KELLY“MY father had an affair with his secretary. I was too young to remember her face but that name, I heard that one too many times at home kapag nagtatalo ang mga magulang ko. My nanny would often take me to the playroom or in the living room to watch TV. Basta malayo palagi sa kinaroroonan ng mga magulang ko. I had Donna investigated. It’s weird how she had two children pero si Chris lang ang kasama niya. They live in Nevada. Isang simpleng bungalow ang tirahan nila at may trabaho sa opisina si Donna. She’s still working in the same company since she moved there. Chris graduated from UCLA. Anyway, the file wasn’t accessible at kahit ano’ng gawing ng private investigator ko ay hindi niya makuha ang information tungkol sa isang anak ni Donna. I think it’s irrelevant so I didn’t push for it.”“Si Chris ba ang ama ng ipinagbubuntis ni Vina?”Tumango si Bran. “I saw them on the CCTV. Vina was drunk at hindi ako magtataka kung napagkamalan niyang ako ang lalaking kasama niya. She plann

KELLYIT was just around nine in the morning when we landed at the Philadelphia International Airport. The officer at the immigration barely smiled when she was talking to me. But I had nothing to be afraid of, legal naman ang pagpunta ko rito at talagang mag-asawa kami ni Bran. Hindi kami nagpakasal lang dahil sa visa para makapunta rito. We only had one piece of luggage each plus the carryons kaya kailangan namin ng cart. Hindi naman kami naghintay nang matagal sa carousel dahil nasa unahan ang mga bagahe namin. Tinungo namin ang parking lot at kaagad akong nilamig paglabas ng double doors. Bran made sure that I’m wearing a winter coat, mittens, and a toque. Pero kahit balot na balot ako, kulang na lang ay magyelo ang mga mata ko. “Are you okay?” tanong niya sa akin habang naglalakad kami papunta sa labas. Hinapit niya ako papunta sa bisig niya. “My poor baby’s cold.” He kissed my forehead and rubbed my arm. Sa wakas ay nakarating kami sa kotse niya. Brandon was comfortable leavi

KELLYI DIDN’T have the chance to talk after she answered my question. When Bran came back to the dining room, siyang tayo ni Mommy at pinuntahan si Ate para magpaalam. She took her purse at walang lingon-likod na tinungo ang pinto. I saw her car drove away from the window. Nag-aya nang umuwi si Bran para makapagpahinga na ako. Ate wanted us to stay a little bit longer lalo na at naunang nagpaalam si Mommy pero sinabi ng asawa ko na dadalaw na lang kami uli.Nag-shower ako nang makauwi kami sa bahay at nagpalit ng damit. Suot ko ang T-shirt ni Bran nang sumampa ako sa kama. Automatic ang pagyakap niya sa akin. I noticed he hasn’t changed his clothes. “Hindi ka pa ba magpapalit ng damit?”“I will, in a second.”Narinig ko ang pagbuntonghininga niya. Tahimik lang siyang nakayakap sa akin. Bilang asawa niya, ramdam ko ang bigat na nararamdaman niya ngayong oras na ito. It’s not easy to be around people who doesn’t like being around you. Patunay ako roon kung gaano ka-awkward ang pakira

KELLY“WHAT are you doing here?”He is Brandon’s ex. At alam kong noong unang makita ko siya sa ospital ay naroon siya dahil tumulong siya sa airlift assistance ni Ate. This time though, she is not needed here.Saglit na gumuhit sa mga mata niya ang pagkagulat at umawang ang mga labi niya. I bet she wasn’t expecting my tone. Iyong tanong ko, normal ’yon. Pero iyong tono ko, that’s me marking my territory. My hunch was right when the thought crossed that she’s still pining over my husband. They were over a long time ago. And she’s pregnant for fuck’s sake. Kapatid pa ni Brandon ang ama ng bata. It’s ridiculous!“I heard about the accident on the news and I—”“He is in the intensive care right now. Visitor’s hours are over. You can leave now,” malamig kong tugon sa kaniya. If she was just a plain friend, bakit ako magagalit na dumalaw siya? May hidden agenda siya at iyon ang hindi ko gusto. I am no saint at hindi ko ugali ang makipag-away lalo na kung tungkol sa lalaki rin lang. But Br

KELLYTHE woman just looked at me and left immediately. There were tears in her eyes at kahit hindi ko alam kung ano ang una kong mararamdaman sa kaniya, pinili kong huwag makaramdam ng galit. Labas ako sa nangyari noon.Huminga ako nang malalim at inayos ang expression ng aking mukha. Nang pumasok ako ng silid ay mabilis na pinahid ni Mommy ang luha niya. “Bakit ang tagal mo?!” May angil ang pagtatanong niya. She’s trying to cover up her anger . . . and sadness. I smiled at my mother-in-law. “May pila po kasi sa cafeteria.”Mommy made a face but didn’t comment.“Hindi ko po pala naitanong kung ano’ng gusto n’yong tea. Binili ko na po ’yong tatlong available. Green tea, chamomile, at—”“Green tea na lang. Iyong chamomile, sa ’yo na para makatulog ka.” It’s funny how she’s giving me a cold treatment, and a few seconds later, she would give me words that let me know she cares. And it made of think of how she was before all this mess. Mas mapagmahal ba siya o sadyang ganito na ang uga