POSSESSIVE 10: Lath Coleman

CHAPTER 16

CHAPTER 16

WALANG NAGING sagot si Haze sa pagtatapat ni Lath. Well, it was not shocking. It was expected. Oo nga at hindi niya ginusto noon pero sinadya niyang saktan ang babae. He ruined her trust in him. He ruined everything.

And now, Lath was trying to fix the thing that he ruined because of sheer stupidity. Sana hindi pa huli ang lahat. Sana nga talaga.

Trust was really hard to build but so easy to destroy. And it would be a miracle to rebuilt it again. But he would make miracles, for the woman he loved.

When he confessed yesterday, parang nakahinga siya nang maluwag. It felt like he was free... free to expressed what he really felt. Free to do anything to please the woman who made his heart beat insanely crazy. No pretending. Just him and the truth.

It feels good. This feels good.

"Ano'ng gusto mong gawin habang nandito tayo sa Baguio?" tanong niya sa asawa na katabi niyang nakaupo sa gilid ng swimming pool at nakalublob sa tubig ang mga paa nila.

After breakfast, they came here to relax.

Nagkibit-balikat lang si Haze. Parang palaging malalim ang iniisip nito. "Wala akong gustong gawin kundi mahiga sa kama at matulog hanggang mamayang gabi."

"That's tiring." Lath frowned. "At saka kagigising lang natin, wifey, gusto mo na agad matulog?"

Tumango ito at humikab. "I'm sleepy."

Inakbayan niya ito, saka pinilit pinasandal ang ulo sa balikat niya. "Looks like we have to fix the situation." Hinaplos niya ang balikat nito. "Wanna go out with me and have fun instead?"

Bumaling ito sa kanya at sumimangot. "Tinatamad ako, Lath." Mas tumulis ang nguso nito. "Wala ako sa mood."

Lalong lumalim ang gatla sa noo niya. What the hell was happening to his wife? Should he be worried? Kailangan ba niya uling bulabugin si Ymar?

Hinaplos niya ang pisngi ni Haze. "Wifey, masama ba ang pakiramdam mo?" masuyo niyang tanong. "May gusto ka bang kainin? O mas gusto mong matulog na lang? I would let you if that's what makes you happy."

Naiilang na sinalubong niya ang matiim na titig ni Haze. She was looking at him like she was reading him and it was scary—no, not anymore. Wala na siyang itinatago rito kaya wala nang nakakatakot. Telling the truth could really set you free, right after you experienced fear and pain of course.

"Bakit mo ako tinitingnan nang ganyan?" usisa niya sa asawa na nakatingin pa rin sa kanya.

"Ano'ng magpapasaya sa 'yo?" biglang tanong nito. "You always do what makes me happy, so I'm asking you now, ano ba ang magpapasaya sa 'yo?"

You, loving me too, piping hiling niya, saka tumikhim. "Kung ano'ng magpapasaya sa 'yo, masaya na rin ako."

Umirap ito sa hangin, saka tinaasan siya ng kilay. "Lath, ang tinatanong kong kasiyahan mo ay iyong walang kinalaman sa akin."

He frowned at her, confused. "Wifey, ikaw ang kasiyahan ko. You are the definition of my happiness."

Her eyes softened. "I ahm..." Huminga ito nang malalim. "Hindi ko alam ang dapat isagot sa binitawan mong mga salita."

Pinilit niyang ngumiti nang masaya. "That's okay, I don't mind—"

"You do mind," sansala ni Haze sa iba pa niyang sasabihin habang matiim na nakatitig sa mukha niy. "Stop pretending, Lath. Ako 'to, si Haze, ang babaeng sabi mo mahal mo. You don't have to pretend that's it's okay, kasi nakikita ko sa mga mata mo na hindi iyon okay sa 'yo."