Sarah stood there, startled. Ang lakas ng kabog ng dibdib niya. "Ano Sarah, Im asking you, saan ka nangaling?" Gerald stood up, pigil na pigil ang boses nito. Inalis ni Sarah ang tingin niya kay Gerald. "Di ba sinabi ko naman sayo, may meeting kami?"
"Bullshit! You're lying Sarah! You're lying!" Sigaw ni Gerald. His face turned crimson, his eyes were like flying daggers, directly aiming at her. Sarah was blown away, nanginig buo niyang katawan. "May alam ba siya?" She was completely speechless.
Lumapit ito sa kanya at hinawakan ang braso niya. Madiin ang pagkakahawak na iyon ni Gerald, "How could you Sarah? How could you?" He was shaking her.
"Ge, nasasakatan ako, ano ba!" Sarah felt his grip getting more firm as he spoke. "Bakit hindi ka magsabi sakin ng totoo! Ha Sarah!" Sarah felt her tears are about to pour. "Please Ge, bitiwan mo ko!"
"No Sarah!" Hindi inaalis ni Gerald ang kamay at mata niya sa kanya. Nanunuot ang mga tingin na iyon sa kaluluwa niya.
"Ano? Anong ginawa niyo ni Rayver? Sumagot ka!" Napatingin si Sarah sa kanya. Nagulat siya sa sinabi nito. Pilit niya na inalis ang pagkakahawak sa kanya ni Gerald at lumayo ito. She can't help it. She broke down to tears.
"Im so sorry, Ge. Pinilit niya kong makipagusap sa kanya. Guguluhin niya tayo." Humarap siya kay Gerald. His face was in so much pain, "Nagusap lang kami. Maniwala ka sakin. Please, Ge." Sarah was pleading.
"Hindi ka dapat nagsinungaling sakin! I could have protected you from him! Hindi ka na dapat nakipagkita sa kanya!" He vented on her.
"I wanted to tell you, pero ayoko ng lumaki pa ito. Maayos kaming nagusap ni Rayver and that's it!"
"Wala akong tiwala sa gago na yon! What if he did something to you, saktan ka, dalhin ka kung saan.."
Sarah cut him. "Ano ba Ge? Ano bang akala mo dun sa tao? I know him, hindi siya ganon!"
Napahamas si Gerald sa dingding ng living room at sumigaw ito. Sarah's heart jumped. Nakabibingi ang sigaw na iyon. She felt she will collapse anytime, nanikip bigla ang dibdib niya.
"Pinagtatangol mo pa talaga siya! Ha Sarah! Shit!" His voice was all over the house. His fists were tightly clenched and his whole body was shaking. Sarah was aghast, she can't believe how furious he was.
He looked intensely at her again, "Bakit Sarah? Mahal mo pa ba siya? Do you still love him?!" Sigaw nito sa kanya.
"Ge, tama na please! Tama na!" Sarah cried out loud. Napasandal siya sa wall, parang nahihilo na siya sa sobrang emosyon na nararamdaman. Her tears were flowing nonstop.
Napaupo si Gerald sa sofa, parang nanghina ito. "Sobrang sakit Sarah. Paano mo nagawa sakin ito?" Gerald paused and looked at her. Sarah saw tears building up in his eyes.
He looked away, "Nakita ko kayo, nakita kita sumama ka sa kanya." His voice was trembling. Gerald tried to control his tears.
Sarah was shocked. She can't move and she can't speak. Hindi niya alam kung paano nalaman ni Gerald lahat ng ito. "Ikaw lang Rayver ang gagawa nito. Why? Bakit kelangan mo pang isali si Gerald dito?" Galit na galit siya kay Rayver.
They were silent for a moment.
Pilit na pinakalma ni Gerald ang sarili. Gulong gulo ang isipan niya, umaapaw ang galit niya, ngunit nahihirapan din ang damdamin niyang makitang umiiyak si Sarah.
Hindi makatingin si Sarah kay Gerald. She felt bewildered and frightened of him. Gerald stood up and walked towards her, Sarah felt nervous. Naramdaman ni Gerald ang pangangamba ni Sarah.
He came to her and his face was just inches away. He placed his hands on the wall, caging her with his arms. He was breathing heavily on her face, he stared at her. His eyes were full of pain and anguish.
"Mahal na mahal kita, Sarah. Why do you have to hurt me this much?" He said to himself. He closed his eyes, Sarah saw a tear fell down his cheek. She wiped it away with her thumb and held his face. "Ikaw ang mahal ko, Ge. I love you so much. Please forgive me". She said softly.
He looked down and removed her hand from his face. Then he turned away from her.
He walked towards the door and opened it. "Babe!" Sarah begged him. He stopped but he didn't look back. "I am too much hurt, Sarah." He whispered, then walked off.
