Dahlia's Lover

PROLOGUE

NOTE: There are some typos/grammatical errors in this chapter. I hope for your understanding. Thank you and happy reading. : ))

The fresh red marks etched on my chest hurt more and brought pain. I swallowed as I clench my fist. Nanginginig na mga kamay ko na pinahiran ng white cream ang bawat bahagi. I'm currently at the bathroom. Staring at my body that is full of bruises and wounds. Mula sa aking leeg, collarbone... at dibdib. Malinaw pa rin sa vision ko ang mga nakaraang sugat na aking natamo. Kasama iyon sa pinapagaling ko na sugat but to think na nadagdagan na naman ang mga kailangan ko'ng gamutin, it feels like i don't need to heal them anymore. Because the more I get these marks, the more I get hurt.

It's no need anyway. Kahit pa ubusin ko ang cream na ito at ipahid sa aking buong katawan, I still feel numb, and suffocated.

Napatingin ako sa gawing pintuan nang tumunog ang bell. I guess he's here. I take a look at my face one last time at ni-butones ang white robe ko. I stood up and closed the door. Pagkarating ko sa kuwarto ay naabutan ko na kaagad ang aking asawa na nagbibihis. His hair is disheveled and his face looks like a red tomato. I won't be surprised if he drinks alcohol again.

Even though we are far apart, I can already smell the pungent smell of the alcohol he always sips. I controlled myself to ignore it at lumapit. Isinampay ko sa balikat ang coat niya.

I looked at his drunken face. "I cooked food. Have some on the table."

He just grinned at me and walked towards the bed.

"I don't eat garbage, Dahlia. You know that. Mas gugustuhin ko pa'ng uminom ng alak araw-araw kaysa magtiis sa pagkain mong walang lasa." Arthur snorted at sumampa sa kama.

I blinked. Sinulyapan ko siya sa maliit na salamin, he was already lying down without removing his glasses.

I faced him and stared at him from head to toe. And then a single thought came into my mind, 

"Why did we end up like this?"

It was a happy marriage. A one-of-a-kind. I was having the best day of my life when suddenly, those sweet kisses, receiving gifts, romantic dates—fades. Instantly. I spend that four years of my life just doing being the better woman, wife and... a... parent.

And that four years, hindi ko alam na magpapatuloy iyon at magiging buhay ko sa araw-araw. I lost the two persons that I most cherished into my life. My husband. And my child. My prince. My boy. My everything.

Hindi ko aakalain na ang pagtatanggal ng sapatos ni Arthur ay kaiiyakan ko pa.

I was expecting an 'i love you', but I received a goodbye instead. How ironic is that?

I just wished that all that I've been seeing, hearing, doing... has come to an end.

Morning came and we are here at the dining table.

"I have to say something..." Napatigil ako habang nakatingin sa kanya na kumakain. "I found a job sa isang university, and I'm thinking na, n-na magtrabaho doon bilang teacher."

Walang nagbago sa ekspresyon niya. He's still eating like he didn't hear anything sa mga sinabi ko. He didn't even flinch. Ang malakas na pagnguya niya lamang ng pagkain ay ang tanging naririnig ko.

My grip on the fork tightened.

"I w-want at least to know... i-if you are... going to l-let me." mahinang bulong ko at yumuko.

Arthur put down the cutlery and pulled the table napkin. He wiped his mouth and leaned heavily on the chair. Umakyat ang tingin ko sa mga pagkain na inihanda ko. Naubos niya iyon lahat. Hindi man lang siya nag-atubili na tirhan ako ng kaunti. But it's all right anyway. I'll just have to buy food and eat it alone.

I was surprised by his sudden sigh. I can't look straight at him but i manage to. I don't want him to think about anything else.

He stare at me. It feels like that stare is piercing me right into my soul. Ang mga kamay ko na nakapatong sa ibabaw ng aking binti ay nanginginig. I want to say something about dahil hindi pa siya nagsasalita ngunit naisip ko na tila mas maganda kung hihintayin ko siya.

He stood up without uttering a word. Hindi siya umalis ngunit may kinuha siya sa bulsa ng coat niya. A cigarette.

"Aren't you having a second thoughts?" kumuha siya ng isang piraso at sinindihan iyon sa lighter.

"Working as a teacher are probably the most boring thing to do. Because as far as I know... being teacher is not a job. Siguro ay calling mo lang iyan."

Calling? "But—"

Hindi niya ako pinatapos ng salita. "Is it private? What's the name?" bumuga siya ng usok sa ere.

Pinagdaop ko ang labi. "I-It's public. GD University."

Napatitig siya sa akin. Nakaipit sa dalawang daliri niya ang sigarilyo habang umuusok ang kanyang bibig. That stare is different. Halatang nagulat siya. His sharp eyes became more dangerous and mad.

He blinked and sighed.

"Do it then. Show me what you've got."