I CAN’T LIVE A LIFE LIKE THIS…

BY: Roxan Enriquez

This story is about a woman who was never contented in life. She had everything, the
wealth, the beauty, talent, intelligent, a man who dreamed of every woman (her husband) and
being famous.
It was Saturday morning, Andrew, Emma’s husband wake her up.
“Honey, get up it’s already morning. You promised us that today you will give us time.
Elisa was too excited for this day.”
Andrew woke up Emma. Suddenly Elisa came and jumped onto the bed.
“Mommy, mommy wake up, wake up.”
“Uhmm… I feel sleepy would you stop that. Mommy will be angry with you.” (Close
eyes talking).
“But, mommy you promised me and Dad that you will treat us today in a place you
bought two days ago and that would be a date.” Teary eyes talk to her mommy.
“Honey… please get up it’s been a year since we go out.” Andrew said.
“Okay… Okay… just give me an hour to prepare.” Emma said.

Emma get up. And prepare herself. Elisa four years old, a loving, understanding, smart
and kindled heart child was very happy on that day. Elisa always wanted to go outside with her
father and mother. She was very excited because it’s been a year since they go outside. Because
Emma and Andrew are both busy with their business. They do not have enough time for their
only daughter.
Emma owned almost half of the town. She builds a big company in town. She also owned
many company in Manila. She invested too in many company abroad. She owned a company of
airlines. Reason she can go around the world back and forth. But these things are not enough for
her. She is searching for something that may let her be contented.
“I’m done let’s go!” Emma said.
The family went out. They went to a small village which she bought from two days ago.
The village got a great depth from the bank because they lend much money from it. They used
the money to distribute they’re product in the cities. But they were betray by their village
chairman. He run with his family and took all the goods that would be exported. The villagers
are too disappointed reasons why some of their members migrate to other town. Then Emma
came paid all the depth and begun to do contract to the villagers. The offer was good and can
give them more livelihood. Then the villagers agree and sign the contract. But it was only for
front. Suddenly the villagers known the truth behind it. They began angry to Emma. And call her
as evil. When they came the villagers go inside their own houses reason why Elisa began
wondering:
“Mommy, why are the villagers are going to their houses, does we have a disease that
will infect them?” Elisa said.
“No baby, maybe they are too shy to us.” Said Emma.
“Baby come here!” said Andrew. “I will show you something.”
Elisa rushing went to her father. Andrew knows the reason why the villagers act that way.
But he choose to be silent to protect Elisa. Andrew knows what Emma did. But he is guilty about
what happen because in instance he is the reason why the small village owned by her wife.
Andrew was there few months ago. He knew that the village got in great depth he told her wife
what happen. And Emma got interested in the village and paid it to the bank.
When there were walking, Elisa saw a lady playing with the children in the village. Elisa
look at her father and said:
“Daddy, can I play with them?”
“Sure baby, but be careful.” Andrew said.
“I will. Thank you (smiled and kiss her daddy)” Elisa joyfully replied.
Emma talked to a villager named Charlie whom manage the small company in the
village. She confirming the status of the small company there. But Charlie had a bad news.
“Ma’am, we have fewer and fewer product for exporting. Some of the villagers aren’t
cooperating. They tell that it is better starving than to work for an evil like.” Charlie confessed.
“So, if that is the case let it be. For I don’t want workers with that kind of attitude. Aren’t
they happy that after I buy this village I let them live here for free only in one condition they’ll
work for me for free and I will just give them a food allowance monthly. Then, they call me evil.
Ok, I will be the evil they wish to.” Emma angrily reply.
Charlie whose full name was Charles Buin. A handsome guy who married Anika Claire
Cruz-Buin. A pretty, humble, kind and smart girl whom loved by all the villagers.
“Charlie, who is that lady playing with the children and…(seeing Elisa)?” said Emma.
“Where?” Charlie said looking at the children. “Oh, that lady. She is Anika my wife,
ma’am. Does she beautiful?” Charlie added.
“Quite beautiful, (one eyebrow up) but not as beautiful as I am” said Emma.
“Ah, yes ma’am.” Charlie said.
 “Anika!” Charlie shouted. “Would you mind to come over I want you to introduce the
owner of the company we are managing.”
“Coming Love!” Anika reply with a smile. Children wait a minute I just going to uncle
Charlie.
