Chapter 10: Divorce

"Love is grand, divorce is a hundred grand"

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Eiffel's PoV

"Divorce me Kuya!" I declared at him.

Ni isang emosyon ay wala akong makita sa mukha niya. Bumukas ang pinto at pumasok ang sekretarya niya. Nilapag nito ang pinahandang tsaa ni Clyde sa lamesa. I took the opportunity to silently scan the face of this man who once became my world.

Almost nine years had passed and I can say, time did a great job on him.

His perfect chiseled jaw to his broad and well maintained shoulders looks as if it was sculpted by God Himself. Kahit na balot na balot siya sa suot niyang business suit ay maaaninag mo parin ang magandang pangangatawan niya. Naging mas baritong at malalim din ang kanyang boses making it almost unrecognizable to my ears. In the past ay masasabi ko nang matangkad siya pero ngayon ay tila ilang pulgada pa ang tinangkad niya.

"Boss, just call me if you need anything" paalam ng sekretarya niya at lumabas na.

Parang wala lang sa kanya ang sinabi ko at nakuha pa niyang uminom sa tasa niya.

Damn him! How can he be so calm?!

I took the cup and smelled the tea. Lavander tea? Is this a coincidence or he conveniently just had a stock of my favorite tea?

"Why so sudden Eiffel?"

I have to calm down, I need to show him na parang wala lang din ito sa akin.

I took a sip from my cup. "Why? Don't I have a right?" balik tanong ko.

"Those are the papers. All that I need is your signature and I'll leave everything to my attorney"

Nilabas ko ang isa pang envelop at nilapag sa lamesa. "And this is?" tanong niya muli.

"These are all the properties of Sinclaire in this country and some parts of Australia and and Europe."

"All the chains of Hotels and Restaurants of our empire is yours, naiprocess ko na ang mga kailangan. But I'm afraid na hindi ko maibibigay ang Sinclaire Shipping Company at ang Equine Ranch, those are to be passed down to the next Generation of my family. But hindi naman ganoon kalaki ang mga iyon, you'll still have the 60% percent of the Sincalire fortune"

Mula sa mga envelop ay lumipat ang tingin niaa sa akin "No offense meant Your excellency, but does my company looks like a Charity Organization to you?" he asked remarkably.

I smirked "Pardon me Mr Fuentabella, I don't have any intentions to insult you in any other way. But if you remember, Sinclaires never goes back on their words. I promised you before that I'll give you the Sinclaire empire and here we are. Just think of it as our Prenuptial Agreement"

Napatigil siya na parang napaisip.

"I know that very well but your visit is rather unexpected Your Excellency. Madami pa akong mas importanteng nakaschedule na appointments and I believe that the subject of your sudden visit does not require an immediate attention so I'm afraid I don't have the time for you"

What?!

Siya pa ang walang oras para sa akin? O ayaw lang talaga niya akong makita? Ganoon ba ng pagdisgusto niya sa akin? Ayaw ba niya sa kalayaan at karangyaang maibibigay ng isang pirma niya?

"What a coincidence Mr Fuentabella-"

"Please, just call me Clyde. Para namang hindi tayo naging close dati"

This exasperating man! Siya pa talaga ang nagpaaalala!

I cleared my throat. "As I am saying Mr. Fuentabella. Pareho lang naman tayong busy but since I want to do something about this marriage thing. I flew all the way from Britain just to have you sign these papers. Hindi naman siguro nakakabala ang pagpirma ng mga papeles na ito hindi ba?"

He looked at me like he was about to say something but he stayed calm and opened the envelope.

He fixed his gaze on me "May I know the reason behind all of this sudden visit of yours?"

Hindi ko inakala na tatanungin nga niya ako.

Napaiwas ako ng tingin "it's too personal"

"Then I'm afraid there is no reason for me to sign these papers. I didn't ask for you to flew all your way out from the comfort of your castle to this country just to pester me in signing documents for your 'personal reasons'. I'm a businessman my lady and not one of your underlings you can demand to sign anything because of your whims" kipit balikat na aniya.

