Martella (gxg)

Martella 4

Haze

NABIGLA ako nang yakapin niya ako. Agad ko namang ipinulupot ang braso ko sa baywang niya upang yakapin siya pabalik. I heard her sobs that turned into a loud cry. Umakyat ang kamay kong nasa baywang niya patungo sa kaniyang likod upang haplusin ito para aluin siya.

"Tahan na, mahal ko. Baka makasama iyan sa anak natin." malambing kong sabi sa kaniya.

Naga-alala na rin kasi ako dahil hindi pa rin siya tumatahan kahit anong alo ko sa kaniya. Mas lalo lang siyang pumalahaw ng iyak na ikinataranta ng kalooban ko. I don't know how to calm and make her stop crying anymore. I did my very best but it's not helping I guess. Because every time I speak, mas lalo lang lumalakad ang iyak niyang para bang ang boses ko ang nakakapagpaiyak sa kaniya.

"Baby, what's wrong? hmm? Please, stop crying already. I'm getting worried na, mahal." subok ko pang muli na patahanin siya.

Para naman akong nabunutan ng tinik sa lalamunan ng dahan-dahan niyang inangat ang kaniyang mukha para tumingin sa akin. Ngunit agad din ulit itong napalitan ng paga-alala dahil sa hitsura niya. Basa ng luha ang kaniyang pisngi at may patuloy pa ring rumaragasang luha mula sa kaniyang mata.

Agad kong hinawakan ang kaniyang mukha upang punasan ito. Nang masiguro kong tuyo na ang kaniyang mukha ay agad ko siyang hinagkan at hinalikan sa kaniyang noo.

"You can always tell me about what you feel. I want to know every single thing you think of. I want to understand you more, baby." I whispered near her ears, just enough for her to hear me.

"How... how could you be so understanding after I left you.." she said. Her voice is breaking as much as my heart does.

I don't want her to be like this, I don't want her to feel and think lowly of herself, questioning if she deserves to be with me. Of course, she deserves me as much as I deserve her. She taught me things I couldn't do before I met her. She made me realize things I should've and shouldn't done.

"It's because I love you." puno ng pagmamahal kong sabi sa kaniya. "My love for you is enough to understand everything you do. My heart knows you, so do your actions too. I know you have reasons when you decide to do something." dagdag ko pa.

"I don't think I deserve you.." nakanguso niyang sabi habang nakatingin sa akin, namumula pa ang ilong tanda na iiyak na naman siya. Agad akong umiling, hindi sumasang-ayon sa sinabi niya.

"That's not true. You deserve me as much as I deserve you. You are everything to me, Martella. Kaya sa bawat salitang sinasambit mo na hindi maganda tungkol sa sarili mo ay nasasaktan ako." I said. My hands made its way to her waist to hug her and my heart thumped when she lean on to my chest.

"Remember when I was met you? You have this distinct confidence that made attracted me. You don't hesitate to say what's on your mind. You don't care what people will say to you, you just express yourself sa paraang alam mo. Those are the things I love about you. Ayaw kong mawala iyon sa'yo dahil sa akin. Gusto kong mamana din iyon ng anak natin dahil iyon ang klase ng ugali na hindi basta bastang matitibag. Wala ako no'n pero ang mama niya mayroon, kaya gusto kong magmana siya sa'yo." I added.

Nakita kong tumaas ang kamay niya patungo sa kaniyang tiyan at marahan iyong hinaplos. Dahan-dahan ko ring hinahaplos ang kaniyang baywang.

"Baby.." tawag ko sa kaniyang pansin. Napunta naman ulit sa akin ang atensyon niya. "I'm sorry that I have to bring this topic back but I have to know what did you heard people saying at the exhibit, hmm?" I said softly. I saw her shook her head. I saw this coming kaya't hindi ako basta basta susuko. Gusto kong malaman kung ano ang narinig niya para maisipan niyang lumayo sa akin.

"Come on, love. You can tell it to me. I want to know so I could understand you more." malambing kong sabi.

"I..I heard them talking about you. They were saying inappropriate things like why would you settle with a woman like me.. why would you settle for less. Nasa gilid ko lamang sila kaya't rinig ko iyon at para ring sinasadyang iparinig sa akin." kumunot ang noo ko sa narinig kong iyon. Agad akong nagsalita upang magtanong.

