Chapter 6
The burn Armado suffered was so intense the doctors had to put him to sleep. He met an accident and was now in the hospital.
He knew he could not sit still and not do anything about what was happening in his life. He had to find Gracia Lopez's diary and then get rid of Leticia.
Kasama ang private investigator na inupahan niya ay nagtungo sila sa bahay ng babae sa Batangas. Hindi niya sigurado kung naroon ang diary ni Gracia subalit alam niyang kailangan niyang sumubok. Hindi nakita iyon ng private investigator sa bahay ni Leticia nang pasukin nito iyon isang araw na wala doon ang babae.
Hindi rin nila nakuha ang diary doon sa bahay ni Leticia sa Batangas. They met an accident driving back home. He lost control of the wheel, the car turned over, and the engine exploded. The private investigator was now dead. While he was left with severe burns. Hindi kaya ng anesthesia ang sakit ng sunog niyang katawan kaya kinailangan ng mga doktor na patulugin siya. May oxygen tube sa kanyang ilong.
Leticia went inside the ICU room Armado was in.
Being a doctor has its privileges, she thought. She stared at Armado and removed her mask. "Third degree burn. Ain't it just a killer?" Naglabas siya ng injection at itinusok iyon sa tubong nakakonekta sa katawan ni Armado.
Unti-unting nagmulat ng mga mata si Armado at nagsisigaw---subalit ang mga sigaw niya ay halos hindi marinig. Na-damage din ang kanyang voice box. Leticia knew he was going to have a seizure or a heart attack because of the pain but she didn't care.
"The pain will never fade away completely. Skin grafting is impossible in your case. What is it? You're saying something? Speak louder, I can't hear you."
Armado was crying now, his pain so incredible that he almost couldn't breathe.
"It hurts like hell, I know. When you get discharged, if you ever will, you're going to have to stay inside your house all the time. You can't let the sun touch your skin again, or the pain is going to kill you. You risk infection because your wounds couldn't restore body fluids and minerals. What kind of life would that be? It would have been a lot better if you died in the accident.
"You came to my house, Armado. I know. You insulted my intelligence. What was your plan? Get Gracia's diary and then kill me? Be honest now." Leticia was calm. She knew she was staring at justice. This was justice.
Armado blinked twice. He tried to move his arms but couldn't because of the pain.
"The urn. That belongs to Isabella, am I correct?"
Armado's tears started to pour down. He kept blinking though it was obvious he was having difficulty doing so.
"M-make i-it e-easy f...f...for me p-please...! Please!"
"Fortunately for you, I believe in euthanasia. No one deserves that kind of pain. Not even you. Any last words?" Inilapit ni Leticia ang kanyang tainga sa bibig ni Armado.
"Roberto is burried in Saint Catherine Memorial." Armado ignored all the pain. Knowing it was all going to end soon gave him so much strength. It was the best adrenalin rush he had ever experienced.
"Anything else?"
"I... I named the child." There was a smile that formed on his burnt lips. A tear fell from his eye. "Angelo, that's his name."
At that moment, all of Leticia's anger for the man who murdered her sister vanished. She could not help but shed a tear.
"You loved your wife so much, didn't you?"
"I still do. And I can't wait to tell her I'm sorry that I told you."
"Goodbye, Armado."
"Tell Isabella Cecilia loved her so much. And that I love her, too."
Armado closed his eyes. Leticia took out an injection and added what's inside in Armado's IV bottle. She never thought her hands would shake doing that.
Armado felt his insides collapsing. He felt as if someone was stabbing his kidneys, his lungs, his heart. And then he felt as if a soothing cloud enveloped him.
Leticia watched as my husband's monitor went chaotic. She called some doctors. They all took care of Armado. The other doctors concluded it was all bound to happen, it was a miracle the patient arrived in the hospital alive in the first place.
"I'm calling it. Time of death, ten forty-seven," Leticia said.
She could not believe one of the doctors told her a clinic there was open. He asked if she wanted to be a part of that hospital.
"I'm going to think about it," she said and walked away.
