My Husband is my Boss

Kabanata 5 ᰔᩚ

Her daughter

The room fell silent, and the silence is too loud for them.

As soon as the man, namely, Kaius stated that the woman, who merely started her first day was said to be fired filled the room with silence. It seems that for the woman Lumielle, it is an embarrassment.

Bigla na lang tumawa nang malakas ang lalaki, ang kamay nito ay nasa tiyan niya upang suportahan ito habang siya ay tumatawa.

"Ano'ng tinatawa-tawa mo d'yan?" The woman asked. Mukha na siyang iritato rito sa lalaking ito, sa kilay pa lamang niya ay malalaman mo na na galit siya.

Kaius shook his head, "Lummy, you should have saw your face! Damn!" He wiped his forehead, trying to stop his burst out.

Lumielle shrugged his face off with her hand, face-palming him. She lets out a frustrated sigh, gently pushing the man's face away from hers.

Kaius hissed, "What's that for, wife?" He feigned sad, and his lips formed a pout.

Nang narinig ni Lumielle ang pangalang itinawag sa kaniya ni Kauis, kumulubot ang kaniyang mga kilay, at sinabing, "’Yan ka na naman sa 'wife', 'wife' mong sakit. Sinabing hindi mo nga ako asawa, mental ka ba?" Umirap siya sa lalaki, at naglakad papalikod.

Kaius, as soon as he was dissed by the woman whined. He clung onto her right arm, as if he is a kid who is getting left out by his mother. He gripped her wrist tightly, not wanting to let her go.

"Woman, don't leave! And, and, stop with your craps, please." He stands up, "Let me tell you something you wouldn't be pleased about!" He exclaimed, still pouty.

Lumielle stopped her tracks, "Ano na naman 'yan? Better be useful, ah... Ano ulit name mso?" She chuckled awkwardly.

"You've got to be kidding." He sighs, "Mahal, tantanan mo ako sa biro mo, please." He added. Ngayon naman, ang kaniyang boses ay parang ulira na.

Alam na ng babae na ngayon ay seryoso na ang lalaki. Sa pagbabago pa lang ng postura nito, at pagbabago ng tono ng boses, parang ang lahat ay napaka pamilyar sa babaeng Lumielle.

"I'm listening... Bilisan mo, ha?" She looked away, trying to crack the earlier silence.

The man smiled, he again, held her arm and clung onto it. "Mahal, alam mo ba na kailangan ko pa na sabihin sa anak natin na hindi ka pa na di-discharge? Paano kasi, umalis ka sa akin."

She tilted her held in confusion. His words had stirred within her. Perhaps, a confusion? But she knew that there's more than the confusion she's feeling.

"Look, I know, I owe you for paying my bills. I promise to pay it back. P'wedeng ba na tumigil ka na kaka-isip na tayo talaga?" Siya ay nag labas ng kaniyang buntong hininga, ipinahihiwatig na siya ay naguguluhan na.

Kaius shook her head, "Wife, what do you mean you owe me for paying your bills? Asawa kita, sa iyo ang akin. Money, for example. What's yours is mine, and what's mine are yours." He claimed.

This is what he always does, saying something, and not leaving a chance for the one he's talking to to reply, or argue. Katulad na lang nang nangyayari sa kanila ngayon. Ang babaeng si Lumielle, hindi na umimik.

"Hindi nga kita a-" She was about to protest, again, but stopped when she saw him looking at her, eye-to-eye, with a slight tear on his eyes. "...Nevermind. Why is this even our topic? Back to the kid." She stroked her forehead.

Why is he so adamant to be my husband? E hindi nga siya, hindi nga siya! Kulit naman nito, ngayon iiyak-iyak?

"About Ellie?" He wiped his tear, finally calming down again.

"Who?" Ang ulo ni Lumielle ay tumagilid nang narinig niya ang pangalan ng... Lalaki? Babae? Hindi niya rin alam.

Kaius clenched his jaw, "Be for real, Lummy. Pati ba naman anak mo, mag pa-panggap ka na hindi mo kilala?" He sighs, rubbing the edge of his tipped nose to make his frustration more visible.

It was true though. The woman had no clue whom the girl, namely "Ellie" is. But, a feeling stirred within her. That the girl's name was somehow familiar to her. Not that she cares though, what can she do? This man is probably just stating another lie.

"At ako rin, sir." Sinagot niya ang lalaki. Kung kanina ay mahinahon pa ang kaniyang boses at may pagsisi, ngayon ay wala na.

"Lummy." He called out firmly, his voice was gentle and calm, yet it states one thing; that she should stop what she's doing.

"I'm tel-" She didn't had the chance to finish her words when she felt a small arms wrapped around her legs.

"Mama! You're here!" Sigaw ng bata.

"Ay hala, ang cute naman ng batang ito," Lumiyad si Lumielle ng kaunti, at hinawi ang buhok na tinago ang kabilang parte ng bata. "Nasa'n papa mo?" Tanong ni Lumielle, at kinarga ang bata.

Tumawa naman ang bata at hinayaan niyang makarga siya, "Mama, you're so funny!" Sinabi ng bata at mas hinigpitan pa ang hawak kay Lumielle. "Kanina pa po kayo nag-uusap, e! Papa, dapat sinabi mo po na nandirito na si mama!" Malakas na sabi ng papa, nakatingin siya sa lalaking si Kaius.

Tumawa ang lalaki, "Sweetheart, I would have loved to. But, your mama is stubborn. Sino kasama mo pumunta rito?" Lumapit si Kaius sa dalawang babae, at hinawi rin ang buhok ni Lumielle.

Tinignan sila ni Lumielle na may pagtataka sa kaniyang mata. Pero, mas pinili niya na lang na manahimik, kaysa mag salita pa.

Gano'n ba talaga ang mag-amang 'to? Kung mag-ama, ang batang ito ay si Ellie? Bakit ba masiyado silang hakang-haka na siya ang nanay, e hindi nga siya? Kalaunan, inantay niya na lamang na matapos na ang pagiging mag-ama ng dalawa, at hinayaan sila.

Baka kasi ang pagkaka-alam ng batang babae ay may nanay talaga siya? Siguro, ang nanay nito ay patay na. O kaya naman ampon siya ngunit ayaw niya na malaman na ampon talaga siya? Siguro, masakit.

"Mama, I missed you po." The girl said softly, her eyes never left her mother's eyes. She was admiring the woman she love.

Lumielle chuckled awkwardly, "O-okay... Mama missed you too." She shrugs uncomfortably, cradling the child on her arms.

Anyway, the child was too dense to realize that the woman was just trying to make her comfortable. So, as soon as the girl fell asleep on the woman's arms, she placed the girl on the crib that was on the office. Kaius had it done, expecting that his daughter would visit and sleep there, probably.

"Thank you, wife." The man muttered 'neath his breath, as the woman gently rocked the crib.

"Mhm?" Lumielle hummed in response.

"Nothing. I said I missed you." He chuckled, resuming his paperworks.

Lumielle just nodded. After all, she was still a bit uncomfortable of the turn of events today. This kid, Ellie, had been cradling her for whole day, and she doesn't even know who's mother of the child is!