Prologue

Nakakatawa. Nakakalungkot. Nakakaiyak. Ilang taon na nga ba simula nang ikasal kami ni Adrian? Tatlo? Yeah. It's been three years. It's been three years since I married the man of my dreams. It's been three years since I dreamt of a paradise world. And it's been three years since I last felt that someone loves me. It's been three years since I started living this nightmare. Malapit na akong mawalan ng pag-asa pero pinipilit kong kumapit dahil naniniwala akong mamahalin niya rin ako kapag nagtiis ako at nakita niya ang halaga ko.

"What? Yvon, you're crying again?" Nagitla ako nang marinig ko ang boses ng asawa ko.

I quickly wiped my tears away and put on a smile. "Adi, nandito ka na pala. Nagluto ako ng paborito mo." Lumapit ako sa kanya para kunin ang coat niya.

"I'm not hungry, kumain na ako. Just eat by yourself,” aniya saka ako tinalikuran.

"Adi, sandali…” pigil ko sa braso niya.

He looked at me impatiently. "What?"

"W-Wala ka bang naaalala sa araw ngayon?" I hopefully asked.

"Pwede bang deretsuhin mo na lang ako and stop beating around the bush? Marami pa akong gagawin,” saad niya.

"Hindi mo ba talaga naaalala,” tanong kong muli.

He looked at me impatiently. "Tigilan mo nga ako sa drama mo at sabihin mo na lang."

"A-Ah, wala. Hindi na bale. Sige, magpahinga ka na muna." Malungkot akong ngumiti.

"Tss!" he hissed before walking away from me.

Naramdaman ko ang muling pagtulo ng luha sa mga mata ko. Today is our wedding anniversary but he forgot.

Siguro busy lang siya kaya niya nakalimutan.

Sino bang niloko ko? Alam ko naman na hindi totoo ang sinasabi ng isip ko. In our three years of marriage, he didn't even looked at me. The only time he would initiate contact with me is when he asks me to go to the hospital. Go to the hospital to save the woman he actually love. I smiled sadly at my reflection. I looked at myself. I used to be a beauty but what I see right now in front of me is a ragged lady.

"Come on, Yvon. Stop crying. It's your wedding anniversary, ngumiti ka lang." Saad ko sa sarili.

Huminga ako ng malalim at inayos ang sarili ko. Isinabit ko ang coat ni Adrian sa sabitan saka ako dumeretso sa kusina. Tinitigan ko ang mga pagkain na nakahain sa hapag, ganoon na rin ang cake kung saan nakasulat ang mga katagang Happy 3rd Anniversary, Adi. Gusto ko na namang maluha pero pinigilan ko ang sarili ko.

I was about to approach the table when I suddenly felt dizzy. Muntik na akong matumba kung hindi lang dahil sa cabinet sa gilid ko. Iyon ang sumuporta sa akin para hindi ako bumagsak sa sahig.

Ilang araw ng masama ang pakiramdam ko. Madalas akong mahilo nitong mga nakaraan. Malamang ay dahil wala akong gaanong pahinga at tulog. Ipinikit ko ang mga mata ko saka ako huminga ng malalim.

"Yvon!" I heard Adrian's shout as he came out of the room.

Sinubukan kong magmulat pero hilong-hilo talaga ako. "Adi?" Tawag ko sa kanya habang sinusuportahan ang sarili ko.

"Come with me." He said as he grabbed my wrist.

"Teka lang, nahihilo ako. Saan ba?" Tanong ko.

"To the hospital." Tipid na aniya habang hinihila ako palabas ng bahay.

Napangiti ako. It turns out he still cares for me. "Hindi ko na kailangang pumunta sa hospital, konting pahinga lang ay magiging okay na ako." Sambit ko nang ipasok niya ako sa kotse.

He glanced at me for a while. "Dia is sick. She needs urgent blood transfusion. Shut up and just go to the hospital with me."

Unti-unting nabura ang ngiti sa mga labi ko. Tila binubugbog din ang dibdib ko. Here I was thinking he was concerned about me when in fact he was worried about another woman. It was our anniversary and he didn't even remember it. I hadn't been resting for a while and he doesn't even care.

Was I really wishful thinking? Maybe there's no hope in our relationship at all.

He frantically stopped the car in front of the hospital. Nagmamadali siyang lumabas saka niya ako hinila. My body just went with the flow and let him drag me. I was staring at his back. At the back of the man I married. The back of my husband who promised me happiness yet gave me nothing but misery and self pity. Ikinuyom ko ang parehong kamao kasabay ng paghinto ko.

"Adrian," I stopped.

"Yvon, what are you doing? Let's go!" Aniya saka ako hinila pero binawi ko ng marahas ang kamay ko. "Yvon! Ano ba? Dia needs your blood now, stop playing around." He scolded me.

"Kapag pinilit mo akong pumasok ngayon diyan sa hospital, I'll divorce you, Adrian." I mumbled.

Tumingin siya sa akin na tila naguguluhan. "What are you talking about? Let's go!" Aniyang muli saka niya ako hinila pero muli akong tumigil.

"Let's get a divorce, Adrian. I can't take it anymore." Sobrang sakit sa akin ang sabihin ang mga salitang iyon.

"Stop joking around and get your blood drawn. Saka ka na magdrama kapag sigurado na akong ligtas si Dia." Muli niya akong hinila patungo sa silid kung saan lagi ginagawa ang proseso ng paglipat ng dugo ko kay Dia.

Fine. I'll do it one last time.

I'll give my blood to the woman who stole my husband for the last time. I'll treat it as a farewell gift for the two of them.

After giving my blood, I left the hospital without saying anything to Adrian. I left the printed copy of our divorce papers on his table after signing it. My things are packed. Handa na akong iwan siya. Mahal na mahal ko pa rin siya pero pagod na ang puso kong umasa. Pagod na ang puso kong masaktan. I'll let him be with the person he wants to be with. Hahayaan ko na siyang maging masaya para sumaya na rin ako.

This is the end, Adrian Raugh Lanes.