Since Nine Book 3: Shattered

Rejected

CHAPTER 4

VICTORIA

Ilang minuto na ang lumipas mula nang matapos ang pag-uusap nila ni Maristela pero tulala pa ring nakaupo si Victoria sa sofa. Was the world conspiring against her? She and Ramcel just made up. Bakit kailangan makisingit ni Hector sa eksena?

Napabuntong-hininga sya. Kailangan na nyang tuldukan ang tungkol kay Hector. Wala naman talagang dapat tuldukan dahil para sa kanya walang namagitan sa kanilang dalawa.

Should she tell Ramcel about it? Of course she had to. She couldn’t keep it as a secret. If she wanted Ramcel to trust her completely, she had to tell her truth.

“Vi?” She felt Ramcel held her hand gently. Hindi nya agad napansin na nakaluhod na pala sa harap nya ang asawa at nag-aalalang nakatitig sa kanya. “What is it? You can tell me, whatever that is.”

Victoria saw something in her wife’s eyes that made Victoria felt assured. “I talked to Maristela. She overheard my Dad and Hector talking.” She paused. Hinihintay lang sya ni Ramcel. Would she still want to stay with her if she told her? She took a deep breath and mustered all her courage. “Hector wants to marry me.” Napakunot ang noo ni Ramcel. “Pananagutan daw nya ako.”

Napataas ang kilay ni Ramcel. “Well, are you going to marry him?”

“Of course not.”

Ramcel smiled. “It’s settled then.”

Victoria’s jaw almost dropped. Hindi yan ang inaasahan nyang magiging reaction ni Ramcel. She was thankful that her wife wasn’t mad at her but it was weird. “Wait.” Tatayo na sana si Ramcel pero pinigilan nya ito. “Didn’t you realize what it meant?”

“May nangyari sa inyo,” kaswal na sagot nito.

“And that’s okay with you?” Si Victoria naman ang napakunot ang noo ngayon. Her wife should be on beast mode by now. May sakit ba si Ramcel? In denial ba ang asawa nya?

“Do you want me to go ballistic?” Ramcel’s tone was almost amused.

“No! But…”

“I don’t trust that Hector. I’ve been thinking about what happened. He could be lying. He got this obsession on his face whenever he looks at you. Maybe he took advantage of you when we were all drunk. Maybe he just staged everything. He made it looked like you two slept together. Why did he have to tell your Dad about it? Kasi alam nyang strict ang Dad mo and he’s using him.”

Obsession? Kung gawa-gawa lang ni Hector yun, ibig sabihin wala talagang nangyari sa kanila. She didn’t cheat on Ramcel. But why would Hector do that? Sa sandaling nakasama nya ang lalaki, puro kabutihan ang nakita nya kaya naman napahanga sya rito.

“But you don’t know him that much,” her mind pointed out. “Well, mali syang gamitin si Dad. My father doesn’t have control over me.”

“I know. The truth is kahit ano pang nangyari sa inyong dalawa, it no longer matters to me.” Ramcel was looking at her intently. “Ang importante sakin, ay ako ang mahal mo. That you choose to stay with me. Sabi ko naman sayo, let’s put this behind us.” Hinawakan nito ang dalawa nyang kamay saka hinagkan ang mga ito isa-isa. Tumayo ito at hinila rin sya saka sya nito niyakap nang mahigpit. “Huwag na nating hayaang may sumira pa sa ating dalawa.”

Hindi na nya napigilang mapaiyak sa tinuran ng asawa. Ramcel’s love gave warmth to her whole being. Her kindness and understanding made her love Ramcel even more. Victoria wouldn’t let anyone or anything come between them. It’s time to set things right.