The Forbearance Wife

Chapter 9

HABANG nasa byahe ay nakatingin lang ako sa labas ng bintana. I didn't even bother to say something, as he didn't either. Tanging ang music na pinapatugtog nito ang nagpapaingay sa loob ng sasakyan.

It's already eleven in the morning and I haven't eaten my breakfast yet. Medyo nagugutom na rin ako pero ayaw ko na rin magsalita pa. Sumandal na lang ako sa upuan at tumingin sa mga sasakyan na dumadaan.

"Are you hungry already? You haven't eaten breakfast yet." He asked. I just nodded my head since gutom na talaga ako. "There's a restaurant nearby. We can drop by there or we'll have to drive thru instead?" He asked again.

"Drive-thru na lang para makarating din agad tayo sa Batangas." I said without looking at him. I heard him chuckle a bit before maneuvering the car to the nearest drive-thru.

McDo ang pinakamalapit kaya doon na lang kami um-order. He ordered coffee and chicken sandwich for him and ordered rice meal, burger, a large fries, and Mcfloat for me.

"Hindi naman ata ako kakatayin, ano?" I asked when he handed me the plastic bags. He just let a low chuckle before he shook his head.

"No, you have to eat since you didn't eat breakfast earlier." He spoke. I just looked at him. I'm confused by the actions he's showing in front of me right now.

"Bakit? Kumain ka ba kanina?" I asked him back. He just chuckled and didn't answer. I just rolled my eyes at him. Dumadalas na ang pagtawa-tawa niya ah.

He just sipped on his coffee before he started to drive the car again. Kinuha ko na lang din ang rice meal at kinain iyon. Mabilis ko lang din naubos iyon dahil gutom na rin ako kanina pa. Hindi pa siya kumakain dahil nagmamaneho ito.

"G-Gusto mo ba kumain ng burger?" I asked. He looked at me quickly and slightly nod his head. Nahihirapan itong kumain dahil nagmamaneho ito.

I took out the chicken sandwich out of the plastic and opened it. Humarap ako sa kaniya bago isinubo ang sandwich nito. Kumagat ito sa sandwich at dinilian ang pang ibabang labi dahil kumalat ang mayonnaise roon pero hindi nito napansin ang sa gilid ng labi niya.

I let out a sigh before getting my handkerchief in my pocket. Humarap ulit ako sa kaniya at pinunasan iyon. He looked directly into my eyes and smiled. My heart skipped a bit at that smile. This is the first time that he smiled at me . . . a real one. Iyong totoo at hindi pilit.

Agad akong nag-iwas ng tingin. I couldn't stand to look in his eyes for too long. Lalo na ngayon na nag-iiba ang pakikitungo nito sa akin. He's . . . gentler on me now.

Ayaw kong umasa o mag-assume sa mga nangyayari. It felt unrealistic. It feels like a dream, and I don't want to wake up anymore. I want to stay like this forever. Iyong maayos ang pakikitungo niya, walang sigawan at sakitan. Kahit walang pagmamahal basta maayos kami. I would gladly accept it.

"K-Kumain ka muna habang hindi pa go signal." I said and hand him the burger. Kinuha niya iyon at kinain. Tumingin na lang ako sa harapan at binabantayan ang stoplight.

When the stoplight turns green, he started driving again. Mahaba-haba pa ang biyahe kaya sinandal ko na lang ang ulo ko sa bintana at ipinikit ang mata. Nagising na lang ako dahil sa mahinnag pag alog sa akin.

"We're here," he said when I opened my eyes. Kinusot ko ang mata at tumingin sa paligid. Nasa Casa de Aguilera na kami. I nodded my head and opened the shotgun seat. Bumaba ako ng sasakyan at napangiti ng makita sila nanay at tatay.

"Nay! Tay!" I called as I run towards them. I hugged them tightly as my tears started to fall. It's been months since I last saw them. "Na-miss ko kayo." I said while crying. Natawa si tatay dahil sa sinabi ko.