Chapter 1
“Goodbye Teacher! Goodbye Classmates! See you tomorrow!” sabay na sabay na sabi ng mga Pre-School students ni Crisel.
“Goodbye Class! Don't forget to tell your Mommy that you have homeworks, Okay?” she said to them smiling.
“Okay,” the children chorused.
Isa-isa na ang mga jjķndnxjjxnxmnbxhxkdkgd lumabas ng classroom at kanya-kanya nang lumapit sa mga magulang na mga ito na sumundo sa kanila.
Nang masundo na ang huling estudyante niya ay tsaka siya nanghihinang napaupo sa kanyang desk.
She had never been this tired when teaching. Pero alam niya sa sarili niyang hindi naman ang pagtuturo ang dahilan ng kanyang pagod. She had been strict not to show her stress kapag kaharap niya ang mga bata.
Huminga siya ng malalim ng maalala ang usapan nila kagabi ni Dylan. She hadn't been expecting his reaction last night. Ibang-iba iyon sa na-imagine niyang magiging reaction nito.
“And I want an Annulment Dylan...” she said not looking at him. Deep inside, her heart is breaking. Alam niyang magiging masaya si Dylan kapag nagkahiwalay na sila.
Hindi niya na kaya ang makasama pa ito. She had been selfish, for making him marry her. That everything back fired at her. Dahil siya ngayon ang higit na nasasaktan.
“What?!” bigla ang pagbalikwas nito ng tayo. He stood in the edge of the bed with all his naked glory. She tried not to look at his lower body and focused on his face instead.
Tumayo na rin siya mula sa kama at lumapit sa nakasampay niyang robe at tahimik na isinuot iyon. Ramdam niyang nakasunod lang si Dylan ng tingin sa kanya.
“You heard me...” kalmante pa rin sabi niya. Making sure that her face is blank and gives nothing away. “I want an annulment.” she looked at him straight in the eyes.
“No!” Madiin na sabi nito.
“No?” Gulat na tanong niya.
“Nobody is getting an annulment!” galit na galit na sabi nito. His eyes is burning with fury.
“Why? We both know na hindi tayo parehong masaya sa marriage na 'to, I'm doing us both a favor by ending this now!” she cannot take this anymore. Why is Dylan acting this way? This is not what she had expected. She expects him to go on with her plan willingly dahil ramdam niyang iyon din ang gusto nitong mangyari, but now?
“Bakit? Nahihirapan ka na? If I remembered correctly you are the one who wanted this marriage so much!” he said mocking. She cannot believe her eyes. This is not Dylan, she don't know this side of him.
Yes, he has been cold towards her, since they married. But he was never this mean to her. She can see anger and hate in his eyes.
“I'm sorry to say, there would be no way out in this marriage!”
“You don't mean that...” nanghihinang sabi niya dito.
“Oh yes I do! I'm sorry my dear wife. But we will be stock with each other for a very long time.” pumasok ito sa closet at paglabas ay nakasuot na ito ng sweat pants at t-shirt. Lalabas na sana ito ng kwarto ng muli itong lumingon sa kanya. “And besides, you still haven't given me any child.” iyon lang at pabalibag na itong lumabas ng kwarto.
Nang makalabas na ng tuluyan si Dylan ay tsaka lang inilabas ni Crisel ang luhang kanina niya pa pinipigilan. Nanghihinang napaupo siya sa gilid ng kama.
“Why Dylan?” humahagulgol na usal niya. Buong akala niya ay matutuwa pa ito kapag naghiwalay na sila. But it seems that he has other plans. She wanted to hate him so much for doing this to her. But she knows deep in her heart that she can't. She had been loving him for more that two decades now. And that won't be easily be gone. But she would have to atleast try. For her sake. But this is all her fault. She shouldn't have gotten herself to marry him. Damn her heart! For loving him, and for being this stupid.
She prayed to God na sana hindi siya mabuntis ni Dylan. She is too broken that she's doubting herself if she would able be a good mother to her child.
She wanted to say that Dylan broke her. Pero hindi eh, she broke herself because of loving Dylan.
That night she slept alone in their bed.