HINDI matahimik si Pablo. Tingin siya ng tingin kung maayos na ba ang pagkakayos niya ng mesa. He lit the candles and checked out if the roast in the oven was ready. In-order pa niya iyon sa restaurant at ang sabi ay ilagay niya sa oven para mainit kapag kinain na.
Alam niyang itong mga nakalipas na araw ay mahirap para kay Alexandra. Ilang ulit niya itong sinilip sa silid nito at parati niya itong nakikitang nakaharap sa mga libro. Alam niyang nahihirapan itong mag-concentrate dahil sa nangyari sa pamilya Filomino.
Minsan nilang napag-uspan ang napag-usapan nito at ng mga kaibigan sa Sweet Homes. Alam niyang napalapit ito kay Mrs. Filomino at sa pagkamatay ng matanda at sa natuklasan nito mula sa anak nila, ay nabagabag ito nang husto.
He wanted her to know he was there for her. He wanted to try to bring back what they were before. Sa tuwing mag-uusap kasi sila nito ngayon ay wala na silang lambing. Sinusubukan niya, lumalayo ito.
And he was getting frustrated, especially when his brother was going through annulment. Ayaw niyang mauwi sila sa ganoon ni Alexandra. He knew how painful it was for Paolo. Lalo pa at ipinaglalaban ni Helen ang kostodiya sa mga anak ng mga ito.
Minsan ay hindi niya maiwasang mainis kay Alexandra. Ganoon ba kalaki ang nagawa niyang kasalanan dito? Hindi lang naman niya sinabi ang tungkol kay Judie, nagkaganoon na ito. Minsan ay parang gusto na niyang magtampo. It had been ages since they last made love. And he was but human.
Hindi iilang pagkakataong naglaro sa isip niyang daanin na ito sa santong paspasan. Sometimes he would wake up in the middle of the night with a strong need for his wife. He wanted to barge in her room, scoop her in his arms, and make wild love with her.
Ang pumipigil sa kanya ay ang pagnanais na ito ang bumigay sa lahat ng iyon. Gusto niyang lumapit ito sa kanya isang araw at sabihing nauunawaan siya nito at mahal pa rin siya nito. That would be one perfect day for him.
Nahihirapan siyang naroon lamang ito sa malapit, abot-kamay, para namang napakalayo na. He blamed himself sometimes, too. Naisip niyang siguro ay malaki ang kinalaman niya kung bakit nagkakaganoon ito. Sa nakalipas na ilang taon ay hindi niya naalalang itanong dito kung ano na ba ang personal nitong plano.
Parati na lamang na silang mag-aama. Kapag anniversary nila, lalabas lang silang mag-anak. Wala na silang oras para sa isa't isa. Ang hirap naman din kasi ng sitwasyon dahil noon ay parang nagpipilit itong solohin lahat ng trabahong puwede naman nilang iatang sa ibang tao.
Siguro'y hindi niya naisip ito, ang personal nitong kalagayan, sapagkat wala naman itong ipinakitang indikasyon na nagsasawa na ito sa ganoong sistema. And he felt guilty for not stopping and asking her if she, as Alexandra and not as his wife or his kids' mother, was all right.
Kaya ngayon, pinasama muna niya ang mga kawaksi sa bahay ni Paolo. Doon muna ang mga ito, kasama ang mga anak niya. Mabuti na rin iyon sapagkat alam niyang walang kasama doon ang kapatid niya. Nalulungkot itong wala ang mga anak nito doon. Actually, his brother was more angry than sad.
Sa ngayon, gustuhin man niyang bigyan ito ng suporta, kaunti lamang ang kaya niyang ilaan ditong oras. Kailangan muna niyang pagtuunan ng pansin ang kanyang sariling buhay-may asawa. Bago siya matulad dito.
Nangangamoy cherry ang buong kabahayan. It was Alexandra's favorite scent. The roast was ready, the candles were lit. Alam niyang anumang oras ay darating na ito mula sa eskuwela.
Nang marinig ang ugong ng sasakyan sa labas ay nasabik siya. He had never felt that much excitement since she gave birth to their fourth child.
