Broken Vow

47: Suprise Arrival

Seeing her ex-husband there, of all situations, she asked the Almighty, bakit doon at noon pa?

Mabilis na tumalikod si Elena para tuyuin ang luha sa mukha. Magkadikit parin ang mga katawan nilang dalawa ni Adam. Wala naman syang rason para lumayo dito dahil lang naroroon si Caleb.

"How are you feeling?" Adam check on her.

She smile, tapos ay tiningala nya ang kasama. "It feels better now. Thank you."

"I'm glad to hear that."

Humigpit ang hawak ni Caleb sa mga bulaklak. Kung kanina ay muntik na nya itong mabitawan, ngayon naman ang higpit ng pagkakahawak nya. The veins in his knuckles are showing up.

Wala na syang karapatan na magalit o maghinanakit dahil lang sa may iba nang lalaki si Elena. Pero hindi naman nawala kasama ng kanyang karapatan ang kakayahan nya n magalit dahil sa nakikitang ang dating kanya ay hawak na ng iba.

"S-sa ibang araw na lang ako bibisita." Caleb excuse himself.

"No. No, it's okay. I'm leaving, we're leaving na din naman." Nagkatinginan sina Adam at Elena. "Let's go, Adam?"

"Yeah. Of course." Without knowing why, he put his hand on Elena's waist. She can feel the warmness of his palm. Tagos na tagos sa suot nyang damit. Adam faces Caleb. "We'll be leaving first."

Caleb twitch the half of his lips, acknowledging his words kahit napipilitan lang sya.

Nilipasan nilang dalawa ang natahimik na si Caleb. Adam escorted her hanggang sa marating nila ang sasakyan ni El.

Elena turn around, paharap kay Adam. "Thank you so much. I wasn't expecting na sa dami ng lugar, dito pa tayo magkikita."

"It's not a big deal. Sana nakatulong ako sayo kahit papaano."

A formation of small arch is visible to her lips. "You helped me, of course. Kung wala ka kanina, for sure hindi ko alam kung anong magiging reaction after seeing my ex-husband."

Nginitian rin sya ni Adam. Even his eyes are smiling.

"Go on, baka maipit ka sa traffic." Pagtataboy ni Adam.

"How about you? Di ka pa aalis?"

"After you. Vacant period ko naman hanggang two  kaya wala akong klase."

Itinango ni Elena ang kanyang ulo saka na nya binuksan ang pinto ng kanyang sasakyan. She climbed inside and once nakasakay na sya, binaba nya ang bintana.

"See you?"

Again, Adam smiled at her. "See you," he said at saka na sya lumayo ng sasakyan para bigyang daan si Elena.

When she's set to go, dumungaw sya sa bintana at kinawayan si Adam. After that, she started driving papalayo.

Her car disappear from his sight. Noon na sya nagumpisang lakarin ang kinaroroonan ng kanyang sasakyan.

Adam pressed his car's remote at gumawa ito ng tunog, ng ilang ulit na beep. Pagkabukas nya ng sasakyan, a familiar voice caught his attention.

"Excuse me."

Adam halted. He closed his door and he turn to look at Caleb. Hindi sya nagsalita. He let his eyes speak for him.

"Anong intensyon mo sa paglapit kay Elena?" Pagmamasama ni Caleb sa closeness ni Adam at ng kanyang ex-wife. Bahagyang kumunot ang noo ni Adam but he remain speechless. "What do you want from her? Anong meron sa inyong dalawa?"

"Why do you care?"

Caleb's jaw flexes dahil sa inis.

"Whatever relationship I have with Elena, labas ka na doon. Ikaw ba? Anong relasyon ang meron sa inyo bukod sa pagiging ex-husband and ex-wife? Do you still love her? Kaya ba you are curious about us?"

They're looking at each other's eyes, talking man to man.