Naputol ang pagbabaliktanaw ni Crisel sa pagtunog ng kanyang cellphone na nasa drawer ng kanyang desk.
Nakitang niyang text message lang iyon mula sa kaibigan niyang si Leona. Tinatanong nito kung nasaan na siya. Naalala niyang magkikita pala sila nito sa mall at sasamahan siya nitong mag-grocery.
She typed a quick text saying that she is on her way.
Dali-dali na rin niyang inayos ang kanyang mga gamit at mabilis na lumabas na ng private school na kanyang pinagtuturuan.
She loves teaching. She chose to teach pre-schoolers dahil naniniwala siyang habang bata pa lang ay dapat nakakapag build na ng magandang foundation at iyon ang pinapasa niya sa mga bata. And she felt like she is a kid at heart dahil sa mga kasama niya ay mga bata.
If only she could be child again. She loves seeing how carefree and happy kids were. She believe that Everybody is entitled to have a happy childhood bago sila isabak sa tunay na laban ng buhay.
Nang nasa gate na siya ng school ay binati pa siya ng mga gwardiya. Magalang naman niyang nginitian ang mga ito.
Nagulat pa siya ng makilala niya ang taong nakasandal sa tabi ng kotse nito na naka-park sa tapat ng school at nakangiti sa kanya.
Lumingon pa siya sa kanyang likuran para masiguro na siya nga ang tinitignan nito. He chuckled ng makita nito ang reaksyon niya. They were not even close to begin with para pumunta ito dito. Although they have been seeing each other in a few occasions, like sa engagement ng kapatid niyang si Inigo kay Andrea.
Aside from his constant flirting with her and she constantly turn him down, they don't see each other that often.
Ipinamulsa nito ang kamay sa bulsa ng suot nitong pantalon.
“Alex? Anong ginagawa mo dito?” kunot-noong tanong niya dito.
“I'm here to see you,” kibit-balikat na sabi nito. As if balewala lang dito ang tanong niya.
“Bakit?” nagtatakang tanong niya, “Is something wrong with Inigo and Andy?”
“No.”
“Then why are you here?”
“I'm here to take to lunch,”
“WHAT?! Nasisiraan ka na ba? I'm a married woman, you cannot just ask me out like that,”
“Even as friends?” he pouted. He look adorable, but she refrain from showing him any emotions dahil baka kung ano pa ang ipakahuluguan nito doon.
“Yes. Even as friends.” she said firmly.
“Oh come on Crisel, just lunch,” giit pa rin nito. She looked at him directly. This guy doesn't know when to quit at mukhang hindi rin ito sanay na matanggihan ng isang babae.
“No Alex. Just go please. I'm telling you again, since as if you didn't heard me the first time. I'M MARRIED!, kahit maging magkaibigan lang tayo. Hindi pa rin magandang tignan,” tinalikuran niya na ito at naglakad na sa kung saan naka-park ang kanyang kotse.
“Just so you know, I don't give up that easily,” pahabol na sabi nito sa kanya.
Napapailing na lang si Crisel pero hindi na niya ito nilingon pa. No matter how persuasive Alex is, she will only look at him as friend and never will in a romantic way.
Sometimes she hates it how Dylan had destroyed her for other men. But still, doesn't change the fact that it's only him she truly loves.
“YOU MEAN TO SAY, NA NAGALIT SIYA NG SABIHIN MO NA gusto mo na nang Annulment?” Ulit ng kaibigan niyang si Leona sa kinuwento niya dito ang naging pag-uusap nila ni Dylan kagabi.
“Yeah...” pa-buntong hiningang sabi niya.
“So, ano na ngayon ang plano mo?” she asked while sipping her coffee.
“Tuloy pa rin,” sagot niya dito. “If we don't end things now, lalong masisira ang buhay naming dalawa.”
Leona shook her head to her sympathizing. Everyone could tell how hard it is for her. That the person you love is just within reach but as if so far to touch.
Dylan is with her physically but not his heart. It will always be belong to someone. And the worst part of that is, the woman Dylan love is her soon-to-be Sister-in-law.
She took her cellphone out her pouch and dialed.
