Chapter 11

With a series of unfortunate events that Stacia felt was coming after her, she doesn't know how to break it and get away with it because it seemed like she was cursed to go through his shithole altogether. It was like the world had trampled down on her and there was no way out, but to go through all the pain and shitty moments.

As she remembered how Brian helped her get over the situation, she couldn't help but think how good they were before. Even though they weren't together anymore, she knew she couldn't just ignore how Brian was good for her. Remember the times they were still in love, divorced and such things were never served on their plates, but it all just came down to one problem that boils down to breaking them apart.

Twenty years of marriage ended up in the waste side called infidelity.

"What do you want, Stacia?" Jordan asked. "Do you want something to eat or drink? I can make something for you if you'd like."

Napakibit balikat naman si Stacia. "Anything you will prepare for me, I'll take it. . ."

"Okay, I think I'm just going to get you some tea. . . I'll be right back."

Tumungo naman si Jordan papuntang kusina habang si Stacia naman ay nanonod ng TV habang nakabalot ang ibabang parte ng katawan ng kumot. She picked a comedy series on the streaming platform just to let go of these anxieties that had been swirling around her mind for the past couple of days. It helped, but she knew it would just let her escape in the meantime.

Saglit lamang ay bumalik si Jordan na may dala-dalang tasa ng tsaa. Kanya namang inabot ito sa babae at malugod nitong tinanggap. Kanya pang binalalaan na mainit-init pa ang tubig kaya 'wag niyang bibiglain ang sarili sa paghigop nito.

Tumabi si Jordan kay Stacia sa sofa at ipinalibot ang braso sa balikat ng babae. They both watched the show together. Jordan moved in a couple of days ago after what happened to her. Hindi na naman sana papatuluyin ni Stacia si Jordan dahil maayos naman siya at walang nangyaring masama, pero dahil sa pag-aalala ng lalaki ay hindi nito maiwasang tumuloy muna sa bahay ni Stacia hangga't sa maging maayos na ang lahat.

"Wala ka bang work today?" pagtatanong nito saka nilingon ang mukha ng lalaki. "Alam mo, hindi mo naman kailangan na bantayan ako buong araw o kaya sa mga susunod pang araw. I'm too old enough para bantayan ako."

Hinawakan naman ni Jordan si Stacia sa pisngi. "I know you don't need it, but that's all I could do for now. I don't want to see you in that situation again. It was scary. I'm still sorry that I wasn't there for you."

Kinuha ni Stacia ang kamay ni Jordan mula sa kanyang pisngi, hinawakan niya ito at ibinaba. Ang kanyang hinlalaki ay marahan niyang hinagod sa likod ng kamay nito.

"I know you would do that, but I'm not your responsibility, Jordan. . ."

Napangisi naman ito. "So, what are you for me? If you're not my responsibility."

"Nothing. . ." she said and smiled. "I don't want you to think of me as something you should have to look over, manager, or whatever you must do to keep an eye on me. I don't want you to do that. I won't force you to do anything. I don't like to be the one who will take your own happiness because you must look over someone else's."

Jordan smiled. "I never thought of that, but if you think that's what I would, I'll make sure I won't let that happen."

"But thank you for staying with me, I really appreciate you. You know, we haven't really known each other deeply, but I do feel like what we really have here was genuine enough that it could come into something more."

"Well, what do you think about that?" He smirked.

"Well, I think that would be lovely. . . You're such a kind and wonderful person. Someone I never thought I would meet at this time of my life."

"And I won't go. I'm here to stay."

"Even on my worst day?"

He nodded and smiled. "Even at your worst days."

Niyakap na lamang ni Jordan si Stacia nang mahigpit. She couldn't help, but be emotional. Stacia knew that she shouldn't put herself in so much misery after the incident. Ang mahalaga sa kanya ay ligtas siya at walang nangyaring masama. And to be with a man who wouldn't treat her trash or something else. This was enough for her because, at this moment, Jordan was enough.

Later, her phone started ringing. Inabot naman ni Jordan ang phone ni Stacia na nakapatong sa center table. Nang sabihin nito kung sino ang tumatawag ay kanya nitong kinuha at binigay sa babae ang phone.

"Brian," panimula ni Stacia. "Ano nang nangyari?"

