CHAPTER THREE:

Six months had already past and the day that I've been waiting for has finally came. Today was the end of our marriage, the court has finally signed the decree of annulment.

"So this is how it ends."

Pinasok nya ang kanyang kamay sa bulsa ng kanyang pantalon habang sabay kaming naglalakad papuntang tawiran.

Nabalot kami ng katahimikan, at mga ilang sandali ang lumipas ay narinig ko ang paghinga nya ng malalim bago nagsalitang muli.

"Will you be ok?" He asked me.

"Of course I am." I replied.

I should be...After all, I'm the one who insisted to end it.

Saglit ko syang nilingon at ganon rin ang ginawa nya. Sa sandaling iyon ay nabalot kami ng katahimikan.

"This won't be our last meeting right?" He asked me after a moment of silence.

"Only time will tell, Isaac." I simply replied at huminga ng malalim. We stoped from walking because we have to go our separate ways.

"I hope this will make you happy." He looked at me with his heavy eyes.

"I will."

I heard him took a heavy sigh before speaking again.

"Anyway...Take Care."

"You too."

He immediately turned his back to me, and without looking back he walked away from me.

I watched him from a distance and as he went further and further away, I gradually felt a twinge in my chest. Suddenly, a single tear fell from my eyes.

(Did I just cry?)

I immediately wiped my tears away and took a deep breath to gather myself up. I guess... it's really sad to part from someone. After all, we still lived with each other.

"Mrs. Ramirez , ito na po pala yung mga old designs na pinapahanap nyo." Iniabot sa akin ni Ms. Sara ang ilang mga luma kong portfolio.

Almost two weeks had already past since the annulment was finalized and I haven't told it to anyone, including my family. I think, I still need to gather some courage to do that.

"Na send ko na rin po pala yung mga design kay Ms. Regina and na set ko na rin po yung appointment nyo with Mr. Cruz and other clients." Iniabot rin ni Ms. Sara ang copy ng schedule ko for next week. Agad naman akong napabuntong hininga nang makita iyon. Walang araw na mababakante ako, even my day off was fully sched. Looks like I won't have my rest day next week.

After my collaboration with Ms. Herford, mas naging busy na ako sa work. Most of the time I stay late at work and I always had a meeting with my clients. It's a good thing because it helped my designs get recognized by many, but in the other hand, it was exhausting.

My last meeting with my client today was until three pm only and after that wala na akong ibang gagawin. Ngayon lang ulit ako uuwi ng maaga and that's a good thing dahil maraming dapat ayusin sa condo.

(Hindi rin pala ako makakapagpahinga.)

Bago pa man ako umuwi ay naisipan ko munang dumaan sa paborito kong coffee shop, malapit sa studio. Gusto ko munang mag-relax at mag-unwind kahit saglit lang.

When I entered the coffee shop, I was welcomed by a strong and enticing smell of coffee. As always, I ordered iced coffee and cinnamon cake. Nang ma-received ko na ang orders ko, agad akong naghanap ng mauupuan. Umupo ako banda malapit sa glass wall ng shop kung saan malaya kong mapapanood ang mga dumadaang sasakyan.I should enjoy this moment dahil minsan na lang ito mangyari ngayon.

I forgot to bring the book that I'm reading lately kaya para di ako maboryang ay nagbasa na lang ako ng mga news articles sa internet. Almost two weeks had already past pero wala pa rin akong makitang article tungkol sa paghihiwalay naming dalawa ni Isaac. Not that I really want it to be in the news, it actually doesn't matter to me but his family was prominent kaya nakapagtatakang hanggang ngayon ay wala pa ring lumalabas na balita tungkol doon. Maybe Isaac kept it private, after all it can affect his family's name and company.

Tumagal pa ang ilang sandali at naboryang na akong magbasa. Tumigil na ako sa pagbabasa at inenjoy na lang ang iced coffee ko.

"It's been a while."

Agad akong natigil ng marinig ang isang pamilyar na boses sa harapan ko. Dahan dahan akong tumunghay at agad na bumungad sa akin si Isaac na nakatayo doon.

