Kabanata 06: Divorce

HE HAD always known Nixie was beautiful. Sobrang ganda ng katawan nito na kahit ang simpleng intimacy lang, madali na siyang nawawalan ng kontrol.

But for years, tuwing hahawakan niya ito, palaging may kasamang mabigat na guilt. The mere thought of being intimate with her filled him with a guilty conscience. Feeling niya, pinagtataksilan niya ang babaeng totoong mahal niya. He had endured that silent torment throughout their entire marriage.

But…

Nixie was his legal wife. At kapag sumasapit ang gabi, hindi niya maitatangging sobrang nakakaakit nito.

SHE COULD feel his eyes on her, heavy and intense. Pero alam niya ang katotohanan. Isang lalaking harap-harapan nang nagsabi na ang gusto lang nitong maging ina ng mga anak niya ay ang kanyang first love. He will never hold any real feelings for her.

She casually strolled right in front of River, her movements fluid habang inaabot ang isang hairdryer.

River stood perfectly still, his dark gaze following her every move.

Nakatalikod na siya ngayon dito. And with a slow, deliberate grace, isinantabi niya ang mahaba at bagsak niyang buhok sa isang bahagi ng kanyang balikat, revealing the slender, white nape of her neck. Ang bawat galaw niya ay nag-iiwan ng bango ng bagong ligong buhok sa hangin.

River’s Adam's apple bobbed.

Bago pa man niya ma-on ang dryer, isang pares ng mainit at malalaking kamay ang biglang humawak sa bewang ng dalaga galing sa likod.

"I remember you've always wanted a child," River murmured, his voice low and laced with a sudden thick emotion.

He turned off the hairdryer, gently took it from her hand, and pulled her back against his chest, hugging her tightly from behind.

Once upon a time, Nixie had longed for nothing more kundi ang magkaroon ng anak sa lalaking mahal niya. Pero sa eksaktong sandaling ito, habang nakakulong siya sa mga bisig nito, ang tanging nararamdaman niya langr ay pagkabalisa at pagkailang.

"No," she whispered, her voice tight.

He frowned, a flicker of irritation crossing his handsome features.

Inangat nito ang kama at bahagyang pinisil ang kanyang baba, bago bumaba sa kanyang leeg.

Her skin was so soft, so irresistible, and his body was instantly beginning to change.

Nixie's eyes widened slightly in surprise.

"Have you been too tired these past few days juggling work and homemaking?" River asked, his tone softening na akala mo ay totoong nag-aalala. "We're going to have a child, Nyx. At pagkatapos noon, you can finally stay home and just be a housewife, okay?"

LATELY, HINDI na ito nagluluto para sa kanya. She refused to deal with the Tan family's endless affairs, and she was starting to harbor thoughts and attitudes na hindi na niya maintindihan.

This wouldn't do.

He needed a capable wife to manage his household, at kailangan ng pamilya niya ng isang manugang na madali nilang makokontrol.

Since Nixie spent years begging for a child, giving her one now wouldn't be a big deal. It would serve its purpose. It would keep her completely tied to the home.

At saka, ano ba ang silbi ng career nito? A job that paid a measly four thousand pesos? Letting his friends know about it would only embarrass him.

Yumukod siya at balak na sanang halikan ang labi ng dalag nang bigla nitong iniwas ang mukha mula sa kanya. Agad na nanliit ang kanyang mga mata at naging seryoso ang kanyang awra.

“Anong ibig sabihin nito, Nixie?”

"I don't want it anymore," Nixie said, her voice steady as she stared resolutely at his reflection in the mirror.

Ang mabigat na pakiramdam na unti-unti nang nawawala sa kontrol niya ang kanyang asawa ay mas lalong lumalakas sa bawat segundo.

Kahit ang sikat at pormal na si River ay nawala ang composure. Agad na nandilim ang mga mata niya at mas lalong humigpit ang hawak sa baba ng asawa.

