Since Nine Book 3: Shattered

The Devil's Wife

CHAPTER 36

RAMCEL

It was raining hard when her BMW pulled out of Eleanor’s driveway. Pinauwi na rin nya si Liezle dahil walang kasama ang Mommy nito sa bahay. Dumiretso naman sya sa bahay ni Victoria pagkatapos tawagan si Olivia kung may update ba ito tungkol sa grupo ng mga volunteers.

Itinaas na sa Signal Number 2 ang Metro Manila. Sa Aurora magla-landfall ang bagyo. Dalawang linggo dapat ang The 11 Foundation sa isang barangay ng Nueva Vizcaya kung saan kailangang magtrekking ng isang oras bago makarating. Ngunit makalipas ang isang linggo biglang nag-announce ang PAGASA na may parating na super typhoon sa lugar.

Hindi umalis ang grupo nina Victoria hanggat hindi napapalikas sa lugar ang mga residente. Nang masigurong nasa ligtas na evacuation center na ang mga ito, saka naman lumuwas ang isang bus ng volunteers pa-Maynila.

“Masyado ng malakas ang ulan at hangin kaya hindi na sila tumuloy sa biyahe, Rayanne. Don’t worry they are in a safe location. They found a shelter in a church. I will let you know if there’s any update.” Alam ni Ramcel na nag-aalala rin ang kaibigan sa mga tauhan nito ngunit hindi ito nagpahalata. “Victoria’s gonna be okay.”

Kita ni Ramcel ang pag-aalala sa mukha ni Monica nang patuluyin sya nito sa loob ng bahay. Sya naman ang nag-assure rito na nasa ligtas na lugar ang kaibigan nito kahit pa kinakabahan din sya. Hindi sya mapapanatag hanggat hindi nya nakikita ng personal na ligtas si Victoria. 

“Nasa loob ng office nya si Tita Isabelle. May kausap syang kliyente sa telepono,” naiiling na sabi nito. “May tinatapos din syang financial report. She’s trying to distract herself.”

Napatitig si Ramcel sa pilat sa pisngi nito. Her heart went out to Monica. She suddenly wanted to embrace her. No one deserved that kind of horrible experience.

Biglang naconcious sa kanya si Monica. “Tamang-tama ang dating mo. Ready na ang Lunch.” Nag-iwas ito ng tingin. Mauuna na sana ito sa kanya nang hawakan nya ito sa braso. Napatitig sila sa isa’t-isa. She really looked like Victoria. No wonder napagkamalan nyang magpinsan ang dalawa. “R-Ram…”

“I already know everything.” Ramcel’s eyes lingered on her scar again. Monica’s eyes widened in surprised. “I’m sorry that you and Victoria had to go through that.”

Monica gave her a bitter smile. “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.” Kita ni Ramcel sa mga mata nito ang tapang at determinasyon. She also saw the same strength in Victoria’s eyes. “Is that what you wanted to talk about?”

Tumango sya. “But if you don’t want to talk about it…”

“It’s fine, Ram. But let’s have lunch first.”

“Victoria didn’t want you to know. She didn’t want to share something dreadful.” Monica indicated the folder with large CONFIDENTIAL infront as she sipped from her cup of tea. They just finished doing the dishes and sat facing each other on the kitchen counter. Ramcel explained how she got the top secret info. “I owe my freedom to Victoria. Kung hindi sya dumating, sa isla ako mananatili habam-buhay.” Her face hardened probably from thinking about Hector.

“I know all about you,” ngumiti nang bahagyang sabi ni Monica. “Ikaw ang bukam-bibig nya sa tuwing magkausap kami. Victoria loves you so much. She regretted hurting you. She wanted to kill herself for having those feelings for him.”

“My heart was shattered when she chose him over me,” Ramcel stated.

“You haven’t read the full report,” komento ni Monica.

Umiling sya. “Can you…tell me all about it?”

“I understand that feeling you know. That desire of wanting to kill myself for loving Hector. Victoria and I believed his false charm.” Monica shook her head like she couldn’t believe herself. “I couldn’t tell if Vi was luckier because she didn’t fall in love with him.”

She didn’t? Ramcel was surpised.

