Love, Pearl

LOVE, PEARL 9

As I chopped the romaine lettuce, my thoughts drifted.

"Mauri, si Ciella? Nasa school na ba?" I asked absentmindedly, trying to focus on the salad I was craving, one I promised to share with my husband, Mauri.

Husband... the word felt so natural, yet there was still no ring on my finger.

Asawa agad, Pearl?

I caught myself staring at my bare hand. You're getting ahead of yourself, Pearl. You're not even married yet.

"Yes, love. The driver just called me," Mauri replied from behind the papers he was reading, his voice calm, reassuring.

He looked so good wearing his glasses, the image of effortless charm, completely absorbed in whatever he was reading.

Then he stood up and walked toward me. I could hear his footsteps softly approaching, my heart racing in time with them.

His arms found their way around my waist, his warmth wrapping around me like a second skin. I felt his lips press gently against my neck, and I tensed.

"Mauri..." I whispered, trying to ground myself in the moment. But he wasn't listening. He kept kissing me, each touch growing more insistent, and I froze.

For a moment, I let myself sink into the warmth of his embrace, the safety of being close to him. But something tugged at the corners of my mind, pulling me away from the present.

I should be happy, right? I should be letting this moment drown out everything else, but there's something gnawing inside me—something that makes me hesitate.

Why can't I just let myself fall completely? Why does the thought of us, of forever, feel so far away?

"Mauri..." I said again, my voice quieter now, as if I was pleading for something I didn't even understand myself.

His kisses trailed lower, and I wanted to give in, to let him pull me under the waves of whatever this was.

But the weight of the things left unsaid, of the future that seemed uncertain, pressed down on me harder than his touch.

Napapikit ako, nararamdaman ang init ng kanyang mga halik. Pero bigla akong nataranta nang maalala ko ang caesar salad.

"Mauri, teka!" sigaw ko, sabay talon palayo sa kanya. "Nakalimutan ko ang croutons!"

Nagulat si Mauri, halos matumba sa biglaang pagtatalon ko. "Hmm?"

"Ang croutons, Mauri! Paano tayo kakain ng caesar salad nang walang croutons?" Humahangos ako habang naghahalungkat sa cabinet. "Ito ang pinakaimportanteng sa salad 'no! Mas importante pa 'to kaysa sa lettuce!"

Nakatitig lang si Mauri sa akin, halatang naguguluhan. "Pearl, love, okay ka lang ba?"

Dahil parang may after shock pa ako ay nagiisip pa ako ng masasagot.

Napalunok ako.

"Okay? Paano ako magiging okay kung wala tayong croutons?" Nagsimula akong umiyak. "Paano na lang si Ciella? Ano'ng iisipin niya kapag nalaman niyang pinalaki siya ng mga magulang na kumakain ng caesar salad nang walang croutons? Masisira ang kinabukasan niya, Mauri!"

Nakatitig lang sa akin si Mauri at parang matatawa na.

Lumapit si Mauri, inakap ako. "Pearl, hinay-hinay lang. Bumili tayo ng croutons mamaya, okay?"

Tumingala ako sa kanya, mata'y nanlalaki. "Talaga? Promise?"

Tumango siya, nakangiti. "Promise. At kung gusto mo, bumili na rin tayo ng engagement ring habang nandoon tayo."