"You were the one who practically begged for a child four years ago, at ngayong papayag na ako, ayaw mo na?" Isang nakakatakot at hindi kaaya-ayang hinala ang biglang pumasok sa kanyang isipan, dahilan para mas lalong mandilim ang kanyang tingin. “Are you seeing someone else?"

Hearing those words, Nixie felt a sharp, stabbing pain right in her heart. She turned a cold, piercing gaze toward him, her eyes screaming the question he didn't deserve to hear.

Sino ba sa kanilang dalawa ang may ‘someone else’?

Without another word, she aggressively broke free from his hold. Pumasok ang dalaga sa kanyang kwarto at malakas na sinasarado ang pinto.

Kailan ba siya tinanggihan ng dalaga?

From their very first meeting up to their marriage, palagi itong nakikinig sa lahat ng sinasabi niya. Always accommodating his every whim. This drastic, sudden change was utterly unbearable para sa isang lalaking mataas ang pride.

Fueled by a sudden rush of anger, sinundan niya ito at pilit na binuksan ang pinto ng kwarto. He forcefully grabbed her wrist, pulling her deeper into the bedroom bago ito itinulak nang pahiga sa kama.

"River Tan! What do you think you're doing?!"

"I want a child. I said I want one, so we are having one. Nixie, you never refuse me, kaya magpakabait ka at makinig ka sa akin!"

Before she could scramble away, River pounced on her, his weight pinning her down while showering her white neck and collarbone with his kisses. His strong hands gripped her waist tightly, and his other hand aggressively slipped inside her clothes.

AT THAT exact moment, ang sopistikadong lalaking kilala niya ay tuluyang nawala. He looked terrifying. Like a wild wolf driven entirely by possessiveness.

Nixie frantically tried to push his heavy shoulders away, panic rising in her chest. "I said I don't want it! River! River, please, ayokong gawin ‘to!"

"Whether or not you want a child isn't up to you anymore." River stopped his assault on her neck just long enough to pin her wrists high above her head, locking them in a vice-like grip.

Hindi siya makagalaw. Ang maiinit niyang luha ay siyang nagpapalabo sa kanyang tingin.

Ang lalaking naging marahan at magalang sa kanya sa loob ng apat na taon ay pilit na dinahas ang sarili sa kanya ngayon.

His lips slammed back down onto hers, moving down to her neck in a fast and aggressive manner.

Nang maramdaman niya ang sapilitang paghihiwalay ng binata sa kanyang mga hita, tuluyan nang napugto ang kanyang pasensya. Unable to bear the violation any longer, she brought her knee up with everything she had, hitting him squarely.

Agad na napaungol ang binata sa sakit at lumuwang ang pagkakahawak nito sa kanyang mga pulso.

Kinuha ng dalaga ang pagkakataong ‘yon para mabilis na bumangon at malakas na sinampal ang mukha nito.

Ang tunog ng sampal ay umalingawngaw sa buong kwarto.

"Nixie! You dare hit me?!"

At dala ng galit ng binata, umangat ang kamay nito at dumapo ang isang malakas sa kanyang pisngi.

Her face instantly swelled from the force, at ang mga luhang pilit niyang pinipigilan ay tuluyan nang nagpatakan sa kanyang mga pisngi.

River’s hand began to tremble.

It was the first time in four years na nakita siya nitong umiyak nang ganito. So silently. So utterly broken.

The entire room fell into a heavy, suffocating silence.

"Asawa ko..." River curled his fingers into a fist, suddenly unable to look into her eyes.

Hindi ito binigyan ng pagkakataon ng dalaga na makapagsalita.

Binalot niya ang sarili sa isang kumot, mabilis na tumakbo palabas ng kwarto, at kinuha ang kanyang phone sa sofa bago tuluyang lumabas ng bahay at lumayas sa gitna ng gabi.

The moment the front door clicked shut behind her, a single, definitive voice echoed clearly in her mind.

Divorce.