Carisia
I just got out of the bath, when I saw Enrico holding my phone.
"Someone called," he informed me.
I hastily walked over to him, snatching my phone out of his hands. "Sino?"
"Your OB."
My heart pounded hard against my chest upon hearing that. "What did she say?" I tried concealing my uneasiness but I can't help my hands from subtly shaking.
"Well, I wasn't planning on answering the call but it's been ringing twice so I picked it up the third time. Wala naman siyang sinabi, hinahanap ka lang," he explained.
I clutched my phone to my chest as I secretly heaved a sigh of relief.
"Bakit? Is there something wrong? Bakit ba tumatawag ang OB mo sa'yo?"
I can't tell if he's suspicious or just genuinely asking for an answer.
"Wala. Maybe she already has my general check up results," I vaguely answered.
I headed straight to the closet to get dressed in comfortable clothes since I'm just gonna be home with Enrico the entire day. Nagpaluto raw siya ng lunch sa baba so for the first time in a while, we'll be eating lunch together.
While I was rummaging through my dressers, the enclosed scent of the closet snuck inside my nose, giving me a slight nausea. I had to sit down on my puff chair and take a few deep breaths.
Hindi ko gusto sa pakiramdam na maya't maya ako nahihilo at madaling mapagod. This isn't how I am. I feel weak and fragile, and everyone knows how I hate feeling that way.
I had to compose myself before walking out of the walk-in.
Enrico was nowhere to be found when I got out. Mukhang nauna nang bumaba.
Once I made sure that he's out of sight, I imnediately called my doctor back.
Within a few rings, she picked up na.
["Hello, Cari!"]
"Hi, doc. So sorry that I wasn't able to pick up your call. I was in the shower," I briefly explained.
["No worries. Actually I was surprised earlier when your husband picked up. Eh I remembered you telling me not to tell anything to him."]
Tama. Enrico can't know what's going on.
"Yes, still confidential, Doc. Not a word about it," I firmly said.
["Sure, that wouldn't be a problem. Anyway, if you want to schedule a consult, we can talk about the results and everything that you want to know."]
I actually don't. I don't want to talk about it.
"Alright. I'll schedule when I can. Thank you."
After hanging up, I took a long and deep breath to relieve my stress.
If I can keep this for as long as I could, I would. No one can know about this, not until I get rid of it.
***
"How are you? I know we're not in good terms this past week, and I'm sorry. Kumusta ka?" he asked in the midst of our meal.
I was actually surprised that he's talking nicely to me. Mukhang nag-iba ang ihip ng hangin dahil sa nangyari kagabi.
I wouldn't get too comfortable, though. This always happens. One minute, we're good, and the next, we're not.
"I'm fine, busy sa office dahil sa expansion," I shared.
Not in the mood to have small talks but for the sake of the 'once in a blue moon' good ambience that's surrounding us, I'll just put up with it.
"Parang masyado ka ngang napapagod. You look a lot paler lately," he commented so I averted my gaze to avoid any eye contact.
"It's nothing. Ganito talaga ako kapag napapagod," I assured.
The table turned silent again. Only the sound of clattering utensils against the ceramic plates became the noise inside the dining room.
He looks weirdly calm which is puzzling me so hard because this isn't his normal. Laging aburido at problemado ang itsura niyan, but for some reason, his face looks bright today.
"Cari..." he called, pulling me out from my thoughts.
"What?"
"Kumain ka. You're zoning out," he said so I looked at my plate and realized that I'm not even halfway through my meal.
"Hindi ka mabubusog kakatitig sa'kin," he added as if he was intending for it to sound like a joke.
I continued eating while stealing quick glances at him from time to time.
***
"He's being nice again."
["Oh? Isn't that a good thing?"]
"Mia, this happened before. Ganyan siya whenever I can fulfill his needs. I feel stupid." I facepalmed myself to make up for the fact that I actually want to slap the stupidity out of me.
["Eh bakit mo kasi pinagbibigyan? Gusto mo rin, 'di ba? Come on, we're not teenagers. Nobody's fooling anybody here. Hindi ka bibigay if there's ultimately nothing going on."]
Her words felt like the slap that I need.
"What difference does it make if something is going on between us? No matter which angle we look at it, this is only a marriage of convenience. I really feel stupid giving myself to him."
["You know what, I can't decide for you so it really is your call. I'm just here giving out what I can give."]
My breath hitched when I felt a pair of arms around my stomach, prompting me to turn around. Wala namang ibang gagawa kung hindi si Enrico.
"I'll call you later, bye." I hung up the call then I put my focus on the guy behind me.
"Kanina ka pa nandyan?" kinakabahan kong tanong sa kaniya.
Oh how I hope he didn't hear anything!
He chuckled heartily. "I just got here. Who were you talking to?"
I broke away from his arms and I walked back in the room. "It's Mia. We're catching up since hindi ako nakarating sa dinner kagabi," I lied.
"Oh, okay. Anyway, Dad's asking if we can join him at a conference in London. I already said 'yes' so I'm asking you now if you want to go? That'll be a week," he blurted out as he walked closer to me.
Do I look like I have a choice? Eh kasali naman talaga ako dyan kahit humindi ako. My parents will nag me if I said 'no'.
"Yes. That's next week, right?"
"Yup. I'll make a call na."
He fished out his phone and dialed his Dad's number. As he held the phone up to his ear, he walked towards me and gave me a quick smack before completely walking past me, straight to the balcony.
I'm starting to think na kaya lang siya ganyan dahil wala na si Amira.
What if that girl comes back?
*
End of Chapter 5
*