He was wearing his grey suit and black tie, while his hair was neatly brushed on the back. I assumed he came here from work.

"Hh-i." I awkwardly greeted him.

"Can I?" He asked my permission to join me.

Hindi ko magawang magsalita kaya tumango na lang ako.

I honestly didn't think that we will meet again after the annulment. I expected that he won't show up in front of me anymore after what happened but...he was here.

He sat in front of me and he gently put his coffee on the table and at that moment we were both enfolded by silence.

(He drinks coffee now...)

"I haven't seen you here lately." He said, breaking the silence between us.

(So he has been visiting this place lately...)

"By the way...Congratulations. I heard that you and Ms. Herford had a project together." He greeted me.

It's too late but...

"Thank you." I smiled at him.

Sandali ulit kaming nabalot ng katahimikan.

"So...How are you?" He asked me.

"I'm doing great." I replied with a smile on my face. "You?" I asked him back.

"I'm...good." He replied and smiled a little.

(I'm glad he's well.)

"You still have some things back home, maybe...I'll take it to your condo. I have my off this Friday." He suggested.

I don't want to bother him anymore kaya agad akong tumanggi sa kanya. "No need, maybe I'll go there some other time and get it myself."

"Ok..." He suddenly looked frustrated.

We were both enfolded by silence again and to avoid awkwardness, I looked at my smart watch to see time. It's four pm already, maybe I should go home.

Napagpasyahan ko ng umuwi kaya nagpaalam na ako kay Isaac. Habang inililigpit ko ang mga gamit ko sa table ay bigla nya na lang akong tinawag, so I immediately looked at him to hear what he was about to say but he hesitated and just swallowed his words.

"Just...Be safe." He gave me a smile, but his eyes doesn't seem to agree with his lips.

I can't bare to see the look in his eyes so I just smiled and left him immediately.

Nang makalabas ako ng coffee shop ay bigla na lang may kung anong kumirot sa dibdib ko na dahilan para mapahawak ako doon.

(What is happening to me?)

Agad kong hinilot ang aking dibdib at huminga ng malalim. Maybe I drunk too much coffee today.

Nang umayos na ulit ang pakiramdam ko ay agad akong pumara ng taxi but just when I'm about to get in, suddenly someone held my wrisk and stoped me from getting inside the car.

Agad akong lumingon para tingnan kung sino iyon and it was Isaac again. Suddenly, my heart starts beating so fast.

"I'll drive you home." He said with his deep voice.

I was too stunned to speak so I can't help but to swallow my words.

"Ma'am, sasakay po ba kayo?" The taxi driver suddenly asked me, breaking the tension between us. Agad akong pumiglas sa pagkakahawak ni Isaac.

I was about to answer the driver when all of a sudden, Isaac cut me off.

"You can go." Isaac told the driver and he immediately closed the door.

"What are you doing?" I blurted out.

He swallowed hard before speaking again.

"It's our anniversary."

My brows furrowed in confusion.

"We're not together anymore." I said coldy.

I saw him swallowed hard before speaking again.

"I know...but can we celebrate it for the last time?" He gave me a compelling look.

(His eyes...it's making me helpless.)

"Can we?" He asked me again, breathing heavily while waiting for my answer.

For those past years, we've been spending our time together to make everyone believe in our fake relationship. Isaac and I never really had a real time together and if I give in, today will be our first and probably will also be our last.

Tumango lang ako at hindi na nagsalita, agad naman syang napangiti nang pumayag ako. Hindi na nga kami nag aksaya pa ng oras at nagpunta na kami sa may car park ng coffee shop kung saan naroon ang kanyang Mercedes. Pinagbuksan nya ako ng pinto at umupo ako sa harapan. Matapos noon ay agad na kaming umalis.

He took me to a harbor in Manila, where most of the yachts are docked. Pinark nya lang yung kotse nya sa isang car park malapit sa harbor matapos ay naglakad na kami. Hindi pa man kami nakakalayo ay sinalubong na kami ni Mr. Fernandez at hinatid nya kami kung saan nakatigil ang isang maliit na white yacht.