I gripped my hands as I felt the furry inside me. This ungrateful chauvinistic scoundrel jerk!

Hindi ba niya alam na ako ay isang kondesa ng maharlikang pamilya?! Countless of men came to me begging on their knees just to have a little bit of my time! And he! Of all people rejects my presence?!

I gathered myself, ayoko man magsinungaling ay wala na akong magagawa. Hindi naman siguro mapapahamak si Silva sa sasabihin ko.

I raised my hand enough to show the glistening pink diamond ring on my left hand "I'm engaged and soon to be married"

"Is this already an enough reason for me to end this farce of a marriage?" I added.

I examined his expression well for a whole minute pero wala akong nakita ni isang emosyon sa mga mata niya.

Come on Eiffel! What do you expect to see from him? Regret? Sorrow?

Do you wish for him to grovel on his knees and beg for repentance?

Now look! It hurst you deep inside dahil kahit magsinungaling ka na magiging pagmamayari ka na ng ibang lalaki ay wala lang sa kanya.

He doesn't care because he never loved you!

"Congratulations. Am I invited?" he joked and laughed after his silence.

Napaiwas ako ng tingin ulit at tipid na ngumiti.

"Of course. My fiancée looks forward on meeting you too. So para matapos na ang lahat ng ito at mapaghandaan na namin ang aming kasal ay kinakailangan ko ang cooperation mo. Sign these papers and we will never see each other again"

Hindi ko din alam kung saan nangaling ang mga pinagsasabi ko. But siguro naman ay hindi magagalit si Silva sa akin sa pagamit sa kanya dahil siya ang may ideya nito.

"Who's the lucky guy?"

Plano pa ba niyang makipagkwentuhan sa akin?! He even has the nerve to pursue this topic!

I smiled as I remember that silver eyed friend of mine.

"He's Silvarius De Seville the heir to the multimillion Mining Company and the next French Duke in line of the House of Crowbelle, truly a fitting partner for me, the Countess of Campbelle"

"I see... but I'm afraid I really don't have the time for this Eiffel." he stated. Hearing him calling my name brought a weird warmth in my heart.

"What?" Muli ay napamaang ako.

"We shall schedule this matter some other time. I'll inform my secretary to fix an appointment and to inform you for" seryosong sabi niya at tumayo na dala dala ang envelopes.

I took a deep breath, I know this tone well. He already made up his decision and no one can change it. Even me, his wife.

Tumayo na rin ako. "I understand. But I hope that the next time we see each other would also be the last. Please give me back those papers with your signs. I want my freedom back Mr. Fuentabella"

I wore my shades.

"Au revoir"

Paalam ko at lumabas na ng office niya.

Paalis na ako mula sa building ng kayang kompanya ng dahan dahan akong napatigil sa paglalakad. Napahawak ako sa aking pisngi at nagulat.

"Why am I crying...?"

Clyde's PoV

I was currently drinking alone in a bar. Para akong isang bulang biglang naglaho kanina pagkaalis ng babaeng iyon, panigurado ay nagpapanick na si Briana at ang ibang empleyado ko. Baka nga nagpatawag pa siya ng mga pulis para lang hanapin ako. Napapailing na lang ako habang hibang na natatawa.

I never thought that this day will come. Ang araw na bumalik siya para habang buhay na magpaalam mula sa akin.

I'm actually amazed with myself, I was able to talk to her in a composed manner even though I was only an inch away from hugging her.

"I'm engaged and soon to be married"

Damn it! Paulit ulit na naalala ko ang mga salitang sinabi niya.

That bastard Willam was right… She already has someone…

Wala na akong karapatan na mahalin siya sapagkat magiging pagmamayari na siya ng iba.

Ipakidnaap ko kaya sa ISIS ang gagong lalaking iyon para mawala na siya sa landas naming ng asawa ko?

No, that would make Eiffel sad again. I can't risk to give her another heartache. Mas mabuting ako nalang ang makaramdam ng pagdurusa dahil hindi ko maatim na saktan siya ulit o ang taong minamahal niya.