Subalit nang makita itong may kasamang ibang lalaki, nawala ang pananabik niya. Nainis siya kahit hindi pa malinaw kung sino ang lalaking kasama nito.
Mukhang nabigla rin si Alexandra sa ayos ng bahay. Nakakunot ang noo nito.
"Where are the kids?"
"I sent them to Paolo for the night."
"Oh. Uh, this is Q---Quentin." Ngiting-ngiting binalingan nito ang lalaki, na para bang may pinagsasaluhang nakakatuwang impormasyon ang mga ito. "Q, this is Pablo."
Hindi dumating ang "my husband" at lalo na siyang nainis.
Nilapitan niya ang lalaki at inabot ang kamay nito. "Pablo Quirino, her husband."
"I know. Q, her classmate. Study group partner."
Ibig niya biglang mambulyaw. Ito ang partner ng asawa niya?! He thought the partner was a woman! Alexandra's got another thing coming if she thought he was going to let her study with this man. He did not trust the bastard.
"Akala ko gagabihin ka ngayon?"
Lalo na siyang nabuwisit sa sinabi ng asawa. Sinabi niya iyon para masorpresa ito. Siya pala ang masosorpresa. What was she thinking bringing home a bastard like this Q into their house?
"Q, diyan ka muna. I'm going to check out the kitchen." Nagpatiuna na ito sa kusina. "Nakaluto na ba?"
"There's roast in the oven. It's only good for two."
Para itong walang narinig na binuksan ang oven. "Q can join us for dinner."
"I don't want him eating on my table." Mainit na ang ulo niya.
"What's the matter with you? Nakakahiya naman sa tao, ako ang nagyaya sa kanya rito. Gusto nga sana niya sa coffee shop na lang, kaso naalala ko naman ang mga bata---"
"And what about me?"
"What about you?" Mukhang nainis na rin ito.
"This is supposed to be our night. Send him away!"
"No. We need to study. May test kami bukas."
"You're on your first term, for God's sake! What do you need a study partner for, anyway? Hindi naman ganoon kahirap ang MBA! Ako na lang ang magtuturo sa 'yo. Paalisin mo 'yong bisita mo. Now!"
"Don't you dare yell at me!"
Natigilan naman siya. Nandidilat ang mga mata ni Alexandra, tumaas-baba ang dibdib nito, halatang galit na galit na. Natutop niya ang noo.
"I'm sorry, Alex. I'm just not feeling well."
Matalim siya nitong sinulyapan at nagdagdag ng plato sa mesa. He just stood there, feeling useless. Nagtatalo ang isip niya kung ano ang gagawin---pairalin ang init pa rin ng ulo niya o hayaang lumamig ang ulo ni Alexandra. He chose the latter.
Alerto siya sa hapag. Kulang na lamang ay tumayo siya pagitan ng dalawa. Mukha namang palakaibigan si Q subalit hindi niya gusto ito. Pati pangalan nito ay nakakapagpairita sa kanya. What kind of an idiot name was that? Q?
But maybe the thing he liked the least about the man was the fact that he seemed to be genuinely impressed with his wife. This man seemed to know her wife a lot already. They seemed to share so many things in common already. And shit, it didn't escape his attention that the man resembled the son of one of the very few people he adored, JFK. Yes, the bastard resembled friggin' JFK Junior.
Shit.
Gigil na gigil siya ritong hindi niya maunawaan. Noon lamang siya nabuwisit nang ganoon katindi sa isang taong wala namang ginagawang masama sa kanya. Parang matutuwa siya nang labis kung mabubulyawan niya itong lumayas-layas na harapan niya.
Nakinig lamang siya sa usapan ng dalawa. Meintras siya nakikinig ay lalo lamang siyang nabubuwisit. Isa pala itong doktor. A plastic surgeon.
"Aren't plastic surgeons the sharks in the medical industry?" sabad niya. Bahagya niyang sinulyapan si Alexandra. Halatang hindi nito nagustuhan ang sinabi niya na lalo lamang nakapagpainis sa kanya.
