HERNAN MONTES

                                      PROLOGUE
Papunta na si hernan sa Master Bedroom ng kanilang Mansiyon. Nasa staircase na siya ng kanilang mansiyon ay naririnig na niya ang mga magulang niya na nag-aaway. parang nakaraan lingo lang ay naalala niya nag-aaway ang kanyang mga magulang. "And he remmembered her mother was accusing his father of cheating on her.
Habang papalapit na si hernan sa pinto ay dahan-dahan siya s kanyang paghakbang. Napapitlag siya ng marinig ang boses ng kanyang mama. Her usually soft-spoken mother was really shouting. And for her to do that,she must be really pissed-off.
Nagtiis ako Anthony ng maraming taon na hindi mo ako pinapansin. I have been your "Doormat Wife" for twenty-one years. Sa kabila ng matagal na taon na pagtitiis ko. Ang hindi ko lang matatanggap ay ang nagagawa mo pang mambabae.
     
       Naisip niya bigla ang mga pagkakataong magkakasama sila bilang isang pamilya. And he realized he only had a few memories to rely on. Bihira nga pala ang mga pagkakataong magkakasama sila at tuwing Pasko at Bagong Taon ang sa pagkakatanda niya. And that was because his parent "Respective Families had their reunions on the said date.


You are being ridiculous, Avelina. Hindi ako nambabae"


Somehow,he was relieved to hear his father answer.


Hindi ka nambabae? Then how would you explain those nights you said you were working overtime,But when I callied up your office, you were not there?"
I am the president of the company;"FOR GOD SAKE!"  And when you say overtime it doesn`t necessarily mean I am working in my office. You should know that by now. Iyan ang hindi ko maintindihan. Ikaw ang presidente pero kung magtrabaho ka para kang bayarang empleyado. Mas lamang pa nga ang oras mo sa kompanya kaysa sa amin ni hernan. And i bet you are not being paid overtime.I can`t believe I am hearing these things from you. I thought you understand. 
"Well here`s the bad news. I don`t understand. It`s only now i`ve realize i`ve been a martyr for staying here with you. Na para lang naman akong tau-tauhan sa bahay na ito.Yan ang epekto sayo ng alak Avelina sa mga pag-iinom mo. Alcohol is starting to consume your brain. Nagiging emosyonal ka." And what is wrong with being a emotional.?" Ang problema sayo Anthony masyado kang bato. All you have in mind is that balsted company of yours. Sometimes, I even if we are included in the top ten of your priority list.


He did feel it  sometimes. He realized he shared the same sentiments with her mother. Pero dahil abala siya sa pag-aaral at sa extra-curricular activities. Kaya hindi niya masyadong napagtutuunan ng pansin iyon. Bigla ay naawa siya sa kanyang ina. She devoted all her time to him and his father. And the two of them took her for granted,Nakaramdam siya ng guilt. 


Ilang minuto ang lumipas bago niya narinig ang kanyang papa.


What is the purpose of this argument, Avelina?" Tumawa nang naKAKALOKO ANG KANYANG MAMA. She mimicked his father`s voice and repeated what he said. I just want you to know how i feel, Anthony."
For what?
For you to know how miserable I am, Anthony.


He expected his father would say soothing word to calm her mother, to reassure her that whatever she was not true, that he appreciated her as a wife. (it came as a shock to him when he heard his father`s voice again.)


Kung pakiramdam mo ay miserable ka, Umalis ka dito sa bahay. Hindi kita pipigilan."
Narinig niya ang Pag-iyak ng kanyang mama. Hindi niya namalayan na papalabas na ang kanyang papa kaya nakita siya nito. " Hernan! How long have you been there. Halatang nagulat ang kanyang papa na mabungaran siya pagbukas ng pinto.


Long enough to hear you break my mother`s heart. Pero sa halip na sagutin ang tanong ng kanyang papa ay nagtatakbo na siya patungo sa kanyang silad. Nang isara niya ang pinto ay saka lang niya na-realized na nanginginig na pala ang buong katawan niya.


All those years, his mother had been miserable. Saka pa lang niya napagtanto ang nararamdaman nito. Ang madalas na pag-iinom at tila kawalan ng sigla pati ang mga ngiting hindi na umaabot sa mata nito. Narealize niya kung anong klaseng padre-de-pamilya ito. It all went with the perks of his  father being the owner of multinational telecommunications company.