Connected Cords

Chapter Twenty-four

Bumuka ng bahagya ang bibig ko dahil sa sinabi niya. Unti-unti, sa isang mabagal na proseso ito dumaan bago tuluyang rumehistro sa utak ko ang kanyang sinabi.

I laughed. I laughed like I just heard the funniest joke that has been told to anyone.

"Your wife? Are you nuts, Greg? Last time I checked, I am a Faviana, not a Baudelaire. We filed for divorce three years, ago." Sabi ko ng natatawa. Hindi ko alam na kahit nagagalit ako sa pagsisinungaling namin ay nakuha ko pang pagtawanan ang sinabi niya. I just find it really ridiculous!

He was scowling at me the whole time but he tore his gaze from the moment I finished speaking. And at that moment, I knew that he was feeling uncomfortable. Like something was bothering him.

"Just.." He expelled a heavy sigh. "Just please go with it.. Be my wife again.. even if it's just pretend."

I froze. Huminto ako, hindi dahil gulat na gulat ako sa gusto niyang mangyari. I froze because I heard his voice broke, it broke on his last few words. Nanikip ang dibdib ko dahil doon.

"That's really absurd, Greg." Natatawa kong sagot na halatang-halata namang pilit. Ayokong ipakita sa kanya na naapektuhan pa rin ako. That I still care for him because I didn't want to give him a false hope.

"Just for five days, Margaux. Para hindi na mabulilyaso pa ang pakikipag-usap ko kay Mr. Dela Cuesta upang maisara ang deal. Please give me this one. We won't tell them that we're already divorced. In fact, don't you think this job is too easy for getting a building under your name?" Sabi niya ng hindi pa rin ako tinitingnan. Nakaupo pa rin siya sa gilid ng kama habang ako naman ay nakatayo doon. I wasn't even done unpacking my things.

"Pretending to be your wife will be the hardest job I could ever imagine, Greg. Or.. not just imagining, because I used to be your wife." That was what I wanted to say but of course, I didn't.

"Hindi madaling magsinungaling sa mga mabubuting tao kagaya nila," Sabi ko na lamang at muling bumalik sa paglalagay ng mga damit ko roon sa cabinet.

"We already did earlier, right?" Ismid niya.

"Guilt was eating me up earlier, Greg!" I hissed, pero hindi ko siya nililingon. The weight of his stare was enough reason for me not to look back because the intensity of it was too much.

"But we survived, aren't we? Don't think too much about it. Over thinking things is not good so just be cool about this." He said and I felt him stood up. Narinig ko ang mga yabag ng paa niya.

"Gotta freshen up. Sleep, Margaux." Was the last thing he said before I heard the door of the bathroom closed.

Napabuntong-hininga na lamang ako at patuloy na nagligpit doon.

How am I going to survive these five days with my ex-husband? I'm sure this week ain't gonna be a normal week for me. Nagsinungaling na nga ako kay Creed, pagkatapos ay nagsinungaling din ako sa mag-asawang Dela Cuesta. This week for sure will be filled by brimful of lies.

Napabuntong-hininga na lamang ako at nagpatuloy na maglagay ng mga damit sa cabinet at tinupi iyon ng maayos. Later on, I didn't notice that I was also unpacking Greg's clothes. It came out really natural, like my body was used to folding his clothes.

I just shrugged and organized his things as well.

Lumipas lang ang ilang sandali, nakaramdam na ako ng matinding antok. I remembered that I didn't have a good sleep while on the road and since I got here in the Philippines because I was still adjusting because of jetlag.

I yawned as I padded towards the bed. I stretched my limbs, just when I was about to climb on the bed, my phone rang.

I groaned aloud and stomped my feet angrily towards my bag. Hinagilap ko doon ang cellphone ko at agad na nakita rin iyon. Lumambot ang ekspresyon ng aking mukha at parang kinurot ang puso ko nang makita ko ang pangalan ni Creed sa screen.