Chapter 3: Ha? Asawa?

HINDI NIYA MAALALA kung ano ang nangyari. When she woke up again. Pinakiramdaman niya ang paligid. It doesn't come to her knowledge kung anong araw ngayon o kahit ang petsa ng taon. Dahan-dahang iminulat niya ang mga mata. Ngayon ay naging malinaw sa kanya kung nasaan siya.

She was really in the hospital.

Living like a normal person, eating foods like it was her favorite meal of the day. Pero para sa kanya, ang mabuhay sa mundo ay walang patutunguhan.

It was useless!

Naalala niya ang lalaking tinawag siyang asawa.

Clearly, people around her were all unknown to her. And why she had a husband already where in fact, she never had a romantic relationship due to the traumatic experience given by her own father.

Bumukas ang pintuan ng kwarto. Nakangiti na sumalubong sa kanya ang lalaking nakasuot ng puting roba.

Isang doktor.

Kasunod nito ang dalawang nurse na sinusuri ang kabuuan niya.

"Hello, Mrs. Salazar. How are you. Feeling better now?" Palakaibigang tanong ng doktor. His tone was cheerful and lively that reflected on his face.

She avoided his gaze, but she could still hear his playful, yet friendly smile towards her. "Do you need anything, food, water, say it?"

"W-water..." Mahina niyang saad. Nauuhaw siya. Namamalat rin ang boses niya.

"Right, I'm gonna get some for you."

Tinangka niya ang bumangon pero hindi siya makagalaw. Only to find out that her unharmed wrist was tied beneath the bed she was lying in.

Nanlaki ang mga mata niyang binalingan ang doktor. He is holding a glass of water for her already.

Ang mga nurse ay tila normal lang ang senaryo na ganito. They seemed never cared about it. Higit sa lahat, wala ang mga itong pakialam sa kanya.

They were just doing their job, and not really to take care of her at heart.

Then the doctor dropped his eyes, looking at her tied wrist.

"I'm sorry, but this is the least thing we could do. Your husband, Mr. Salazar came here to check on you, but you're still unconscious."

Husband?

Ibig sabihin ay hindi niya guni-guni lang ang nasa alaala niya?

[ I really had a husband? Just when? ]

She couldn't figure it out. But maybe the doctor might have mistaken her for someone else, pati na rin ang lalaking tinawag siyang asawa. At bakit ba dalawang beses na niyang narinig ang pangalan na 'yon ngayong palagi siyang nagigising sa ospital na 'to?

Wala siyang maalala na may asawang tao siya.

"My name is Shawn Zamora. I am your private doctor, Mrs. Salazar."

Gamit ang malayang kamay, itinabi niya ang baso ng tubig saka piniling mahimlay sa kama.

The doctor seemed to be nice but she's not comfortable talking to him even if it's just casual.

"W-why I w-was tied in this bed, by t-the way. H-hindi ako makagalaw. G-gusto k-kong kumilos."

"You didn't remember, did you?"

Why the hell she should remember every painful past she had experienced already. At bakit patuloy pa rin siyang ginagamot ng doktor na ito, kahit ang tanging kahilingan lang naman niya ay ang mawala na sa mundo?

People were quite a fool. Even nurses, literal na walang silbi.

Bakit hindi nalang siya ng mga ito kalagan? Mahirap ba iyon sa kanila?

Pakiramdam niya ay may ibang tao ang kumokontrol sa lahat, kahit ang doktor ngayon sa harapan niya, literal na limitado ang mga salita.

"You seemed like a different person the moment you woke up. Your husband told us to do so, by tying you up in your bed."

"W-who is my h-husband?"

Pinili niyang ibaling ang tingin sa kaliwang bahagi ng kama.

The doctor was never shocked. "Rhyster Salazar."

That name doesn't ring her bells.

"Please, untie me. I-I want to b-be free."

"I'm afraid I can't. If you would like it, nasa labas lang ng kwarto ang asawa mo. I can call him if—"

Hindi pa man natapos ng doktor ang sasabihin. Malakas na bumukas ang pinto at nabaling ang kanyang tingin sa lalaking pumasok.

It was him.

The same person who called her his wife.

His cold, dark, and scary eyes met hers. Tila ay nasagot ang katanungang bumabagabag sa isipan niya. Ang lalaking ito ang tunay na kumokontrol sa lahat ng bagay sa loob ng kwarto na ito.

The doctor and two nurses, excuse themselves.

She felt even more uncomfortable. Si Rhyster na kakapasok lang ay hindi magawang sundin ang ipinayo ng doktor na maging maingat sa pipiliing mga salita.

He never cared about his wife's condition. He only cared because she's his ungrateful wife!

Damn it!

"You're really good at getting someone's trust, aren't you?"

Napaigtad siya. Hindi inaasahan ang galit na nagmumula sa kaibuturan nito. "Quit playing mind games, Charice! I had enough already!"