"Stas, everything's fine here at the hospital. . . I just called you dahil tumawag sa akin ang pulis na nahuli na raw nila ang driver ng taxi na nang-holdap sa 'yo." Nang sabihin ni Brian ang balita ay inilipat nito sa loudspeaker ang usapan upang marinig din ni Jordan. "Ang taxi pala na sinakyan mo ay na-carnap din two weeks ago. Ginagamit ng nang-carnap ang taxi upang mangbiktima. Karamihan daw sa mga nabiktima ay kung hindi galing sa banko ay galing sa mall naman. Na-retrieve rin nila ang bag mo at nasa station na 'yon. Gusto mo bang ako na lang ang kumuha?"

Nilingon nito si Jordan dahil sinimulan nitong ituro ang sarili niya.

"Wait, I'm with Jordan, ang sabi niya ay siya na lang ang pupunta sa istasyon. Sasama na lang din siguro ako para ma-check ko kung nando'n pa ang ibang nilalaman."

"Okay, walang problema," anito. "Alam mo, may naisip din ako. Bakit hindi muna kayo magbakasyon? Pumunta sa beach o kung saan man? I think you deserve that kind of peace, Stas."

"Pwede naman, pero paano si Kian?"

"I'm always going to look after our son," anito. "Nandito rin naman si Marlyn. Hindi ko pa rin ma-contact si Thamara. Nakauusap mo ba? Baka pupwedeng sumalo rin siya minsan dito."

"Hindi pa kami nagkauusap muli. Hindi ko rin alam kung nasaan siya ngayon. Pero kung wala namang hahalili sa 'yo na magbantay, nandito naman kami ni Jordan."

"Alam ko, pero pag-isipan niyo muna. Minsan ko lang i-suggest 'yon at habang maaga pa ay gawin niyo na. Wala namang problema sa akin."

Nagkatinginan ang dalawa at tila'y nag-usap sa tingin. Napakibit balikat naman si Stacia.

"We'll think about it na lang. . . Siguro sabihan kita mamayang gabi o bukas ng umaga."

"Okay, no worries. Pupuntahan niyo na ba ang gamit mo sa istasyon?"

"Oo. . ."

"Sige, mag-iingat kayo. . . Bye."

"Ba-bye. . ." Nang ibaba ni Brian ang tawag ay itinabi ni Stacia ang cellphone.

"Anong sa tingin mo? Si Brian na mismo ang nag-suggest na mag-out of town ka muna. I think you should do it. Nandito naman ako para samaha ka."

"Paano naman ang trabaho mo? 'Di ba may ongoing project ka?

"Yes, but if this would only take us in just a few days, wala namang problema. Pwede naman nila akong tawagan kahit anong oras pa. Sa tingin ko, mas Mabuti 'yon sa 'yo para makahinga-hinga ka muna sa mga nangyari nitong nakaraang linggo. For sure, Brian wouldn't abandon Kian. What do you think? Let's go out this weekend?"

Humugot nang malalim na hininga si Stacia at tiningnan ng diretsyo sa mata ang lalaki. "Sige, it would be fine for me. This weekend. Let's do it."

"Then we'll tell Brian about it, but for now, let's go to the station?"

Tumango si Stacia at tumayo upang makapagpalit ng damit. Tumungo siya sa kanyang kwarto at nagsuot lamang ng pantalon at nagpalit ng t-shirt. Si Jordan naman ay nagpatong lamang ng flannel jacket sa ibabaw ng puting t-shirt. Nang sa tingin ng dalawa ay maayos na ang kanilang mga sarili ay lumabas na ito ng bahay at tumuloy sa sasakyan na nakaparada sa garahe.

Pinagbuksan ni Jordan si Stacia at pintuan at tinulungang makasampa sa loob at saka naman ito tumungo sa kabilang pinto sa pwesto ng driver's seat. Nang masiguradong maayos na ang lahat ay umalis na ang dalawa at itinungo ang daan papuntang istasyon ng pulis.

Tahimik lamang si Stacia at nakatanaw mula sa bintana. Maraming tumatakbo sa isipan niya ngayon. Gaya nga ng naisip niya kanina, hindi nagtagal ay bumalik ang lahat ng pag-aalala matapos nilang manood ng isang comedy show. Sa tuwing lulan ng sasakyan si Stacia ay hindi rin nito maialis sa isip kung paano bumulusok ang sasakyan na iminamaneho ni Kian noon.

She knew that on that day, Kian would be picking her up after the wedding. She was so sure of that, but it all ended in a tragic way. She doesn't know the pain he went through, but she hopes he'll get through it. She knew he was a strong and brave kid; he would wake those beautiful eyes up soon and finally hear his voice once again.

It was what she prayed for, but until when?