"DOES Champ already know that you are pregnant?" - tanong ni Jeron sa kanya nang iwan na sila ng doctor matapos siyang pinaalalahanan nito na doblehin ang pag-iingat dahil maselan na ang kanyang pagbubuntis.
Jeva looked away. "Not yet."
"Do you want me to tell him?"
She shook her head. "Gusto ko na ako mismo ang magbabalita sa kanya. I know that this is a good news for the both of us." - she is still positive despite everything that happened. Her heart still wanted to trust her husband. She won't conclude not unless she will hear it from her husband's mouth or she will see them cheating on her right in front of her eyes.
Jeron nods. "Okay, if you say so." - he hummed. "Who else knew about your situation?"
"Mari and then, you."
He chuckled. "How lucky I am." - he clapped his hands. "Mas una ko pa palang malaman kaysa sa asawa mo." - he jested.
Napailing na lang si Jeva dahil sa inasal ng lalaki. Nang bigla itong tumikhim kaya naman napalingon siya sa lalaki.
"Did Vlad invite you to the VIP Ball?" - he asked.
She creased her brows, she never heard that kind of ball before. "VIP Ball? What's that?"
Jeron hummed. "I conclude that he never asked you. Maybe because he doesn't want you to be his date on that event." Ouch! Parang may kung anong tumusok sa kanyang puso. "I already told Vlad that if he won't ask you to be his date then, I'll be the one to ask you but, I think that would be inappropriate now because..." - he stopped because he doesn't want to continue his words.
Jeva smirked. "Isn't it inappropriate to ask a married woman on a date, too?" - napayuko naman ang kausap dahil sa sinabi niya.
"I know but,--" Jeva chuckled. Of course, she already knew his reasons for, he knew that their marriage was just fixed. Does he also think that their won't last just like how Janus sees their relationship?
"I'm just kidding. I would like to go to the ball with you." - she said frankly.
Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Jeron dahil sa sinabi ng babae. "What?" - he blinked his eyes twice. "Are you serious? But-"
"I am." - she sighed. "I want to go to the ball because I wanted to see my husband. Yun lang naman ang tanging paraan para makita at makausap ko siya ulit. Pupunta naman siya dun, di ba?" - she hopefully said.
"Bakit parang nasense ko na na gagamit mo lang ako?" - he joked but his smile faded when she saw her flustered face. He cleared his throat. "Use me if you want. I won't mind at all. And yes, he will be there to get his award."
"Award?"
Tumango si Jeron. "VIP Ball is like an acquaintance party of all famous people and there's also a lot of awards to win. Like Most beautiful face, the sexiest, the most bankable artist, and awards for bachelors too." - dahil sa sinabi ng lalaki ay parang nagdadalawang isip na siya kung pupunta ba siya sa ball. Nakakahiya naman kasing pumunta doon na hindi ka famous. "What's the problem?" - tanong niya sa babae na tila lumipad na sa ibang planeta ang utak nito.
"I just think that I am not suitable to attend that event." - she said.
"Who said you are not suitable? You'll be going with me, right?" - kagaad naman siyang tumango.
"But, I'm just an ordinary person."
"I doubt that." - napatanga naman siya sa sinabi ng lalaki. "You are on hell of a person that I've known. You beautiful, kind and talented not to menti--"
"I have an unfiltered mouth."
Napatawa naman ang dalawa dahil sa sinabi ng babae. "That made you more amazing."
She rolled her eyes. "Wag mo nga akong binobola."
"I'm not. I'm just stating the things that I found amazing in you."
Jeva looked away. Why does it feel so awkward? Why does it sound like he's confessing something? She prayed that God would send an angel and take her away from this awkward situation.
Napaigtad ang dalawang nang biglang bumagsak ang pintuan ng hospital room ni Jeva. Nanlumo naman ang babae nang makita kung sino ang pumasok. Why is she expecting that her husband will come? Kung noong mga nakaraang araw ay hindi ito sumasagot ng tawag ngayon naman ay out of reach na ang cellphone number nito.
