Trieja: Jake And Josh [Under Revision]

Chapter 35

Monday ng umaga ay lumabas kaming tatlo. Jake told me that their manor is located at the most secluded area of this island. Malaki ang isla. The population is almost similar to Jomalig Island. Pero hindi pa ako nakakapunta ng bayan. Gustong-gusto kong libutin ang isla pero bawal daw sabi ng doktor. Makakasama sa baby ko.

Weekly ang pagpunta ng family doctor ng nga Ignacio para i-check ang kalagayan ko. Jake's family won't let me travel because the road is roughly rocky. Pero wala naman 'yon pinagkaiba sa paglalakad naming tatlo patungong open field.

"We can put down our picnic blanket here," turo ni Josh sa ilalim ng malaking puno.

Tamang-tama naman ang puwesto, hindi na kailangan maglagay ng malaking payong para hindi mainitan. Sa laki ng mga sanga ng puno, it was enough to keep the beaming rays of the scorching sun off our body.

Huminga ako ng malalim nang umihip ng malakas ang hangin. "It's so refreshing here." I said.

"Yeah," Jake's hand snaked around my waist.

I stiffened at his touch, and I think he noticed it. Josh was too preoccupied in grabbing the picnic blanket from me to sense that something's wrong with my attitude towards... our husband.

Napalunok ako nung pinaharap ako ni Jake sa kanya. Hindi pa rin talaga ako sanay na tinatawag ko siyang "asawa ko" kahit sa isip man lang.

"Claire, are you not comfortable with me?"

Napaiwas ako ng tingin. Nag-guilty ako kapag naririnig ang malambing niyang boses. Di ko naman kasi talaga mapigilan ang sarilin mailang sa kanya. I thought that I will be fine after that talk... pero hindi pala. Nung hindi ako nakapagsalita ay humugot siya ng malalim na hininga.

His face leaned closer to me as he touched my chin. Inangat niya ang ulo ko para masalubong ang malambot niyang mga mata.

"Kung naiilang ka sa akin, I understand. You don't need to force yourself in being with me if the pain is still fresh for you..."

Wala akong masabi. Ni wala akong mahagilap na salita para sa mga sinabi niya. I don't want to lie. Yes, I said I love you to him while he's asleep, pero hanggang doon lang siguro ang kaya ko. Which is really unfair in his part.

"Ehem!", agaw pansin ni Josh. "If you're going to steal a kiss, don't do it behind my back, Jake."

Jake chuckled charmingly before planting a soft kiss on mine. It was so sudden that I wasn't able to react. Kaya nung marahan akong hinila ni Josh paharap sa kanya ay napako na lang ako sa kinatatayuan nung halikan niya rin ako.

I mentally sighed. Talaga bang gagawin namin ito sa harap ng madaming tao?

"Your cheeks are getting red, my wife." Jake said teasingly.

Ngumisi si Josh nang lumayo ang mukha sa akin. "You don't need to be ashamed, my love. We're safe in the grounds of the Ignacio Manor."

I rolled my eyes. Tumawa lang ang dalawa.

"Right. I forgot," I whispered.

Nang magdilim ay pinasuot ako ng cream na bestida ni Jake. I feel like a little girl habang sinusuklayan niya ang mahaba kong buhok. Through the vanity mirror, I saw how handsome and mysterious Jake is while taking care of me.

"Nasaan si Josh?", I asked softly.

"He took care of something first. Susunod din siya sa atin..."

"Saan tayo pupunta?"

"Sa bahay ng Tita Marilyn ko, she wants to meet you." Nakangiti niyang binaba ang suklay.

Katulad ni Josh, inalalayan niya akong tumayo at pinaharap sa kanya. His hands snaked around my waist and pulled me closer to him. Pinatakan niya ng maikli at nakaliliyong halik ang mga labi ko.

"Does your auntie also---" di ko na naituloy dahil hinalikan niya ulit ako.

Okay. Ang weird ko masyado. It's alright to let him kiss me, but I am uncomfortable to be near him strangely. Nagpakawala ako ng malalim na hininga bago yumuko. It is really weird to let him know that I am still not comfortable with him and yet, we are sharing intimate kisses.

"Are we not going to meet Josh's parents?"

Sumubsob ako sa dibdib niya nung yakapin niya ako.

"No."

Kumunot ang noo ko. I thought that we're meeting them? But I suppressed myself from asking that. No, means no. Kahit curious man ay hindi ko pwedeng pilitin na ikuwento ni Jake sa akin ang dahilan.

He may be my husband, but I still have respect for their privacy. Ngayong pinipili ni Jake na 'wag sabihin ang dahilan, I will not pry further. Tumagal pa kami sa ganoong ayos bago nag-aya si Jake na umalis na kami ng bahay.

Nakasalubong pa nga namin si Papa Joaquin nang pababa kami ng hagdanan.

"Dad? Where's mom?", si Jake.

"With your father," he said softly.

"Where?"

"Pumunta sila sa bayan."

"Pero kanina pa po sila naandun."

Tumango si Papa Joaquin. "Hayaan mo na..." Napatitig siya sa suot ko. "Saan ang lakad niyo?"

"We're going to meet Tita Marilyn."

Tumango si Papa Joaquin bago ako binalingan. "She's been dying to meet you, Claire. I'm sure she'll be happy once she sees you... by the way, you look amazing, iha."

Ngumiti ako. "Thank you po. Jake picked this dress."

Papa Joaquin chuckled musingly. "Aren't you a bit controlling, iho?"

Sumimangot ang mukha ni Jake. "It's just the dress, dad. Nothing serious."

"If your mother is here, she'd be scolding you again."

Lalong sumuplado ang mukha ni Jake. Tumawa lang si Papa Joaquin. "Oh siya, pagod na rin ako. I will be going now." His eyes drifted.to mine. "Have a nice night, iha."

"G-good night po, Papa Joaquin." Tama ba ang sinabi ko?

Masyado na akong kinakabahan dahil Papa ni Jake ang kausap namin. I am still queasy for the past few years. Every time I meet someone's parents, I'd be like this.

Mabuti na lang at nauna ng tumalikod ang daddy ni Jake. Nauna na rin kami hanggang sa makalabas ng bahay. Nang makapasok sa kotse niya ay nagsalita siya.

"Hindi naman halatang kabado ka." He teased.

"Shut up."

Tumawa si Jake. Pinaandar na niya ang kotse at tumulak na kami palabas ng gate. Bumukod ang Tita ni Jake sa pamilya nila. He said to me na mas gusto ng Tita Marilyn niya ang malayo sa pamilya Ignacio at sa pamilya ng mga asawa nito para mamuhay ng matiwasay.

That kind of situation is ideal and practical, really. Walang makikisawsaw sa relasyon ninyo. Walang mangingealam sa desisyon ninyong mag-asawa. But that's not really what's bugging me.

Napapaisip kasi ako kung bakit naiwan mag-isa si Papa Joaquin. Well, maybe he got tired and did not wanted to be a hindrance to Mama Jennette and Papa Gabriel's day, so he let them go off without him.

Napangiti ako. It's really sweet of him naman to be like that. I wonder if ganoon din si Josh... He's letting me and Jake have some alone time para mawala ang pagkailang ko sa asawa namin.

Napabuntong hininga ako. I am lucky to have such sweet and caring husbands.