Little Things in a Forbidden Love

X. LIES, GUILT, AND. . . LOVE

*Author's note: Hi, readers. Dahil mahal na mahal din natin ang kapatid nating si Coco Martin, sinali ko siya sa eksena. Hahaha.*

DAWN ZULUETA.

"Halika na, Hon. Tulog na tayo," my husband told me the moment I entered our room. Already in my sleeping clothes back then, I nodded to agree. So I moved into the bed and said good night. He kissed me on the lips as a response. It was just a smack one though. "Good night, Hon," he added.

Few more minutes passed and I was still awake. I tried to invite sleepiness by staring at the ceiling and the wall, back to the ceiling, and the wall again. I turned to the other side of the bed just to force myself to sleep, and then turned back, and turned again, and again. I just couldn't sleep through unclear thoughts in my mind that night. And Anton, noticing my movement asked me what was wrong. He slightly got up, touched my hair and said, "Is there something wrong?" Giving him a lazy smile, I replied, "Nothing. Napagod lang siguro ako kanina. Sige, matulog ka na."

However, Anton didn't go back to his sleep. "No. I'll stay awake na lang din," he told me and started to build a serious conversation. "Uhm... Dawn, were you aware na pupunta sina Richard sa G5?" I noticed the sadness in his voice and the doubt in his eyes. "No, Hon. Not at all. Bakit?" I answered, turning to him and putting my hand on his chest. "Are you sure?" he asked in his croaky voice as his eyes looked straight in mine. And for sure, my heartbeat thumped as I collected my thoughts and put them into words. "Yes naman, Hon. Hindi ko talaga alam," I finally spoke as I rubbed my hand on his chest. When he heard me denying it, he made a face I couldn't read and moved his shoulders a little bit. "Well... Okay, sabi mo e. Nakapag-usap ba kayo?" he added. 

Anton's words came to me as if they were banging cymbals. He delivered them in such a modulated tone but registered in my senses as an ear-splitting noise and a tough nut. My heartbeat, meanwhile continued thumping like horse hooves in a race road. "Hindi e. Di ba wala na nga siya nung pag-alis natin?" I lay my head on his chest just so he couldn't read the lie in my eyes. I exhaled and added, "Tsaka wala pa naman kaming project ngayon kaya wala kaming dapat pag-usapan," I lied again. Just as I uttered the last words, he rubbed my shoulders with his hand. "Okay," he sounded convinced. "Nagtatanong lang naman ako e."

Thanks, God. Finally relieved that he didn't see me and Richard at the garden, I shifted the topic to the simple gathering we were supposed to attend together the next day. "Ayyy oo ngapala, Hon. Yung tungkol pala sa invitation ni Coco? Makakapunta ba tayo?" I was talking about Coco Martin, who even after Walang Hanggan, never lost contact with me and Richard. Set to have small thanksgiving party in his condo unit, he called a week ago to ask if we could just join him and a few more common friends. "Naku, I almost forgot. Bukas na yung flight natin pabalik ng Davao," he said. "So hindi na tayo makakapunta?" I asked. I heard him make a sound with his toungue right then. "Ganto na lang. Nakakahiya naman kase kung di natin sisiputin yun. He traveled all the way to Davao for my campaign, right? So, ikaw na lang pumunta, Hon. Ako kase kelangan ko nang bumalik sa Davao e," he explained to me while stroking the strands of my hair. "Sigurado ka? Okay lang sayo na maiwan muna ako dito?" I threw a question just to be sure. "Teka. Pupunta ba si Richard?" he answered back.

Pupunta ba si Richard? the same question echoed in my mind and bothered me for a moment. I didn't know. I turned to Anton saying, "Hindi ko alam. Gusto mo bang itanong ko kay Coco?" I asked him. He then gave me a broad smile, "No! No need, Hon. Wag na, sige pumunta ka bukas then sunod na lang kayo ng mga bata back to Davao, okay?" he told me then planted a kiss on my forehead. I smiled, too and thanked him. Getting my head back on his chest, "Umaga ka ba aalis bukas? Gusto mo ihatid kita?" I offered. "Wag na. I'll be out early in the morning. Baka hindi na rin kita gisingin. Magpahinga ka na lang," he advised, dropping another kiss on my head. Sige, mag-iingat ka ha. Good night, Hon." I said as I found myself very comfortable but not yet in the mood to sleep. Anton cuddled me and whispered a simple I LOVE YOU. Cuddling him back, I responded with my own. "I love you," I expressed and closed my eyes to try sleeping.