KABANATA 03

CHAPTER THREE: PEACE and LOVE

MATAPOS mag-usap ni Kenzo at Tyler, bumalik na ito sa mga kasamahan niya sa kanilang table. Nasa pool sila ngayon, at maraming bisita, halos mga kababaihan na naka-two-piece lang. And one of them is Diana.

While he was watching her, he realized something. He wasn't attracted to her—her body, her face. At all.

He didn’t even realize it when he fetched her at the airport.

“Stop staring, baka matunaw...” pagbibiro ni Ethan.

Tyler looked away, while Ethan and Diana’s eyes locked, together. Tyler didn’t even notice it.

“She was just gorgeous,” Tyler lied, even though he was not attracted to her.

“Yeah. She’s a supermodel, after all...” Ethan said.

“Yeah...” mahinang sagot ni Tyler.

“How did you two meet? I mean, you and Diana?” Ethan casually said.

“Because of her brother. He was the closest to me among these dudes here...” Tyler said. “I fell in love with her, and courted her. We were together for two years rin... Of course, I planned on marrying her, but—” he paused and drank the wine.

“She wants to reach her dream. And so be it...” he added.

“Oh. That’s really sad. It must have been hard to forget her, right?” Ethan said.

Tyler doesn’t feel good about this guy. He was actually uncomfortable around him.

“Mmmm... Why are we talking about it? Anyways, why did you and Lila break up?” Biglang nabilaukan si Ethan sa tanong ni Tyler. Naging suspicious bigla si Tyler sa reaction nito.

“Uhm... Lila is an independent woman. Babae siya, oo, pero she doesn’t like relying on someone. She was my girlfriend for five years, and I proposed to her. She accepted me willingly. Mabait si Lila, she’s loving and caring. But sometimes, she can be boring and all...” Dahil sa sinabi ni Ethan, parang umakyat ang dugo ni Tyler sa ulo.

He almost lost it.

Mabuti na lang at napigilan niya ang sarili.

“How can you say she’s boring?” he asked curiously.

“I waited for her because I respected her. She said she would keep her virginity hanggang sa maikasal kami. Yes, I haven’t touched her in all those years...” Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Tyler sa narinig.

So all those years, Lila was still a virgin? naisip ni Tyler.

“But because I wanted to try it, I wanted her so bad… so I ended up sleeping with someone else, and she found out. She broke up with me in an instant. No second chances. And maybe, until now, she’s still mad at me for hurting her,” Ethan said with a smile on his face.

Biglang nakaramdam ng galit si Tyler sa ipinapakita nito. Ethan was clearly proud of his betrayal. Nakaramdam din ng awa si Tyler para kay Lila.

He never treated her right, and he had always been mean to her. Galit siya rito dahil sa nangyari. Napapayag lang naman siyang pakasalan si Lila noon upang ipakita kay Diana na kaya niya nang mabuhay nang wala ito.

“And you seem so proud of it. Does cheating on someone you used to love make you happy?” Tyler asked.

Natahimik si Ethan sa sinabi ni Tyler.

Hindi ito agad nakasagot, pero muli itong ngumisi.

“I will try to win her back this time. I am sure na may parte pa rin ako sa puso niya. Nalaman ko kasi na after we broke up, she stayed single. So, baka may chance pa ako,” Ethan said confidently.

Tyler grinned secretly.

‘Stupid! She’s my wife!’ saad ni Tyler sa isipan niya.

“Then, good luck,” Tyler said and tapped Ethan’s shoulder. “Sa kwarto na lang muna ako,” dagdag pa niya.

“Sige, dude…” sabi na lang ni Ethan.

Pumasok si Tyler sa kwarto nang mag-isa. Napatitig siya sa mesa kung saan inilapag ni Lila ang annulment papers. Hindi pa niya iyon binubuksan simula kanina. Hindi rin niya mawari kung bakit hindi niya magawang pirmahan ang mga papel.

He was hesitant to see what was inside because he knew it wasn’t just the annulment papers inside the envelope.

“Hindi ko alam kung bakit ang dali para sa’yo na iwan ako, Lila,” tanong niya sa sarili, kahit alam naman niya ang sagot.

