ang pagkairita habang sinasabi niya ito, but I am not convince.

I am sorry, I am doubting his side on this. I know, he loves me. May tiwala naman ako sa kaniya, but to women? I don't think so. Marami nang haliparot ngayon. 'Yung akala mo, anghel? Mga alagad pala ng demonyo, jusko, mga ahas!

“I need to call Iris — Oh, my phone's dead. Can I barrow yours?” tanong ko sa kaniya at agad naman niyang iniabot ang phone niya.

Hey, I am not acting. I really need to call my twin. I forgot to say the some terms about Chezca's new office, and also, I forgot to log out.

“Here, what's mine is yours,” he said and the inner me automatically raise an eyebrow to it.

Tsk, can't you trust your fiancé, Martina? Argh, I don't know!

“Password?”

“It's your name, babe,” he sweetly smiles.

Sige, pa-cute ka lang diyan nang mabawasan ang pagdududa ko sa'yo. Hindi ko napigilan at nairapan ko siya. I was about to dial Iris' number when I saw this fucking name. That person's been calling him for 15 times and damn, he is answering some of it! I breathe, calming myself. I was about to ignore it but that fucking woman called again. Matt phone's in silent mode and I answered it without his consent. Fuck, do I need his consent? Siya na rin ang nagsabi, what's his is mine.

“Please, don't hang up on me! Gosh, meet me up, Matthew! I need to see you. Our baby wants to see you, please,” she begged.

I ended the call. My heart's pounding hard to what I have heard. I close my eyes, calming myself again. Niloloko ako ni Matt. May babae si Matt. Niloloko niya ako. Ayaw kong maniwala. Nagagalit ako pero ayaw kong maniwala. Gusto kong umiyak pero hindi dapat.

“Babe, nakausap mo na ba si Iris? I didn't hear you talking.”

Matthew's POV

“May anak kayo ni Cass?” kalmado pero masasabi mong galit na tanong niya.

Teka, anak?

“Anak? Anong anak? Cass?” Inihinto ko ang sasakyan sa tabi, “Babe, ano bang sinasabi mo?” I pull her hand but she pulls it out of my hand.

“Don't fool me, Matt! Tell me, ilang beses na bang may nangyari sa inyo?! Kailan mo pa ba ako niloloko?”

Inisip ko nang maigi pero wala akong maalalang may nangyari sa amin ni Cass. Ni hindi nga ako umaalis sa tabi niya eh, at mas lalong hindi ko nakakausap 'yung babaeng 'yon. It's been years since I dumped that woman because of her desperate side.

“Babe, walang namamagitan sa amin ni Cass. Ano bang sinabi niya sa'yo? Kailan kayo nagkausap?”

Hindi ko alam kung paano ko dedepensahan ang sarili ko dahil wala akong alam na kasalanan ko. Knowing Martina, she can't be fooled easily pero hindi rin siya madaling suyuin. Pero wala rin akong ginagawang masama!

“She called! She said she wants to meet you and your baby wants to see you either! Ano 'yon?” She hit my chest.

“Babe, what? Hindi ko alam ang sinasabi mo — Hey, no!” Binato niya sa akin 'yung phone ko.

Inalis ko ang seatbelt ko at lumapit ng kaunti sa kaniya. Hindi ko pinakawalan ang kamay niya at hinawakan ang pisngi niya upang iharap siya sa akin.

“Babe, may gusto sa akin si Cass, okay? She wants me so bad kaya niya ginagawa ito. Ilang beses niyang sinubukang magpakita sa akin but believe me, I keep on pushing her away. Itanong mo pa sa mga tao sa opisina ko. Babe, please, you should believe me, not that whore!”

She look away.

“Oh, so, pinupuntahan ka pala niya?” Hay nako, wala talaga akong lusot. Wala naman akong tinatago pero ako pa rin ang may kasalanan.

Napayuko na lang ako at ipinatong ang ulo ko sa balikat niya.

“If you are cheating on me, please, ngayon pa lang sabihin mo na. Ayoko nang ituloy 'to,” she stated finally.

“Hey, no, babe,” I immediately reacted holding her face, “I am not cheating on you. Ikaw lang ang mahal ko. I can prove that to you every second.” Mas lumapit ako sa kaniya kahit na ang sama pa rin ng tingin niya sa akin. “As you can see, sa'yo ko lang ginagawa 'to.” I claimed her lips.

We got to our condo with no problem. I know, Martina loves me that much that she would never leave me. Alam kong may tiwala siya sa akin kahit na ano pa ang mangyari. Sisiguraduhin kong tatahimik na 'yang Cass na 'yan. Hindi niya puwedeng sirain ang relasyon namin ni Martina, lalong-lalo na ang araw ng kasal namin.

“What the fuck, Cass?! What child are you talking about?! I did not fucked you up even once tapos sasabihin mong may anak tayo? Nababaliw ka na!”

I hear her laugh. Nakakairita.

“So, is she the one who heard what I've said on the phone earlier? Goodness, thank God it happened. Ang tagal kong ipinagdasal 'yon.”

I shook my head, “Nababaliw ka na, Cass. 'Wag kang magkakamaling magpakita o magparamdam pa sa amin, or else, you'll find yourself to jail. Worst, to hell.” I throw my phone to trash. I don't want to have any communication with her. Nakakasuka. Ang landi niya.

“Bakit mo naman tinapon?” Martina innocently asks.

She's about to get it when I stop her. I quickly hug her from behind.

“Hey, leave it. I can buy new one,” I whispered, kissing her neck.

She slaps my hand on her tummy, “Hindi porque mayaman ka, magtatapon ka na ng phone. Maraming naghihi—” I held her chin and kiss her.

Iniharap ko siya sa akin, “Babe, a slut knows my info there. I want something....” I give her a sweet, passionate kiss before looking into her eyes, “Intimate.”

I am about to kiss her again when she stops me by pushing me, “Let's eat.”

Napanguso na lang ako. Pagkain na naman. Pati pagkain, pinagseselosan mo, Matthew? Oo.

“Babe, you're free to eat me,” I said, pulling her closer, making her feel me.

Napataas ang kilay niya, “Really?”

I nodded and she squeezes my thing. Oh, it feel good.

“Ugh, I love you,” I said and she chuckles kissing me.