Life With You

22 - Truth and Lie

Althea

"I'll be back this evening, Mahal." paalam ko kay Jade bago ako lumabas ng kwarto namin.
"You're not telling me what's with the urgent meeting?" balik niya. Ilang beses niya akong tinatanong pero hindi ko masabi. Parang bigla akong natakot at nag aalala sa maaring niyang isipin. "You keep on telling me you don't know but that's not what I see in you, Althea." Natahimik lang ako.

"I still need to confirm it, Mahal. I'm sorry I can't tell yet. Remember Jade mahal na mahal kita and I'm willing to give up everything I have as long as you and the kids are with me." haplos ko sa magkabilang pisngi niya.

"You're making me nervous, Althea. What's going on?" may pagaalala sa kanyang mga mata.

"I'll tell you everything when I get back. I promise." sabi ko na at hinalikan siya. She didn't say a word after the kiss. "I'll be going now." paalam ko at tumango lang siya. She's just watching me walking out of the house. After kong nagpaalam kanina sa mga bata na naglalaro sa likod ay kinausap ko saglit si Lolo Pablo. Malakas ang loob ko sa gagawin ko ngayon dahil sa suporta ni Lolo.

"Gawin mo kung ano sa tingin mo ang makakabuti sa kumpanya, Apo. It's your company now. I'd rather have few good people around you than have wolves roaming around your company waiting for the perfect time to devour you." sagot ni Lolo.

Bago pa ako tuluyang pumunta ng meeting ay dumaan muna ako sa bahay nila Alyssa. Nagipon muna ako ng hangin sa dibdib bago ako naglakas loob na pindutin ang door bell. Alam ko wala na don si Aly dahil kakatawag ko lang sa kanya at on the way na siya sa meeting. Bakit kung kailan magpopropose na siya saka pa nangyari ito. Nagbalik sa kasalukuyan ang isip ko ng magbukas ang pinto.

"Hi, Den." ngiti kong bati.

"Hi Thea." may pait sa kanyang ngiti. "W-wala si Aly dito."

"I know..." tipid kong sagot. Sinusukat ko ang tingin at ang galaw niya. I know there is someting unusual. "Uhm...actually ikaw ang sadya ko."

"You want to come in?" matamlay niyang alok.

"No, Den. This will only take a few minutes." Saglit na katahimikan, hindi ko alam kung paano uumpisahan.

"I felt Aly's uneasiness before she left and honestly I felt the same when I saw you, Thea. You don't just come here without notice. What's wrong?" kita ang lungkot sa mga mata niya.

"I just want to tell you how Alyssa loves you so much, Den."

"Why are you telling me this?"

"Just trust her, will you?"

"What happened, Thea? Tell me. Please. Don't just tell me all these things without reason of what brings you here." nanginginig na niyang sabi. I bowed down my head and I felt I'm about to cry, too.

"She's afraid to lose you, Den. As much as I'm afraid to lose my wife, her trust and her love...." pigil iyak kong sabi. "Someone is playing dirty on us and it's all because of selfish motives. But I will get who's behind this Denise. Just please trust me and Alyssa."

"Can I still trust her, Thea?" namumuo na ang luha sa kanyang mga mata. "Will she ever change?"

"She did change, Denise. When you came to her life, slowly she changed." I honestly said pero hindi siya umimik bagkus mabilis na pinunasan ang luhang pumatak. "Den..."

"I trust you, Thea...but I'm hurting until know kung may nababalitaan ako tungkol kay Aly and her other women....a-and if she's still pushing herself to you..."

"No! No Den...She loves you so much to ever cheat on you. She's dead serious in your relationship..."

"How can you be so sure, Thea?"