DARK CHOCOLATE SERIES 6: TRIPLE TREAT, LOVE REASSURED

Chapter 9

Chapter 9

Tuwang-tuwa si Alexandra nang bisitahin siya ni Q sa bahay. May pasalubong pa ito kahit sa mga anak niya. Bigla daw itong na-excite nang makita ang unang grades nito. Gusto daw nitong ipagyabang sa kanya na kahit na wala na itong masipag na study group partner ay ang tataas ng marka nito.

Hindi rin naman ito nagtagal at nagpaalam na rin. Tuwang-tuwa maging ang mga anak niya rito. Karga pa nito ang bunso niya nang ihatid niya ito sa sasakyan. It was when Pablo's car arrived.

Agad siyang kinabahan. Mabuti na lamang at papasakay na ring talaga noon si Q sa kotse nito. He waved goodbye at them.

Nang tingnan niya si Pablo ay wala sa mukha nito ang inaasahan niyang galit. What was written on his face was melancholy. Bahagya lamang itong tumango sa kanya at pumasok na sa kabahayan. Agad namang nakasunod dito ang mga anak nila.

Pinakiramdaman niya ito hanggang sa makapaghapunan sila. Tahimik lamang ito doon. When the kids were in their rooms, he finally looked at her for a long time. And then he said:

"I'm giving you that annulment you want."

She was taken aback. Hindi niya inaasahang iyon ang sasabihin nito. But she should have known. Ang sabi nito kagabi ay mananatili na sa Hong Kong nang tuluyan si Judie. She could only guess that he did not want that to happen so here he was, telling her he was willing to let her go now.

Saang konklusyon pa ba siya maaaring mauwi? Hindi naman mahirap pagdugtungin ang lahat.

"Thank you then," she said. "What a-about the kids?"

"We can share custody. I saw Paolo and Helen yesterday and I don't want that happening to us. I'm sorry for asking you to stop going to school." Tipid itong ngumiti. "Mahaba pa naman ang panahon. I wish you only good things, Alex."

"L-likewise."

"I thought about it. Siguro, maganda kung uunti-untiin muna natin ang pagsasabi sa mga bata. For now, I guess I better stay in my old apartment. I will drop by every time I could."

"O-okay."

"I'll leave in the morning."

"O-okay."

He nodded and went upstairs. Pakiramdam niya naman ay tila kumapal ang hangin at hirap na hirap siyang huminga. She felt her heart breaking once again.

"PAOLO told me the most absurd news! I know it's not true, Pablo. Tell me it's not true."

Napabuntong-hininga siya sa sinabi ng ina. Paano niya gagawin ang gusto nito? Totoo ang sinabi rito ng kakambal niya. Alam niyang masakit para iyon dito dahil halos nagkasabay pa silang magkakambal na nakipaghiwalay sa asawa.

"Well?"

"It's true, Mom."

Natutop nito ang dibdib. "This can't be happening to the Quirinos. No. How could you let her go? Parehas kayo ng kapatid mo! Matitino ang mga asawa ninyong nakuha, hindi ninyo inalagaan! I expected more from you!"

"You've always not liked her, Mom."

"Of course, I like her! What I didn't like was you not needing me anymore. Am I the reason why you decided to get an annulment?"

"No. Of course not." Napabuntong-hininga siya. He made the decision when he saw Quentin the other night. Noon nabuo ang desisyon niya, pero nagsimula niyang pag-isipang mabuti iyon nang sabihin ni Alexandra sa kanyang wala na itong pagtingin sa kanya.

"Minahal ka ng asawa mo," was what she said. It was very painful for him to hear her say that. Ang kompirmasyon niyon ay nang hindi man lamang ito humingi ng paliwanag nang makita siya sa loob ng sasakyan ni Judie. Kung noon iyon nangyari, noong marahil ay mahal pa siya nito, malamang na hindi na naubos ang mga katanungan nito. That time she told him not to bother explaining. As if she didn't care. For maybe she truly didn't anymore.