Chapter 21
3 years after....
Daniel's Point of View
Tatlong taon. Tatlong taon na siyang wala sa tabi ko. Tatlong taon na akong naghihintay sa kanya. Hindi naging madali ang gumising araw araw at alam mong wala siya sa tabi mo pero pinilit ko, pinilit ko dahil umaasa ako na tama si Paul, na buhay siya. At babalik siya.
Pero sa tatlong taon na iyon, wala na din akong naging balita kay Paul. Yung mga unang buwan ay nagbabalita pa siya pero tumigil ito at naglaho nalang siyang parang bula. Wala. Pero haggang ngayon umaasa parin ako. Hindi nawala yung pagasang iyon dahil ayun nalang yung bumubuhay sa akin, ang pagasang makikita ko ulit siya.
Right when I graduated I took over the Rutherford Group. They accepted me dahil asawa ako ni Kath pero sympre may iba parin na tutol but they had no choice but to silently protest dahil I am legally capable of handling the business.
Naging busy din ako kaya minsan hindi ko nalang namamalayan ang araw, mas mabuti pa iyon. Enrique and Julia got engaged, of course kahit anong mangyari Tita would insist on marrying Enrique to some fine lady and for her it's Julia. Julia has been helping me doing all the works I need.
I have to maintain the orderliness at the main house because wala si Paul. Nag hire ako ng PI to look for him but there were no trace talagang wala siya. And it worried me sick. Dahil hindi ko alam kung anong nangyari sa kanya pati kay Kath. Siya lang ang pagasa kong makita si Kath.
"Sir may meeting po kayo ngayon with the hotel staffs." paalala sa akin ng aking secretary.
"Anong oras?" I asked him.
"After lunch sir. So I scheduled your lunch po sa hotel na din." he said.
I nodded at tumayo na ako and put my coat on and started walking out of my office and down to my car. My life is pretty much like this, eating alone everyday.
I drove to the Rutherford-Park Hotel, and pagkarating ko binigay ko na agad sa valet yung susi and went inside, I was greeted by the staffs and one escorted me to the restaurant for my lunch. Umupo na din ako and waited for my food.
This hotel is one of the finest hotels in the Philippines. Pero I don't know why there's a Park. Park was the last name Kath used before so siguro may connection iyon pero ano. I searched for it sa office pero walang Park doon. Not even the investors.
The closest I came with Park was with Mr. Gonzales, his shares sa company ay connected with Park. Sa pagkakaintindi ko that Park guy is the real shareholder and si Mr. Gonzales lang ang parang tiga hawak nito. But just as I was to questioned Mr. Gonzales naglaho na din siya.
Mr. Gonzales is the third biggest shareholders sa company that's why I have to know that Park guy at kung bakit nawala si Mr. Gonzales.
Habang nagmamasid ako ng paligid, my eye caught something or rather someone, nakatalikod na siya pero kanina nakaside view siya ay I got a view. Her long black hair and the tone of her skin reminded me of someone, the girl I am looking for.
Kaya nagmadali akong naglakad papunta sa kanya, she was entering the elevator and so I doubled my speed and just when it was about to close, I saw her but too late. Kaya nagmadali akong bumaba gamit ang hagdan. It was her.
Buhay si Kath at nandito na siya.
Nang makarating ako sa lobby, hinanap ko agad siya at nakita ko siyang nakikipagusap sa reception so nagmadali akong pumunta sa kanya, nakatalikod siya sa akin at nang hinawakan ko siya sa braso niya, her body stiffened.
Dahan dahan siyang lumingon sa akin and it took my breath away. She really is alive just what Paul said. And here she is. How much I missed her. "Kath." I said and immediately hugged her.
Hindi siya gumalaw pero wala akong pakielam buhay siya at nandito na ulit siya. Sobra ko talaga siyang namiss. Sobra sobra. At nandito na siya ngayon. Hindi ko na ulit siya papakawalan. She harshly pulled away from me and looked at me like she don't know me.
"Kath." I said and she stepped backward. "Kath."
"Have we met before?" she asked.
I was taken by what she said, is she playing something here? Pero ano? "It's me Daniel." I said.
She shook her head "I'm sorry but I don't recognize you." she said and looked around "Paul!" she called someone kaya lumingon ako and there he was, Paul nung lumingon ako nagulat siya. Hindi niya alam ang gagawin niya kaya huminto siya sa paglakad.
Pero nagpatuloy ulit siya at lumapit sa amin and Kath immediately went to him. "Milady you're not allowed to go out of your room." he said to Kath.
"I got bored to death." she said. "Sam is busy with a meeting and I'm alone." she complained.
