Chasing Chances [TSC Book 2]°KathNiel° ✓COMPLETE

Chapter Eight: Deal

I was alone in my room when I woke up; so I realized that it was only a beautiful dream. It's not real. Chances wasn't with me. But I was taken aback when I decided to creep out of the bed knowing that my body is naked, covered only with the blanket. Napailing ako sa naisip kong baka may dinala akong ibang babae sa condo. I took a quick shower and then went out of the bedroom. Napatda ako nang makitang may nakahanda sa mesa.
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I cooked for lunch. Take your med as well.
-Sky
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It was really her that I was with this morning. I checked my watch and saw that it's already two in the afternoon. Ilang oras din akong nakatulog. Tsk. Hindi man lang ako nagising nang bumangon siya. I have to see her.
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Kaya naman, nagmamadali akong kumain. I had mixed emotions after looking back at what happened. Why did she allow me to make love to her? Why didn't she protest? Why did she cook my favorite like how my wife used to cook it for me? This doesn't mean that it's just nothing, right? Hindi nangyayari ang mga 'to para lang sa wala.
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Ilang oras akong naghintay sa kanya sa lobby ng hospital. Malapit ng mag-alas diyes pero hindi parin siya lumalabas. Hindi ko rin alam kung saang room ko siya mapupuntahan. Yet, I chose to stay for more hours. Kailangan ko siyang makausap. Kailangan ko siyang makita. It was midnight when I saw her running out of the hospital. Sumunod agad ako. Something's strange. And I was right. Chances was crying when I held her by the wrist to stop her from running.
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"Babe?"
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"A—anong ginagawa mo rito?"She asked, looking austerely at me.
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"Chan, kailangan nating mag-usap."
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"Pwede ba tama na?"Sigaw niyang lalo lang nagpabasag ng boses niya dahil sa pag-iyak. "Naguguluhan na ako! Hindi ko na kilala ang sarili ko!"
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"Chan—"
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"Please, just stop."She calmly pleaded this time. "Yong nangyari sa'tin kanina, hindi dapat nangyari 'yon." Pinunasan niya ang luha niyang ayaw paawat sa pagpatak sa mga bilugan niyang mga mata. "Please, tama na. Okay?"
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Tumalikod siya, naglalakad palayo sa'kin. Gayunpaman, sinundan ko siya. Hindi pwedeng mawala ulit sa'kin ang asawa ko. Kung wala akong nagawa no'n. Hindi na ngayon. Lahat gagawin ko para bumalik siya. Mayamaya pa ay tumigil siya sa paglalakad siguro ay dahil napapansin niyang nakabuntit parin ako sa kanya.
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"Zacchary, hindi ko kayang harapin 'yong fiance ko."Pagtatapat niya. "I have just cheated on him."
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"Baby, no."
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"At alam mo kung ano 'yong nakakainis? When I was with you, it felt home. It seemed real. It was like I've found something that has been missing for so long."
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"Babe, come home with me. You're really entitled to feel that because Chances, we are your family. I am your husband."
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Habang umiiyak ay ikinulong ko siya sa mga bisig ko. Parehong namamasa sa luha ang mga mata namin. Habang tumatagal ay lumalakas ang hikbi ni Chances. As her sobs intensified, her arms embraced me even tighter.
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"Hindi ako ang asawa mo."She said after pulling herself away. "Kasi sigurado akong hindi ako lolokohin ni Nero. Mahal na mahal niya ako. Hindi siya magsisinungaling sa'kin."
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"Hindi mo ba nararamdaman Chan? Mahal na mahal kita. Yong pagmamahal na pinapakita nya sa'yo, kayang-kaya kong tumbasan 'yon. Kaya kong higitan 'yon. Mahal na mahal kita babe."I said desperately.
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"Please, pwede bang itigil mo na 'to? Feeling ko, mababaliw na ako Zacc."Umiiyak parin niyang pakiusap. "Please."
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"Hindi. Hindi ko kaya."I took her hands and squeezed them intently. "Ikaw na mismo ang nagsabi di ba? You felt this sense of being home when you're with me. Last time, you told me that you can't get me off your head. That's because you are reminded of how much you love me too."
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"Hindi."She insisted as she shook her head.
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"Can you make this fair for me?"I insisted, feeling helpless.
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Chances furrowed her brows as tears continued racing down her rossy cheeks.
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"Chances, give me a chance  to make you remember everything. Live with me. Come home with me. Kung hindi mo man maaalala sa loob ng isang buwan, then I'm letting you go. I will let you go even if it will kill me."
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Napatitig siya sa'kin matapos kong hilingin 'yon sa kanya. Sinalubong ko ang titig niyang 'yon kaya nauna na siyang nagbitaw ng tingin. She didn't say anything. She didn't swat my hands away which held hers.
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"Isang pagkakataon lang."I begged.
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"You have mentioned that we—I mean, you and your wife have kids. Zacchary, ayokong madamay sila dito."
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"What if they're the way for you to remember everything?"
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She smiled weakly. "I want to meet them honestly. But Zacchary, what if I am not really your wife? What if I don't remember anything? What if Nero wakes up and you have to let me go?"
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"But Chan—"
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"No buts. Papayag lang ako Zacc kung hindi madadamay ang mga anak mo. I can't break angels' hearts."
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Anak natin, Chan. Gusto kong sabihin 'yon dahil hindi ko naman ginagawa ang lahat ng 'to para sa'kin lang. I'm doing this for myself and my children, for our family. But if this is my way to win her, I'll do it.
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"And will you promise me, Zacc? You will not kiss me again."She requested. "Hindi na mangyayari ulit 'yong—"
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I smiled sadly at that because I remembered the contract that we used to have years ago. No kissing. But Chances and I would always break the rules. So, I agreed. Nginitian ko siya matapos punasan ang pisngi niya.
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"I don't want to see you cry, my love. Just trust me okay?" She nodded. "Gusto mo bang puntahan ang fiance mo?"I asked when she looked indecisive whether to leave or go back in. "Sasamahan kita."
