THE HILARIOUS HUSBAND (LEE BROTHERS #2)

Chapter 63

CHAPTER SIXTY-THREE

NO RIGHT

★HOPE RYKER LEE★

AGAD kong sinundan si Elisse palabas sa restaurant matapos kong bayaran ang bill namin. Patawid na sana siya sa pedestrian lane nang higitin ko ang braso niya. Napaharap siya sa 'kin.

"Hindi ko naman sinabing umalis ka at umuwing mag-isa. Sabay pa rin tayong uuwi," sabi ko, hinihingal ako dahil sa paghabol sa kaniya.

Hindi siya kumibo, nag-iwas siya ng tingin at hinayaan lang ako nang akayin ko siya pabalik sa sasakyan ko. Binuksan ko ang pinto sa shotgun seat para papasukin siya, 'tsaka ako mabilis na umikot sa kabila.

Once we were both inside, as I was fastening my seatbelt, a thought suddenly hit me. I glanced over at her. "Ano nga pala 'yong... regalo mo sa 'kin?"

She shook her head. "Forget it. I changed my mind. Seems like you don't deserve it, so just forget about it," malamig niyang sagot. Bumaling siya sa labas ng bintana para iwasan ako ng tingin. I noticed the shift in her expression when she turned away, colder than ever before. It made me wonder if I'd unknowingly hurt her. Nasaktan ba siya sa divorce? Or nag-ha-hallucinate lang ako?

"Sorry," I murmured, even though I wasn't sure exactly what I'd done wrong. "If I said something you didn't like..."

She stayed silent, still looking out the window. The silence in the car felt heavy, like a wall between us. I wanted to break it, but I didn't know how. Hinayaan ko na lang muna siya at nagmaneho na 'ko pauwi sa bahay.

Pagdating namin sa bahay, pansin kong iniiwasan pa rin ako ni Elisse. Binati pa kami ni Edward ng "happy anniversary" at may pa-cake pa ito sa 'min nang salubungin kami sa main door, pero in-snob lang siya ng ate niya.

By the time we were both getting ready for bed, the silence felt unbearable. I'd hoped that maybe we could talk, clear the air somehow. Hindi ko kasi alam kung ano'ng eksaktong dahilan kung bakit siya naging cold uli. Dahil ba sa divorce or dahil sa mga pictures at video namin na hindi ko alam na labag pala sa loob niya? I wanted to ask her, but Elisse seemed intent on putting up walls between us.

Noong oras na palapit na 'ko sa kama para sana mahiga na rin tulad niya—tanging sweatpants lang ang suot ko at walang pang-itaas—ay bigla niya 'kong nilingon. Her face calm but her eyes cold. "Can you sleep in the guestroom tonight? I need space. I can't... I don't want to be with you right now. I need time to think."

Saglit akong napatitig sa kaniya. Gusto ko sanang umapila, pero nababasa ko sa mukha niya na buo ang desisyon niyang matulog mag-isa at kung magpipilit akong samahan siya rito, siguradong hindi siya matutuwa. So, I forced myself to nod, swallowing the tightness in my throat.

"Alright," I managed to say quietly, trying to keep my voice steady. "Good night."

⫘⫘⫘

The next morning, when I woke up and went back to our room, I found it empty. Elisse was already gone. Wala na ang paborito niyang bag na ginagamit sa trabaho, maging ang susi ng kotse niya wala na sa lagayan namin ng susi kaya alam kong sign na 'yon na umalis siyang mag-isa papunta sa Lee Entertainment.

After getting myself ready, I headed to the kitchen to grab something warm to drink before heading out. I decided I'd eat at the office; knowing Elisse had been avoiding me, I doubted she'd bothered to make breakfast.

Kasalukuyan akong nagtitimpla ng kape nang mapalingon ako sa mesa. I stopped mid-stir, noticing something covered at the center of the table. Binitiwan ko muna ang kutsara na pinanghahalo ko. I walked over and lifted the cover, only to find a plate of food neatly prepared and waiting.