"Most of the time, we are the ones creating our own misery." -jazlykdat

***

Published by PSICOM. Available in all leading bookstores nationwide.

***

"Are you crazy?!" Jake yelled at Vaughn while opening a bottle of Vodka. Kulang na lang yata ay ibato nito ang hawak na bote sa kanya. Bigla na lang itong sumulpot sa opisina niya at may dalang alak. He took two wine glasses from the cabinet at the corner of the office.

"Most people who are in-love tend to be crazy!" natatawa niyang tugon rito.

"Asshole! What if she'll get scared again at layasan ka?" Jake asked smirking. He poured down the vodka on the glasses

"She loves me. She won't do that." Napapailing niyang sagot rito.

"Gago! Pinaglalaruan mo yang asawa mo!" he said scolding habang iniaabot sa kanya ang baso ng alak.

Jake is his closest cousin. Alam nito lahat ng nangyayari sa buhay niya. He was the one who brought back his senses noong halos mabaliw siya sa pag-alis ni Lianna.

He was the first one who told him he was crazy nang magpakasal sila agad ni Lianna pagtuntong ng bansa.

Nagpunta pa nga ito sa opisina noon nang malamang nandoon si Lianna at nagdala pa ng babae para mang-asar. Gusto daw nitong makita ang reaksyon ng asawa niya at kung magseselos ba ito at aawayin yung babae.

Kinantiyawan pa siya nito nang makaalis sila ng opisina. "Cuz, hindi ka ipinaglaban. Sa akin pa nakatingin, crush yata ako." He commented that irritated him. Kaya ayaw niyang lumalapit ito sa asawa niya dahil naiinis siya sa ideyang naguwapuhan nga si Lianna rito.

"Paano 'pag umalis siya ulit?" seryoso nitong tanong pagkatapos lumagok sa hawak na baso.

Vaughn smiled. "She won't," he answered with certainty.

"How sure are you?" ulit naman ng kaharap niya.

"I was expecting her to get mad and leave nang sinabi kong madami akong naging babae noong umalis siya but she never did. She loves me,cuz!" He smiled remembering his wife's beautiful face.

"Isa pa yan. Inamin mo na ba sa kanya ang totoo?"

Vaughn shook his head. She will eventually tell Lianna the truth later on.

"Alalahanin mong buntis 'yang asawa mo." His cousin sounded like an old man reminding him of some things.

"Her pregnancy is normal I made sure of that bago ko ginawa ang mga bagay na ito. Of course, I won't risk the life of my kids."

Lianna is actually okay. Sinabi lang niya sa doctor na i-advise itong magpahinga para maulit ang mga nagyari noon na sa bahay lang ito. Maybe it's a little insane but he wants to make sure if Lianna already changed her view of him.

"You know if I were you, sabihin mo na ang totoo bago pa masira ulit ang pagsasama niyo." Jake said after drinking another shot. Natawa na lang siya sa pinsan.

"Bakit ang aga mong maglasing?" Natatawa niyang tanong. Hindi pa niya iniinom ang laman ng iniabot nitong baso kanina.

"Para magkaroon ako ng lakas para suntukin ka at ng magising sa katotohanan. Mali yang pinaggagawa mo, gago!" Nanghahamon nitong sagot.

Natawa na lang siya sa inaakto ng pinsan niya. He's the only person who could curse at him.

"Telling your wife, you had a lot of women, huh? You're a jerk! Ni hindi ka nga tumitingin sa ibang babae noong umalis siya."

"I just made that story to see how she'd react when worse comes worst." He explained. Ilang beses na nila itong pinagdiskusyunan.

It was true. He hired someone to call his wife and make up stories. He wanted to know how she would react. More so, he wanted to know if she would go and investigate again behind his back.

He never expected that she'd appear right away in his office to tell about the phone call. Nagpa-practice pa lang siya ng isasagot pag-uwi nila ng bahay pero dumating na ito sa office niya. Hindi tuloy niya alam kung sasabihin niya ang totoo o hindi kaya pinandigan na lang niya.

Gustong-gusto niyang bawiin ang sinabi niya pero hindi niya alam kung paano aaminin na tine-testing niya lang ito. Nevertheless, he was happy that Lianna accepted that what happened in the past ends there. At tinanggap siya nito ng buong-buo.

"I don't understand why you have to do these. Pinaglalaruan mo siya. Do you know the extent of what you're doing?" Seryoso nitong tanong sa kanya. Of course, he knows but he wants their relationship to be free of any doubts.

"How would I know that everything changed? That I won't get the same response from her if what happened in the past won't be repeated?"

"I do not understand your logic." Giit pa rin ng pinsan nito.

"Paano ko malalamang iba ang magiging reaksyon niya ngayon at iba rin noon kung hindi mauulit ang nakaraan?"

