Vander Lewis

Maaga siyang nagising kinabukasan. He made sure he'll look handsome sa lunch date nila ni Aubrey. He wore his best long sleeves polo and unbuttoned the upper three buttons, faded jeans and brown boots.

Aubrey was already at the hotel lobby nang makarating siya doon. He felt the urged to snake his arms around her shoulders when he saw how sexy her dress is. Nagpaganda pa yata ito para sa pagkikita nila.

But he hates it because men are ogling at her. Naka-above the knee fitted dress ito. Parang mini-version lang ng red gown nito kagabi. Kitang-kita ang cleavage at hubog ng katawan pati ang likod.

"Since when did you learn how to dress like that?" Napasulyap siya sa asawa bago itinuon ang atensyon sa daan. Papunta na sila sa restaurant kung saan siya nagpa-reserve.

Aubrey just smiled but didn't answer. Hindi na lamang siya nagsalita pa.

"What are we going to talk about?" He asked while waiting for their order. They are on the second floor of the restaurant. It is overlooking a man-made lake. Maganda ang panahon dahil bahagyang malamig ang ihip ng hangin. It adds to the romantic ambiance of the place.

"Kumain muna tayo," saad nito. He can't do anything but oblige.

They ate silently.

After eating, he waited for her to talk. Nang hindi na siya makapaghintay ay siya na ang gumawa ng hakbang.

He reached for her hand. Bahagya siyang nagulat nang bawiin nito ang kamay. Pero hindi naman niya masisisi ang asawa kung may pag-aalinlangan ito. Ngunit hindi ito ang magiging rason para panghinaan siya ng loob.

"Aub, I am sorry for being irrational and irresponsible before. I know I've caused you so much pain." Umpisa niya. Ito na ang matagal niyang iniisip gawin simula nang malamang babalik ang asawa. He inhaled deeply and stared at her.

Aubrey stared back for a moment bago ito tumango at ngumiti ng tipid. Gumaan ang dibdib niya sa reaksyon nito. The anticipation for this moment gave him sleepless nights. Hindi niya kasi sigurado kung ano ang magiging reaction ng asawa. He expected worse than this.

"Tell me what I should do para makabawi sa lahat ng kasalanan ko sa 'yo." Puno ng sinseridad niyang saad.

"I've already forgiven you, Vander. Matagal na." Aubrey uttered calmly.

Napangiti siya sa sinabi nito. So, they stand a chance to get back together?

"But don't ever think that I did it for you," she said smiling bitterly. Natigilan siya sa narinig mula sa asawa.

"It was something I had to do to fix myself." She added. Napatitig siya rito. Her eyes are so calm. Hindi siya nakapagsalita agad. Pakiramdam niya ay bumalik ang bigat sa dibdib niya.

"Ngayon isa na lang ang kulang para tuluyan na akong makawala sa anino ng nakaraan natin." Dagdag nito na mas lalong nakapagpatigil sa mundo niya.

"I am filing an annulment." She stated. He felt like the world crushed. Sunud-sunod ang ginawa niyang pag-iling.

"No, Aub. I don't like." kontra niya sa pahayag nito. It was the last thing he wants.

"We can still fix our marriage." He said with conviction.

"Vander please don't make it too hard for all of us. Besides matagal na tayong hiwalay." Kalmado nitong hayag.

Her calmness scares him. Ibang-iba ito sa Aubrey na laging nagagalit at nakabulyaw noon sa tuwing may ginagawa siyang kabalbalan.

"No! Let me prove to you na nagbago na ako. Ten years, Aub. Marami na akong ipinagbago. I'm more responsible now. Kaya ko nang alagaan ang pamilya natin."

Siguro kapag nakita nito na okay na siya, na nagbago na ang lahat ay iko-consider nito ang pagbabalikan nila.

"Ten years Vander...Ikaw na rin ang nagsabi." She said inhaling deeply. "Malaki na rin ang ipinagbago ko at isa sa ayaw kong balikan ay ang pagsasama natin. Please just let me go."

He was dumbfounded. He wasn't able to utter any word when she stood and walked out.

_______

"Vander, that's totally crazy and irrational!" galit na saad ng Mommy niya. Pinuntahan niya ang mga magulang sa kuwarto ng mga ito para sabihin ang binabalak niyang pagpapakasal sa girlfriend.

"Mom, I love her. I don't want to waste time to be with her." Depensa niya.

"Anak naman. Ang babata niyo pa. You just graduated high school." His mother retorted.

"Mahal mo ba talaga?" His father asked.

"I love Aubrey, dad. I want to marry her."

His dad sighed and looked at his mom.

"Don't tell me payag ka, Vaughn? You know he's too young and he'd regret this in the end." Madiing saad ng Mommy niya. Kilala niya ang ina. Galit na talaga ito kapag tinatawag na ang ama sa pangalan nito.

"Para namang hindi ka na-inlove dati," tugon ng ama niya. Nabuhayan siya ng loob. Sa tuwing nagkakagipitan, ang ama talaga niya ang taga-rescue niya. Lagi niya itong kakampi.

He took that opportunity to encourage his mom further.

"Mommy, kayo nga ni dad 'di ba nagpakasal agad after few days of meeting?" He said trying to let his mother see his point.

