No One Else

Kabanata 8

Kabanata 8

Consummate

After the wedding their first night together as husband and wife followed. Belle was aware that she's married to the Captain now. And part of being a married woman was to give yourself to your husband...

That was what the old maid and their Mayordoma told her. That it's her duty and responsibility as wife to him now.

Although she was still anxious and scared. She haven't done anything like this before. And she never even had a boyfriend as well. Wala pa ring lalaki na naging malapit sa kaniya noon. Kaya hindi rin niya alam kung paano umakto around her now husband.

Kaya kinakabahan siya nang marinig niyang bumukas ang pinto ng kwarto niya. At sumunod na nakita niyang pumasok si Captain Lazaro. Nagkatinginan silang dalawa pero nag-iwas din ng mga mata niya si Belle sa lalaki.

Even if they're married now, hindi pa rin sila nagkaroon man lang ng pagkakataon noon na kilalanin pa muna ang isa't isa. At least for her to have even a sense of familiarity with him now after they got wed...

Dahil parang naging mabilisan lang din ang pagpapakasal nila at ang kaniyang amang si Douglas lang ang kumakausap kay Captain Sam Lazaro.

Pero may isang beses at saglit lang na nagkausap sila ni Belle at Sam noon bago ang kasal. Sa kusina iyon ng kanilang bahay. Nagpaalam si Sam na gagamit ng bathroom. And it's near the kitchen. While Belle also went to the kitchen to get some desserts for their guest. At nang dumaan si Sam at nakita niyang nandoon na rin si Belle ay nagpasya siyang lapitan na rin ito at kausapin. Kapag kasi nand'yan ang ama ni Belle ay abala lang siya sa pakikipag-usap sa kaniya ni Douglas. Kaya hindi rin sila makapag-usap nang maayos ni Belle sa harapan nito.

"Uh..." he still seemed to not know what to say to her at first, or how to start a conversation with Belle...

Matagal na kasi iyong huling nakausap niya ito at bata pa sila. They were still sixteen and seventeen back then. Now they're in their twenties already. Although habang nag-aaral pa sa academy ay may mga bakasyon din sana siya noon. He tried to come back to their house in Tarlac. But Belle wasn't always home every time he went there. She was out still studying or busy doing things for their house. Dahil simula nang umalis ang kaniyang tita Margaret ay binigay na rin sa kaniya ni Douglas ang trabaho ng pag-aasikaso sa mga kailangan sa kanilang bahay. At kapag nasa bahay naman si Belle ay mas madalas lang din ang pananatili nito sa kaniyang kwarto. Kaya naman hindi na rin nagkaroon ng pagkakataon noon si Sam na makausap muli ito. Dahil ang iniisip lang din ng mga tao sa bahay na sadya niya roon ay ang heneral. At hindi naman niya pwedeng ipatawag si Belle, dahil ano ang rason na mayroon siya para ipatawag pa ito sa kasambahay kapag nagpupunta siya sa kanilang mansyon? It was hopeless...

Agad naman napabaling si Belle nang marinig lang din niya agad si Sam sa tahimik na kusina. Nagkatinginan silang dalawa. "Captain..." she called him a bit more formally, too.

"I just... Gusto ko lang malaman ang opinyon mo tungkol dito..." Sam said, looking at her.

Hindi rin naalis ang tingin ni Belle sa lalaki. "About what..." Although she thinks she already know what he meant.

"About... marrying me..." ani Sam na may pag-iingat pa rin sa mga salita niya sa harapan ni Belle. He doesn't want to offend her or to make her feel uncomfortable. Gusto niya lang malaman ang nararamdaman din ni Belle...

"Your father said that you're willing to marry me, but I also want to hear it straight from you..." Dahil hindi niya pipilitin si Belle kung sakali mang ayaw nitong magpakasal sa kaniya...

Douglas just one day talked to him and asked him to marry his eldest daughter. Hindi naman makatanggi agad si Sam bilang respeto sa heneral. Pero kung ayaw ni Belle ay tatanggihan na niya si Douglas.

Bumukas ang bibig ni Belle para magsabi na sana ng totoo niyang nararamdaman dahil pakiramdam niya ay binigyan na siya ngayon ng pagkakataon ni Sam. Pero bigla rin niyang naisip at natakot siya sa magiging reaksyon ng kaniyang ama kapag hindi natuloy ang kasal dahil sa kaniya...

Kaya naman bahagya na lang siyang ngumiti sa batang army Captain. "Ayos lang sa akin... Uh, magpapakasal ako sa'yo..." she told him and looking at his eyes. Pero umiwas din siya sa tingin nito pagkatapos...

Then Sam just nodded his head at her slowly...

Kaya naman ngayon ay may takot at kaba pa rin siyang nararamdaman sa lalaki na hindi naman talaga niya gaanong nakilala...

"You're still awake..." He spoke.

And it made Belle look at him again.

"It's getting late now. It's best if you would sleep at this hour and rest. I know that it was a tiring day for you, too." The Captain rather said.

Bahagya naman bumuka ang bibig ni Belle. Hindi niya inasahan na ito ang sasabihin nito sa kaniya at gagawin. After all they just got married and they must consummate their marriage...

"How... about you?" Sa mahinang boses ay tinanong niya ito.

He looked at her as well. "I'll be fine. If you're uncomfortable... I can sleep on the sofa." He said.

And they both turned to the sofa in the room. Bumaling muli si Belle kay Captain Lazaro at unti-unting tumango rito...

And that night she was able to sleep well and be at peace after everything that had happened. And she thought that the Captain wasn't as bad as she thought of him. Hindi siya nito ginalaw sa unang gabi nila. And rather Sam respected her...

Hinayaan lang siya nito na matulog at makapagpahinga nang gabing iyon. While he also rested on the sofa in Belle's room. Even if the small sofa was a bit uncomfortable for his tall and huge man frame. But he did it as to not make Belle more uncomfortable. Because he was aware that she was anxious... She obviously looked anxious. So he didn't want to add to her nervousness...

And so he just let her sleep in peace on the bed tonight. Alam din kasi ni Sam na mukhang napagod din si Belle galing pa sa kasal nila kanina mula pa sa simbahan at hanggang sa kanilang wedding reception. And she also had to wear a heeled shoes. Nag-aalala na nga siya para rito kanina. He was worried for Belle. Nakikita rin kasi niya sa mukha nito na mukhang hindi nga ito naging komportable sa mga nangyari ngayong araw... It was obvious and Sam could only sigh now...

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