Nanatiling nakatayo si Sarah, nakatingin pa rin siya sa pintuan. She felt her chest is going to explode. Ayaw tumigil ng pagiyak niya. She slowly moved and walked towards the stairs then to their room. She sat on the bed, "Sana mapatawad mo ko Gerald. Im so sorry."
Gerald was continuously walking, hindi niya alam saan siya dadalhin ng mga paa niya. He just wanted to go out, out of their house. Ayaw niyang makita si Sarah. "It's too painful, Sarah. Why do you have to lie to me? Why?" Ang sakit ng dibdib niya. He felt his heart was crushed to the core. "Damn you, Rayver! Why do you have to drag my wife to this! Huwag ka magpapakita sakin, my god! Hindi ko alam kung ano magagawa ko saiyo pag nangyari yon!"
1:12 am. Nakatingin si Gerald sa alarm clock sa night table niya, he was standing at the foot of their bed with his hands on his pockets. There was a litte light coming from the window, he can see Sarah's face, she is fast asleep. Her eyes were swollen from crying. Nakatitig lang siya sa kanya. Ramdam na ramdam pa rin ni Gerald ang sakit at galit sa dibdib niya. He changed his clothes and lay down beside her. He forced himself to sleep.
Sarah woke up. She saw Gerald sleeping beside her. She felt relieved, "Thank God you're okay." She caressed his forehead and kissed his cheek lightly. "I'm sorry, babe." She whispered to him. Bumangon siya, she freshened up and went down to cook their breakfast. She will prepare his favorite, corned beef with potatoes, srambled eggs and toast. She finished cooking and was placing the food on their dining table when she saw Gerald rushing down the stairs. He was dressed up and was putting on his watch. Sarah was surprised.
"Ge, saan ka pupunta?" Sarah asked. "Sa hospital." Maikling sagot ni Gerald, he was not looking at her.
"Di ba Saturday today, wala kang pasok?" "Uhmm, they called me to come eh." He looked at her then at the dining table. His face was blank.
"Ah ganun ba. Hindi ka ba muna magbre-breakfast?"
"Hindi na." Nagmamadaling naglakad ito papunta sa pinto. Tumigil siya at lumingon kay Sarah, "Baka gagabihin pala ako ng uwi, don't wait for me." He turned his back and went outside.
Natigilan si Sarah. She sat on the dining chair. She was flustered. "Paano ba mawawala ang galit mo sakin, Gerald?" She just stared at the food she prepared. Kahit nawalan na siya ng gana, she forced herself to eat.
"Am I being hard on her?" Gerald was seating inside his car, unmoved. Naalala niya ang biglang pagkalungkot ng mukha ni Sarah kanina lang, he felt guilty. It saddens him seeing his wife unhappy. "Sarah, Im sorry. Hindi ko alam, pero I just feel that I need some time off, from you and from this pain. I love you at kahit kailan hindi magbabago yon." He started the engine and left.
"Oh Doctor Anderson! Good morning! Overtime?" Tanong ng hospital receptionist nila. "Oo Mae. Paki log na lang diyan ha. I'll be in my office, just call me pag may pasyente." He put on his coat and went to his office. After lunch, he called Fred. "Bro, puntahan mo ko dito sa hospital ng 5 pm, basketball tayo dun sa dati." "Okay Bro. I'll be there." Fred replied.
"Bro, may problema ka noh?" Fred asked while they were seated on the bench. Nagpahinga muna sila pagkatapos ng isang game. Gerald was drinking from his bottled water, he was catching his breath, "Pano mo naman nasabi?"
"Alam mo Gerald, you're like a brother to me. I know you too well. Kanina ka pa tahimik. Magaslaw ang mga moves mo, hindi ka nakafocus sa laro. What's wrong?"
Gerald shrugged. "Wala ito."
"Si Sarah noh?" Mabilis na sambit ni Fred.
Gerald gave a light laugh at napailing ito. "Tama ako di ba? Eh sa kanya ka lang naman nagkakaganyan eh." Tumingin lang sa kanya si Gerald. Fred saw in his eyes that he is hurting.
Tinapik niya ang balikat ni Gerald, "Basta bro, whatever it is, take it easy. On yourself and to her. Walang problema ang hindi naaayos. When you're ready to open up, andito lang ako." Fred said with assurance.
"Thanks bro." Gerald smiled. He was glad that he has Fred as his best buddy. During times that he is down, nandyan ang best friend niya para pasayahin siya at alalayan siya.
"Ano tuloy ba tayo mamaya?" Fred asked in excitement. He stood and passed the ball to Gerald.
"Oo naman. Tuloy tayo, The Fort tayo di ba?" Gerald said. He stood at the three point line. He bent his knees at huminga siya ng malalim. He released the ball, "For Sarah" he murmured.
The ball touched the ring, but missed the basket. Gerald shook his head in dismay.