"Paul...." I called him kasi hindi niya ako pinansin and Kath also, she acted na hindi niya ako kilala. Ano ang nangyayari.
They both looked at me "You know him Paul?" she asked Paul.
"Yes milady, he's now the president of the Rutherford Group." Paul answered.
"Oh." That was all what Kath said. Kung umaarte siya napakagaling niyang umarte dahil pati yung expression niya ganun. But Kath was no actress before. She can't act.
"Paul anong nangyayari?" I asked him.
Just when he was about to answer, Kath smiled akala ko para sa akin pero hindi pala,"Sam." she called while still smiling, yung ngiti na dati ay para sa akin. Nagmadali siyang pumunta sa lalaking iyon at nagusap silang dalawa as the guy held her hands.
"Sino siya at bakit niya hinahawakan si Kath?" I asked Paul "At bakit ka nawala? Matagal na ba kayong magkasama ni Kath?" I asked.
He looked at me with pity and guilt at the same time. "I'm sorry Daniel."
"Bakit? Nabalik mo na naman siya eh."
"Yung lalaking kasama niya ay si Sam Gonzales, her husband." he said.
No. No. No. Hindi totoo yun "Ako ang asawa niya."
Tumingin siya sa dalawa and waved at them at naglakad na yung dalawa palabas. Gusto kong habulin sila kaso I needed explanation. "3 years ago, nag crash yung eroplano na sinasakyan niya, she was alive just what I predicted, agad palang nalaman ni Christopher Park ang aksidente kaya kinuha niya itong pagkakataon para makuha si Kath."
"Bakit naman niya ito kukunin?" I asked. Christopher Park. Park.
"Dahil anak niya ito." he answered pero alam ko na yung sagot. Napagtanto ko na. Rutherford-Park dahil Park ang tatay niya, Kathryn Park. "He brought her to America for her recovery, when she woke up, she couldn't remember anything." he said. Nagka-amnesia si Kath imposible. "It gave Christopher Park to have a life with his daughter and so they did and he introduced Sam Gonzales and they got married."
I shook my head in protest. Hindi totoo yan. "Ako parin ang unang pinakasalan. She's my wife legally."
Tinignan ako ni Paul with so much pity "You're marriage isn't valid." he told me. What does he mean? "She wasn't a Rutherford in the first place, she's a Park since she was born." sabi pa niya "Walang Rutherford na Kathryn. Kaya your marriage isn't valid as her marriage to Sam is."
"Sabi mo ibabalik mo siya Paul."
"I'm sorry Daniel but I am loyal to her family, to her. I am just protecting her and making sure she's happy."
"Ako ang asawa niya Paul. Ako. Pinasaya ko naman siya diba? I can make her happy Paul. Please Paul ibalik mo na yung asawa ko. Ibalik mo na sa akin si Kath." tears fell hindi ko na pinansin na nasa lobby kami. I just want my wife, my Kath back.
"I'm sorry Daniel pero wala na akong magagawa pa."
"Ang daya mo Paul eh, kung pinasama mo ako sa paghahanap edi matagal na kaming nagkita... Paul ang daya mo eh, pinangako mong ibabalik mo siya sa akin." I told him.
"Hindi ganun kadali iyon Daniel. Nang nahanap ko na sila, nakita kong masaya na siya. Alam kong masaya siya sayo pero lalo lang siyang maguguluhan kapag nalaman niya, masaya siya kasama yung ama niyang hindi niya nakilala dati, masaya siya kasama si Sam." Paul said.
"Pero ako dapat ang kasama niya!" I snapped. Pinagkait nila sa akin si Kath. At pinagkait nila kay Kath yung katotohanan. "Babawiin ko siya. Babalik siya sa akin." sabi ko sa kanya. Kahit pa nakalimutan na niya ako, ibabalik ko siya sa piling ko. Sa tabi ko.
Hindi ko na hahayaan na mawala pa siya ulit sa akin. Sobrang tagal na ng panahon na pinaghiwalayan nila kami. "Masaya na siya Daniel."
"Pero akin siya Paul!" I said "Mahal ko siya at mahal niya ako! Ako yung asawa niya kahit pa sabihin mong hindi valid yung kasal namin. Ako ang asawa niya sa mata ng Diyos!"
And with that umalis na ako at agad agad kong nakita sila Kath naguusap sa labas ng hotel, masaya siyang kausap yung peke niyang asawa. Nakasakay na yung peke niyang asawa sa kotse kaya agad kong hinatak si Kath at sinakay sa kotse ko, with all so much protest from her.
"What are you doing?" she asked but I just drove till na makalayo kami sa hotel. "I said what are you doing?"
"Getting my wife home!" I said.