“Andrew! Emma shouted. “Get Elisa. You two should go to the car we will leaving in a
moment. I’m just talking to Charlie a business matters.” Emma added.
“I thought that… ok we’re going” said Andrew. “Baby, let’s go.”
“Huh! Why so fast I just started to play along with my playmates.” Sad reply of Elisa.
“I’m sorry but your mother want us to go to the car.” Andrew reply to her child.
“I thought this is our day to be with each other.” Elisa reply with tears following from her
eyes.
“I’m sorry baby, we can’t help it, ahm don’t be sad I promise you on your birthday we
will be here. We will celebrate you birthday together with you mommy.” Andrew said cheering
her up.
“Promise!?” Elisa said.
“Yes, it is a promise” nodding reply of Andrew.
“Okay daddy. That would be next month.” Elisa reply.
In the meanwhile…
Anika approaching, introducing Charlie to Emma.
“Ma’am, this is my wife Anika Claire Cruz-Buin”
“Nice to meet you, Ma’am Emma. It is a great pleasure to meet. You’re so beautiful in
person. You look like an angel.” Amazed reply of Anika.
“Thank you for your compliment” Emma reply. “Charlie I must go I had to treat my little
angel somewhere far from this kind of atmosphere” Emma added.
“Okay ma’am, see you in your next visit” Charlie said.
Emma left the two lovers. Going to the car she saw her husband looking at Anika. She
feels a little jealous. She go into the car close the door.
“Emma, who is that pretty lady you talk too she seems familiar to me?” Andrew asked.
“She is Anika Claire Cruz” she reply.
“She is quite pretty, looks like an angel.” Andrew said.
“Mommy, you look different now is there something bothering you? Or you’re not
feeling well.” Elisa asked her mother.
 “No it’s nothing baby, I just thinking over to something” her reply to Elisa. “Do you like
ice cream I know a place which we can buy some?”
“Yes, I’d like too. You daddy do you want also ice cream” asking her father.
“Sure it’s my favorite” Andrew reply.
“Okay let’s go. Andrew please drive us to MICAI’s Ice cream shop that is not far from
here” Emma said to Andrew with fierce look.
“What have I done to her?” Andrew murmuring in his head.
“Ice cream, ice cream, ice cream…” Elisa repeatedly saying.
The family went at the ice cream shop. But Emma still thinking of about Anika Claire.
She feels uncomfortable every time she thinks of her. She is irritate but in her mind that
was the first time they met. But that is the first that he hears her husband give compliment
to other women except her.
The day past and it was evening. In their bedroom Emma asked her husband how he said
that Anika’s face is familiar to him. But, because Andrew is tired on that day he didn’t reply any
word. So, that Emma’s jealous grows. Starting that night Emma didn’t talk to Andrew she ignore
her. Until, Andrew talked to her in private.
“Emma, what was wrong with you? Is there something I’ve done with you?” Andrew
asking Emma holding her hand.
But still Emma refuse to say anything. Andrew don’t understand Emma’s mood. He is
wondering what could be the problem he has caused her to refuse him too far like this. But
Andrew continue to talked to her every day, every night and every time he go to business and go
back home but still, Emma say nothing.
Then one day a week before Elisa’s birthday. Emma invited Andrew and Elisa to go with
her on a business trip at the village. Andrew and Elisa loved to come. And Andrew plan a
surprise to Emma but he need some cooperation of the villagers.
In some days after. Andrew went at the village often to be friend to the villagers so that
Emma would not be angry again when they go there again. He became close to Charlie and
Anika and especially to the villagers.
And when got arrived, the villagers welcome them. Put some flowers in their neck.
“Wow, what a warm welcome” Emma said amazed.
“Thank you sir for not letting us starved” one of the villagers reply.
Emma looking fiercely with her husband, whispering the words “What the hell is going in here?”
But Andrew reply her with a smile. Charlie came with a good news.
“Ma’am, it’s been a while since you came, there is a great things happen now our small company
are producing many product exporting. And the villagers are now actively cooperating with us.
Thanks to Sir Andrew, he conduct seminars and meetings for this to happen. Now the earnings of
the company is great and big than the month you’ve been here” gratefully talked of Charlie.
“That’s good, and whom my husband partner you?... Thanks to you and with your
cooperating” Emma said.
“It doesn’t matter it suit us to a boss like your husband, and Ma’am I am not the one
who’s with Sir Andrew. It is my wife Anika there are the good and perfect partner in business”
happily replied of Charlie.
