06-23-17
HI. GULAT BA KAYO 😂😂😂
LA LUNA GUYS! NOOD TAYO HA. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA (wa kwenta aba)
Survey lang. Paano mo iaapproach ang taong dati mo nang nasaktan? Feedback is appreciated!
Contains subtle mature content. Flat out subtle, since I can't leave it out (quite essential to the story), but it's nothing too graphic.
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"No." Bago pa siya makapagsalita, natutop na ni Kathryn ang sariling bibig sa biglaang pag-hindi nito. "What!? Ni hindi pa nga ako--"
"You're going to ask for a divorce." Inikot nito ang swivel chair paharap sa kaniya. "How--"
"Kathryn... Wala tayong ano mang contact for six years straight... And now, you're showing up in front of me with an obvious plan to discard me? Oh, hindi ganon kabilis yon, Bal." Her cheeks reddened.
"It would've been nice if you were here to ask how I am, though." He smirked. Shit, he looked so hot.
As much as she did not want to admit it, six years did nothing but good for him. Lalo yata itong gumwapo. Hindi na siya magtataka kung mayroon na itong ipinagmamalaking abs.
Pinamulhan lang siya sa naisip.
"Kumusta ka nga ba?" Napuno ang opisina nito ng masaganang halakhak. But there were traces of sarcasm. "Kathryn the Joker...oh I missed that."
"Well, I don't miss you!" Ngumiti itong muli. Iyong ngiting nakakakilabot. Pero nakakakilig. "Don't you really?"
"Natural, I am divorcing you kaya!"
"No you're not, dear. Not if I can stop it." Just then, Daniel got what he wanted. She was seething in anger, with that beautiful scowl that he'd purposely try to piss her off just to see it.
"I will talk to you another day. Maybe then, you'd have some sense inside that brain of yours." Habang pinapanood niya ang pag-alis ng asawa, pinangakuan niya ang sarili na panandalian lamang iyon.
Hindi na ito makakawala sa kanya.
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"Ayaw niyang makisama!" Kathryn scoffed, her tears staining her cheeks. "Ang hayop talaga nong gagong yon! Paano ko nagustuhan yon, Yna?"
"Malay ko sa'yo." She watched her friend chug down the alcohol. "Pero aminin mo. Ang guwapo na lalo ngayon." Napangiwi siya doon.
Deep within her, she knew exactly why she like him, much less love him. Everything Daniel was.... Minahal niya. Even his exaggerated snores throughout the night. Kahit ang nakakainis nitong malakas na pagnguya. Hindi siya nagsisinungaling, hinanap hanap niya iyon.
Every quality of his was endearing. Kaya siguro ganon nalang ang pagmamahal niya sa taong iyon. Even when she dictated her stupid heart to stop.... It won't oblige.
"Pahingi nga."
"Gaga ka! Diba't allergic ka?" Napasimangot nalang siya. Salamat, genes.
Napagaralan niya ang kondisyon niya sa mahirap na paraan. She was hospitalized! Daniel was worried, in the most ridiculous fashion.
"Ang ganda naman kasi ng genetic makeup ko!" She shook her head. "Ayoko na talaga beh. Tulong. Baka masakal ko na yung tukmol na yon!"
Being the helpful friend she is (please note the sarcasm), Kathryn did not know why she expected any form of useful advice from Yna.
"You give in to his whims. Pagbigyan mo. Then seduce him.... And you have to do the deed na!" Her friend squealed excitedly. Nanlaki ang mata niya.
Deed?! They've been sharing the bed for three years, and he was nothing less of a man within the sheets.
"Anong deed?! Hindi ako makikipag... Ano sa lalaking hindi ko mahal! Let alone an arrogant man like him!" Tinawanan lang siya nito.
"Ang prude mo. Kailangan mong madili---" Pinigilan na niya ito. "Yna!"
Again, the good friend laughed at her blushing face. "Kaya ka vir-" She shut her up with some pickled olives. More so, because Yna did not have a clue of the nights she served as a wife.
Lord, forgive me for all the lies tonight.
"Ewwww!" Irit nito. Pero taliwas sa suspetya niya, nagpatuloy ito sa pagnguya. "Masarap pala to... Pag tipsy ako!"
