When Officer Burrow brought me to the room where Hayden was waiting for me, I kept thinking about the things I would ask him, but I knew the fear that was setting in my chest wouldn't help me either. I haven't seen him since he was put in the custody of the police. I'm not sure if Zeke was around as well, but I don't need to see him.

The pieces of evidence of putting Zeke as Hayden's lover were pretty out there. The affair they should really look into.

Nasa likod lamang ako ni Officer Burrow, pero nang buksan niya ang pinto na sa tapat namin ay nilingon niya ako saka pinaunang pumasok. Tumango ako sa kanya kasabay ng matinding paglunok ng laway. Pumasok ako sa loob ng kwarto at pagkaangat ng ulo ko ay nakita ko si Hayden nakaupo sa tapat ng isang lamesa habang ang mga kamay ay nakaposas din. Ang posas niya ay konektado sa metal table kaya kahit ano mang pagpalag ang gagawin niya ay hindi siya makakatakas doon.

Nagtama ang mata namin. Hindi ko iniwas ang tingin ko sa kanya. Sinundan niya ako ng tingin hangga't sa makaupo ako sa tapat niya. He stood up on his feet and was about to come at me, pero hindi niya ako magawang saktan dahil nakaposas siya. Napahawak naman si Officer Bloom sa kanyang baril at binantaan si Hayden kung uulitin man ang paninindak na ginawa sa akin ay siya ang masisindak kapag nagkataon.

Dinuraan pa ako nito sa mukha na siyang hindi naman ikinatuwa ni Officer Bloom. Parang wala namang pakialam si Hayden sa ginawa niya. Napangisi pa nga ito at mukhang nasisiyahan sa ginagawa niya. It looked like he was high. . . And getting crazy.

Inilayo ni Officer Bloom at upuan ko. He placed it a few feet away from him para hindi pa rin kami magkakalapit at may distansya pa rin mula sa amin.

A few months ago, I was dreaming of getting closer to this man. To touch his body, have sex with him, feel every bit of him, and pleasure him. . . But it was so different now. It looked like he despised me after all the things we had done. Hindi na naman ako nagulat. To all the guys I've hooked up with, kapag tapos na ay aalis na, walang attachments, bawal ma-attach. Hindi dapat ma-attach. It was only for a good time—a short time to feel some unimaginable satisfaction that only a stranger could give. That was the kind of pleasure I got in fooling around with men—gays, down-low straight men, and married men. I've had a good time.

"What are you doing here, Mitchel?" he asked, gritting his teeth. "Officer, get this bitch out of this room."

Hindi naman sumagot si Officer Bloom at nanatili lang itong nakatayo sa may pintuan habang naka-ready ang kamay sa baril. If one of us did something bad, he could get his gun out of that gun pocket and pull the trigger shooting one of us. Ayoko namang mangyari 'yon. I needed to stay calm because I needed to talk to Hayden and know the truth behind everything.

"I wanted to ask you some questions. . ."

Napangisi naman ito. "I won't entertain any of your questions, bitch."

"Why not?"

"Who are you though? Oh, yes. . . My wife's murderer. . ."

"That's a serious accusation, Hayden. You shouldn't be telling one was a murderer."

"Oh, really?" aniya. Tumawa pa ito nang bahagya at hindi na naalis ang mapaglarong ngiti sa labi. "Don't you remember what happened that night?"

"What night?"

He then put his finger on his mouth and slid it across as if he was zipping them. Hindi na siya sumagot sa akin at panay senyas na lamang ng kamay niya ang ginagawa. He was pointing to Officer Bloom to get out of the room so he could talk and if he didn't, this would be a wasted opportunity for me to get out of this place. Nilingon ko naman si Officer Bloom, pero sa tingin pa lamang ay alam na niya kung anong pakay ko.

Umiling-iling ito nang tumayo ako at lumapit sa kanya. He was already decline what I would request, pero hindi ako papayag. 

"Please, sir. . . Let me take this chance to talk to him. It won't take long. Bilangan mo kami. Ten minutes. Just ten minutes. It would be enough for me. Don't worry, I won't have sex with him. I just wanted to talk to him. . . Please, sir?"

