8 days later…

Aline’s POV

 “Oh, Aline, you have called,” tanong ng dad ko sa kabilang linya.

“Dad, may sasabihin sana ako eh,” malungkot na sagot ko sa kanya. It is already Saturday in the afternoon, and I knew na walang trabaho ngayon si Daddy, so I took the chance to call him and to talk to him.

“What happened dear?”

“Dad, I should have told you about this a week ago – but I have a problem right now, and di ko na alam kung ano ang gagawin ko.”

After a brief pause, ramdam ko na nag-aalala si Daddy sa akin. “Oh! What is the problem about? I have known you are strong. But pray tell me what it is about.”

I leaned down on the seat na nasa balcony ng bahay. Di ako usually dito tumatambay, but since walang tao sa bahay, dito na lang rin ako umupo at nagpapalamig sa hangin sa labas. Makulimlim ang panahon, pero ramdam ko na hindi uulan ngayon. “Dad, we haven’t talked for 5 days already. Though nagkikita pa rin kami ni Felix, hindi kami nagkakausap di tulad ng dati.”

I hesitated again. Bago ako nakapagdesisyon na tawagan si Daddy, nagdalawang isip ako kung ikukuwento ko ba ang buong pangyayari sa daddy ko baka ano pa ang magiging reaksyon niya. Nais ko sanang ayusin ‘tong problemang ito ng sarili ko, but right now, I am having a hard time solving this problem. So when he asked me about what happened, I told him everything. I didn’t hide anything from him, kahit mga naging kamalian ko sa mga nangyayari, di ko tinatago. Nakinig lang siya habang unti-unting lumuluha ang mga mata ko habang kinuwkwento ko ang pangyayari.

“Aline, dear, I had been through what you are in right now. And I know how difficult it is. But I haven’t known Felix to be that kind of person – to cheat on you. But is it already proven that he did cheat on you?” Neutral ang side ni Daddy dahil he would not judge by one side only. And since he haven’t heard from Felix’ side, di niya ito hinuhusgahan. Dito magaling si Daddy when it comes to resolving disputes among us his children. “You cannot just blame him everything for going with a different woman. I did not say that he is right. What I mean is, you should first get to know what really happened. Don’t just directly blame everything on a person whom you haven’t seen doing wrong. Did he still meet that woman?”

“Not that I know of. From what I only know, si Malcom lang ang kanyang kinakasama para sa kanyang writing lessons.” I felt na hindi na ako dapat magbibintang sa kanya nang walang basehan.

“Then do not blame him. Aline, what you have been through right now cannot be resolved if neither of you would admit the wrong nor accept the other. And since none of you would admit whoever committed the mistake, it would be better if you would first attempt to reconcile. Whatever it is that you are fighting about, it should not be the reason that will break the vows you both made two years ago.” Napatahimik ako sa sinabi sa akin ni Daddy. I haven’t heard of him speak of any advices like this for a long time, kaya naninibaguhan ako. “You should follow your husband as he is your husband. He is the man whom you should call as your shelter in times of need. So don’t be above him. Being a couple means that you both are equal and beside each other. No one should be right above the other. As I have understood, what you did is too much for him, Aline.”

That’s when I came to understand what he meant. Tama si Daddy. Sobra ata ang nagawa kong parang parusa sa kanya. Kahit naman siguro ako di ko kakayanin kung ang nararanasan ni Felix sa akin ay mararanasan ko rin.

“Okay, Dad. I understand.”

“Aline, I will let you see something,” he replied. It caught my curiosity.

“What is it, Dad?” I hastily asked.

Napa-isip ako kung ano ba itong ipapakita sa akin ni Daddy nang sinabi niya, “I’m sure you have a photo album there. Kindly get one and open it up.” I took one photo album right inside the glass desk na nasa gilid ng katre ko. It was the photo album of me and Felix nung naghoneymoon kami. I opened it and suddenly my eyes began to wet with tears and my heart started to beat faster.

He then continued, “Some days your mother and I loved each other. Other days we had to work at it. You will never see the hard days in a photo album.”

I wiped the falling tear running on my cheeks habang binubuklat ko ang mga pahina sa photo album. Every new page made me recall everything. He asked if nasa phone pa ba ako, “Yes, I’m still here,” I answered without hesitation.

“Okay. Yes, di mo nga makikita sa photo album ang mga di magandang karanasan niyo. Pero ito ang mga nagdadala sayo mula sa isang magandang alaala papunta sa isa pang magandang alaala. I am sorry that you have got to this point of no return, as you have said so, but that's what and when you both got dealt. Right now, both of you have to work through it, Aline. I have seen how you loved each other. How you two lit each other up. I want to see how you both have grown through the years. Love is not stagnant for it should grow. And part of growing is facing challenges that need to be overcome.”

I was bombarded by my father’s words. Wala akong masasabi except to thank him for his impacting advice. We ended the call nang makita kong malapit na magtanghali at kelangan ko pang magluto para sa aking kakainin for lunch. I then stood up and walked out of the bedroom.

I passed by the other room kung saan natulog si Felix. I want to check what’s in the room. Dahan-dahan kong binuksan ang pintuan at walang tao. Baka umalis na naman si Felix. I would like to think that Felix is again cheating on me. Pero mabilis na humalili sa isipan ko yung sinabi sa akin ni Daddy. Somehow it would remind me to have trust in him. Naalala ko rin ang natutunan ko dati nung ako’y nag-aaral pa; ‘that’s what people must have – Trust’. And kahit pa ito’y mahirap gawin, I have to have trust on him. Once trust is broken, then everything will fall to ruin.

