Irene just staring at nothing, but her mind is filled with many thoughts... Questions. She doesn't know when did it was started, or how she even do that to him.
Greggy isn't that perfect partner, but he is trying too. Trying to spoil her, be the good father in the future, or just be good to Irene in general.
He should not be have a bad feeling on this kind of set up, since it's just an arranged marriage for them. The fact that Greggy continue to gaslight himself that he doesn't love Irene, he only need her for the bloodline of his family...
No that's a lie.
He do love her too much that he can't pick up any broken pieces they are making. He can't give up not because of disappointment but because of love... He surely love her.
But, she does not love him... He just can't love him.
They both know about it... Greggy know about that.
He doesn't know how it become worst, while cleaning he saw a spare of a phone.
"What is this?" He sad down at the floor, just looking at the phone.
"Who owned this?" Another question from him, he think twice before opening the phone.
A default wallpaper welcomed him, his hands tremble while thinking about any password to unlock it.
"Nagtatanong pa ako, kaming dalawa lang nga pala ni Irene dito." He whispered.
Different pattern.
0000
0916
0611
1609
But then he failed, he needs to wait for a minutes to try again. He look at the box where it from, there are a flashdrive and a camera.
Greggy get it all, he opened the phone again.
1234
And viola, it opened!
Greggy's heart shrunken when, he saw the messages from one person. Maybe he is lucky that it's only one person.
09** *** ***9
"I love you so much."
"I miss you, dear."
"How I wish you are here."
"I miss you
"I'm so happy with you."
"Saya ko ngayon dear."
"Thank you for the day, medyo nalimutan ko mga problema ko."
The words and sentences that Greggy wishes that she will say it to him.
"Mahirap bang mahalin ako? Mahirap bang piliin ako kahit saglit?" He asked.
Greggy is just driving his car slowly, watching Irene walking home with that boy. Greggy can't deny that this boy is more more sensible than him. He can't even deny that Irene is really more happy with him.
They slept in one bed that night, Greggy is facing Irene's back.
"What can I do?" He unconsciously asked.
Irene heard it but she just let him say what even he want to say. Closing her eyes and her ears, it's all close for him.
"Mahal mo ba siya?"
Irene wants to answer, "Oo sobra." She can't be quiet now.
"Gaano?" He continue to ask.
"Sobra, sobrang sobra." She did not even hide it.
"Hindi mo ako mahal?" Greggy even had a guts to question her.
"Hindi ba halata? Ni minsan hindi kita minahal Gregorio."
Greggy did not have anytime to tear up. "Sino siya?" But, he just continue to break his own heart.
"You don't need to know." She answered almost whispering.
That conversation they have that night hunting him every seconds.
"Pwede na ba?" Greggy is just waiting his dad to approve their divorce paper before he will talk to his lawyer.
"Wag muna Greggy, pag hiniwalayan mo yang asawa mo ngayon maski ikaw hihiwalay sa pamilya natin. Naiintindihan mo ba." Luis threatened.
Greggy frowned but sigh, "Dad..." He just stop, he doesn't want to tell what is really happening.
"Isang taon pa, malapit na. Isang taon na lang." Luis said.
Greggy is watching in the window, his fist is almost forming a blood because of his tighten grip.
Irene saw it, she look at the boy... Her greatest love.
"Una na ako, dear." She bid a good bye.
"Just call me, kung kailan ka ulit available." The boy smile, a sincere smile that Irene made her fall in love.
"Anytime, basta sa'yo." She answer, her eyes went to the window where her husband is standing and watching them.
She take a step before kissing the boy.
Greggy watch it, he doesn't know but he just can't move on.
Once Irene entered their house, he can't take it anymore.
"Sino yun?" An anger filled him.
"Wala kang pake." Irene even rolled her eyes.
"Anong wala? Anong wala Irene!" Greggy just following her with his eyes.
"Wala kang naman talagang pake!" Irene almost shouting, stopping so he can see him.
