Pagkarating sa unit, inayos nila agad ang pinamili at inihanda ang mga lulutuin. Pat assisted Miho even if she said she doesn't need any help. Gusto kasi niyang siya naman ang magluluto para dito, pero makulit ito at hindi siya iniwan sa kusina.
They prepared two dishes: Arugula-Tomato salad with Chicken cutlets for dinner and Rosemary and Balsamic Chicken Adobo for tomorrow. Pat praised her cooking skills; hindi na rin ito nakapaghintay at tinikman na pati ang ibabaon nila bukas.
"Sa totoo lang, pumayat ka. Hindi ka bumigat, mas mabigat pa nga sa'yo yung grocery bags. Nag-s-salad diet ka ba?" Pat lifted a forkful of arugula to his mouth.
She shook her head in response.
"So you just want me to eat something healthy dahil panay kasi ang kain ko sa labas at puro processed food ang laman ng ref?" Kumuha si Pat ng maliit na piraso ng chicken adobo at kinain ito.
"Parang ganun na nga. Kumain ka pa ng gulay. Baka nga pala maumay ka na sa adobo dahil hanggang bukas pa 'to," Dinagdagan pa ni Miho ang arugula at chicken cutlets sa plato nito.
"I won't, hindi nakakasawa yung adobo." He leaned across the table on his elbows. "You know what? Maybe I should rent a wife. Sisiguraduhin kong ganito rin dapat kasarap magluto."
Natigil sa pagnguya si Miho nang marinig ito. Renting a boyfriend or girlfriend in Japan is possible; pero wala naman siyang narinig na sa Pilipinas ay may ganito na rin. She was only aware of a romantic fictional movie with a female character who pretended to be the male protagonist's lover in exchange for money. Kung seryoso si Pat, baka isipin niyang nababaliw na ito.
"Rent a wife? Seryoso ka? Baka kasambahay kailangan mo, hindi asawa."
Pat laughed at what she said; seryoso ang sinabi niya pero mukhang hindi siya nito sineryoso.
"I don't need a helper. The wife-for-hire will do since I also need someone to sleep with. Should I hire you starting today?"
May bumara sa lalamunan niya at naubo siya; agad naman inabot ni Pat ang baso niya para makainom siya. He sounded serious with the idea of hiring someone to be his wife; pinagdasal niya na sana biro lang iyon at hindi ito ang hingin sa kanya bilang kapalit.
"Okay ka lang?" The concerned sound of his voice didn't help. Nagsimula na naman siyang kabahan.
"Y-Yung gulay namali lang ng pasok sa lalamunan ko," She replied after emptying her glass of water.
"Kung ganun lang pala gusto mo, 'wag ka na mag-wife-for-hire!" She said in a cheerful manner, concealing the nervousness that she was feeling. "I'm sure, marami naman diyan na gusto maging permanent na asawa mo, tapos ipagluluto ka pa," She stared at the glass that she was holding.
Naalala niya ang mga pangalan ng mga babae nito at naisip kung ilan pa ang maririnig niya sa susunod. Pat has probably a lot of choices, baka nahihirapan lang itong mamili ng isa para mapangasawa.
"I'm not interested in marrying anyone."
Napatingin si Miho sa kanya; she found him staring at her with an expressionless face. She wanted to ask why but she didn't do so. Masyadong personal. It's too early to assume that Pat considers her as a close friend to the point that she can freely ask him any question that pops into her mind; she'll just probably ask him next time. Baka may ibang tamang oras para mang-usisa. Naisip na lang niya na baka dahil madali itong magsawa sa babae kaya ayaw nitong mag-asawa.
BINABASA MO ANG
Yo te Cielo
Historical Fiction{ sequel of ikaw na ang huli } Will Pat and Miho's encounter lead to the fulfillment of a promise that was broken in the 19th century?-or shall their past lives still dictate their destiny to remain as star-crossed lovers until the present time? ...