I look around the room and I see all pictures na siya ang kumuha. They are posted everywhere on the wall. Kala ko ba mahilig na si Felix magsulat? Teka, di kaya mas nauna ang mga pictures na nailagay dito? I don’t know, since matagal na rin naman akong hindi nakapasok dito. Tanging si Felix lang ang pumapasok at gumagamit sa kwarto na ito. Siguro dito nga tumatambay si Felix kapag wala ako.

Napagod ako. Lumabas ako sa kuwarto at pumunta sa sala para umupo sa sofa. Nawala sa isipan ko ang magluto ng panananghalian. Lots of perceptions came into my mind. Lots and lots of it. Pero isa lang ang nangingibabaw sa lahat na pumapasok sa isipan ko.

I want to see him and talk to him.

=================

Felix’s POV

“So we’re done,” concluded Malcom.

The whole week writing training was finally finished. He just taught me everything I need to know about writing: the do’s and don’ts of writing; the formula of writing; well, everything I need to know so I will be able to establish my own foundation to begin my writing career.

“Salamat talaga, dude. I learned a lot.”

“Anytime, Felix. You can use everything you learned so far for you to be able to start writing whatever you want to write.”

I then sat back on my chair and drank a glass of juice. Siya naman ay tumayo mula sa kinauupuan. I looked at him puzzled kung saan siya pupunta. Napakahirap kasing hulaan kung ano ang gagawin ni Malcom; kahit matagal ko na siyang kilala, di ko mahula kung ano ang mga sunod niyang gagawin. Isa lang ang mahuhula ko sa kanya: na may gagawin na naman siyang di ko mahuhulaan. He is very much unpredictable.

Tumayo siya at nakita niya akong tumitingin sa kanya. “What’s with the look on the face?” he smiled.

“Wala lang naman. Saan ka pupunta, dude?” I have to ask him. Siyempre, I cannot be left behind here.

“I will cook us some lunch. I have grilled spare ribs on my menu.”

“Sounds good,” sabi ko habang hinimashimas ko ang tiyan ko. Grabe kapag ikaw ay sumusulat, talagang matatamaan ka ng matinding pagkagutom.

I then completely drained my glass of juice. Di ko na rin inubos ang natitirang brownies sa mesa. Ito ang mineryenda namin habang kami ay nagtraining. Anyway, malapit na rin naman kaming kakain ng pananghalian. Punung-puno sana ang isipan ko sa mga pinag-uusapan namin sa training, nang sa biglang may pinapaalala sa akin si Malcom.

“So how are you with Aline?”

Napalitan lahat ang mga iniisip ko tungkol sa training. Napalitan ito ng mga nararamdaman ko habang kasama ko si Aline. Those whole week, para akong patay dahil sa matinding kalungkutan. “There’s no more hope, dude. We may have lived there, but it’s like we do not see each other.”

He changed tone. Siguro he is being sympathetic at dinamdam rin niya ang nararamdaman ko. “There is still, dude. Don’t give up just yet.” Tinignan ko siya. I somehow feel his words strengthen my weakened heart. “Marriage is for life, Felix. You must hold on. You must wake up and know that you are about to go through the stage where most people go and fall.”

“So what should I do?”

He leaned back on his seat. “Talk to her about it. Even though she may ignore you, but I haven’t known Aline to be that kind of person. She will somehow listen kahit na hindi niya ipinapakita sayo.”

I like to ponder on his words when all of a sudden I received an email on my laptop. It was from Justine. This is out of the blue. Hindi siya usually magse-send sa akin ng mga email coz she would just send it to Aline and Aline will just relay the message to me. Sabagay, it’s been a week and Aline didn’t tell me anything about the wedding plans of Justine.

============

From: Justine Wessel

Email: [email protected]

Subject: Hey, kumusta ka na?

Hello Felix.! This is kind of surprise dahil siguro ito yung first time na nagsend ako ng email sayo. Well, hope you are not surprised at all.

Going to the point, I would just like to follow up on you if tutuloy ka pa ba bilang official photographer sa kasal ko next week on the 5th of August? I would really like you to be the photographer. Pero okay lang rin sa akin if hindi ka matutuloy as we will be looking in your stead. But I would still like you to be present on the most special day of my life.

Ito lang muna siguro lahat. Just let me know kung ano ang magiging desisyon mo.

===========

I reread the message. I made sure I got the date correctly. Hindi na pala ito kasabay sa GrandCon. If that’s the case then that is very good! I can now join the wedding and become the photographer. I replied by sending her that I agree to become the photographer.

Tumayo ako sa kina-uupuan ko. Tumingin si Malcom sa akin. “So have you realized yet?”

I don’t know what he meant but I answered reluctantly, “I can now be the photographer for the wedding,”

“Then that’s good. I am sure Aline will now be grateful and happy about this news.”

I nodded in agreement. Somehow, biglang gumaan ang loob ko. I hinted one small smile. Tama si  Malcom; sigurado akong maging maayos na rin sa wakas ang lahat. “Maging maayos rin ang lahat,” I replied.

“Great. O tara, handa na ang pagkain. Kain na muna tayo, baka nagugutom ka na rin,” anyaya ni Malcom.