Everything Underneath Us

10

WARNING : NOT SUITABLE FOR YOUNG READERS. DO NOT READ THIS.

S A M A R R A H

I am not sure how long I've been sitting on the couch and reading the report Klaie, the Night cafe's Manager, sent me. Tungkol sa kalagayan ng cafe, pati na rin ang mga bagong supplies na papaltan.

May ilan na nadagdag sa pastries, na sa cafè din mismo ginagawa. May apat din na nakuha sa amin for birthdays, wedding and christening for desserts.

Nagbabalak na nga din ako na magtayo ng isang pastry shops para sa lahat ng occasion. In that case, may sariling tao ang nagawa for pastries and occasion.

Bites of Pastries would be great as a name.

Patuloy lang ako sa pagbabasa nang makaramdam ng antok. Madalas akong antukin, pero nakakasanayan na rin. Kaya minsan, kahit sa opisina ay sumasaglit ako ng tulog.

I picked up my phone from the table to check the time. It's already 11:47 PM but Apollo isn't home yet.

I tried to check my message and call log but nothing's new. He didn't call nor text, which is strange. He always text me. Kahit nga pag nasa meeting s'ya o nasa bar kasama ang kaibigan.

He's always updating me even if I'm not asking. I don't want him to feel that I'm limiting his actions just because we're married. Kung gusto n'yang gawin ang isang bagay, I won't stop him.

I am his wife, but I'm also just his wife. He has free will, and most importantly, I trust him. If he wants something, it's his decision to have it or not. We promised to support each other. Kahit man lang ito, ay magawa ko.

Even if sometimes, I feel threatened and bothered by his silence and indifference towards me or something I'm interested with. But after minutes, he'd go sweet and assure me that he loves me.

Which is he, even in a shortest time,  never makes me feel unloved and unimportant.

Never had a beef, that I could say, a big real beef. Before everything went big, he'd go apologize and cuddle me until we fell asleep.

I sighed and decided to call him. I was worried, he didn't text. Maybe something bad happened — hoping there's not.

After 3 rings, the line went off. Hindi ko alam kung anong mararamdaman. Was it intentional? Of course not! He wouldn't do that.

Siguro ay hindi sinasad'ya?

Naghintay pa ako ng ilang minuto bago s'ya tawagan muli. Malakas ang tibok nang puso habang pinapakinggan ang pagtunog. Umaasa na sasagutin n'ya.

At hindi nga ako nagkakamali, he answered the call after 3 rings. Labis na tuwa ang naramdaman ko. Bahagya pa akong napaayos ng upo dahil sa tuwa.

"Hon?" Tawag ko.

"Hon..." He said, as if he just wake up from sleep. His voice was deep and a little hoarse.

"It's.... " Saglit akong napatingin sa relo para alamin ang oras. ".. 12:17 am. Uuwi ka pa ba?" Tanong ko sa mahinang tanong.

He groaned in the other line. He moved that makes a noise. "Are you okay?" I asked when I heard him groaned in pain again.

Ilang segundong katahimikan ang dumaan pagkatapos ng tanong ko. Magsasalita na sana ako ng sumagot ito pagkatapos tumikhim. "Y-yeah. I just... fell asleep, but I'm going home." I smiled when I heard his answer.

"Is there something wrong? You sounds in pain." Nagaalala kong tanong nang marinig ko s'yang pabulong na dumaing dahil sa sakit.

He hummed as a response. "Yeah, headache." Medyo nahihirapan na sagot nito.