"Bakit naka baliktad ang mga soft drinks sa ref niyo?"
Seryoso kong tanong kay Uno na naka talikod sa 'kin habang niluluto ang request kong salpicao sa sarili niyang restaurant. I looked at the clock and it's almost 11 PM and we're at Opulence's kitchen because I craved salpicao na niluto sa restaurant niya.
Magkaiba kaya 'yong lasa ng lutong bahay kaysa sa luto ng restaurant... Kahit pa siya 'yong nagluluto. I put the tip of the spoon on the small of my bottom lips.
"To see the expiration dates," he simply said.
My lips parted, tumayo ako't naglakad papunta sa harap ng refrigerator na may glass door. I observed the cans na naka baliktad, the butt's facing up, so it triggered my curiosity. Woah... That makes sense, kita nga ang expiration date from that arrangement.
I yawned and stretched a bit. Sigurado akong pagod na si Uno, kakagaling niya lang sa meeting kanina pero nag-inarte na naman ako sa kaniya. I sighed and bridged our distance. The air's filled with the strong aroma of garlic and mushrooms.
A scent that I used to hate in my first trimester. That's how Mati knew about this whole pregnancy...
"Uno... " I pulled the hem of his shirt and smiled when he looked at me.
"Hmm?"
"I'm sorry," malamlam kong sabi habang hinihimas ang tiyan kong kasing bigat na sigurado ng isang bag ng grocery. Parang puputok na siya 'pag nasagi ni Uno.
His forehead creased deeply. "Excuse me? Why are you sorry?"
"Kasi... Alas onse na pero nagluluto ka pa rin, alam kong pagod ka pero nakisabay pa 'ko. I'm sorry, dapat pinagpahinga na lang kita, Un—"
He chuckled and ruffled my hair. "Hindi ako makakapagpahinga if I know I cooked all day for strangers and didn't cook for my babies when they were hungry."
"Babies? Hindi kambal ang dinadala ko."
His smirk grew, he pressed my nose. "My baby and," ang tiyan ko naman ang pinindot niya. "My second baby."
Umirap ako't tinabig ang kamay niya na naging dahilan ng pagtawa niya nang mas malakas. Kahit pa hirap, at magkahiwalay ang legs ay sinubukan kong makalayo sa kaniya. I looked around the massive kitchen, maraming cooking station at hindi ko na mabilang kung gaano karami ang mga ref doon.
I even saw him open a door leading to a bigger freezer and ref storage. Madalas, 'di ko na nagsi-sink in sa 'kin na ganito na kalayo ang narating ni Uno. Because to me, he's just my Uno who comes back home at exactly 8 PM with cooked meals and massages me kahit pa alam kong mas pagod siya dahil nakikita ko naman ang mga sugat, pasa, at paso niya sa katawan.
Pero kahit isang beses, hindi ako nakarinig ng reklamo sa kaniya. Even on the days that I become unreasonable or too emotional.
He's just... There to let me vent and be, 'pag tapos na ako ay aalohin na niya lang ako nang parang 'di ako nagkamali.
"Makakapunta ka ba sa baby shower mamaya?" tanong ko nang maka-upo ulit sa bakal na upuan.
Well, hindi ko rin alam na mayroong baby shower. Nakatanggap na lang ako ng message kahapon from Ate Lash that apparently... I have a baby shower tomorrow, at ang kailangan ko na lang ay mag-show up.
"That's a baby shower for Pommy, of course I'm going, Jo."
"Eh... Ang biglaan kasi, baka may meeting ka and it's a Saturday, you'll be busy," I rested my back on the chair and heaved a sigh.
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Sailing With the Gleam (La Carlota #5)
Romantizm(La Carlota #5) Joey's life was a sanctuary of security, built upon her stable relationship with a long-term boyfriend, a close bond with her father, and a deep passion for finding genuine happiness. So when cracks appeared in these foundations, she...