Tinitigan ako nito ng diretsyo na para bang pinapatay na ang kaluluwa ko. Nagbitaw lamang ito ng malalim na hininga at saka tumango. "I will let you talk to him for ten minutes. Don't go near him. Sit where I placed the chair for you. I'll count the minutes, and after that, you will be back to the room where you were. Do you understand, Mister Burrow."

I nodded quickly as to please him. "Yes, sir. I understand all of it."

"Okay. . . Go back to your seat and I'll be behind the doors, and if you need help, just shout as loud as you can."

"I will. . . Thank you. . ."

Bumalik naman ako sa kinauupuan ko kanina at nang masigurado niyang hindi ako aalis doon ay lumabas na rin ito ng kwarto.

TEN MINUTES.

"Hayden, what's going on? Bakit ako nadadamay rito?" pag-aalala kong tanong.

Napangisi naman ito. "I think you should know that already. . . The answer is so simple. We had sex, and they were asking me if there was a third party or some other person who might've engaged with me in a sexual act. I told them, yes, there were a couple of people I knew that should be questioned as well."

"So, you put me and Zeke in this position just because you were so afraid that you might get caught?"

Tumawa ito. "Get caught about what, Mitchel? Just so you know, I didn't do anything. . . I just wanted to be clear on that point. I didn't do anything, and you should be asking yourself about that. Did you do something, Mitchel?"

He was grinning as if he knew what happened 

"Why can't you speak, huh?" anito. "I'm sure you know what I'm talking about. Hindi naman pwedeng kalimutan na lang basta ang nangyari. You should remember it. 'Wag kang magmaang-maangan, Mitch. You did something and you were trying to deny it. . ."

"No! I didn't do anything! You were just trying to make me look like I'm the bad guy, pero ikaw talaga 'yon!'

"Akala mo ba hindi ko alam kung anong nangyari sa dati mong asawa?" Natigil siya sa sinabi ko. Mentioning that seemed triggered him.

Napangisi naman ito saka iiling-iling. "You don't know anything. . ."

"I knew you killed him too, even though they said it was suicide. . . You are a murderer, Hayden."

He laughed like a psycho. "Sure. . . Whatever, and if I told you something about myself?" Hindi ako nagbigay ng komento. "I'm sure you would be surprised once you know who I  really am. . ."

***

FIVE YEARS AGO.

Hayden took a deep breath and let it go with a smile on his face. "Look what we've done, babe. . . This is such a beautiful thing. I wasn't sure back then if I would get a life like this. Twenty-year-old Hayden would be so proud of who I've become. . ."

Caleigh giggled as she snaked her arms around her husband's body. "He would totally be proud of you. . . I think the nineteen-year-old Caleigh won't believe I snatched a beautiful person like you. She would be so jealous if I had introduced you to my age and you were already taken. She was a very jealous person, but there's no need to be jealous anymore."

"I love you, babe. . ." Hayde lowered his head to kiss his wife. "I couldn't believe a world where I don't have you as my wife. If alternate universes are real, Hayden should always end up with Caleigh."

"That's a fact," Caleigh agreed. "We should go inside now. . . Our guest will be coming soon. . ."

Naging abala naman ang mag-asawa sa pag-aasikaso ng housewarming sa bagong lipat nilang bahay. They've been eyeing to live in this neighborhood. Tahimik, malinis at kapaligiran, at may sariling privacy. They've been wanting that kind of life, away from prying eyes. Nagkasundo sila na bilhin ang bahay na nakita nila sa isang suburban area na malapit lang din sa workplace nilang dalawa. They said, it would be worth it once they go home and get together in a place they shared all the things together.

Hayden and Caleigh invited their family and friends to join them at the housewarming, even their neighbors who would want to get to know them. They didn't want to exclude themselves and make their neighbor feel that they weren't anybody and they were nice people.

Pagtungtong ng kinagabihanay isa-isa na ring dumarating ang mga kaibigan at pamilya. A month ago, they tied the knot together and were living in a condo unit that they thought was expensive for both of them. Now, they got their own house, and greeted every guest they invited into their home. . . Not until Zeke arrived.

Zeke looked so pissed, and Hayden quickly noticed that.

