"Acceptance is that one miracle cure to restore things in order." -jazlykdat

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Published by PSICOM. Available in all leading bookstores nationwide.

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Lianna inhaled deeply as she recall what the girl said over the phone.

"Please lang 'no? Umalis ka na lang ulit. Nakakagulo ka lang sa buhay namin!"

Nakakagulo lang sa buhay nila?

Siya pa ngayon ang nakagugulo sa buhay nila?

Vaughn had been very nice, loving and caring to her for the passed months. Hindi niya ito kinakitaan ng kahit anong bakas na may kinakatagpo itong ibang babae simula noong nanggaling sila ng Ireland. He always go home early making sure that he is on time for dinner.

Kung may pagkakataon man siguro itong makipagkita sa ibang babae, it would be during his time at the office which is consistent sa sinabi ng babae na nakikihati na ito ng oras kung totoo man iyon.

Pero siya ang legal na asawa, siya pa ang kagagalitan nito?

Ang tigas naman ng mukha ng babaeng 'yon.

"Ang kapal ng mukha mo! Pagkatapos mo siyang iwan! Babalik ka na parang sa 'yo pa rin siya!"

So what if she returned? Legal silang mag-asawa. May karapatan siyang bumalik para ayusin ang lahat sa pagitan nilang mag-asawa.

"We were okay when you were away. All his time was devoted to me!"

She inhaled deeply. She has to maintain her sanity.

Vaughn said he was in Davao for four years. Sinabi rin iyon ni Manong Rad. He always go out with the kids. Paanong ike-claim ng babaeng 'yon na lahat ng oras ni Vaughn ay sa kanya noong mga panahong iyon?

One of them must be lying.

Parang gusto niyang tawagan si Nanay kung totoong madalas si Vaughn sa Davao noon pero pinigilan niya ang sarili. The last thing she wants is to do the same mistake again. Baka iyon pa ang pag-awayan nila ni Vaughn. She's pregnant with triplets, ayaw niyang mag-imbestiga na katulad noon baka kung mapaano pa siya at ang mga batang dinadala niya.

She paid Vaughn a surprised visit at the office. Ayaw niyang patagalin ang agam-agam niya. There are a lot of possibilities on her mind pero sinupil niya ang lahat ng negatibong nasa isip niya. While on the elevator, she's praying na sana wala siyang maabutang ibang babae sa opisina nito.

When she stepped at his office, she had an inkling to ask Dinna kung may babaeng nagpupunta sa opisina nito pero pinigilan niya ang sarili.

Vaughn doesn't want that. Gusto nito ay ito mismo ang tinatanong at hindi siya dapat dumiretso sa ibang tao.

She greeted Dinna and gave her a hug bago tumuloy sa opisina ng asawa.

"Shall I throw a party? Ngayon ka lang nagpunta ng office ko voluntarily ah!" He said smiling when she emerged at the office.

Vaughn immediately stood up and crossed their distance. Yumakap ito at mabilis na kinintalan siya ng halik sa labi. Sa kabila ng agam-agam niya ay gumaan ang pakiramdam niya sa ginawa ng asawa. Parang naglaho ang kaninang kaba niya habang papunta ng opisina.

"Any problem?" Vaughn asked nang hindi siya nagsalita.

She looked at him and drew a deep breath.

"Someone called me up. Babae." She said right away bago pa umurong ang dila niya. Vaughn released her from his embrace at iginiya paupo sa couch sa mini living area ng opisina nito.

"Do you know her?" she asked Vaughn nang umupo ito sa single couch katapat niya.

Vaughn looked at her warily. "How would I know? Ikaw ang kausap. You should have asked."

Kinabahan siya. There was something in his voice that wants to evade the topic. Ni hindi nito alam kung ano ang sinabi ng babae ganito na ito sumagot. But no, the confirmation should come from him.

"I understand when you told me that what happened within that 5 years was none of my business but I just want to know something." She said as she inhaled deeply. Tumitig naman si Vaughn sa kanya bago ito tumango.