Caleb laugh slightly kahit wala namang nakakatawa sa sinabi ni Adam. "Love? Ako? Mahal pa si Elena? I'm getting married sa babaeng tunay kong mahal. Kaya yang tanong mo, that's absurd." He stated in a matter-of-fact tone.

"That's a relief then." Adam took a deep breath. "I like her. I want to earn her trust and love. Soon, sasabihin ko na sa kanya ang nararamdaman ko. That is why it's really great to hear from you na wala ka nang nararamdaman for her. Thank you. It's all thanks to you, Caleb."

The tension between them rise up. Kahit na sinabi ni Caleb na wala na syang feelings for his ex-wife, Adam can feel the other way around. Kung hindi kaya ni Caleb na magpakatotoo, si Adam, he will tell him his truth. At totoo na gusto nya talaga si Elena.

"Congratulations to your upcoming second marriage. Let's prove that love is sweeter for the second time, pero sa iba na. Sana naman natuto ka na sa una mong marriage na ikaw mismo ang sumira."

Dahil sa pinaghalohalong mga negative emotions, nandilim ang paningin ni Caleb. His fist, dumapo ito sa pisngi ni Adam. Pumutok ang labi nya and he spill out blood. Hindi pa nakakarecover si Adam pero kinuwelyuhan na sya agad.

Between gritted teeth, Caleb talk. "Sino ka sa tingin mo para pagsabihan ako? It's my choices, it's my own life, my own rules and my own decisions. Labas ka din sa relasyong meron ako ngayon with my second wife. Wala kang karapatan na magcomment sa takbo ng buhay ko.

"You know what? I'm happy for you. I'm very happy for you dahil may nagmahal pa sa iyo. May tumanggap pa sayo."

"You...!" Binitawan ni Caleb ang kanang collar ni Adam and he aim to punch him for the second time.

However, nasalag ni Adam ang kanang kamay ni Caleb. He push his grip off his collar at kamao naman nya ang tumama sa pisngi ng attacker. The force of his punch is so strong na ikinatumba pa ito ni Caleb.

Adam hold back himself. Ayaw nya sanang makasakit kaya pinigil nya ang urge as much as he can but he needed to show Caleb that he know how to fight back.

Seconds after, Adam bended his body and he extended his hands para tulungan sana si Caleb. Pero hinampas lang ang kamay nya papalayo. Caleb stands up on his own. When finally back to his feet, he glare at Adam. Matapos nyang titigan ng masama ang lalaking sumuntok sa kanya ay lumakad sya papalayo. He left without single word.

Pinagpatuloy na si Adam ang naunsyame nyang pagalis sa sementeryo.

While on his way pabalik sa university where he teach, his phone rang. Connected ang cellphone nya sa bluetooth device na naka install sa kanyang sasakyan kaya he simply accepted the call.

"Yes, hello?" May kausap man ay focus parin sya sa daan.

"Zăoshang hăo, my dear son."

"Ma?" He asked. Binalikan nya ang numero nang kabilang linya. It's a Philippine number.

"You must be wondering why my number is different."

"Yeah, nakakapagtaka nga." He turn right pagdating sa intersection.

"That's because I'm back. Can you fetch me up dito sa NAIA?"

"You were? Why didn't you tell me?" Bahagyang ikinagulat ni Adam ang marinig na nasa Pinas ang ina.

"To surprise you of course. I'll be waiting."

The call ended and he have no other choice kundi mag U-turn at tahakin ang daan goiing to the airport.

An hour passed, dumating si Adam para sunduin ang ina. He went to the arrival area. He texted his mom na naroroon na sya.

Nagpalibot-libot si Adam, searching for his mother.

His phone rang again at ito ang number na gamit ng ina. He pick up the call immediately.

"I'm here. Where are you?" He can't hide his excitement.

"Turn left." Utos ng ina.

Sa paglingon ni Adam, he saw his mother.

"I missed you, hijo." Abel said on the phone habang magkatinginan silang mag-ina.