Charice?

Why did he call her that name?

"Now, you're pretending?" He gave her the deadliest stare.

"Come on, speak up!" Mas nalasahan niya ang iritasyon, at ang sari-sari nitong emosyon. "Nasira mo na ang buong pangalan at pagkatao ko. What more do you want from me at this point?"

Nanatili siyang walang imik.

Nakatitig lang siya sa lalaki. Nakita nito kung gaano siyang hindi komportable sa posisyon. With her unharmed wrist tied up, sa wakas ay kinalagan siya nito.

She felt more comfortable. Tears streamed down on her cheeks. This is the very first time someone did something to her, without harming her in return.

"Oh, come on, Charice! Tigilan mo iyang pag-arte. Hindi na 'yan mabenta sa'kin!"

What did he just call her?

"C-Charice?" Kahit nahihirapang gumalaw. Nagawa niyang ituro ang sarili.

The man looked at her in disgust. Parang hindi na bago para rito ang salitang iyon.

Natawa ito nang mapakla. "I can't believe you, my wife! Kahit ang pangalan mo ay nagpapanggap ka pang hindi mo maalala? Oh come on, you fraudulent brat! Tigilan mo ako sa kahibangan mo!"

"H-hindi 'yan ang p-pangalan ko s-sir..."

"Sir?" Hindi ito makapaniwalang tinuro naman ang sarili. "I'm your husband and you just called me, sir? Nasaan ang sweetness at pekeng lambing mo sa'kin kung sakaling kailangan mo ng pera, Charice! Bakit yata biglang nawala?"

"E-Elisse. Elisse ang pangalan ko at hindi C-Charice."

Despite being nervous, she controlled herself not to burst out. Kanina niya pa iginala ang paningin pero wala siyang nakikitang kahit anong patalim. Masaktan niya lang ang sarili, babalik sa normal ang kanyang pakiramdam.

Magiging kalmado siya.

"Once and for all. If you cooperate, baka mapapatawad pa kita. Huwag mo akong daanin sa paarte-arte mo na 'yan."

"N-nagsasabi a-ako ng t-totoo. E-Elisse ang pa-pangalan ko, sir—"

"Damn it, Charice!" Parang tumilapon ang kaluluwa niya. "Don't you get tired of fooling me around? Malalaman ko lang kung ano na naman ang binabalak mo, ako mismo ang papatay sa'yo!"

A big smile crept on her face. She would love to.

Nakita niya kung paanong mas lalong nabigla ang lalaki. "What's funny?"

"Kill me. Kill me now, s-sir. I want it, badly. Kill me! Kill me now!" She's already screaming.

Pumasok si doktor Zamora.

Itinulak nito ang lalaki palabas at ang kasunod na eksena ay ang inaasahan na niya.

Binigyan siya ng doktor nang pampakalma.

Bumagsak ang kamay niya sa kama, tuluyang nawalan ng lakas.

*****

He can't believe what's going on his wife's head.

Naghintay si Rhyster sa labas. Sinadya niyang manatili dahil gusto niyang kausapin si Doctor Zamora.

He still could not figured out what his wife's plan.

Maigi sigurong makapaghanda siya. Because in terms of making someone fall from Charice's bait, winner ang asawa niya palagi.

He could not let himself be a servant to his wife once more. Dapat lang na mabigyan ng hustisya ang bawat kasalanang ginawa ni Charice.

Calling his wife's different name?

Elisse? Hah! Tanga lang ang maniniwala pa sa asawa niya.

Sino na naman ang niloloko ni Charice? Kabisado ni Rhyster ang asawa. Magaling itong magmanipula ng tao. Kahit ni katiting na awa sa iba ay hindi ito makukunsensya.

"Your wife maybe had a traumatic experience, Mr. Salazar." Nakabulsa ang magkabilang kamay nito sa coat.

Nakalabas na sa kwarto ni Charice.

Traumatic experience my butt.

"Don't fall from her bait, doc. She's a fraudulent woman. Anoman ang sasabihin niya'y ipakita mong naniwala ka. Hahayaan rin kitang masuri siya ulit, keep her alive. Do the best thing that you can."

Tumango si doktor Zamora.

Tinungo niya ang private office. Sinalubong siya ni Diana ng haplos sa leeg.

"What makes you mad today, Mr. Salazar. Do you want me to make you hot?"

Niluwagan niya ang tali ng kurbata. "Don't touch me, Diana." Dumistansya si Rhyster sa assistant. "I don't want to hear anything from you, today. I want to rest. Gusto kong magpahinga."

"Was it because of your bitch wife? Bakit pa kasi siya bumalik!"

"Stop talking." Charice still is his wife. "Do your job, report the information from the audit department. I'm not in the company for a week maybe."

"Where do you plan to go then?"

"Only stay at home. Better to check my ungrateful wife's progress."

Dahil ayaw niyang mabilog na naman ng asawa ang ulo niya.