Zeke was invited to their wedding—he was actually Hayden's best man and the one who organized the bachelor party for Hayden and their friends. But today, he was likely to throw off the table and make a mess around.

Nang makakuha naman ng tiyempo si Hayden na makausapn si Zeke ay idinala niya ito sa kwarto.

"What are you doing? Why are you acting like this?" tanong ni Hayden.

"I don't think we should be talking in here, Hayd. This wasn't a safe place for us."

"But it was for me," Hayden said. "I know you're mad at me, but please, don't do anything stupid. I am asking you as your boyfriend and not your best man or whatever, I need you to calm down and clear your head. I know what I'm doing. We've talked about this, okay? You agreed for me to marry Caleigh so we can continue our relationship privately."

"Why can't we just do it? Why can't we just tell the whole world that we loved each other and that the two of us were meant for each other, and not some other girl you met in the club."

"Hey, hey, I said calm down," Hayden held his face and looked straight into his eyes. "I get it. You're angry and in pain, and In understand that. We will talk more about it once this is over. I hated housewarming events. This was Caleigh's idea so I just went along so people would believe that I really love her. Believe me, this was a good thing for both of us. As long as no one knew about us, we were good. Alright?"

Zeke took a deep breath. "Fine. . ."

Hayden kissed Zeke, and it turned passionately for a second.

"I can't wait for you to fuck me again. . ." Zeke whispered.

Hayden chuckled. "My dick can't wait. . . I think we should go now before they will wonder where we are. . ."

Hayden and Zeke stepped out of the bedroom and joined the others. This time, Zeke was smiling and mingling with the others while Hayden sat next to his wife entertaining their family and friends.

It was full of fun and happiness when the housewarming gathering ended. Zeke was the last guest to leave their house. Tuwang-tuwa naman ang mag-asawa dahil masaya ang naging feedback ng mga inimbita nila. That night endd with Hayden and Caleigh having sex in every corner of their new home.

In the next few days, life was easy for the newly married couple, they went to the grocery together, and sometimes, watched a movie in the cinema together. Some of the neighbors found this couple so interesting and lovely that's why when there was a community event around their neighborhood, they were picked to do some engagement or communication duties as they thought they were lovely to look at. Especially, most of the men couldn't stop looking at Caleigh, and even though she was already married, a lot of men still desired her, lucky Hayden, got her before anyone else.

One day, it was a surprise for everyone else when Caleigh just ran into the car and got injured. Some people said that she intentionally ran towards the car and it wasn't an accident. Hindi naman naniniwala si Hayden at ang ilan sa mga sinasabi ng nakakita kay Caleigh. But Hayden knew Caleigh had a history of manic episodes, it was something she hid for so long, but to be able to move forward with Hayden, she thought she had to open up and be truthful about her past so he could accept her fully.

When Hayden asked what was the truth about Caleigh's accident, she confessed to her husband that she intended to be hit by a running car. She was supposed to be dead by now, but it didn't work out as she planned. She was given some medicine, advised by her doctor, and it was hard for Hayden to make her take her pills. And later on, one of the reasons that she did it was because she wouldn't be able to get pregnant.

Hayden comforted his wife and gave her a lot of suggestions they could do. It shouldn't be a problem. They could adopt or do a surrogacy which would be a lot of expensive, but they thought it would be an option. But at the back of Hayden's mind, it won't happen. Never.

Every day it was a struggle for Hayden to get to Caleigh as became so problematic. They didn't go to community engagement anymore as they focused on each other's well-being. But he got so over and annoyed by Caleigh that behind her back, he started meeting Zeke in his place and having sex with him. At some point, they booked a motel and did things that were new to them.

One time, Hayden was pissed off at Caleigh, and he left to go to the local sex toys shop, and selling sex toys was only at the front of the store because, behind it, they were gloryholes that a customer can pay to experience. Hayden paid and went into one of the cubicles. He pulled his pants down and inserted his cock through the circular man-made hole.

In the middle of getting an incredible amount of pleasure, Hayden didn't have any idea that his wife had followed her. Caleigh barged into the back rooms and found his husband getting his cock sucked in a glory hole. He pulled his cock out and put his pants back on, but Caleigh slap him so hard in his face, she just walked away.