“Believe me, Ram, Victoria didn’t totally fall for him,” Monica said when she noticed her reaction. “Unlike me, who was really head over heels. I loved him. He was so handsome and kind- hearted. Too bad, I didn’t see right through him. Huli na ang lahat nang malaman ko ang totong pagkatao nya.”

Nagkakilala ang mga ito sa isang restaurant sa Makati kung saan nagt-trabaho si Monica bilang isang pastry chef. Nagustuhan ni Hector ang in-order nitong dessert kaya hiniling ng lalaki sa Manager ng restaurant na makilala ang nagbake ng Tropical Mango Peach Coconut cake.

It wasn’t a love at first sight for Monica but he caught her interest. Saglit lamang nagkausap ang mga ito dahil marami pang gagawin ang dalaga sa kitchen. Nagulat na lang si Monica nang pinuntahan ito ni Hector isang gabi at hinintay mag-out.

They had coffee and found out they had a lot in common. Naging magkaibigan ang mga ito hanggat every weekend sila nitong magkasama. Laging may dalang chocolates at flowers si Hector sa tuwing magkikita. Unti-unting nahulog ang loob ni Monica sa lalaki.

“Nakaka-inspire ang kabaitan ni Hector. Anak-mayaman sya pero napaka-down to earth. Sinasama nya ako minsan sa mga charity works nya. Kita ko sa mata ng mga batang tinutulungan nyang iniidolo sya ng mga ito. People look up to him. They respected him a lot. He was like a living saint to them and I thought so too.” Tumitig si Monica sa mga mata ni Ramcel. “You couldn’t blame me for falling in love with him.”

Ramcel nodded in understanding. She was so insecure when she knew Victoria liked him. She hated to admit it but he was a very ideal man.

Monica continued her story. Matagal nang namayapa ang mga magulang ni Monica at mag-isang anak din kaya gusto rin nitong magkaroon ng sariling pamilya. Ilang buwan lamang naging magkasintahan ang dalawa at nagpakasal na ang mga ito agad.

Kahit labag sa kalooban ni Monica, she gave up her job as a chef. Mas gusto kasi ni Hector na sa bahay lamang ito manatili. Ang lalaki na daw ang magpo-provide para kay Monica, who made sure to take care of him. She was happy to become his wife. 

“Noong una, maayos ang pagsasama naming dalawa ni Hector. Maalaga sya, mabait at malambing. He was a perfect husband. I thought I was so lucky to have him.” There was that bitter smile again. “Napapansin ko habang tumatagal ayaw nya akong palabasin ng bahay. Kahit simpleng pamimili sa grocery ayaw nyang gawin ko. Minsan nainip ako kaya sinamahan kong mamili sa palengke ang isa naming katulong. Galit na galit sya pagbalik ko. He kept saying that maybe I was cheating on him. Ayokong magalit sya sa akin kaya sumunod na lang ako sa gusto nya.  Ayaw rin ni Hector na nakikipag-usap ako sa ibang lalaki. Kahit hardinero namin pinagseselosan nya.”

Inintindi na lamang ni Monica ang asawa lalo nang malaman ang kataksilan ng Mama ni Hector. Kapag may bisita, ipinagmamalaki ni Hector ang asawa lalo na ang mga masasarap na pagkaing hinahanda nito. Sinisiguro lamang ni Monica na huwag masyadong makihalubilo sa mga lalaki dahil tiyak na away kapag wala ng tao.

“Gusto namin parehong bumuo ng pamilya, pero lumipas ang dalawang taon, wala pa rin kaming anak. Nagpatingin kami pareho sa doktor and that’s when my life became hell. Hector is impotent.” Monica closed her eyes and took a deep breath. May namumuong luha sa gilid ng mga mata nito. “Hindi nya matanggap na sya ang may diperensya. Ayaw nyang maniwalang sya ang may mali. In his mind, he’s unflawed. In his sick mind, ako ang may mali. Unti-unting lumabas ang tunay nyang kulay habang tumatagal. He couldn’t function anymore in bed. Out of frustration, he would beat me up.  Araw-araw nya akong sinasaktan until I couldn’t take it anymore.”