"Where are we going?" I asked Isaac.

"Let's watch the sunset." Nginitian nya ako at inalalayan para umakyat ng yacht.

When the sun is about to set, Isaac stoped the yacht for a while so we could watch it together. Lumapit ako sa railings at sumandal doon. Mga ilang sandali ay tumabi na rin sa akin si Isaac and he gave me a glass of red wine. Nabalot kami ng katahimikan at sabay naming pinanood ang paglubog ng araw.

"I'm sorry if I didn't make you happy." He uttered after a long silence.

I know we never had a good and happy life together, but I don't blame him for what happened.

"You don't have to, Isaac." I replied. "It's not your fault."

(It's me.)

From the very beginning I already knew the consequences of the choice I made but I became delusional and unfortunately...everything became unbearable for me.

Sandali ulit kaming nabalot ng katahimikan.

"Can I asked you something?" I asked after a moment of silence.

"Go on."

"Why me?" I looked at him.

He tooked a seconds of silence before he answered. "I need a wife to claim my inheritance and you...you were desperate to save your family, so...I just thought that your the only one I know who will gladly accept my offer." He answered without looking at me.

So that was his reason at all. I was hoping that he had other reasons but it was just the same as what I thought in the first place.

Tumagal pa nga ang oras at tuluyan ng lumubog ang araw kaya naman naisipan na naming bumalik.

Habang nasa byahe kami ay nabalot na naman kami ng katahimikan. I was admiring the Manila bay from a far when I suddenly put my gaze to the ring on his finger. He still doesn't take it off.

"I almost forgot." Kinuha ko yung engagement and wedding ring sa bag ko para isauli sa kanya, pero hindi ko pa man iyon naiaabot ay bigla na lang syang nagsalita para pigilan ako.

"Keep it." He said firmly.

"But I-"

He suddenly cut me off.

"You can do whatever you want with it, just.. don't give it back." I saw him swallowed hard after speaking. He is really serious on not taking it back so I couldn't do anything but to put it back inside my bag.

Nabalot ulit kami ng katahimikan kaya naisip ko na lang na panuorin ang mga sasakyang dumadaan.

A few moments had passed and the night has completely conquered the city but then the surroundings suddenly become peacefully odd and quiet.

"Fasten your seatbelt." He suddenly spoke with tension on his voice.

With confusion, I still immediately did what he said.

"What is happening?" I asked him confused.

He didn't answer my question and just continued driving but this time he was more focused than before.

Moments later, the car began to speed up. And because of that, I began to have a hunch that something is wrong with the car. I'm starting to feel uneasy.

I need to keep my calm, so I decided to close my eyes and took a deep breathe. But then, when I was about to open my eyes, a huge truck suddenly appeared in front of us and blinded us with its bright head lights. Isaac tried to turn the wheel but unfortunately we still couldn't avoid it.

Grinding metal and shattering glasses, I watched the crash unravel, unable to do anything to save us. My head hit the dashboard and that's the last thing I could remember before I lost my consciousness.

(Where am I?)

I only see darkness.

My head was aching and my body was in pain, I can't move a muscle. I smell burning gasoline and rusty scent of blood, there was this ringing in my ear, and I can only hear soft sirens and people talking from a far.

(What is happening?)

I tried to opened my eyes and I found myself lying on the road. There was this woman trying to talk to me but I couldn't understand what she was saying.

I tried to looked around and I found the car, It was already on fire. I immediately looked for Isaac but then I found him half a meter away from me, unconscious and covered with blood. I see some people trying to wake him up but he was unresponsive. I tried to reach him with my hand but my body was too weak to do that. Suddenly, I felt a great pain on my head and after a moment, my vision became blurry.

"Isaac..." I muttered, triying to call him with my weak voice.

Suddenly ,my body began to feel numb and darkness slowly filled my eyes.

It was my last memory...

Before I lost my consciousness again.

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