Bur Emma seems not happy on what she heard, she went at the restroom and screamed.
“So, this is it. Your busy days is with that woman how could you do this to me Andrew. I
hate you and that woman. Go to hell and died together” angrily said of Emma.
Jealous and anxiety grows into Emma’s mind and heart. He plans something to ruin the
life of Anika.
“That ugly woman, is no match from me. I will ruin her and her angelic image. No one
cannot removed the eyes of my husband from me, if there is a woman who would do that her life
will be miserable, miserable that she may pray that she was not born in this world” Emma cursed
words.
Emma went out of the restroom and found her husband laughing with Anika and the
villagers. She feels so angry and her world has been gone to dust. She also saw her daughter
holding the hands of Anika. And jealous begun growing and growing.
She went onto the car to escape on what she can do in front of some people. That will
make her look indecently. She never want everybody to see her anger.
After that day she became more jealous even in her only child, Elisa. Whenever she sees
them happily with each other she become angrier like a lion. She cursed her even in death. The
night before Elisa’s birthday she is in the veranda drinking wine and smoking. After a while,
Elisa gone to wake and walk through the door to get some water to drink. While walking she
sees her mother at the veranda. She got closer to ask her mother.
“Mommy, why are you still awake are there something bothering you reason why you
still awake?” Elisa asked.
“It’s nothing Elisa, go to your bed.” Emma replied holding cigarette.
“Is daddy around mommy?” Elisa asking.
“I don’t know where your daddy is, maybe he is with that girl huh!” angry reply.
Then suddenly she looked at her daughter.
 “What a pretty young face, when you become a lady you will be like me, fine, famous,
wealthy and intelligent like me. (holding the neck of Elisa) but that would not going to happen
no one will be like me, famous (getting tighter), beautiful and wealthy with eyes of Andrew”.
Elisa’s eyes are fierce ready to kill. But her child gently says, “Mommy, what is happening to
you? Are you sick?(Harding to breath). Mommy, are this tighter holding my neck is the sign of
your to me. Oh mommy I’m so happy if that is so hold me tightly.
Emma hold the neck of Elisa tightly.
“Mommy, tomorrow is my birthday please stay with me till the morning comes. I love
you, mommy my eyes are getting dimmer mommy. Mommy, it’s hard to breath. Mommy…”
Elisa’s reply harder to breath.
Elisa closed her eyes no movement follows. Emma back in her senses see Elisa’s
motionless body. Trembling lift up her daughter’s body.
“Elisa, baby wake up, wake up. Mommy is not angry anymore. Open your eyes please.
Whah…(screams). Oh dear Lord I beg for your pardon. Bring back my angel my only treasure in
life, please. Promise I will love her more, as a mother should do.I will cherish her more. Lord,
please… (crying) bring her back. I love her mother anything” desperately saying to the
motionless body of Elisa.
And suddenly, Andrew came. Hearing someone is crying he run quickly to the place
which heard the sound and he found Emma holding their child.
“Emma, what happen?” confused Andrew.
“I will love her, Lord please…” panting Emma says. Then Andrew put a hand in her
shoulder but Emma, shouted.
“You killed her, it is because of you! You killed our daughter, you killed Elisa. Wha..”
Elisa screams while running.
Elisa after that never return to their. She never seen even in Elisa’s funeral. Some says
because of what happen she never want to go in prison and don’t know how to face the
consequence she done. And some says maybe she became insane and roaming around the town.
But the town after Elisa’s burial was so quiet, so dark and ears breaking because of silence. But
there is no sign of Emma.
After few months. There is a woman wondering through the town no one recognized or
know her. Children are beating, teasing and spitting her. But one day, a heavy rain was pouring
and the woman was sick and lying down to the ground wet and shivering. But that woman was
Emma, back into herself that day.
“Lord, this is not much. I can suffer more to pay what I’ve done. There is no pardon for
me for killing may own child. This hands who bare the life of child is now yours cut them. If I
will give a chance I can’t live a life like this again. If you able to give two choices I will choose
to be an ordinary one. But nothing will change by now(shivering) but God let me do this for the
last time. (+) In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.” Emma’s
last words.
After she do the sign of the cross. She did peacefully hoping that God will give her
pardon. (end)
I Can’t Live
A Life Like
This…
Roxan Boongaling-Enriquez