Tatlong taon. Tatlong taon na siyang wala sa tabi ko. Tatlong taon na akong naghihintay sa kanya. Hindi naging madali ang gumising araw araw at alam mong wala siya sa tabi mo pero pinilit ko, pinilit ko dahil umaasa ako na tama si Paul, na buhay siya. At babalik siya.
Pero sa tatlong taon na iyon, wala na din akong naging balita kay Paul. Yung mga unang buwan ay nagbabalita pa siya pero tumigil ito at naglaho nalang siyang parang bula. Wala. Pero haggang ngayon umaasa parin ako. Hindi nawala yung pagasang iyon dahil ayun nalang yung bumubuhay sa akin, ang pagasang makikita ko ulit siya.
Right when I graduated I took over the Rutherford Group. They accepted me dahil asawa ako ni Kath pero sympre may iba parin na tutol but they had no choice but to silently protest dahil I am legally capable of handling the business.
Naging busy din ako kaya minsan hindi ko nalang namamalayan ang araw, mas mabuti pa iyon. Enrique and Julia got engaged, of course kahit anong mangyari Tita would insist on marrying Enrique to some fine lady and for her it's Julia. Julia has been helping me doing all the works I need.
I have to maintain the orderliness at the main house because wala si Paul. Nag hire ako ng PI to look for him but there were no trace talagang wala siya. And it worried me sick. Dahil hindi ko alam kung anong nangyari sa kanya pati kay Kath. Siya lang ang pagasa kong makita si Kath.
"Sir may meeting po kayo ngayon with the hotel staffs." paalala sa akin ng aking secretary.
"Anong oras?" I asked him.
"After lunch sir. So I scheduled your lunch po sa hotel na din." he said.
I nodded at tumayo na ako and put my coat on and started walking out of my office and down to my car. My life is pretty much like this, eating alone everyday.
I drove to the Rutherford-Park Hotel, and pagkarating ko binigay ko na agad sa valet yung susi and went inside, I was greeted by the staffs and one escorted me to the restaurant for my lunch. Umupo na din ako and waited for my food.
This hotel is one of the finest hotels in the Philippines. Pero I don't know why there's a Park. Park was the last name Kath used before so siguro may connection iyon pero ano. I searched for it sa office pero walang Park doon. Not even the investors.
The closest I came with Park was with Mr. Gonzales, his shares sa company ay connected with Park. Sa pagkakaintindi ko that Park guy is the real shareholder and si Mr. Gonzales lang ang parang tiga hawak nito. But just as I was to questioned Mr. Gonzales naglaho na din siya.
Mr. Gonzales is the third biggest shareholders sa company that's why I have to know that Park guy at kung bakit nawala si Mr. Gonzales.
Habang nagmamasid ako ng paligid, my eye caught something or rather someone, nakatalikod na siya pero kanina nakaside view siya ay I got a view. Her long black hair and the tone of her skin reminded me of someone, the girl I am looking for.
Kaya nagmadali akong naglakad papunta sa kanya, she was entering the elevator and so I doubled my speed and just when it was about to close, I saw her but too late. Kaya nagmadali akong bumaba gamit ang hagdan. It was her.
Buhay si Kath at nandito na siya.
Nang makarating ako sa lobby, hinanap ko agad siya at nakita ko siyang nakikipagusap sa reception so nagmadali akong pumunta sa kanya, nakatalikod siya sa akin at nang hinawakan ko siya sa braso niya, her body stiffened.
Dahan dahan siyang lumingon sa akin and it took my breath away. She really is alive just what Paul said. And here she is. How much I missed her. "Kath." I said and immediately hugged her.
Hindi siya gumalaw pero wala akong pakielam buhay siya at nandito na ulit siya. Sobra ko talaga siyang namiss. Sobra sobra. At nandito na siya ngayon. Hindi ko na ulit siya papakawalan. She harshly pulled away from me and looked at me like she don't know me.
"Kath." I said and she stepped backward. "Kath."
"Have we met before?" she asked.
I was taken by what she said, is she playing something here? Pero ano? "It's me Daniel." I said.
She shook her head "I'm sorry but I don't recognize you." she said and looked around "Paul!" she called someone kaya lumingon ako and there he was, Paul nung lumingon ako nagulat siya. Hindi niya alam ang gagawin niya kaya huminto siya sa paglakad.
Pero nagpatuloy ulit siya at lumapit sa amin and Kath immediately went to him. "Milady you're not allowed to go out of your room." he said to Kath.
"I got bored to death." she said. "Sam is busy with a meeting and I'm alone." she complained.
"Paul...." I called him kasi hindi niya ako pinansin and Kath also, she acted na hindi niya ako kilala. Ano ang nangyayari.
