Chapter 2

Alam ni Dale kung sino ang tumatawag sa asawa nya.

She bit her lip in a desperate effort not to cry.

Patuloy sa pag-ring ang cellphone ni Edward.

He frantically reached for the button of his jeans and unzipped his fly.

Hinapit nya sa bewang ang asawa.

He entered her in one swift move.

Impit na napahiyaw si Dale sa ginawa nya.

Nakita nyang tumulo ang luha sa mga mata ng asawa.

Ramdam nyang nasaktan nya ito.

Pero tila walang paki na nagpatuloy sya sa ginagawa.

After a few rings, his phone became silent.

Aamuhin na lang nya si Lexie mamaya pag nagkita sila.

Tutal pagkatapos nito ay tuluyan ng mawawala sa landas nila ang asawa nyang si Dale.

That thought fueled his movements.

Just a few more thrusts and they're done!

Sabay nilang naabot ang rurok ng kaligayahan.

Alam ni Dale na hinding-hindi nya makakalimutan ang sandaling iyon.

"So this is how heaven and hell feels like." she thought to herself.

Pwede mo palang malasap iyon ng sabay?

Her hands are trembling while she picked up the robe she discarded.

She covered her nakedness.

Habang si Edward ay inaayos ang pantalon na suot.

Her knees felt like jelly but she walked towards her drawer.

Binuksan nya iyon at kinuha ang brown envelope.

Dahan-dahan syang naglakad palapit kay Edward.

Every step she takes...

feels like she's a prisoner with a ball and chain shackled to her feet while she is being dragged towards her death.

Her death and his freedom.

"Happy Independence Day Edward..." sabi nya pagkaabot ng envelope sa dating asawa.

Humalik sya sa pisngi ng lalaki.

Halik na punung-puno ng pagmamahal.

At pamamaalam.

Edward eagerly took the envelope & looked at its contents.

He smiled triumphantly when he saw Dale's signature.

This is it!

He is free!

And since he is feeling oh so generous....

He kissed Dale on the lips.

A kiss that she will never forget, he'll make sure of it.

Nagulat si Dale sa ginawa ni Edward.

Ibang-iba ito sa halik na iginawad sa kanya kanina ng dating asawa.

Masuyo ito na tila ba may pagmamahal na kalakip.

Kaya mas lalong nakaramdam ng paninikip ng dibdib si Dale.

Mas masarap pero mas masakit.

Sobrang sakit.

She silently begged the heavens to make the kiss last forever.

Kahit alam nyang imposible.

Kahit alam nyang hindi mangyayari.

Mariin pa rin syang pumikit at nagsumamo sa Diyos.

Baka sakaling pakinggan sya.

If she prayed hard enough.

But when Edward pulled away....

She knew

She just knew that she lost.

"Bakit? Kailan ka ba nanalo?" tanong nya sa sarili.