She was wishing for an angel to come pero demonyo yung dumating. It was Kyza. Nakapameywang ito habang nakataas ang kilay na nakatingin sa kanya.
"What the hell bitch?!" - pasingal na tanong nito sa kanya.
"Yow, miss. You don't have to shout and cuss at her. You could've ask her nicely." - sabad ni Jeron sa malditang babaeng basta-basta na lang pumasok at nagsisigaw sa loob nga hospital room ni Jeva.
Tinaasan ni Kyza ng kilay ang hindi kilalang lalaki na basta-basta na lang sumasabad. "Do I fucking know you?"
"Do you also know that wasn't nice for a woman to cuss?" - he asked back. Umiinit ang ulo niya sa bagong dating.
"Do you know that I don't fucking care?!" - singal ni Kyza sa lalaki before she glanced at her friend. "Sino ba itong tigyawat na 'to?!"
"Ikaw sino ka ba?!" - napasingal na rin si Jeron dahil sa inis niya sa babae.
"Kaibigan ako ng babaeng ito," she put her hands on her waist. "Ikaw? Sino ka ba? Kabit ka ba ng babaeng to?!"
Jeron gasped. "What do you think you friend is? An adulterer?" - hindi makapaniwalang tanong sa babae dahil sa pag-aakusa nito sa sariling kaibigan.
Kyza mockingly huffed and looked at the man from head to toe before she smirked at him. "You are not the kind of man that she wanted to commit adultery with."
Arrrgh! Gustong-gusto pilipitin ni Jeron ang leeg ng babae kung hindi lang talaga ito kaibigan ni Jeva at kung hindi lang talaga ito babae ay papatulan na niya ito. He rolled his eyes at her and the latter did the same.
Jeva sighed and shook her head. Nasali na nga siya sa isang awkward situation at lalong sumasakit naman ang ulo niya dahil sa dalawa ito.
"Sino ba to?" - tanong ni Kyza kay Jeva habang nakaturo ang hintuturo sa lalaki.
She sighed again. "Jeron, this is Kyza." - pagpapakilala niya sa babaeng kaibigan. "Kyza, this is Jeron." - hindi niya alam kung paano ipakikilala ang lalaki. Kyza raised her brow at her. "Ahm, he - he is my husband's friend." - she said which made her friend snorted.
"Kaya pala gusto kong pisain ang pigsang ito."
"What?! Ano bang ginawa ko sayo?" - pag-alma nito.
"Wala. Pero kaibigan ka ng asawa nito!" - tinuro nito si Jeva. "Asawa niyang biglang naging missing. Laging MIA sa panahong kailangan siya ng kaibigan ko. Napakawalang kwenta." - she murmured the last words but just enough for Jeron to hear. "Since, you are friends with that jerk, then I concluded that you are also friends with Pietro." - she rolled her eyes heavenwards. "God! I really hate that man for making my best friend miserable."
Jerong creased his brows. "Why is it so easy for you to judge? Baka busy lang yung kaibigan ko---"
"Sige, ipagtanggol mo pa! Ano pa ba ang mas mahalaga kaysa sa asawa niya?!"
Palipat-lipat ang tingin ni Jeva sa dalawa dahil nagsimula na naman itong magbangayan.
"Y--"
"Shut up! Ang sabihin mo irresponsable yang kaibigan mo. At wag mo ng ipagtanggol ang sarili mo dahil naniniwala ako sa kasabihang birds with the same feathers are gago together." - napailing si Jeva sa itinuran ng kanyang kaibigan. Kyza and her revised idioms.
"Wag ka ngang judgemental. Hindi ako katulad sa mga kaibigan ko."
"So, inaamin mo nga na gago ang mga kaibigan mo?" - she grinned at the man.
Bukas-sara ang bibig ni Jeron dahil hindi niya alam kung ano ang isasagot sa babae. He sighed. "I didn't know about Pietro and Shylane's issue. Ang alam ko lang hiwalay na sila."