"Whom, baby? Who said that? Can you still remember these people?" nagngangalit kong saad. I want to know who are they. They don't have the rights to say those words. Especially, in front of my woman!

"Haze.." umiiling niyang sabi sabay hawak sa aking braso na sinasabing 'wag ko nang intindihin iyon. Pero hindi, hindi ko ito palalagpasin. Kung p'wedeng iban sila sa bawat exhibit kong magaganap ay gagawin ko. Hindi sila kawalan.

"Come on, love. Tell me, who are they?" pagpupumilit ko pa ngunit tulad ko ay matigas din ang ulo niya.

"No, stop it already. That's already in the past. They don't know me personally anyway, they don't know what Tella can do to them if it happens na siya ang nameet nila." saad niya habang pinapakalma ako. Napabuntong hininga na lamang ako at tumango. I surrendered already dahil nakikita kong wala naman din akong laban dito kung sakaling magmatigas pa ako.

"Right. But please, baby, don't ever think of running away from me. hmm?" pagsusumamo ko sa kaniya. Her eyes glisten as she gasped. she nodded her head and pull me closely to hug my nape.

"I'm sorry, Haze.. I'm sorry, mahal ko." rinig kong bulong niya. Tumango ako at hinalikan siya sa kaniyang noo nang paulit-ulit.

Nasa ganoong posisyon kami nang marinig kong may kumatok sa pintuan. Napahiwalay siya sa akin bahagya at sabay kaming nagkatinginan.

"Are you expecting someone?" she asked me. I shook my head to answer her. Inakay ko siya papunta sa gilid ng kama upang paupuin siya bago nagsalita.

"I'll go check on it, baka room service lang." I said. She nodded her head and let herself relax there. My shoulders relaxed at the sight. I was relieved to see her there, relaxing. Sa ganoong posisyon ko siya iniwan bago tumungo sa pinto.

Binuksan ko ang pinto at nakita kong room service nga.

"Lunch po for Ms. Hail Zenon Nuevo." saad nito. Agad ko namang pinapasok ito upang mailagay ang pagkain sa mesa malapit sa pintuan. Nilingon ko si Ella na nakaupo sa gilid ng kama ko at nakita kong napalunok ito ng makita ang mga inilapag sa pagkain. Doon ko napagdesisyunang magpadagdag pa dahil naalala kong hindi lang siya ang kakain, pati na rin ang anak namin na nasa tyan niya.

"Can I add more dishes? I'll pay for it." I said and the room service boy agreed at agad naman ding isinerve sa amin. Nang matapos maiserve lahat ay pumunta ako sa pwesto ni Ella.

Nakita kong nakatingin lang ito sa mga pagkaing nakaserve sa mesa at nang tawagin ko ang pansin niya ay doon lamang ito nag-angat ng tingin sa akin.

"Come on, let's eat. You and our baby must be very hungry right now. It's past 1 already, masama sa buntis ang magutom." saad ko bago ko siya inalalagay para makapunta sa mesa.

Nang makarating kami sa mesa ay agad kong inalalayan siya para makaupo nang maayos. I served her food and when I'm satisfied, I let her eat. Hinila ko ang katabing upuan niya para umupo at pinakatitigan siya habang kumakain. Some strand of her hair keep fallin onto her face that's blocking her to focus eating. Kaya ang ginawa ko ay inaalis ko ang mga buhok na iyon at pinumpon sa isang kamay upang magsilbing tali.

She looked at me as she's chewing her food. I smiled at her and she smiles back at me. My heart beats erratically as I stopped from breathing because of what she just did. Next thing I saw her do was scoop up a spoonful of food. Iniumang niya ito sa aking bibig ngunit nanatali lang akong nakatitig sa kaniya nang hindi pa rin humihinga. Napansin niya yata ang hindiko paghinga kaya't nangunot ang kaniyang noo sa nakikita at napailing na lamang.

"You look weird, Haze. Breathe." natatawa niyang saad sabay umang pa rin ng kutsarang may laman na pagkain sa bibig ko.

I released my breath as I open my mouth to take the food she offered, still staring at her. I saw her smiled when I take the food that made me smile too. I stared at her while chewing the food and as she was eating happily. That's when I realize that I am smiling because she is smiling. I am happy because she is too. I feel her emotions when she feel one. It's like we're one that what she feels, I feel it too.

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⚠️: unedited! you may encounter typographical error ahead.