“You said you loved me… but why are you leaving me? Ngayon pa talaga kung kailan siya bumalik?” Bigla na lang siyang nakaramdam ng matinding galit.

Galit niyang binuksan ang envelope at kinuha ang annulment papers. Pagkabunot niya rito, may kasabay itong maliit na envelope.

Nagtataka niya itong kinuha at binuksan.

“What’s this?” usal niya habang binubuksan ang maliit na envelope.

“A ring… and a letter?” gulat niyang sambit.

Ngunit hindi iyon katulad ng singsing na suot niya. Iba iyon sa wedding ring nila.

He read the letter, and it made him furious.

To my dear Tyler,

If you’re reading this letter, I’m probably on my way to the airport.

I didn’t mean to leave you like she did five years ago.

I love you, yes… but I can’t stay with you anymore. She’s back, and I know she’s the one you’ve always wanted.

Please, be happy with her.

Happy birthday, Tyler.

I hope you won’t throw away my little gift. Wear this ring if you choose peace and love.

I love you, my dear.

— Lila

Nang mabasa ni Tyler ang sulat ni Lila, kinuha niya ang singsing na may nakaukit na Peace and Love sa loob nito.

“Silly girl… leaving me on my birthday?” he mumbled as he wore the ring on his middle finger.

“I realize it now. I am such a fool. I admit it. Masaya ako na bumalik na siya, pero may parte ng puso ko na gustong nandito ka sa tabi ko, Lila,” saad niya, bakas sa boses ang lungkot at pananabik.

“Despite my silent treatment, you stayed by my side. Ngayon mo pa talaga naisipang iwan ako, no? It’s my fault, Lila. I’m sorry,” Tyler said.

He looked frustrated. He wasn’t happy at all. He wasn’t happy seeing Diana. He wanted Lila back.

Habang nasa loob ng kwarto si Tyler, biglang pumasok si Diana. Nakainom ito at pagiwang-giwang na lumapit sa kanya. Nagulat naman si Tyler sa bigla nitong pagdating.

“Babe? Why are you here alone? Don’t you want to enjoy your day? I’m here to cheer you up,” Diana said in a seductive tone.

She was trying to seduce him, but it wasn’t working on him. Kanina lang, masaya pa siyang sinundo si Diana sa airport. Pero ngayon, bigla na lang siyang nawalan ng gana.

“Don’t bother me, Diana. I’m tired,” Tyler said, making Diana confused. Nagtataka niya itong hinarap.

“We were so happy when you fetched me at the airport. And now you’re acting cold toward me? Masaya ka ba na nandito ako o hindi?” she asked.

“First of all, you are my ex. Second, I am not interested in you. Third, I have a wife. So please… just leave me alone.”

Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Diana sa sinabi ni Tyler.

“A what? Wife? Since when did you have a wife? Or are you just trying to hurt me because I left you? Are you trying to make me jealous?” she said, laughing nervously.

“It’s serious. I’ve been married to my wife for five years, Diana. Simula noong iniwan mo ako, agad akong nakahanap ng babaeng papakasalan at mamahalin. Thanks to you, I met my wife,” Tyler said with a smug look on his face.

“Y-you what? I-I thought mahal mo ako? Na hindi mo kayang mawala ako sa buhay mo? Na kaya mo akong hintayin. Anong nangyari at nagpakasal ka, Tyler?” Nagsimulang mamula ang mga mata ni Diana.

“Why are you acting like that? Hindi ba ikaw ang umalis? You left me, Diana. I’m happy now… Sinundo lang naman kita dahil pinapasundo ka sa akin ng kuya mo.”

“P-pero bakit kanina parang ang saya natin? Like we were boyfriend and girlfriend again?”

“You’re just assuming, Diana,” Tyler said coldly. “Leave my room and stop bothering me.”

Dagdag pa nito, halatang pagod na pagod na siya.

“Bumalik ako para sa’yo, Tyler, and now you’re acting like you never loved me. You will regret this!” galit na wika ni Diana bago nilisan ang kwarto.

Bahagyang natawa si Tyler sa sinabi nito.

Maalala niyang siya ang iniwan nito noon. Mahal na mahal niya ito dati, ngunit iba na ngayon. Iba na ang gusto ng puso niya.

At iyon ay ang asawa niya.