What? Yna hated olives! "Tipsy? Gosh." She was way over tipsy.
Iniwan niya ang naduduling na kaibigan sa sofa ng apartment niya. Doon nalang matutulog yon.
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"Rise and shine, my love!" A high pitched moan escaped her lips. "It's Saturday! I don't have to wake up early!"
Nang tumawa ang umistorbo sa tulog niya, akala niyang nabaliw na siya ng tuluyan. Nakalimutan niyang suporta ang magaling niyang kaibigan sa isang ito.
Naiinis na nilisan niya ang kama. "Kathryn!" He shouts after her.
He was beside her by then. "Si Yna?"
"Umuwi na siya. Hinahanap na rin daw sa kanila." Naiiling na minasahe niya ang sentido. "Uminom ka ba?"
"Hindi. Allergic ako." Umikot ang mga mata ng kausap niya. "Oo nga. Kaya itinatanong ko kung uminom ka."
Kathryn chose to shrug it off. "You made me want to drink, though." She whispered, loud for him to hear.
"And why so?" May mapanuksong ngiti na naglalaro sa mga labi nito. Lalo niya itong sinimangutan. "May gana ka pang magtanong!"
"Bal, bago pa tayo humantong sa pag-iisang dibdib, klarong klaro na sa ating dalawa. I am against divorce!"
"Daniel, ginagago mo ba ako? May I remind you, ilang taon tayong hindi nagkikita, nagkakausap, nagkakasama sa ilalim ng isang bubong! We're merely strangers with a past!"
His eyes turned dark. "Kung hinayaan mo ako noon... Hindi ba dapat, masaya pa rin tayo ngayon? We could've done more than just look at each other and have a neutral conversation. We could've been proclaiming our love rather than discussing this bullshit." She swallowed the lump in her throat.
"May I remind you, Kathryn? You chose to push me away when all I wanted to do was be there for you. You chose to leave me when I have never thought of doing that to you. You chose to save yourself when you didn't need to. Bakit sinabi mong kailangan mong protektahan ang sarili mo? I could do it for you. Alam na alam mong iyon lang ang gusto kong gawin buong buhay ko."
What he didn't know was that she wasn't protecting herself at all.
She was protecting him. From herself.
After his words, she was a puddle of tears. Tuloy tuloy ang bagsakan ng luha niya habang taimtim na tinititigan siya nito. "You want this marriage dissolved so bad? Live with me for a year."
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"Welcome home, Mrs. Ford." There was an overwhelming warmth that enveloped her as the words rolled off his tongue.
Nilandas niya ang tingin sa kabahayan - just as she remembered years ago.
For the first time in years, she smiled genuinely. Matagal niya nang sinusubukang labanan ang lahat ng nararamdaman niya.
Daniel was her home.
When she turned to look at him, he was watching her already. All smiles. His eyes were filled with hope.
Nabuhay ang lahat ng pag-asang matagal nang nawala sa kanya.
Baka ngayon... Karapat dapat na siyang maging masaya.
It was all coming back.
Kasabay ng pagsasama nila sa iisang bubong, ay ang pagbabalik ng mga dahilan kung bakit niya minahal si Daniel.
Unti unting nagkakapalagayan ng loob. Mas tumatamis ang mga ngiti. Bumibilis ang tibok ng puso. Higit sa lahat, umiinit ang mga sandaling nagtatama ang kanilang mga mata.
Even she can't help but fall for him all over again. The fact that she'd love him forever was already established, but with everything he was making her feel.....
Hanggang sa hindi niya kinaya.
"I shouldn't be doing this." She murmured to herself, nervously watching her form in front of the mirror.
Hindi niya alam kung bakit niya suot ang damit na iyon. It left far too little for any man's imagination - let alone her husband's.
"Bal yu--" She swore to have seen his eyes bulge out of their sockets the moment he laid eyes on her. Then they darkened.
It took her an hour to get the courage to wear the garment; it took him seconds to shred it to pieces.
A few days afterwards, he voiced out.
"I don't know why I let you go before." He whispered against her ear, his breath fanning the side of her face. Naramdaman nalang niya ang paginit ng pisngi.
"But I won't let you go again." Napatigil siya. "I love you."
