No One Else

Kabanata 13

Kabanata 13

Different

Sam has the same dark hair and dark eyes like his father, Edward Puentevella. Pareho rin sila ng tindig at pangangatawan. Dahil maging si Miranda Puentevella ay tahimik lang din na napuna na rin ito noong nasa bahay pa sila ng mga De Leon. Tahimik na umawang ang labi niya noon at halos hindi pa siya makapaniwala, because the Captain Samuel Lazaro that was introduced to them at the De Leon estate was somehow who looked just like exactly the same as her own husband when Edward was Sam's age now...

Hindi pa makaniwala si Andi and she felt bothered by it. Pero paano? At bakit? Walang nasasabi sa kaniya ang kaniyang asawa...

"Mom?"

Natigilan si Andi nang marinig niya ang boses ng nag-iisang anak at bumaling kay Lawrence na nakatayo na pala roon. Kanina pa pala siya pinagmamasdan ng anak na mukhang hindi siya mapakali roon sa malapad nilang pangalawang sala sa second floor din ng kanilang malaking bahay. She was lost in her thoughts about the similarities of that young Captain to her husband.

Andi looked at her son. Lawrence was equally a handsome young man. But he took after his mother. At halos wala rin siyang nakuha o namana sa kaniyang Papa.

"Yes, Lawrence. What is it, son?"

"Are you all right?" Lawrence asked his Mama worriedly.

Nagbuntong-hininga naman si Andi at ngumiti sa anak to reassure Lawrence that she's fine. Tumango rin siya kay Lawrence. "Yes, hijo. I am fine. Is that all?"

"Uh, yes. I'm also leaving for a while. I'll be meeting with Diane."

Napangiti pa lalo si Andi. "Of course, hijo. Just take care."

"Yes, Mama." Lumapit si Lawrence sa kaniyang Mama at humalik pa muna sa pisngi nito bago tuluyan nang nagpaalam na lalabas muna upang kitain si Diane.

Habang nang gabing dinala naman ni Sam si Belle sa kaniyang residence sa kanilang military base ay gusto niya lang na maging komportable rin doon ang kaniyang asawa...

"Will you be all right here?" Sam still worriedly asked Belle. Sa totoo lang kaya hinayaan na muna niyang manatili si Belle sa bahay ng Papa nito kahit na mag-asawa na sila ay dahil gusto niyang maging komportable si Belle. At dahil baka hindi pa ito handang makasama siya...

Ang gusto niya lang na hindi mahirapan si Belle, but little did he know about Belle's own father's maltreatment to her...

Pero bumaling at ngumiti naman sa kaniya si Belle. "Of course. I already got myself familiar here also..."

Bahagya na rin ngumiti si Sam sa asawa. "Okay... It's already late. You already had dinner, right?"

Tumango naman si Belle sa kaniya.

"Alright. You should rest now..."

"How about you? You just came back, kumain ka na rin ba?" Belle asked him worriedly.

At doon pa lang medyo natigilan si Sam dahil noon lang din niya naalala na hindi pa nga pala siya naghahapunan.

Belle sighed. "Kung may maluluto sana ako sa ref mo rito, I can make you even some quick dinner..." She already went to the kitchen as she speaks to look for something to cook, pero wala rin halos laman iyon doon. Dahil mukhang hindi naman talaga nagluluto rito si Sam. At dinadalhan lang din niya ng luto na pagkain ang asawa kapag pinupuntahan niya ito rito.

Bumaling si Belle kay Sam pagkatapos wala siyang makitang pwedeng lutuin sa kusina nito. "I think we should go to the supermarket tomorrow?"

And Sam nodded at his wife. "Yes, sorry...

"And don't worry about my dinner. Kakain na lang ako sa labas..." And by this he meant the food prepared by the cook in their base. Kaya may pagkain din naman sila rito. "How about you? Don't you want to eat again? Baka nagutom ka na ulit,"

Umiling naman si Belle sa kaniya. "I'm all right, you should head out now to eat, please."

Agad naman na tumango si Sam. "Okay. Babalik din ako agad. You can use the bathroom. And sleep in my room. Hindi pa naayos ang guest room. Don't worry I'll sleep here tonight." he said.

"Here? Outside?" Umawang naman ang labi ni Belle.

Pero tumango lang sa kaniya si Sam. Pagkatapos ay umalis na rin muna ito at naiwan siyang mag-isa roon.

Belle could only sigh. They're husband and wife now. And they could just sleep in one bed together...

But maybe the Captain was just being considerate also considering their unfamiliarity with each other until now... Dahil hindi naman talaga sila dumaan sa pagiging magkasintahan o lubusan munang nakilala ang isa't isa bago sila nagpakasal...

This was Belle's thought so she didn't also dwell with it more.

And she appreciates Sam's gentleness and kindness towards her...

Belle already realized that Sam's very different from her father. Sam was gentle towards her and she think that he would also support her—like what he just told her the last time that she can do what she wants...

And now Sam just want Belle's healing from what she probably went through all this years... He still gritted his teeth when he remembers Douglas. But he would focus on Belle more than anything or anyone now...

Hindi rin naman nawala sa isip ni Edward ang tagpong iyon sa batang military captain sa bahay ng mga De Leon. Hindi siya mapakali kaya pinuntahan niya si Douglas para kausapin.

"What about Captain Samuel Lazaro?" Douglas creased his forehead a bit. He doesn't get it why Edward was interested about Sam...

"That. His family name is Lazaro..."

"Yes, and why?" Hindi pa rin maintindihan ni Douglas ang ibig-sabihin ni Edward.

Nagkatinginan silang dalawa. Hindi naman talaga sila matatawag na malapit na magkaibigan. Pero matagal na ring malapit sa isa't isa ang parehong mga pamilya nila dahil sa kanilang mga connections. At isa pa ay ang asawa nitong si Andi o Miranda Puentevella ay malapit din lalo na ang pamilya rin nito sa mga De Leon noon pa man.

"I know someone with the surname Lazaro..." Edward said as he looked at Douglas.

"What do you mean—"

"I want to know more about Captain Samuel Lazaro." Edward eagerly said.