Isang gabing wala si Hector, nagtangkang tumakas si Monica sa mansyon ng mga Sebastian. Humingi ito ng tulong sa isang kasam-bahay, na si Josie, na awang-awa na rin sa sinasapit ni Monica. Unfortunately, she was caught. Hector was enraged. Monica thought he was going to kill her.

“Kinabukasan, dinala kami ni Hector sa isla. He made me and Josie ran into the woods. He hunted us like animals. He spared me but he killed Josie.” Hindi na napigilan ni Monica ang pag-iyak. “She died because of me. He even gave me this scar as a symbol that I’m a damaged good.”

Naging kulungan ni Monica ang isla. Doon nito nalamang bagsakan ng illegal drugs ang lugar at hunting ground naman ni Hector ang kakahuyan. He stopped being her husband to Monica’s relief. Whatever love she felt for him was replaced with disgust. She also loathed herself for falling in love with him.

“Marami syang pinatay sa kakahuyang iyon. Maririnig mo ang mga sigaw sa kailaliman ng gabi. Hanggang sa masanay na lang ako. I learned to ignore those cries. Those gunshots. I thought I already lost the ability to feel.  Araw-araw lang akong bumabangon para pagsilbihan sya na parang katulong. Hindi na ako nagtangkang tumakas pa at tinanggap na lang ang lahat. Inisip ko na lang na bunga yun ng katangahan ko. When I thought of ending my life, Victoria came into the picture. Nakaramdam ako ng pag-asa nang dumating si Victoria.”

Ramcel’s jaw clenched. Victoria had to endure the same ordeal. She wasn’t there to protect her. That explained her nightmares.
“Victoria didn’t leave you because she loved him, Ram. She left you because she loves you so much. She chose Hector to let you lived.”

“Let me lived? W-What do you mean?” Tumibok nang malakas ang puso nya.

“Do you remember the time when you went to Norway?” Ramcel nodded. Paano nya makakalimutan yun? Wala na sa kanya si Victoria nang bumalik sya. “She gave up her scholarship because she wanted to focus on you. Susunod sya dapat sayo, Ram. It was supposed to be a surprised. It was supposed to be your second honeymoon but Hector had her kidnapped.”

Muntik na silang maghiwalay ng mga panahong iyon dahil nadiskubre nyang may pagtingin si Victoria kay Hector. She saw them kissing and even found Victoria coming out of his room naked. Ramcel was deeply hurt but she chose to trust Victoria and gave her another chance. Akala nya magiging maayos na ang lahat pero iniwan sya nito.

“Dinala sya ni Hector sa isla at ikinulong sa madilim na selda ng ilang araw. Hector was obsessed with Victoria. If you saw the picture of Hector’s mother on the file, you know we all look alike. In his mind, her real mother was an epitome of perfection. He wanted to have a perfect happy family. Something he didn’t have when he was a kid.”

Ramcel loved watching Criminal Minds. She was fascinated with how a psychopath’s mind worked. But she didn’t think she’d enjoy watching another episode.

“He planned everything. He wanted Victoria so much. He threatened her. Na kapag hindi sumama sa kanya si Vi willingly, he’d kill her family. Si Hector ang utak sa pagbaril kay Mayor Alonzo at sa pag-ambush sa mga kapatid ni Vi.”

What? Hindi ba’t si Hector ang nagligtas kay Mayor Alonzo? “So he pretended to be a hero,” Ramcel said when she realized it.

“He’s a psycho, Ram. He told Victoria he’d kill you and your family. Pinagtangkaan rin ni Hector ang buhay ng Mommy at Lola mo. They almost had a car accident.”

“Ano?!” Ramcel as suddenly wide-eyed.

“Victoria had no choice. Mas pinili nyang saktan ka kesa mapahamak ka at ang pamilya mo. All this time, ikaw lang ang iniibig nya.”

Kusang naglandas ang mga luha ni Ramcel sa kanyang pisngi. Dapat ba hindi na sya umalis noon? Dapat ba nanatili na lang sya sa tabi ni Victoria nang hilingin nitong huwag na syang umalis?

“She killed Hector so we could escape, Ram. So she could be with you again.”