Hindi niya kailanman ibinalik ang mga salitang iyon. Instead, she let him feel it.
Kathryn knew she shouldn't tell him how she felt. It'd be harder to let go after.
And so, they spent the days happily. At that moment, she thought it could possibly be a permanent thing - maybe he would understand.
Baka kaya parin siya nitong mahalin.
On the fifth month, she had to let him go far earlier than she wanted to.
Gusto niyang ubusin ang isang taon. Isang taon para maging masaya siya - dahil alam niya sa sarili na hindi niya kailanmang matatakasan na dahilan kung bakit niya piniling lumisan.
Five months were good enough for her. A year would've been better, but she had to leave while she can. She'd treasure the days he loved her.
Alam na niya. Mag-iiba ang tingin nito sa kanya kapag sinabi niya.
Kailangan na niyang tigilan ang kahibangan niya. He'd never love her if he knew. She wasn't supposed to have a happy ending of her own.
"Hindi ka pa ba buntis?" Daniel joked one afternoon. The pain hit her much harder than she expected it to.
Umismid siya. Ngumiti ng peke. "I'm on birth control."
"What? Ayaw mo pa ba?" Malungkot na tanong nito. All the more reason why she had to leave. "Irregular kasi ako."
Subsequently, she left, leaving only a note behind for him to read.
Sa lahat ng sakit na ibinigay niya dito, hiniling niya na sana ay hindi na siya nito hanapin; at kung hanapin man sana siya nito ay para lamang tuluyan nang ayusin ang diborsyo sa pagitan nila.
"Anong ginagawa mo dito?" Pinilit niyang tanggalin ang lahat ng nadarama niya sa oras na iyon.
Kathryn wanted nothing but to run to him; hug the life out of him. Tell him how sorry she was. More importantly, tell him how much she loved him.
Ngunit hindi niya pwedeng gawin iyon... She only caused endless heartbreaks. Hindi nito dapat dinaranas ang sakit na pinagdadaanan niya.
She was meant to face this alone - to face the rest of her life by herself.
"You should go, Daniel." She tried to make her voice icy and stingy. It seemed to have worked, considering the brown orbs watching her started losing hope.
Ito na naman siya. Sinasaktan na naman niya ang nag-iisang lalaking mahal niya. Gosh, what more if she proclaimed her love during their days and nights together?
Would it hurt less? Or more?
"Go. Please. Just..." Then she broke.
This was all she's been after her happy days. Emotional.
Buong araw siyang nagkukulong sa kuwarto at walang ginawa kundi ang sisihin ang sarili.
Hindi na siya dapat pumayag sa kagustuhan nitong magsama. Hinayaan nalang dapat niya itong mabuhay nang malayo sa kanya; kahit pa sa papel at batas ay nananatili pa rin silang magasawa.
Nagpakuntento nalang sana siya na kaakibat parin ng pangalan niya ang apelyido nito - sa paraang iyon, sa kanya ito.
But she knew him too well. Hindi ito lumaki sa pamilyang kukunsintihin ito kung sakaling makahanap ito ng ibang mamahalin. He would've never cheat. He would've never been interested to look at anyone else.
At that point... She doesn't even deserve his love - or him for that matter.
"Bakit mo ako iniwan?" He sounded so broken. "Masaya tayo, diba?"
"I'm not happy, Daniel." Sambit niya. "I was anything but happy..... Nakakalimutan mo yatang nakisama lang ako sa'yo para pumayag ka sa..... Divorce."
"You agreed on a year! I still have seven months to change your mind!" He spat, voice still broken and fragile. "I still have seven months to love you."
"I don't want you to love me." Bulong niya, "I want you to loathe me!"
"Paano? Paano kita kamumuhian kung pinakita mo ulit sa akin lahat ng minahal ko sa iyo? Hindi ako pinanganak kahapon, Kathryn! I've known you since, and as good of a singer you are, you were never a good actress!"
"How can you only pretend to be happy after living in pain for the past years? How can you lie to my face when you know quite well how much I can read you through those eyes of yours? Kaya nga laging sulat ang ginagamit mo para magpaalam diba?! Because you cannot pretend that you don't love me! Hindi mo kayang sabihin ng harapan sa akin na hindi mo na ako mahal!"
