Chapter 1

Our clothes fell to the floor one by one as our kisses grew hungrier and wilder. Tuluyan na akong nawala sa sarili ko nang magsimula siyang gawin lahat ng gusto niyang gawin sa aking katawan.

He grasped my waist once more, firm but gentle, as if handling a fragile piece of shattered glass. He pinned me against the wall, his lips trailing down my neck, pressing kisses along the curve of my shoulder.

Hanggang ngayon ay binabaliw pa rin talaga ako ng mga halik ni Hudson.

He swept me up in his arms, carrying me bridal-style, and laid me gently on the bed. I let myself sink into the soft mattress, and there I saw his perfect, muscular body more clearly than before.

Umibabaw siya sa akin at marahas na dinala ang mga kamay ko sa ibabaw ng ulo ko. Napapikit ako nang maramdaman ko ang katigasan ng ari niya na tumutusok sa puson ko. Para akong inaakit nito nang paunti-unti.

A flutter of nervousness stirred in my chest as he settled on me. I could feel his manhood brushing lightly at the entrance of my most intimate place. Though I wanted to pull away, my rebellious body betrayed me, enjoying everything that was happening.

Sa wakas, dahan-dahan niyang pinasok ang ari niya sa akin. I could tell he was trying to be gentle, pero hindi ko masabi na may parte sa aking katawan na ayoko ng malumanay at dahan-dahan. I want him to fuck me hard as if he was punishing me for being not a good wife.

He groaned deeply before thrusting harder, using his full strength until he was completely inside.

“Naomi’s sick. We need to get a divorce.”

Pakiramdam ko ay bigla akong binuhusan ng mainit na tubig at lahat ng init na nararamdaman ko sa aking katawan ay naglaho na parang bula. 

Napatigil ako sa pagsalubong sa bawat labas-pasok niya sa akin at tiningnan siya.

“What?”

Baka mali lang ako ng pagkakarinig.

“Let’s get a divorce, Liv,” he repeated.

Mabilis ko siyang tinulak palayo sa akin at binalot ng kumot ang sarili ko. Ramdam ko ang labis na init ng buong mukha ko na para bang sasabog na ito sa labis na gulat at kahihiyan.

I let out a sharp, disbelieving laugh and shook my head.

“Sa lahat ng pagkakataon at oras na mayroon ka, Hudson, dito mo talaga naisipang sabihin yan?” I muttered.

Hudson stood up, avoiding my eyes as he hurriedly got dressed. Nanatili lang akong nakaupo roon, pinoproseso pa ang sinabi niya. We’d only been married for a year. Everything has been fine between us lately, normal, even. So why… bakit ngayon pa?

“Naomi’s sick,” he explained, as if that would make it better. “She only has six months left to live, and she wants to die as my wife. Pagkatapos non… puwede naman tayong magpakasal ulit.”

Kinagat ko ang ibabang labi ko para pigilan ang pagkawala ng mapait na halakhak ko. Mariin kong kinapitan ang kumot na hawak ko na para bang iyon na lang ang tanging mayroon ako para hindi tuluyang mag emotional breakdown. I thought we were done with this—done with her. Naomi had been out of the picture for so long; I hadn’t heard a thing about her since the news that she’d left the country.

Ibig sabihin ba ay nakabalik na siya ulit?

“Olivia, listen—”

“And what do you expect me to do, Hudson? Paano ako?” Putol ko sa sasabihin niya.

Mabilis siyang nag iwas ng tingin, ngunit kahit saan ay hindi ko siya makitaan ng kahit konting konsensya. Mapait akong napangiti at tumango. 

“Fine. I’ll do as you say,” I said flatly before getting out of bed and heading to the bathroom.

The moment I heard the front door close, I returned to the bed and collapsed onto it, feeling completely drained. Binaon ko ang mukha ko sa unan at doon impit na humagugol.

I have loved Hudson since college. My world revolved around him for almost eight years, and when we finally got married, I gave him everything—my trust, my devotion, my heart.

Ang buong akala ko ay pag kasal na kami, magiging okay na ang lahat. Na magkakaroon na ako ng valid na karapatan para tawagin siyang akin. Na wala nang kahit na sinong makakaagaw sa kanya.

But I had almost forgotten about her—Naomi Chen, his non-biological sister. Pagkatapos niyang makita ang totoo niyang pamilya na ngayon ay nakatira sa Japan, agad siyang lumipat doon at hindi na muling nagparamdam pa.

I didn’t even know she was back. Bakit bigla siyang bumalik ngayong nagiging maayos na ang lahat sa amin ni Hudson?

Slowly, I opened the drawer of the side table and took out that folded piece of paper along with the pregnancy test. My fingers brushed over the thin sheet as my tears began to soak it.

“We’re going to be fine after this…” I whispered between quiet sobs.

Matapos kong magbihis ay lumabas ako at tumungo sa garden dala ang ultrasound photo at pregnancy test. Wala akong ideya kung nasaan si Hudson dahil hindi na siya bumalik pa mula nang umalis siya kanina.

I stared at the fire as it devoured the ultrasound and the pregnancy test, the smoke rising into the night sky. When the last ember died out, I turned away and went back upstairs.

Kinabukasan, hindi ko pa rin naabutan si Hudson. Tanging ang iniwan niya lang sa akin ay isang text message na nagsasabihing may early appointment kami sa munisipyo para mag sign ng annulment papers.

Bago ako tumungo roon ay dumaan muna ako sa ospital kung saan nakaconfine ang lolo ni Hudson na si Lolo Hugo. I wanted to say goodbye because after this, I had no plans of ever showing up again.

Nang makapasok ako ay una ko agad nakita si Lola Ylena na tahimik na binabantayan ang asawa niya.

“Lola…”

“Olivia, you’re early. Your grandpa just fell asleep,” she said warmly, giving me a gentle hug.

I forced a smile, trying to hold back the tears threatening to fall.

“Ayos lang po. Gusto ko lang siyang kamustahin. Sana hindi na niya binabanggit ang pagkakaroon ng apo sa amin ni Hudson,” biro ko at tahimik na lumapit kay Lolo Hugo. “Kasi hindi ako papayag na mabuntis ako hangga’t hindi pa siya nakakalabas dito.”

Ylena chuckled softly, and we both held his hand.

“The doctor said his condition is improving,” she said with a hopeful smile. “In two weeks, he might be well enough to continue his recovery at home.”

My heart sank. Two weeks… Paano kung malaman niya ang desisyon ng gago niyang apo?

Peke akong ngumiti at marahang hinaplos ang kamay niya.

“I’ll see you soon, Lolo.”

For almost eight years, I did everything Hudsons wanted, thinking that would be enough to make him stay, to make him love me completely.

But I was wrong all along. Hinding hindi magiging sapat iyon hangga’t nandito pa si Naomi.