Marriage in Paper (Completed)

Chapter 1

TO THE RESCUE

Nasa kusina si Alejandra, naghahanda ng pagkain para sa pag-uwi ng kanyang asawa, at hindi niya naririnig ang kanina pang tumutunog na kanyang cellphone na nasa sala.

'Anong oras kaya uuwi si Ryl?' ang kanyang iniisip, pinagwalang-bahala na lamang. Pagkatapos niyang magluto at maglinis ng kanyang gamit sa pagluluto, pumunta siya sa sala upang manood sana muna ng palabas sa television. Ngunit napansin niya ang kanyang phone na may maraming missed calls at text mula sa isang tao.

"Oh shoot! Tumawag pala siya?" tanong niya sa walang-kaalamang tao sa condominium. Tinawagan niya ang lalaki at sinagot ito kaagad.

"Umalis ka muna sa condo," pambungad ng lalaki na nagpagulo sa isipan ni Alejandra.

"Huh? Bakit? May nangyari ba?" Innocenteng tanong ng babae.

"Basta, umalis ka na. Bilisan mo! Kasama ko mga kaibigan ko." Galit na sabi ni Dwiryl dahil sa pagmamadali rin ni Alejandra.

"Pero Ryl, wala akong matutulugan ngayon alam mo naman na ayaw ko sa bahay namin." Mahinang sabi ni Alejandra.

"Stupid! Maghanap ka ng paraan, matulog ka sa kalye! Akala mo naman talaga ngayon lang nakaka alis ng gabi." Pasigaw na sabi ni Dwiryl sa kabilang linyan dahilan ng paglayo ni Alejandra ng kanyang cellphone sa kanyang tainga.

"Sige Ryl, may pagkain na sa kusina ah, kainin niyo na lang para hindi masira kinabukasan." Sabi ng babae at hindi na hinintay ang sagot sa kabilang linya.

Nagmamadali siyang nagbihis at nagligpit ng kanyang gamit. 'Siguro manood na lang ako ng sine,' sabi ni Alejandra sa kanyang isipan.

To Ryl,

Ale: Nakalabas na ako ng bahay, Ryl.

Hinintay niyang mag-reply ang lalaki ngunit hindi ito nag-reply, nagpababa ng kanyang dalawang balikat.

She called someone, and it answered her call.

"Hello Andra?" The man's voice echoed from another line.

"Hi Ken, are you busy?" She asked.

"Not really, why?"

"Ahm, can you go with me sa sinehan? Hehe, manood tayo ng magandang palabas ngayon." Excitedly proclaimed ni Andra.

"Why? Pinapaalis ka naman ng magaling mong asawa?" galit na tinanong ni Ken.

"Ahm, busy ka ata. Sige, huwag na lang." Pag-iba niya sa usapan at pilit iniiwasan ang tanong ng lalaki.

"I'm going, saan ka?" Balik mahinahon ang boses ni Ken na nagpangiti kay Andra.

"Nasa labas ng building ng condominium namin, Ken. Hintayin kita ah, hehe."

"Okay, take care there." Ken said bago binaba ang tawag.

—
ALEJANDRA'S POV.

"Thank you, Ken," I said as I entered Ken's car, which stopped right where I stood outside the building where Ryl and I have our condo.

"You seem tired. What did you do all day?" he asked while fastening my seatbelt. He's always this caring, not just to me but also to our friends, so I've grown accustomed to it.

"I just cleaned the house and went grocery shopping," I replied, and he smiled. "I hope I didn't bother you, you might be getting sleepy."

"I was bored at home, so you didn't inconvenience me. And I've told you before, whenever you need someone to talk to, I'm always here," he smiled back.

"You're the best, Kai! I'm so happy to have you as my friend."

"I want to know what happened, why you want to watch a movie even though it's late, but I respect your privacy. I'll just wait for the time when you're ready to share your problems with us, your friends," he said, making me smile even more.

"Thank you, Kai! Thank you so much!" I said with tears in my eyes. I'm always grateful to have him as a friend because whenever we're together, he always considers my privacy.

"You look sad, Ale. I hope to make you happy tonight." Ken's said with sad smile on his face.

"Thank you Ken, palagi mo pinapagaan ang loob ko." I smiled.

"You're always welcome, pretty."

We're at the cinema, planning to watch the now showing entitled 'Rewind' starring Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera. But before that, we bought popcorn and drinks.

"Nilalamig ka ba?" Ken asked.

"Hindi naman, and makapal itong suot ko kaya huwag kang mag-alala. Excited na ako sa papanoorin natin," I said happily. We entered the cineplex and it was really dark, that's why I held onto Ken's arms.

"You okay?"

"Yes, Ken. Sorry, it's just dark." I apologized and let go, about to walk when I bumped into someone from behind. "Why? What happened?" I asked, looking up at him even though I couldn't see him, it was really dark.

I turned around suddenly when someone grabbed my hand, realizing it was Ken. We walked without talking, and even though it was noisy inside, it felt quiet. "Akala ko ayaw mo magpahawak, kaya bumitaw ako haha," I said when we found our seats.

"You can hold me anywhere, anytime, Andra," he said seriously.

I laughed silently and didn't speak. I didn't know what to say after what he said.

"Dalawang linggo palang kayo kasal at nagsama sa isang bubong, pero ilang ulit mo na itong lumabas ng gabi. Okay kang ba kay tito lahat ng ito?" he asked in a gentle voice.

"Kagustuhan ko rin naman lumabas, Ken, at mabait naman si Dwiryl, kaya huwag kang mag-aalala, okay?" I assured him by touching his hand.

"Kagustuhan mo ba talaga o pinapaalis ka niy—" Ken didn't finish his sentence as my cellphone suddenly rang.

"Sorry, Ken, sasagutin ko lang baka kasi importante," I said, answering the call as Ken saw who it was.

"Hello?" I answered.

"Saan ka?"

"Ahm, nanonood ng movie—"

"Magsisimula na, Andra, ibaba mo muna 'yan," Ken said, leading to a loud voice on the other line.

"Who's that? Sinong kasama mo?"

"Ahm, ano Ryl, anong problema? May problema ba?" I asked nervously.

"Ikaw! Ikaw ang problema, umuwi ka na!"

—
To be continued...