They both looked at me "You know him Paul?" she asked Paul.
"Yes milady, he's now the president of the Rutherford Group." Paul answered.
"Oh." That was all what Kath said. Kung umaarte siya napakagaling niyang umarte dahil pati yung expression niya ganun. But Kath was no actress before. She can't act.
"Paul anong nangyayari?" I asked him.
Just when he was about to answer, Kath smiled akala ko para sa akin pero hindi pala,"Sam." she called while still smiling, yung ngiti na dati ay para sa akin. Nagmadali siyang pumunta sa lalaking iyon at nagusap silang dalawa as the guy held her hands.
"Sino siya at bakit niya hinahawakan si Kath?" I asked Paul "At bakit ka nawala? Matagal na ba kayong magkasama ni Kath?" I asked.
He looked at me with pity and guilt at the same time. "I'm sorry Daniel."
"Bakit? Nabalik mo na naman siya eh."
"Yung lalaking kasama niya ay si Sam Gonzales, her husband." he said.
No. No. No. Hindi totoo yun "Ako ang asawa niya."
Tumingin siya sa dalawa and waved at them at naglakad na yung dalawa palabas. Gusto kong habulin sila kaso I needed explanation. "3 years ago, nag crash yung eroplano na sinasakyan niya, she was alive just what I predicted, agad palang nalaman ni Christopher Park ang aksidente kaya kinuha niya itong pagkakataon para makuha si Kath."
"Bakit naman niya ito kukunin?" I asked. Christopher Park. Park.
"Dahil anak niya ito." he answered pero alam ko na yung sagot. Napagtanto ko na. Rutherford-Park dahil Park ang tatay niya, Kathryn Park. "He brought her to America for her recovery, when she woke up, she couldn't remember anything." he said. Nagka-amnesia si Kath imposible. "It gave Christopher Park to have a life with his daughter and so they did and he introduced Sam Gonzales and they got married."
I shook my head in protest. Hindi totoo yan. "Ako parin ang unang pinakasalan. She's my wife legally."
Tinignan ako ni Paul with so much pity "You're marriage isn't valid." he told me. What does he mean? "She wasn't a Rutherford in the first place, she's a Park since she was born." sabi pa niya "Walang Rutherford na Kathryn. Kaya your marriage isn't valid as her marriage to Sam is."
"Sabi mo ibabalik mo siya Paul."
"I'm sorry Daniel but I am loyal to her family, to her. I am just protecting her and making sure she's happy."
"Ako ang asawa niya Paul. Ako. Pinasaya ko naman siya diba? I can make her happy Paul. Please Paul ibalik mo na yung asawa ko. Ibalik mo na sa akin si Kath." tears fell hindi ko na pinansin na nasa lobby kami. I just want my wife, my Kath back.
"I'm sorry Daniel pero wala na akong magagawa pa."
"Ang daya mo Paul eh, kung pinasama mo ako sa paghahanap edi matagal na kaming nagkita... Paul ang daya mo eh, pinangako mong ibabalik mo siya sa akin." I told him.
"Hindi ganun kadali iyon Daniel. Nang nahanap ko na sila, nakita kong masaya na siya. Alam kong masaya siya sayo pero lalo lang siyang maguguluhan kapag nalaman niya, masaya siya kasama yung ama niyang hindi niya nakilala dati, masaya siya kasama si Sam." Paul said.
"Pero ako dapat ang kasama niya!" I snapped. Pinagkait nila sa akin si Kath. At pinagkait nila kay Kath yung katotohanan. "Babawiin ko siya. Babalik siya sa akin." sabi ko sa kanya. Kahit pa nakalimutan na niya ako, ibabalik ko siya sa piling ko. Sa tabi ko.
Hindi ko na hahayaan na mawala pa siya ulit sa akin. Sobrang tagal na ng panahon na pinaghiwalayan nila kami. "Masaya na siya Daniel."
"Pero akin siya Paul!" I said "Mahal ko siya at mahal niya ako! Ako yung asawa niya kahit pa sabihin mong hindi valid yung kasal namin. Ako ang asawa niya sa mata ng Diyos!"
And with that umalis na ako at agad agad kong nakita sila Kath naguusap sa labas ng hotel, masaya siyang kausap yung peke niyang asawa. Nakasakay na yung peke niyang asawa sa kotse kaya agad kong hinatak si Kath at sinakay sa kotse ko, with all so much protest from her.
"What are you doing?" she asked but I just drove till na makalayo kami sa hotel. "I said what are you doing?"
"Getting my wife home!" I said.
Damn! Grabeng twist ng storyang to! One second they were happily married and now.. My god.
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