Together but Separate

Chapter 4: Post Wedding

Kate Rojas

I woke up feeling like my ankle was going to kill me. Sobrang sakit nito at namamaga pa. It had been two days since I hurt my ankle. Akala ko mawawala rin ang sakit pero parang mas lumala pa ata.

I wore flat sandals the whole day that I was at work yesterday dahil masakit ang ankle ko. I did not really get to rest my feet kaya siguro lumala ito dahil sa pagod ko kahapon.

I grabbed my phone and called Linda. I told her that I will be working from home today. I asked her to arrange all my appointments for today to be done online. I brought my laptop with me, so I could just do conference calls.

I took a shower and tried so hard to be very careful, so I would not hurt my ankle more. After shower, I treated and wrapped my ankle before I started working. I ate breakfast in my room while I worked. I finished four conference calls before I decided to go downstairs to eat lunch. My long online meetings made me hungry.

Dahan-dahan akong bumaba ng hagdan para siguraduhin na hindi sumakit lalo ang ankle ko. Ingat na ingat akong huwag lagyan ng pressure ang kaliwang paa ko.

Nakahinga ako ng maluwag nung nakarating na ako sa baba ng hagdan. I walked slowly to the kitchen. But before I could even reach my destination, I saw a familiar man who just entered the front door.

Nagkatinginan kaming dalawa at sabay pa kaming napatigil ng paglakad.

Napangisi ako nung nakita na umuwi na si Nicko rito sa pamamahay niya. For twelve days that he had been gone, nasanay ako na wala siya rito sa bahay kaya malaya akong nakakagalaw. It felt awkward to see him again. This house suddenly did not feel like home anymore.

"Hi," sabi niya sa akin.

Instead of greeting him back, umiling lang ako saka nag-umpisang naglakad papunta sa kitchen para makakain na.

"What happened to your foot?"

Nilingon ko siya at napansin ko na nakakunot ang noo niya habang nakatingin sa mga paa ko.

"I hurt my ankle because the paparazzis were chasing me," I answered before I made my way to the kitchen.

"Is the lunch ready?" I asked nung nakarating na ako sa kitchen.

"Yes, Maam."

"Can you prepare it please? I'm hungry."

"Yes, Maam—"

"I will eat, too."

Nagulat ang maid nung biglang sumulpot si Nicko sa kitchen.

"Andito na pala kayo, Sir. Paghahanda ko rin po kayo," sabi nito saka nag-umpisa nang mag-prepare ng pagkain namin.

Dumiretso ako sa dining table at tumulong sa paghanda ng mga plato at utensils. Pagkatapos kong gawin iyon ay umupo na ako habang hinihintay ang mga pagkain.

Nicko took off his coat and handed it to the maid before he sat on the chair across mine.

There was an awkward silence between us as we wait for our food. I glanced at him once and quickly turned away because I saw him looking at me.

I found this situation so awkward for so many reasons. First, this was our first meal together as a married couple. Second, this was the first time we saw each other again after our wedding twelve days ago. Third, I was upset with him because of what I found out about him. Worst, he did not bother to tell me. Most importantly, I realized that I was not comfortable in front of him. I literally felt like I was living with a stranger, who happened to be the man I married. These realizations I had made the situation really awkward.