His Wife's Cry

Chapter 18

Third Person's POV

UNTI-unting minulat ni Ayana ang kaniyang mata. Inilibot niya ang paningin sa paligid at alam niyang wala siya sa kwarto niya. Pero sigurado siya na nasa hospital bed siya base na lamang sa puting kurtina na tumatabing sa bintana at ang istraktura ng kwarto.

            Akma na sana siyang tatayo pero muli siyang napahiga nang makaramdam siya ng kakaibang sakit sa buo niyang katawan lalo na sa kaniyang ulo. When she touched her head, it has gauze. Mukhang ito ang mas napuruhan dahil sa aksidente.

            She can hear an angry voice. And she was sure it was Gavin's voice.

            "I hired all of you to secure her safety! But why the hell it happened? Why did you let her hit Ayana?!" His tone sounded light at first, but it was laced with a hint of anger or at least outrage.

            Anong ibig nitong sabihin? Nakatalikod ito sa kaniya kaya hindi siya nito kita na gising na siya.

            "Sorry, sir but—"

"Don't you even explain yourself to me! My instruction was so simple and yet, you weren't able to protect her!" Gavin closed his fist as anger was really visible on him. "You are all bullshits!"

            "Sir, she's awake." One of the men in black informed her husband.

Nang lingunin siya ng kaniyang asawa ay hindi maitatago ang pag-aalala sa mukha nito.

"Who are they?" Nakakunot ang kaniyang noo habang nakatitig ang kaniyang mga mata sa mga lalaking naka-black suit. Dahil pare-pareho ang suot ng mga ito, masasabi niyang mga bodyguards ang mga ito. Sa tansiya niya ay mahigit sampu ang mga ito.

Gavin didn't answer her, instead, he ordered those men to go out and they did. Now, they were just two inside.

"Paano mo nalamang nandito ako?" She asked again.

"The nurse informed me." Gavin's face became emotionless. It was as if he was just there because he doesn't have a choice.

"Pwede ka nang umalis. Hindi mo na kailangang sayangin ang oras mo sa'kin." She lay down again and her heart was aching.

"The person who did this to you is nowhere to be found. But I'll—"

She cuts him off. "Hindi mo na ito kailangang gawin. I know you are just doing it because you have to and not because you want to." Linakasan niya ang kaniyang loob na salubungin ang mga mata ni Gavin.  "Kaya ko naman ang sarili ko. You still have works to do—"

"How could you say that while you're laying here with so many bruises?" Gavin's eyes were dilated in anger. "How could you take care of yourself while you can't even move?"

Ayana's eyes were full of hurt and hopelessness. Her face was painted with pain and desperation. "I don't want to see you taking care of me with strain in your eyes." Pakiramdam niya ay may tumusok sa puso niya na nagdulot ng kakaibang sakit. "So I better take care of myself alone than to see you like that." She smiled, weakening. "I want genuine care, Gavin. And not just an act."

"I am giving my attention to you not because I need—"

"Ayana!"

Hindi natapos ni Gavin ang sasabihin nito ng biglang sumulpot si Asher. She can see how Gavin clenched his jaw while looking at his cousin. Mabilis na lumapit si Asher sa kaniya. Iginala nito ang paningin sa kabuuan niya para tingnan kung saan pa siya nasaktan.

"How did you know she's here?" A dangerous low voice of Gavin made her shiver.

Hindi man lang lumingon si Asher kay Gavin dahil nakapokus ang mga mata nito sa kaniya. Nakaramdam siya ng tensyon at kaba dahil sa tagpong iyon.

"I called your phone because I was about to ask you why you aren't still in the company. But the nurse said that you are here. So, I immediately went here to check you." Asher explained while still looking at her.

"And you left your work there?" Gavin seriously said.

May kakaibang tension ang namutawi sa kwartong iyon. Matalim na tingin ang naging palitan ng dalawang lalaking nasa harap niya. Kita pa niya ang pag-igting ng panga ni Gavin na para bang kaunti na lang ay sasabog na ito.

"Ayana is more important than those papers," Asher emphasized his words as if there was hidden meaning in what he said.

"I can take care of her." The coldness in Gavin's voice was visible.

"Who did this to her?" Asher titled his head.

"There's no trace—"

"See? You can't even find who did this to her then you're saying you can take care of her?" Asher mockingly laughed. "You have connections, Gavin. It's impossible that you can't find whoever did this to your wife." Asher stated a fact. Kung tutuusin ay tama si Asher. Maraming pera si Gavin para magpa-imbestiga. Bukod doon ay CEO pa ito ng kompanya kaya marami itong koneksyon. Walang kahirap-hirap nitong malalaman ang totoo kung gugustuhin nito. "Unless... you really know who it is."

"What the fuck are you saying?!" An unrecognizable expression crossed Gavin's face.

A million knives were stabbing her heart slowly and the pain was roaming inside her Kung pinagtatakpan man ni Gavin ang taong may gawa nito sa kaniya ay hindi niya kakayanin ang matinding sakit na maidudulot ng katotohanang iyon.

"What? I'm just stating a fact." Asher snickered. "And why there are so many men in black outside?"

"It's none of your business." Gavin is madly furious now as he glaring at Asher.

Lumanlam ang mga mata ni Ayana nang tumingin siya sa kaniyang asawa. She was hurt but she still can't be mad at her husband. She was too insane to love him madly.

"Why are you here?" Asher asked as if Gavin is just a stranger.

"I am her husband," Gavin answered grimly.

Asher mockingly laughed. "Are you?" He sarcastically said.

Hinawakan niya ang isang kamay ni Asher para patigilin na ito sa pagsasalita. "Asher... please."

Kita niya ang matalim na titig ni Gavin sa kamay niyang nakahawak sa kamay ni Asher. He titled his head. Walked fast and grabbed her hand. He even pushed Asher away from her. She was flabbergasted because of his strange acts.

"I am, so back off."

Asher smirked. "Then act like one." He looked at her. "I'll be back, Ayana." He said before he went out.

Gavin turned at her and their gaze met but she immediately looked away. She doesn't want to see Gavin's grim eyes.

"Look at me." He demanded but she still looked in a different direction. "I said look at me."

Wala na siyang pagpipilian pa kundi salubungin ang matalim nitong tingin. "What now?" She bravely uttered even though her heart was thumping so fast right now.

"Stay away from him." His voice was gut-clenching serious.

"Why would I?" Fear was rioting through her heart.

"Just do what I say!" He drew in a breath.

Kahit nakaramdam siya ng sakit ay pinilit niyang umupo sa kaniyang kama ng sa ganoon ay mas lalo niyang makita ang mukha ni Gavin. "He's your cousin. There's nothing wrong—"

"Do you think I don't know that you slept in his condo?" He asked, more than a hint of sarcasm coloring his voice.

Bakas ang pagkagulat sa kaniyang mukha. Sigurado siyang hindi niya sinabi ang tungkol doon kay Gavin. "How... did you know?"

He titled his head once again, a slight smirk curled his lips but his grim eyes never changed. "I have my ways, Ayana. You better careful with your acts."

Her heart began to pound and very specific parts of her body cheered in anticipation. "Why are you doing this?"

Gavin already turned his back on her, ready to go. "Because I am your husband." Then he finally went out.

Naiwan siyang mag-isa roon na punong-puno ng katanungan ang kaniyang isip.

*****

Minnie Hwang