"Asawa mo ako Irene." Greggy said, "Ipagdiinan mo sa utak mo at sa lalaki mo na may asawa ka na!"
Irene look away, "Sa papel ng batas oo..."
The second Greggy heard, the sentence she added. He just wished that it did not come to this.
"Pero sa papel ng buhay ko, you are nothing but only business partner to my dad!"
Greggy just watch her, "Ano bang mahirap? Saan ba part na mahirap na mag act as asawa ko? May sinumpaan tayo kahit sabihin nang arrange lang lahat you agree with the words and the vows."
"I just agree kasi ayaw kong ma disappoint ko si daddy, Gregorio! Kung ano lang ang papapiliin hinding hindi ako papasok sa buhay mo!" Irene said that slap on his face.
He just realized that he do love her, only on that revelation, only in this point.
"So please, wag mong pakialaman ang mga ginagawa ko sa buhay ko. Uulitin ko, inasawa lang kita sa papel." She even repeated it.
It was their anniversary, it was even a shock when Irene show up in the restaurant where they both agree to see each other.
Greggy just wished he did not come, he just wish that this day did not make.
Irene seating in front of him, she's presentable she can't even prevent her beautiful and real smile.
But then, Greggy tear up. He doesn't know why but little by little his tears is falling.
"Mag divorce na tayo." Irene put the divorce paper above the table.
"Bakit?" Greggy even ask.
"Alam mo naman, may minamahal akong iba Greggy. Wag na nating ipilit pa to." She answered.
"Irene please..." He whispered.
"Please Greggy, let's end this. Gusto ko nang pakasalan yung mahal ko." She said.
"Bakit ba parang hirap na hirap kang mahalin ako? I'm trying my best to become a good husband, ano pa ba any kulang?" A firmed voice him, even he is tearing up.
Irene look away, not even trying to hold an eye contact with him. "Anak."
"Greggy, gusto ko nang magkaroon ako nang sarili kong anak, nang anak na ang ama ay yung mahal ko. Hindi na nga kita mahal, hindi mo pa ako mabigyan ng anak." She explained.
Greggy grip at the glass, that sadly shuttered like his heart.
"Irene I'm sorry." He whispered.
"Saan? Sa part na hindi mo ako mabigyan ng anak, o sa part na dumating ka para lang sirain kami?" She ask, just watching his blood combined to the water and pieces of glass.
Greggy can't even answer.
"Sign this na. Alam kong hindi mo din ako—"
"Mahal kita Irene, mahal na mahal kita." And finally those words came out on his own mouth.
"Mahal mo nga ako Greggy, pero hindi nga kita mahal. Gusto ko nang pamilya na mahal ko, na hindi pilit, at asawa na hindi lang sa papel." She explained.
Greggy nodded, he just agreed even he doesn't want it.
"Yung pirma mo." She passes him the paper.
He give up, he sign the divorce paper. His heart is more pain that the bruises he have, or maybe because it's already heart and it's already Irene.
The fact that he wanted to shout, to tremble, to be in pain but he just act like nothing, he just need to be numb in front of her.
"Greggy, your question kung sino siya..." Irene stop a little, "Pinsan mo siya Greggy."
"I know, kahit hindi mo sabihin alam ko." He whispered.
"How?" Irene asked.
The time that Irene saw her spare gadgets, he opened the camera. He saw how happy they are, how sweet and love each other.
He saw the man, the man is even his whole cousin. The man he trusted and even treated him like Greggy's brother.
"Sa dami ba namang lalaki pinsan ko pa?" A question he ask to an air, it's will just be remain in air.
"Wala naman na tayo, hindi mo na kailangan alamin." He answered bitterly.
Even how bitter it was, he is always going on that restaurant where he saw the most beautiful smile Irene gave him.
He is even visiting their supposed to be family house, where he fall in love more, where he realized that he love her, but she don't.