165 After Many Months (1/2)
In the outskirt of EL Nido when Anthon was six year old....
When the demands of his leadership claimed most of his time,Mr. Wayne'svisit to Sylvia became less frequent. His other wife,Laura,had resumed in the business when their son,Jim,turned three. She was part of the planning and travelled with him for business meetings. It was also within her intentions that through this way,their marriage would improve.
It had been three months since he went home to Sylvia. It was so far the longest gap of his visit with her.He found it hard to loosen from the chains of Laura's monitoring on him since she already knew about the company's activities eversince she went back to the business.
When he finally saw her,he was so surprised of the changes of her appearance. She was no longer the stunningly beautiful Sylvia who could capture anyone with just a single glance. He noticed that she lost so much weight and got paler.
His heart sank in seeing her. She must be torn with pain and insecurities due to his absence. Communication at that time was only through mails and telegrams.
”Sylvia,what's bothering you?Why do you become so thin? ”He asked,one night, while they were inbed.
”Nothing.”
”But you won't be this thin if you are not worried about anything. ”
”It's nothing.”
”Is it because of her? ” He asked while he pulled her closer to him.
”No. ”
She answered briefly but her tears were flowing silently fast and drenched her pillow in just few minutes.
He turned her head and saw that she was crying, indeed.
”Sylvia,believe me. I cannot love someone else. It's only you. You know that. ” He assured her by hugging her tighter.
” I cannot love someone else , likewise. But,Pe,promise me that you won't hate me when I”m gone.”
Her voice was hollow and seemed to come out from the back of her throat
”What nonesense are you talking about? Stop it. If I cannot come home frequently,it does not mean that I have changed. It's the demand of work that hinders me. It's your fault.I have been asking you so many times to move with me to the city but you refuse.I could have gone home to you every night. ”
” My relatives are there..If they happen to see both of us together,they would kill you. They did not touch you because they know that you got married with someone else and that I also pretended to have wolked overseas.”
”Okay,but please don't doubt at me again. ”
He began kissing her deeply and got lost with the mounting loneliness of not seeing her for long. He swallowed all the tears that ran down endlessly like waterfalls in the wilds. When his hands began to move down and touched her left breast,she suddenly screamed in pain.
”Why? ” He released her right away and sat up.
”I'm already dying,Pe. When I'm gone,please do not tell my family.
And please,look for Manang Mina,the midwife in this place. I have already given her the copy of my will and other things which I asked to give you when I'll be away .I didn't expect to see you anymore. ”
She showed him the red, bulging lumps in her breast. It was when he also noticed that she got weaker and with a little breathing difficulty. He was so horrified.
”Go with me to the city. I'll get you the best treatment for you. Why do you always keep so many things from me?Am I not your husband?Am I not suppose to share the burden of all your sorrows and