28/10/2024
I BUILT MY MAN FOR ANOTHER WOMAN
"Your cousin really looks pretty, babe."
Before dozing myself off to sleep, I heard my long time boyfriend whispered something that made me petrified for a bit.
With a throbbing chest and a heavy heart, I instantly faced him. There, I saw him busy using his phone while silently smiling like an idiot.
"Ano ulit 'yong sinabi mo, babe?" I asked again although I heard what he said clearly.
"Sabi ko, maganda ang pinsan mo. Crush ko na yata," he joked out using his usual raspy tone. "Magkaiba naman 'yung crush sa gf," he quickly supplied.
Hilaw akong napangiti sa sinabi niya. I don't know if he's just being sarcastic or what, but what he muttered sent thousands of sharpened knives straight to my chest.
I just find his statement way too insensitive. I know my cousin is really pretty pero kailangan niya pa ba talagang ipamukha sa akin na may mas maganda pang babae sa akin? Damn, I never felt insecured in my entire life.
"Yeah, maganda talaga and pinsan ko," is all the words I could managed to utter.
For three years of being in a relationship with Zeus, I never heard of him complimenting other girls. He's a responsible man and he would assure first if his actions and words would affects me.
Not until this cruel night came.
And I never thought that his admiration towards my cousin was just the beginning of my tragedy.
Because as months passed by, mas lalong napapalapit ang loob ni Zeus sa pinsan ko. There was even a time that I accidentally opened his account and they were both exchanging "I love you's" and sweet talks from each other. Yes, it badly hurts but what hurts me more is when he denied me as his girlfriend. Ang sabi niya'y kaibigan lang daw niya ako.
Maybe this is my consequence for settling into a secret relationship. Na kahit sinong kamag-anak ko ay walang alam tungkol sa amin.
But damn it, three years na kaming mag-on tapos sasabihin niya sa cousin ko na bestfriend lang kami? He's funny. I molded him to become a real man for three years tapos ito ang isusukli niya? After he knew my cousin, parang naglaho lahat ng natutunan niya sa akin.
Hanggang sa nalaman kong nahuhulog na rin ang pinsan ko sa kaniya. Well, I couldn't blame her for that. My man is strikingly handsome, intellegent and a sweet person. Kahit sinong babae ay mahuhulog talaga sa kaniya.
Alam kong niloloko na lang ako ni Zeus but I remained myself composed and civil. Until I decided to communicate with my cousin and I encouraged her to pursue my man.
"Zeus is a loving man, Annie. Pursue mo na 'yon," wika ko at mapaklang napangiti. She giggled at the thought of it.
"Sige, cous. Babalitaan talaga kita if mag work out 'to," she beamed.
Kahit masakit ay hinayaan ko lang ang dalawa. Because if Zeus really loves me and if he's really in his right mind, he won't click the bait.
But he did.
Dito ko talaga nasukat kung gaano ako kamahal ni Zeus and I've realized that his love for me wasn't enough to fight the temptation around him.
And after a year, I saw myself attending in a celebration of my cousin and Zeus.
"Hi, cous. Your bestfriend is really a responsible husband."
I suddenly cleared my throat as Annie waded to my direction. The exceptional effulgence of the moon from the nocturnal sky illuminated her ethereal face. She really looks elegant and regal tonight. Of course, it's their first monthsarry as a newly wedded couple at kailangan lang na maganda siya.
"He's such a sweet man, cous. Tama nga ang sinabi mo," she chirped.
Mabilis na kumalat ang hapdi sa dibdib ko. I just faked a smile at her. Of course, I molded and taught him to become a real man, Annie. Before he became yours, he was mine first.
"Wow, congrats sa inyo ni bestfriend," is all the words I managed. My throat constricted and I gasped an air to breathe. Parang hindi ako makahinga.
"May mga tips ka pa ba diyan para mas lalong strong ang pagsasama namin, cous? I know you know him a lot better than me," wika niya.
I faintly smiled and tears began to burn at the edge of my eyes.
"Please be extra patient with him as he is really a hard-headed at times, but believe me, he's the sweetest with his own little gesture, cous." I smiled as tears started to pour down my cheeks.
"Don't make him cry, make him the happiest. And don't foget to throw him little praises as he loves that, though he's not telling it. And also, spoil him with care, love and loyalty. And please, don't leave him when times get harder, Annie."
Tuluyan na akong napaluha sa mga sinasabi ko. Nanghahapdi ang lalamunan at dibdib ko sa sobrang sakit.
"I'm so happy for you and for my bestfriend," hikbi ko.
"Bestfriend?"
My heart thumped when Zeus suddenly came out of nowhere.
"Ikaw ang tinutukoy ni Rain, babe. Diba mag bestfriend kayo? Siya pa nga ang nag-push sa akin para i-pursue kita," Annie uttered innocently.
Napaawang lamang ang bibig ni Zeus.
"C-Congrats, b-bestfriend..." I whispered to Zeus with so much tears. Makaraan ay iniwan muna kami ni Annie para makapag-usap kaming dalawa.
"Bakit mo ako hinayaang maagaw nang iba, Rain?" Zeus immediately asked and he was about to hold my hand when I pulled it away.
"I miss your hands but I realized it's not mine to hold and I will never hold it again, Zeus," I whispered and wiped my tears.
"Hindi ka nanghinayang sa atin?" tanong niya.
"I already accepted my defeat and I learned to let go to the things that aren't mine to hold, Zeus. Because I realized that it's better to be a builder than to be a destroyer in a relationship," I whispered bravely.
I wiped my tears and started walking away. Hindi ako nanghinayang na pinaubaya ko siya sa pinsan ko.
Because no good man can ever be stolen. Unless he wants to.
That night, I experienced the greatest fear of every girls. And that is building your man for another woman.