It was then that she condemned herself for being such a bad liar. Iilan lamang ang pagkakataon na gumana ang pagsisinungaling niya; and none of those times involved Daniel.
He's always been able to read through her. And she won't even try to deny that.
"You don't understand.."
"Tell me. I want to understand..... I want to know why you always leave..."
Siguro ay dapat na niyang sabihin. Baka ang sasabihin niya ang makapagpapaalis dito. She'd finally save him from herself. From a life full of emptiness.
"I can't...... I can't have children." There it was. Kathryn did not dare to raise her head to look at him. It was one thing to be aware of him leaving, but to see it happen before her eyes?
"The miscarriage... Left scars on me. I sought help.... Pero wala nang magagawa.... Hindi talaga ako nagpipills.... Hindi lang talaga ako mabubuntis kasi...."
That's when he stepped closer and a moment later, his arms were wrapped tightly around her. It all caved into her.
"Wag kang maawa sa akin... I want you to be happy... I want you to find a woman who'll love you and give you a dozen children... Diba gusto mo yon? You envisioned your house filled with little kids who looks just like you! And you can fulfill that, Daniel. Just... Not with me."
"Please sign the papers... Promise me that you'd be happy. Thank you for staying loyal and loving me. I just.. I don't deserve it."
He let go.
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"It's settled. You'll both be free in no time." She wasn't sure what hurt more - the nausea and lightheadedness she felt at that very moment, or the continuous clenching of her heart.
Nonetheless, wala na siya sa tamang pag-iisip. Ilang araw na siyang nagsusuka, at kasabay noon ang maya't mayang pagkahilo niya.
Napakapit siya sa mesa ng biglaang manghina ang tuhod niya. "Kath!" Daniel immediately runs beside her.
"Ayos lang ako." But it took her a while to gain her strength back. Nanglalambot na sinubukan niyang maglakad; she only fell to her knees.
"Dadalhin na kita sa ospital." Then she was being carried by him. Kahit nanglalabo at papikit na ang mata, nakita niya ang pag-aalala nito.
"Please be happy."
Narinig pa niya itong magmura. "Stay with me. Damn this stupid divorce. Please.... You're my happiness." She remembers smiling while letting her tears fall until she fell unconscious.
Her eyes flew open, and she cringed at how brightly lit the room was. She sat upright, leaning on to the headboard.
"Oh, Mrs. Ford." Only a few more months left that she could rightfully claim the surname as her own. "It's good to see you awake. I'm sorry to inform you, but it would do you good to keep things low starting today." That made her heart race. "Bakit po? Is there something wrong with me?"
On her right was a sleeping Daniel. He looked very tired, but effortlessly handsome, still.
"It seems that you've been under a lot of stress lately, and that's not very good for the baby." Para siyang nabingi.
"B-baby?" Naiiyak na tanong niya. "You're a little over eight weeks pregnant, misis. Wala ka bang sintomas na nararanasan?"
"That's impossible, doc... Sabi po sa akin, I am unable to bear children after I miscarried." Tumango ang doctor sa sinasabi niya, at ngumiti ito ng bahagya.
"Well, I guess miracles do happen. Congratulations to both of you. Again, no stress, and please eat more. The baby needs nutrition."
"Doc... Can we keep this a secret for now? I don't want my pregnancy to influence his decision of divorcing me." Nagtataka ang tingin nito sa kanya, ngunit pumayag lang din ito. As if understanding.
Hindi naman sa ilalayo niya ang anak sa ama nito. But all she had right now was her pride - and she wasn't willing to risk it just yet. "Take care of yourself, Ms. Kath."
Nang sumara ang pinto, tinitigan niya ang natutulog na lalaki sa tabi niya. Ngayon lang niya napagtanto na mahigpit ang pagkakakapit nito sa kamay niya. She would miss that.
Mostly, she'd miss him.
Maibibigay na niya ngayon ang gusto nito. Pero ayaw niyang panatilihin itong nakakulong.
From the intense stares and nonsensical silence, she solved the puzzle. He valued children far more than her. After all, six years apart could really change a lot of things.
The man who swore his disbelief in divorce was now divorcing her.
