Chapter 2.1: Sex without Love

THE NURSE IMMEDIATELY fell silent, napuno na ng kahihiyan ang kanyang mukha sa ginawang pagtatanong. Sana pala hindi na lang siya naging curious. Baka nasaktan niya na ang damdamin ni Isla. Hindi niya rin inaasahang ire-reveal ng doctor ang secret ng asawa ng ‘di man lang kumukurap ang mata.

“Pitong taon na kaming kasal, at wala pa kaming anak.”

Lihim na humingi ng tawad si Isla sa anak na hanggang sa mga sandaling ‘yon ay tinatanggi. Gusto niya lang itong protektahan.

“Sorry, Doc…” puno ng simpatya niyang pinalo ang bibig, tumango lang si Isla at ngumiti. 

“Ayos lang, sanay naman na ako.”

Isla did not tell the truth. Actually, Silas didn't want her to have his child. Iyon ang dahilan kung kaya ayaw niya rin ditong ipaalam ang tungkol kay Harleigh. Ayaw niya ng anak sa kanya. Sa unang gabi pa lang ng kasal ay sinabi na iyon sa kanya ng asawa na ayaw niya. 

“I'm busy with work and don't have time for children, so I don't plan to have any. Don't have any expectations, and don't try to discuss it with me.”

Iyon ang eksaktong sinabi ni Silas na hindi niya magagawang kalimutan. Hanggang sa panganganak nga niya ay naririnig niya iyon.

“Okay, busy din naman ako…”

At that time, Isla understood him and realized that Silas was indeed busy. Subalit ngayon, binigyan siya nito ng ibang dahilan kung bakit ayaw magkaroon ng anak sa kanya. He was worried that if the child was born, his beloved woman would feel resentful. Malinaw na iyon.

‘Gusto ko pa talagang sabihin sa kanya ang tungkol kay Harleigh eh alam ko na ngang ayaw niya. Malamang hindi niya tatanggapin.’

Footsteps approached again, and when Isla looked up, she met Silas unfathomable eyes. The man looked at her with a gaze worse than that of a stranger when he received the payment receipt.

Narinig kaya nito ang tungkol sa erectile dysfunction na sinabi niya sa mga kasama?

Eh ano naman kung narinig nito?

Ano bang pakialam pa niya?

Mabilis na iniwas ni Silas ang tingin at tumalikod nang walang paalam sa kanya. Hindi na nagulat pa doon si Isla. Ganun naman palagi ang kanyang asawa lalo sa public places. His impatience, indifference, and reluctance to waste energy on her were never concealed. Kahit gusto niyang makipagtalo, mahihirapan pa rin siyang magsimula ng pag-aawayan nila. 

Ganun ka-boring ng kanilang relasyon.

Isla could only keep it stuck in her chest day after day, unable to express it. Even though she had a husband, she had no one to rely on. They also lacked any spiritual support. This is one of the reasons why she secretly gave birth to her daughter and raised her behind his back. Ayaw niyang madamay na masaktan dito ang bata.

Isla walked back to her private consultation room with heavy steps. She opened the drawer under her desk, where two stacks of documents lay quietly. Before registering her marriage with Silas, Chairman Kensington had approached her and given her two agreements.

Una ay ang prenuptial agreement nila at ang isa ay ang annulment papers nila. Her background was far inferior to that of the Kensington family, and she was worlds apart from Silas. If it weren't for the huge scandal that happened back then, their family would never have let her into the family. The old man looked down on her. The agreement stipulated a seven-year timeframe. Once the seven-year period is up, the agreement will take effect.

“Konting tiis na lang…” haplos niya sa papel.

Noong panahong iyon, hindi man lang tiningnan ni Silas ang nilalaman ng kasunduan bago ito pirmahan. Malamang ay hindi pa rin niya alam na umiiral na ang kasunduan sa pagpapawalang-bisa ng kasal nila. At ngayon, papalapit na sila sa mga huling araw para sa napagkasunduan na hiwalayan.

“Mas pabor pa ito sa kanya, bakit ko ba siya inaalala? Sarili ko lang dapat at si Harleigh ang iniisip ko. Kaming mag-ina ang magkakampi.”

Isla didn't want to waste another second, she quickly put the agreement in her bag, and dragged her tired body back to the villa after finishing her work for the day. Just as she changed her shoes, she saw Silas coming down from upstairs. Napatayo na dito ng ayos si Isla. She didn't get a chance to talk to Silas or explain the emergency situation. As he brushed past her, Isla finally found her voice. 

“Maghiwalay na tayo, Silas. I'm giving you three months to handle the transfer and division of assets. Sa loob ng tatlong buwan, kailangang matapos mo na ang lahat ng iyon.”

Natigilan sa kanyang paghakbang si Silas. His long, deliberate fingers, which were slowly fastening the jeweled cuffs of his sleeves, paused slightly. His dark, narrow eyes swept over her wife from head to toe. 

“Just because I accompanied Shirley to the doctor today? Hahamunin mo agad ako ng hiwalayan? Ano ba ang nangyayari sa’yo, Isla?”

Alam naman pala nitong magiging apektado siya doon, pero bakit naging sunud-sunuran pa rin siya sa harapan niya kanina kay Shirley?

“Yes.”

Tinitigan siya ni Isla sa mata. She couldn't be bothered to argue about right or wrong. Silas should not even think about knowing anything about the child's affairs. Halos walang emosyong ipinapakita ang maitim na mga mata ni Silas, tila sinasabing wala siyang pakialam kung sinasadya man nitong mag-alburuto nang dahil sa nangyari kanina. 

“You can throw your temper at home, but as Mrs. Kensington outside, you know what to do. Hindi ko na kailangang laging sabihin sa’yo.”

These words were simply an attempt to maintain Shirley’s elegant image in public. He didn't care about her attitude. Napagtanto ni Isla na kahit pa siguro makita niya ang kanilang masidhing p********k, wala dapat siyang reaction. Hindi na kailangang magbigay pa ng anumang paliwanag si Silas sa asawa.

“Sure, you can rest assured.”

Isla unconsciously clenched her palms, the pain calming her voice.

“But the annulment is both our business.”

It was probably an accident. Dala lang ng bugso ng damdamin ng asawa ang paghahamon niya. Iyon ang rumihistro sa isipan ng lalaki.