Chapter IV

UMAASANG tinignan ko si Trev pagkapasok na pagkapasok pa lang nito sa aking opisina. Kahit masama pa rin ang loob nito sa panggagago ko kay Eevie ay hindi pa rin niya ako inabandona bilang kaibigan. Nang makita nitong nagsisisi na ako sa aking nagawang kasalanan, he helped me to look for Eevie.  Bago pa kasi siya naging isang CEO ng publishing company ay isa na siyang magaling na private investigator.

"I saw her."  Just three words yet it felt like everything seems so surreal. Makakahingi na rin ako ng tawad sa kanya. If I would ask for a second chance, would she give me one? Ang daming katanungan ang gumugulo sa aking isipan. Ikinuwento ko sa kanya ang buong pangyayari ilang araw na ang nakakalipas. I even showed him the photo. Sa totoo lang ay mahirap pa ring paniwalaan. I don't know if she's hiding o kaya talagang ayaw niyang magkrus ang aming landas. Sa mga ginawa ko ba naman sa kanya ay malamang ayaw na niya akong makita.

"Ilang beses mo na kayang sinabi yan sa akin? I heard you, okay? Excited lang?" pabirong sabi nito. Ngunit biglang nawala ang ngiti nito when he handed me a folder. Napalunok ako nang ma-realize kung ano ang laman niyon. Maingat at nanginginig na inabot ko ang folder. Dahan-dahan kong binuksan iyon, fearing that I would ruin the information that would lead me to her. Sa unang pahina ay isang nakangiting Eevie ang aking nakita. When was the last time I saw that genuine smile? Na para bang wala siyang kaproble-problema. She really has a smiling face ngunit noong nasa poder ko siya ay unti-unting naglaho iyon ng parang bula. And now, she looks so damn carefree. On the second page was a picture of her with a man. They were both smiling like they've won in the lottery. If I'll ask someone's opinion about the picture ay malamang sasabihin nitong masayang-masaya ang dalawa. I balled my fist the moment I saw the next picture. That man was braiding her hair while Eevie was pouting. The green-eyed monster inside me was starting to crawl.

Inis na itinapon ko ang folder sa aking table. I don't want to continue torturing myself. Three photos were enough for me. Since our marriage, I never saw that side of her. Because you're too busy hurting her, my subconscious intervened. Hindi ko maiwasang mainis sa aking sarili. My subconscious was right. I never cared. I was too busy holding my grudge against her.

I tightly shut my eyes and her smiling image suddenly popped out. Sorry, Eevie. It's the only thing I could say to her. Kulang pa nga ang salitang sorry para ayusin ang lahat ng nangyari sa nakaraan ngunit gagawin ko ang lahat para mapatawad niya lang ako.

"Chill out, dude. Lalo kang tumatanda, eh," anito, just to lighten the mood.

"How is she?"

He smiled. "She's fine. Huwag kang mag-alala. They are taking good care of her."

Napakunot-noo ako. They? "What do you mean they? Her parents? So alam nila kung nasaan siya. I never believed them anyway. Alam ko namang itinatago nila ang kanilang anak."

Trev sighed. "Not only the Del Fuentes, Alexus. You're parents are helping them to hide her from you. Yung rest house na tinutuluyan niya ngayon sa Batangas ay pagmamay-ari ng mga magulang mo. I think, they don't want you to find out her whereabouts at alam natin kung bakit. Kaya pala ang hirap niyang hanapin these past few years."

I tried to control my anger. I really felt betrayed at the moment. But who am I to complain? My parents treated Eevie as their own daughter so I couldn't blame them.  I hurt her once and hurting her for the second time could break her. Yun siguro ang dahilan ng aking mga magulang.

"Who's that guy?" I venomously asked him. Kung nasa harapan ko lang ang lalaking iyon ay malamang basag na ang mukha nito. No one touches what's mine. Eevie is still mine. I'm her husband kahit sa papel lang. Hangga't nakakabit ang aking apelyido sa kanya ay mag-asawa pa rin kami sa mata ng tao lalong-lalo na sa mata ng Diyos.

"He's Marcus Villacruz. He's loaded, bro. I don't know yet how they met but frankly, they look so cozy together. You know, they could be an item and hopefully just simply friends."

Hindi ko alam kung bakit kinukunsinti ng aking mga magulang na mapalapit si Eevie sa ibang lalaki. Mas maiintindihan ko pa na itinago nila sa akin si Eevie but this? Kahit man lang sana sinuportahan nila ako bilang kanilang anak. Am I not worthy for a second chance? Ganun na ba ako kasama sa kanilang paningin? Oo, nagkamali ako pero bakit hindi nila maramdaman na na-realize ko na ang aking mga nagawang kasalanan at pinagsisisihan ko na ang mga iyon.

Trev cleared his throat and let out a heavy sigh. Alam kong may masama pang balita so I gestured him to spill it out. Sirang-sira na ang aking araw kaya bakut hindi ko pa lubus-lubusin?

"And they are living in the same roof."

I let out a sarcastic laugh the moment I heard that. "You're kidding me, right?"

Nagbibiro lang naman siguro ito. Eevie and that guy? So, are they in a relationship already? Ang bilis naman niya akong nakalimutan. Five years have already passed, my subconscious corrected. Pero mahal niya ako di ba? Bakit may kasama na siyang iba?

"They are. But dude, wag kang magagalit sa sasabihin ko. Eevie deserves to be happy. If she's happy with that man ay hayaan na lang natin. Kahit yun lang ang maibigay mo sa kanya."

I shook my head. "I can't, Trev. I don't want to let her go. I need her back. Even if I sound selfish, I don't care."

I couldn't believe that my parents approved of this kind of set-up. Nahihibang na ba sila? Alam kong malaki ang nagawa kong kasalanan sa kanya ngunit bakit kailangang umabot sa ganitong parusa? I lost her once so I won't lose her again this time. I need her in my life. Nobody could stop me from getting her back.

"Why do you keep insisting on getting her back? Maraming babae naman diyan. Let her go already."

I looked straight to his eyes. "Why? Because I love her."