Tinunga ko ang laman ng shot glass.

Sobrang sakit! Ang sakit sakit sa puso ng dahilan ng pagbalik niya. Para akong pinasabugan ng nuclear missile sa sinabi niya sa sobrang pagkagulat ko. It's a good thing I've mastered to hide my emotions all these years we've separated and I'm sure she didn't notice my pain. Too bad my poker face couldn't last any longer ...

"Ten years from now pwede tayo ulit magpakasal"

That was my promise to her a long time ago... But it turns out that another man will be the one who'll wait on her at the end of the aisle this time.

Will that man feel the same thing I did nine years ago?

Will he feel so lucky once he lifts the veil from the face of the most beautiful bride?

Will he cry out of happiness?

Will he love that bride till eternity fades?

Napatingin ako sa banda na kumakanta sa maliit na stage nang maganounce ito ng kantang kakipeperform.

"This song are for those who once was lucky to find the right one and yet lost them on the way. We sincerely hope that you'll appreciate this one"

Oh, I'll make sure I'll give them a large tip.

Umintro na ang guitarist at sinundan ng lead vocalist.

"I was thinking 'bout her, thinking 'bout me.

Thinking 'bout us, what we're gon' be

Open my eyes yeah, it was only just a dream.

So I travelled back down that road.

Will she comeback? No one knows.

I realize, yeah, it was only just a dream"

Woah! Is this my night or what?! Bawat linya parang sinasaksak ang puso ko.

"I was on top and now it's like I'm in the basement.

Number one spot and now she find her a replacement.

I swear now I can't take it,

knowing somebody's got my baby

And now you ain't around baby I can't think"

Yeah... I was her number spot. Her friend, her brother, her prince charming and now her past.

It pains me knowing that there is now a guy who will replace me in her life.

"I should've put it down should've got that ring

Cause I can still feel her in the air

See her pretty face run my fingers to her hair

My lover my life my shawy wife

She left me I'm tied

Cause I knew that it just ain't right"

I remembered kissing her pale cheeks, holding her hair as fine as silk, hugging her around my arms.

"When I be ridin' man, I swear I see her face at every turn

Tryna get my usher over I can't let it burn and

Shes the only one I yearn for

More and more I miss her. When will I learn?

Didn't give her my all my love, I guess now I got my pay back

Now I'm in the club thinking about my baby"

Yeah! Literally I'm in the club doing nothing but thinking about her but also drowning myself in miseries.

"Hey, she was so easy to love

But wait, I guess that love wasn't enough

I'm going through it every time that I'm alone

And now I'm missing wishing shed pick up the phone

But she made the decision that she wanted to move on"

Easy? It was simply inevitable.

The moment she lay her majestic blue eyes on you, you can't help it but to fall for her helplessly.

Mahal ko siya! Mahal na mahal pero ngayon ay wala na akong magagawa kundi ang ibaon ito sa limot.

"If you ever loved somebody put your hands up

If you ever loved somebody put your hands up

And now they're gone and you're wishing you could've give them everything"

I laughed as I wave my hands on the air. Pati ibang mga costumers ay sinabayan din ako sa trip ko.

Tumayo ako at tumatawang sumigaw.

"Everyone! Get your asses drunk and enjoy cause it's on me!" I declared and everyone inside the club shouted and started dancing.

Lumapit ako dun sa bartender at binigay ang credit card ko.

"Give us the best beverage you have" utos ko at nanlaki ang mga matang tumango naman ito.

"I was thinking 'bout her, thinking 'bout me

Thinking 'bout us, what we gon' be

Open my eyes yeah, it was only just a dream

So I travelled back, down that road

Will she come back, no one knows

I realize, yeah it was only just a dream"

Us? Malabo ng magkaroon pa ng "us" sa aming dalawa.

She did come back... But just to end "us"

I really do wish I gave her my everything but it's too late now.

How I wish this was only just a dream.

Nanghihinang napasubsob ako sa lamesa at hinayaang dumaloy ang aking mga luha...

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