"WHERE is your other boss?" - kaagad na tanong ni Champ kay Teresa na sekretarya nilang mag-asawa.
Hindi maituon ni Teresa ang kanyang mga mata sa kanyang lalaking boss dahil kakaiba ang awra nito ngayon. Malamig ang pakikitungo nito sa mga empleyado ng kumpanya at basta-basta nalang naninigaw kapag hindi nito nagustuhan ang iyong sagot o ginagawa.
"H-hindi ko po alam, sir." - kinakabahang sagot nito habang nakayuko at nilalaro ang kanyang mga daliri.
"BULLSHIT!" - napaigtad si Teresa sa biglaang pagmumura ng kanyang boss. "You are the secretary and yet you don't know your boss is?!" - sigaw ng lalaki sa kaniya.
"S-sir, I only knew Miss Villaflor's schedule inside the company. Wala po akong alam tungkol sa schedule niya sa labas." - hindi alam ng sekretarya kung saan niya nahugot ang lakas ng loob para sagutin ang kanyang boss.
Nakakunot ang noo ni Champ habang nakatingin sa sekretarya. "What do you mean, Miss Villaflor?"
"Ah, eh? Hindi po ba si Miss Villaflor lang po ang isa ko pang boss?" - saad nito saka napakamot sa kanyang batok.
"Mrs. Quiroz not Miss Villaflor!" - he corrected his secretary which made the latter dropped her jaw. Nanlalaki ang mga mata nito habang nakatingin sa kanyang boss na lalaki. "What the fuck, Miss Dimagiba?!"
Napakurap ng ilang beses si Teresa at biglang tumawa ng malakas habang pumapalakpak. Mas lalong nalukot ang noo ni Champ dahil sa inasal ng sekretarya. "What the hell is there to be happy, Miss Dimagiba?!"
"Ikaw naman, sir. Sinira mo naman ang pagiging happy ko." - she joked.
"What the fuck?!"
Teresa raised her hands in defeat. "Masaya lang ako sir dahil boto ako sa inyo ni Ma'am." - malaking ang ngiti nito sa kanyang labi habang pumalakpak ulit. "Alam mo po kasi idol na idol ko po yung si Ma'am sobrang ganda ng boses magaling pang magdrums. Iniisip ko lang kung bakit hindi siya mag-artista. Sure akong sisikat."
"How did you know that?"
"Alam mo kasi sir, lagi ako dun sa café ng kaibigan niya si Kriza ba yun. Yung palaging galit sa mundo. Matatamis naman ang meron sa café pero yung may-ari parang inilipat lahat ng tamis sa binibake niya kaya ang naiwan sa dugo niya ang puro kabitteran at kamalditahan." - Teresa explained.
"I think you mean, Kyza." - he corrected her.
Teresa snapped. "Oo, nga pala." - she giggled. "Ikaw naman kasi, sir. Bakit hindi mo sinabing asawa mo pala yun si Ma'am? Kaya pala mag spark spark akong nakikita sa pagitan niyo."
"The hell?"
"I mean, I feel something fishy between you, sir. Kaya pala biglang nawala sa mood si Ma'am noong nalaman niyang sinundo mo yung Higad-- este si Ma'am Suella sa airport."
Napahilamos si Champ ang kanyang mukha gamit ang kanyang palad. "She knew that?"
"Of course! Kasi ibinalita nga yun, diba? Tsaka, nasabi ko rin sa kaniya--" Teresa slowly zipped her mouth when her boss eyed her. Oopsie! Parang kasalanan ko pa ata.
Mabilis na tumalikod sa kanya si Champ at mukhang aalis na ng kumpanya.
"Siiirr!! Hindi ko po sinasadya! Wag niyo po akong isesante. Wala po akong makakain!" - sigaw ni Teresa sa lumalayo boss. "Bakit mo kasi sinabi sir na mag-asawa pala kayo?" - she murmured. She's doomed.
"Hoy, Teresa! Anong ginawa mo kay sir?" - hinihingal na tanong ng isang empleyado.
"Ano?! Wala no?!"
"Anong wala?! Ikaw ang huling kinausap ni sir. Ayon, lahat ng nakikita niya sa paligid tinatapon o sinisira niya. Sinigawan niya rin yung ang mga humarang sa dinadaanan niya." - saad nito.
Teresa bit her lips. Pwede ko bang sabihin? "Ah eh. Hindi ko alam, siguro dahil hindi ko nasabi sa kanya ang meeting niya ngayon."
"My goodness, Teresa! Ang tanga mo!" - bulyaw nito sa kanya bago umalis. Nahinga naman ng maluwag si Teresa dahil bumenta ang kanyang alibi.