"Ah, talaga?" - she mocked at him. She can't trust someone she barely knew. "So, hindi mo alam na ginago ng magaling mong kaibigan ang kaibigan ko? At ngayon, ang isa mo na namang kaibigan ang may balak na manggago ng isa ko pang kaibigan? Mga gago ba talaga kayo?" - she said sarcastically.
Napakunot ang noo ni Jeron. Iba ang sinasabi ng babae sa sinabi ni Pietro sa kanya. Naguguluhan na siya kung sino sa kanila ang nagsasabi ng totoo. Nasaan na ba kasi ang dating asawa ng kaibigan niya?
"So, dito ka na naman naghahasik ng lagim?" - sabi naman ng bagong dating na si Mari.
"Anong lagim pinagsasabi mo dyan?! Kailan ako naghasik ng lagim?! Bakit ngayon ka lang di ba dapat ikaw ang kasama nito?!" - turo niya kay Jeva.
"Bakit parang laging nakasigaw yang kaibigan mo?" - tanong ni Jeron kay Jeva.
"Nakalunok yan ng megaphone." - si Mari ang sumagot bago bumaling sa malditang "I'm sorry, okay? Dinumog ako ng fans."
Jeron creased his brows. Fans? The woman seems so familiar. Nagtatanong siya sa kanyang sarili kung saan niya nakita ang babae?
"She's a famous writer. Makikita mo rin siya sa TV." -bulong ni Jeva sa lalaki nang mapansin ang kanyang itsura. The latter's mouth formed into 'O' while nodding his head.
"What happened to you ba?" - umandar na naman ang pagiging conyong hilaw ni Mari.
"Dinugo ang gaga." - sabi Kyza. "Hoy! Kailan mo ba balak sasabihin sa amin?"
"I was about to. But how did you know?" - takang tanong niya sa kaibigan pero umismid lang ito.
"You know, Hummer?" - tanong ni Mari.
"Yes. He's your cousin, right?"
Tumango si Mari. "And he's also the heir of Zheng Hospitals." Jeva is confined in Zheng Main Hospital. "He is the one who informed Kyza about you."
"Ah, okay." - yan lang ang nasabi ni Jeva. "So, he is a non physician heir, ha?" - Jeva already knew about that. Magkaibigan sila ni Hummer at alam yun ni Mari sadyang nagiging makalimutin lang talaga ito.
"Yeah, but I don't think he wanted to dahil pareho sila nitong si Kyza ayaw sa hospital pero mas worst yun dahil ayaw na ayaw niya talagang umapak ng hospital. Well, as if he has a choice. Siya na lang ang nag-iisang anak nina Tito at Tita." - Mari said casually. "Anyways, who is this guy? He looks familiar." - tanong niya nang mapansin ang presensya ng di kilalang tao.
"Tss! You don't need to know. Malas ang lalaking yan. And, don't you know that you're like a fool, akala mo ba talaga na hindi alam ng babaeng yan ang tungkol sa pinsan mo? Like duh! Magkaibigan kaya sila." - bitter na sabi ni Kyza. Hindi niya alam kung bakit malaki ang pagkadisgusto nito sa pinsan ng kaibigan nila. She also knew that Kyza and Hummer were close back then. "Anyways, aalis na ako. Gusto ko lang makita kung buhay pa ba itong babaeng to." - tukoy ni Kyza kay Jeva. "May naghihintay pa sa akin dun sa labas."
"What?! My boylet ka na?!"
Napataas ang kilay ni Kyza kay Mari. "Lalaki agad? Tss! Makaalis na nga lang." - at agad na kumaripas paalis.
"Why does she sound so defensive?" - nakakunot ang noong tanong ni Mari sa sarili. "By the way, may I know you?" - she asked Jeron in the nicest way as she can.
"I'm Jeron--"
"Oh! Yeah right! I know you." - natatawang saad ni Mari habang nakaturo sa lalaki.
"Do you also know that I am friends with--"
"Yeah. I know." - she cleared her throat. "Are you her boyfriend?" - palipat-lipat tingin ni Mari kay Jeva at Jeron.