"Do not compare our situation with yours. I was 30 when I married your dad. He was 32. We were matured enough to decide!" galit na saad ng ina.

"Mom, Aubrey and I are 18. We are of legal age." Depensa niya.

"Kahit na! Alam na ba ng parents ni Aubrey 'tong pinagsasabi mo?" galit pa ring saad ina. His mom knows that his relationship to Aubrey is open to both of their families.

"Not yet, mom. Kaya nga po sa inyo ko sinasabi because I know once kayo ang kumausap sa kanila, papayag sila agad. Mom, dad, please?" Vander pleaded.

"Wife?" His father murmured.

"No, Vander!" saad ng ina at tumalikod na.

"I'll talk to your mom," saad ng ama at sumunod na rito. He nodded and smiled at his dad. Alam niyang ang ama lang ang alas niya para makumbinsi ang mommy niya..

The next day, they invited Aubrey over dinner.

"I don't want to pretend Aubrey. Honestly, I don't like what you both are thinking. You're still too young to get married." Madiing saad ng ina niya habang nasa hapag sila. His siblings are silently listening. Alam na ng mga ito ang plano nila ni Aubrey. They also questioned him but he doesn't care. He loves Aubrey.

Hinawakan niya ang palad ng kasintahan sa ilalim ng lamesa at marahang pinisil.

"I know Tita but I love Vander. Gusto ko na rin po siyang makasama habang buhay."

He could sense Aubrey's nervousness kaya naman nanatili siyang nakahawak sa kamay ng nobya.

"Puwede naman kayong maging magkasintahan lang muna. Pagka-graduate niyo ng college saka kayo ulit mag-decide." Saad ulit ng ina. They both looked at each other and sighed. It was really hard to convince his mom. Pati yata ang daddy niya ay hindi umubra.

Hindi pumayag ang mga magulang niya kahit anong pilit nila kaya naisip niyang buntisin na lang si Aubrey para pumayag na silang ipakasal sila.

They were in first year college then. Hindi naituloy ni Aubrey ang pag-aaral dahil sa panganganak.

His parents were generous to give them a two-storey house to live in, financial allowance and maids to help them.

They were both happy that they finally get to accept their decision.

After giving birth, Aubrey went back to college. It was his parents who supported them financially.

Aubrey's parents are not that rich. Her father is a bank manager and her mother is a full time housewife. Pangatlo si Aubrey sa limang magkakapatid. She was lucky enough to get a scholarship in their school. Kaya ito nakapag-aral doon. Bukod sa matalino, maganda pa kaya naman nahalina siya rito. He had lots of flings before pero si Aubrey lang ang nag-iisang niligawan niya.

He's rich and handsome. Tinatabunan niya ito ng regalo kasama ang pamilya nito kaya kahit high school pa lang ay pinapayagan na siyang manligaw rito.

Incoming 4th year college na ito nang mabuntis ulit. Desiry was three years old, then.

Aubrey was so mad at him. Gusto kasi nito ay makatapos muna ito ng college bago magbuntis ulit. Pinigilan niya ito sa tuwing pupunta ito sa doctor para magpa-inject ng birth control. It was stupid and irrational. He got jealous to one of her classmates at gusto niyang tumigil muna ito para hindi makasalamuha ang lalaki.

Mula noon naging shaky na ang relasyon nila. Madalas na silang mag-away. He can't concentrate on his studies kaya naman bagsak ang karamihan sa mga grades niya. He started going out with his friends to escape from their situation.

Aubrey eventually graduated at siya ay naiwan pa ring nag-aaral. His parents want Aubrey to handle the business na dapat ay siya ang hahawak pero mas ginusto nitong mag-apply sa ibang kumpanya. It was again the source of one of their fights.

When he gets home late, lagi itong galit na sumasalubong sa kanya. She would always try to compare him to Vance and Leandrei who already had their own business of their own efforts aside from the family businesses they are managing. Mas lalo siyang nanliliit sa sarili kaya naman mga barkada niya ang pinagtuunan niya ng pansin.

Going home becomes a dreadful thing for him because it reminds him of being a failure and instead of Aubrey encouraging him to do better he felt like she was the first person telling his face how a failure he'd become.

He stopped studying for a semester para lang makahinga dahil sayang lang ang pera kung mababagsak din lahat ng subjects niya. But when Aubrey found out, isinumbong pa siya sa mga magulang niya. All of them think he's a loser. Totoo naman. He wasn't an obedient and good son. He wasn't a good husband kaya iniwan siya ni Aubrey.

Now after 10 years, he must say he's a lot better than before. Puwera na lang sa mangilan-ngilang pagkakataon na nagkakaroon siya ng one-night stands. It was one of his ways of releasing his frustrations. Gaya ng nangyari noong isang gabi. He was agitated of Aubrey's return so he had to release it. But other than that, wala na siyang ibang kalokohan. His children can attest to that. Maybe he just had to prove Aubrey that he changed a lot.

He can't give her up nang ganun-ganun na lang. If he would have to court her again, he'll do it. They are not having an annulment. Patutunayan niyang nagbago na siya.

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*Sapat bang nagbago ka na para mabura ang lahat ng sakit ng nakaraan?*