I Am a Woman

Special Chapter I

Special Chapter I

"Are you sure you haven't forgotten something, hon?" Nananantiyang tanong ko sa kanya nang akmang lalabas na ito ng pinto ng unit ko.

Cee stayed overnight in my condo unit. As usual, tabi kami matulog, pero mas nauna itong makatulog sa akin kagabi. She didn't even give me a good night kiss!

Tapos ngayon mauuna itong umalis because she has a scheduled meeting with her Ate Solana.

"Wala naman."

"How about my kiss?" Hindi makapaniwala na sambit ko sa kanya. Does that mean she will also not kiss me today?

"No." She sternly replied.

I wanted to roll my eyes and stomp my feet on the floor like a child when I heard her answer. I can't take this anymore! She's not been giving me kisses for how many days already! Alam ko naman na meron akong kasalanan, but it's also not right to deprive me of her kisses!

"Stop overreacting, Verra. Kahapon lang kita hindi na-kiss." I heard her say it as if she had read my mind and mood.

Tuluyan akong napasimangot dahil sa sinabi niya.

She saw me talking with Colton the day before yesterday. Nasalubong ko lang naman ito at nakipag-usap dito saglit. I wasn't really entertaining that guy—I just don't want to be rude because he approached me nicely.

Pero iyon ang naabutan at nakita niya. She must have misinterpreted it. Kung ako halos magwala na kapag nagseselos, siya naman kabaliktaran. Instead of telling me about it, she will just give me a silent treatment. And it's the worst because her silence is killing me.

I already explained to her what happened. Mabuti nga at kahit papaano ay kinikibo na ako nito. I thought we were already okay, pero hindi naman ako nito binibigyan ng kiss.

Just imagine that. Tell me, how can I live without her kisses?

"I need to go. I'll see you later."

I thought she was just joking, but she really did leave without giving me a kiss. Seriously? Ilang minuto na itong nakaalis ay nakatulala pa rin ako sa saradong pinto at inaasahang babalik ito, pero hindi ito nangyari.

She didn't give me a kiss like she always does. Doesn't she love me anymore?

No! Hindi ako papayag. I need to get that kiss, or else dadalhin ko ang sama ng loob ko sa kanya habang buhay.

Mabilis akong kumilos para sundan ito. Hinawakan ko ang doorknob para pihitin na sana ito, pero agad na nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang mapansin na nawawala ang isang bagay na nakalagay sa daliri ko.

My ring is missing!

Kinakabahan na tinungo ko ang kwarto para hanapin ang bagay na iyon. Did I misplace it somewhere? Pero hindi ko naman iyon tinatanggal sa daliri ko, kaya nakapagtataka na bigla na lang itong nawala.

I need to find it. I can still remember wearing it last night. Where could it possibly be? Hindi 'yon pwede mawala.

Halos mangiyak-ngiyak at natataranta na hinanap ko sa bawat sulok ng bedroom at bathroom ang bagay na iyon, pero bigo akong makita ito. Kahit sa living room at kitchen ay wala rin.

Nagulo ko na ang ilang gamit ko, pero hindi ko pa rin ito makita. I can't even remember getting it out of my finger.

Sumusukong napaupo ako sa sofa at napahilamos ng mukha matapos ang dalawang oras na paghahanap sa singsing ko. Gusto ko na umiyak dahil hindi ko pa rin ito nakikita.

Nawala na sa isip ko ang binabalak kong gawin kanina. All I want is to find the promise ring that Cee gave me. That is so important to me. It's my treasure.