Lahat ata kami sa room na ito ay nappressure na para sa board exam. It's two weeks from now. Kailangan kong mag double time para siguradong makakapasa ako.
"If you'll study hard then the exam would be easy. If you don't, that would be really hard." Gab casually told us.
Sa pagkakaalam ko ay siya ang top notcher sa batch nila. I won't doubt that. He's really smart.
Kahit naman hindi ako makapasok sa top basta makapasa ay masaya na ako. Passing the board would open a lot of opportunities for me and for my son. That's the goal.
Pumunta muna ako sa office ni Sir para ibigay ang attendance sheet namin. May mga na-late rin kasing dumating.
I knocked on his door before opening it. Tahimik akong naglakad palapit sa mesa niya.
"Attendance sheet po, Sir." I said and placed it on the top of his table.
"Thank you, Donna." My heart jumped a little but I've decided to ignore it.
"Okay, Sir." Saad ko bago nagsimulang maglakad palabas sa kanyang opisina.
"Donna-"
"Mommy!"
Halos mapako ako sa aking kinakatayuan ng marinig ang pamilyar na boses na iyon.
Napalinga-linga ako sa paligid. Walang lamp posts sa building na to. Hindi ko makita kung saan galing ang boses na iyon.
Napakunot ako ng noo nang makita ang pamilyar na anino ni Andy habang karga ang aking anak.
Kailan pa to umuwi? Tsk! Kahit kailan talaga pahamak eh!
"You want a ride home, Donna?" Muli lang akong natauhan ng marinig ang tinig ni Gab.
"I have my driver, Sir." Kinakabahan ako dahil baka narinig niya rin iyon. Oh shut up! Of course heard it!
Ngunit alam ko na tulad ko ay wala rin itong nakita. Sasapakin ko talaga ang Andy na iyon!
"Just Gab." I fisted my hands and calmed myself.
"No thanks, Sir. I can manage. And I won't call you on your first name. We need to be formal here po." I said while looking straight into his eyes.
"You can call me Gab after you pass your-"
Inis ko itong pinigilan sa sasabihin niya. God! What is he up to again?
"I won't definitely see you right after passing the exam." I know I sounded bitter but I need to be stronger this time.
"Donna-" Kitang-kita ko kung paano siya nahihirapan sa sasabihin niya.
"Look, whatever you have in your mind, please stop. You're married! Plus, we're already done! I don't want to have any connection with you again." I don't want to feel the same pain again.
"I'm...not...married." Hinihingal niyang saad sa akin.
Hindi ko alam kung bigla ba akong nabuhayan dahil sa sinabi niya. He's not married...or not yet.
"I don't care." I coldly said and turned my back on him.
Naramdaman kong nakasunod pa rin siya sa akin. Sana lang ay nasa loob ng sasakyan sina Andy.
Hindi ko pa alam ang gagawin ko kung makikita ni Gab ang anak niya na tinakasan niya for five fucking years.
Ang tanging nasa labas na lang ay si Andy. Nakasandal ito sa kanyang Mazda habang tinitingnan akong maglakad palapit sa kanya.
I saw how his eyes looked on the man behind me. He pursed his lips and walked near me.
"Donna-"
"Babe!"
Napatigil ako ng sabay na marinig iyon. Oh please! Ano na naman ba ang kalokohang naiisip ng mokong na 'to?
Saglit kong nilingon si Gab na mukhang naguguluhan sa nakikita niya. Andy walked near me and kissed me on my cheeks.
"Sugid ng tatay ah. Nanliligaw na ba ulit?" He whispered on my ear. Pasimple ko itong kinurot sa kanyang tagiliran.
"I missed you too, babe! Surprise! Sabay na tayong pupunta ng Manila for your exam." Halat ang excitement sa boses niya.
Ang galing din talaga mag-acting nito! Pwede nang mag-artista! Masyadong mapagpanggap.
Magsasalita pa sana ako ng mahagip ng mga mata ko ang imahe ng isang pamilyar na babae. Wow! May pahatid-hatid pang nalalaman sa akin pero may susundo naman pala sa kanya!
"Gab!" She said. Napayuko na lang ako. Alam kong naramdaman ni Andy na may mali.
Hinawakan ako ni Andy sa may siko. Gusto ko ng umuwi. Ayoko na rito. Ngunit hindi ata iyon ang gustong mangyari ng tadhana.
I saw how the woman's eyes fixed on me. She then turned her glare to Gab who's eyes are so dark. They're unreadable.
"I think I know you!" Napapikit ako ng marinig ang galit niyang boses.
"Where's Simon?" Bulong ko kay Andy.
Agad itong nataranta. "He's sleeping. Naka-hazard lang ang sasakyan."
"You're that desperate bitch in the bar! What are you doing here?" Puno ng pag-aakusa ang mga tingin niya sa akin.
She then turned to Gab. "Is she the reason why you can't fucking marry me?"
My jaw dropped upon hearing it. So they really are meant to get married! Bakit? Takot na naman ba si Gab? Kung dapat silang ikasal...ano ang nangyari sa amin noon?
Gab wasn't able to say anything. The woman then turned to me. Andy tried to hide me from his back but I stop him.
"I'm Georgina Tuazon. Gab's fiancee. We got engaged since we're on our fourth year in college. Gab said he wants to search for his self kaya siya napadpad dito. Technically, whatever you two had before means nothing because we were born to tie our knots." Maarte niyang paliwanag sa akin.
"George, stop." Gab groaned in frustration.
Masama ko itong tiningnan. "Right. I already sent my congratulations five years ago. What happened? Na-drawing ba?" I mocked her.
Mas lalong binalot ng pagkainis ang mukha ng fiancee ni Gab. I turned to Gab with disgust evident on my face.
"Just marry her. Stop bugging me and get yourself a life, Gab." I angrily told him. Ayoko na ng gulo. I deserve peace.
"Why are you so scared of my presence pala? You shouldn't be scared of him...you two are going to marry each other naman na diba?" I casually said that made her even mad.
My jaw clenched ng maramdaman ang mahapding pagtama ng palad niya sa pisngi ko. This bitch!
"Could you please stop? Let's go home, Donna." Andy said while gritting his teeth.
"Gab! Marry me now! Kaya ba hindi mo ako magawang pakasalan dahil sa babaeng ito ha?" She screamed so loud that I got scared. Baka magising si Simon dahil sa nakakainis na sigaw ng babaeng ito.
I crossed my arms. This is not the time to look weak. Hindi na ako kagaya noon.
"Baka takot lang si Gab. I can't believe it! He's still coward pala." His jaw intensely move.
"No, Donna. Hindi na ako takot ngayon kaya ako nandito sa harapan mo-"
"Shut up!" Georgina shouted.
"You shut up, George! We both know that it's just a fucking fixed marriage!" I covered my ears. Ayokong malaman ang totoo galing kay Gab.
"No! You both shut up! I am done with you! I am done with all the pain you had given to me! I am done with your cowardness, you jerk! I am fucking done loving you!" Hinihingal ako matapos sabihin iyon.
Pilit akong pinapakalma ni Andy. The tears in my eyes are shamelessly falling. They aren't sad tears...they are my mad tears...hidden for five years.
"Mommy, why are you crying?" I froze.
We all froze.