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Tumango siya na para bang nahihiya. Pumalag siya ng hawakan ko ang mga kamay niya pero hindi ko rin siya binitawan. Sumama ang pakiramdam ko nang huminto kami sa pribadong kwarto. I don't know why. Maybe because of the thought that my wife is seeing another man, a fiance in particular.
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"What's wrong?"She asked me when I halted.
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"Nothing. Let's just go."
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Natigilan akng muli nang makita ang lalaking nakahiga sa hospital bed. Ilang beses pa nga akong kumisap para masiguradong tama ang nakikita ko. He's really so familiar. I can recall where I saw him but I wasn't just sure. I mean, it's really him; the man I saw at the park with the tattoos who took the little girl that my children were talking to. Si Sky ang nakita ni baby Chanchan no'ng araw na 'yon.
Sky's Paradise and Nature Park. This guy owned the park because Sky mentioned that her fiance named it after her.
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"Nero, sana bukas, gising ka na. Ang dami-dami kong tanong tungkol sa sarili ko na alam kong ikaw lang ang makakasagot sa ngayon. Please, gumising ka na."
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Ilang minuto pa kaming nag-stay do'n hanggang sa may pumasok na lalaki sa loob ng silid na hindi pamilyar sa'kin. Siguro ay kamag-anak ni Nero.
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"Sky? Why are you still here?"The guy asked her.
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"Ah. I'm... I'm just checking again to make... to make sure Nero's fine."She answered, stammering.
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"Sorry, lumabas lang ako sandali. Papunta narin si Neve. Pwede ka ng umuwi."
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"I really want to stay if only I could—"
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"Shh. It's okay, Sky. Naappreciate naming kinakaya mong pumunta rito kahit na natatakot ka. Sige na. Ako na ang bahala rito para makapagpahinga ka narin."
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"Thank you, Wayne."She muttered and gave the guy a quick hug. Afterwhich, she faced me. The guy did the same. He was astounded to see me. Hindi niya pala ako napansin kanina. "Sorry Wayne, ah... ka-kaibigan ko nga pala. Si Zacchary. Zacc, this is Wayne, Nero's cousin."
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Iba ang tinging pinupukol ng lalaki sa'kin kahit nang paalis na kami ni Chances. Sinadya kong lumingon para tingnan ulit ang lalaki. Nakatingin parin ito sa'kin.
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"Zacc? Why are we here?"She asked when we arrived in the Grand Avenue.
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"Babe, we're going home."I simply answered.
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"Zacc—"
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"Babe, I need you to remember everything. Wala akong aaksayahing oras para mangyari 'yon."Seryosong sagot ko sa kanya. "You still have some of your things in the condo so there should be no problem too."
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She heaved a deep breath before taking my hand that I offered to her. My heart pounded fast in joy; the same feeling I used to have when I held my wife's hand. Kaya naman nang nasa elevator na kami, hindi na ako nakapagpigil. Niyakap ko siya ng mahigpit.
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"Zacchary?"Tawag niya nang hindi ko siya binitiwan kahit nang nasa floor na kami. "We're here."
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"Hmm."I just mouthed. "Babe, I miss you."
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"Are you really that sweet to me?  I mean, to your wife?"
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After kissing her on the forehead, I answered. "Nope. I am sweeter than this. And you, my love, are the sweetest."
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While she's taking her accessories off to prepare herself for bed, I was watching her with a smile. It's too surreal; it felt like a dream. But she's real, she's here with me now.My love.
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"Are we going to share the same room? Not that I really mind after what happened but I just want to make sure that—"
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"Babe, I promised it will not happen again."I cut her off mid-sentence so she smiled. "Unless agreed."I added which made her look sternly at me. Tumawa ako kaya binato niya ako ng unan na mabilis niyang nakuha mula sa kama.
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"Halika na babe. Cuddle na tayo—I mean, matulog na tayo."
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"Do'n ka sa couch."Nakangusong wika niya.
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"Sure. Do'n ka din ba?"
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"Nakakainis ka, Zacc."
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Napangiti ako sa sinabi niya at sa paraan ng pagsabi niya. Ganyang-ganyan siya e. Ganyang-ganyan si Chances.
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"Halika na kasi para matigil na ako sa pang-aasar sa'yo."
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Umirap siya pero sumunod naman siya sa gusto ko. She climbed on the bed and by the moment she's on reach, I embraced her.
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"Ganyan ka ba sa asawa mo? Iniinis mo lagi?"Tanong niya na mukhang seryoso.
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"Oo, kasi do'n mo 'ko mas minahal."
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"Alam mo, kapag ganyan ka lagi tapos ako talaga 'yong asawa mo, mas gugustuhin kong 'wag kang maalala."
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"Seryoso ka ba babe?"Tanong ko sa kanya sabay tingin ng maayos sa mukha niya. Sumimangot ako. "Ang sakit no'n a."
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She chuckled; for the first time after I last saw her at the park. I can still make her laugh. Hearing her voice, her laughter, is a pure joy.
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"Matulog na tayo."
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"Kiss mo muna ako."I requested mischievously.
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"Nope. Sa tingin ko, hindi ko ginagawa 'yan." Napangiti ako dahil iyon naman ang totoo. Ako ang laging humahalik sa kanya bago matulog. "Sa tingin ko, ikaw 'yong gumagawa no'n."
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"May naaalala ka na, mahal ko."Wika ko't bumungisngis.
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"It was a guess. Alam ko namang hindi ako lalandi sa'yo."Sabi niya't tumawa. Sumeryoso naman din kaagad siya. "Zacc, how did we meet?"
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How? Hmm. Napangiti ako. It was a funny day. I intended to meet someone I needed to save me. God sent her. That is how we met. I summarized our story to her but didn't miss the important details. Nakangiti siyang nakikinig sa'kin.
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"Ang cute naman ng kwento niyo ng asawa mo. It's like in films and movies."She commented afterwards.