"What? No. You know th--"
"I forgot. May asawa pala ang kaibigan ko." - she sarcastically said. Napakamot naman ng ulo si Jeron dahil kanina pa nito pinauputol ang kanyang sinasabi. "Asawa na parang hindi asawa." - she continued.
Jeron bit his lip. Hindi niya alam na malaki pala talaga ang galit ng mga kaibigan ni Jeva sa mga kaibigan niya. Hindi niya alam kung dapat ba siyang maoffend para sa mga kaibigan niya o ano. Kanina pa siya nakaktanggap ng hindi magandang salita mula sa mga kaibigan ni Jeva.
He looked at Jeva. "I'll go ahead." - he said politely.
"I'm sorry." - Jeva mouthed at him and he just smiled sweetly.
"It's okay. So? Do you really wanna go with me? At the ball?" - tumango naman si Jeva bilang sagot. "Okay, I'll just fetch you at your house." - the latter answered him with a smile before he left.
"What was that?" - agad na tanong ni Jeva sa kaibigan.
"What, what?" - patay-malisyang saad nito at napabuntong-hininga na lang ang huli.
"You don't have to be rude at him. Siya ang nagdala sa akin dito sa hospital."
Mari rolled her eyes. "Yeah, whatever." -umupo siya sa umupo malapit sa hospital bed ni Jeva. "What were you two talking about?"
"I wanted to join the VIP Ball and I'll be going with him."
"Hoy girl! Gaga ka ba?! Sikat yung taong yun maraming pwedeng makakita sa inyo. Haller?! Loka-loka ka! Paano kung makita kayo ng asawa mo?" - sunod-sunod na tanong ni Mari sa kaibigan.
"That is the plan, bells. I wanted to talk to my husband. Gusto kong maliwanagan. Dahil kung magpapatuloy itong ganitong sitwasyon, mababaliw na ako. Kailangan ko na siyang makausap." - Jeva is really hopeless and clueless about everything that is happening.
"Why don't you call him instead bakit doon pa? Baka maissue pa kayo ng Jeron na yun. You could've come with me."
"Hindi ko naman alam na invited ka pala."
"Hello." - she said sarcastically while flipping her long kinky hair. "I'm a well-known writer in the Philippines." - mayabang na sabi nito.
"Oh, edi ikaw na."
AFTER being released from the hospital Mari volunteered to find a gown for her since she can't exhaust herself too much.
Jeron fetched Jeva and Mari and went together at the ball. They heard lots of clicks from the camera the moment they entered the venue. Naunang pumasok si Jeron habang nakaalalay kay Jeva. Sumunod naman sa kanila si Mari dahil sa kagustuhan nitong magkaroon ng magandang entrance.
Nakahinga naman ng maluwag si Jeva nang makapasok na sila sa hall at buti nalang talaga at masquerade ang theme ng ball at halos buong mukha ang natatakpan dahil sa lace ng mask niya kaya walang makakakilala sa kanila pero sigurado siyang kinabukasan magiging trending ang pagdadala ni Jeron ng date sa ball.
She is wearing a midnight blue off-shoulder ball gown and it has lots of diamond-like stone that blends with the lights.
Jeron sure has a lot people acquaintances marami kasing nakakakilala sa lalaki at bumabati dito but she is glad because he never leave her alone. Pinagsabihan pa niya ito na okay lang na sumama siya sa iba at iniwan siya nito but the latter said;
"You are my date. I won't leave you alone. I brought you here and we will leave together." - her heart jumps with joy because of his sweetness. Kung hindi lang siguro buntis at kung wala lang siyang asawa iisipin niyang may gusto sa kanya ang lalaki. Jeron is a man of his words. Hindi nga siya pinabayaan nito. Kahit sa pagkuha ng pagkain o inumin ito pa ang tumatayo para sa kanya.
May mga pagkaing nakaprepare na sa kanilang mesa meron ding buffet. Most of the food that she wanted to eat were found on the buffer area. Nakakahiya man pero wala siyang magagawa dahil mapilit ang lalaki.
Any woman will be so lucky to have someone like Jeron. He's so sweet and caring.
