(KABANATA) 03

Lorraine’s POV

I stared at my reflection in the mirror, my face half-done....foundation smooth, lips bare, eyes… already betraying me.

Red.

Swollen.

Halatang pagod na pagod at puyat.

I took a deep breath.

Then another.

Pero hindi pa rin sapat.

Because the moment I blinked.. a tear slipped.

“D*mn it…” I whispered under my breath, quickly reaching for a tissue. Then pressed it gently under my eye, careful not to ruin what I had already fixed.

Tonight...I had to be perfect.

A soft, bitter laugh escaped my lips.

I have to be a perfect wife.

The irony almost made me choke.

From outside my door, I could already hear voices.

Laughter.

Music.

The clinking of glasses.

Guests had started arriving.

Mga bisita na walang kaalam-alam sa nangyayari sa loob ng bahay na ito.

To them we were ideal and ideal power couple.

Elegant.

Untouchable and perfect.

My fingers tightened around the makeup brush.

My breath hitched.

“Stop thinking about it, Lorraine…” bulong ko sa sarili ko ng akmang muli ko na namang maalala ang nangyari kagabi.

It was something like it was carved inside my brain. At kahit anong gawin ko ay hinding-hindi ko makakalimutan ang mga bagay na iyon.

I licked my lower lip...and suddenly, another tear fell off my cheeks and I hurriedly wiped it.

“Get it together, Lorraine,” I muttered, my voice firmer this time. I placed the brush down and gripped the edge of the vanity.

Tinitigan ko ang sarili ko sa salamin.

Long. Hard. Searching.

But the woman staring back at me…wasn’t the same one from before.

She looked composed.

Put together.

Beautiful, even.

But her eyes, they were different.

Parang may binubuong desisyon sa likod ng katahimikan.

I reached for my lipstick.

My hand steadier now.

Slowly, I applied it.

“Lorraine,” Brando’s voice called from the other side.

I straightened my body while picking up my perfume.

“Guests are asking for you,” dagdag niya sa isang normal na tono na para bang wala siyang ginawang katar*ntaduhan sa akin kahapon.

I walked toward the door.

Each step measured.

Each breath controlled.

When I opened it...he was already there. Dressed properly while looking at me. Smiling... normally. The same man everyone admired.

I met his eyes.

"Make sure etobgreet our visitors with a smile, Lorraine.." paalala niya bago dahan-dahang iginiya ang kamay ko patungo sa kanyang balikat.

Isinara ko ang pintuan sa aking likuran. At hindi nagtagal ay humakbang na kami pababa ng hagdan, patungo sa nga bisitang kanina pa naghihintay sa amin.

~~~~~*****~~~~~

The late afternoon light spilled through the tall windows, casting a warm glow across the living room.

I stood beside Brando, a glass of wine in my hand, a soft smile resting on my lips as we entertained guests one after another.

Laughter flowed easily.

Conversations were light.

Polite.

Controlled.

Every now and then, I would feel his hand at the small of my back...guiding, claiming, reminding me not to do something reckless.

Yet , I've been playing my part flawlessly.

“Mr. and Mrs. Valdez really makes a stunning pair,” komento ng isang middle-age na babaeng bisita habang pinapasadahan kami ng tingin ni Brando.

I dipped my head slightly.

“Thank you,” I replied gracefully.

Brando chuckled beside me, his arm casually wrapping around my waist.

“We try,” he said smoothly.

We.

I almost tasted the lie.

Another guest joined in, raising his glass slightly. “How long have you two been married now?”

“Three years,” Brando answered before I could.

“Three years?” the woman repeated, brows lifting in pleasant surprise. “That’s wonderful. So… when are we expecting a little one, hmm?”

The question landed lightly, but it hit something deeper inside me.

My fingers tightened slightly around the stem of my glass, but my smile remained. At sa likuran ko ay naramdaman ko ang mariing pagpisil ng daliri ni Brando.

I cleared my throat...opened my mouth to answer... when Brando cut in.

“Actually,” Brando cut in.

My heart stilled.

His tone was still light.

But there was something underneath it.

Something sharp.

“She can’t,” he said casually.

The woman blinked. “Oh…?”

Brando let out a small laugh, as if it were nothing more than an unfortunate detail.

“Lorraine’s infertile," dagdag niya.

Agad na naghari ang nakakasakal na katahimikan sa pagitan namin at ng iilang bisita. Maging ako ay hindi nakapagsalita. Gusto ko na lamang ibaon ang aking sarili sa lupa dahil sa labis na kahihiyan.

“Oh… I—I’m so sorry,” the woman stammered, her smile faltering as she glanced at me, clearly uncomfortable.

Another guest cleared his throat awkwardly.

“No worries,” Brando added quickly, taking a sip from his drink. “We’ve come to terms with it.”

The word echoed again. Mocking. And I could feel their eyes on me now.

Awkward.

Curious.

I swallowed.

Forced my lips to curve slightly.

“It’s alright,” mahinang sambit ko, people kahit na pilitin king ngumiti sa kanilang harapan ay hindi ko pa rin maitago ang bakas ng kahihiyan sa boses ko.

“I appreciate the concern. And we kept trying to have kids.." I added as my grip on the glass tightens.

The woman nodded, still clearly unsure what to say.

And just when it became too unbearable...Brando stepped back after I caught him checking something on his phone.

“Excuse me for a moment,” he said smoothly, already turning away. “I need to check something.”

He always knew when to leave.

When to let me deal with the mess he created.

Alone.

And just like that, he was gone. Leaving me standing here with his guests.

I felt my chest tighten again.

But I didn’t let it show.

I lifted my glass slightly.

Took a slow sip.

Let the burn settle in my throat.

Then I smiled.

“Please, enjoy the party,” wika ko at muling ngumiti sa kanilang lahat. Kahit ang totoo ay mas lalong tumitindi ang kahihiyan na nararamdaman ko sa dibdib ko dahil sa sinabi ni Brando.

~~~~~~~~**********~~~~~~~~~

“Excuse me,” I said softly, already stepping away before anyone could stop me.

Hindi ko na kaya pang manatili doon.

The air in that room felt too tight… too heavy… too full of things I didn’t want to feel.

I didn’t even bother looking for Brando. Because I know where exactly he is at this point. I'm sure they're f*cking again that's why he left his guests.

My heels clicked against the polished floor as I walked down the hallway, each step quicker than the last.

The noise of the party faded behind me.

I exhaled shakily, one hand pressing lightly against my chest as I slowed down.

“Just breathe…” bulong ko habang naglalakad patungo sa banyo upang makapagpahinga kahit sandali.

The bathroom was just ahead.

A few more steps.

Just a few more meters then my steps slowed when I noticed someone was standing not too far from me.

It was leaning casually against the wall near the corner, half-hidden in the soft shadows of the hallway. Tal and watching me..

My brows furrowed slightly.

Hindi ko agad maaninag ang mukha niya. Pero may kung anong pamilyar sa kanyang presensya.

I took a cautious step forward.

“Excuse me--” panimula ko, ngunit natigilan ako ng bigla itong gumalaw.

Just enough for the light to catch his face. And everything inside me stilled.

My breath caught.

My heart...missed a beat.

The man in front of me is the same man from that night.

Shock flickered across my face before I could stop it.

“What are you--” I began, my voice lower now, more guarded.

A slow smile curved on his lips. Like this wasn’t unexpected at all.

“Hello, Lorraine,” he said smoothly, his gaze locked onto mine.

TO BE CONTINUED.....