After a few rings she heard her lawyer answered the phone.
“Atty. Mendez? Yes, this is Crisel. About the papers I ask for you, is it already done? Okay, that's great, just send them to me, Thank you, Bye.” she ended the call.
Leona turn to her, “I really hope you know what you're doing,” she said.
“It's for the best,” hindi niya alam kung si Leona ba ang kinukumbinsi niya o ang sarili niya. Alam niyang ito lang ang tamang way para makalaya na silang pareho. That is why is for the best of her and Dylan.
KAPAPASOK LANG NI CRISEL SA LOOB NG KANILANG BAHAY NI DYLAN NG tumunog ang kanyang Cellphone.
Napangiti siya ng makita niya sa screen kung sino ang tumatawag.
“Ma!” excited na bungad niya dito. She has missed her parents so much. At sa stado ng nararamdaman niya ngayon, she badly needed her mother's hug.
“Where are you sweetie?” tanong nito mula sa kabilang linya.
“I just got home,” umupo siya sa sofa at inalis ang kanyang sapatos.
“That's good then. Pwede ba kayo pumunta ditong mag-asawa sa bahay?”
“Why?” takang tanong niya dito. Her heart beat fast when she mentioned Dylan.
“We will be having dinner, kasama si Jun at Andy.”
“Wh-what?!”
“I thought it would be a good time magkasama-sama tayo. And besides Dylan haven't met your brothers fiance.” she rolled her eyes knowing na hindi naman siya makikita ng kanyang Mama.
Her mother doesn't know that all along ay magkakilala si Dylan at Andy. She wanted to say to her mother na si Andy ang talagang babaeng mahal ng asawa niya. Pero alam niya sa sarili niyang hindi niya magagawa iyon.
She had witness it first hand kung gaano kamahal ni Andy na ngayon ang kanyang Kuya. She had already destroyed many lives including her own.
“Dylan's not home yet, busy pa siya sa hospital baka ako na lang pumunta diyan,” she said to her mother. Hindi niya masasabi dito ang tunay na sitwasyon nila ni Dylan.
They will just pity her more, alam naman ng mga ito noong una pa lang na hindi talaga siya ang mahal ni Dylan, but they insisted for the wedding to go on, she should hate her parents, but she can't. Kung hindi siya pumayag sa kagustuhan ng mga ito, wala itong magagawa kung talagang ayaw niya.
But she wanted that wedding so much. And now, she's paying the price of her decision and selfishness.
“Oh? Well, okay then, go ahead and freshen up, then punta ka na agad dito.”
“Okay, see you,” she said sighing.
“Okay Hon, drive carefully,”
“Thanks, I will,”
When she hang up the phone, she stood from sitting in the sofa and made her way to their bedroom.
Just being here, brings to much bitter-sweet memory. She cannot go on like this again. She love Dylan so much, pero may limitasyon din ang lahat. Napapagod din ang puso.
Agad siyang nag-shower at nagbihis ng isang simpleng flowy Sundress and match it with flat sandals and light make up. She let her straight hair fall back.
After taking one last look at herself, she made her way towards the door. Nasa living room na siya ng marinig niya ang pagtunog ng doorbell.
Pagsilip niya sa peep hole ay nakita niya na ang kartero ang naroon.
“Mrs. Frontez?” tanong nito sa kanya ng buksan niya ang pinto.
“Yes,” inabot nito sa kanya ang isang long brown envelop na selyado. Matapos niyang pirmahan ang received slip ay nagpaalam na ang kartero ang isinara na niyang muli ang pinto.
Nang buksan niya ang envelop ay bumungad sa kanya ang Annulment papers nila ni Dylan.
Huminga muna siya ng malalim bago niya inilabas ang mga papeles. She immediately signed the papers at maingat niya iyong inilatag sa center table nila sa Living room.
Para pagpasok pa lang ni Dylan ng bahay ay iyon kaagad ang una nitong makikita. When finished she hurriedly made her way to the door, afraid that if she looked back on those papers, she will regret doing it.
A\N
whew! sa ngayon, yan muna...
Unedited so pls bear with all the errors...
Sorry! ;p
And Thank you!