"Gago! Tinagalog mo lang! Ang gulo mo kausap!" Natatawa nitong saad sa kanya.

"Ikaw ang magulo! Kanina mo pa ako minumura. Isusumbong kita kay Tita. Ganyan ka ba niya pinalaki?" Naghahamon niyang hayag rito.

"Baliw! Gusto mo ikaw ang isumbong ko kay Lianna?"

"Subukan mong lapitan ang asawa ko. Ililibing kita ng buhay." Vaughn answered with a serious tone.

Jake knew that Vaughn staged the entire thing. Gumawa siya ng rason na ikadududa ng asawa niya sa kanya. He even asked Janine to come back para mas maging kapani-paniwala ang lahat.

He perfectly understands that Lianna is pregnant pero sabi ng doctor normal naman daw ang pagbubuntis nito. Besides, binilin niya si Janine na tingnang mabuti ang reaction ng asawa niya para hindi ito mapaanak nang wala sa oras.

And Janine said Lianna seem not to be affected that much. Hindi kagaya nang nangyari noon na takot na takot ito.

He also made sure there were medics, doctor and guards inside that café just in case.

"I just want peace of mind. I want to know kung gagawin niya ba ulit ang ginawa niya noon. I want an assurance na kahit ano pang mangyari hindi na niya ako iiwan ulit." Vaughn explained. He inhaled deeply.

"Then, it's the other way around, ikaw ang walang tiwala sa kanya." Jake said smirking. He was bit hurt. It doesn't go that way.

"It was so devastating when she left. You were there. You exactly know how it caused turmoil in my entire being. Ayoko nang maulit iyon."

Jake was there when he'd go to different bars and drunk himself to death. He'd even cause commotion dahil nagbabasag siya minsan sa lamesa niya kapag bumabalik sa kanya ang sakit ng pag-alis ni Lianna. He spent handsome amount paying for the damages the next morning. Paulit-ulit iyonng nangyari.

But he's thankful with his cousin, hindi siya nito iniwan. Every morning he'd remind him that he has to be okay for the twins. He even asked for rescue with their other cousins para pagsabihan siya. He's not that close to them pero hindi naman siya distant sa mga ito.

"But seriously cousin, what if pag-uwi mo mamaya lumayas na siya kasama ng kambal?"

Huminga siya ng malalim. He knew Lianna won't do that but if hypothetically, she would attempt to leave...

"Then we're back to square one. Wala pa rin talaga siyang katiwa-tiwala sa akin kapag gano'n."

Jake doesn't look convinced.

"So, what will happen then?" He asked.

"I won't let her leave. Ibabalik at ibabalik ko siya. Patutunayan ko sa kanya araw-araw na puwede niya akong pagkatiwalaan. Pero hindi talaga siya aalis, nararamdaman ko." Puno ng kumpiyansa niyang tugon rito.

"Oh? Bakit sabi mo wala pa siyang nababanggit kagabi pag-uwi mo?" tanong ulit nito.

"Maybe she's contemplating on how to ask me about it." Kibit-balikat niyang sagot.

"Paano kung nag-iimbestiga na ulit siya kagaya ng dati?" tanong ulit ng pinsan niya.

"Will she find out anything? Baka ang malaman niya staged lang ang lahat."

"Sabagay." Jake answered shrugging. Kinuha nito ang phone sa bulsa na kanina pa tumutunog.

Ininom na lang din niya ang laman ng baso niya habang busy ang pinsan nito sa pagdutdot sa cellphone nito.

"Why?" He asked Jake with a creased forehead. Nakatingin kasi ito sa kanya nang nakakaloko.

"What if your wife is not investigating but she finds comfort from other man?"

Nainis siya bigla sa tanong nito.

Just thinking of other men feasting their eyes on his wife already makes his blood boil, iyon pa kayang humanap ito ng comfort sa ibang lalaki?

That never even crossed his mind.

"Shut up!" he said at inagaw ang bote sa kamay nito. He poured a shot to his glass and drank it.

"Well, you might want to see this!" Nakangisi nitong saad at ipinakita ang screen ng cell phone. Vaughn immediately grab it nang makitang si Lianna iyon.

"Shit!" He cursed when he saw the picture. It's Lianna smiling widely. She's sitting inside the restaurant she is in-charge of. May kaharap itong lalaki na parang may iniaabot na pulang bulaklak na gawa sa tela.

"Who sent you this?" inis niyang tanong rito.

"Janine," tugon agad naman ito.

"Kelan daw 'to?" He can't control his jaw from clenching.

"I think it's happening now." Jake smirked. Agad niyang ibinaba ang baso at nagmadaling nilayasan ang pinsan.

No man is allowed to get near his wife!