ISANG mag-asawang sampal ang natanggap ni Champ sa ama ni Jeva. Sa mansyon kasi ng mga Villaflor siya dumeretso pagkatapos niyang lisanin ang kanilang kompanya.
"Lo siento mucho, papá." - paghingi niya ng tawad dito. Nakaluhod siya sa harap ng mag-asawa habang nakayuko ang kanya ulo.
"You never heard any word from me the time that you married my daughter. Labag man sa loob ko pero sinuportahan ko ang kagustuhan ng asawa ko. Because, I thought na aalagaan mo ang anak ko!" - galit na sigaw nito sa kanya.
"Lo siento, papá. Pero necesito ver a mi esposa." I'm sorry, papa. But I need to see my wife. He said in a very low voice.
"¡Desvergonzado!" Shameless! "After hurting my daughter and now you are here wanting to see her?! No puedes! And it's a good thing that my daughter is not her. Get out!" - Dr. Villaflor pointed at the opened door telling him to leave.
"Cari--"
"¡Callate!" Shut up! He looked at his wife. "You are also accountable with what happened to my daughter. Ikaw ang nagpursiging ipakasalan siya sa lalaking ito!" - turo niya kay Champ.
"But, you also need to understand Vladimir's career." - malumanay na sabi ng ginang.
"Understand?! ¡¿Me estás tomando el pelo?!" Are you kidding me?! He is now glaring his wife. "Bakit sa tingin mo ba hindi ko inunawa ang pagdesisyon mo na ipakasal ang anak natin sa taong hindi naman niya masyadong kilala?! And do you also think that our daughter has been understanding this el tirón for two long years?!" Jerk. He turned his palm into fist while tears are forming in his eyes. "It's so hurtful for a father who can't do anything to stop the pain of his precious one. Every time that this el tirón denied her and their relationship made her wrecked. Ako ang laging nilalapitan ang anak ko kapag nasasaktan siya dahil sa lalaking ito pero wala akong magawa dahil mahal niya ang gagong ito! Masakit na makita ang anak ko na umiiyak at nahihirapan. She is my only princess and I wish the best for her." - mas lalong nahiya si Champ sa ama ng asawa nang lumuhod ito sa harap niya habang umiiyak.
"Ikaw? Ano ang nagawa mo para sa anak ko? Ano ang sakripisyong nagawa mo para mapasaya siya?!" - Dr. Villaflor gripped his shoulders, at mas lalo siyang napayuko dahil narealize niya na wala pala siyang nagawa para sa asawa niya. "Nada! Nada! Nada!" - his wife's father is chanting nothing while shaking him harshly and it's grip become tighter. "No hiciste nada por ella." You did nothing for her. He said between his sobs. Her father was totally wreck. "You treasure your career more than your wife. Mas kaya mo pang mawala ang asawa mo kaysa sa trabaho mo. Mas nakaya mo pang magpakilala ng ibang babae sa publiko kahit alam mong may asawa kang tao!" - he roared at Champ. Jeva's mother covered her mouth to keep herself from lamentations. She can't afford seeing her husband hopelessly wrecked.
Nanghihinang tumayo si Mr. Villafor bago tumingin sa kanyang asawa. "We promised together to give our daughter the best we can. We also promised to keep her happy. But I can't see her happy in her marriage." - he said before leaving the two in the living room.
Mrs. Villaflor rubs Champ's arms gently. "It's hard to admit but I have to agree with my husband. I am also accountable with my daughter's pain. Por favor, hijo mÃo, haz algo por mi hija." Please, my son, do something for my daughter. Mrs. Villaflor pleaded to him. "If you really love her, do something for her and if you don't, don't hurt her anymore." - saad nito bago iniwan siyang nakaluhod sa sahig.
Champ realizes that maybe this time he should do something for her, for his wife. Maybe this time he should know what to prioritize the most and what to risk. He can live without his career but he thinks that he can no longer survive without his wife.
ON THE OTHER SIDE, Jeva decided to look for her husband. Hindi niya na kayang patagalin ang pagdurusa nilang dalawa. Everything is already too much. Kailangan nilang pag-usapan kung may patutunguhan ba talaga ang relasyon nila.
She is now on her way to Champ's condo. Someone texted her that her husband is waiting there for her. Nagtataka nga siya dahil ni minsan ay hindi pa siya nakakaapak sa condo nito tapos ngayon gusto nitong makipagkita sa kanya at doon pa talaga sa condo ng lalaki. He could've meet her at the house. Napailing naman si Jeva. He can't. Mainit nga pala ang mga mata ng mga reporter sa asawa.
She took a deep breath before knocking at the door. She really felt no good at this place. She knocked three times but no one answered. So, she decided to open the door and walked in.