I can't take the grin off my face as I recalled that very first day. That one fateful day which changed my life.
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"Zacc?"Tawag niya makalipas ang ilang minuto ng katahimikan.
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"Love?"
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"Paano kung... kung wala akong maalala? Paano kung mapatunayan nating hindi ako ang asawa mo?"
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Hindi ko alam. Hindi ko alam kung paano ako magpapatuloy. Hindi ko alam ang sagot sa tanong niya.
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"Paano kung hindi ako siya pero..."She paused, making me furrow my brows. "Pero mahal na kita. Paano kapag nangyari 'yon?"
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Lalo akong natahimik; napatitig na lamang ako sa kisame. Hindi ko alam kung kaya ko bang magmahal ng ibang babae. Kahit kamukha pa ng asawa ko, ayoko. Si Chances lang. Siya lang ang gusto ko.
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"I'm sorry if I asked a lot. Natatakot lang ako. Pero, mukhang hindi naman 'yon mangyayari e. Kapag nagising si Nero, kapag wala akong maalala tungkol sa'tin, siya parin ang pipiliin ko."Pahayag niyang nagpakirot ng puso ko.
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Siya ang asawa ko. Siya si Chances. Hindi pwedeng hindi siya ang asawa ko.

"Chan, hindi ko alam kung kaya ko kapag nawala ka pa ulit. Gagawin ko ang lahat para maalala mo 'ko."Wika ko habang naglandas ang luha sa gilid ng mga mata ko. "I will make you stay with me, babe."
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"How about we do a DNA test?"She suggested after a moment of silence.
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No. Ayoko. Hindi ko gagawin 'yon. Malaki ang posibilidad na magiging NEGATIVE ang result. Kapag nangyari 'yon, hindi ko na siya makikita. Hindi ko na siya makakasama, mahahawakan, mahahalikan o mayayakap. Mawawala na ulit sa piling ko ang asawa ko. Hindi ko na kakayanin kapag nawala pa siya ulit.
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"Let's do that when the month ends and you still remember nothing. Matulog ka na, babe."
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"Okay."Pabulong na sagot niya.
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Ilang minuto ng nakabalot sa katahimikan ang kwarto. Nakahiga sa dibdib ko si Chances habang yakap-yakap ko siya. Nakapikit na ang mga mata niya habang ako naman ay dilat na dilat pa. Hindi pa ako dinadalaw ng antok. Napapaisip ako sa posibilidad na hindi nga siya ang asawa ko. I just really don't know what to feel.
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"Zacchary?"
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"Babe, why are you still awake?"I asked, still staring at the ceiling.
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"I just feel like I need to tell you this."
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I looked at her, staring straight to her eyes this time. Chances smiled at me with a weak and apologetic smile.
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"What is it, babe?"
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"I don't want to see you cry, again. Zacc, I'll do everything I can to remember things, to remember you..."Her voice trailed off as she cried. "...to remember us."

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Author's Corner:

Wala akong masabi. K. Bye. Hahaha. 😂 Seryoso, magcomment kayo. 😂

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