The information came as a bolt of lightening which struck into her heart. From the very beginning, she was already feeling uncomfortable about Jane especially that Mr. Lopez himself, announced his own preference to have her wed to Ajie. It was aggravated by the fact that he also sent her to accompany him to Japan and let her go to the same university Ajie was enrolling in. What else could be expected when two individuals of the opposite sexes and of the same age level stay under one roof and go everywhere together? Dr. Jane was such an epitome of beauty and brilliance aside from being a sweet and a thoughtful woman. Who could be strong enough to resist her?
The pain seemed to puncture into the festering wound inside her heart and tears immediately welled up in her eyes. However, she tried to hold back her emotion while Ajie started to open up.
"How about your marriage to your wife? "
"I have waited long enough. I am willing to wait if only she is showing some signs of coming back. But she has not. I am not her enemy. She can secretly reach me out if she wants to but she did not. I think I will accept the advice of Jane's dad to file for a marriage annulment. "
"What is your ground for annulment?"
" Even if there is no existing ground to declare our marriage void, but, what I have in our situation is abandonment without justifiable cause for more than one year. "
"Abandonment? Didn't you say she has confidential reasons why she ran away? "
" A spouse is deemed to have abandoned the other when he or she has left the conjugal dwelling without any intention of returning. "
Allie was already breaking into a sob but despite her blurry eyes, she still managed to argue with him.
"Adrian, I'm hurting for your wife. I believe she had deep reasons why she did it. Just wait a little more. Don't you love her anymore? "
"I love her, Zheen but she has neglected me. I only need a word from her and that will be my reason enough to wait . "
" Is Jane your current girlfriend? Is she the reason why you can no longer wait for the return of your wife? " Allie may had asked him straightforwardly but her heart seemed to bleed profusely already.
" I still honor our marriage, Zheen.I can't be in a relationship while I am still bound to her. After the annulment, if still she doesn't show up, I may consider remarrying. "
"My question is, do you love her already? "
"As a special friend, yes. "
Just how he exactly defined a special friend? Did he mean a mutual understanding between them?
"Are you dating with her always? "
Allie was already sobbing loudly while she was typing the question.
"Yes, everyday. "
"Everyday? Then are you still proud enough to say that you can't be in a relationship with another while you are still tied to your marriage? "
It took a while for Ajie to reply. Perhaps, he was considering his answer before sending it.
"Zheena, are you angry? "
"I'm hurting for your wife Adrian. What if she wants to come back already but can't because her life is endangered? "
"Why can't she send me a message? "
How could she tell him that her reason was because she was afraid that Hayri's men would one day force him to confess? Just as how her relatives and the people in Kamelyo were tortured just to extract an information from them. Of course, if they would find out that Ajie was her husband, he would also be subject for their investigation.
"I believe she has deeper reasons behind. "
"By the way, Zheen, for your peace of mind, I will answer your question about the frequency of our date. We go to school together everyday and I sleep at her house every night."
"So you're living together? "
"Somewhat. "
Allie could no longer take the pain. She was almost tempted to reveal herself to save their marriage. But the knowledge of them sleeping together and dating often, humiliated and hurt her. Their marriage certificate would just then be a formality because in reality, they were already living together as a couple.
While she was all alone at night thinking about him, he was there making love with Jane. While she was feeling lonely and empty in her solitude, he was there enjoying the warmth of her presence. Why was life so cruel at her? Why couldn't she have freedom when what she did in exposing the secrets of Kamelyo was for the good of many? Why wouldn't she be allowed to enjoy the rights entitled to a wife? Why did she have to be separated from her family and from her child?
She sobbed her heart out until past midnight that she was not able to wake up for their daily meditation. She just lost the energy. She just lost the courage to stay brave.
___
It was already past five in the morning but Allie hadn't come out yet from her room. He turned on the knob but it was locked from the inside.He tried to knock on her door and called out her name but she didn't answer. Hayri was already worried. What could have happened to her? He knocked louder this time but still, there was no response.
Hayri hurried to grab the duplicates of their keys in the kitchen wall. His heart was already hammering loudly in fear. Bad thoughts were already playing in his mind. Was she having a worst nightware that she wasn't able to wake up? Was she having an apnea that she wasn't able to breath again?
Hayri almost stumbled in his haste when the door finally opened up . His imaginations of her were already horrifying. His eyes were so quick in scanning around the room, only to find her crouching on the floor. Her back was leaning on the bed while she curled up into a fetal position. Her eyes were bloodshot and her nose was as red as a ripe tomato.
Hayri squatted immediately and pulled her into his arms without a word. Sensing warmth and sympathy, Allie broke into tears once more.