Halos liparin ng kotse niya ang daan papunta sa restaurant kung nasaan si Lianna. Agad siyang lumabas ng kotse pagka-park niya.

"Where's Lianna?" tanong niya sa guwardiya pagtuntong pa lamang niya sa pinto ng restaurant.

"Sir, kanina pa po nakaalis," tugon naman agad ng guwardiya.

"Sinong kasama niya?"

Natigilan ang guwardiya at hindi agad nakasagot. Inis siyang pumasok sa loob at tinawag ang manager at floor supervisor.

"Sino yung kasama ng asawa ko sa table kanina?" tanong niya sa mga ito. The two looked at each other and shrugged.

"Wala naman po yata. Mag-isa lang naman po siyang kumain kanina." Sagot ng supervisor.

Is that photo edited? No, he has to make sure!

"Call everyone to the kitchen!" Utos niya sa mga ito. Agad namang tumalima ang dalawa.

He could see how some costumers got curious nang isa-isang magsialisan ang mga staff at pumasok sa kitchen. Hindi na lang niya pinasin ang mga ito. They can wait. If not, they can leave the restaurant. Wala siyang pakialam.

Natahimik naman ang lahat pagpasok niya ng kitchen.

"I want you to be honest with me." He said in a loud voice.

"Sino ang kasama ng asawa ko na kumain kanina?" diretso niyang tanong sa mga ito. Nagtinginan naman ang lahat.

"Sinong nakakita kay Ma'am Lianna?" segunda naman ng manager.

A waitress came forward. "Sir, mag-isa lang pong kumain si Ma'am Lianna pero patapos na po siya no'ng lumapit yung lalaki."

Nagsalubong ang kilay niya sa narinig.

"Does my wife know him?"

"Regular costumer po natin 'yon sir," sabad naman ng isa. "Tinanong niya po minsan sa akin kung ano ang pangalan ni ma'am Lianna."

His blood boiled at what he heard.

So, somebody is advancing on his wife kahit buntis na ito?

Kaya nga ba gusto niyang may umaaligid lagi na body guards sa asawa niya para walang lalaking makalapit rito.

"Did you tell him my wife's name?" inis niyang tanong rito.

"H-hindi ho sir," nahihintakutan namang tugon ng waiter.

"Did you hear what the man was telling my wife?" Galit niyang tanong sa mga ito. The thought of a man conversing with his wife gives him a feeling oof madness.

"Sir 'di ba po bawal makinig sa usapan ng costumers?" Sabad ng floor supervisor.

"I don't care about your opinion! This is about my wife! Get lost!" Galit niyang hayag rito.

Everybody went silent at takot na yatang magsalita.

"Sir hindi ko po narinig ang usapan nila pero para pong inaaliw nung lalaki si Ma'am Lianna. Nagma-magic po ata siya."

So that explains the cloth that resembles like a flower in the picture?

"Next time, do not let any man get near my wife!" He said before leaving the kitchen.

Inis siyang lumabas ng restaurant at pumunta sa opisina ng asawa baka nandoon lang ito. He'll deal with the man later on. Wala itong kahit na anong karapatan na lapitan ang asawa niya.

Lianna's secretary told him that she didn't go at the office kaya nagmadali na lang siyang umuwi ng bahay.

___

He was relieved to see his wife seated at the living room with the kids. He inhaled deeply to pacify himself.

They all greeted him with a kiss on the cheek paglapit niya. Bakit parang bigla na lang nawala ang galit niya pagkakita sa mag-iina niya?

He looked at Lianna.

"Dumaan ka raw sa restaurant kanina?" he asked casually. Sandali naman itong natigilan sa tanong niya bago nagsalita.

"I had my check up. Dumaan lang ako para kumain ng lunch. Wala din naman akong kasama dito sa bahay." Paliwanag nito.

"Okay." Napatango siya sa sagot ng asawa.

Why did it sound so defensive?

Tiningnan na lamang niya ang ipinapakitang drawing ng mga anak nila para mawala ang ideyang pumasok sa isip niya. Lianna loves her. Hindi naman siguro nito magagawang lokohin siya.

"So, you still have eyes around me, huh?" Lianna asked that made him turn to her.

"What do you mean?" balik-tanong niya rito.

"Nothing." She mumbled. Titig na titig ito sa kanya.

It's like de ja vu.

Ganyang-ganyan ito tumingin noon sa kanya noong mga panahong nag-iimbestiga ito sa likuran niya.

Is she giving him reason to get nervous?

Wala pa rin ba itong tiwala sa kanya? Naniniwala ba ito sa mga sinabi ni Janine?

Shit! He wants to regret what he did. Sa ginawa niya, parang siya na rin mismo ang nagbabalik ng lahat ng sakit na napagdaanan niya noon.