The whole event was okay but Jeva's attention wasn't on the event. Her eyes were roaming around hoping to see her husband. Hoping to get a chance to talk to him.
"Now ladies and gentlemen, let us all welcome our couple of the night Mr. Vladimir Quiroz and his date Ms. Suella Velez." - halos mabingi si Jeva dahil sa kanyang narinig, agad naman siyang mapalingon sa stage kung saan nakita niya ang kanyang asawa na may babaeng nakakapit sa braso nito at parehong may mga ngiti sa labi.
Her heart is twitching in pain, she felt so suffocated. She is breathing hard trying to suppress herself not to break down.
Ang sakit. Napahawak siya sa kanyang dibdib. Napakasakit na makita ang asawa niya, ang taong minamahal niya na masaya kasama ang ibang babae.
Why... She wanted to ask her husband if she wanted to clear her mind and her heart. She wanted answers.
"Powder room lang ako." - paalam niya kay Jeron.
"Do you want me to accompany you?" - may bahid ng pag-aalala ang boses nito.
"No, thanks. I can handle myself." - she said and gave him a small smile trying not to embarrass herself.
Jeva stayed in the powder room long enough to cry her heart out. Akala niya magiging okay siya sa loob ng powder room but she thought wrong. Several groups of women came in and out of the powder telling how compatible Vladimir and Suella is.
She gather herself together and walk out from the powder room pero pinanganak ata siyang may balat sa puwet dahil pabalik pa lamang siya sa event hall ay nakita niya ang kanyang asawa at ang babae na may mga reporter na nakapalibot sa mga ito.
"Yes, it was me. It was me on Vlad's instagram." - her jaw dropped with what the woman said she wanted to intervene and tell all of them that it was her. "No, I just change my hairstyle." - the woman smiled at the reporter. Suella has a black straight hair which is very different to her long brown wavy hair.
Kahit kailan hindi siya nanliit sa kanyang sarili. She never doubted herself pero dahil sa babaeng iyon she felt so small.
Suella is very beautiful everyone loves her, everyone adores her. Everyone always sees the good in her na para bang walang kapintas-pintas sa babae.
Her tears fell down when the woman's head leaned on her husband's shoulder in front of the camera. They're both smiling and look like a happy couple.
Jeva gritted her teeth. Bakit hindi man lang nito itinama ang kasinungalingan ng babae? Bakit walang salitang lumabas sa bibig ng asawa niya. Bakit ba hindi pa siya kayang ipakilala ng asawa niya sa publiko? Bakit? Andaming bakit. Now, she's doubting. Talaga bang minahal siya ng asawa? O minahal lang siya nito dahil siya ang naroon noong mga panahong yun? O baka sinabi lang nito na mahal siya ng lalaki dahil yun ang akala niya? O baka gusto lang nitong maging mabuti sa harap ng kanyang lolo at lola? Na baka, kaya lang ito nakipagmabutihan sa kanya dahil may hiningi na naman ito sa kanyang lolo at lola? O baka naman, mas mahal niya lang talaga ang trabaho niya kaysa sa kanya, na asawa nito?
There are lots of what if's and questions in her head that wants answer. Napasinghap siya ng biglang tumingin ang lalaki sa kanyang direksyon. Patay! She didn't wear her mask back. Ngunit, bago pa magtama ang paningin nilang dalawa ay may nagtakip sa kanyang mga mata.
"Don't look if you can't handle the pain." - it was Jeron.
He made her turned around and drag her out of the place. Ilang saglit lang ay nakarating na sila sa parking lot.
"Cry. Now."
Agad niyang niyakap ang lalaki at ibinuhos ang kanyang mga luha. "Ang sakit. Ang sakit sakit." - she said between her sobs.
"I know, I know." - Jeron said while patting her back.
"I love him so much, Jeron. Bakit kailangang saktan niya ako ng ganito? Ano bang kulang sa akin? Binigay ko na ang lahat ng meron ako. Binigay ko na ang lahat. Lahat-lahat. Hindi ba ako maganda? Ano ba ang dapat kung gawin para maging sapat?" - she said between her sobs.
