Mamihlapinatapai

Epilogue

Cray

Lihim akong napangiti nang marinig na tumataas yung pitch ng boses ni Ember habang may kausap sa phone nito.

Nang lumingon ito sakin ay nagkunwari pa akong busy sa pag-aayos ng shoelace ng sapatos ko.

We have planned ahead that will be having our breakfast at the hotel restaurant and we will go for a walk outside dahil nangako ito na ilalabas ako bago kami umuwi sa Pilipinas. Saka chance ko na din para huthutan si Ember ngayon. Hah! Mayaman kaya sya. Peperahan ko na din muna.

"Do something, Mommy! Magagalit si Cray!" Dinig ko pa na halos pasigaw na sabi ni Ember na bahagya pang lumayo sakin at pumasok sa balcony. "I don't fuckin' care how much or what we have to do just to tear down all those articles and photos online. I can't let my wife to get mad at me."

I couldn't help but to grin at that sight. Lalo pa at napapasabunot na ito sa sarili nitong buhok sa sobrang frustration. That's so rare. Sanay na kasi ako na kontrolado nito lagi yung sarili nito.

Patunay na din yung reaksyon nito kagabi. Akala ko pa naman ay magrereact ito pero wala naman akong nakuhang reaksyon dito. Ember is truly oozing with confidence and self-worth. So making her jealous will never stand a chance. It only comes up with the idea that Ember isn't affected by any third party issues.

The only thing that I can get even on her is to try to do something to myself and that's exactly and precisely will make her crazy. Sa itsura nga nito ngayon, no doubt.

Muntikan na akong matawa nang halos maihagis pa ni Ember yung cellphone nito nang matapos na yung tawag. Pagkatapos ay tila problemadong problemado nang bumalik sa kwarto.

"Tapos na ko. Di pa ba tayo aalis?" Tumayo na ako. Kinuha ko din yung purse ko.

"Uhm, Cray?"

"Hmm?"

Pigil na pigil ko yung matawa sa itsura ngayon nito. Should have I known that this could be this entertaining, sana noon ko pa ginawa.

Last night, I made sure that I have leaked some informations to Yumi about my social status. I even showed her photos of Ember to prove those. At hindi ko din ito pinigilan nang manghiram ito ng phone sakin at makikitawag daw kagabi kahit alam ko namang pakikialaman lang nito yung gallery ko at kukuha ng proof para sa pagleak nito ng scoop sa media. It's her way for getting back at me after I turned down her sexual advances.

Since everyone's into thinking that I am so reserved about my personal affairs, it's really a big deal for everyone around me. Sigurado ako na mamaya lang ay sikat na sikat na din si Ember.

"C'mon, Ember. I'm starving. Don't bring anything. I require your full attention." Kahit yung phone ko na panay ang ring ay in-off ko lang din at ibinato sa kama. Tiyak na sina Mommy iyon at babalaan kami na wag muna kaming lumabas ni Ember ngayon.

Hinawakan ni Ember yung kamay ko bago dumiin yung kapit sa phone nito. "I don't think it's safe outside, Cray. Let's stay here."

I am really trying my best to pull this thing perfectly. Lalo pa at bakas na bakas sa mukha ni Ember yung takot nito ngayon. Mukhang iniisip talaga nito na magagalit ako dito ng husto.

See? I also got ahold of her. She can't always dominate me.

"A promise is a promise, Ember. Ano bang problema? I've already got my breakfast reservation at the restaurant downstairs."

Hindi ito sumagot. Kinagat lang nito yung pang-ibabang labi nito na para bang humihingi sakin ng dispensa at pang-unawa.

Without saying anything, I grabbed her hand. Kinuha ko yung phone nito at ibinato lang din sa kama katabi ng phone ko. Pagkatapos ay hinatak ko na ito palabas ng kwarto.