All I ask

AIA. 02 -I won't say a word, they all been said before

Confrontation

Kairos Gregor Rouvin Vejar's

Catherine let me in but she let Ody in too. I was watching Ody and the kid. It seems that they have known each other for a very long time. The kid was playful with Ody. He calls him Mr. Ody. They were laughing. Ody seemed to know his way around Cachi's home.

I saw Catherine approaching. She told me to stay in the veranda and now she's walking towards me. She looked tired. Para bang kulang na kulang siya sa tulog. And I wondered why. She finally faced me.

"What's this?" I asked her.

"Kairos this---"

"What is Ody doing here huh?"

Napaawang ang mga labi niya.

"Why do you care so much? What is it with you if Ody is here? He's a—"

"What is he doing here?" I was hissing by that time. She emitted a long breath.

"He's just here visiting the kids." Sabi niya. Lalong nag-init ang ulo ko. I looked away from her and the I exasperatedly sighed. And then I faced her again.

"You never tell me anything! He fathered your child and yet you didn't tell me! When are you going to tell me things?!" I exclaimed. Isinara niya ang glass door dahil napansin niyang nakatingin iyong blonde sa amin.

"Ano bang issue mo?!" She hissed back. Ipinakita niya iyong marriage certificate naming dalawa. "Kung ito ang issue mo, you better fucking get back to the Philippines and have this destroyed. Iyon lang naman ang ipinunta mo dito, diba? Why are you making a big fuss about Ody? In the first place, you should've come. Hindi mo dapat ako pinahanap. I am okay here. I am happy. I have my own life and I don't need you."

"Do you think it's that easy?" I hissed back. "We got married and yet I didn't know about it! Paano hindi kita hahanapin. You definitely know something about this!"

"I do. I know that I am the legal wife. And it bleeds my heart to know that pero dumistansya na nga ako. Hinayaan ko na lang kayo ni Mariake because it's what you want!"

"How do you know what I want?! You never talked to me! You always decide by yourself! How the hell did we get married?!" Ulit ko. Alam kog nagpipigil ng galit si Catherine. Alam kong naiinis na siya pero hindi ako aalis rito hangga't hindi niya sinasabi sa akin kung anong totoo. I deserve to know the truth.

Natigilan kami nang kumatok iyong amerikana.

"Hey, Miss Catherine. I need to go. I have night classes." She smiled at us. Cachi pulled out some dollar bills.

"Thank you, Sofie. I will call you again if I need your services. Maybe this time next week. I'll let you know."

"Sure thing, Miss Catherine. I'll go now. Bye!"

"Bye." Muli niya sinarado ang pinto. She faced me.

"Tell me!" I demanded.

"It was a mistake. Mayor Ronald Austria organized a kasalang bayan and invited you back then. You asked me to come with you and you were very playful that day, biniro mo pa si Mayor na ikasal tayo. Of course, tumanggi ako but you were persistent, sabi mo biruan lang naman iyon, we signed the papers. I told you that it's not funny but you were so happy. In the end, Mayor Austria's secretary filed it. I didn't know it was filed. Nalaman ko lang a year after noong may inaayos akong papeles..."

Kunot na kunot ang noo ko.

"Why don't I remember it?"

"I don't know Kairos. Nawalan ka nang malay noon. You were rushed to the hospital. I was worried tapos sabi ng doctor, you were so drunk and when you woke up, wala kang recollection doon sa nangyari. Ayon sa test results sa'yo, two days kang under the influence of alcohol. Straight, Kairos..."

Now I remember. It was that time when I had an argument with my father. I was so disappointed with myself that I drink a lot for two days.

"I didn't know you were drunk. You were so normal then, Kairos – except for you being so playful. Nakakatawa nga. Before I found out that I am married to you, Lisha and I watched this movie – about two young adults who got married while very drunk. Same situation, but they both didn't know. I know but I kept my silence. I kept my distance because I know that you never thought of me as good enough for you or your company's reputation."

"Still you could've told me! Kung sinabi mo sa akin wala sana tayo dito ngayon!" I was shaking my head. "This is a big mess, Cathy! I just hope walang makaalam nito kundi napakalaking kasiraan nito sa pamilya ko lalo na sa kompanyang inaalagaan ko! I am so fucking disappointed. Ano bang pumasok sa isipan mo at hindi mo sinabi? Ang daling sabihin na kasal tayo – mas madali iyon kaya iyong ganito Do you realize how much damage it will do dahil lang sa tingin mo ay iyon ang tama!" Napapailing ako habang nakikipag-usap sa kanya.

"Leave..."

Natigilan ako at napatingin sa kanya.

"What?"

"I don't care what you want to do with our marriage. Destroy it, whatever you want to do, just leave me alone."

"Hindi pa tayo tapos mag-usap." Sabi ko pa.

"Ayokong makausap ka. There are so many things in my life right now that is bigger than this, Kairos. You have money, you have power, you can do whatever you want just don't – don't come near me again... Leave!" Sumigaw na siya. I looked at her and my heart clenched. I didn't want to leave but it's what she wants. I took a deep breath and turned away. Bago ako umalis ay nakita kong karga ni Ody iyong anak nila ni Catherine.

He smiled at me.

"Bye, Kairos! Ingat ka!"

Hindi ko siya pinansin. I hate him and I hate the kid.

Nilingon kong muli si Catherine. She was wiping her cheeks. Umiyak siguro siya but it's her fault. Kung sinabi naman niya sa akin ito noon sana swalang problema ngayon. Magagawan ng paraan.

I went back to my hotel and sat on the bed staring at the marriage certificate that she gave back to me. I took my phone and called Mr. Benitez again. After three rings he answered me.

"Sir, what is it that I can do for you. Is it about your first marriage?" Magalang namang tanong niya.

"Yes..."

"Do you want it gone?"

Of course, I want it gone. By that, magiging normal ang lahat at hindi ko kailangang isipin kung anong damage nito sa akin at sa kompanya kasama na rin ang pamilya ko. Iakae will still be my wife, my daughters will still have a whole family. It's as if nothing happened.

"Sir... just say the word..." I heard him.

"I... I..." I sighed again. "I'm going to call you again, Mr. Benitez." I ended the call. Napapikit ako habang nakatingin sa kawalan.

I can't. I can't... I just can't.