WALANG ingay na maririnig mula sa kanilang dalawa kundi ang tunog ng kanilang mahinang pagnguya at ang ingay ng plato sa tuwing sumasalimbay ang kubyertos sa pagitan ng kanilang pagkain. Sabay nilang inlapag ang kubyertos at nagkatinginan sa isa't isa. Si Claire ang unang nagbawi ng tingin at itinuon ang atensyon sa tabing-dagat.Nanatili siyang nakatitig sa magandang tanawin hanggang sa narinig niya ang pagtikhim ni Leon. Nakuha nito ang kanyang atensyon kaya napatingin siya dito.
"I'm sorry about last night," wika nito para pilit siyang mapangiti.
"No, Leon, you don't have to. You're right about keeping my reputation unsullied. Forgive me about that, rest assured that you're family name remains clean," wika ni Claire para mag-igtingan ang panga ni Leon.
Nagbawi siya ng tingin at muling tumitig sa magandang tanawin kahit pa man tumatak sa kanyang isipan kung gaano umigting ang panga ni Leon. Sa mga oras na iyon ay nakita niya ang pagkabahala sa mata nito ngunit hindi niya ito pinagbigyang pansin dahil isiniksik niya na sa kanyang isip na kailanman ay wala siyang magiging karapatan.
"I didn't mean it like that, Claire..." ani Leon makalipas amg ilang minuto na katahimikan. "I was just alarmed when you talked to that man. He is a rival of mine."
"Alarmed?" pag-uulit ni Claire at pagak na natawa. "Alarmed that I will bring issue for having another man?"
"That and with another reason," sagot ni Leon at muling nag-igtingan ang panga. "I don't know, Claire. I am used to being the only man you talked and spent time with. Seeing you with another has shaken me and brings me annoyance which I'm certain that I should not be feeling."
"Thank you for your honesty but you are imagining things," wika ni Claire at umiling. "And don't worry, from now on I will not talk to other men without your permission."
"Claire, listen..." ani Leon sabay huminga nang malalim. "I am sorry for what happened yesterday. I shouldn't have suggested we do that, okay? It's never a good idea for the both of us."
"I know. But I never put it that way, Leon. It's for the company's sake. You're just doing your job," pahayag ni Claire at tumayo mula sa kinauupuan. Nang akma na siyang lilisan ay pinigilan siya ni Leon sa pagkulong sa kanyang pulsuhan.
"Claire, please... let's not fight, I don't want us like this," pagsusumamo ni Leon at hinigpitan ang pagkahawak sa kanya.
"Don't humor me, Leon. This isn't new to us. We always fight." sagot ni Claire at hinayaan na humawak ito sa kanya dahil napag-isipan niya na kahit palisin niya ang kamay niyo ay hindi ito papayag.
"But it's not a good fight. What we are having right now is not like that... and I hate it," wika nito sabay marahas na napapikit. "Please, Claire. Don't make it so hard for me. I am not good at asking forgiveness."
Naningkit ang mga mata ni Claire at marahas na pinalis ang kamay nito. "Then don't ask for forgiveness. You are not obligated."
Nawalan ng kataga si Leon kaya iniwan niya na ito sa loob ng restaurant. Napagpasiyahan niya na lamang na maglakad sa dalampasigan hanggang sa kung saan siya dalhin ng mga paa. Sa tuwing iisipan niya ang naging engkuwentro nila ng umagang iyon ay mapapapikit na lamang siya sa pagkadismya. Leon is acting like a good husband when it was him who drew a thick line between them. Binibigay niya ang nais nito ngunit ito naman sumasalungat sa ganitong mangyari. They sounded like a married couple on a quarrel, it's horrendous! Kahit siya ay hindi rin inakala na maghihingi ito ng tawad sa kanya. At hindi niya rin naman inakalang marinig ito mula kay Leon.
She didn't mean to be rude but she can't stand spending with Leon after what happened that night. She needed more time to process it. After all, a woman like her who got turned down has every right to be ashamed. What she did that night was impossible. Tuluyan na nga ata siyang nalunod sa pagnanasa para gawin ang ginawa niya kagabi.
![](https://img.wattpad.com/cover/320115865-288-k232272.jpg)
BINABASA MO ANG
Marriage and Maintainability
Fiksi UmumFixed marriage was supposed to be for the rich, but why does the indigent Claire find herself in the same situation? When Claire Rivera was left with a huge responsibility by taking the orphanage in her care, being a full-time sewer was not enough t...