Palinga-linga siya sa paligid but the place is so quiet. "Champ?" - she called his name but no one answered.
She suddenly smelled something so she decided to follow the smell and it brought her to the kitchen.
"Champ?" - she called his name but she did not see Champ but instead, a woman with an apron. The woman dropped the ladle when she saw an unfamiliar face.
"Who are you?" - nagulat pa ang dalawa dahil pareho sila ng tanong.
Mariing tiningnan ni Jeva ang babae and to her shock she realized that it was Suella. What is she doing here? Why is she cooking for my husband? She unexpectedly felt jealousy. Mas lalo siyang nanliit sa sarili lalo na ngayong nakita niya ang babaeng ipinakilala sa publiko bilang girlfriend ng asawa.
Suella smiled at her. "I'm sorry. Anyways, I'm Suella." - pakilala nito sa sarili at inilahad ang kanyang kamay kay Jeva. Nanlalamig ang kamay ni Jeva habang akmang tatanggapin ang kamay isa nang may sinabi pa ito. "Vladimir's girlfriend."
Ngayon, hindi lang kamay niya ang nanlalamig kundi buong katawan na niya. Milyon-milyong kutsilyo ang tumarak sa kanyang puso. How dare she?! How dare she to claim herself as my husband's girlfriend? Gustong-gustong sabunutan ni Jeva ang babae at sampalin ng paulit-ulit para matauhan ito sa mga pinagsasabi nito. But she can't do it, dahil baka mapahamak ang anak niya sa kanyang sinapupunan. Wala sa sariling napahawak siya sa kanyang tiyan.
"I, I." - lumunok muna siya ng laway at mariing napapikit upang pigilan ang kanyang mga luha na tumulo. "I'm Jeva, one of ZK Pharmaceutical Board Directors." - she bit her lips. She's not used in lying. "I just wanted to deliver words to my hu--- Mr. Quiroz." - she looked away. Ayaw niyang titigan ang mukha ng babae.
"I don't know that the company's board director is also a messenger." - she mocked at Jeva giving her a grin. "Kidding." - she gave her a fake smile.
"Since Mr. Quiroz is not around. I'll take my leave now. Please tell him that Miss Villaflor came and..." - she pulled an envelope inside her clutch and got a piece of paper and wrote something on it before putting paper inside the envelope. "Kindly give it to him. It's important." - she handed the envelope to the latter. "I'll go ahead."
Mabilis na nilisan ni Jeva ang lugar habang sapo-sapo ang kanyang dibdib. Thank God, you didn't embarrass yourself, Jeva. She said to herself.
Tumatakbo si Jeva palayo sa lugar habang marahas na pinupunasan ang mga luha sa kanyang mga pisngi nang bigla siyang nabangga sa isang matigas na bagay.
Nawalan siya ng balanse, mariin siyang napapikit habang hinihintay na bumagsak ang kanyang sarili sa lupa ngunit may isang braso pumulupot sa kanyang beywang.
"Careful." - sabi ng isang lalaking may baritonong boses.
"J-jeron?" - nagulat siya nang mapagsino niya ang lalaking sumalo sa kaniya.
"What are---"
"Jeron~" - niyakap niya nang mahigpit ang lalaki at umiyak sa bisig nito. "B-bakit? Bakit niya ako sinasaktan ng ganito? Sabi niya ako lang. Bakit may iba na?" - Jeron let her cry on his shoulder
Jeva cried her heart out on his shoulder until she lost her consciousness AGAIN on his arms. Napailing na lang si Jeron bago binuhat ang babae para ilayo sa lugar na yun.
Champ arrived at his condo not so long after Jeva left their condo.
"What are you doing here?" - he asked at Suella as soon as he saw her inside his condo.
"I just wanted to pay you a visit because you suddenly disappear at the ball. People may think that we had an argument." - she said worriedly because of her career.
Napahilamos sa kanya mukha si Vladimir. "Something came up." - he coldly said.
"I cooked dinner for you. Do you want--"
"Why?" - he cuts her words.
"What why?" - Suella asked as her brows creased.
Vlad sighed and clenched his jaw. "Why did you tell the public that it was you on my instagram account?" Why did you do that?"
Cat got her tongue. Pasimple niyang kinagat ang kanyang dila bago sumagot. "I thought it was okay that I'll tell the public about it and I haven't even seen you with a girl since then." - she reasoned out. "I am your childhood friend and I guess it's not a problem to---"
"It is a problem! The fuck, Suella! You could've ask me if it was really okay with me or not." - Sue flinched when Vlad shouted at her. It was very unusual for him to shout.
"V-vlad..."
"Who the fuck told you to say those words in public?!" - napaatras habang nanlalaki ang mga mata ni Suella.
