Chapter 3.1: Silas Retribution

HINDI RIN NAGING maayos ang kanilang relasyon noong una pagkatapos ng kasal nila. Bihirang umuwi si Silas sa villa at magpakita. Isang luho na para sa kanya ang magkaroon ng oras ng p********k dalawang beses sa isang buwan. Bukod iyon sa regular communication.

However, at the end of the first year after their marriage, Silas was to travel to the US branch to lay the foundation for him to gradually take control of their family business. The night before Silas was to depart for the United States, he got drunk at a social gathering and for the first time forgot to take precautions. Hindi siya gumamit ng protection na marahil ay nakalimutan niya o hindi lang sumilid sa isip. 

Silas also went completely wild that night. Iyon ang unang pagkakataon na napagtanto ni Isla na matapos hindi siya makilala ni Silas dahil sa labis nitong kalasingan, hindi na siya walang pakialam gaya ng dati. Bigay na bigay ang performance nito ng gabing iyon habang nagtatalik silang dalawa na aminin niya man o hindi ay sobrang na-enjoy niya sa pagsasama.

Two months after Silas left, Isla found out she was pregnant. She can take her own pulse.

“Oh my gosh! Totoo ba ‘to? Paano ko sasabihin kay Silas na buntis ako? Matutuwa kaya siya? Hindi siya baog.”

She was shocked by this. At that time, Isla even naively thought that if Silas had always believed that he was infertile, would her pregnancy be a catalyst for their relationship?

Nagdesisyon siyang e-testing kung ano ang gagawin ng asawa muna. Isla flew to New York immediately. At that time, she went straight to his company with great joy and anticipation. Naghintay siya ng dalawang oras at tiniis ang malamig na klima sa labas. Labis na nagulat si Silas sa kanyang pagdating.

“Anong ginagawa mo dito? Bakit hindi ka nagsabi na pupunta ka?”

Ngumiti lang si Isla at yumakap sa asawa nang mahigpit upang ipakita kung gaano niya na-miss. Hindi ipinakilala ni Silas ang kanyang pagkakakilanlan sa iba kung ano siya nito, ngunit hiniling lamang nito sa kanyang assistant na ihatid siya sa tinutuluyan niya.

“Mauna ka na sa aking umuwi, may iba pa akong meeting na pupuntahan.”

At that time, Isla was full of enthusiasm and did not realize that Silas was coldly trying to distance himself from her. Pag-uwi nito kinagabihan at matapos maligo, hindi niya man lang siya tinanong kung pagod ba siya sa mahabang naging byahe. Silas leaned down to kiss her earlobe, but his eyes revealed a detached and routine demeanor. It was as if she ran over to him with the intention of making love to him. Sa isip ng lalaki ay nagtungo siya doon para lang makipag-sex.

“Silas…”

Feeling uncomfortable, Isla pushed him away, suppressing the flutter in her heart. Kinuha na niyang pagkakataon ito para magtanong dito. 

“If I get pregnant, will we—”

These words seemed to dampen one of his few remaining interests. Walang imik na umalis sa ibabaw niya si Silas. Turning over to lie down beside her and closing his eyes, maintaining a distance that suggested they were sleeping in the same bed but dreaming different dreams.

“If you think that having multiple children will be the anchor of your marriage, I advise you not to overthink it. Matulog na tayo.” 

Silas tone remained calm and collected throughout, yet was also unusually cruel and blunt. At the bottom lies a chilling indifference.

That night, she didn't sleep a wink. Isla wanted to cry, but it also feels like she brought this on herself. The next day, Silas, as if driving her away, booked her a plane ticket and arranged for her to return to the Philippines, not wanting her to stay even half a minute longer. 

Nakaramdam ng lungkot at pagkadismaya si Isla, ngunit dahil sa pitong taong kasunduan sa kasal nila, naunawaan niya na naselyuhan na nito ang kanilang huling kapalarang dalawa, kaya naman mabilis siyang nagdesisyon na hindi na lang ito papansinin.

Whether Silas truly didn't care about the child or was convinced he would have no heir, she wasn't going to reveal a single word to him. Ang batang nasa sinapupunan niya ay dugo at laman niya, lahi niya, at walang kinalaman si Silas. Bubuhayin niya ang bata nang lihim. She will not be led by the nose to harm her own body and her child because of Silas attitude.

Kung babalikan niya ngayon ang nangyari ay tila ba ang pag-iwan iyon sa ama at pagpili na buhayin ang sarili niyang anak. Ito na ang pinakamatapang, pinakabaliw, ngunit pinaka-tamang desisyong ginawa ni Isla sa buong buhay niya. Pagdating naman sa apelyidong gamit ni Harleigh, ipinagamit niya ang apelyido ng pinsan ng bestfriend niyang si Eli. Isla thought of the man who was willing to help her and let the child be raised in his surname. Iyon lang ang tanging naisip niya.

Ipinilig ni Isla ang kanyang ulo habang pinapasadahan ng tingin ang chat ng anak. Walang may alam ng tungkol sa kanya sa pamilya Kensington. Now, her daughter is her only asset in the their separation settlement. Even though Silas is an incompetent husband, what's the point of arguing with a living ‘test tube’ tool for giving birth? Hahayaan niya na.

Matapos aminin ni Isla ang tungkol sa kanilang paghihiwalay, natigilan si Eli nang ilang segundo sa kabilang linya. Tutal, siya ang mas nakakaalam kung gaano kamahal ni Isla si Silas, mula noong siya ay teenager hanggang ngayon. Sa loob ng mahigit sampung taon ‘yun. It was an excruciating pain, as if to have one's heart and bones ripped out, yet Isla’s tone was so calm. Kalmado na para bang hindi nasasaktan kahit na minsan sa kanyang mga sinasabi. It's a habit and numbness that comes from repeated hurts. Namanhid na ang babae sa paulit-ulit na pananakit ng asawa niya. Eli even felt that it was Silas own fault for not telling him that he had a daughter in kindergarten. It was his retribution!

“O siya, hindi na kita iistorbohin ha? Basta iyong usapan natin, Isla.” 

“Oo na, bukas na lang Eli…”