What else could she say? He deserved better.
"Kath." She was startled. "You're okay. Thank God."
"Yes. Fatigue lang daw, sabi ng doctor." He nods in compliance. "Good Lord, hindi ko alam ang gagawin ko nung...."
"I'm okay. You should go. You look very tired." Matalim na tinitigan siya nito. "Why are you always pushing me away?"
"Daniel.... In less than a year, we'd be legally divorce. Alam kong act of kindness ito since the papers are not finalized yet, but you really don't have to."
Angrily, he stood from where he sat. "I ripped the papers in half while the doctors were trying to figure out what was happening to you."
To say she was shocked was an understatement.
"I'll be honest with you..... I signed the papers because I wanted us to start anew. Gusto kong magsimula ulit tayo, without the pain of the past. Plano ko sanang ipakita sa'yo na ang pinakadahilan kung bakit pinakasalan kita... Yun ay dahil mahal kita! I've always wanted to have kids, but Kath... I've wanted nothing more than to have you to love for all eternity!"
"We could always adopt. At the same time, we are saving another one's life. We have plenty of options.... All you have to do is stay with me. Kasi mahal na mahal kita, Kath. I'm really sorry. Please stay."
Then, she mustered her will and asked him.
"If we divorced... Anong gagawin mo?"
"Liligawan ulit kita. I'll show you that you'll be all I need. I'll help you forget, by replacing our old memories with new ones." Umupo ulit ito sa tabi niya at ipinagsiklop muli ang kamay nila.
"We don't have to forget about our first child, but he's up there and he's safe there. Makikilala natin siya, but as long as we're here on earth, I'm sure he'd want us to live happily."
"DJ...." Hinalikan nito ang likod ng kamay niya. "You're everything I need. You thought I wanted children more than I wanted you, but honey, you're very wrong. Mag-aadopt tayo. Mamahalin natin sila.... I'll love them like they were our own, Kath. As long as you're the one who'll stand by me while we watch them grow up."
Muli na namang nagpatakan ang luha niya. She blamed her hormones - her pregnancy hormones.
Stars, once in her life, she was sure she'd be deprived of this feeling forever. "It doesn't make you any less of a woman, love. You only deemed yourself perfect for me. You'd be a great mother to any child in need; with your selflessness and caring nature."
Here he was, offering his all when she could offer nothing back. That was then.
Now, her current predicament, was one that could compensate fairly.
"Buntis ako." Nanginginig na aniya. Nang tignan niya ang mata ng asawa, nakita niya ang pamamalisbis ng mga luha nito.
"T-talaga?"
"The doctor said so. This baby is our miracle." Daniel broke to tears as he ushered to collect her into his arms. He then kissed her passionately.
Both their faces were wet with tears, but neither of them cared. In that sense, hindi niya alam kung bakit niya naisip na ilihim ito.
"You are my miracle." Bulong nito.
And he was hers, also.
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"She's beautiful." Daniel hummed as he placed his arms around his wife, who was cradling their sleeping three week old daughter.
Nang iangat nito ang tingin sa kanya, hindi niya napigilang gawran ito ng halik sa labi. "I love you. So much."
"I love you too." Nangingiting ibinaba ni Kathryn ang anak bago ipinatong ang mga kamay niya sa balikat ng asawa. She could only close her eyes as he leaned in for another kiss.
"Mama!!!!!!!!" Kasunod ng sigaw ay nagbukas ang pinto. Bumungad ang nagsisigawang magkakapatid.
"Shut up!!!!!!!!" Bulyaw ng panganay nila. "KUYA!!!!"
Nagpatuloy ang paikot ikot ng mga ito ng biglang umiyak nang malakas ang kasama nilang natutulog.
"Mira!" They squawked in chorus. Only her cries were left the next minute.
Si Daniel na ang kumuha dito at nag-alo. Naririnig pa niya ang pagtuturuan ng tatlo kung sinong may gawa kung bakit nagising ang bunsong kapatid.
"Ikaw ang may gusto ng marami." Tudyo ng asawa niya matapos niyang pagalitan ang mga anak dahil patuloy ang pag-ingay ng mga ito.
Daniel won't deny that. The headache was worthwhile.
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