"It.. it w-was Janus. H-he t-told me that you won't mind and-- You were there on the interview--"
Vlad kicked the vase and the loud crash made Suella flinch again. Broken pieces scattered on the floor. "The fuck with that Janus! I told him not to meddle with this issue. Bullshit!"
"Bakit ba galit na galit ka?" - nagtatakang tanong ni Suella sa kaibigan. "Okay lang naman sa akin kung maissue tayo. I don't care. Magkaibigan naman tayo. Alam naman natin kung ano ang totoo."
"I care! I mind! I will lose my greatest treasure because of what you've done!"
"What is your greatest treasure?"
"My wife!"
Nabulunan ang babae sa sarili niyang laway. "Y-you're wife? Y-you have wife?" - napakurap siya ng ilang beses. "WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME?! AKALA KO BA MAGKABABATA TAYO? BAKIT HINDI MO SINASABI SA AKIN?! KAYANG-KAYA KITANG TULUNGAN SA PROBLEMA MO! TANG-INA KA! BAKIT HINDI MO SINABI AGAD?!" Di makapaniwalang sigaw niya sa lalaki. "Wag mo sabihing naduwag ka?" - she grinned at her.
Nanlumo si Vlad dahil alam niyang oo ang sagot sa tanong ng kanyang kaibigan. "Naduwag ka nga." - Suella pointed out.
"Anyways, can I meet her?"
Vlad sighed. "I don't know if you can. Hindi ko pa nakakausap ang asawa ko since I fetched you at the airport." - nanlulumong saad nito.
"I'm sorry."
"It's okay, it wasn't your fault. Hindi lang talaga ako makalapit sa asawa ko dahil sa sobrang daming reporters at paparazzi sa paligid." - he said.
Suella raised her index finger when she remembered something. "Right, someone from your company came and left something for you." - she handed him the envelope. She doesn't know what's inside it because she doesn't want to meddle in someone else's business.
His brows furrowed. No one from the company knows where his condo is. "Who was it?"
"She called you by your second name." - ngumuso siya habang pinasingkit ang kanyang mata. "It's so rare for someone to call you Champ."
Dahil sa sinabi nito ay nagkaroon na ng hint ang lalaki kung sino ang pumunta sa kanyang condo.
She hummed. "What was her name?" - she shook her head a little to remember the woman's name. "Was it Jeda? Jesa? Je-- ay basta, she told me to tell you that Miss. Villaflor came--"
"What the fuck? It was Jeva. She wasn't just someone from the company. She's my wife!"
"Oh? You have a good taste in women." - Suella remembered the woman's look. She is sophisticated. Her brown hair complimented her fair skin and she looks like a model on how she carries her dress. "Oh my God." - she covered her mouth when she realized what she did. "I think I messed up." - she said and looked away as she bit her lip.
"What have you done?" - mababang boses na saad ng lalaki.
"I, I told her that I am your girlfriend." - she immediately places her palms in front to stop him if he will do something on her because he's already glaring at her. "Wait, wait! Let me explain." - she took a deep breath. "I thought she was a spy or something. Hindi ko naman kasi alam na may asawa ka na." - she lowered her head.
Vlad squeezed his eyes and sighed.
"Hmm. Kaya naman pala iba ang pangalang tinawag niya sayo. Asawa mo pala yun." - she teased him.
"I need to think, Suella. You know the way out if you wanted to leave." - he said coldly.
"I'm sorry, Vlad. I didn't mean to."
"Nangyari na ang nangyari, Sue. Hindi na natin mababago pa ang nangyari." - he sat on the sofa and leaned his back on it as he put his arm on his forehead. "Next time, don't just do anything just because you think it's okay. Don't do according to your will. Don't rush things and please, mind what you are doing especially in this situation. You might ruin someone's marriage or relationship." - he advises her friend.
She nods. "Okay, I promise. I'll be more mindful of my words next time." - she said before leaving
Nang makaalis na si Suella ay binuksan ni Vladimir ang maliit na envelope na ibinigay sa kanya ni Suella. Mabigat ang bawat paghinga niya dahil sa kabang kanyang nararamdaman. He didn't know why he felt so nervous.
His world fell into pieces the moment he read the message that his wife wrote for him.
I, Jeva Lyn Villaflor Quiroz. Resigned as Mr. Vladimir Champ Quiroz's wife.
"What the fuck kind of joke is this?!"
He cursed and cussed multiple times as he gripped his hair. No! It was just a prank. He tried calling his wife's phone but it was out of reach.
He screamed his heart out and wrecked everything single thing he saw.
"No." - his voice broke. "You can't leave me. Please don't leave. Por favor."