ANOTHER DAY ROTTING IN VAIN

Chapter 017 - Different Beliefs

THEY STARED at each other for a long time— not in a romantic way, though. Dahil siya ay nanatiling nakataas ang kilay habang ito naman ay naka-kunot ang noo sa pagtataka. Ilang sandali pa'y una itong nagbawi ng tingin at huminga ng malalim. Tumayo ito at hinubad ang suit bago muling nagsalita.

"How was Maureen's party?"

She gritted her teeth in annoyance. "You should have come so you won't be asking me about it."

Van shook his head and started to loosen his tie. "Why are you being bitchy, Demani?"

She gasped exaggeratedly. "I didn't expect you to ask me that, honey?"

"You know what? Spill it. Just tell me what's making you angry when in fact, I should be the one to feel that way. Ang paalam mo ay sa party ka ni Maureen pupunta. I called Mom and she says you left this afternoon to come home early. Now what? Limang oras kang na-traffic? My office is in the city, too, Demani. And it normally takes me one and a half hours to reach home. So, don't tell me you were caught up in the traffic."

Ikinuyom niya ang mga palad sa inis. "I have been calling you the whole day, sending you messages, and waiting for your response until five in the afternoon!"

"Then, what? Ano'ng ginawa mo nang wala kang matanggap na reply mula sa akin? Nagliwaliw sa kung saan?" Inis na inihagis ni Van ang tie sa ibabaw ng mesa at sa nagpipigil na tinig ay, "Alam mo'ng magiging abala ako buong araw, Demani. I was only able to read your messages when my three big meetings were finished and when I was about to leave the office. Hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit ka umasang darating ako sa party gayong alam mo at sinabi ko na sa'yo kaninang umaga pa lang na hindi posible? I tried calling you but your line was out of reach. I tried calling mom and that's when she told me you left early. I waited and continued to call your phone until I fell asleep, tapos gigisingin mo ako sa pagwawala mo?"

"Pagod na ako sa parati mong pagiging abala, Van! Hindi mo ba napapansing hindi na balanse ang oras mo sa trabaho at personal na buhay? You have a wife, too. We have a family to—"

"To please? You want me to please your family by coming to every party and every Sunday get-together. You want me to waste my time talking with your uncles about sports, gambling, and listen to Sam's cheating? Listen to the oldies' comparison? I was always in the hot seat, Demani, and I didn't like it! But I've put up with it because I love you and they are your family! Sa nakalipas na mga linggo ay tiniis ko iyon at sumabay ako sa agos kahit ang bigat sa loob kong mag-sayang ng oras sa paligid ng mga taong hindi ako komportableng pakisamahan. I hate it when I am obliged to do something that I don't enjoy doing!"

Natigilan siya sa mga narinig. Natigilan siya dahil nasasaktan siya sa mga sinabi nito. She didn't expect him to say such words about her family— about the family's tradition and about Sam's cheating. Hindi siya makapaniwalang alam na iyon ng asawa subalit hindi sinasabi sa kaniya.

"Kailan mo pa nalaman ang tungkol sa pambababae ni Sam?" tanong niya sa kontroladong tinig.

Itinaas ni Van ang mga kamay sa ere sa bagot na paraan. "Many weeks ago. He told me about it like a casual thing."

"And you didn't tell me?"

"Para ano, Demani? Para pakealaman sila sa buhay nila? You are involving yourself too much in their lives even if you didn't even need to! You have been stressing about the family's problems even if you shouldn't even have to! You are acting like you carry the entire family's problems on your shoulders! Hindi mo responsibilidad ang lahat, Demani." Napa-iling ito at humugot ng malalim na paghinga. At nang muling magsalita ay mahinahon nang muli ang tinig. "At nang dahil diyan sa ginagawa mo ay sarili mong kalusugan ang napapahamak. The doctor said you need to relax your mind and stay away from things that are causing you stress. Are you even taking the meds he gave you? I can't see any change in you—"