The First Woman

Chapter 2

"Hey," Alec called to get my attention.

I realized we were stuck in traffic. I looked at him and saw him staring at me. I nervously laughed.

"Why?"

He sighed.

"Naisip ko lang. Na baka hindi ka lang basta anak-mayaman. Siguro nabibilang ka sa 1% ng society base sa naalala mo."

"What?" I laughed. "Saan naman galing yan?"

Sinimangutan niya ako at tumingin sa harap dahil nagsimula nang gumalaw ang mga sasakyan.

"Isipin mo ha. Nang magmulat ang mga mata mo, ano ba un among sinabi? 'Where am I?'"

I laughed and hit him dahil sa panggagaya niya sa akin. He spoke in such a way that felt like he's mocking me.

"Huy baliw wag mo ko hampasin baka mabangga tayo."

"Siraulo ka kasi! Hindi naman ako ganyan magsalita no!"

He chuckled as we argued playfully. Then bigla siyang nagseryoso.

"Why? You're suddenly serious. It's scary"

He looked at me longingly and reached for my hand. He kissed it before speaking again.

"Sabi mo nakikipagtalo ka sa mama mo tungkol sa pagpapakasal. Hindi ba karaniwang nangyayari yun sa mga mayayaman sa teleserye? Ano tawag dun? Marriage..."

"Arranged marriage." I whispered. Nabalot kami ng matinding katahimikan.

"Paano kung kasal ka na pala..." He whispered weakly.

I squeazed his hand and looked at him reassuringly. I leaned in to kiss his cheek.

"I wouldn't trade you for the world, Alec. I'm happy with us right now. I am just curious about my life before. Who I was..."

"Alam ko. Natatakot lang ako na mawala ka."

"I won't." I said with so much conviction kahit napapasip ako na what if the argument with my mom isn't just what was caused by the wedding that triggered my memories.

What if there is so much more? I was lost in my thoughts nang huminto kami sa tapat ng isang restaurant dahil sa stop light. My thoughts and what ifs flooded my mind until I felt tired and fell asleep.

Napangiti ako nang makita ko si Anthony na nakaupo sa mesang pangdalawahan. He was looking at his phone kaya naman napatingin ako sa akin dahil baka nag-message siya roon. Nang makitang wala ni isang message galling sa kaniya ay ibinaba ko na ang cellphone. Baka kausap ang mga barkada?

Ipinagkibit balikat ko na lamang iyon at masayang nagtungosa kaniya.

"Are we okay?"

He sighed at napailing sa sarili. Alam ko ito. Alam na alam ko kung anong meron dito. Napangiti ako habang pinagmamasdan ko siyang nakatitig sa tubig.

"Kelan pa?"

Napaangat siya ng tingin sa akin. He doesn't seem to be shocked or anything. In fact, he looked at me with so much pity in his eyes. I don't need pity. I don't need that.

"I'm sorry," mahina niyang bulong.

My hand shook as I combed my hair. I took deep consecutive breaths to calm myself down pero walang nangyayari. Every passing second is killing me. Parang may nagbabara sa aking lalamunan.

"So," I cleared my throat.

"It's for real this time," putol niya sa akin.

I know for a fact na hindi tumitigil sa pag-ikot ang mundo. Pero that time, at that moment, my world stopped spinning. Everything else just doesn't make sense anymore.