Jeron cupped her face and looked at her intently. "Shhh. Hindi ka nagkulang. Maganda ka, yan ang wag mong kakalimutan. You don't need to change to be enough to someone. You don't need to do anything to just fit." - he consoled her. "Kung hindi ka niya kayang mahalin, look around you. There's a lot of people out there who want to be with you." And I am one of them. He continued those words in his head.
"Wala akong ibang gusto kundi yung asawa ko lang. Siya lang." - humahagulhol na sabi ni Jeva. She look so wrecked and lost.
Hinila siya pabalik ni Jeron upang bigyan ng mahigpit na yakap. He can't afford to see her in this kind of situation. "Okay, okay. I understand." - biglang nataranta ang lalaki nang biglang lumupaypay ang babae. Buti na lang at yakap-yakap niya ito kaya naman hindi ito bumagsak sa lupa.
"Fuck! Just great! What have you done, Vladimir?!" - he cussed many times. Pinangko niya ang babae at handa ng lisanin ang lugar ng hinarangan siya ng isang lalaki.
"What the fuck, Jeron?!" - bungad sa kanya ni Vladimir. "What the hell did you do to my wife?!"
He scoffed at his friend. "I should be the one asking you that, what the hell did you do, Vladimir?! What the hell was that all about?!" - galit na sigaw niya sa kanyang kaibigan. "May asawa kang tao!"
"May asawa din yang dinadala mo! Why did you bring her to be your date, anyway?" - Vlad mocked at him.
"I already told you that I'll bring her to the ball if you won't." - maangas na sabi nito.
Ikinuyom ni Vladimir ang kanyang palad. "Give me my wife."
"No." - matigas na sabi nito.
"I said give me my wife, Jeron kung ayaw mong magkabingihan tayo!" - pagbabanta niya rito.
"Go on. As if I care." - Jeron didn't care all that he wanted is to take Jeva away from this place.
"Give me my wife!"
"Who are you to order him?!" - it was Mari na pinaglihi ata sa kabute dahil bigla-bigla nalang sumusulpot. "Go now, young man. Take her away from here." - she ordered Jeron which the latter gladly obliged.
"D--"
"Didn't I already warn you, Mr. Quiroz?" - she said to Vald coldly. "I told you not to hurt her if you don't want me to take her away from you."
Pabagsak na lumuhod si Vlad sa harap ni Mari. "Don't do this to me. Please. Don't take my wife away from me. I can't live without her."
"Very wrong, Mr. Quiroz." - she mocked at him. "Kayang-kaya mong mabuhay na wala ang kaibigan ko. Nabuhay ka nga ng ilang araw na wala ang kaibigan ko. You'll survive." - she said sarcastically.
"I did that for her. For her goodness."
"Really?" - she raised her brow at him. "Bakit? Para sa kabutihan din ba ng kaibigan ko ang may ipakilala kang ibang babae sa publiko? Alam mong may asawa kang tawo, Mr. Quiroz. Alamin mo kung ano ang mga prayoridad mo sa buhay. HUWAG KANG DUWAG!" - galit na bulyaw niya sa lalaki.
"Kung ako lang, Mr. Quiroz hinding-hindi ko na papalapitin ang kaibigan ko sa'yo. But, I am not that evil. I will let her decide what she wanted to do." - she breath harshly. "Maghintay ka kung ano ang magiging desisyon niya." It is really hard for Mari to decide hindi naman niya alam kung ano ang sinasabi ng puso ng kanyang kaibigan.
"Sana lang matanggap mo kung ano man ang magiging desisyon niya. Kung totoong mahal mo siya, ngayon pa lang magdasal ka na rin na sana hindi ka niya iwan. Pero kung hindi, ngayon pa lang magbunyi ka na." - her words serve as a warning and an advice to the man. Ibinigay na niya ang desisyon sa lalaki kung ano ba dapat ang kanyang gagawin niya.
Mari left Vladimir kneeling on the ground. He is so helpless but not enough to be compared with her friend's feelings.
Vladimir already knew that right then, his world would be shattered into pieces.