Chapter 2: You're Free Now

Jerica's knees were trembling. She couldn't believe the documents in front of her face.

'Hindi. Hindi to totoo,’ she kept saying to herself.

 In her heart, this could be a complete nonsense. Asnawi has always treasured her. He would never cheat on her. Asnawi is the most caring to her all these years. They have loved each other and their relationship were almost perfect. To others they are inseparable, like lovebirds loyal to their pair.

Yet the documents in her hands have been signed by his husband. Cold sweat came down her forehead, she immediately looked at Jasmine's annoyed look.

With a trembling voice she said "Why have you done this? You! I know you only seduced him!" Jerica screamed slapping Jasmine from left to right. The impact of the slap was too great that Jasmine fall to the floor.

“Malandi ka! Napakababoy nyo!” sigaw nya, sabay ng luhang patuloy na dumadaloy sa mga pisngi nito.

"Ah!" Jasmine's face was swollen on both sides. She holds her tummy and started crying.

“Tulong! Ah! Yung baby ko!” impit na sigaw nito, hawak-hawak ang kanyang balakang.

Just then the security of the hospital arrived. They were stunned at first. They knew that Jerica Lee was the wife of Dragon Jewel's CEO. They do not dare to interfere yet Jasmine's crying made them anxious as she was screaming "My baby! Someone help me!"

"My tummy, it hurts!" Muling pag-hingi nito ng tulong. She shouted in panic. She knew that this baby was her only Ace to get Asnawi's heart. Thinking about this, she cannot let go of the opportunity.

Walang naglakas ng loob na tumulong sa kanya. Takot silang makialam sa away ng dalawang babae sa kanilang harapan.

Jerica could only stare at her, thinking that this was just her act. 'Ha! Maaawa ako sayo kung hindi mo ko sinimulan' wika nito sa sarili habang nakatingin sa babaeng umahas sa kanyang asawa.

 However, spots of blood came from her white pants and the security hurriedly carried her to the emergency room.

 Maging si Jerica ay kinabahan. 'So totoo ngang buntis ang sekretarya ng kanyang asawa. ' She smirked with that thought.

But she didn't mean it. Galit man sya'y di nya magagawang saktan ang isang batang inosente.

 Her heart kept beating so fast due to guilt. She remained her composure and called her husband but there was no response.

“Like I expected,” she whispered.

On the emergency room, Jasmine has called Asnawi and told him what happened. She was crying and sobbing non-stop. Asnawi dropped the call and hurriedly went to the hospital.

He saw Jerica. Fury was in his eyes when their gazes met. Galit na galit ang mukha at awrang bumabalot dito. All he was thinking right now was his child inside Jasmine's womb.

"What have you done?" He scolded her. Seeing him angry, Jerica has proved to her self that indeed his man has changed. He's always gentle to her back then.

Di nya namalayang tumutulo na ang luha nya. She immediately wiped it with the back of her hands.

"I... That was an accident! I didn't mean to..."

Before she could finish speaking, Asnawi has entered the emergency room and left her there. Unable to explain her side of the story.

Jasmine was still sobbing when Asnawi entered the room.

"Awi," she called. Mabilis naman itong yumakap sa bisig ng lalake.

"It's gonna be okay." He comforted her. Asnawi looked at the ob-gyne. The ob-gyne, meeting his gaze was stunned at first yet she continued to remain calm and reported her findings.

"The baby is safe. As of now, I advise your wife to be in a bed rest for a week. Her pregnancy state is really not good. She can't be stressed either."

Hearing the word "wife" Jasmine was overjoyed. Asnawi only nodded in response to the ob-gyne. His actions were very manly. He then walks out of the door.

"Awi!" Jasmine called. "Where are you going?"

"I'll let her sign it," he replied shortly with a hoarse voice.

Jerica has not been able to digest everything yet. She walks on the lobby absent-mindedly and sat down on one of the chairs.

Tears are falling down her red cheeks unnoticeably. She have recalled the 5 years of their marriage. They were really happy. Lahat naman ibinigay nya.  She remembered the day she had walked down the aisle, their vows, the surprises and even their little promises.

“I’ll never leave you.”

Tsk. She laughed coldly, recalling what Asnawi said to her years ago.

‘Gago! Akala ko ba walang iwanan? Naloko mo ko dun ah!' She smirked with that thought, constantly wiping her tears. Sa isip nito'y makailang ulit nya ng pinatay at inilibing ang dalawa.

Napaka-traydor parin talaga ng luha nya. Pilitin nya mang di umiyak ay tila ba nagkukusa ito.

She wiped the tears in her face and asked herself. "Is this the end?" She forced a smile. Tama narin siguro. 'Ako din naman ang may deperensya' She continued telling herself.

Asnawi had been looking at her from a distant. He felt guilty. He loved Jerica with all his heart, but now a child is involved. Nabuntis nya si Jasmine dahil sa sobrang kalasingan nito. Gayunpaman, it is one of his greatest desires to have a child, to give a grandson to the family. Something that Jerica can't give even after the past 5 years.

With his heart on his throat, he immediately walked towards her.

"Sign it," malamig na sabi nito. His gestures were pointing at the folder Jerica was holding, the divorce papers.

Jerica looked at the man in front of her. She can't hide the despair in her heart. She stood up, hugged him and cried burying her head on Asnawi's chest.

 Di nya mapigilan ang sariling emosyon. Ganito naman siguro lahat pag nag-mahal. Ibaba mo ang pride mo para sa taong mahal mo.

"My love, this can't be real. Alam mong mahal natin ang isa't-isa! We--- we’ll keep trying, like you said! Di ba sabi mo walang iwanan? 'diba?" she said, hawak-hawak nya ang mukha ng lalakeng lubos nyang binigyan ng pagmamahal at atensyon sa loob ng limang taon.

Pilit syang nagmamakaawa sa lalake, halos hindi na ito makahinga sa kakaiyak.

"I'm sorry if I wasn't enough!" She was crying. Alam nyang ang tanging pagkukulang nya ay ang pagiging baog nya.

 Asnawi almost hugged her back but he forced himself not to. He admits that he had been a coward to his promises. To him Jerica was perfect. Nais nyang sabihin na kahit may mga pagkukulang ito ay mahal na mahal nya ito. Na di nya man kayang magsilang ay hindi matutumbasan nito ang pagmamahal nya.

Pero ganun paman, ang nangyari ay nangyari na. Ang batang nasa sinapupunan ni Jasmine ay hindi maaaring mabuhay bilang isang anak sa kasalanan.

Masakit man din ito kay Asnawi ngunit sa ngayon, ang bata ang mas pipiliin nya.

"I don't love you anymore. You sign this divorce papers and leave out of my sight!" Strong words were coming out of his mouth.

Halatang di makapaniwala si Jerica. Tila pilit na sinasaksak ang puso nito. Tila gusto na lamang nitong huminto sa pagtibok.

Jerica didn't have the time to react. But soon after, she nodded. Mugto man ang kanyang mga mata ay nagpahiwatig ito ng labis na sakit at pagmamahal nya sa lalake.

"I know..." Bowing her head.

“Alam kong hindi na ako. Kasi kung ako parin, di mo'ko magagawang lokohin. Di mo'ko matitiis na umiiyak. Kaya…” She wiped her tears once more.

Huminga sya ng malalim at humugot ng lakas ng loob.

"I'm sorry for troubling you all these years..." she said forcing her tears to stop. "Patawad kung 'diko mabigay ang anak na gusto mo."

"You... You're free now." She said signing the documents in her hands.