As soon as they were back home, Caleigh started shouting and screaming at Hayden for cheating on her.

"Who knows kung sino-sino pa 'yang mga kinikita mo, ha?!" sigaw ni Caleigh, pero nanatiling kalmado si Hayden. "Your my husband, but you went to a gay sex store and let a man suck your dick! What the fuck are you doing? How long have you been doing this to me, Hayden? Why would do this to me? Is it because I couldn't get pregnant? Is this how you would treat me? This is so unfair."

"I want you to calm down first, and let me explain. . ."

"I don't need your explanation. I've seen enough!" Mabilis namang tumungo si Caleigh sa kanilang kwarto at isinarado ito. Sinundan naman siya ni Hayden, pero hindi siya pinagbubuksan ng pinto kaya hinayaan na lamang niya ito.

Hayden called Zeke.

"I fucked up. . . I just had a bad fight with Caleigh."

"What did you do? Fuck, Hayd. Dapat nag-iingat ka!"

"I was, but I didn't know she was following me!" sagot pa ni Hayden. "We had a fight before that. She just annoyed me so much that I thought I needed some release so I went to a local gay store. . ."

"You should've come to me instead," sagot ni Zeke."We could've done it discreetly. Hindi ka pa nasundan. And now what? What are you going to do?"

"I would be talking to her. . . I'll get back to you soon, okay? I love you. . ."

"I love you, Hayd. Fix this soon or meet me tonight, tomorrow. . . Whenever."

When Hayden dropped the call, he went to their bedroom, but it was still locked. Kinuha naman nito ang spare key at binuksan ang pinto. Pagkabukas ng pinto ay napansin nito na wala si Caleigh sa kama o kung saan man kaya naisip nito na nasa banyo siya. Tumungo siya roon, pero naka-lock din ito. He tried knocking the door a few times, but she wasn't answering or opening the door for him.

He used a spare key to open the door, and as soon as he did, he tried pushing the door forward, but it wasn't budging until he found a body lying down on the floor, blocking the door from being opened. He was forced to open to door until he was able to get inside only to find Caleigh's mouth bubbling with foam, and a can of jewelry cleaner next to her.

He brought him to the hospital, but Caleigh was already long gone. After her passing, Hayden sold their house, and he used the money to invest in something and save it for their future. Hayden lived with Zeke which was a perfect scenario for both of them. Zeke thought it could be a good start for both of them. Leave the country and live freely abroad. It was a dream for Zeke.

But one day, they went into a club, they were supposed to celebrate their anniversary until Hayden bumped into a girl, and had their eyes met together. At that moment, he thought he saw the future with her.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to—"

"No, it's okay. . . No worries. I'm Renee, by the way. What's your name?"

"I'm Hayden. . . Can I order you a drink?"

Renee smiled. "Sure thing. . ."

***

"Help! Help me! He is harassing me!" sigaw ni Hayden na ikina-panic ko naman. Bigla rin namang pumasok si Officer Bloom sa kwarto. "Get him out of this room. He was trying to touch me!"

Tumingin sa akin si Officer Bloom at tanging iling na lang din naman ang naisagot ko. He grabbed me by my arm, and as soon as he brought me back into the room where I was before, he didn't sit in the chair in front of me.

"Were you harassing him?"

I shook my head. "No. . . He wasn't. . . He was lying."

"Okay. So, what did you talk about?"

"He didn't murder Caleigh. It was true. But it was his and Zeke's plan to hide their relationship even before Hayden got married to her. . . I'm not sure if you would believe me, but he just told me everything. . ."

"Everything?" 

I nodded. "Yes, everything. . ."

He crossed his arms together. "Are you sure about that, Mister Burrow? Unfortunately, we've received an update from the officers who searched your house earlier and they've found multiple stuff at your home that you could possibly use against Renee Cummings. They found used razors, bleach, rope, and other things. . . You haven't been honest with us, and so we will detain you until there are new reports. For now, you are a suspect in Renee Cumming's Murder. . ."

I felt a rush of cold running down my spine when Officer Bloom told me those things. I am a suspect? Did I kill Renee? I know for sure that I'm not a killer. . . It was just that what happened that night was still a blur for me.

I could be a suspect, and this is how my life would end.

***