"Not really, no. I personally like to think we just give solutions to people's problems with their bodies."
"Very superficial, you people."
"Some people say that."
"What are you doing in my turf, then, if you're a doctor?" It was double bladed question. Mukhang hindi nito nahalata o mas piniling huwag pansinin.
"Like I told Allie here..." Sumulyap ito sa kanyang asawa at bahagyang ngumiti. He wanted to poke his eyes. What right did he have to call his wife Allie? "It's my father's last wish. He had always wanted me to be a businessman, rather than a doctor. He's from a family of businesspeople."
"Your surname is?"
"Sacramento."
"Are you related to Andes Sacramento?"
"My grandfather."
The asshole seemed to have everything. Of course he knew the Sacramentos. Institusyon ang pamilya sa larangan ng negosyo. Kaibigan niya at kaklase ang isang apo ni Sacramento.
"Do you know Juanito Sacramento?"
"Yes. He's my cousin. But I came from the other branch of the Sacramento tree."
Bago pa siya makapagtanong muli ay iniba na ni Alexandra ang usapan. Ito naman ang pinagmasdan niya. She, too, looked genuinely fond of the man. Hindi na niya maalala kung kailan ito huling tumingin sa kanya ng ganoon. Heto at ilang buwan na siyang nagtatangkang ibalik ang dating samahan nila, pagkatapos ay ibang lalaki naman ang pupukulan nito ng ganoong tila aliw na aliw na tingin.
"We're going to start now," ani Alexandra nang matapos ang hapunan. Nasa sala ang mga ito.
"Go right ahead." Naupo lang siya doon, nagkunwang nagbabasa ng magazine. Wala siyang planong iwan ang dalawa doon. Kahit abutin siya ng anong oras doon, hindi siya aalis.
Nagsimula na nga ang mga ito. Parang sinisilihan ang puwit niya. Hindi sa ganoon niya nailarawang-diwa magtatapos ang gabing iyon. Tumayo siya at naupo sa tapat ng piano nang pasado alas-diyes na ay naroon pa rin si Quentin. Hindi ka pa rin makahalata, ah? sa isip-isip niya. Nagsimula siyang tumiklada.
"What are you doing?" sita ni Alex.
"I'm playing."
"We're studying."
"I think I better leave." Sa wakas ay nakahalata na rin tila ang bisita nila. Tumayo na ito at tumango sa kanya. "Salamat, pare."
Bahagya lamang siyang tumango rito. Mukhang napipilitan lamang si Alexandra na payagan ito. Kaysa kung ano pa ang masabi niya ay nagpatuloy na lamang siya sa pagtiklada. Mukha namang nakatulong iyon. Hindi na nagkaroon ng mahabang paalaman ang dalawa.
Subalit nang wala na doon ang lalaki ay idiniin ni Alexandra ang buong palad sa tiklada ng piano.
"You could be a jerk."
"He's the jerk!"
"Walang ginagawang masama sa 'yo 'yong tao."
"Meron! Quality time ko sa asawa ko ang inistorbo niya."
"You're jealous of him."
"I'm not! I'm better looking than him and you're mine. I know you're mine."
Mapakla lamang itong ngumiti sa kanya at isa-isa nang inayos ang libro. May kung anong kaba siyang nakapa sa sarili. Kahit inis na kompirmasyon o pagsang-ayon sa sinabi niya ay walang lumabas sa mga labi nito.
Sumunod siya rito hanggang sa itaas. Hindi niya ito hinayaang makapasok sa silid. He held her arm.
"Ano ba? May exam pa ako bukas."
"I prepared a nice dinner, I sent the kids away for tonight. I think I deserve a little thank you."
"Thank you then."
"Not so fast." Kinabig niya ito. He gave her a wet kiss on the lips. That used to make her swoon. That time it didn't.
"I'm tired, Pablo. And I'm still pissed." Pumasok na ito sa silid at isinara ang pinto.
Wala siyang nagawa kundi sipain ang dingding. "Shit!"