"Were there other women?" She asked courageously. Kahit hindi siya sigurado kung handa na nga ba talaga siyang malaman ang totoo. Her heartbeats started racing when Vaughn didn't answer right away instead he inhaled deeply.

Pakiramdam niya ay bumagal ang oras habang hinihintay ang sagot nito.

"Five years..." Umpisa nito. Tumitig ito sa kanya ng mataman bago nagsalita ulit.

"I have needs Lianna." He murmured.

That statement alone broke her heart. Napatungo siya.

Sino ba ang dapat niyang sisihin kung nagkaroon man ito ng karelasyon sa ibang babae noong wala siya?

Five years and he has needs. Ano ba ang dapat niyang i-expect na ginawa nito sa loob ng limang taon?

Her lips are trembling at the thought. She had to bite it to stop herself from crying.

"If it would hurt you one bit. Please stop finding out." Saad nito.

She bravely looked at him. She wants to know all para minsanan na lang ang bagsak ng sakit.

"So you must know this girl who called me up?" tanong niya rito. She wants to know kung totoong may ugnayan pa sila ng babae.

"I don't." He answered curtly.

"Vaughn, naman? At least 'di ba may idea ka naman kung sino 'yong babaeng tumawag sa akin?" Her voice almost broke but she maintained her composure. Titig na titig kasi si Vaughn sa kanya at tinitingnan ang bawat reaction niya.

"There were a lot of them. Different ones. How would I know who among them called you up? Ano bang sinabi niya sa 'yo?"

Mas lalong bumigat ang dibdib niya sa narinig. She wasn't able to answer his question.

Importante pa bang sagutin niya iyon?

Ayaw na niyang balikan ulit ang sinabi ng babae. Masakit sa kalooban.

Inaamin naman nito na may mga naging babae siya. It must be one them.

"Are you still connected to any of them?" tanong niya rito. Hindi niya alam kung paano niya nakakayanang salubungin ang mga titig nito.

"Those were just one to two nights stands. I don't keep any communication with any of them."

"Pero bakit sa tono ng babae parang nagkikita pa kayo hanggang ngayon?"

Vaughn's forehead creased and shook his head in disagreement.

"The moment you came back. Wala nang ibang babae."

Funny but she could only feel his sincerity with his last sentence. Siguro dahil yung huling apat na salita lang na 'yon ang gusto niyang marinig. All the rest hindi niya alam kung papaniwalaan niya ba o itatanggi sa sarili niya. Ang hirap kasing isipin na nagkaroon ito ng kaugnayan sa kahit na sinong babae bukod sa kanya. But with Vaughn's looks hindi naman malayong babae mismo ang lumapit dito. At wala naman siyang magagawa talaga sa mga nangyari noong mga panahong umalis siya.

There was a long silence. Vaughn remained on his seat staring intently at her. Para bang pinagmamasdan nitong mabuti ang reaksiyon niya.

"Did you use protection?" she asked. It's another thing that she wants to make sure. Atleast man lang sana wala itong naanakang iba. Baka isang araw may dumating na lang bigla at sabihing may kapatid pa pala ang mga anak niya.

"Of course, I did." He replied curtly. Lumipat ito ng upo sa tabi niya.

Kinabig siya nito at hinalikan sa noo.

He cupped her face. Ngumiti ito sa kanya. She doesn't know if that is an assurance or he is just pacifying her.

"Don't worry I will find out who called you and I promise no one's going to bother you again." He whispered tugging her closer.

Hindi siya nagsalita.

Sapat na ba ang sinabi nito na wala nang ibang babae simula noong bumalik siya para maniwala siya na wala na talaga itong kaugnayan sa ibang babae?

Sapat na ba ang sinabi nitong wala nang manggugulo sa kanya para maniwala siya na ang importante ngayon ay alam niyang po-protektahan siya nito?

Sapat na ba ang paliwanag nito para matanggap niya na may mga nangyari talaga noon na hindi na dapat balikan?