What Ties Us

Chapter 3

Irene

"Is there anything you want to say?"
tanong ko sa kanya.

He is infront of me, a bit relaxed in his seat while I am fighting the nervousness I feel in my body.

"What do you want me to say? Ikaw ang nagpapunta sa'kin dito, remember?" he raised his brows. 

"Ahm.." pinaghandaan mo to Irene. Kaya mo to.

"So you really want a divorce?" diniretso niya na ko.

No! To be honest I don't want this. But I'm doing this for you because I don't want to be selfish, staying in a one-sided relationship.

"Hindi ba ito rin ang pupuntahan natin?" tanong ko sa kanya.

"Do you really want this Irene?" tanong niya ulit. I saw his veins popping up.

Kung sasabihin ko bang hindi, babalik tayo sa dati?

"Okay fine. If that's what you really want" sabi niya ng wala man lang pag-aalinlangan.

My body suddenly betrayed me.

One. Two. Three drops came out from my eyes. Wala na talaga siyang natitirang pagmamahal para sa'kin. He fell out of love and I really can't blame him.

I immediately wiped my tears but I didn't miss the look he's giving me. Is that care? Oh baka assuming lang talaga ako.

"If you both agree then it's time to sign the papers. Who want to do it first?" sabi ng Attorney na nasa gitna namin.

Suminghot uli tong attorney. Kanina pa siyang ganyan. Napaka-unprofessional naman. O baka may sakit siya? Dapat mag-take siya ng gamot pagkatapos nito. 

Si Rylie sana ang nandito pero sinugod kanina ang dad niya kaya nagrequest siya ng kapalit mula sa firm nila. Sana okay lang si tito.

Nabaling ang tingin ko kay Ashton.

He was the first one to move. May kinuha siya sa loob ng tux niya. I gulped when I saw it was a pen.

Tumingin siya sa'kin at iniyuko ko na lang ang sarili. Wala akong mukhang maihaharap sa kanya. One look and I know he will see how badly I'm hurt.

Ibinaling ko na lang ang tingin sa mga papel. And then...

he signed it.

"Mrs. Romano? kayo na po"

It's my turn. Pero inaalala ko pa rin yung pagpirma niya. Wala siyang sinabi basta pinirmahan na lang niya.

A bit of me wants him not to sign it. There's a little hope na baka kapag ginawa ko to, matatauhan siya. Pero hindi eh, agad niya 'tong pinirmahan.

"Mrs. Romano?"

Just my sign and it's all over.

Kinuha ko ang ibinigay na panulat at nanginginig na pinirmahan ang mga papel.

It's tormenting on my part that after a year of marriage, it went all to nothing. That's it!

You're free my love.

Wala kaming kibo na dalawa hanggang sa nag pop up ang message ng kapatid ko. Naghihintay na siya sa labas, sabi niya.

Kinuha ko na ang mga gamit ko at tumayo. Kung hindi pa ako aalis, baka hindi ko kayanin. I composed myself and masked the agony that I feel right now.